Acheron’s smile faded. “What?”
“I saw you a minute ago when you freak-flashed in here. You had horns and blue skin. What are you?” Acheron returned that question with one of his own. “What funky vegetables you been eating? Meth is death and inhalants can kil you, kid. You should stay away from them before they destroy your last three brain cel s.” Yeah, right. “I’m stone cold and you … you’re not human. I know you’re not human.”
That irritating grin returned to Acheron’s face. “Very few people are.”
“Ha, ha. I saw you, man. What you did to the zombies when you arrived and with Rosa. … I know you’re not human. Are you going to kil me because I know?”
Acheron paused as he considered his options. Nick Gautier was a lot more than he seemed. At fourteen, Nick’s mind should have easily been wiped by his powers, like Rosa’s had been. Not that Acheron liked to use those powers on anyone. As a rule, he seldom did, but there were times when circumstances demanded it.
Kil er zombies exploding in a kitchen happened to be one of them.
And it wasn’t until someone was older that they developed the ability to block that particular talent of his. And even then only the stoutest of wil s could stand against his powers.
Come to think of it, no mortal human being had ever stood against his powers. Only gods and a handful of demons could fight or circumvent him against his wil .
More than that, somehow, some way, Nick had glimpsed his true god form.
How?
Kill him and be done with it.
That was probably the most logical thing to do. But Kyrian, for whatever misguided reasons, had his heart set on saving the kid. Closing his eyes, Acheron used his powers to see into the future—to what would happen if he kil ed Nick.
Nothing was there.
Just a vacuous space of nothingness.
Crap . . .
Two weeks ago, when Nick had been injured, he’d seen the kid’s entire life from start to finish as clear as a summer sky.
Now he couldn’t even glimpse what Nick had bulging in his front pocket.
This is so not good.
Because that meant only one thing—this kid was going to significantly impact his life somehow and the Fates had blinded Acheron to him to prevent him from interfering with Nick’s choices.
I hate it when this happens. It was why he tried to never let anyone near him. Why he had no real friends other than his demon companion.
This little bugger in front of him was destined to alter his future. No wonder he couldn’t use his powers against him.
Sighing, Acheron opened his eyes. There was no need to fight destiny. He’d learned centuries ago just how useless it was to try. Might as well embrace the inevitable and introduce myself. Because any time someone had tried to alter his future, it’d only made things worse. Much worse.
“I’m Acheron Parthenopaeus.”
Nick snorted. “Dang, and I thought my name sucked. Your parents must have real y hated your guts.” If he only knew. …
“Cal me Ash. It’s easier and takes a lot less time.” Nick held his good hand out to him. “Nick Gautier. Now what are you again?”
“He’s the best friend you’l ever make or your last enemy.” Nick looked up to see Kyrian coming down the stairs. “Oh, I get it,” he said sarcastical y. “ ’Cause he’l kil me if I tick him off. Ha, ha, ha.”
Kyrian rol ed his eyes.
Acheron let out a long-suffering breath. “I’m not saying a word, General. I told you the kid was going to be more trouble than he’s worth. So far, I’m right.”
Nick took a step closer to Acheron and said in a low tone,
“Does Kyrian know about … you know? Your particular weirdness?”
“He does indeed. Rosa, not so much. So let’s keep that on the down low around her.”
“Gotcha.”
Kyrian paused beside Acheron. “I take it Nick saw something unusual?”
“Not too unusual,” Nick said. “If you live in a friggin’ video game.”
Acheron shook his head. “He handled it wel for the most part.”
Nick scoffed. “Ash is omitting the part where I freaked out and ran like a girl. Did you know your housekeeper can handle a knife like a street fighter and has no qualms about hacking people up with it?”
“Wel that was a random switch in topic,” Acheron said to Kyrian.
Kyrian laughed. “Yes, Nick. I know al about her knife-welding talents. It’s why I hired her. And if I were you, I’d keep that in mind should you ever feel the need to lip off to her. She doesn’t take it wel .”
“Don’t worry. That desire … effectively quel ed.” Nick put his hand in his pocket as he digested everything that had happened over the last few minutes. “So you have a psychotic housekeeper with some serious ninja knife skil s and Acheron would be what to you?”