Locking gazes, Acheron held his hand up in offering to Styxx. Styxx glanced to the crib and Urian could only imagine the thoughts in his mind. The two of them had been through so much betrayal. Ash was as likely to throw him to his enemies as he was to fight for him.
But this was his friend’s best chance to get Bethany back. Like it or not, he had to trust Acheron. Urian inclined his head to him to let him know it’d be okay. He was here and he wasn’t about to let anything happen on his watch.
With a deep breath for strength, Styxx took Acheron’s hand and let his brother teleport them into the throne room.
Urian went to the door so that he could listen and watch through the crack.
Styxx let go of Acheron and took position at his back. He faced Archon, Apollo, and Epithymia while Acheron faced the rest.
Archon rose to his feet. “Well, isn’t this unexpected.” He smirked at Apollo. “We don’t have to play chase for your pet after all. How kind of them to save us time.” He glared at Styxx. “Which of you is Apostolos?”
“I am,” they said simultaneously.
Urian grinned at something that had to piss off the old god. Choke on that, old man.
Archon growled low in his throat.
“Their eyes,” Apollo said quickly. “Styxx’s are blue.”
Leave it to the weasel to out them. Gah, he hoped Apollo got his due one day.
Acheron turned to stand beside his brother. When they spoke, it was as one. “Not anymore.”
Archon narrowed his gaze on them. “Then we’ll kill you both.”
“No,” Apollo snarled. “That wasn’t the agreement.”
Epithymia made a sound of supreme disgust. “Stand down, both of you. There’s an easy way to get to the truth.”
Urian didn’t like the sound of that. He moved to open the portal to let the others through.
His heart stopped. The portal wouldn’t open. Closing his eyes, he used all his strength to try to breach the realms.
Seriously? Nothing was happening. How could this be?
Yet nothing. Not even a spark.
What the hell?
Epithymia pulled at the black cord around her neck to show them a small crystal vial. She pulled it over her head and placed it on the arm of Archon’s chair, then manifested a hammer. “This is the heart of Bathymaas. If the real Styxx doesn’t step forward, I’ll destroy her. Forever.”
Urian fought harder to open the portal. Come on!
“So you don’t love her?” She hovered the hammer over the vial. “Really?”
Urian tried even harder.
Nothing! Damn it!
What was going on? How could he be locked down so tightly?
Styxx spoke in Acheron’s voice. “You do that and you lose all leverage over both of us. Her life is the only thing keeping you alive right now.”
A light flashed suddenly.
Urian knew they were expecting him with the others, but that wasn’t him …
Instead, Artemis flashed in beside Apollo. “Oh my!” she exclaimed as she looked at them. “Am I interrupting?”
Apollo seized her arm. “What are you doing here?”
“I came to see Acheron. This is his house where he lives. I’m allowed to visit.”
Urian almost burst out laughing at that lie, and he was amazed Ach eron withheld his. Artemis was the first person he’d banned from here. He’d have sooner awakened Archon than let her come into his home.
Archon bellowed in outrage. “This is not his home!”
Acheron and Styxx exchanged a puzzled frown. Neither of them had a clue what Artemis was doing here. She was not part of the plan.
But she’d found Archon’s underbelly. Too bad he hadn’t learned the first rule of warfare that Stryker had branded into Urian’s psyche.
Never, ever expose your underbelly.
Blinking her eyes, Artemis gave the older Atlantean an innocent look. “No? Then why are you sitting on his throne? That’s not yours, you know. I was with Acheron when he picked it out and brought it here.”
No, she wasn’t.
That mental shout was so loud, Urian was amazed everyone hadn’t heard it. Yeah, Ash wasn’t real fond of his ex.
Go, Artemis. Apparently, she was here to whip their emotions and frazzle them. And judging by the mottled color on Archon’s face, she was doing an excellent job.
“Why is she here, Apollo?” Archon asked through clenched teeth.
“I have no idea.”
Epithymia went rigid. “Something’s not right…”
“That’s because she’s not my daughter.”
Urian went cold at those words. What?
Styxx and Acheron turned to see Leto, the mother of Apollo and Artemis, entering from a side door. Urian’s stomach hit the floor.
If that wasn’t Artemis …
Ah, shit, it would be Kat.
“Mom,” Apollo said irritably. “What are you doing?”
Ignoring Apollo’s question, Leto smirked as she approached them. “Really, Katra? I’m so disappointed in you. But that’s all right.” She looked at Archon. “We don’t need the twins now. Katra is the daughter of Artemis and Acheron. She has the Destroyer’s bloodline and is actually stronger than her parents.” She grabbed Kat and held a dagger to her throat. “So, Acheron, whom do we kill? You or your daughter?”
Urian tried to blast open the doors to save her.
They didn’t budge.
What the …
He hit them. Still they held.
Furious, he tried everything to get through them to join the fight. This was bullshit! He couldn’t stay in here and let Kat be harmed.
Suddenly, a sonic blast went through the room. One so fierce, it knocked everyone off their feet and slammed Leto against the wall.
Even Urian was knocked down in the bedroom.
Artemis appeared instantly and pulled Kat to safety. “How dare you.” She enunciated each word slowly as she faced her mother. “No one threatens my baby ever! You cow!” She attacked her mother so ferociously, Kat had to pull Artemis away to keep her from killing Leto.
Acheron took advantage of the distraction to use his powers to jerk the vial from Epithymia’s hand.
He sent it to Styxx as Urian continued to fight against the doors.
With a mutual nod, they attacked the Atlanteans closest to them. And Acheron quickly learned why pantheons didn’t like to war within themselves. Since all of them pulled their powers from a mutual source, they were fighting in a weakened position and their powers weren’t working properly.
“Katra!” Styxx called as Epithymia went for her back.
Urian’s arm turned blue as he tried to send his own powers to them to bolster theirs.
Kat turned. Instead of backing away, Kat pulled the goddess close and sucked her powers into her own body. “You won’t be needing those, bitch.”
Urian laughed. She must have gotten over her guilt about leaving gods powerless.
But something weird happened as she pulled Epithymia’s powers into her body. Her teeth elongated and her eyes turned that same demonic red that Apollymi’s did at times. Her skin began to swirl like Acheron’s.
“Acheron!” Artemis screamed. “The demon’s taking over Katra. Help!”
His face turning white, Acheron met Styxx’s gaze.
“She’s more important than I am. Get her out of here.” Covertly, he handed Acheron the vial with Bethany’s heart. Free Beth even if I don’t make it back.
Urian saw the hesitation in Acheron’s eyes as he debated whether to leave him to fight without Acheron’s help. But in the end, he knew he had no choice.
He ran to his daughter to get her to safety.
Styxx manifested his shield and used it to deflect their god-bolts as he covered Acheron’s and Katra’s retreat.
They teleported out with Artemis, leaving him alone to face the others.
A thousand nightmares ripped through Urian as he remembered the times in battle when he’d watched his brothers die. Screaming out, he blasted the doors and blasted them again. He couldn’t watch someone else he love die.
Damn it!
A slow, lecherous smile curled Archon’s lips. “It’s like old times, isn’t it, Prince? And I have to say you’re looking mighty tasty.”
“Don’t kill him,” Apollo growled.
“Oh, we’re not going to kill our pet. Have no fear. But we are going to have our fun with him again.”
Styxx manifested his armor and sword. Lowering his chin, he smiled at them. “Come get some, bitches.”
Furious, Urian teleported to the only place he could.
*