Erecting Barriers Page 8

  She walked into a long, narrow chamber, noting a single being at the far end seated at a stone desk. The walls on either side were lined with demons standing at attention. Smart of the newcomer. No way could he be compromised without running a compressed gauntlet of pain and dismemberment.

  Not intimidated, Bel chose to mist―not walk―to the male’s position. He didn’t seem in the least bit surprised.

  “To what do I owe this pleasure…goddess?” He said the word with very little reverence. Bel knew she would either hate him, or enjoy the hell out of him.

  “You may call me Beletseri.” She leaned over the slab he used for his work, and flashed her cleavage. To give him credit, he took a good look, but Bel could see he wasn’t the type to be easily swayed.

  “Nice tits, but what is it you want? I’m a busy man.” He leaned back.

  She looked him over carefully. He wouldn’t have been the best looking of males, even before the Underworld pallor had taken hold. Probably in his mid-fifties when he died, already with one of those sad comb-overs and a pockmarked face. Other than that, he had good, strong features and not a bad set of shoulders as he sat behind his desk, looking deliberately bored.

  Not buying his disinterest, Bel looked deep and could see questions in his sharp, dark eyes; eyes that held more than their share of evil and intelligence.

  “I do believe we could be of mutual benefit to one other.” She purred her response, also letting him see the cold bite in her own gaze. “I have the power to come and go from these hallowed hallways.” She let the misnomer taunt him. “And you seem to have corralled a good deal of demon-power, which is of great interest to me.”

  “And?” he prompted.

  “And if you agree to share, I can get you all manner of things to help build your little empire. Things like computers that will tie you into all of Hell-central, or cable TV if you prefer.” Bel grabbed his interest. “I don’t know why you were incarcerated here, but I can help you get revenge on any old enemies and give you information on who will, and who will not help your cause down below.” Beletseri thought of Nedu, her old lover and ex-gatekeeper for the king. She’d sacrificed him to save Matthew. Since then, rumor had it he’d been subjected to torments unknown, and been relegated to the lowest depths within the realm. Perhaps this talented individual could effect her one-time swain’s release and utilize Nedu’s considerable talents. It never hurt to have a god on your side, even a minor one.

  “It sounds like we have a lot to talk about.” He nodded to a rock near his. “Have a seat.” He finally stood, no more than five foot eleven, but somehow still dangerous and imposing. He held out his hand as she settled down, struck by the power that clung to him.

  He mock bowed and introduced himself. “My name is Sallust Demetria, but you can call me Sal.”

  Hours later, Bel gloated, extremely satisfied as she made her way out of Hell.

  ****

  “What do you think they want?” Anshar asked Marduk as they stood on the back terrace looking out at a few of the goblins that had become corporeal. The two gods waited for Waylon, the Lauernley king to complete a full perimeter scan to see how many there really were, and report back.

  “They don’t seem to be doing anything but watching.” Marduk worried. “Who knows what’s on Beletseri’s mind.” He looked out and counted four Hell-spawn that they’d been permitted to see. “And now that she’s turned Matthew immortal, we have his powers to contend with as well, the evil son of a bitch.”

  The ex-human had been responsible for a lot of misery. He’d put a bullet into his wife, Tess, almost paralyzing her for life. He’d made Lenore’s existence a living hell, kidnapped Glory, attempted to drown Candy, and tried to seduce Charlie. Almost every female in the place wanted to rip the asshole apart, but it wouldn’t be easy now that Matthew had achieved god status.

  Waylon strode in, looking anything but complacent. Bad news. The blue immortal never seemed to lose control.

  “Well?” Marduk wasn’t one to put off ill tidings.

  “Forty-eight demons, visible and invisible; all stationary. Also cloaked, your friends Beletseri and Matthew are here, but those two are moving about, taking note of everything.” He shrugged. “Who knows what they’re looking for? Perhaps a way in.” The Rhone Valley king gave Marduk a questioning look.

  “There is no way in,” the thunder god stated. “After the breach by the DEA, we made modifications. Our barriers are solid.” Marduk hoped. Too much remained at stake here to risk an entry. Fifty powerful enemies against half that in god-power were not wonderful odds. He’d surrounded the house with a show of force, adamantly keeping the pregnant women, the older witches, the human parents and the injured Kulla sequestered. He groaned when a waddling Lenore appeared next to her husband.

  “What are you doing here?” Marduk questioned. “I thought I told you to stay in the nursery with the rest.”

  “What. And miss all the fun?” She pouted. “The little boy and I want to kick some ass.” She rubbed her belly and made a kissy face at Anshar.

  “Little girl,” her husband groused fruitlessly in an ongoing squabble. Husband and wife wouldn’t agree on the sex of their unborn child. Marduk refused to be drawn in.

  “Why are you here, Lenore?” he asked with a growl.

  “To find out what’s going on,” she stated, never one to be far from the action. Marduk readied to deliver a strong rebuke, but Lenore’s great-grandfather gave her what she wanted.

  “Right now we’re not sure,” Waylon responded. “We are surrounded by invisible demons on all sides, and the immortals Beletseri and Matthew are making a study of the entire compound.” The king pointed where none of them could see. “There he is now.”

  “Freaking asshole,” Lenore muttered. She disappeared and re-grouped her molecules on the lawn, in the direction Waylon had indicated, keeping a few feet between her and the protective barrier.

  “Hey dickwad,” she called, staring into nothing. “I know you’re here. I can smell your rotten stench,” she jeered. “What are you, afraid poor pregnant me will kick your ass again?” She reminded him of the takedowns she’d done on him back in Plymouth when they’d had an uneasy working relationship.

  On the terrace, Marduk restrained Anshar from retrieving his wife. “Let’s see where this goes,” he whispered. “Lenore usually knows what she’s doing.”

  “Yeah,” Anshar gruffed. “The operative word being usually.”

  But Marduk won this one. Within seconds, Matthew dropped the ore that cloaked him and stood as close to the barrier as he could get, almost nose to nose with his old workmate.

  “Maybe it’s not ass kicking I want,” he leered. “Those tits have gotten a lot bigger along with your belly, sweet cheeks. Maybe I’d enjoy sucking on those thick nipples. I’ve had them before,” he mocked. Once, when Lenore had been knocked out, she’d come back to consciousness with Matthew’s mouth on her breast. She’d thrown him across the room, and Marduk knew she’d gladly take him on again.

  “Don’t make threats you’re not capable of carrying out,” she warned, not even blinking at his nasty comment. “Just tell us what you want and get the hell out of the Blue Hills.”

  Matthew conferred with someone in his head.

  What a dumb-ass. Marduk thought. Inexperience didn’t excuse the need to disguise those types of things. He assumed the god received orders from Beletseri before he answered Lenore. He guessed right.

  “Bel says we’ll leave you alone if you hand over…” His gaze went toward a balcony on the second floor, where the witch, Obedience stood shoulder to shoulder with her cousin Dorian. “…the newest and as yet unmated Chosen.”

  She is a pretty little thing. Bel said to Matthew, but for everyone’s benefit. You weren’t wrong in your assumption that a threesome would be interesting.

  They all saw Matthew send a hand, unconsciously to the front of his pants.

  “You are such a prick, Matthew. Fuck off. You’re not getti
ng anybody.” Lenore spat in disgust. She crossed her arms over her tremendous mound and glared at him.

  “Suit yourself.” He shrugged. “But we’ll have her soon enough. We’re amassing an enormous army, and even if you manage to keep her safe now, sooner or later we’ll get her…or one of the other Chosen you’re looking for.” He looked cock sure as he strutted a few steps away. “In the meantime,” Matthew looked pointedly at Lenore’s belly, “remember that your offspring aren’t protected by the original agreement. If we break in…” He clearly listened to the voice in his head. “When we break in, your little ones are fair game.” He delivered the threat in a voice devoid of warmth, picked up his ore and disappeared before she could respond.

  “The evil pair are gone,” Waylon informed Marduk. “Along with every last demon. They’ve left the vicinity.”

  Marduk could barely speak. He steamed. His baby, and the unborn children of his friends had just been threatened.

  ****

  “Nicely done, Matthew.” Back at their new headquarters buried deep within the Berkshires’ mountainous terrain, Beletseri stroked her lover’s arm. How nice to have a spokesperson doing her dirty work. Not only did every immortal already hate Matthew, but if anything went wrong and one of the volatile gods or goddesses attacked, it wouldn’t be Beletseri who suffered the consequences.

  The foray to the Blue Hills had proven profitable for more than just riling the inhabitants. It gave Bel some much-needed information. With the protection of the demons, she’d been able to take her time and really look over the situation at the compound. Knowing that Marduk would parade his strength, every available battle-ready body had been poised on the ramparts, and she’d taken note that besides the original gods she despised, quite a few others had joined their ranks. The dark, sardonic male she’d previously encountered at the airport had stayed with them. Research told her his name was Dorian Penmarch, an influential and powerful warlock.

  The five blue men she’d seen were still a mystery, but she’d figure them out given a little time. Obviously they were the ones who could see the otherwise invisible demons, and pinpoint the location of her and Matthew despite the cloaking ore. She listed them as a bothersome distraction and immortal, a problem that should be destroyed first.

  Her current target, Kulla’s woman if Matthew’s intel proved correct, stood beside the warlock Dorian, and looked vaguely and shimmeringly powerful. Perhaps she was a witch, too, which would account for the things she’d done to Matthew at the quarries. A good guess, she surmised, and helpful to know. Witches were forbidden by their council to get mixed up in the business of gods. She could easily stir up some trouble there.

  As for how many vulnerable humans, or otherly-immortal souls were on site, Bel remained in the dark. Beings other than gods carried no body signature that she could read, so she didn’t know how many she’d need to overcome and kill if the foolish barriers were breached.

  She’d given her demons orders. Anyone who left the confines of their refuge who registered human, would be detained and brought to her, at all cost. The rotation of her guards on the compound would start immediately.

  Only two things puzzled her. The first? She had scanned one extra goddess in residence, and when peering into the window from whence the energy emerged, Bel spied an unknown female, golden blonde. Young with a magnificent chest. She couldn’t place her, and wondered if another potential Chosen had arrived. It would do well to keep an eye on her, and work on her abduction as well. It wouldn’t hurt. At this point, Bel couldn’t overplay her hand.

  The second thing that nagged at her? The stone structure being built beside one of the two cottages. Not the most imposing edifice but perfect in its symmetry, it was the recipient of the stone Kulla had been cutting at the quarry. Something about it tickled Beletseri’s synapses, but she couldn’t quite put her finger on it. She filed it away in her head. It would come to her. She had a lot to think about. Between the things she’d learned today, and her very informative meeting with Sal a few days before, there were a lot of options open to her for revenge.

  She replayed the rest of her Underworld interview, wondering how much of what she’d learned could be useful.

  ****

  “So, Sal.” Bel had looked up at the male posturing over her in an attitude of intimidation. “You should sit down. Nothing you do can scare me,” she’d informed him coldly.

  He laughed at her cockiness. “Don’t be too sure. I’ve taken down a lot of heavy hitters in my day.”

  “Yes. And some heavy hitter took you down, or you wouldn’t be here.” Bel looked around purposefully. “You could use some amenities in your…suite.” She sneered at the remains of his roasted bug dinner. The food―fauna of the many-legged variety―augured disgusting. “What would you do for a nice juicy steak…or a vodka martini?” Bel knew how to hit, and seeing Sal’s slight paunch, she’d figured him as a man with a hungry palate.

  “Okay. No more bullshit.” He sat back down and dropped the mask of indifference. “Tell me what you want and what you’re willing to give.” Crossing his arms over his chest he leaned back, waiting.

  “First of all, tell me how you got here.” She hadn’t expected the guffaw that shook his shoulders.

  He didn’t hesitate to tell of his downfall. “I got sloppy. There was a woman.” He looked up at Bel. “Why is it always a woman, eh?”

  When she shrugged, he continued. “I had a sweet situation. Lots of money and power, all the pussy I wanted, then she came along to completely undo me.” His face took on a faraway look.

  “She played a mean pole on the dance floor, if you know what I mean. Perky tits, a tight ass, and just the shadow of dark cunt-hair under some sheer panties. It made me temporarily crazy, and I gave her a coveted place in my entourage.” He laughed self-deprecatingly. “Turns out Candy worked undercover for the DEA. Once I found out, I nearly went insane, but kept my cool long enough to kidnap her.”

  Bel’s attention became hard-focused.

  “I brought her to my ship to fuck that sweet little pussy until I got tired of it and sent it overboard.” He gestured around him. “Obviously, it didn’t go as I planned.” Sal’s face went hard. “Some fucking thing showed up. And when I say thing, that’s what I mean. It looked like a big guy to start with, but did this transformation hocus-pocus and turned into a freaking bull or something. Ugly as shit, I got ready to shoot it when a whole bunch of big guys just appeared on my deck out of nowhere. From that point on I was screwed. I accidentally shot my best friend, then that bitch Candy stabbed me in the gut. Next thing I know, I’m here.”

  Beletseri poised on the edge of her rock. “The girl,” she barely kept her voice under control. “The girl’s name wouldn’t have been Candy Lane, would it?”

  Sal eyed her suspiciously.

  Bel filled with elation. “And the bull-guy. Did she call him Enlil?” Unable to contain her excitement , she danced to her feet. By the look on Sal’s face, she’d made a direct hit. She didn’t let him hang. Keeping him in suspense didn’t have to be part of the plan. She laughed, an almost hysterical sound.

  “Those guys that misted in? Those are the gods I’m after. My objectives. The longtime enemies who have been like sores on my skin.” She grabbed one of Sal’s hands and squeezed, ignoring the cold, cadaver-like flesh. “If you put your tamed demons at my disposal,”―she hadn’t asked how he’d do it―”I will make you king of the Underworld, with food and riches beyond compare at your fingertips. And eventually, once my plans prevail, you will rule over the torture and punishment of all those gods, and your little Candy Lane for the rest of eternity. How does that sound?”

  Her enthusiasm had been catching, and undeniable in its sincerity. She watched Sal ponder the power she suggested, and the possibility that Candy could still be his. Clearly greedy, impatient to strike a deal and get started, he chose to hold back his eagerness, but Bel saw it.

  “I think we might be able to work together,” he answered with
a shrug that couldn’t hide his excited twitchiness.

  Oh yes, Bel recalled. Sal would partner up with her and take what he could get. But she couldn’t help admiring his reticence. Clearly he understood the risks; that life―or death in this case―didn’t always give you what you wanted.

  Chapter Eight

  “Obedience.” Kulla’s voice held censure, and none of the warmth he had displayed earlier. She knew his anger was fear-fueled.

  A slight movement caught her eye. Coward. The blue man tiptoed from the room. Uh-uh. Not his fight.

  Obedience refused to be afraid, scoffing instead that Kulla might attempt to intimidate her. In fact, she knew what he would say before the words left his tongue. He didn’t disappoint.

  “You shouldn’t have left the safety of this room. Don’t you ever listen? Who in their right mind named you Obedience? We’re changing your name.”

  He’d barked those very same words at her many times in the past, when her impetuousness would often derail his good intentions and plans. Bee-Dee nearly snickered. He’d always been stymied at how little she resembled her moniker. She closed her lips, tight, instead of giving in to the urge to stick out her tongue. He wouldn’t want to see her fresh side right now.

  “Don’t be angry, Kulla,” she soothed, instead. Bee-Dee tried to see the situation from his viewpoint. Frustrated that she’d taken off, he had been helpless to follow. One thing she’d learned about the gods in the weeks she’d spent at the compound, they lived to take care of their Chosen, even if the women in question were as powerful as them. It endeared the group to her.

  Bee-Dee hid a smile at Kulla’s aggressive posturing. Her feet were in familiar territory here, and she’d always known just how to placate him. It felt natural to fall back into the old ways. She moved closer to his bed and looked down into his fierce visage with all the warmth she could muster. She forgot all of his betrayal for the moment, and let her love shine out to embrace him. He drew in a startled breath.