Marked by Death (The Godhunter, Book 4) (31 page)

“
I don’t vant revenge,” his eyes were so blue, so steady.

“
You deserve it,” I shook my head and sat up. “How could you not want it?”

“
I’m happy, Tima,” he scooted behind me and pulled me back against his chest so he could rest his face on my shoulder. “She is not. Is zis not revenge enough?”

“
No,” I twisted so I could look at him. “When I think about what she did to you…” I felt my teeth clench. “What she did to Trevor and Al. At the very least, I must avenge my lion's death. The Intare needs it. I want to kill her for what she did but I don't think I can do it. No matter what’s happened between Persephone and Demeter, she’s still Sephy's mother and I refuse to kill another friend’s mother. Demeter's death blow will have to come from another source but I can at least hurt her a bit.”

“
Another?” He shifted me around so I was draped across his lap. “Who's mother have you killed already?”

“
That’s right, I forgot that was before you came along,” I smiled a little, thinking how odd it seemed that there was ever a time before Kirill. “I killed Ull’s mother.”

“
Oh, da,” he looked thoughtful. “Zat’s vhy you left Zor… and vhy he still hates Loki.”

“
Yeah, Loki kinda forced the situation.”

“
And yet, you’ve forgiven
him
.”

“
He’s trying to get his family back,” I frowned. “I haven’t exactly forgiven him but I’m not going to stand in the way of Fenrir reuniting with his father or Trevor with his grandfather.”

“
Tima, let it go,” he kissed my cheek gently. “Demeter vill reap her harvest of bitterness and zat shall be your revenge. Don’t chase her, not for me.”

“
Why not?” My ire was rising. She hurt two of the men I loved, killed one of my lions, and she kicked me when I was down. I couldn’t just sit back and do nothing.

“
It’s not vorth risk.”

“
The risk of what?”

“
Of losing you,” he finally lost some of his cool and a small growl crept out of him.

“
I can take her.”

A larger growl of frustration poured out. “You underestimate her!”

“Kirill,” my voice went down to a coaxing purr, “I’ve seen her fight. I know her strengths and I know mine. Hand to hand is not her strong point.”

“
She’s still a goddess.”

“
And now, so am I,” I couldn’t help the smugness. I’m a freakin’ goddess! I still couldn’t believe it.

“
Da,” he sighed and rested his forehead against mine for a moment. “And I am your Ganza. It’s my job to protect you.”

“
And I am your Tima,” I smiled and snuggled in closer. “I am responsible for all of you. As you protect me, so do I protect you… and punish those who hurt you.”

“
It happened before you became Tima,” his voice had gone soft and unsure.

“
She killed Al
after
I became Tima,” I could see it angered him too, he just didn't want to gamble with my life. “I'm just gonna teach her a lesson, and grab something for the wolves to use to track her. Then they can kill that bitch.”

“
Let someone else do zis.”

“
Did I tell you about seeing her my first day in Duat?”

“
No,” he looked even more unsure.

“
Anubis had me chained to his belt,” I swallowed hard. I’d skimmed over the details of my stay in the Underworld. Most of it was just too humiliating to tell anyone but more than that, I didn’t want to hurt my men.

“
He shackled you?” Uh-oh, that sound was the beginning of rage.

“
No,” I stroked his back soothingly. “He had this gold collar that he attached a chain to.” I decided to leave out the fact that there were indeed shackles involved, he just used them at more intimate moments.

“
So he could lead you around like animal?” Kirill’s body started to shake.

“
Kirill, please,” I looked away from his penetrating gaze. I wasn’t sure I could finish the tale with him looking at me like that.

“
I’m sorry, Tima,” his arms closed tighter around me, “continue. I von’t interrupt again.”

I looked back up at him and his eyes were a banked fire, his anger carefully covered for the time being. “My first meal in Duat was shared with not only Anubis, Thoth, and Ma’at but also Ares and Demeter. She said some snotty things and she slapped me.”

“She struck you?” He asked and I gave him a pleading look. “I’m sorry.”

“
Anubis stopped her from hitting me twice but I made her a promise then. I told her when I got free, I’d hunt her down and she’d pay… not for what she did to me but what she did to Trevor, Al, and to you.” I kissed him softly on the lips. “I always keep my promises and besides, she likes to hurt people when they’re down. Why shouldn’t I do the same to her?”

“
Because you’re better zan zat, Tima,” Kirill snuggled into my neck and started to purr. I  nestled closer, closing my eyes before I whispered.

“
No, I’m not.”

Chapter Thirty-Eight

Malaekahana Beach was known as a place of refuge to the ancient Hawaiians. They believed it to be magical. Well it was going to be magical all right, just full of magic, as soon as the fighting began.

It was where Persephone had asked her mother to meet her.

Normally, I’d have requested another location. I hate sand and I’ve got a fear of the ocean that only Thor had been able to get me over… temporarily. I know, I know, I live on an island but I can’t help where I was born and I love my home… just not the beach.

The beach can also be a difficult place to battle. Sand is, at best, unsure footing. Crashing waves can also be a hindrance. Then there's the public to worry about. I really didn’t want any witnesses to my little meeting with Demeter…or as I like to call her, Dementor.

In the end, it was the public thing that actually decided it. Malaekahana was near the North Shore but not in a prime surfing location, so usually you could find a big patch of the beach deserted. There weren’t too many other choices that wouldn’t raise a red flag for Demeter and I wanted to at least have the element of surprise.

So I found myself walking down the beach, dressed not in a bikini but my fighting leather. It was a little uncomfortable but I wasn’t about to show up for a gunfight with a knife… or in a sarong.

The sand, although not even close to being my favorite thing, made great ground for sneaking up on Demeter. My claws were already extended from their glove-sheaths, curving over my fingers eagerly, so I didn’t have to alert her with the click that accompanied their release. I was quiet as a cockroach when I stepped up behind her.

I grabbed her by the very convenient ponytail she was wearing and punched her in the jaw. She went down in an arc of blood but she came up just as quickly, shooting her leg out to take me down.

Kirill was right, I’d underestimated her.

“Godhunter,” she spat blood as her face began to heal. “What have you done to my daughter?”

“
Oh Sephy’s fine,” I sent my own kick to her belly and was thrilled to see her double over. “She set this up for me. Isn’t that sweet?”

“
She’d never betray me like this!” When she was on the ground, Demeter had grabbed a handful of sand which she tossed into my face.

I spat and blinked, trying to get the evil stuff out of my eyes and mouth. She used the opportunity to tackle me and soon the sand was really flying. I gave up and fought blind. It didn’t really matter when you were latched onto your opponent.

“She didn't betray you,” I grunted in between jabs. “You can't betray an enemy.”

“
My daughter will never be my enemy,” she pulled back for a second and I had to struggle to hold onto her. My eyes were still burning, even though it was just a couple grains that got in, and I couldn't open them. If I lost hold of her, I was up that creek.

“
I have no idea how you managed to raise such a sweet woman,” I heard her dress tear a little but I was able to pull her in. “You're vile, it's amazing you didn't poison Sephy.”

“
Her name is Persephone,” she moaned a little when I managed to head butt her in the nose.

“
She happens to like being called Sephy,” I spat before she landed a punch to my belly.

We rolled across the beach, grunting and screaming as we tried to get punches in. Finally, after taking quite a few knocks myself, I was able to get her pinned and blink away all the sand from my eyes. I smiled grimly down at her as I removed a dagger from my belt. Her eyes widened.

“You’re going to kill me, Godhunter?” She was terrified and I was eating it up. I only wished I had a camcorder. “The world needs me, Persephone needs me.”

“
Nobody needs you, you arrogant bitch,” I shook my head at her ego. “You've fallen for your own lies. Without you, the seasons will still come and go, the grass will grow just fine. In fact, I know my world will be ten times better without you in it.”

“
Humans are nothing without gods,” she spat. “None of your advances would have been possible without us.”

“
This isn't about gods,” I leaned harder on her arms and heard a satisfying crack and an even more satisfying scream. “This is about you but more importantly, this is about Al, Trevor, and Kirill.” Her face paled and she went still beneath me. “That's right, you know what you did, I'm not gonna bore us both with a lengthy list of your perversions. You're twisted, disgusting, and it makes me sick to even look at you but I'm not going to kill you today,” I let disappointment fill my voice. “Even though she no longer loves you, you are still Sephy's mother. Today, that's saved your life but if you ever come after me or mine again, Sephy or no, I will kill you slowly. I will cut you apart piece by piece, burning each piece in front of you as I go, and then I will scatter your ashes to the wind. Then again, you probably won't last that long. See you made a huge mistake in trying to kill the Froekn's Prince. They're coming after you and they have no ties to Persephone to hold them back. You better run.”

I grinned down at her.

“Of course, that doesn't mean you get a free pass on Al or Kirill,” I pulled her up by that long, blonde hair and her eyes got wider. I’d pondered over the best way to get back at Demeter without killing her and I’d finally thought of this.

I brought the knife down quickly and Demeter fainted.

Chapter Thirty-Nine

I couldn't stop smiling. I had escaped Anubis, reunited with Trevor, become Kirill's lover, and by some miracle I was going to have Odin back too. Now I'd dealt with Demeter and kept that vow I'd made. It was the last thing I needed to feel happy.

I drove home casually, content now to enjoy the scenery on my way. Thick trees rose to either side of the highway, waving their branches in a victory dance for me. I rolled down the window and breathed deeply of the mountain air. I passed the entrance to the Pali lookout and wondered how many tourists were getting blown around in the crazy wind up there.

Just before I hit the first tunnel, I glanced up into my rear view mirror and saw Pele's smiling face looking back at me.

“
Great Goddess of Fire!” I screamed and nearly drove into the mountain.

“
Calm yourself, Godhunter,” she laughed as she zapped herself into my front seat.

“
What the hell, Pele?” I asked as we came out into the sun again. “I'm not carrying any pork.”

“
This has nothing to do with that pig-man,” she laughed. “I just wanted to talk to you.”

“
So it's true,” I thought back to all the stories I'd heard growing up about how you should never transport pork over the Pali. “You mess with people who bring pork over the Pali.”

“
I have some fun every now and again,” she shrugged. “Everyone knows I don't want any part of that dickhead on my side of the island. If they bring pork over this mountain, they're fair game. I just stall a few cars and occasionally show up in people's rear view mirrors. No big deal.”

“
No big deal?” I glanced over at her mischievous expression. “I nearly had a heart attack.”