Page 197 of Styxx (Dark-Hunter 22)
Styxx forced himself to be submissive even though it went completely against his nature. "I know. I can sense your moods ... it was a gift," he said sarcastically since Acheron couldn't remember the fact that he'd been the one who gave it to Styxx when their life forces were joined together by Acheron's mother, "from Artemis when she threw me into Tartarus. I'm only here to ask you one favor."
Acheron sneered at him. "You would dare ask another favor of me?"
When the hell had he ever asked Acheron for a first one?
Oh yeah ... that's right. He remembered now.
Please, brother, please, send me to Katateros and let me starve alone in the temple where the gods passed me around like a bitch and beat me. That was the favor Acheron spoke of. And how magnificent was his brother's benevolence....
Don't open your stupid mouth.
A fight wouldn't get him out of here. Acheron was just like dealing with Apollo. Cater to the bastard's arrogant ego and he was pliable. "I ask as your brother and as a supplicant to a god."
There it was. That smug glower in those swirling silver eyes he knew so well from the others of Acheron's ilk. The ancient gods enjoyed their power and they lived to hold it over all humans. "As a supplicant, what sacrifice do you offer for this favor?"
Styxx had to force himself to stand perfectly still and not react to his brother's obvious baiting. At least he wasn't naked in a room full of Didymosian citizens with his father glaring while Ryssa laughed at his degradation.
I have nothing, thanks to you and your whore mother.
He could only think of one last commodity that he'd never need again. "My heart."
Acheron scowled. "I don't understand."
Of course he didn't. He didn't have one himself so how could he comprehend what Styxx meant?
Disgusted, he explained it. "I offered you my loyalty and it wasn't enough. So in this, I offer my heart to you. If I lie or betray you, you can rip it out over and over again. Chain me next to Prometheus on his rock." And hopefully when you rip it out, mine won't grow back.
That seemed to finally appease the bastard. "And what favor do you ask?"
"Let me go." Styxx had to pause to steady his voice and remove the pain and anger he held from it. "I can't live here anymore, isolated from people. I just want to have some kind of peace that neither of us ever had a chance to experience."
It took Acheron forever before he finally answered. "Fine. You'll have everything you need to start over."
Before Styxx could finish expelling a relieved breath, he was sucked out of the throne room and slammed facedown into the center of an apartment.
Loud sirens screamed above a dull roar. Styxx pushed himself up. The walls and ceiling were a stark white, as were the floor-to-ceiling curtains. A small black leather sofa was set against the wall with two matching armchairs facing it. A large, rectangular ottoman rested between them and under it all was a massive zebra-skin rug. Between the two armchairs was a granite fireplace, and a giant TV hung above it.
Where am I now?
Styxx was almost afraid of finding out as he crossed the room. He pushed the curtains aside to discover a large sliding glass door that looked out over some kind of park. None of it told him anything about his location. Not that it really mattered. The only time he'd been in the human world in the last eleven thousand years was the few weeks he'd spent in New Orleans over four years ago.
Opening the doors, he walked out to discover a huge rooftop patio that was even bigger than the apartment. Huge shrubs were in granite planters so that they provided privacy to the area. A travertine table was set in the center of it, along with six iron chairs.
Wow, someone seriously overestimated his social skills to assume he'd ever have six people sitting at a table at the same time.
He returned inside to search for a clue about his new home. Finally, in a kitchen drawer, he found an envelope with the address. 444 Central Park West. New York, New York.
That meant nothing to him. For that matter, he had no idea where Old York was, never mind the new one. But it was written in English. Still not that helpful.
As he searched for more clues, he found a driver's license with his name listed as Styxx Didymos, and his apartment information on it. A couple of credit cards, a bankbook, and other things he wasn't sure about. One of them was a small burgundy red booklet that had his picture inside. What was a passport? Why would he need it? Certificate of Naturalization? None of it made sense to him.
"Thanks, Acheron."
Once again, his brother had dumped him somewhere with no instructions or guidelines. Not even Dionysus had been this cruel.
Styxx took a deep breath and slid the drawer shut. Fine. He'd figured out how to lead an army into war as a child-he could certainly figure this out, too.
But honestly, it was worse here than finding himself alone on the islands. At least those had made sense to him. He'd known how to live there. How to function.
Here ... not so much.
He laughed bitterly. Leave it to his brother to find a place where he was surrounded by people and still totally isolated.
November 20, 2008
Sitting at his bedroom desk, Styxx was busy on his PC playing the "New Atlantis" campaign for Age of Mythology. Yeah, it was weird to him, too, but strangely he found it almost comforting.
He was seriously gaining ground when he felt a strong presence behind him. Assuming it was Apollo, he jumped up, ready to fight.
It wasn't Apollo.
Urian stood there, looking sheepish. That alone made his trepidation worsen. There was only one reason he could think of for Urian to look like that....
"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 shocked him completely. While he and Urian had kept in touch since Styxx had been put here, Urian wasn't the type of man to ask for a favor. "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 stood completely stoic at the news. I don't have a dog in this fight. What do I care?
At least that was what he tried to tell himself. But it was obvious that Urian cared and didn't want to see his sister-in-law or his niece and nephews harmed.
Hesitating, Styxx knew better than to help his brother. Every time he'd ever tried had cost him dearly.
"Is Tory immortal?" he asked Urian.
