Part 3 (1/2)
Chaos stood outside his father's office, shaking with fury and humiliation. Two human weeks had pa.s.sed since the succubus first visited him. Each time, her torment worsened, her tactics grew more perverse. At first Chaos used the nightmares as motivation. The sooner he caught her, the sooner his torment would end.
The latest event changed all that. He knew when he was bested, when it was time to seek reinforcements. Dragging several deep breaths into his burning lungs, he raised his hand and knocked.
”Enter.”
Hades looked up as his son opened the door. ”Why aren't you hunting Delilah?”
”Because she's hunting me.” Chaos crossed to the chairs in front of the ma.s.sive ebony desk and sat, not trusting his legs to support him. ”I need your help. I can't fight her alone. I had no idea ...”
Folding his arms across his ma.s.sive chest, Hades stared at him. ”What is she doing? What, specifically, brought you to me?”
Chaos explained as vaguely as possibly the nature of her torment. ”Three nights ago, she made good on her threat. She arrived with others. One was a hideously deformed creature, the other --”
”I understand.”
”No, you don't. This began three nights ago. I just awakened now.”
”She held you hostage for three days?”
Chaos stiffly inclined his head.
Hades stood and moved around his desk, resting his hand on his son's shoulder. It was a rare and much needed show of affection. Chaos accepted it gladly.
”I can't help you, son. The Dream Realm isn't my domain.”
He stared into his father's glistening eyes, dread twisting through his ravaged soul. ”I can't go to them for help.”
”Would you rather face Delilah again?”
The past two weeks had been some of the most enjoyable days of Ryder's life. Sheri fascinated him. Her quick wit and dry sense of humor kept him entertained. He'd only appeared to her twice in the Dream Realm; generally he just watched her sleep. The first time, she'd allowed him to kiss her, and he hadn't pressured her for more. The second encounter had been more heated, but ended far sooner than he would have liked.
He wanted to touch her, taste her, and spend the entire night making love to her. Why was he courting a mortal he might never see again? And he was courting her, flirting, endearing himself to her.
Shaking away the troubling thought, he strode into the Great Hall of Morpheus. The Dream Master turned from the reflection pool as Ryder entered and motioned him across the hall. ”Have you become clairvoyant? I was just going to summon you.”
Ryder's steps faltered. Surely Morpheus didn't mean to rea.s.sign him. Two weeks ago he'd wanted nothing more, but he and Sheri had unfinished business now.
”What can I do for you, sir?”
”Has there been any unusual activity surrounding your mortal female?”
”Define unusual.” He'd avoided this meeting for two weeks. He didn't want to cleanse Sheri's mind of his memory any more than he wanted to leave her. In fact, going back to the way it had been before would be worse than leaving her.
”The Fates sent a message to me. Do you realize how unusual it is for them to seek out anyone?”
Kane strode into the hall, his practiced nonchalance ruined by the curiosity gleaming in his dark eyes.
”You summoned me, sir?” Kane joined them beside the reflection pool.
The Dream Master's form rippled as he turned to face Kane. ”The incubus has yet to reemerge, but there has been a vicious string of attacks by a succubus.”
”You believe they're connected?” Kane tilted his dark head, managing to look bored despite the interest in his gaze.
”They always work in pairs. I presumed the incubus was the stronger, but it's possible I was wrong.”
Ryder grinned. ”Can we have that in writing?”
The Dream Master ignored the playful jeer. ”Have any male employees at the Carroll Foundation complained of --”
”The incubus is controlled by his sister. The true power lies with the succubus.”
Ryder turned toward the arched entrance as the nearly forgotten voice echoed through the marble hall. It had been centuries since Chaos had ventured beyond the Underworld.
”What is he doing here?” Kane asked.
Chaos was generally more trouble than he was worth, but Hades kept him on a short leash, and everyone was happy. The conflict between Kane and Chaos was intense and personal. Kane refused to speak of it, and Ryder saw no reason to pry.
Ryder glanced between his friend and Chaos as their unexpected visitor made his way across the hall. Looking to his master for permission, Kane silently drew his sword. Morpheus shook his head. Kane kept his sword in hand.
”I have a proposition.” Chaos sounded uncomfortable, almost resigned.
”What do you have that could possibly interest me?” Morpheus casually moved in front of Kane.
”A mutual enemy.”
”And the proposition?”
Chaos folded his arms over his chest. ”This is between you and me. Dismiss your warriors.”
”If this involves the dream spirits, my warriors stay.”
Fidgeting visibly, Chaos accepted the condition. ”For reasons I will not explain, I released the succubus.”
”The creature who calls herself Delilah?” Morpheus sounded aghast.
Chaos nodded.
”You intentionally set her free?”
Again he nodded.
The red in Morpheus's aura intensified, warning those who knew him to take cover. Morpheus advanced. To his credit, Chaos stood his ground.
”Do you have any idea what you've done?”