The Underworld (Rhyn Eternal) (25 page)

… and into the hallway of the subfloor above the dungeon.

The burst of color was halfway down the hall already, past the room teeming with death dealers where Jared had slaughtered several earlier. If they noticed her, if any one of them decided to leave the room before she passed them and reached the stairwell … her hands shook and she wiped sweat from her brow.

For Gabriel.

Steeling herself, past-Death moved quickly down the hallway on tiptoes. She sucked in a breath and held it as she darted by the open doorway packed with death dealers. A quick glance made her think they had recently returned from the battle outside.

She raced down the hallway and caught her small frame against the wall of the stairwell before descending fast. Past-Death waited to hear the sound of pursuit, for someone to figure out she was there. None came, and she stopped at the bottom of the stairs, scouring the area for any sign of the glow.

The sound of a cell slamming made her gut twist. She ducked into the nearest open cell and pressed herself against the inner wall, out of view of anyone passing. Three death dealers trotted by her. She waited for their footpads on the stairs to cease before easing out of the cell.

The glow was in front of the cell the dealers had just closed. It disappeared through the petrified wood door. Past-Death went to it and stopped.

“Hello?” she called, hitting the door with the flat of her hand. “Can anyone hear me?”

A muffled sound came from the other side.

“I can’t hear you!” she said more loudly, gaze darting towards the direction the dealers had gone.

“Yes.” This time, the voice was clearer. “We’re here.” It sounded like a woman’s voice, and her heart soared at the thought she’d found Deidre at last.

Past-Death leaned back and pulled the keys she’d kept from her pockets. She tried both of them without success and cursed.

“Just … wait,” she said lamely and took a step back.

There was no way she’d be able to get the keys, unless she dreamwalked. But doing so meant she wasn’t able to control how long she was out. Worse, she’d be exposed, if the dealers returned.

“There must be some benefit in being the mate of a god!” she complained, pacing. Hearing the words aloud, Past-Death whirled and faced the door.

Gabriel had officially taken his place as Death. By all rights, and from what she knew of Immortal and deity mates, she should have access to some of his power.

“When I was Death …” she trailed off and placed her hand against the petrified wood of the cell door. To her delight, she heard the sound of the lock being drawn. Past-Death pushed the door open. “Hello?”

There were three forms in the cell, two of which she knew. Andre the Immortal, and Tymkyn, once her best tracker. The third, Karma, was the woman she’d seen Deidre leave with, a creature that made her retreat farther into the hallway.

They were staring at her in different levels of wariness. Tymkyn appeared disbelieving, Karma distrusting and Andre’s brow was furrowed. He sat with his back to the far wall, blood drenching his clothing.

The glow she’d followed to the dungeon was perched on Andre’s shoulder. In the silence that followed the door opening, past-Death gazed at it hard, not quite understanding why it had led her to the prisoners when she was looking for Peace.

“Where’s Deidre?” she asked, pulling her focus from her mind.

“Gone,” Karma said sadly.

“Not dead!”

“No,” Andre said and got to his feet with some difficulty. “She went after Darkyn.”

“So there are two demons loose somewhere in my underworld,” past-Death said, uncertain what to think.
Gabriel’s underworld. Whatever.

Tymkyn started to smile then ducked his head. He moved towards Andre and wrapped an arm around the Immortal.

The blue-green glow was sticking with Andre, at least until he stepped foot outside the cell, at which point it darted down the hallway.

Past-Death moved for them to exit the cell, puzzled. She turned to follow the glow with her gaze and saw it disappear into the cell that once held the deity.

“Where’s Gabe?” Tymkyn asked.

“Roof. Fighting sentries,” she replied, distracted. “Wait here for a moment.” Past-Death trotted down the hallway towards the locked door. She placed her hand against it and waited for the lock to click before pushing.

The glow was settling back where she’d originally found it, on the ring located at the center of the pile of bones. Crossing to the remains, she bent to retrieve the ring and straightened, peering at it.

“You’ve been following me around, haven’t you?” she murmured. “You led me to them and back here again. Any chance you’ll just appear and fix everything?”

Nothing happened.

Was it possible a godship could be passed through a relic such as the ring? She didn’t have the memories to know for certain, but something about this ring had gone out of its way to find her, take her to the three in the cell, sit on Andre’s shoulder and bring her back here.

“Deidre?” Karma called. “We must leave.”

She pocketed the ring and left. The three waited in the hallway, and she hurried to them, thoughts racing with options on how to help them leave.

Footsteps and the sound of rustling weapons and armor from the direction of the stairs made them freeze. Past-Death tried to determine how many came. It sounded like much more than the four of them could face with no weapons and one wounded.

“Hide,” she whispered. “We have to hide. Maybe we can throw them off and run.”

“Better idea,” Tymkyn said and motioned her forward. “I will not face Gabriel’s wrath if you get hurt on my watch. Take the Immortal.” Carefully, he helped stabilize Andre while past-Deidre replaced him supporting the wounded man. “I’ve seen what this little girl can do.” Tymkyn motioned to Karma. “You two hide, and we’ll take care of them.”

Past-Death hesitated but nodded, sensing how badly injured Andre was. She hobbled with him to a cell several down from the one where she’d found them and maneuvered him inside, gasping as she rested him against the wall. He sank to a sit, and she glanced at the door. If anyone made it down this far, they’d be found for sure. Closing the door would tip off the dealers who knew the cells were supposed to be open when not occupied. After a moment of internal debate, she pulled out a dagger and sat beside Andre, ready to defend them if needed.

“My apologies,” Andre whispered. “If it’s easier, leave me here.”

“Don’t be ridiculous,” she replied.

He was wheezing, another tip off any death dealer that made it this far wasn’t going to miss. Past-Death resisted the urge to shush him. Her side was wet with his blood. He wasn’t going to last long as it was.

“Darkyn and Deidre,” she said softly. “You don’t know where they are?”

“Fighting ogres. Same as Rhyn.”

“Whose bright idea was it to let the giants out?”

Andre gave a hoarse chuckle and rested his head back against the wall.

She studied the blood covering his upper body in the dim light from the hall. “Can I help you? Somehow?”

“I don’t think so, but thanks,” he replied. “I’m fine with this, really. Been dead-dead once. I know it’s nothing to fear.”

What felt like a bite on her thigh drew a curse from her, and her attention went down to her lap.

The ring was glowing through her jeans. Leaning to the side, past-Death pried it out and stared at it. The light was greater than that of the hallway, the gorgeous shade matching Andre’s eyes.

Andre.

“Hey, you ever want to be a god?” she half-joked.

He shifted his head towards her, peering at her through his eyelashes. “Not especially.”

“How badly do you
not
want to be one? Because I think maybe someone chose you for a spot.”

Andre lifted his head, quizzical turquoise gaze on her.

“Long story short: I locked someone in the dungeon who then died. Not my intention,” she said and then paused, considering. “Well, it might’ve been. I really can’t recall. Anyway, something’s been haunting me since I returned.”

“A presence. Sometimes there, sometimes not,” he guessed. “Accompanied by … a flash of blue.”

“Exactly. You felt it?”

“Yeah.”

“I think this is why.” She held up the ring for him to see. “I think I’m supposed to give this to you.”

Andre’s eyes settled on the glowing gem. “No part of me wants to ask, but who or what god is it?” By the reservation in his voice, he had the same opinion of the inconsistent deities that she’d started to understand as a human.

A shout came from too close, a sign the death dealers had discovered the empty cell.

She rose. Leaning against the doorframe, she risked a peak out and bit back a curse.

An unarmed Tymkyn and Karma were able to fend off several attackers, but probably not the ten lingering in the corridor.

Her gaze went back to Andre, who was bleeding out quickly.

He wasn’t going to make it long. The others didn’t have a chance of surviving, either, if they decided to challenge the dealers. Discovery was imminent, and Gabriel would be all but alone to take the palace.

What would Gabriel do to save those he cared about?
Past-Death thought for a split second. Dread sank into her stomach. “Whatever it took,” she whispered.

“Pardon?” Andre asked, a little too loudly.

“Hush!” Crouching beside Andre, she shoved the ring into his hand. “Take this. Learn to use it fast. Get the others and help Gabriel!” She rose and crossed to the door.

“Deidre, wait!” Andre called in a rough whisper. “What’re you going to do?”

“What I should have long ago. Something I never would’ve done as a goddess.” If ever there was a chance for her to help, it was now. These were the kind of people Gabriel needed with him, if he was going to succeed. She had nothing to offer in the way of Tymkyn’s fighting skill or Karma’s balancing judgments or Andre’s peacemaking efforts. The best she could do: become a distraction. Give the rest of them a chance.

Show Gabriel I can be human, too.
Her lover and mate had sacrificed so much for her over the years. She had the chance to even the score, or at least, take the first step in that direction.

With a deep breath, she threw her shoulders back and stepped into the hallway. “Hey. I think you guys are looking for me!”

The death dealers whirled to face her. None of them moved initially, unease on their features, as if they still feared her, even knowing she was no longer a goddess.

“Where are the others?” one demanded, starting towards her.

“In the secret passageways, where idiots like you can’t reach them,” she said in the haughtiest, most goddess like voice she was able to muster, the tone that made Gabriel growl. “I want to see Harmony. Now.”

“That’s good, because Harmony wants to see you.” The death dealer stopped before her.

She craned her neck back to meet his gaze, unafraid. “Then take me to her, slave.”

“You don’t get to control us anymore, bitch.” With a smirk, he grabbed her arm and hauled her down the hallway.

Past-Death held her breath, hoping they didn’t search the cells for the remaining three. When they reached the stairs, she released it. The nine others trailed obediently. Only when they reached the top of the stairs did she start to wonder what the fuck she was going to do next.

Harmony was outside the room where the guards and keys were kept.

Determined to face her fate without flinching, past-Death reminded herself silently that she still had something to prove: that she was worth Gabriel’s love. A thrill raced through her, along with fear. Facing down his greatest enemy was almost as enjoyable as funnel cake, the part of her that relished challenges and mind games intrigued to see what the hell Harmony thought she was doing.

“Not who I was expecting,” Harmony said, gaze sweeping over her. “Now that you have no magic, you’re nothing but a puny doll.”

“And you’re a dealer who doesn’t realize she’s already dead-dead.”

Harmony tensed but didn’t otherwise react. “By now your Gabriel should be almost dead. I doubt he can face down two hundred men on his own.”

“My Gabriel is the rightful master of the underworld. He’s also the greatest warrior Death has ever known, and right now, he’s pissed off,” past-Death replied. “If I were you, I’d send up another two hundred before you set foot on the roof.”

Harmony stared at her, and past-Death sensed she’d rattled the woman. Snatching her hard, Harmony dragged her forward. “Where is it?” she hissed.

“Where is what?” past-Death demanded, refusing to flinch despite the pain.

“His soul! So I can end this and take my place as Death!”

“You?” past-Death arched an eyebrow. “You are one of the least impressive dealers I ever brought on board. In fact, I’m not sure why I did.”

Harmony’s backhand sent her reeling.

Past-Death landed on her stomach, her head ringing. The warm, metallic taste of blood was in her mouth and stars in her vision.

“Where the fuck is it?” Harmony demanded again.

Past-Death laughed. “You will never be Death, Harmony. The underworld chose him, not you.”

“Search her!”

She lay still as one of them searched her roughly. She didn’t have so much as a hair scrunchie in her pockets, and the dealer rose with a shake of his head.

Harmony was glaring at her from across the hallway, arms folded. The scratch marks on her cheek made past-Death wonder if she’d had a run in with a certain demoness. She said nothing and climbed to her feet.

“I’ve got another plan,” Harmony said and gripped her arm too hard once more. She started forward at a quick walk. “One more likely to make you suffer the way you deserve.”

Past-Death trotted on tiptoes to keep up with her.
Remember. Quick deaths are better.
She sought out something to infuriate Harmony even more as they marched through the palace that used to be her home to a central set of stairs leading to the roof.

“You remember the last talk we had?” past-Death asked with what innocence she was able to muster. “The one where my twin and I swore that your soul would go where mine is?”