Page 35 of One Silent Night (Dark-Hunter 15)
Hades growled. "Take her. But this clears our slate. Understood?"
Somehow that seemed too easy to Zephyra. "What about Mache?"
Hades laughed evilly. "If your demon is right and he's in my domain . . . he will regret it."
Jared rose with Ker. "What of her?"
Hades glared at the spirit of violent death. "Bring her down. I have plans for her." And by the tone of his voice, those plans weren't pleasant ones. "Bring her down."
Stryker took Zephyra's hand as they followed the Greek god out of the human world and into Tartarus. Ash brought the statue of War down and returned him to the place where he'd rested for centuries. Ker was taken to a small cell and locked inside.
"I'll deal with you later," Hades promised.
Ker spat at him and slammed her hand against the door. "This isn't over. I'll be free again and we'll celebrate your funeral march."
Stryker ignored her threats as he looked at Nim who was clutching a small stuffed pink bunny. "Where's my daughter?"
Nim pointed to a small door.
Unsure, Stryker started toward it, then paused as he heard an explosion so loud it temporarily deafened him.
The door slammed into the far wall where it fell back and pounded a man into the ground.
"Stop!" Hades shouted.
The door slammed into the man three more times before it obeyed him.
As the smoke cleared, Stryker saw Menyara. With her arms folded, she left the room and cast a menacing glare at Mache who was bleeding profusely while the door held him in place. "That'll learn him to keep his hands to himself." She turned back to her cell. "Medea, love, your parents are here."
Acheron shook his head as he took Tory's hand into his. "Feeling rather stupid for having worried now."
"Don't," Menyara said. "Until you negated War's powers, we were stuck here. That poor fool didn't realize until it was too late and I had a chance to hurt him back."
Zephyra ran to her daughter and grabbed her into a tight hug before she pulled back to make sure nothing had happened to her.
Nick stepped forward, his face troubled. "What about my mother? What did War do to her?"
Hades put his hand on Nick's shoulder. "There's nothing he could do. Ker could show you the souls to weaken you, but they have no power over them. Your mother is back where she belongs, as are the others."
Ash cast his glance in the direction of the Elysian fields.
"Ryssa thinks of you," Hades said quietly. "And she's happy, Acheron. She doesn't blame you at all. That was Ker playing with your emotions."
"Thank you."
Hades inclined his head before he looked at Stryker. When he opened his mouth to speak, Stryker held his hand up.
"I only want to know if she's with her husband and children."
"She is."
"Then I'm at peace."
Zephyra frowned at the catch in his voice that belied those words. But perhaps he was right. He couldn't change anything, so why torture himself?
His head hung low, Nick turned to leave. Menyara went with him while Jared hung back, glaring after them.
"If he kills Nick, Jared will die, too," Menyara's voice echoed around them.
"What?" Zephyra said.
Menyara paused. "It's true. So think before you send him after my Nick again."
Zephyra narrowed her gaze on Jared. "Why didn't you tell me that?"
His features were blank and hollow. "You know why."
Because he wanted to die, too, and that was one thing she could never allow him to do. "For that you won't have a moment's freedom for your ser vice." Zephyra squeezed Medea's hand. "Take him to Kalosis. I'm sure your father has a hole adequate for his punishment."
Nim took a step toward Jared, but Simi stopped him. "Wait."
He stepped back, his face a mask of fear, unsure of her intent.
Smiling gently, she pulled a small bear out of her coffin-shaped purse and held it out to him. "It's a Teddy Scare," she said. "Much more fierce than your bunny." She placed it in his hand before she flounced toward Acheron. "QVC time, akri." She disappeared.
Jared stared after her as if amazed by her act of kindness. "You should go with Acheron, Nim."
Nim shook his head defiantly, then returned to Jared's body. Jared cursed. "I really hate demons."
Medea's gaze held a trace of sympathy before she placed her hand on his arm and took him back to his captivity.
Tory peered into the room where the statue of War was now encased. "Do you think he'll go free again?"
Hades cut a chiding glare to Stryker. "I'm sure there's another asshole out there who'll free him."
"But not this one," Stryker said. He looked at Ash. "Thank you for your help."
"I would say anytime, but . . ."
Stryker held his hand out to him. "Enemies forever."
"Or at least until you learn to leave the humans and Dark-Hunters alone."
"When you leave my Daimons alone, I'll stop, too."
"I can't let the Daimons kill the humans."
"And I can't stand by and watch my people die over a curse my father gave them. So long as the curse stands, we hunt."
"Then our war is far from ended." Ash shook his hand, then took his leave with Tory.
Stryker draped his arm over Zephyra's shoulders. "You ready to go home?"
She nodded.
Without another word, he took her back to his palace in Kalosis. As soon as they were alone, he glared at her. "You were supposed to stay out of the fight."
"And let you get my daughter killed? Never."
"Your daughter?"
She folded her arms over her chest. "My daughter."
"So we're back to that, are we?"
"Absolutely. Besides, I had no intention of watching you die."
Stryker arched a brow at that. "No?"
"No. I would much rather kill you myself."
MENYARA PAUSED AT THE PICTURE OF CHERISE holding Nick on his first day of school. The frame was set on his nightstand next to his bed. "Your mother was so proud of you."
Nick didn't speak.
Turning, she watched as he grabbed a bottle of Scotch and opened it. "Did you learn anything tonight?" she asked.
"Such as?"
"How much you need to know your powers."
He took a deep swig before he answered. "I knew that before the fight, Mennie."
"Yes, but are you willing to learn now?"
He paused. "What do you mean?"
Her resolve shone in her eyes as she cornered him. "You are part demon and part human. In order to function in this world, you will have to be taught by someone who has powers similar to yours."
"And that is?"
"Acheron."
Nick scoffed. "Ash is a god."
"Yes, but before he was a god, he was half human and half Charonte. Only he has the powers to help you."
Stunned, Nick dropped the bottle straight to the floor where it shattered.
