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November 11, 1993

T horn headed for the table at the Café Du Monde where Acheron sat in a chair across from Simi. Tourists crowded the outdoor restaurant where it was unseasonably warm, even for New Orleans.

Simi had a plate of beignets she was eating while Acheron scanned the crowd from behind a pair of opaque Oakley sunglasses.

The Atlantean god paused when he saw Thorn in the shadows.

Without a word, Thorn headed for them.

As soon as he neared the small round table, Simi looked up and gave him a smile that was enhanced by powdered sugar.

Thorn had to bite back a smile.

“What are you doing here?” Acheron asked.

“There’s a disturbance in the Force, Obi-Wan. Have you felt it?”

Grimacing, Acheron rubbed his forehead with his middle finger. “There’s always a disturbance in the Force, Luke. I’ve learned to tune it out.”

“This one is important. The evil beings have found Adarian.”

Acheron sat up straight. “Is he captured again?”

Thorn shook his head. “Adarian was supposed to die … something’s changed that.”

“What do you mean?”

“You know what I mean. Something has disturbed the timeline. I’ve no idea who, what or, most importantly, why. We both know that Adarian’s death is a definite Pith point. If it’s been delayed, we need to find out who did and what motivated them to do so.” Pith points were specific events set in the timeline that nothing could change. Someone, even a god, might attempt to prevent or erase them, such as the gods did with Acheron’s birth when they ordained him killed.

All their efforts did was delay the inevitable Pith that said Acheron’s birth would be the end of the Atlantean pantheon. In the end, they were destroyed and Acheron survived.

Pith point.

And as the Atlantean considered that, he actually paled. He went completely still for several minutes. Because Acheron had the ability to see all timelines simultaneously—variants of the human world play out—it took a lot of concentration to weed through them, and by the expression on his face, Thorn would guess that each outcome was horrific.

Thorn didn’t envy him that headache. And though it was a power that seemed interesting on the surface, he had no interest in developing or possessing it.

“Do you see Adarian’s son?” Thorn asked.

Acheron shook his head. “I see nothing. He doesn’t have a son.”

Interesting, because the one thing he knew from his father was that the young Malachai was alive. Cam had succeeded in breeding Adarian’s replacement.

“Would you see his son if the Junior Malachai’s fate is tied to yours?”

Acheron cursed. “Of course not. Jeez! What do you know?”

“Not as much as I wish I did. I’m just spit-balling.”

Simi wiped at the sugar on her mouth. “Want the Simi to?—”

“No!” they both snapped simultaneously.

She blew them a raspberry. “Why you both so nasty?”

“We don’t want you hurt, Simi.” Acheron’s voice was stern but loving.

“Yeah, exactly. You’re powerful, but I’ve had my butt kicked enough by the Malachai to know to keep my distance.”

She lifted her chin defiantly. “Malachai are nothing compared to Charonte. My peeps used to feast on them and their entrails in war.”

Acheron shook his head. “On their species, Simkey. None of the Charonte ever went up against my mother’s son or his direct descendants. They weren’t allowed to.”

“Okies, that’s true. But is he that much stronger?”

“Yes,” they spoke again in unison.

“Well,” Ash said with a smirk. “At least we’re on the sane page.”

Thorn scowled. “You mean same page?”

“No. The sane one that says to keep out of this.”

“It’s the Malachai,” Thorn said slowly and with emphasis.

“I heard you, and you know I won’t interfere.”

Acheron was so aggravating. While Thorn understood, he didn’t. He knew firsthand how hard it was to be torn by competing forces, but there was only so much neutrality anyone could adhere to.

“One day, you’re going to need to pick a side, Ash.”

“I have a side.” He glanced toward Simi. “And it never wavers.”

“You say that, but we’ve both lived long enough to know better. The only thing in life that’s ever certain is change. It’s inevitable. You can avoid taxes. We know plenty of people who’ve given death a middle finger. But the one thing none of us have ever been able to stop … Change. And when it comes about because we fought it, it’s brutal.”