Page 1 of Dead End (Crossroads Queen #9)

CHAPTER ONE

Be careful what you wish for.

All my life I wanted to belong, to stop hiding and become a contributing member of society. Now I was finally part of a group and living life as my true self, except I wasn’t in Fairhaven with the ones I loved.

I was in Paradise, the headquarters of The Corporation.

I fiddled with the metal collar fastened around my neck. “I know you’re jealous, but this one’s mine,” I told Spedo, the canine companion that served as a part-time statue in the courtyard.

I was a minimalist at the best of times, and the collar was an unwelcome accessory to my wardrobe. Beatrice from Human Resources had left me waiting in a room under the auspices of finding me accommodations. The room then filled with a noxious gas that knocked me out. When I regained consciousness, I was wearing the collar, which was similar to the ones I’d removed from the seven gods Aite had transported to Fairhaven in their animal forms. This collar’s purpose, as I quickly established, was to lock down my powers and prevent me from leaving .

“You understand,” I said to Spedo. “You’re stuck here, too.”

Spedo wagged his tail before turning back to stone. He didn’t seem to mind his predicament. Then again, he hadn’t been tricked into it, unlike me.

A woman’s voice interrupted my thoughts. “I’ve seen you out here every day this week. This must be your favorite spot.”

My head jerked up. Dark hair. Dark eyes. Friendly smile. So petite she was downright dainty. “I’m chatting with my friends.”

“They’re statues.”

I looked at Lucius and his canine companion. “They weren’t a minute ago.” Lucius was a Lar, an Etruscan god of the home. His brother was positioned in the lobby of the main building. They were only permitted to interact for a minute or so at a time, generally to offer a greeting, before returning to stone. I’d assumed it was a form of punishment, but according to Lucius this was their normal existence. Prior to Paradise, he’d been a statue in a royal palace. He’d adopted Spedo for company, which struck me as a bit selfish and unfair to the dog, but nobody asked me.

The woman sat at the base of the statue. “I’m Darago, by the way. You must be Melinoe. I’ve heard a lot about you.”

“No doubt. I’m Corporation famous.”

“From what I’ve heard about you, I’m surprised you don’t have an escort.”

“Oh, I do. He’s over there.” I hooked a thumb over my shoulder. “They suppress my powers with this contraption…” I flicked the collar. “But my power of annoyance cannot be contained.” Ten knock-knock jokes in a row had bought me twenty minutes of semi-solitude from my security detail. Worth it .

Darago laughed. “And here I assumed he was afraid to stand too close.”

“I don’t think Ademir is afraid of anything.” Which was likely the reason he got the job.

“I have to admit, I miss being feared. Now it’s all meetings and memos.”

I observed her petite stature. “You were feared?”

“Oh, yes. I’m a warrior goddess. People were afraid that if they upset me, I’d erupt their volcanoes, so they’d offer human sacrifices to keep the peace.”

I wasn’t familiar with Darago from my childhood lessons with Pops. “You miss human sacrifices?” No wonder she’d aligned herself with The Corporation.

Her gaze darted left to right. “Between you and me, I’d choose to handle things differently now. Live and learn, right?”

It sounded like Darago might be on the same page as my friend, Max, a Chilean cherufe. Max fled his homeland because he didn’t want to cause eruptions that might hurt people. The magma monster now resided in Helheim, the Norse underworld, to honor a bargain I made with the goddess Hel. Max was the best of the best.

“What’s your role here?” I asked. As far as I knew, there were no volcanoes in Paradise.

“I’m the associate director of the avatar training program.” She lowered her voice. “And before you ask, I was not responsible for training your parents. I’m on the administrative end. As I said, meetings and memos.”

“I wasn’t going to ask.” Okay, that was a lie. The question had been teed up on the tip of my tongue. “Do you know who did?”

“Asking Kottavei won’t give you the answers you seek. Training happens early in an avatar’s existence. She won’t have any information beyond her sessions with them. ”

My security tagalong emerged from behind a perfectly trimmed hedge in the shape of a starfish. “Time’s up,” Ademir said in his usual gruff manner.

“Suits me. I’m ready for my second breakfast.” I smiled at Darago. “It was nice to meet you.”

“And you,” the goddess said.

I dragged myself to my feet to follow Ademir. After I’d been officially processed and collared, they’d assigned me to the Brazilian curupira, known for their bright red hair and backward feet. He could craft illusions, and his high-pitched whistle could inflict fear and madness, although he was only authorized to utilize that particular skill if I stepped out of line. I doubted it was a coincidence that they’d chosen a guard whose talents were similar to my own.

“Can you take me to the training grounds? I’d like to see where the avatars train to fight,” I said.

Ademir’s flaming eyebrows danced. “Why?”

“Because it’s an integral part of the company’s business. If I’m expected to get on board, I should see all the moving parts.”

He scrutinized me. “I know this is a ploy, but I’m not sure what your plan is. To get near the weapons? Bad news, boo. You won’t be able to wield them. The collar won’t allow it.”

“I don’t need to be near the weapons. Take me to the training fields. I want to talk to Kottavei.”

“Not gonna happen. I’m not authorized to take you there.”

“Fine, then can you take me to the crab shack down by the beach? I’m in the mood for seafood.”

“Again? You’ve eaten enough crustaceans and mollusks to qualify as a shark.”

“What does it matter to you?”

He checked his watch. “We have that meeting at four. I’ll take you to the crab shack afterward for dinner. ”

‘That meeting’ was a mystery to me beyond my requirement to attend.

“What about breakfast?”

He pointed to the nearest building. “There’s a perfectly good cafeteria right there.”

“Never mind. I’ve lost my appetite. Let’s skip the food.”

Ademir’s red eyebrow curled like a writhing worm. “Is this because of the cafeteria?”

I turned away. “No.”

“Funny. Your file doesn’t say anything about a fear of cafeterias. I’ll have to let HR know to add that in.”

I ignored him. He knew I had a bee in my bonnet about The Corporation’s file on me. They knew how much I wanted to read it, primarily for information about my parents, which naturally meant they kept the file just out of reach. Their forms of torture were far subtler than Lucifer’s.

Lucifer.

My stomach roiled at the thought of the supreme leader of hell. Kane was currently at his mercy because of me. Posy Martell had set me up with a golden ticket that I used to beat Lucifer, which didn’t have the desired outcome. Little did I know that The Corporation and Lucifer had conspired together to each get what they wanted: my imprisonment here and Kane’s imprisonment with Lucifer as his warden. I’d been outmaneuvered, and now Kane and I were both paying the price for my na?veté.

Nope. Not gonna think about Kane.

I gave the thoughts a firm push to the bottom of my psyche and stamped on them for good measure. If I intended to survive this and rescue Kane, I had to keep my wits about me. That meant not wandering through a minefield of emotions.

Despite my protest, Ademir steered me to the cafeteria entrance. “I won’t get to eat until after the meeting, so we’re going in now, princess.”

“It’s queen to you.” I braced myself as we entered the cafeteria. I’d attended multiple schools as a child; walking into the cafeteria as the new kid never got easier, no matter how many times I’d done it. At least The Corporation’s cafeteria had booths and comfy cushions. The food was good, too. Small mercies.

Ademir sat across from me. I wasn’t granted solitude during mealtimes. Ademir seemed concerned I’d palm a butter knife and attack my way out with it. “Looks like an oatmeal bar today. You interested?”

“I told you I’m not hungry.”

“Your loss. There’s even a ladle for if you want to add heavy cream.”

A pint-sized woman approached the table. It took me a moment to realize I’d met her before, during my initial visit to Paradise.

Ademir smiled in greeting. I hadn’t realized he was capable of it. “Morning, Kami.”

That was it! Kamikins from the prophecy department.

“I hate to bother you, Ademir, but there’s an issue at the salad bar involving two gods and one helping of croutons,” Kami said. “Would you mind?”

Grumbling, he vacated the booth. “Keep an eye on this one for a minute, would you? Make sure she doesn’t steal any cutlery.”

“No problem.”

As he lumbered away, Kami slid into the seat across from me. “Be ready,” she said in a rushed whisper.

“For what?”

Her face contorted. “I wish I knew.”

“Do I need a weapon? A spare roll of toilet paper?”

“I don’t know.” She sounded anguished .

“Listen, Kami. I appreciate the heads up, but how can I be ready if I don’t know what to be ready for?”

“They’re coming,” she said.

“Who’s coming? When?” My spirits lifted. Had Kane freed himself from Lucifer? Even if he had, I couldn’t imagine the demon would be foolish enough to come for me on his own. Paradise was the belly of the beast.

“I wish I could tell you more. You were here and then you weren’t. The vision was blurry.”

I leaned forward. “Do I escape?”

“Either that or you die. I’m not sure.”

The prophecy department didn’t seem like a worthwhile investment to me, but what did I know about running a multirealm company?

Ademir ambled back to the booth carrying a bowl and a spoon. “The only issue at the salad bar is that they replaced the spinach with kale.”

Kami scrunched her nose. “Huh. I guess they settled it amongst themselves. Sorry about that. I’ll leave you to your meal.” She fled the booth without a backward glance.

Ademir narrowed his eyes at me. “You didn’t give her a hard time, did you? She’s one of the nicer ones.”

“We didn’t exchange a word. She played Candy Crush on her phone. Kinda rude, to be honest.”

Ademir dug into his bowl of oatmeal topped with walnuts, apple, and cinnamon. It was a wholesome choice that reminded me of winter mornings with my grandparents. After my grandmother died, Pops and I reverted to cereal for breakfast, or the occasional eggs and bacon. I resisted the pull of memories. Now wasn’t the time.

Ademir scraped the remnants of the oatmeal from his bowl. “Last chance for food. I’m not stopping again before your meeting.”

“What’s the meeting for? ”

“Do you think you’ll get a different answer from me this time? You know they don’t tell me anything.”

“Because you’re not a god?”

His silent glare spoke volumes. It seemed Ademir suffered from Posy Martell syndrome. The siren had complained more than once about her subpar treatment as a non-deity.

“Why not become an avatar?” I asked. “I hear they’ve got an elixir for supernaturals now.” I knew because I’d fought one of them—Belphegor, a demon with the power of a god but without having to share his body with the god’s consciousness.

His eyes turned to slits. “I see what you’re trying to do, and it won’t work. My head is impenetrable.”

“You’re thick skulled. Got it.”

Ademir stood and hiked up his belt. “Let’s go.” He prodded me forward and marched me through the cafeteria. I heard a rise in whispers as I passed by tables. Another experience I’d had many times before. I lifted my chin and let him steer me outside to a golf cart.

“Melinoe, hi.”

I brightened at the sound of Libitina’s voice. The Roman goddess of the underworld had made a point to seek me out after my arrival. “Hi. Where’ve you been? I haven’t seen you in a couple days.”

“I tend to keep a low profile,” Libby said with a shrug.

“A low profile. I would love that. Teach me your ways.”

The goddess smiled. “I’d be happy to. I’m in Hut 531. You should stop by for a proper chat. I make a mean maritozzi.”

“She’s not permitted to socialize outside of public spaces,” Ademir said, although there was surprisingly little bite to it. I glanced at him and noticed the puppy dog eyes. Curious.

“I thought they wanted her to assimilate,” Libby said.

They. Not we. Even curiouser .

“I have my orders, Libby. I’m sorry. It might be worth talking to HR to see if you can get around the restrictions.”

“Why do you call your personnel department Human Resources when most of you are gods or supernaturals?”

“HR deals specifically with avatars and others like you,” Libby said.

A splotch of pink appeared outside the cafeteria. There was only one walking bottle of Pepto Bismol in Paradise and her name was Posy Martell. The siren didn’t even have the decency to flinch when she saw me. She looked me up and down with all the practiced movements of a supernatural mean girl.

“Where’s your lanyard?” Posy asked. “You’re supposed to wear it all the time.”

“I have this beautiful choker. Isn’t that enough?” Still, I fished the lanyard from my pocket and dropped it over my head in an exaggerated motion.

“I see no one’s taken you shopping for a new wardrobe yet,” she said. “You should put in a request. There’s money in the budget for it. I requested the approval personally.”

“Am I supposed to thank you?”

“You will once we chuck those leggings that seem to be your only wardrobe staple.”

She would take these leggings over my dead body. I’d worn them the last time I saw Kane and my loved ones; they were my last physical connection to home.

“They have pockets,” I seethed, tugging the additional fabric on the sides in a dramatic gesture.

Posy rolled her eyes. “You can find suitable clothing with pockets.”

“I don’t need your charity.” If it wasn’t for Posy’s trickery, I wouldn’t be here now.

“If you want to be helpful to Melinoe,” Libby interrupted, “then please tell Ademir that she has permission to visit my hut. He said she isn’t permitted to socialize outside public spaces, which seems at odds with what The Corporation is trying to achieve here.”

I saw an opportunity and grabbed it with both hands. “Never mind, Libby,” I said quickly. “Posy doesn’t have the authority to sign off on that.”

“Of course I do,” the siren snapped. “Ademir, you have my permission to escort Melinoe to Libitina’s hut for a social call. If anyone has a problem with it, tell them to call me.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Ademir said.

Posy flashed a satisfied smile. “See, sweetie? I’ve moved up in the corporate world, thanks to you.” She blew me a kiss and sauntered toward the cafeteria.

“Want to meet at my place in twenty minutes?” Libby asked. “I just need to run home and tidy up.”

“Hut 351, right?” Ademir asked.

She seemed surprised that he remembered. “That’s right. See you then.” She hurried away.

“You like her,” I said, once we were ensconced in the golf cart.

“Of course I like her. Everybody does.”

“No, I mean you like her. She’s your Roman Empire.”

Red marks dotted his cheek. “Enough talking. Save it for your social call.”

I turned away so he couldn’t see my triumphant smile. I’d finally identified his weak spot. It was nice to know he had one.

Twenty minutes later, Ademir parked the golf cart and walked me across the walkway to Hut 351. The sea was only inches from my feet. I thought of my beloved moat and felt a pang of grief. The water here was beautiful, the most perfect blend of blue and green I’d ever seen.

But it wasn’t home.

Libby waited for me on the deck. I was certain the only reason Ademir hadn’t questioned Posy’s authority was because he wanted to see Libby again. Whatever the reason, I took the win.

The hut was far more spacious on the inside than it appeared from the outside. Libby had decorated the interior with … snowmen. There were snowmen paintings, snowmen figurines, even snowmen kitchen towels.

“Can I offer you a drink?” she asked. “I have the best selection of herbal teas in all of Paradise.” She pulled two snowman mugs from the cabinet.

“I’m sensing a theme,” I said.

Her face grew flushed. “There’s something magical about snowmen.”

“You’re a goddess,” I said with a laugh. “There’s something magical about you .” I selected a tangerine teabag, and she put the kettle on the stovetop to boil. While we waited, she poked her head outside.

“You’re welcome to join us, Ademir.”

I wanted to object but held my tongue. I spent quite enough time with Ademir. He even slept outside the door of my hut. I was lucky to use the bathroom by myself.

“That’s okay,” Ademir said. “I’ll give you ladies some privacy.”

“Thank you, Ademir. That’s very kind of you.” Libby shut the door and turned back to me. “He’s a sweetheart.”

“That’s one word for him,” I murmured.

“I thought his backward feet were strange when I first saw them, but I don’t even notice them now.”

“I notice them, but only because I’ve stepped on toes where heels should be.”

She laughed merrily as she filled the mugs with hot water. I followed her across the room to the window that overlooked the water .

“Thank you for inviting me,” I said. “It’s been a strange couple of weeks.”

“I bet.” Her gaze darted to the door. “Listen,” she said in a hushed whisper. “I think you should know they took a sample of your DNA.”

My skin itched all over. “What? How do you know?” HR must’ve done it when they knocked me out to put on the collar.

“I overheard one of the lab techs boasting about it. He said the Board of Directors wants them to study you and submit their report ASAP.”

I wasn’t shocked by her revelation. After all, it was one of the reasons I’d avoided entanglements, that a group like this one would want to use me as a weapon or an experiment.

“Did they say for what purpose?”

“I heard the word ‘replicate.’ I think they like the concept of a reborn goddess.”

Of course they did. No need for an avatar. “Where can I find the lab?”

A screech of laughter followed my question. “Oh, Melinoe. You’re so funny.” Her mask dropped as fast as her voice. “You can’t. You’ll never make it past security, never mind Ademir.”

“You’d be surprised what I’m capable of.”

A knock on the door interrupted us and Ademir poked his head inside. “Is she behaving herself?”

Libby gave him a reassuring smile. “A perfect guest. Thank you for asking.”

Satisfied, he closed the door.

“You should have Ademir take you to the stables,” Libby said in a clear voice. “You haven’t lived until you’ve ridden a unicorn.”

Stables, got it .

“I recommend the trail to the left,” she continued. “It’s flatter and easier on their hooves.”

“That’s considerate of you.”

“I love animals, and The Corporation takes excellent care of the ones in the stables. Epona insists on the highest standard of care for those in the Equidae family.”

“Are unicorns in the Equidae family?” I’d never given it much thought.

“I suppose they are, or she wouldn’t bother with them. She’s very narrow in her focus, as many deities are.”

“Libby,” a voice whispered.

I jumped as a hand appeared on the window frame. Libby hurried to the window to help someone climb inside. There was no pane of glass, no screen. Either no barriers were necessary in Paradise—or else they weren’t permitted.

“Melinoe, this is Nabu,” Libby said quietly.

“I paddled my kayak from my hut.”

“Do you always arrive through the window?” I asked.

“I saw the guard and decided it was best to avoid him. He was too busy staring wistfully at the front door to notice me anyway.”

A blush crept into Libby’s cheeks.

“You know about his crush?” I asked.

“I’ve been told,” she said. “I haven’t noticed it myself.”

“He isn’t Libby’s type,” Nabu said.

I cringed. “It is the backward feet, isn’t it? I try not to judge, but I can imagine that might be off-putting.”

“It isn’t anything to do with his physical appearance,” Libby said. “It’s his character. Anybody eager to serve The Corporation with unquestioning loyalty…”

The god’s eyes widened as his gaze darted from Libby to me. “Libitina,” he said, a warning in his tone.

“It’s all right. Melinoe is one of us. She won’t tell.”

“One of you? What does that mean? ”

“Just because we aren’t wearing collars doesn’t mean we agree with the way things are done around here,” Nabu said.

“Then why not try to change it?” I asked.

Libby looked ready to keel over at the prospect. “It isn’t that simple.”

“Not all gods crave power,” Nabu said. “Some of us would prefer to live in peace and harmony.”

“Just out of curiosity, who else is in your secret I Hate The Corporation club?”

Nabu hesitated. “There’s no official group.”

Oh, there was definitely an official group.

“Zhi Peng,” Libby volunteered. “Well, I don’t know if he hates them, but he certainly resents them.”

A memory sparked. “One of the Tien-Wang. I met him at that first cocktail party. He ran to the food table when I asked how he liked it here.”

Libby laughed. “Oh, yes. I remember that.”

“Why does he resent The Corporation?”

“They separated him from his brothers,” Libby explained. “He doesn’t even know where they are. Can you imagine being separated from your family for an eternity?” She slapped a hand over her mouth. “What a stupid question. Of course you do.”

“Many of us have suffered as a result of their thirst for power,” Nabu said.

“If that’s how you feel, then why are you here?”

Nabu splayed his hands. “Like Libitina, I have nowhere else to go.”

“Sounds like an excuse.”

“I suppose it is. Believe me, if I had the option to dwell in Dilmun for eternity, that’s where I’d be.”

“Dilmun,” I repeated. “Why do I know that name?”

“It’s the garden of paradise for my people.” His face pinched with pain. “Or at least it was. ”

“What happened to it?”

“The Corporation happened to it. That’s how I ended up here. I was initially a captive, until they decided I had more value without a collar.”

“They kidnapped you?” I asked.

“Not quite.” He cut a glance at Libby, who nodded. “Why don’t I show you?”

I frowned at the closed door. “I think Ademir might object.”

“He’ll never know.” Nabu held out his hand. “We don’t need to use the door.”

I set down my mug on a nearby coaster and felt a jolt of energy as his skin brushed mine. Libby and the hut fell away, and I found myself standing in an unfamiliar land amidst a pile of rubble.

“This is where my home once stood,” Nabu said. “It was destroyed by the gods of The Corporation. The black marks are courtesy of Fafnir.”

I recognized the name of the dragon deity. “He burned the place to the ground?”

“Oh, it wasn’t down to one thing. There was burning, smashing, shaking. All the verbs.” Nabu pointed to a section of broken stones. “That’s where I fought Bossu himself. The fight was only a distraction to allow Dis and Mars to capture me. Once the collar was on, I was powerless to stop them.” He worked the lump in his throat. “That day continues to haunt my dreams. We were woefully unprepared. I saw eight of them and assumed the fight would be easier than it was.”

“I’m sorry.” An unpleasant thought occurred to me. “If The Corporation took over, why does it still look like this?”

“They tried to take over Dilmun. When their initial plan failed, they chose to destroy the place they coveted. The godly equivalent of ‘if I can’t have you, no one else can.’ ”

I held my breath as my gaze traveled over the devastation. “How did you fight them off?”

“We put up a good fight. When they realized it would be a more protracted battle than they anticipated, they decided a scorched earth approach was preferable. They pretended to retreat, let us believe we’d won, and then they turned around and…” He waved a hand at the results.

“And then they took you with them?”

He nodded. “They grabbed a few of us on their way out, just to show they could.”

“Gods are the pettiest creatures that ever lived,” I said.

He lowered his lids. “My friends are either collared, in stasis, or obliterated.”

“Lucky you, getting special treatment.”

“There was nothing lucky about this. I manipulated my way out of bondage, and I make no apologies for it.”

“It’s all right, Nabu. We all do what we have to do to survive,” I said. “I’ve seen enough. Take me back, please.”

“We haven’t technically left,” he admitted. “This is a vision of the current reality, but we aren’t actually in it.”

I glanced at the ground. “We’re still in the hut?”

He nodded. “If I could teleport, don’t you think I would’ve left a long time ago? I bide my time, playing the role that I’m one of them, a necessity in a den of vipers like this one.”

My gaze swept over the abandoned land. “Why do you think they wanted Dilmun so badly?”

“I believe they wanted a garden of paradise of their own.”

“They have one. It’s right there in the name.”

“Yes, but it’s one they’ve created, and it takes a lot of energy to sustain it. Why do you think there are so many gods in collars? Some are kept in a storage facility and used solely as a power source to fuel Paradise. ”

Good grief. I had no idea. “Thank you for sharing this with me, Nabu. It’s been very enlightening.” And terrifying.

He made an undulating motion with his hand and the desolate landscape faded, replaced by the cozy interior of Libby’s snowman-infested hut. The damage was done, however. Images of Dilmun were forever burned into my retinas.

“I’m sorry about your homeland,” I said.

He dipped his head. “I appreciate that.”

Ademir knocked on the door. “Time’s up. Her Highness has a meeting at four.”

“Her Majesty!” I corrected him. I turned to hug Libby. “Thank you for inviting me. It was a real pleasure.” I offered my hand to Nabu. “Great to meet you, too. I hope we see each other again.”

“Likewise.”

I slipped outside so that Ademir didn’t catch sight of Nabu.

“Put a spring in your step,” Ademir said. “The meeting is across campus, and you can’t be late.”

“But what if I enjoy making a dramatic entrance?”

He grabbed me by the elbow and forced me to walk faster. “Save the charm for the meeting. You’ll need it.”

“Aww, you think I’m charming? And here I thought we’d never be friends.”

Ademir glowered at me. “First thing tomorrow morning, I’m asking for a raise.”