Red Mortal (20 page)

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Authors: Deidre Knight

Tags: #Man-woman relationships, #Goddesses, #Gods, #Paranormal, #Delphian oracle, #Fiction, #Romance, #Paranormal romance stories, #Immortalism, #Daphne (Greek deity), #General, #Leonidas, #Contemporary

BOOK: Red Mortal
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She sauntered up to him. “Uh, Ari. Hey, listen, got a question,” she said, hoping she wasn’t interrupting anything important.
He kept his eyes riveted on the screen, dark eyebrows cranked down into a scowl. “Uh . . . huh?” She had the feeling he hadn’t really heard her. Maybe she shouldn’t bug him.
But then she remembered Sable, out in the drive—first pretending to be so furious with her, and then secretly pledging his heart once she’d turned away.
“It’s kinda important,” she tried.
One black eyebrow lifted ever so slightly. “Give me . . . a minute. Just hang on.”
He was making feverish movements with the keyboard, but it didn’t exactly sound like typing. She slid around the side of the desk and behind him.
“
Skata!
” he bellowed. “I almost had high score!” She looked down and saw a Bally’s online pinball game.
He snapped the laptop shut, looking like a kid whose mom had just said, “The answer is still no.”
Blowing out a breath, he swiveled to face her. “So what’s up?”
She hesitated a moment. The idea had seemed so logical when she was with Sable, but now? Not so much.
“I know this might be . . . unconventional.” She cleared her throat. “I mean, it’s going to seem really, really out of the ordinary. Trust me, I do . . . but Sable’s outside and he’s on our team now, and because of that, I was thinking that, well, maybe he should join us. He worked with Ares for a long time . . . he might have knowledge or some ideas. Like how he knew the magic word for getting rid of Layla, that kinda thing. So I’m wondering. That’s all. Wondering.”
“Layla was a Djinn, his own cousin,” Ari answered. “That was a very specific circumstance, kiddo.”
She bounced onto her toes, recalling something else. “And he fought for y’all down in Hades. Remember, Emma rode out of the River Styx on his back! While she had River’s sword form in her hand. So, see—three of the most important people in your life—Sable saved each one of ’em.” She folded arms over her chest and grinned. She had him, she so totally did, and he knew it.
Ari began to laugh, shaking his head. “Damn, what
is
it with you and that demon?” He sized her up for a long moment, just staring at her until she started shifting around on the balls of her feet. “It’s because you healed him. That’s what I heard . . . that you two share a bond because of how you helped him.”
Sophie went bug-eyed. “You Spartans gossip worse than the ladies at my mama’s Bible study.”
He gave her a sideways grin. “Actually, I heard it from Emma. She says you consider Sable a ‘friend,’ which I say is madness, but it’s your call ‘cause you’re right—he’s helped us in a few critical spots. I think he can be trusted. If I didn’t, I’d have friend-blocked him out of your life by now, little sis.”
It wasn’t necessarily the right time to give him grief, not with him signing on to her Sable plan, but she couldn’t resist. “You know, Ari, I’m not exactly sure why you think you get to call me sister.”
He cranked back in the swivel chair, making his voice sound elderly. “Technically speaking, I’m your great-great-uncle.” Which was true—he’d married her great-great-aunt Juliana. “So run along now, little girl, and get me my worry beads and a flagon of ouzo . . .” He reached for her butt, making like he was going to pinch it. “And back in Greece, you know what we doddering old fellas like to do with a young lady’s behind . . .”
She laughed, swatting him on the arm. “All right, old man! Don’t get outta line on me.”
“Old man? Talking about me?” Leonidas joined them and she instantly blushed. Somehow she always did that around the famous king, even if she said nothing, but especially if she’d just attracted his unwarranted attention.
“Uh, no, sir. No . . .” She stared down at her black high-tops. Anywhere but up into Leonidas’s intimidating eyes. It wasn’t just that there were books and movies about the guy—
It was that he was totally, completely hot in a Russell Crowe sort of way. Scorching, flame-broiled hot.
“I was reminding my great-great-niece to respect her elders.” Ari gave the chair a spin, turning off the laptop. He tapped it for a minute, clearly thinking. “Hey, Commander, little girl here had a pretty solid idea. I want to know what you think.”
She groaned. He really was such a big brother type, managing to mortify her in Leonidas’s presence. “I am not a little girl.”
The king turned to her, and for once, she managed to return his gaze without blushing like a freak show. He smiled, inclining his head slightly. “Sophia, trust me when I say that there is a house full of males here, all of whom realize you are very much a grown, beautiful woman.”
Her mouth fell slightly open and damn, she did blush, but he didn’t seem to notice. He just turned to Ari and asked, “Now, which one of you wants to outline this idea?”
 
“What has Ares enlisted you to do?” Leonidas demanded, calling out to Sable before he’d even reached him. The centaur stood at the base of the steps to the house, where Sophie had apparently left him waiting. He looked surly and impatient, drumming his fingers along the tops of his forelegs.
Leo continued, jogging down the steps. “I saw you enter the stable earlier when I was out riding with Daphne. I know you were there . . . and you must have seen Ares yourself. So tell me—what are you attempting?”
Sable gave a half bow. “Quite lovely to see you again, as well, King Leonidas. Pleasant night out, isn’t it?”
Leo jabbed a finger into the center of Sable’s bare chest. “I don’t believe you would offer to help us without an agenda of your own,” he told the Djinn. “It’s too convenient . . . you and Ares in nearly the same place at almost the same time, earlier today. It can’t be a coincidence that you come now, seeking to join our ranks. So tell me, Sable,” Leo asked pointedly. “What do you intend by showing up here?”
Sable arched an eyebrow. “You’ll recall that I helped you defeat my cousin Layla—I revealed her secret demon name.”
That was true, and Leonidas hadn’t fully understood Sable’s motivation at the time. He knew the Djinn was turning light—light enough that even now he could stand on the warded property, a feat no fully dark demon could accomplish.
“Yes, you’ve sided with us several times recently,” Leo agreed, although that didn’t answer the question of Sable’s motivation in wanting to participate in their strategizing tonight. “But tell me why you’ve volunteered your assistance now? We aren’t in the midst of a battle at present.”
Sable walked closer, his hooves loudly crunching the gravel of the drive. “Leonidas, we have known each other for a very long time,” he said smoothly. “We are both old men at this point. Ancient and weary of the endless games that Ares plays with us. But that’s not why I’ve come to you.” Sable’s voice suddenly became low and intense. “My only interest is in protecting Sophie. That’s why I’m here.”
Leo frequently discovered the Djinn near her, sometimes lurking in the shadows where her human eyes couldn’t see. He’d worried at first, until he’d started to realize that at some point, the demon had clearly appointed himself as her protector. It was the one reason that Sable might have named that Leo didn’t doubt.
“You care about Sophie a great deal. I can see that.”
Sable scowled back at him as if accused of a hideous crime. “I should never have gotten tangled up with that deranged little pixie or worried a whit about her well-being,” he snarled, jabbing a finger in Leo’s direction. “She’s all but impossible to keep out of harm’s way, absurdly naive, too kindhearted for her own good, but . . .” Sable gave Leo a downright hopeless glance and sighed heavily. “Damn the woman. I’m here because I want her safe.”
Leo recognized the look reflected in Sable’s eyes, the emotion—it had to be similar to the look in his own eyes when discussing Daphne’s protection.
It was a fight to the death, lay-your-body-before-the-gods kind of desperation—a primal, utterly male need to protect the one you loved. But it raised a serious question of its own.
“You believe Sophie might be in danger of some sort?” Leo asked.
Sable began swatting his tail in obvious agitation. “Tremendous peril, Leonidas. And although that foolhardy female would trip over her own shadow if someone didn’t watch out for her, this time I truly believe her to be in grave danger.” Sable hesitated, then squaring his shoulders, announced, “I didn’t see Ares earlier tonight in the field. By Sophie’s honor, that is true.” The Djinn placed a fist over his chest. “I went to the barn to groom myself. Sophie will attest to my whereabouts. But I did see someone else tonight, someone dangerous . . .”
Sable trotted forward a few light steps, extending his hand. “The man’s name is Caesar Vaella. He says that Aristos will recognize this.” Leo gazed down into the center of the demon’s palm.
“A ring?” Leo reached for it. The band was a simple curio design, popular during the Victorian Era.
“Caesar claims to have taken it from Juliana’s hand . . . the night he drove her to commit suicide.”
Leo’s gaze snapped upward, and he was instantly at full attention.
Sable continued, “He’s a demon trader, Commander. A particularly vile one. I still smell his stench. He says he plans to kill Juliana again, for good this time—and Aristos himself.”
Leo needed this added complication about as much as he needed a force of a hundred thousand Persians to swarm through the gates of the Angels’ plantation. He rubbed his beard, thinking through what Sable had just told him. If Juliana was at risk, that meant that all the Daughters of Delphi might be at risk; it certainly meant that Sophie could be, just as Sable had surmised.
One thing was bloody well sure: If Leo was soon to pass from this world into Elysium, he didn’t want to depart with any dangerously unfinished business. He wanted to know that his bride was safe; he wanted to ensure that the Daughters were protected, not vulnerable to a psychotic killer.
A thought occurred to him, and he spun back to face the demon. “Why did he bring you this now? Why is he surfacing after more than a hundred years?”
Sable shook his head and said nothing. Leo watched him carefully—at the first sign of red in his demon’s eyes, the entire conversation would be ended. So far, the telltale light blue was all that stared back at him, the one true sign of Sable’s spiritual change. It was the exact hue of all the Daughters of Delphi’s eyes because Sable’s own mother had lived at Delphi as a prophetess . . . and been raped by his demon father. It was the Scylla and Charybdis of Sable’s situation, making him difficult to trust, and yet possibly a very valuable ally.
For one long moment, the demon seemed to wrestle internally, one large fist clutched against his belly. “This . . . is difficult to say for me. I hope you understand,” Sable said, his voice thick and deep. “Caesar didn’t tell me why he’d surfaced now, but I have a guess. It’s that he knows his victim, Juliana, lives once again.” Sable paused, kicking at the gravel with a hoof. “Speaking as someone who has enjoyed the taste of murder”—he hesitated, swallowing visibly—“as a demon who once reveled in the flavor of it, I can understand the temptation . . . to revisit a crime. One that might be committed twice . . . therefore
tasted
twice. I can absolutely understand the trader’s motives.” Sable glanced away sharply, averting his face. “For the same ones have lived in me.”
“But you’ve changed, or you would not have come to me now,” Leo pointed out, not sure why he wanted to reassure a creature who had once been his enemy. But the urge was there.
Sable cut a glance at him. “But that darkness is still in me,” he said, and for the briefest moment, his eyes turned beady red, almost as if Sable intended to make a point. Just as instantly, the blue returned.
“Perhaps your mixed heritage makes you the very best kind of ally,” Leo observed. “I’d rather have you inside the tent pissing out, as they say . . .”
Sable trotted closer, blue eyes blazing. “Caesar Vaella laid down a gauntlet tonight, Leonidas. He’s left a trail . . . I can help. I won’t take your men far—I refuse to be gone from Sophie for long, not with a killer stalking this house. But I can get them started.”
Leo stared down at the ring, then closed his fist about it. “Aristos will want his revenge—and this trader’s life. But he can’t go alone. Nikos has the tracking skills. He’s the only one with the supernatural gift to trail a quarry like this one. You’ll go with them?”
“As far as Atlanta, no more,” Sable said. “And, Commander? I’m trusting you to keep an extra eye on Sophie for me. She gets these ideas sometimes, about her healing abilities . . . be sure she doesn’t take on anything too complex.” Sable gave him a significant look, and Leo found himself wondering yet again if the Djinn knew of his mortal fate.
“I’ve seen firsthand how healing anyone or anything drains her. With me . . .” Sable looked away quickly. “She did too much, went too deep . . . and she suffered.”
Leo nodded, and briefly clasped Sable by the shoulder. “I’m trusting you. I don’t know that I should, but your feelings for Sophie are sincere, I’m sure of it. I’m counting on you to do right by her.”
Sable’s eyes grew wide. “Right by her?”

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