Embrace the Desire (7 page)

“And you're sure they are in the Heavens?” Gyth asked.

Isten cracked his neck. “There are seven books in your domain. Find them or it will cost you the throne just as it did your father.”

Varick stepped back. Isten wore the power of time like a gods be damned shield. It was unmistakable, unbreakable. His entire presence harnessed raw blinding power. From the top of his head to the tip of his war boots, he was the god of all gods. But he was undaunted, perhaps suicidal at this point.

“Nothing charming about you. And your lack of humility is disgusting,” Varick stated dangerously as Gyth disappeared. “All that power and you strut around cocked and loaded.”

Isten's eerie eyes met Varick's. “All this power and yet I have not taken control of this universe, even though I could do so without so much as a snap of my fingers.”

Varick noticed the apprehensive expression on Isten's face.

“Then why don't you? Why don't you use all that power and fix the universe, erase the evil, and right all the wrongs?” Varick didn't hesitate to add, “Why not take control of the Heavens? Why not take the throne from Gyth?”

Isten laughed. “You have balls, son of Gyth.” He raised his eyebrow. “Truth is, I don't want the throne even though I did create it. I want the books of knowledge, every single one of them.”

“Why?”

Isten turned on his heel. “As it is with every creation, destruction will always be a lingering, hanging possibility. It's the reason that everything has to have balance in this universe. If that precious balance is not maintained, destruction is but a single heartbeat away. Those books keep the balance.”

“What's that got to do with Payne?”

“Straight to the point.” Isten sat down on his throne. “Someone erased his destiny.”

“And?” Varick asked, “What does that even mean?”

“It means Payne holds the destruction of this universe in the palm of his hand.” Isten leaned forward. “Prepare yourself Varick because if you want him back, you'll do as I say.”

“And if I don't?”

“I will send your remains to your mate in very small pieces over the next thousand years and the Algea will feast upon her pain and misery all the while.” The Algea appeared to Isten's right as he continued. “And Payne will live in a tortured state of mental arrest the entirety of his long life.”

Varick said nothing, just looked down at his shaking hands.

Isten took a deep breath through his nostrils. “You and I have much to discuss Varick; time is on our sides. You must learn to use it wisely and for the right purposes. Pledge yourself to me and I'll release Payne to you.”

Varick laughed. “Another pact with a god? Seems I already have one of those with Gyth and one with Charon.”

“It wasn't a pact with you and Gyth. He did it so that his only son would be safe from his grandmother and would not have to endure the torments of being a god. And so that no one would know that you're one of his weaknesses.” Isten ran his hand down the front of his armor. “He took your god powers from you and used them to create the Destroyers. He can't create another Destroyer, but you can. You, Varick, are the true lord of the Destroyers.”

Silence hung in the dark room as Varick nodded slowly. His knees suddenly felt weak with the knowledge that his own father had stripped him of his powers and had used them for his own purposes. He looked down at his hands, felt the electrical pulses jumping from one finger to the next. He could feel and sense all the Destroyers, he knew where they were, what they were doing, and the reasons behind becoming a Destroyer.

“And you need not worry about the one with Charon. Charon is mine to command.” Isten narrowed his eyes. “Come forward Varick Ta Farg and swear your allegiance to me. In so doing, I will aide you in controlling your powers and return unto your keeping Payne, son of Damon. And swear that as long as there is power in your blood, you'll do everything you can to keep balance in my universe.”

Isten stood, his large hand held out. “I offer my hand to seal the pact. No untruth can be spoken between us from this moment on. You'll serve this pantheon and only this one regardless of any interests in Gyth's creations or reign. And you will take leadership of the Destroyers.”

“And Payne will be handed over to me?” Varick narrowed his eyes. “Unharmed?”

“Yes.”

Varick grabbed his hand, pain streaking up his arm and straight to his heart. The pain intensifying and blood gushing from his eyes and nose, he screamed as cold metal surrounded his beating heart and interlaced with his blood veins.

• • •

Deep laughter filled the chamber as Payne appeared to Varick's right on bended knee. Through the blood and tears, Varick and Payne stared at each other. A silent thank you hung between them as lightning danced on the marble floor and Isten's voice boomed around them. Varick roared in outrage as the lightning struck him, streaked through his body, and jumped to Payne striking him full force in the chest.

“This was not part of the deal!” Payne roared as he watched Varick's body arch as the same cold metal interlaced with his heart.

Isten's voice thundered in Payne's mind. “Our deal is simple Payne, son of Damon. You'll do as I command and swear your allegiance to me and in return, I'll deliver you unto your father.”

“What must I do?” Payne gritted his teeth as the god came forward and placed his hand on Payne's cranium.

“You will find who has unwritten Chanta Timber's destiny.”

“How am I supposed to do that? I'm just a Destroyer. I gave up my god powers when Gyth turned me into a Destroyer.”

“You have never been just a Destroyer. You console yourself with thinking you're strong, but you're weak. Letting your emotions rule your every move has led you to every failure in your life.”

With Isten's hand on his skull, Payne was immobile, his limbs as useless as a butterfly net trying to catch a dragon.

“I suggest you figure out how to get your god powers back.” Isten released Payne's head. “First and foremost, do as Gyth has commanded, take Chanta through the Burning. She must survive.”

“Gyth won't relinquish them. It gave him too much pleasure to take them from me.” Payne tried to stand, his legs shaking. “Why is she so important to you and to Gyth?”

“Different reasons, but we both desire the same outcome. Her destiny was cut short, the events in her life have not gone as planned. As it is, now you're the only one that can save her from the Burning.”

“And if I do this, you'll give me the chance to face my father? I have your spoken word?”

“Yes, you have my spoken word.” Isten laughed, his voice thundering through the lightning. “Welcome Varick, son of Gyth, and Payne, son of Damon, to my pantheon.”

Payne gritted his teeth as Chanta wiped her hands on the towel hanging from her black apron. She was quite the beauty, except for the gothic red and black garb she was dressed in. She had changed since he had first met her. Her cotton blonde, almost white, hair was no longer long, but cropped to her shoulders in a mass of curls. Her once innocent face was now tight, hard. Even her eyes had changed, deepened and appeared darker gray than he remembered.

The extreme difference between her and Bastilla was shocking to say the least.

He sneered as her nametag flashed in the dim light. His sneer grew deeper as he carefully examined her clothes. Baggy black carpenter pants with red-laced pockets hung from her hips and did nothing to reveal what should be shapely legs. Her lacy black shirt was unbuttoned and underneath it she wore a red tank top. He could simply not fathom why a woman of her beauty would dress like that.

He had no doubt that her skin was as soft as velvet and her touch would be as hot as the breath of a dragon. The kiss he had given her lingered in his thoughts. Never had he hungered for the touch of a woman until that night.

Against his will, he stared at the face that had haunted him for the last eight years. A low growl rumbled in his chest as he envisioned his thumb running across her full lips, down her jaw, and along her shoulder. He knew he could easily have his way with her by overpowering her small frame, but there was something about her that made that thought seem dirty and barbaric. Who was he trying to kid? He was nothing if not barbaric and sinister.

Women were tools to be used to ease a man's desires, they were the blades that were used to bring down kingdoms, and they were the poison that brought about despair, nothing more! This one was no different than any other and he had no use for a woman.

Mine.

Grinding his teeth, he pushed his lust down to the pit of his stomach and centered his attention to the clothes she wore. Anger filled his mouth and the taste was bitter. Damon, the father he wished he had never had, would surely be pleased to have this one in his ranks. A firm cruel frown tightened across his lips.

His sneer turned into disgust as he eyed the pendent hanging around her neck on a leather string. The five star pendent burned into his mind: witch. Enemy! Whore of Damon! Gyth and Isten had no doubt lost their ever-loving minds. Why in hell's name did they want to make sure this female made it through the Burning?

Wondering if she remembered him, he watched her work around the tables, filling coffee cups and taking orders.

As she came closer to him, he stared at her as she nervously looked down at his tattoo that peeked out of his long shirtsleeve. Something stirred in his gut, slid down his spine, and made a beeline straight to his balls. Instant hard on.

Mine.

She eyed him cautiously, but wasn't afraid. She edged her way to his table and took out her order pad. Her fingers trembled slightly as she held a pencil over her notepad, but a determined look creased her brow and she asked, “What can I get you?”

Payne opened his mouth, closed it, and opened it again.

Mine.

“How about something to drink?” Her voice was steady, an equal blend of sassy and sweet, and licked at his ears like a soft wind that promised an even sweeter release.

He found it was difficult to speak as a lump rose up in his throat. “No.” And thank the gods for the table that shielded his attraction.

“He'll have a cherry ice and a cheeseburger.”

Payne's lip twitched and his eyes narrowed as Varick appeared behind her. Payne was shocked, but hid it well as he watched Varick smile at the woman and kiss her forehead. There was little doubt that Varick and the woman were well acquainted.

Payne held his breath for a second and wondered if she was Varick's lover. He didn't believe it; Varick was mated. But what did he care? She was nothing to him and deserved nothing from him including his attention. Still, he didn't like the thought of this particular woman lying in Varick's arms.

Mine.

And it didn't have anything to do with an unwarranted kiss from eight years ago. Nor did it have anything to do with her face haunting his dreams.

“I have missed you, Chanta. I must remember to visit you more often.”

“Oh, you just sit down and I'll get your usual.” She smiled and her silver eyes sparkled.

“You look well, Chanta. I find myself thinking of you lately. Tell me, how have you been?”

Payne bit his tongue as she slid her hands into Varick's. He watched in complete silence as the god-vampire-Destroyer brought her hands up to his lips and kissed her knuckles. A strange unknown feeling crept up his spine as Chanta reached up and kissed Varick on the cheek. He clenched his fists as the thought of nailing Varick to a post skipped through his mind.

“I've been doing really well.” She looked around the diner. “And this place has finally started to pay for itself, especially since we changed themes.”

“Good . . . good. Now, how about that burger?”

She turned and walked away as Varick settled into a chair. Payne grunted when he noticed the disgusted look she had cast his way before walking away.

Varick returned Payne's stare, grinned as he laughed, and spoke. “She's special and apparently Gyth and Isten are both insisting you do this.” There was a pause. “I would also ask this of you.”

Payne's jaw flinched and his steel colored eyes hardened. He had a bargain with Isten. One he would see through to the bitter end. Payne gritted his teeth at the thought.

“I want you to help her. It means a great deal to me that she comes out of this alive. Gyth chose you because she is strong and needs a Destroyer of equal strength. She may seem like an average woman, but she is so much more than you could possibly imagine.”

Payne turned his head and studied her movements; controlled and collected. No, she was not average. Without the gothic apparel he knew she had a body built for sin and those eyes were spectacular. He remembered those eyes. They were the color of steel and ice.

As he stared at her from the distance, a funny odd taste of honey filled his mouth. Honey? He recalled the taste rather easily.

Mine.

“Try using your empathic abilities on her.”

Payne willed her to look at him, but she didn't so much as glance his way. He tried harder and stared at her back until his head started to ache. What the hell was wrong with him?

“She's special. You cannot will her to do anything. She possesses a barrier to telepathy as well as empathy.” Varick paused. “I know you would rather not, but if you do this for me, I'll give you one wish, but only after it's done.”

Payne grinned and turned to Varick. “One wish? Anything I desire?”

“Yes, anything that I can give . . . anything that does not affect the free will of anyone else.” Varick shrugged, attempted a laugh. “And if I can get these damned powers to work right.”

“Damn vampire.” Payne shook his head. “Are you sure about this? You know what I'll want.”

Varick smiled slightly. “Your wish will be granted at the end of her Burning.” He paused as he turned to look at Chanta. “But there is one catch.”