Blessed Death Read online

  The ward was a sphere; going beneath the water and into the sky; to completely encase the city. From what I had gleaned, it was necessary. It was also necessary for all of our allied gods to contribute; including Odin in his dragon form. So, Arach was the only one left to chase the escaping enemy gods. Except Arach refused to leave me unguarded in my vulnerable state; he hovered behind our vimana to protect us as our enemies fled.

  Nyx and Macaria were among the gods who managed to escape before the ward closed; Nyx flying her wing-less daughter her daughter to safety. Hades closed his burning eyes briefly in relief after he saw them get away. No matter how bad your children turn out to be, they're still yours, and a good parent never stops loving their child. I couldn't fault Hades for being happy that his daughter lived, even knowing how Macaria had betrayed us. It wasn't like this was the first time that a friend's daughter had done something horrible to me. It didn't change my love for Hades or my regret for his pain.

  Motion on my right caught my attention, and I glanced to the side to see Abaddon hovering beside us; tears streaming down his cheeks as he stared at Dvārakā. I did a double take, but I couldn't give him more than another look. I needed to focus on helping everyone with the ward.

  Then a great cracking roar vibrated out from the city, and as I—and the rest of our allies—continued to fuel the ward, the streets of Dvārakā began to break apart. Krishna's palace exploded and pieces of it went flying through the ruins of the once stunning city seconds before a blinding light burst out from it. I watched the trapped gods scream, but I couldn't hear them; the ward muffled everything. Their fear was obvious but brief; the blast took out the entire city within moments. Fire and smoke hit the ward with so much energy and heat that it sent shock waves through the barrier.

  The magical rebound sent our vimana tumbling through the air; along with the other gods who had been fueling the ward. Odin and Arach snatched our chariot with their mighty claws and guided our descent back to land. But the ripples of energy forced them into a hard landing, and we crashed into the beach; tumbling out of the toppled vimana and into the sand.

  I wound up beneath Kirill and Trevor; staring up at the ironically blue sky, past their wide, bare shoulders. As I recovered, angels flew overhead; carrying demons in their arms. I smiled wistfully up at them.

  “Are you smiling?” Trevor asked in surprise as the chaos died down.

  “Angels protecting demons,” I mused. “It's not the way I expected this day to go.”

  Trevor chuckled, and then Kirill started to laugh. But when we got to our feet, we stared out across the water and went grim. Smoke drifted up in heavy sheets; away from the bubbling sea. Nothing was left of Dvārakā; after a few minutes, even the bubbles disappeared.

  “Krishna, I will remember you, my friend.” Karni-Mata bowed her head both sadly and respectfully.

  “He was the only one who could do it,” Brahma said as he stared out at the calming ocean. “And he was brave enough to make that decision. He took responsibility for his creation.”

  “Despite the fact that he had nothing to do with it rising,” Karni growled. “All Kris ever did was try to help people. He was one of the most honorable men I've ever known. He wanted the best for humans. Kris tried to share our advances with them, and when he saw that they couldn't use our technology wisely, he hid it from them. Krishna even hid himself so that the other gods couldn't use him to get to the city.”

  “And they found it anyway,” Blue said sadly. “Sometimes, even the best of intentions results in tragedy. All we can do is manage the mess.”

  “Like the mess there's going to be when the humans start talking about what happened here,” I said. “How are we going to manage that?”

  “As you said, V; never underestimate the human ability to explain away what they don't want to believe in,” Hekate said. “I bet if we just let this lie, the humans will handle it for us.”

  “What if there are videos?” Torrent asked. “They could even now be uploading them onto the Internet.”

  “Are they?” I asked him.

  Torrent frowned and then his bright green eyes started to jump around as if he were reading. After a few minutes, he shook his head. “Not yet.”

  “We'll deal with that if it arises,” Odin said. He shifted into a weredragon form. “But even a video could be explained away as special effects.”

  “I can influence the local government to squash any stories that emerge,” Brahma offered.

  “I can't believe that something of this magnitude can just be swept under the rug,” Torrent huffed.

  “It's been happening since the beginning,” Teharon said as he stroked Karni's arm tenderly. “Humans will believe what they want to; it's how we came into power in the first place.”

  “Amazing,” Torrent whispered.

  Then I saw Abaddon. He was standing near the shore; staring forlornly at the water. I went over to him and laid a hand gently on his shoulder.

  “Are you all right?” I asked.

  Abaddon turned his sad stare my way. “I ordered them to stay,” he whispered.

  I blinked in shock. “The locusts?”

  He nodded. “I couldn't put them back in that hole, and yet, I couldn't set them free.”

  “You gave them another type of freedom,” I said softly.

  “Did I do it for them or for me?” He asked.

  “Does it matter?” I countered. “They aren't suffering anymore; nor did they suffer when they died. That blast was nearly instantaneous.”

  “And they died valiantly,” Trevor added as he joined us. “You gave them honor that they could never have achieved on their own.”

  Abaddon took a deep breath and nodded. “I think I need some time to mourn. They weren't my friends, but they were my soldiers.”

  “I understand,” I whispered.

  “Goodbye, Vervain.” Abaddon bowed to me, then nodded to Trevor. “And it was nice to meet you, Wolf Prince. Please convey my farewells to the others. I don't think I'm ready to celebrate.”

  I nodded, and Abaddon leapt into the sky. As I watched him fly away, Arach strode over to us in his weredragon form. He took my hand and kissed it.

  “That was a fantastic battle, A Thaisce. But now I must return to our sons,” Arach declared.

  “Thank you for coming to help us, Arach.” I hugged him tightly.

  Arach hugged me back warmly before releasing me and turning to Odin. He held out his hand and said, “It was an honor to fly with you today, Odin.”

  “And with you, King Arach.” Odin shook Arach's hand. “Thank you for showing me the ropes.”

  “Which ropes?” Arach's crimson brows lifted.

  “It's an expression,” I said. “He means that you taught him some dragon techniques.”

  “Ah!” Arach declared. “Excellent. Perhaps you can use those lessons to take look after our wife while she's away from Faerie.”

  “She doesn't need me to look after her, but I will anyway.” Odin smirked.

  “Good answer,” I muttered.

  “I'll see you in a second, A Thaisce,” Arach said before he disappeared.

  Chapter Fifty-Five

  There was a bit more clean-up with Dvārakā than we had anticipated. Brahma had to make good on his offer to influence the Indian Government, and Torrent had to erase a few Internet videos before they got noticed. Then there was the issue of hundreds of bodies floating around in the sea off Dwarka; the gods who were killed before the city was destroyed. A mass angel/demon/god ocean clean-up took place, and the bodies were incinerated.

  During the aftermath of Dvārakā's destruction, we finally unraveled the mystery of the events preceding it. Yama had once been friends with Krishna and had lived in Dvārakā. He knew the power it held as well as the lost technology, and he knew how to get past most of the wards Krishna had set. Yama had come up with the plot to raise Dvārakā and then coerced the other death deities to join him. The God Squad and I didn't land on Yama's radar until Mac
aria had joined his team. It was she who had warned Yama that we'd be trouble. Macaria had heard stories from Hades about his exploits with us, and she knew that if we found out about Yama's plans, we would interfere. So, they came up with another plan—one far more complicated than the original; a plan to distract the God Squad.

  It started with Azrael. Yama had heard of Azrael's retirement through Mot—another death god Yama had drawn into his cause. Mot offered to manipulate the Angelic Host and trick them into attacking Azrael. But that wasn't going to be enough; they knew that Az could simply hide in the God Realm until it was safe to show his face again. So, Macaria went undercover. She went to visit her father, and then got Hades to bring her to a God Squad meeting. She even inserted herself into Azrael's life and tried to seduce my husband.

  But that wasn't all. Macaria had heard of my Russian husband and had brought Marzana with her to Pride Palace to seduce Kirill. Except Macaria hadn't known who Kirill was; that he had been the lost son of Peter the Great, and that Marzana had once known him and his family. So, Mac failed twice. Her mother had to step in and try to seduce Hades—I guess that was how women in that family handled men. Evidently, they sucked at it, because Nyx had struck out too.

  But Yama didn't fail. He went to his brother, Enma, and asked him to orchestrate yet another distraction. Enma had told Yama about a rumor he'd heard; that Amaterasu was allied with the Godhunter. Yama banked on that connection and asked Enma to steal some of Amaterasu's followers. And that was how we ended up in Jigoku. If Amy hadn't made good on her threat and killed Enma in Dvārakā, I would have happily gone back into Jigoku just to kick his ass. But Enma and Yama both died in the golden city; spending barely a single day in its treasured light.

  Oh, and then there was the mystery of who stole the goggles.

  Re had started to repair his relationship with his daughters but it was slow going. He had a lot of sucking up to do. A couple of mornings after the Dvārakā incident, Re came to see me; fresh from doing some of that groveling. He was having lunch with Toby, Lesya, my husbands, and me when Anubis strode into the dining hall of Pride Palace.

  “Where is she?” Anubis demanded.

  “Sekhmet?” Re asked in surprise? “She moved home now that she has her magic back. She's in Aaru.”

  “Not Sekhmet!” Anubis roared; his oil slick eyes shifting through colors wildly. “Marzana; where is Marzana?”

  Lesya started to growl, and Kirill picked her up distractedly. His gaze—like everyone else's in the room—was focused on Anubis.

  “Tell me later,” Kirill said as he headed into the kitchen with our daughter.

  “Why are you asking about Marzana, Anubis?” I asked cautiously.

  “She was the goddess you were seeing, wasn't she?” Re asked with the tones of an epiphany.

  “Yes,” Anubis snapped. “And a few days ago, she left this note on my pillow. I haven't been able to find her since.”

  Anubis tossed a folded piece of paper onto the table. Re picked it up and scanned it. Then he closed his eyes as if he were in pain and sighed.

  “It was Marzana who took the goggles,” Re whispered.

  “Why? What does the letter say?” I asked.

  “What goggles?” Anubis asked.

  “Marzana wrote that she had something vital to do, and if she didn't return, Anubis was to come here to find out what happened to her,” Re said.

  “Well, at least she didn't leave him wondering,” Trevor huffed.

  “I am still wondering,” Anubis snarled.

  “I'm so sorry, Anubis,” Re said gently. “It appears that you have been used for your access to Aaru.”

  “What?” Anubis growled.

  “Did you happen to mention my treasure room to Marzana?” Re countered.

  “Your treasure room?” Anubis huffed. “Why would I...” He blinked rapidly and then pulled out a chair from the dining table and sat down in it carefully. “Why do you ask?”

  “I had a pair of far-seeing goggles hidden there,” Re said. “They belonged to Vervain but she entrusted them to me, and they were stolen from my treasure room. I accused Sekhmet and Bast; believing that there was no way either you or Ma'at would think to take them. You didn't even know of their existence.”

  “But Bast and Sekhmet would never betray you,” Anubis whispered.

  “Neither would you,” Re said gently. “Not knowingly.”

  “I had it noted in one of my files,” Anubis lifted his gaze to his grandfather guiltily. “I was looking through my files the other day and that particular folder was slightly lifted, but I thought nothing of it.”

  “She needed the goggles to raise Dvārakā,” Odin said. “Macaria must have known that Re had them.”

  “Marzana was a part of that?” Anubis asked in horror.

  “Yes,” Re said.

  “Is she?” Anubis swallowed roughly. “Did she... ?”

  “As far as we know, Marzana didn't make it out of the city,” Re said softly.

  Anubis stood abruptly and headed out of the room.

  “Anubis!” Re called after him.

  Anubis paused in the doorway and looked back over his shoulder. “I'm sorry, Grandfather. It seems that your trust was misplaced; as was mine.”

  “Don't blame yourself,” Re said. “I don't blame you, Anubis.”

  “Thank you,” Anubis said stiffly. “My apologies on barging in.”

  Anubis strode off. I wanted to call after him and ask if he was all right, but I knew it was a stupid question that would only embarrass him more. So, I let him go, and I hoped that this wouldn't send Anubis back into the shadows he'd once existed in. How ironic it would be, if in trying to bring themselves into the light, those gods pushed Anubis—one of their death god brothers—back into his darkness. Ironic and so very heartbreaking.

  But I had faith in Anubis; I had seen his future and the happy marriage it contained. I knew he could rise above this, and unlike Dvārakā, Anubis could stay risen. If he didn't, I would go back into his hell and drag him out of it... again. Because that's what I do for my friends.

  “Blessed Death,” I whispered as I took Azrael's hand.

  I had been connected to Death from the moment Azrael had touched my soul... perhaps even sooner than that; Odin was also technically a death god. Death had always been drawn to me, and I had a soft spot for the darker deities. Anubis had once hurt me—back when he was lost to his pain—and I wasn't about to let him sink into that despair again. I would do all I could to counter the damage Macaria and Marzana had done, and make Anubis feel blessed again.

  “Um, Carus, could you possibly not call me by the title of the goddess who betrayed us all and tried to break up our marriage?” Azrael asked dryly.

  “Sure, sweetheart; no problem.” I smirked.

  Maybe 'blessed' wasn't the right word for death, after all.

  Grammar Giggles

  And just for a little giggle, here are some grammar mistakes found during the editing of this book.

  Correct Line: Lesya was part werelion, and that meant she had the growing speed of a lion cub.

  Giggle: Lesya was part werelion, and that meant she had the growing speed of a ion cub.

  Correct Line: “Az, did you not hear the bit about us not doing anything?”

  Giggle: “Az, did you not here the bit about us not doing anything?”

  Correct Line: We soared through smoke and ash; chasing dragon tails like lawyers chase ambulances.

  Giggle: We soared through smoke and ash; chasing dragon tails like layers chase ambulances.

  And please feel free to write me at [email protected] if you spot any grammar errors yourself. I'm a self-published author who must rely on the kindness of my super-smart friends for help in editing. Please have mercy on my writing.

  Pronunciation Guide

  A Thaisce: Ah Hash-keh

  Aalish: A-lis

  Aednat: Ey-nit

  Aillidh: Ah-lee

  Ameterasu: Ah-mah-ta-rah-soor />
  Aodh: Ee

  Aoife: Ee-fa

  Arach: Air-rock

  Artair: Ar-ter

  Bean-nighe: Ban-neeyah

  Bean-sidhe: Ban-she

  Bearach: BEH-ruck

  Bronagh: Bro-nah

  Caitir:KAH-te-heer

  Carus: Care-us

  Ciaran: KEE-a-rawn

  Cian: Key-an

  Craigor: Kraeg-or

  Danal: Dah-nal

  Daoir: Daheer

  Diarmat: DEER-mit

  Drachleen-sidhe: Druch-leen Shee

  Eilidh: Ael-ee

  Ellingran: El-ING-rawn

  Estsanatlehi(Mrs E): Es-tan-AHT-lu-hee

  Farinne-sidhe: Fare-nya Shee

  Fearghal: FAR-rell

  Fionn: FYOON

  Fionnuala: Finn-noo-lah

  Fionnaghal: Fyoon-ghal-a

  Froekn: Fro-kin

  Grainne: GRAW-nya

  Granuaile: Graw-nya-wail

  Gruach: Groo-ah

  Guirmean: GOO-rah-man

  Hachiman: Ha-chee-man

  Huitzilopochtli: Weet-seal-oh-POACHED-lee

  Intare: In-tar-ay

  Isleen: Is-lean

  Kanaloa: Kah-nah-low-ah

  Kirill: Key-reel

  Leannan-sidhe: Lah-nan Shee

  Meilyr: May-ler

  Neala: NEE-ah-la

  Nephthys: Nep-th-es

  Nyavirezi: Nee-yah-veer-ez-ee

  Peig: Paeg

  Raiseala: Rash-uh-lah

  Roarke: ROAR-k

  Ruari: Ro-ree

  Scotaidh: SCO-tee

  Shehaquim: Shah-ha-keem

  Shinno: Sheh-no

  Tairhail: Tah-vel

  Taog: TOOK

  Taran: TA-ran

  Tima: Tee-mah

  Tlaloc: T-la-lock

  Tsohanoai(Mr. T): So-ha-noe-ayee

  Vejasmate: Vay-hahs-mah-tee

  Veve: Veh-vay

  Vilkacis: Vill-ka-seas

  Glossary of Characters

  This character list was requested by a reader (you wanted it, you got it, from the most important to the bit characters). It's a bit mind boggling so I suggest you only use it for reference when you're confused and I apologize for the amount of pages you'll have to skim past.