Page 8 of Dead End (Crossroads Queen #9)

CHAPTER EIGHT

It was time to update Kane.

I found the former demon prince resting in the white wicker rocking chair on the front porch. He already looked a hundred times better than he did last night. Hooray for demonic healing powers.

“This is nice.” He waved a hand at the yard. “I can see myself bellowing at children to get off my lawn.”

“You won’t have to. The ward won’t let them through the gate.”

He frowned. “Kind of takes all the fun out of it.”

“The original owner chose this spot for a reason.” The five-thousand-square-foot house had been built for summer respites during the Gilded Age by a tycoon named Joseph Edgar Blue III. Blue was thrilled with the house’s position atop a hill that overlooked the living in the town below, as well as the dead in the adjacent cemetery.

Kane smiled up at me. “You seem to have an eye for diamonds in the rough.”

I ran my fingers through his hair. “I’m glad to see you out of bed. ”

His eyes danced with mischief. “Are you sure about that?”

“On that note, I’ll see myself inside,” Ray said, and disappeared.

“Everything all right?” Kane asked. “I’ve been worried about you.”

“Right back at you.”

He tugged me onto his lap and curled his arms around me. “Talk to me.”

I told him about Ziz and the bird’s special delivery.

“Thank the devil,” he said. “That’s a relief.”

It took me a second to process his response. “I’m sorry. Did you just say you’re relieved? You heard what I said, right? Ancient angry bird. Decapitated siren.”

“I heard. I worried you were dodging me because you changed your mind about living together. Ancient angry bird is better. That’s a short-term problem.”

I pressed my forehead against his. “Why would I change my mind?”

“We spoke about it before…” He trailed off. “I didn’t want you to decide out of pity.”

His comment took me by surprise. “Pity?”

“It’s one thing to see a vision of someone at their worst, but you actually got to experience it firsthand this time. If that changes things for you, I understand.”

I tugged a tuft of his hair. “Did Lucifer get in your head?”

“He worked very hard to sow the seeds of doubt. In my weakened condition, perhaps a couple took root.”

I cradled his cheek. “Firstly, if seeing you in that condition changed anything, then I had no business ever telling you I loved you. Secondly, that wasn’t you at your worst. That was Lucifer at his. For the record, I do want to live together, and if I didn’t, I would tell you rather than avoid you. I believe that’s part of the whole healthy communication we’ve talked about. ”

I felt the tension ease from his body. “Excellent. Glad to hear it.”

“Let’s go inside. I’m famished.” I stood and pulled him to his feet.

“Hold on,” he said. “Looks like visitors.”

I turned to see Gunther and Camryn at the gate. I waved them over. As they crossed the moat, I noticed that Gun carried a basket tied with a large red ribbon.

“We wanted to see how His Highness is faring,” Gun said. With an exaggerated bow, he thrust out the basket. “We come bearing gifts.”

Kane accepted the basket. “You shouldn’t have.”

“You’ll thank me later. We included a set of luxury soaps. Lorelei only uses store brands.” The mages shuddered in unison.

“Soap is soap,” I insisted.

“I appreciate the gesture,” Kane said.

“Is it true that you live here now?” Cam asked.

The rumor mill of a small town never ceases, even in a crisis. “I do,” he said, “although I still need to gather the rest of my belongings. I left in rather a hurry.”

“Come inside,” I told them. “I might as well update you while you’re here.”

Gun wiggled his eyebrows. “Ooh, sounds like there’s more tea to be spilled than the Boston Harbor.”

“I wish it were salacious,” I said. “It would be a far more enjoyable conversation.”

I trudged inside the house, not looking forward to another rehash of the Ziz incident.

Goran stood at the stove as we filed into the kitchen. “Oh, I didn’t know we were expecting company.”

The aroma of basil and oregano permeated the room. “What are you making? ”

“Nana Pratt’s lasagna recipe. I should have enough for anyone who’s hungry.”

“No carbs for me, thanks,” Cam said quickly.

“Me neither. Nice apron, though,” Gun said. “Accurate too.”

My gaze dropped to the pinafore. ‘Handsome and Can Cook.’

“I found it in the local thrift store,” Goran said. “It’s amazing what you can get for a few dollars.”

Camryn scrunched her nose. “Is it, though?”

Kane set his gift basket on the counter. “I would be more than happy to taste test your lasagna.”

I sniffed the air again, enjoying the smells of Italian seasoning. “Same.” My grandmother’s lasagna had been a Sunday staple, accompanied by a side salad and garlic bread. Even now, the familiar smell sent me straight back to my grandparents’ cozy dining room. If there was ever an argument for time travel, it was through the power of scent.

“It’ll be another ten minutes,” Goran said. “Might as well have a seat.”

I joined the others at the table and updated them on Ziz, as well as the research on Unas.

“Do we actually know what state their headquarters is in?” Goran asked. “Maybe the invaders managed to do more damage than you think.”

“I don’t know,” I admitted.

Gun plucked at a loose thread on the tablecloth. “What are the odds that one Egyptian god was able to make a dent in an entire company of them?”

Camryn gave his hand a light smack. “You’re making it worse.”

“What? These are crucial questions.”

“I’m talking about the tablecloth.” She pointed to the growing gap in the fabric .

Gun offered a sheepish smile. “Sorry. I was distracted by the dark cloud that seems to have settled over my soul.”

“You’re right to be concerned,” I said.

“Let’s stick to the bright side. You were able to escape.” Camryn flashed the high-beam smile of a cheerleader. “Go team.”

“Exactly,” Gun said. “She was able to escape, which means The Corporation will be back for her, and based on the big bird, they’re pissed as hell.” He shot a quick glance at Kane. “No offense.”

“If nothing else, Apep will have thrown them off their game,” Goran said, “which buys you time to shore up your defenses.”

“I think you mean our defenses,” Kane said.

“I want to hear more about Unas,” Gun said. “He sounds promising.”

“I told you everything I know so far.”

“I’m confused,” Cam said. “I thought gods don’t die, not permanently. That even if we kill them, they’ll come back eventually.”

“And want hardcore revenge,” Gun added. “We might not live to see that day, but you and Kane would.”

“The realms would be free of The Corporation for centuries,” Kane said. “The present reward would far outweigh the future consequences.”

“Except it sounds like Unas consumes their very essence,” I said. “I think when they talk about obliteration, Unas is what they mean.”

Camryn chewed her lip. “Do you think they might’ve used him to eliminate your parents?” A thump punctuated her question, followed by a sharp cry. She glared at her cousin. “What? It’s a reasonable question.”

“Lorelei has enough to think about in the present. You don’t need to dredge up the past.” He scoffed. “And you accused me of making things worse.”

Goran set a plate of steaming lasagna in front of me. It looked and smelled delicious. “Are you sure Unas is a safe bet? What if he turns on you?”

“Even worse, what if he actually succeeds,” Kane said. “Would you be able to live with those consequences?”

“It’s her or them,” Gun interjected. “If they’d leave her alone, she wouldn’t need to resort to drastic measures.”

“I understand that,” Kane said smoothly. “I also know Lorelei.” He tucked into the dish in front of him. “Thank you, Goran.”

I sucked down the melted cheese with vigor. There was a new favorite dish in the rotation. Bonus points for inexpensive ingredients.

“Lorelei said that Unas will only consume gods he considers worthy,” Gun said.

“But we don’t know how he defines worthy. Maybe he only likes the taste of the decent gods,” Camryn pointed out.

Ray materialized in the kitchen. “Lorelei, I’ve been thinking…” His eyebrows shot up at the sight of lasagna. “Once in a blue moon I wish I was alive again, and this is definitely one of those moments.”

“What’s up, Ray?”

“Unas is an Egyptian god, right? Wouldn’t Apep know where to find him?”

It was a good idea. “If he knew, why not use Unas when he invaded? It might’ve turned the tide in his favor.”

“Apep isn’t the supreme god of gods, right? Maybe Unas doesn’t answer to him, but he could still know how to contact him.”

“If he doesn’t answer to his own gods, why would he answer to me?”

“That I don’t know, but if he’s been willing to do The Corporation’s dirty work, they must offer an incentive that appeals to him.”

I nodded. “You’re right, Ray.”

The ghost broadened his chest. “I am, aren’t I? I’m going to go tell Ingrid.” His form dissipated.

“Ray thinks you should contact Unas through Apep?” Kane asked.

I nodded. “It’s a solid idea.”

“Do we know whether Apep survived the invasion?” Gun asked.

“Only one way to find out.”

After inhaling a second plate of lasagna, I ventured outside and sent a crow through the crossroads with a message for Apep, requesting a meeting at the crossroads at dusk. We’d met there once before when he was on the hunt for Anubis, which was when I’d shared information about The Corporation. With that memory clear in my mind, I also asked that he leave his serpent buddies at home and come alone, as would I.

There was no response, whether because he was dead or simply decided to ignore me, I couldn’t be certain. When dusk rolled around, I stood at the crossroads. There were still no guards on rotation at present, for their own safety.

The wind stirred, and I felt a shift in energy. Fog billowed toward me, enveloping me in a haze. My spirits lifted as I spotted a large serpentine silhouette emerging from the crossroads. Not a scarab or snake in sight. Phew.

“You survived,” I said. “Well done.”

Apep inclined his scaly head. “And I left with Anubis. As far as I’m concerned, the mission was a success.” It sounded like his sandpaper tongue was hard at work forming those raspy words. “Is this why you summoned me? To learn my fate? ”

“That, and I’d like to get in touch with a god in your pantheon.”

“I only acquiesced to your request because your help was instrumental in the return of Anubis. This will make us even.”

I’d take the help however I could get it. “Unas,” I said, and waited to gauge his reaction.

Apep didn’t flinch. “I see. You wish to use him against our common enemy.”

“Possibly.”

His reptilian head bobbed. “A worthwhile plan. I wish I had thought of it myself.”

Well, that explained the reason Unas hadn’t been a member of the invading army. “You know how to reach him?”

His forked tongue slipped in and out. “I believe I do.”

“Will you send him to this address?” I handed the god a piece of paper folded in a square.

Apep held up the note and bowed. “I give you my word, but I cannot promise what he will do in response to the request. Unas is under no god’s control but his own.”

“Understood and thank you.” I paused. “How is Anubis?”

The serpent-devil’s dark eyes turned to slits. “How do you mean?”

“I mean, how is he? He went through a traumatic experience and now he’s home again.”

Scoffing, Apep stuffed the paper in the pocket of his regal robe. “My presence is required in the Duat. There is still much work to be done to repair the damage done by The Corporation.” He turned away, quickly swallowed by a cloud of mist.

“Nice to see you again,” I called after him. Poor Anubis. I hoped he found a sympathetic ear at the very least. Regardless, my mission was also accomplished. Now I only hoped that Unas would be either bored enough or curious enough to accept my invitation.

The night involved a lot of tossing and turning, and I awoke feeling on edge. Kane seemed to sense my unease because he offered to stay at the Castle instead of returning to the Devil’s Playground to pack a few more bags.

“I’ll be fine,” I assured him. “I’m just having regrets about reaching out to Unas.” What if the god was responsible for devouring my parents? And even if he wasn’t, did I really want to stoop to The Corporation’s level?

“I understand why you would,” Kane said.

“I know, I know. It isn’t me. You said the same thing when I had Lucifer trapped in a nightmare.”

He wrapped his arms around my waist. “I don’t deny that you’re in a difficult predicament. I promise not to judge you for your decision.”

“I don’t know what else to do. I don’t want to put anybody else at risk.”

His kiss was gentle and reassuring. “I support you no matter what. I only encourage you to ask yourself if you can live with the consequences of your actions. My path isn’t one I would wish on anyone, especially you.”

“I love you.”

“And I love you, my inamorata.”

I stayed in my bedroom for another half an hour after his departure, trying to make what seemed like an impossible choice. I jumped to my feet when I received a text message from Gunther, asking me to open the front door. I hurried downstairs, grateful for the distraction.

I opened the door to admit him and immediately spotted the reason for the request. His arms were laden with books.

“Did you rob the library? ”

He laughed. “Can you imagine Hailey’s reaction if that happened?”

“I don’t know. She might enjoy it.”

He carried the books through to the library. “I thought you could use a few classics to spruce up these empty shelves.”

I plucked the book off the top of the stack and eyed the spine. “Lady Chatterley’s Lover?”

“Like I said, a classic.”

As I placed it on the shelf, he clucked his tongue. “What’s wrong?” I asked.

“You can’t put them willy nilly on the shelf. You need to think through the organization. Are you an alphabetical girlie or a genre girlie? Or maybe color-coded?”

“I’m not a girlie at all. I’m a goddess.”

“Where are your roomies?”

“Kane is at his place, gathering more of his belongings. Goran is upstairs, determined to finish reading his Brandon Sanderson book before it’s due back to the library.”

Gun’s gaze snagged on the window, and he dropped the stack of books on the floor in a heap.

“What is it?” I asked.

“It must be Unas.”

Butterflies formed an insectile tornado in my stomach. “What makes you so sure?”

“He looks like a comic book villain.”

I scrambled to the window for a better view. Unlike many of the gods at The Corporation, Unas met my expectations. Bulky, brawny, and beastly, he resembled a walking, talking Halloween costume. Given the season, I hoped nobody with the Sight noticed him. He scared me, and I was the one who’d invited him.

“Should I lower the ward?” I asked.

“If you expect him to come inside, then yes.” He patted his pocket, which bulged with a pack of tarot cards. “Go on, Lorelei. I’ve got you covered.”

Nausea flooded my stomach as I lowered the ward. “I don’t think I can do this.”

“It’s all right. I can do it for you.” Gun opened the door.

“Let’s talk to him on the porch. It’s a nice day. There’s no reason to be inside.”

Unas walked with the gait of a god that didn’t understand the word no. I started to feel worse.

“Maybe don’t mention I’m a goddess,” I whispered.

“Unas,” Gun said in a bright, sunny voice. “Welcome to Bluebeard’s Castle.”

The god grunted. “Why have you summoned me?” His voice matched his physique, which only added to my angst.

Gun offered an easygoing smile that rivaled the most successful used car salesman’s. “Because we have a proposition for you. You help us. We help you.”

“I don’t even know who you are.”

“I am Gunther Saxon, member of the illustrious Assassins Guild and ancient society of mages known as La Fortuna. This is my dear friend, Lorelei Clay. She’s very boring.”

His eyes on me, Unas scented the air. “You’re a goddess.”

Well, there went my undercover identity. “Yes.”

“She is a goddess,” Gun intervened, “but very little meat on her bones. Hardly worth the effort. You’d wash her soul down with a nice Chianti and be hungry again five minutes later.”

“Chianti?”

“It’s an underrated Italian red wine. Never mind.”

As frightened as I was to know the truth, I couldn’t let the opportunity pass me by. “I’m Melinoe, daughter of Hades and Persephone.” I tried to gauge his reaction.

Unas didn’t react. “What reason would I have to help you, child of Hades and Persephone? ”

I couldn’t decide whether to be relieved. It was possible he didn’t recall his victims.

Gun jumped in. “Because we can offer you what you’ve always dreamed of: an all-you-can-eat supernatural smorgasbord. You’ll be dining on deities for days in Paradise.” Gunther glanced sideways at me with a satisfied smirk.

I pictured Unas rampaging The Corporation’s headquarters, swallowing its residents whole. What if he encountered Kami or Libitina? They didn’t deserve such a horrific fate.

“Paradise?” Unas repeated. “The Corporation’s headquarters?”

“Exactly. Why bother receiving instructions from them when you could make them your meal ticket? If I were you, I would only settle for the most powerful of the gods, not their scraps. They must taste the most delicious and offer the most nourishment, no?” Gun asked in a tantalizing tone.

Unas folded his bulging arms. “I’m listening.”

“Hey, Gun. Can I talk to you?” I forced a smile at Unas. “Excuse us for one second.” I steered Gun into the foyer and closed the door. “I’m having second thoughts about this.”

“After all the trouble we went to, you want to chicken out now? He won’t eat you. We’ll make it part of the contract.”

“I’m not worried about me. It doesn’t feel right to treat them the way they’ve treated others. Where’s my higher moral ground if I set Unas loose in Paradise? I’m not even sure how I would sneak him in.”

Gun slapped a hand on my shoulder. “Your moral higher ground, my lovely, is the hill you’re not buried on because you lived to tell the tale.”

“What if he ends up obliterating some of the good ones? Cam’s right. We don’t know how Unas determines worthiness. Maybe there’s another way.”

“Note to Lorelei: the god devourer is standing on your porch right now. The time to back out was before we summoned him.”

“I get that you’re viewing this through the lens of a professional assassin…”

“Because that’s who I am.”

“But I think we should reconsider how we fight our battles.”

Gun smacked his forehead. “Lor, you’re killing me, and not with funny jokes the way I’d prefer.”

“I’m sorry. I know Unas was my idea, and I take full responsibility. I was desperate.”

Gun lowered his voice. “How do you expect to get rid of him without some sort of offering? He came here with the expectation of striking a deal. He might decide you make a tasty snack instead.”

I blew out a breath. Gun was right. I’d backed myself into a corner.

Gun pondered me. “Look. I’ll handle it. You stay in here, so he doesn’t decide to eat you.”

“You don’t have to do that.”

“I want to. You’re at risk. He won’t be interested in devouring a mere mage.”

“You’re a La Fortuna mage. That’s much different than a mere mage.” Gun and Cam could trace their lineage back to a society of mages that formed in the fifteenth century.

“Even so, Unas will be far more interested in consuming you than me. Wait here. I’ll let you know when he’s gone.” Gun skipped outside and resumed his conversation with Unas.

I watched nervously from the window as they exchanged a few words, then Unas simply turned and walked away.

“He left without a fuss?” I asked, once Gun was inside.

“Not a peep of protest. ”

Relief swept through me like a gusty wind. “Thanks, Gun. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

He gave my shoulder a gentle pat. “That’s what friends are for, my love. When you’re too weak to carry on, we carry the load, unless it’s laundry. Then I’m out.”

The scream was intense enough to shatter glass. I shot to the door and flung it open to see Anna and West running toward the house. The alpha carried someone over his shoulder like they were a sack of potatoes. The figure’s brown hair was matted with blood.

A gasp of recognition escaped me as they reached the porch. “Libby?”

“I was out for a run in the woods when I saw someone crawling through the crossroads,” Anna said. “She was calling your name.”

I ushered them inside. “Quick. Bring her to the parlor room.”

Nana Pratt materialized beside me. “She’s bleeding,” the elderly ghost objected.

“Then it’ll match the sofa,” I said.

West set the goddess on the sofa with a pair of gentle hands. “I’ll call Sage.”

“Thank you.” I kneeled beside Libby. “What happened?”

The goddess curled into herself like a porcupine hellbent on protection. One word and my world spun.

“Unas,” she whispered.

I heard Goran thunder down the steps. “What’s happening? Is the bird back?”

“It was so awful,” Libby whimpered.

I smoothed back her hair. “Don’t try to speak right now. Save your strength. I’ll do what I can until Sage gets here. ”

Claude brought me a damp washcloth. I thanked him as I wiped Libitina’s face.

“Sage is on the way,” West said, stuffing his phone in the back pocket of his tight jeans.

“Unas,” Libby repeated. “I was in the cafeteria. Everyone started running. I got trampled. I only survived because Ademir…” Libby squeezed her eyes closed. “It’s all my fault. He was trying to help me.” She pressed her lips together, as though the release of one small breath might deflate her.

“And he did help you. You’re here now, aren’t you?”

Libitina opened her eyes and looked directly into mine. “Did you send him? Unas?”

I broke out in a cold sweat. “No. Absolutely not. I considered it, but I decided it wasn’t the right call. I would never want to hurt you, Libby.”

“How many are dead?” West asked.

“I don’t know.” Her lower lip trembled. “I had to step over bodies to reach the exit.”

My chest tightened at the image of sweet Libby climbing over blood-soaked bodies to escape the carnage. This was exactly the scenario I wanted to avoid when I opted not to utilize Unas as a weapon against them.

“Looks like Sage is here, and she isn’t alone,” West announced. “I’ll let them in.”

I was too focused on Libby to fully process his statement. “I’m so sorry this happened, Libby.”

Sage appeared behind the sofa, along with another familiar face, although this one was far less bloody than Libby’s. She hugged a messenger bag to her side.

I sprang to my feet. “Kami!” I skirted the sofa to embrace the prophecy goddess. “Are you hurt?”

“No. I hid in the stables until the coast was clear.” Her gaze darted to the sofa. “Is Libby all right? ”

“She will be once I can get my hands on her.” Sage marched around the sofa and began to unpack a variety of lotions and potions from her rainbow backpack. “I wasn’t sure what her injuries were, so I brought what I could safely carry.”

“Thank you,” I said.

“I’m sorry about Ademir,” Kami said, her voice barely audible.

Pink splotches formed on Libby’s cheeks. “I know how he felt about me, although I didn’t feel the same for him. I feel guilty about that now.”

“You shouldn’t,” Kami said. “You were kind to him while he lived, and that’s what matters.” She shot a pained glance at me. “They’ll come for you now. The survivors will regroup and strike quickly.”

I shuddered at the thought of what an angry gaggle of gods would be willing to do to me and the rest of Fairhaven in retaliation. This was no longer a battle of wills.

This was war.

Kami motioned for me to follow her into the foyer. I patted Libby’s head. “I’ll be back in a minute. I’ll bring you a glass of water.”

Sage gave me a firm look. “I’ve got this, Lorelei.”

I joined Kami in the foyer. “What is it?”

She unzipped her messenger bag and reached inside, producing a metal collar like the one I’d worn. “I brought these.”

I stared at her blankly. “Why?”

Hesitation flickered in her brown eyes. “I don’t know. I was hoping you would.”

“You had a vision?”

She nodded. “That’s why I hid in the barn with them. I didn’t know what was coming, only that I needed be with the animals when it did.” She thrust out the bag. “And to bring this to you when I escaped. ”

I couldn’t see how the collars would be helpful. It wasn’t like I planned to get close enough to any retaliatory gods to fasten them around their necks. And where would I keep them if I did—my basement?

“The Corporation was already angry about the destruction of the lab. Unas is going to send them over the edge,” Kami said.

“At least they can’t use new avatars to attack.”

Kami lowered her gaze. “Actually, you only destroyed one of the labs. There’s a second one. You may have set back their progress, but the new avatar program survived.”

My head started to throb. None of this was good news. “Did your department foresee anything positive this week?”

“It was a strange week. No one in the department had any visions at all, except for me.” Her tongue darted out to swipe her lip. “And I didn’t share mine.”

Libby cried out in pain. I whirled around and dashed back to the parlor room. West’s arm shot out to stop me.

“Just a few stitches,” Sage said, without looking up from her handiwork. “She’s okay.” The fae’s face softened. “You did yourself no favors by coming all the way here in your condition.”

Libby spoke with a slight wheeze. “I wanted to warn her. They’ll blame her for this.”

“You should rest,” Sage said gently.

I stroked Libby’s hair. “Thank you for coming. It must’ve been very difficult for you.”

“Which is why she needs to rest,” Sage urged. “Everyone out. Give her space.”

“She’s so bossy,” Anna grumbled.

West grinned. “I know. I love it. You heard the lady, everyone out.”

I stalked into the kitchen and dropped into a chair, burying my head in my hands .

“I take it this is bad for us,” West said. He pulled out the chair beside me and sat.

I lifted my head to look at him. There was no point in sugarcoating it. “Very.”

Kami joined us at the table. “I’m sorry, Melinoe.”

“How long do you think we have until your cavalry arrives?” West asked.

Kami bristled. “They aren’t my cavalry. I renounced them the moment I stepped foot outside Paradise without authorization.”

“Okay, semantics aside, how long?”

Kami closed her eyes. “They’ll need time to recover and regroup. A couple days, I would guess.”

West looked at me. “How did this happen? Sending a god assassin… That doesn’t sound like your kind of play.”

“Which is why I ruled it out.”

“Then who ruled it in?”

My hands tightened into balls. There was only one person who could explain the carnage in Paradise, and it wasn’t Unas.

It was Gun.