To Hell and Back (Eternally Blooded) (10 page)

Before the scream died in her throat the demon reached behind her, grabbing the old woman out of James’s choke hold. All the carefully protected jewelry lay on the ground.

“Are you alright Valerie?” James asked. “She pushed you, that old bitch pushed you.”

Valerie couldn’t answer him as she watched the bloody display enfold in front of her. The demon was ripping the woman limb from limb, but the limbs kept growing back. Each new tear of flesh and bone brought a round of screaming from the recipient. Valerie leaned over the side of the pit and threw up.

James was rubbing her back. “Would you mind doing that another time?” He asked the demon.

The demon shrugged and tossed the woman over the edge back into the pit. “I have eternity. Is your blood mate alright?”

Valerie stood up turning to face the demon who had saved her, but James had him by the throat.

“Why did you save her? What are you up to?” James demanded.

Valerie was confused, shouldn’t James be happy she was alright?

The demon smiled. “Maybe I felt like doing my good deed for the century today.”

“I’m not buying it, you have never saved a mortal in all your years in this realm or on earth.” James pulled out on
e of the silver knives Bart had given them.

“I don’t think you want to do that.” The demon said. “Killing me for saving your blood mate, I have a feeling you would be sentenced to death for that. Not that I wouldn’t mind seeing you around here, I could have some fun with you.”

James released the demon with a grunt of annoyance. “Keep your hands off my wife, or next time I will gut you.”

James grabbed Valerie’s hand and fled the pit, dragging her in tow. Valerie was getting sick of being dragged around like a puppy and was incredibly confused about the demon they had left behind them.

“That demon is one of Erra’s lap dogs. It makes no sense that Erra would send an assassin to kill you, yet one of his demons seemed hell bent on saving you. That bloke plunged off the side of the pit before I could even blink. At first I thought he meant to harm you, but the next instant he was setting you down safely in front of me.” James explained.

Valerie was just happy to be alive, regardless of motive. Everything about this new life was complicated. Her brain desperately longed for a break with reality so it could have to time to catch up and decipher all the new information.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

S
tyx wasn’t in the light house when Valerie and James finally arrived. Instead she was down in the river, or rather on it. Valerie watched out the window as a woman in white with silver hair floated above the red liquid that flowed down stream over and around the condemned souls that bathed in it.

“That’s blood isn’t it?” Valerie gasped.

“Yes, blood from the never ending wars on earth. It soaks into the ground and feeds the river. When there is war and things get particularly bloody the river swells. The War on Terror actually caused a flood not too long ago. The blood spilled over into the hoarder’s pit. That caused a big commotion; they were more concerned with their stuff being dirty then the possibility of ending up here if the blood had risen high enough to carry them away.”

It shocked Valerie how blasé James was about these things, but she reminded herself he had been living this reality for centuries.

They made their way down the winding stairs on the side of the lighthouse to the bank of the river. Valerie saw that Styx wasn’t actually floating, she was standing on the heads of two souls in the blood, every now and then grinding her heal into their skulls, forcing their faces under. She glanced up and waved hello when she noticed them approaching.

“These t
wo have been arguing all day, their bickering has given me such a headache.” Styx explained.

“Goddesses don’t get headaches Styx, hop out of there and come meet Valerie.” James called out to her.

With a final thrust of her feet she became airborne as the poor souls sank under again. Landing without a sound in front of them she grasped James by the shoulder kissing both his cheeks before turning and doing the same to Valerie.

“So good to see you James, it seems like it has been ages. And Valerie I am delighted to see such a lovely lady in the company of my favorite immortal. I was beginning to think he would never settle down. Of course you would be mortal, our James has never done anything the conventional way.” Styx rattled on. “Always the rebel, no immortal woman was good enough for him.”

Valerie was blushing and eyeing James quizzically. It seemed like everybody they came across knew him far better than she did. Doubt began to cloud her mind. Maybe they were rushing this, they barely knew each other.

“Oh dear, don’t fret you will have eternity to spend learning all about each other.” Styx said.

Valerie realized the goddess was answering her unspoken thoughts. Why couldn’t everyone just be normal?

Styx laughed, her sea blue eyes swirling with amusement. “Normal is boring. Right then, you are here to ask my blessing and make an oath. If this isn’t what you want speak now or be forever condemned to marriage counseling and separate bedrooms.”

“Haha Styx, very funny. I see your sense of humor hasn’t improved any over the last few years.” James quipped.

Styx face turned serious as she turned to Valerie. “Has James asked for your full consent, explained our laws regarding blooding, and claimed you with his flesh?”

Valerie assumed by claiming her Styx meant love making. “Umm, yes. Yes he has and I have given him my full consent.”

“Do you consent to me probing your mind and verifying your intentions?”

Valerie hesitated for a moment. No one had said anything about any probing. She knew her intentions were true, she loved this man with all her heart, but what if Styx saw something in her she didn’t even know was there? Valerie took a deep breath, trying to push back new doubts that were popping up out of fear. “Yes I consent.”

“Give me your hands.” Styx instructed, splaying her own hands palm up in front of Valerie.

When their hands connected Valerie felt a surge of power snaking through her body. It tingled as it wound its way through her. It wasn’t painful, but it wasn’t particularly comfortable either. Styx eyes rolled back in her head, leaving nothing but whiteness staring blindly ahead.

James gave Valerie a reassuring smile as the goddess’s aura began to glow a bright orange. Valerie could feel her emotions pouring through her and into Styx. Flashes of memories swirling in her head. Valerie hoped Styx approved of what she saw, judging by the smile on her face she was enjoying Valerie’s inner most thoughts. Valerie began to relax a bit, finding the bond less uncomfortable as she stopped fighting it. Just as she thought everything was going perfectly Styx broke the bond with a gasp.

The goddess’s eyes
turned a dark blue as she pointed an accusing finger at Valerie. “How dare you try to deceive James. You have lain with Erra and are a snake in the bush. You will not have my blessing, you will not make your oath to me. You are lucky I don’t strike you down where you stand.”

James flashed in front of Valerie, shielding her from Styx’s wrath. Valerie was trembling from head to toe, she was confused and hurt
. How could the goddess accuse her of sleeping with anyone but James? “I didn’t, I don’t know what she is talking about James. We haven’t left each other’s sides since we met, how could I?”

James bared his fangs at Styx. “You lie. Valerie was a virgin just a few days ago, she hasn’t been out of my sight and even if she had
been I trust her. She would never lie with another man, let alone Erra.”

Styx stared at both of them. “Then give me your hands James, let me see for myself what has transpired the last few days.”

James eagerly did as the goddess asked. This time there was no glowing aura; James groaned and twitched as Styx probed his mind quickly and efficiently with little regard to his comfort.

When she released him she had a tear running down her cheek. “My poor dear James, after so many years without love it comes to you mixed with turmoil and war.”

CHAPTER NINETEEN

T
he lighthouse seemed too small, the air too thick. Valerie wanted out of Hell and she wanted out of Hell in an instant. Her entire world had been turned upside down. James was sitting across the room from her; she wouldn’t let him touch her. She didn’t want anyone touching her.

             
Styx and James were both staring at her with a mix of sympathy and something else. If Valerie had to guess what that something else was she would say it was fear. Why would James be afraid of her? She didn’t know but it was starting to piss her off.

             
“You’re a goddess Styx, can’t you just blink me out of here and send me home. Clearly my presence is making you both uncomfortable.” Valerie demanded.

             
They both stared at her as if she had sprouted another head. Valerie crossed her arms over chest and gave them her best ‘bring it on’ look.

             
“You cannot go home Valerie, you will stay here with me.” Styx replied.

             
Before she had even finished her sentence James was up and staring at her with rage. His voice growled with deadly warning. “My mate will not stay here with you, are you crazy?”

             
“Oh so I’m still your mate even though I’m knocked up with a demigod?” Valerie asked.

             
James whirled on her trying to control his temper. “Yes. This is not your fault. This is Karma’s fault. If she hadn’t picked you for some prophecy fulfilling bullshit Erra never would have given you a second glance.”

             
“I still don’t understand this prophecy stuff, don’t I have a say in my own future?” Valerie asked as a tear slid down her cheek.

             
James was at her side in an instant, wrapping his arms around her, fluttering kisses on her head. He wished he could take all her sadness away.

             
Styx stood up and glanced somberly out the lighthouse window. “Perhaps I can explain for you Valerie, I know you are new to this world and did not grow up with the same stories the rest of us did.”

             
Styx began to pace the room. “Many years ago there was a war between immortals and gods without any clear battle lines drawn. Gods were fighting gods, immortals fighting immortals, and then everyone trying to slaughter each other. It was this war that caused our laws to be written down, laws that would govern all species. Back then humans were treated as cattle. They were on the bottom of the food chain and many atrocities were committed against them. There were gods and immortals alike who saw the folly in this, for what would this world be without humans? We felt a certain responsibility to protect them.”

             
Valerie didn’t care about a history lesson, she was growing impatient. “That’s all fine and well, but where do I come into all of this?”

             
“As you may have guessed Erra was unhappy with the new laws but he was outnumbered and there are gods with far more power. The same night we sealed our laws and established the counsel Marion had a vision of a great war far bloodier than any of us had ever seen.”

             
James stood up, punching a hole in the wall. “Marion, damn him. Why couldn’t he just keep his mouth shut? Will he never learn?”

             
Valerie failed to see how it was Marion’s fault. “He can’t help what he sees can he? I mean how can you blame him?”

             
“Easily.” James replied. “Marion sees visions of the future, but the future is ever changing. There is always more than one possible outcome. It is when he opens his mouth that his visions turn from possibilities to prophecies.”

             
“No one should have that much power.” Valerie whispered. Her hands fluttering to her stomach, where apparently a little life was growing. Fresh tears welled up in Valerie’s eyes. She had wanted to be a mother someday, but not like this. A baby fathered by someone she didn’t know or love, a baby who would be born into war.

Valerie gasped as a thought occurred to her. “James that demon that saved me, do you think he knew?”

“You know love, I bet he did. I couldn’t understand why he would help you, but if you are carrying Erra’s baby then those on his side have probably been warned to not let any harm come to you.”

“Okay I think that makes sense, but then why would Erra send a rogue to kill me?”

Styx cleared her throat. “I can answer that. From what I saw in James’s memories it was a young vampire who shot you with an arrow of all things. Have you not guessed how Erra’s seed came to be in your womb?”

“Well I
was assuming it was during a dream I had last night, some creep in black gave me nightmares most of the night.”