Nick nodded.
"Always," Stryker said.
They took up positions with Acheron in the middle as they left the dark alley and headed down St. Ann toward the cemetery. Ash's long black coat fanned out slightly from his ankles as they walked like hungry predators toward a meeting Stryker was sure all of them could have done without. As if one beast outlined by moonlight, they moved in complete synchronization.
The only sounds they could hear were the music from Bourbon Street, the beating of their hearts, and the clicking of their boots on the pavement. The streets glistened from an earlier rain as dark clouds still hung above them and the street turned from commercial buildings into residential.
"How many times have you walked this street, Gautier?" Stryker asked.
"A thousand or better and I intend to be here for a thousand more."
Stryker nodded until they neared the cemetery, and he realized something. War did nothing without express intent. "Why do you think War chose this place to meet?"
Ash paused to look at him. "He wouldn't care about solitude."
Nick snorted. "Maybe he likes dead people."
A chill went down Stryker's spine at those words. They'd barely left Nick's lips before he saw just how right that sarcastic comment was. There before him stood three women.
Nick's mother, Stryker's daughter, and Ash's sister.
CHAPTER 12
STRYKER COULDN'T BREATHE AS HE SAW A FACE that had been relegated to his memories. Ethereal and pale, Tannis was as beautiful as her mother had been. White blond hair framed a face that was perfect and frail. Unconsciously, he took a step toward her.
Ash caught his arm and pulled him to a stop. "It's a trick."
Nick shook his head as he started forward. "Mom?"
Ash let go of Stryker to grab at Nick. Furious, the man snapped around and moved to slug him hard. Ash ducked, then shoved him back. "Get a grip, Nick. War is playing on our emotions."
"Why did you let me die, Acheron?"
Ash went completely still as he heard Ryssa's voice speaking the flawless Greek of his childhood. Her pale hair was caught up in blue ribbons that matched the ancient Greek gown she wore—the very dress she'd been wearing the night the Apollite soldiers had brutalized her and ended her life. "I called out for you to help me, akribos, but you didn't answer me. You never came."
Guilt shredded him. He tightened his grip on Nick's shirt, needing the stability of his old friend to hold his resolve. "You're not real," he snarled.
She moved forward to touch him with a hand so warm it belied the paleness of her hollow form. "You're still the child catching sunbeams in his hand, aren't you? Come with me, Acheron. I can keep you safe from this world that wants no part of you."
Bitter ache and loss welled up inside him as every part of his being wanted to go to Ryssa and have her comfort him. No longer was he a god of infinite power. That one touch reduced him to the boy who'd only wanted to feel the comfort of a loving touch. The boy who'd worshiped his older sister . . .
"Nicky?"
Ash winced at the sound of Cherise's voice. Tears glistened in Nick's eyes, but to his credit, he kept them from falling.
Dressed in the same creme dress they'd buried her in, Cherise stood quietly in the darkness. Her face showed no signs of the violence that had ended her life. She looked just as real and whole as the last time Ash had seen her waiting for Nick to come walk her home from work. "Come to your mama, cher. It's been too long since I last held my baby boy."
"Papa? Is that you? I'm scared, Papa. I don't understand what's happening to me. Please help me."
Stryker shook his head to clear it as every paternal instinct he had demanded he comfort his child. This was the girl he'd held in his arms and rocked to sleep. The woman whose hand he'd held as she screamed for mercy the entire day her body had decayed into dust.
She ran at him. "Papa?"
Growling, he ducked and spun away from her. She stared at him in confusion.
"Are they real?" Stryker asked Acheron.
Ash was still holding Nick back. "I don't know."
Cherise touched Ash's shoulder. "Of course I'm real, cher. Don't be playing with me like this." She tsked at Ash. "You still too skinny, child. You need some of my hash browns to fatten you up."
"Mama?" Nick shoved Ash back so that he could wrap his arms around her. The moment he did, she screamed in agony and faded into the mist.
"Akribos?" Ryssa said as she approached Ash slowly. "Why does it hurt now?" Then she, too, screamed out. Tannis's cries joined hers as she fell to her knees and covered her ears with her hands. "What's happening?" Nick looked as bewildered as Stryker felt.
Without answering, Stryker ran to Tannis to help her, but she vanished before he could reach her. Bitter laughter echoed around them. "You didn't think I just held Menyara and Medea, did you?"