That priceless expression on Acheron’s face said that he heartily disagreed, and made Urian wonder what was in his past to cause that look. And his instincts were verified by Ash’s next words. “So why the sudden girlspeak, Urian? Neither one of us is really into discussing our feelings … and no offense, I like the fact that we don’t.”
Urian couldn’t agree more. There were some things he really didn’t want to know about his boss. “I do too most times, and I’m truly grateful you don’t pry. But as a man who defied everything he once valued in this world, and one who sacrificed the love of a father he worshiped … even though it ended badly, the days I had with Phoebe were worth every wound I’ve suffered.”
He moved closer to Ash. “I know what it’s like to be torn between a love so pure it burns you deep down in a place you didn’t know someone could touch you and between your oath and duties. Between the love of a father you’ve always known and one you know you can depend on forever versus a love that’s new and untested. But you know what I learned? It’s a lot easier to live without my father’s love than it is to live without Phoebe’s. I just thought you ought to know that.”
“There’s a lot more at stake. You know? Like the survival of the entire world.”
“There always is, and my father is sending everything he has after Tory. Who, given the way you’re acting, I would say is your entire world. I stayed away from Phoebe because I thought she was safer that way. In the end, Ash, I should have been there, fighting for her, by her side. ’Cause I can tell you one thing beyond a shadow of doubt. The greatest regret isn’t what you did, it’s what you should have done.”
“I hate you, Daimon.”
“Only because you know I’m right.” And with that, Urian left him to ruminate on it, as he felt his phone vibrating in the unique pattern that meant either Styxx or Cassandra needed him.
With Cass, he had the fear that something might be wrong with Tyr since he was only a few days old, and with Styxx …
He didn’t have anyone else who gave a damn about him. Ash had dumped him alone in the middle of New York City, and the poor guy was trying to figure out modern existence.
Speaking of which …
“Hey. What’s up?”
“Jumbo shrimp?” Styxx had the baffled tone he always got whenever he tried to shop for food. “How? Is this some trick of Lyssa’s or Poseidon’s?”
Urian laughed. “Neither. It’s a trick of marketing, to make you buy it.”
“Ah. Is that why it looks so strange?”
“No, that’s because the store already prepared it for you. You can take it home, wash it, and eat it.”
Suddenly, Styxx was real quiet.
“Hey, you there? Did I lose you?”
“Um, yeah. Urian … they have worms in alcohol that you drink. My God, man, what is wrong with you people?”
He laughed at the serious tone Styxx used. “It’s tequila. You’re fine.”
“That’s all kinds of wrong.”
Like Styxx had any room to talk given what his people had eaten back in the day? “Cobra hearts? Blood soup? Bitter vetch?”
Styxx blustered. “I only ate those during war, and because it was that or starve. And they were disgusting … and speaking of? Casu marzu? Is this what I think it is?”
“Yeah, maggot cheese. Stay away.”
Styxx made a loud sound of disapproval. “That’s it. I’m getting Pop-Tarts and I’m going home.”
Urian laughed at his horror. “Can you identify them? Or do you need me to come and help?”
“Little blue box. I’ve got this. And I know what milk looks like. Get a jug from the back. I remember what you said.”
“All right. I’ll be there tomorrow to help you shop for groceries.”
“Thank you. Sorry to be such a pain in your ass. I’m slowly learning.”
“It’s all good, brother. Think nothing of it. See you tomorrow.” Urian hung up, feeling bad for him.
That was the worst part of what Ash had inadvertently done. He’d forgotten the small fact that while Styxx could speak English, he couldn’t read it. Unlike Acheron, he wasn’t a god who was fluent in all languages, nor was he like Urian and the other Hunters who’d been exposed to modern culture throughout history. He’d been imprisoned away from everything and everyone.
Styxx’s native tongue was ancient Greek. He couldn’t even read the modern Greek version. Nor did he understand modern currency. He knew nothing at all about the modern world or how to navigate it.
So when Ash had literally dumped him in his apartment without any kind of orientation, Styxx had been at a loss on how to do anything, such as write a check or use a credit card.
He’d never used a phone or computer. Had Urian not tracked him down, he’d have starved to death.
But to be fair to Acheron, Styxx had asked to leave at a bad time. That very day, Acheron had been in a near-fatal accident and had almost lost Tory. Normally, Acheron would never have been quite that cold.
Even to Styxx.
But his mind had been on other things and other concerns. As the old saying went, bad times made for bad people. And these times were making for some of the worst. So in anger, Acheron had lashed out, and sadly Styxx had been in the line of fire to catch the fury that should have gone toward the ones who hurt Tory.
They were all under threat, and the most insidious part of their enemies was that the darkness was trying to drive a wedge between them. To isolate them.
And it was working.
Divided we fall. It was much easier to take down an enemy when they were fighting among themselves than it was one united against you.
But what Urian couldn’t figure out was how to unite two brothers who were determined to destroy each other, any more than he could figure out how to stop his father and get his own vengeance.
November 20, 2008
Urian went to Styxx’s apartment to find him sitting at his bedroom desk, playing the New Atlantis campaign for Age of Mythology on his PC. Okay … that just messed with his head on a multitude of levels.
The irony of the Stygian commander reliving his past. And for an ancient warlord to be playing a conquest game on a modern PC.
Yeah …
Suddenly, Styxx jumped out of his chair and turned on Urian as if he were about to take off his head.
Holding his hands up, Urian made sure to let him know he wasn’t a threat. Especially since he was here to ask something he knew would piss the man off.
Styxx immediately curled his lip. “What does he think I’ve done now?”
Urian scowled. “Huh?”
“Acheron. Is he not the one who sent you for me?”
Urian shook his head. “He actually didn’t send me. I came to ask a favor.”
That appeared to shock him. “What do you need?”
“Acheron’s woman, Tory, has been kidnapped and taken into Kalosis, where his mother is. Ash is ready and willing to go get her.” Which would free his mother from her prison and end the world.
Styxx took that news with complete stoicism. As if he didn’t care at all.
Not until he asked one simple question. “Is Tory immortal?”
Urian shook his head. “Completely human. She’s being held by my aunt Satara, who is unstable at best. Viciously brutal at worst.”
The daughter of Apollo, that bitch was about as crazy as anyone Urian had ever known. And given some of the stellar loons his father kept for company …
Said it all.
That familiar tic started in Styxx’s jaw. “You’re going in with him, aren’t you?”
Urian nodded. “You did it once to help an enemy. Would you do it again to help a friend?”
Styxx laughed bitterly. “How would I know? I’ve only had two friends in my life and both were brutally murdered.”
That stung the shit out of Urian. Especially given everything they’d been through together. “You don’t consider me a friend?”
“No, I consider you a hemorrhoid.”
Well, that was fair enough, he supposed. Urian grinned. “Ah now, that’s just mean.”
“Yeah, yeah … Fine. But I am doing this for you and the innocent woman, not Acheron.”
“Well, on behalf of myself and Tory, I can’t thank you enough. By the way, how are your battle skills?”
Styxx snorted. “According to my father, I never had any. I shoved my men out in front of me and hid behind their fallen bodies for cover.”