Damned and Defiant (19 page)

The rain stopped and he heard a high-pitched whistle. When he turned around, three immortals stood there. Rylus, Joren and Natesa. He let out a breath. “Hurry, there’s not much time,” Dante said.

“There’s no access to Anartia through here. Tarik had all the crystals destroyed.” Natesa led him back to where the original portal entrance was.

“Stop. I tried it. The portal’s closed,” Dante told her.

“No, it’s there, it just moved. Anartia is unstable.”

Dante tied Siren’s reins to a nearby tree. Bill would come by later if he didn’t make it back. “Show me where.”

Grabbing his arm, she led him to another area, several yards away.

His curiosity was piqued. “How did Tarik keep Gwyllain from finding Otera?”

Joren laughed. “Tarik kept her occupied. She had two worlds to maintain.”

“Gwyllain had no idea Tarik came here to be alone with his mistresses,” Natesa added. “He’d constructed Anartia to be alone with Gwyllain. After our exile, he constructed Otera to escape her when the time was right. The Drones wouldn’t reveal this new world because it meant survival if Gwyllain condemned them.”

“Where’s the portal?” he interrupted. “I have to get Haley.”

She nodded, doubt and fear filling her eyes. “It keeps moving. The power is fluctuating.

“Find it!”

She stopped and held up her hand as if she was feeling a wall. “Here.” She met his gaze squarely. “It’s weakening. Get Haley and get out of there.”

“Wait. How do I get back if the portal closes?”

She shrugged. “I can get you up there. It’s up to you to figure a way back.”

Dante felt a sinking in the pit of his stomach when he stepped into the portal. As an immortal, he hadn’t notice the journey so much. As a mortal, the sensation was that of being tossed off a cliff. After the initial panic of falling, he pulled himself together and touched the hawk feather at his belt. Protectiveness welled up in him. He’d get to Haley in time. At first he thought the black tunnel wouldn’t end, then he smelled the ocean and found himself standing on the edge of the cliff.

His heels were right at the edge. His stomach dropped at the sight of the dizzy height.
Damnation.
If Natesa was a little off with her settings he could’ve landed in the ocean. He managed to move away from the edge.

The devastation was almost impossible to fathom. The temple was surrounded by a narrow strip of land. The land was mostly gone, eroded or crumbled into the sea because of the quakes. A crack of thunder behind him, made him jerk around. Another sight horrified him even more. He swore.

The horizon and sea had vanished, replaced by a swirling black and gray void. Their miniature universe was disintegrating as it was pulled out of its dimension. A cold sweat rushed over him. The sight was beyond comprehension for mortal or immortal.
Good God, I’m too late.

* * * * *

Haley stood at the foot of Gwyllain’s bed, her head bowed, her body shaking. Outside, through the sliding panel doors, the world was crumbling, vanishing. Soon they would vanish too? Didn’t they see that?

Violent tremors and thunderstorms shook the temple so badly, she’d expected the roof to cave. Watching the black void beyond the ocean creep closer and closer made Haley’s skin crawl and her stomach sick. Immortal or not, they were all going to die. And she’d never see Dante again.

“Mistress, I beg you. Let me return to Earth with the horse. Dante was wrong. This journey would not be good for him. I fear the animal won’t survive.”

The demoness stretched out naked on her bed while three of her half-dressed male Drones attended her. They massaged scented oils into her body, fed her delicate bits of pastry and fruit and held a wineglass to her lips. “Nonsense. Tarik has provided a safe unit for my beast. We’re all safe inside the temple.” She sat up and called out. “Valdon?”

Valdon appeared and entered the chamber.

“Take this Drone out of my chamber and have her reassimilated. She annoys me.”

Valdon gave a slight bow. “Tarik finished the reassimilations, mistress. His instruments are set for our journey and can’t be altered. Besides, this Drone will be our new High Sorceress, a vital part of our plan to destroy Cragen.”

The demoness made a face. “Very well. Keep her out of my sight.”

“Of course, mistress.” Valdon gave Haley a look of disapproval, grabbed her arm and dragged her out of the chamber.

“Check on Tarik, then come back and pleasure me,” Gwyllain shouted after him. “I need a distraction during my journey.”

Haley didn’t miss his frustrated look but she knew he wouldn’t dare deny his mistress a demand. “Stay with your horse until I come for you. We’ll be in Prygos very soon. And don’t attempt to jump off the cliff with D.A. You don’t have a nebula stone. Even if you did, you’d be lost. Everything outside the temple is disappearing into the void.”

One way or another, she was going to die, and she wasn’t going to perish underground. She’d be in the open and have D.A. with her. But she had time, and she had one last idea left. Zorian. Once he knew his world was about to be destroyed, he’d leave too. Wouldn’t he? But he’d need her help. She’d have to convince him that without her as a guide on Earth, he wouldn’t survive.

Haley marched down the long corridor to the lower chamber and saddled D.A.

Chapter Fifteen

Dante entered the temple and was approached by Zorian. “Are you mad coming back?” He demanded, eyes wide with shock. “Valdon will kill you.”

Dante’s chest felt as heavy as concrete filled with the fury he had for Valdon. “If I have the opportunity, I’ll kill him, but getting Haley out of here is more important right now.”

Zorian studied him for a moment and shook his head. “You don’t have a chance, you’re mortal.” Zorian tightened his grip on a chain he held with manacles attached.

“Are those for me?” Dante asked, prepared for a fight. Was he working with Valdon?

Zorian smiled. “A tempting thought. I doubt you’d survive my training now.” He gave Dante a teasing look while holding up the chain. “No, I do have other plans for these. Before Anartia departs, panic may take over and certain Drones may need restraints.”

“Anartia won’t go anywhere. It’ll be destroyed,” Dante remarked. “Leave here. Find those within Otera.”

“I’m not convinced. Prygos is my home.”

Dante didn’t have time to argue with this immortal. “Where’s Haley? We’re leaving.”

“Valdon said the portal was closed.” Zorian frowned.

“It was open a few moments ago,” Dante replied. “Now where is she?”

Zorian snorted and glanced into the great hall. “She should be with your beast in the lower levels. Find her and leave quickly. Don’t let Valdon see you.”

Dante felt he had to try one last time. “Tarik told me to guard his laboratory and not change any setting on his control panel or the experiment would fail. I changed them all. Anartia can’t possibly make it back.”

Zorian stared at Dante with a look of horror then his mouth twitched in a smirk. “Do you think Tarik would be so careless as to leave the success of his final experiment to the turn of a dial? And leave his laboratory open to anyone to accidently ruin a thousand years of work?”

Had Tarik played him? “You know how much he hates the demoness,” Dante argued. “This would be the perfect time to destroy her.”

“And if Anartia wasn’t destroyed, she’d be stuck here, close enough to find and destroy him.” Zorian lowered his tone so no one could hear them. “Tarik’s counting on her return to Prygos because he knows she’ll be assassinated shortly after.”

“So there’s still a chance?” Dante shook off the longing of what an immortal life there with Haley would’ve been like. It wasn’t worth the gamble.

“Yeah, we’ll make it,” Zorian’s voice wavered as he stared into Dante’s eyes. Finally doubt.

Touching the hawk feather entwined around his belt buckle, Dante’s instinct or spirit guidance said Anartia was history. He knew it bone-deep. “I know I’ve betrayed you in the past. This time, I have nothing to gain. Whether you believe me or not, leave Anartia. I am as soon as I find Haley and D.A.”

“I’ll consider it.” He hooked the chains to a marble column then picked up the boltstick. After making a few adjustments in the levers in the handle, the long rod came to life humming with an electrical current and the metal loop at the end glowed blue. The disciplinarian used it as a sex toy for pleasure and pain. It could also be adjusted to issue severe pain, even kill.

Dante stared at the blue sparks spewing out of the loop. He stood his ground. If Zorian wanted to destroy him, he could do it at any time, especially now that he was mortal.

“I thought the training sessions were over.” Dante kept his eyes on the sparking end of the tool.

Zorian smacked the boltstick in the palm of his hand and blue-white sparks spit off the end. He cranked up the instrument. The loop glowed blue, sparks shot out and an electrical hum came from the rod. The Drone was going to kill him. “You didn’t come with any weapons?”

Dante didn’t answer.

“I didn’t think so.” Zorian raised the boltstick, clicked it off and handed it to Dante. “You might need this. If Valdon gives you trouble, bring him to me.” He shook the chains and shackles hanging from the pillars in his training area. “I’ll keep him busy.”

Boltstick in hand, Dante crossed the great hall and ran down the corridors leading to the lower chambers. He noticed a couple Drones take particular notice of him, get up and enter the demoness’s chamber.
Damnation. This wasn’t going to be easy.

* * * * *

Dante strode down the passageway leading to the lower level with a wary eye. Haley had to be with D.A. As he passed Tarik’s laboratory, the door closed, he heard a grating sound. He turned and an arm whipped around his throat, jerked him off his feet and pressed down on his windpipe. Trying to gain leverage, Dante kicked at the stone walls and sent him and his attacker stumbling backward. The grunts and commotion echoed within the damp walls and he wondered if the noise would draw attention to Drones in the great hall. He didn’t need to fight off any more immortals. Valdon’s laugh confirmed Dante’s suspicion of his attacker.

Dante gasped for breath as Valdon tightened his hold. With a burst of mental energy, Dante flung himself around, switched on the boltstick and dug the sparking hot tip into the immortal’s knee.

The Drone cried out, released him and collapsed onto one knee. Using the other end of the stick Dante slammed him across the jaw, then jabbed him in the gut until he heard Valdon’s breath whoosh out in a sharp exhalation.

It wouldn’t be long until the Drone would be on his feet again. The boltstick didn’t faze him much, but did a great job of pissing him off. He feinted retreat and backed up the hallway heading toward Zorian’s training area. The disciplinarian had better not been lying about helping.

A growl sounded from behind Dante before the blow slammed between the shoulder blades, knocking him to the ground. He managed to avoid falling into the pool but not tripping over a lounge chair. The boltstick flew out of his hand, sparks cascading from the tip.

Valdon loomed over him with a sardonic smile. The boltstick was several feet out of reach. Drones watching the fight didn’t move to assist either of them, and Dante was only halfway across the great hall from Zorian’s training area.

He’d never make it alive.

Still stunned from the blow, Dante managed to get to his feet and connect with a blow to Valdon’s windpipe that would’ve collapsed any mortal’s airway but barely fazed his attacker. Dante got two steps closer to the boltstick before he was knocked to the ground again. He pulled Valdon down with him and managed to kick Valdon in the side of the head. The immortal winced in pain, briefly.

Before Dante was able to take his next breath, Valdon flipped him on his back, dragged him over to the pool and shoved his head underwater. Arms and legs flailing, Dante fought like a turtle on his back.
Damnation.
The bastard was going to drown me.

Valdon yanked him up, laughing. Still coughing and gasping for air, Dante was dragged to his feet. Hands on his thighs, he sucked in air, trying to gain his strength back. The immortal was playing with him, delaying the kill for his pleasure. If Dante could manage it, before he died, he’d make the bastard feel as much pain as possible.

He wasn’t dead yet and he had to get Haley out of there. A sickening ache settled in his gut at the thought of what would happen if she was stuck there with Valdon. Ignoring the pain, he stood up and slammed the heel of his cowboy boot into Valdon’s injured kneecap.

Valdon let out a yell and grabbed him by the throat and was about to shove Dante back into the water. Death would come quick this time because the Drone was pissed now. His only regret was he failed to help Haley.
Dammit Zorian. Why won’t you help? If not for me, then Haley.

Anger gave him the strength Dante didn’t expect he had. Wrapping his legs around Valdon, he rolled back and pulled the Drone with him. Just before he hit the water, Dante thought he heard a growl.

Under water, Valdon held him down, Dante fought. Fists and kicks met the Drone’s hard muscles but the resistance of the water was less effective. The Drone got on top of him and held him down, large hands gripped around his throat. Dante’s lungs burned for the need of air.

A flash of white passed him in the water. The grip around his throat loosened and Dante drifted away. He shot up to the surface, sputtering for air and the pool was turbulent with activity, red with blood. Valdon fought with another creature, an animal. A white snow leopard.

Haley
.

Whose blood? Haley’s or Valdon’s or his? Dante grabbed onto Valdon and pulled him, half conscious, out of the pool. Claw marks slashed across his chest, back and legs. Zorian was there with chains and manacles.

Mortal and immortal dragged the bloody and bound Valdon across the great hall, leaving a trail of blood on the white marble. The slashed immortal moaned in pain as Zorian chained Valdon to his training pillar.

Haley, back in her human form, marched up to him and yanked the nebula stone from around his neck then tied it around hers.

Dante rushed to her, pulling her into his arms. She was soaked but thankfully not injured. “Damnation, Haley. Are you okay?” He brushed back her wet hair and looked her over, checking for injuries, then kissed her hard. “God, I thought I lost you.”

“I’m fine. Can we get out of here now? I have a nebula stone. D.A. has had enough of this place. He’s freaking out.” Her eyes were wide with terror and probably from the residual adrenaline rush.

D.A. stood beside the pool, confused and shaking. Why did he ever think bringing him here was a good idea? “All right. We’re out of here.”

“Dante!” The sound of that voice was like icy claws on the back of his neck. Gwyllain! “I want my two favorite Drones attending me during our journey,” Gwyllain barked from her chamber door. She wore a sheer midnight-blue sheath that clearly showed everything beneath it. “Bring Valdon with you too, immediately.” She whirled around and strutted back into her chamber.

Dante took Haley’s hand and stood beside Zorian. “We’re leaving now, before Gwyllain gets impatient. This is your last chance.”

“Release me,” Valdon growled.

Zorian found the boltstick, silenced him a jolt to his side, then quickly gagged him. “He won’t be any trouble, now.”

A large tremor shook the temple and a few crystals fell from the ceiling. “Dante?” Haley gripped his arm, looking up at him with panicked eyes.

“Zorian, come with us.” Dante rushed over to D.A. and brought him to the temple’s entrance.

Zorian opened the door for them. “Even if you’re right, I don’t have a nebula stone. Valdon took it.”

Haley took hers off and handed it him. “Here, Dante and I will go through the portal together on D.A.”

Dante took his stone off and placed it around her neck. “I want to be sure you make it through.”

Another tremor rumbled through the temple. The horse pawed at the floor and tossed his head. “Think he’s anxious to leave,” Dante said. Grasping D.A.’s reins, Dante led them all out of the temple. He glanced back at Valdon one last time. “Death will come for you, Drone. I should feel a sense of triumph, but I don’t.”

Valdon glared at him with burning hatred. Then Dante saw a glint of a smile in his eyes. He couldn’t speak through the gag but Dante realized that the Drone actually believed the experiment would be a success.

Dante shook his head. “I’m sure of Tarik’s hatred for his mistress. He’ll make sure Anartia will be destroyed.”

A glimmer of doubt crossed Valdon’s face. Dante truly didn’t know if Tarik planned to destroy Anartia but the look of doubt and fear on Valdon’s face was worth all the pain he’d ever caused him. Finally, he had his revenge even without murdering him, because the Drone now knew what it was like to lose it all and face the horror of death.

Haley walked out of the temple with Dante and D.A., leaving Valdon bound and cursing.

Outside Dante scanned the view and gripped Haley’s hand, trying to make sense of the impossible. Haley screamed.

Not only had the sea of Anartia completely vanished, but all the land surrounding the temple was gone. A swirling black void replaced the gray-blue water and everything up to the steps of the temple, as if a surreal night sky minus the stars surrounded them. The temple was floating is a black sea of nothingness.

“Oh my God. What happened to the cliffs, the sea, the land? There’s nothing left,” Haley shrieked. “How do we know where the portal is?” She backed up the steps toward the entrance of the temple.

He didn’t want to face Gwyllain, but he didn’t want to enter that black void.

It was too late.

“Damnation. I don’t know. Tarik said only the temple would return to Prygos. Maybe he’s not going to destroy Anartia.” D.A. snorted and tried backing up. “Easy, boy.”

Zorian walked out on the steps and whistled. “Guess you’re not going anywhere. Except Prygos.”

“No, the portal has to be here,” Dante argued.

“You’re going to jump into that?” Zorian pointed down into the black swirling void. “Hell, not me. I’ll take my chances with the trip to Prygos.”

“I don’t know. Haley?”

“Tarik said it would remain open,” she murmured. “How do we know?”

An object formed in the void, rising up toward them, then appeared in the shape of an owl. It flew out and landed on the top step. The owl transformed into Bill. He was shirtless, wearing a pair of suede pants and moccasins. His long gray hair was tied in a braid. Around his neck he wore a leather pouch tied with a leather cord. “Wow, what a rush.” He laughed, breathing heavy as if he’d run a mile.