Rhyn's Redemption (10 page)

“Darkyn let us go.  I’m convinced of that,” Kiki replied. “There’s no other reason why, unless Rhyn is doing what Darkyn wants him to.  If Andre was still alive …”

“He’s not!” Kris snapped. “As much as my brothers wish I were him, I am not.  You just have to deal with it.”

“Sorry, Kris.  Andre had a way with people, even Rhyn.  Without him or Katie, we can’t fix whatever it is Rhyn is going to do.”

“We’re assuming he will do something,” Kris said. “What if this business with Katie changed him? What if he understands the greater good now?”

“Rhyn does understand, but he can’t control what he is.  Even if he wanted to do good, he’d fail.  He’s too weak to control his impulses, Kris.”

“Do you believe that?” Kris returned. He rose and paced. He flexed his injured arm and recalled how he’d be dead at the hands of a traitor if Rhyn hadn’t saved him. There had been no hesitation, no second guessing when Rhyn snapped Jade’s neck. 

Over and over, Kris had tried to convince himself he’d do the same for his half-brother. Over and over, he finally admitted he wouldn’t. He’d let Rhyn die, just as he sent Rhyn on what he thought was a suicide mission expelling demons from the castle. He’d talked it over with Hannah, and they agreed it was the only option they had.

Yet it hadn’t sat well with him, despite what he knew about Rhyn.

“I don’t know.  He pulled the Council together after we split. It wasn’t for us, I’m certain, but for Katie. I don’t think he has a reason to try anymore,” Kiki said at last.

“Something doesn’t feel right,” Kris voiced. “I sent out a party to search for our father’s remains so we can have a safe place for the Council and Immortals again.” Instead of the supportive response he expected, Kiki was quiet. Kris faced him. “You think this was a bad idea?”

“I think the era of us having a safe haven is over.  I think … “ Kiki paused. “Kris, I think the era of the Council as a whole is over. I think we are all meant to go our separate ways.”

Kris heard what Kiki didn’t say, that only Andre had been able to keep the Council together after their father’s death.  The six headstrong brothers of the Council That Was Seven had respected Andre, who was an adult when the rest of the brothers were born. Even before their father’s death, Andre had taken on the duty to raise and mentor them all.

“Our father – and Andre – would’ve wanted us to stay together,” Kris said in a hushed tone, wounded by his brother’s inference.

“We’d be safer if we could manage the wars within our boundaries. To quote Tamer, there’s too much bureaucracy.”

“No, Kiki, we wouldn’t. We’d be easier to pick off by the demons!  This isn’t up for debate right now.  Just because Rhyn isn’t here to beat you all into submission doesn’t mean the Council can break up.”

“We know you won’t do it,” Kiki said. “Listen, Kris, I’m not trying to be an ass, but logistically and in practicality, there’s no reason for us to maintain the Council.”

“We’re not talking about this now, Kiki.”

“Alright, but know that Tamer’s planning on bringing it up next meeting.”

“Let’s focus on Rhyn,” Kris said with barely controlled anger.

“We have two options that I can see.  Do nothing, and wait to see what happens, or go after him,” Kiki replied.

“Go after him,” Kris repeated. “And leave Darkyn here to do whatever else he’s doing?”

“When Rhyn left, he said something that’s been bothering me. He said Death promised him to bring Katie back.”

“Death talked to Rhyn?”

“It’s what I made out of his nonsense.  Death can’t bring a mortal back from the dead – it would break every Immortal Code there is.  I may be wrong, but what if …”

Kris didn’t hear Kiki’s words.  Instead he mulled over the notion that Death had sought out Rhyn.  Their eldest brother, Andre, had spoken long ago about talking to Death on several occasions.  Whatever passed between them, Andre had never trusted the deity.  Their father as well had been a distant acquaintance to the elusive deity. Death had visited the leaders of the Council – and Rhyn.

The Council had broken under Kris’s leadership and been kept together only by Rhyn.  No one gave the half-demon credit for anything but brute force, and yet, none of them knew him after his years in Hell. He’d returned coarse and violent, the opposite of the man Kris was.  But he hadn’t run away, even when openly scorned by those around him.  Rhyn hadn’t backed down when defending a woman they all were bound by Immortal Code to protect.  Rhyn was the reason the Immortals had survived Darkyn’s attack at the castle.

At that moment, Kris couldn’t help resenting both Rhyn and Death or hoping Death’s visit to Rhyn hadn’t been her way of showing support for Andre’s successor.

“Kris,” Kiki snapped. “What do you think?”

Kris felt as if he’d glimpsed his fate – and it wasn’t good. He shook out his shoulders, trying to focus on whatever it was Kiki had been talking about.

“Run that by me again,” Kris said.

Kiki frowned. “I think Katie is alive.”

“Not possible. We saw her die.”

“There was no body.”

“Gabe can take mortals and Immortals straight to the underworld, bodies and all,” Kris said.

“You got a better explanation?  If Death told Rhyn she would give him Katie back, then Katie can’t be dead.”

“If that’s true, why would Death promise to bring her back?”

“That’s what I can’t figure out,” Kiki admitted. “But I know where he’s going.”

“You can’t be serious about following him.  It’s forbidden for us to travel uninvited into Death’s domain.”

“Two things, Kris. One, Rhyn can get us into Hell, where Toby is.  Two, I’d rather not piss of Death. If we can talk Rhyn off the ledge, maybe she won’t crush us all,” Kiki said.

“You want me to help you save Rhyn from himself,” Kris said, crossing his arms.

“Maybe we should give him a second chance.”

“Really, Kiki?  Have you forgotten what he did?”

“No, but I don’t think he’s the same Rhyn we sent to Hell.  I think he deserves a chance to make things right.”

Kris wanted to think that Kiki was the demon trying to drag him into Hell for nefarious purposes.  It was almost easier to swallow than reaching out to help the brother he’d held as his enemy for so long.  And who might’ve been more able to hold the Council together than Kris.

Kiki was waiting for him to speak. “If you can’t do it for Rhyn, do it for Toby. We need Rhyn to get him out of Hell.”

“Ok,” Kris said slowly. “Give me a couple of hours then we’ll leave.”

Kiki nodded without leaving the tent. “What’s wrong, Kris?”

“Nothing,” Kris said and turned away. “Go rest up for a couple hours.”

“You can do that to Tamer or Erik but not me.  I see it on your face. Something’s bothering you.”

“It doesn’t matter, Kiki.  I’ll do what I’m supposed to.  It’s what I’ve resigned myself to do.”

“Try not to act so happy about protecting us all from demons.”

“It’s not that,” Kris said with an irritated glance towards his brother.  “Kiki, I know none of you have faith in me.  I’m trying to do what’s right, and you fight me all the way.”

Kiki was quiet for a moment.  Kris sighed and sat down, rubbing his face.  His body had not yet healed from the beating Jade gave him.

“I’ll admit, we’re skeptical.  Andre was Andre.  No one questioned him,” Kiki said at last. “He was the backbone for all of us.  I think we all feel his absence.”

“No one more than me.  I’ve got to deal with losing him and trying to manage you all.”

“Look, Kris, don’t take our resistance personally.  Anyone who tried to step into Andre’s shoes would receive the same treatment.  It’s too soon after his death.”

“Rhyn pulled you all together.  I couldn’t do it after you all walked out,” Kris said. “Andre’s memory may live on, but I’m the one who inherited his responsibilities.”

“Give it time.  One man – even Andre – couldn’t solve the world’s problems.  You just have to wait it out.  And hope we all come to our senses before the end of the world,” Kiki said with a small smile.

“That’s not good enough.  I have a duty to fulfill, an obligation to my Immortals,” Kris said, pensive. “And I don’t feel adequate compared to Andre.”

“You’re more than adequate, Kris.  All of us look up to you.  You don’t have Andre’s legacy as the family protector, but you’ll find your way.  You’ve lost your spark.  Is this why?”

“Mostly.  And part of it is Jade,” Kris whispered.

“You have a penchant for betrayers, that’s for sure.”

“What the fuck does that mean?”

“Lilith, Jade, I’m just hoping Hannah isn’t among them,” Kiki said.

“Lilith?”

Kiki’s features shuttered and went stoic. “Never mind that one.  Bad joke.”

“Lilith would never betray me, and neither would Hannah,” Kris snapped. “You know better, Kiki.”

“Maybe.  In any case, whatever you felt for Jade, you have to figure out how to get over it.  You have your mate.  I’ve been waiting for mine for a lifetime. Unlike you and Rhyn, I’d welcome a partner to share eternity and this disaster of a world with.”

“I’m appreciative. But sometimes I look at Hannah and see Katie,” Kris said, recalling how he’d taken Katie’s blood by force soon after she went to the castle. He’d never forgive himself for that, even if Rhyn’s mate deserved little more respect than the half-demon himself. “Hannah is lovely – and my duty.  Jade was …”

“Dead-dead the moment he betrayed you.  I may sound like Rhyn, but if someone turns on one of my brothers, I want that person dead-dead,” Kiki said flatly.

“Thanks,” Kris said, managing a smile. “You’re about as effective at pep talks as Rhyn.”

“Don’t get me started,” Kiki said. “Go see Hannah and take a nap.  This will all blow over soon, and things will go back to normal.” He slapped Kris on the arm. “Ok?”

“Thanks,” Kris said again.  His response was enough to satisfy Kiki, who left the tent.

Kris lingered, deep in thought, until Hannah sought him out.  She still looked pale. He smiled at her, understanding what it was to mourn the loss of a sibling.  As much as he missed Jade, he was glad he at least had Hannah to fall back on.  She had Katie’s beauty – without the abrasive personality.

“How’re you feeling?” he asked, holding out a hand to her.

“Better.” She took it and squeezed. “Was that Kiki I saw leaving?”

“Yeah.  Apparently Rhyn has gone on some rampage to kill Death.  Kiki wants us to go to the underworld and stop him.”

“Oh, no, Kris, you can’t!”

“It’s against Immortal Code,” he said. “But if he pisses off Death, we’ll have her and the Dark One after us. One deity for an enemy is bad enough.”

“She’s too powerful for him to kill.  She’d probably laugh at him and he’ll come crawling back to you,” Hannah said.

Kris let out a surprised laugh at the image in his mind of Rhyn being sent packing like a misbehaving puppy.

“Really, Kris, I don’t think you should go without me,” Hannah pressed. “If Darkyn is serious about killing us, he’ll come back.  I’m safer with you.”

“I won’t be gone long. You’re safe here,” he assured his beautiful mate. “Kiki thinks this is the only way we’ll get Toby back, too.”

“What did Rhyn do to Toby?”

“Let him get snatched by Darkyn.  I guess Toby is in Hell. Kiki thinks we can break him out, if Rhyn will take us there.”

Hannah’s pretty eyes grew dark.  Kris kissed her on the forehead, not wanting his mate to worry, even if he didn’t know what would happen once he and Kiki left for the underworld.

“How will you get out of Hell?” she asked. “If you need Rhyn to get in, do you need him to get out?”

“Hopefully he doesn’t ditch us,” he said with forced lightness. “You’re too precious to me to worry. I’ll be back in a day or so, I promise.”

“You don’t know that. I heard the Immortal underworld is an awful place.  What if Death decides to keep you or Rhyn drops you in Hell forever? What will I do?  I’d rather die with you.”

“You’ll be treated well among the Immortals for the rest of your life.”

Hannah raised an eyebrow.

“We take care of our own,” he said.

“Except for Rhyn.”

“He’s a half-demon. He doesn’t belong in either world. I’ve gotta get ready to go. Please, don’t worry, Hannah,” Kris said. “It’s late.  Go get some rest.”

“You won’t change your mind.”

“No.”

She hesitated then kissed him on the cheek and turned to go.  Kris watched her, unable to shake the uncanny sense it was the last time he’d see her.

Chapter Seven

“Rhyn, what if this is the only time we ever have together?”

Rhyn shook his head, uncertain how he’d ended up on the dream beach when he’d just walked through the portal from the castle in the Alps to Death’s underworld. He faced his dead mate.  Her blue eyes were large, and she looked tired.

“It won’t be,” he said. “I’m coming to get you.”

Instead of looking cheered at his words, she looked unconvinced.

“You’re welcome,” he said, bristling.

“I’d be happy to see you,” Katie replied. “But, Rhyn, what if you can’t save me? What if this is all we have?”

“Why do you say that?  It can’t be. It won’t be.”