Create PDF files without this message by purchasing novaPDF printer (http://www.novapdf.com) It didn't seem to have come from any of them.
Then all of a sudden, an explosion sounded.
She dropped to her knees and used Sasha to see what was happening.
Her house had blown apart. Fire and debris shot high into the air, blending ominously with the aurora borealis.
Out of the midst of the fiery remains came Thanatos. Unmarred and undamaged.
Not even his hair was singed.
It was a horrifying sight.
Zarek cursed. "Don't you ever die?"
Thanatos didn't answer. Instead, he moved to slug Zarek who ducked the blow and delivered a staggering one back.
Sundown moved toward her. "I've got to get you—"
She took off running before Sundown could finish the sentence.
"Sasha," she called. "Attack."
"Like hell!" Sasha snapped. "I may be your guardian but that is Artemis's pet. I can't kill it. I'll be lucky to even faze him. And you know what people do to injured wolves… They shoot them."
Astrid panicked. She couldn't see. She could only hear the grunts of the men fighting, the sound of flesh striking flesh.
Someone grabbed her and threw her to the ground, then covered her body with theirs.
She screamed.
"Stop it!" Zarek snapped.
He rolled with her, then pulled her up and pushed her forward.
"What's going on?" she asked as he kept moving her forward.
"Not much," he said in a bored yet breathless tone. "Some invincible asshole is trying to kill me. And you're not supposed to be here." He let go of her. "Get her out of here, Jess.
"
"I can't.
"
Zarek curled his lip. Had he been able to afford the drain to his powers, he would have slugged Jess for that.
Create PDF files without this message by purchasing novaPDF printer (http://www.novapdf.com) Instead, all he could do was whirl around to face Thanatos who was stalking him relentlessly.
"What's the matter, Zarek? You afraid to die?
"
He snorted as he pushed Astrid toward Jess. "Dying's easy. It's living that's hard.
"
Thanatos paused as if the words caught him off guard.
It gave Zarek just what he needed. Pulling the Daimon dagger from its concealed sheath inside his boot, he rushed forward and embedded it in Thanatos's chest where a stain that looked like an ink blot should have been. Normally the strike would release the human souls trapped inside a Daimon's body. The force of their exit was usually enough to blow the Daimon apart, causing instant decomposition.
This time, it didn't work.
Thanatos pulled the dagger out and reached for him. "I'm not a Daimon, Dark-Hunter. Don't you remember? I was an Apollite until I met you.
"
Zarek frowned.
Thanatos grabbed him by his collar and held him tight. "Do you remember my wife you killed? My village you destroyed?
"
Memories flashed through his mind. Zarek saw nothing but his own village.
No, wait. He remembered something…
A flash of an invincible Daimon, but not the man he faced.
This one had red, glowing eyes.
No, that had been someone else.
His thoughts turned toNew Orleans
.
To…
Why couldn't he remember?
He recalled Sunshine Runningwolf in the warehouse room with him as he told Dionysus and Camulus to shove their orders up their sphincter, and then the next thing he remembered was leaving Acheron on the crowded street.
A flash of lightning went through his head.
He saw something…
Was it Acheron?
Was it himself he saw?
Zarek struggled to put the memories straight.
Ah, screw it. The only memory he needed was this one.
He kneed Thanatos in the groin.
The Daimon doubled over.
"Dead or alive, the balls still hurt when kicked, huh?"
Create PDF files without this message by purchasing novaPDF printer (http://www.novapdf.com) The Daimon hissed and cursed in response.
Zarek slammed his combined fists down across Thanatos's back. "If anyone has any suggestion on how to kill this guy, I'm open to it.
"
Jess shook his head. "I'm out of dynamite. You got any grenades?
"
"Not on me.
"
Thanatos righted himself. "Say die, Dark-Hunter.
"
"Fine. Die, why don't you?" Zarek lowered his head and charged him. They locked arms and hit the ground.
Thanatos rose up from him and ripped open his shirt. From the way he moved his hands, Zarek could tell he was looking for the bow-and-arrow mark Jess had mentioned.
"Surprise, dickhead, Mama forgot to tell you a few things about me.
"
In the distance, Zarek heard the approach of an engine. He heard its drone over the sound of Jess urging Astrid to leave and Astrid's refusal while Sasha barked and pushed at her.
Suddenly, a snowmachine came flying up at the same time Zarek broke from Thanatos.
"Duck!"