Part 32 (1/2)

Jason recalled Wade vomiting outside a displaced walkup in a Kansas cornfield. They'd all acted like he was letting them down by being so weak. G.o.d, how they'd all envied him. Back then, Jason would've called swallowing his own vomit bravery or being professional. Now he understood it was as much cowardice as strength. Allowing others to see you weak required more bravery than hiding it.

”Go back to the stairs,” Fuyuko said to the man. ”Guard our backs-it's important.”

She emphasized the last two words. Jason wondered if it was more for the man's own benefit, or for Quetzalcoatl's.

The guard nodded weakly, but his expression seemed more determined. Jason imagined it took him a great deal of effort to not run back out the stairwell door.

Fuyuko moved closer to Jason.

”You don't think this is another Veil beast like the Gorgon, do you?”

He nearly laughed at how closely their minds worked, even after all these years apart.

”I had been,” he said, ”But I think this is the work of an Anunnaki. Veil beasts usually feed off their victims somehow-be it energy or blood. This is too wasteful by their standards. This is slaughter just for the joy of it.”

”How could anyone take joy in this?”

Ask your heart ripping boss, Jason thought. If he could've kept his own bloodl.u.s.t in check, we probably wouldn't be in the middle of this s.h.i.+t.

Jason just shook his head in response.

”How many floors of barracks?” Jason asked.

”There's two more above us,” Fuyuko replied. ”But we've hardly checked this floor.”

”We should go up to the top floor. There're no sounds of fighting here, and if there was something going on above our heads, we'd probably hear something.”

”I agree,” Quetzalcoatl said. ”We'll open the door on the next floor, but I'm going to guess it will be similar.”

Jason nodded, his mouth drawn into a grim line.

They returned to the stairs and moved to the next level. Fuyuko reached to open the door when sounds of yelling and scuffles came from above them.

They charged up and burst through the door, weapons at the ready.

A similar scene to the first floor greeted them, but sounds of conflict came from further down the hall.

Quetzalcoatl flew ahead of them, his mouth widening and two large fangs filling the s.p.a.ce between his upper and lower jaw.

Jason fought the urge to use his whip to pull the Ageless One back.

You're no good to me dead.

But if Quetzalcoatl was revealing this face, it meant danger for anyone who got in his way.

Down the hall, around a blind corner-Quetzalcoatl didn't even slow.

How long do you have to live before you think you can't die? Jason wondered.

Jason didn't slow his pace around the corner either, but he crouched lower to the ground, positioning himself behind Quetzalcoatl-the Ageless One could probably survive a blow that would kill Jason.

The two threw themselves against opposite walls as a body crashed down the hall, smacking against the wall with a sickening series of cracks.

Oh G.o.d, no!

Standing tall, his shoulders back and low, stood Kydoimos.

Sour knots twisted in Jason's gut. He hadn't seen this Einherjar since they'd escaped Valhalla seven years ago. Reflexively, he slapped his hands against his ears, protecting them against the man's sonic a.s.sault. But Kydoimos didn't seem to be bothering. He just stood facing the forces aligned against him-a maniacal grin spread across his thin, angular, face.

He wore the same security uniform as Hildy-Quetzalcoatl's special forces. It was dyed almost entirely in differing hues of red and brown-dried and fresh blood.

”Homados,” Quetzalcoatl roared, ”what do you think you're doing?”

The man Jason knew as Kydoimos turned to look at them both. When he saw Jason, his smile widened.

”Two birds for the price of one trip,” he said. ”My boss will be so pleased.”

”He's an Einherjar,” Jason said, ”Woten's chosen army.”

Kydoimos gave a slight bow toward Quetzalcoatl, grabbing an approaching guard with his outstretched hand and snapping the man's neck.

”I'm so glad you all showed,” Kydoimos said, tossing the lifeless body aside. ”I was getting so bored dealing with these weaklings.”

A dagger of ice sliced down the hall, cutting through Kydoimos' cheek.

He ran his fingers through the blood trickling down to his chin, inspecting them with the curiosity of one who never saw his own blood.

”Impressive,” he said. ”It moved so fast, I wasn't able to dodge it entirely. My compliments, Eternal Winter.”

Fuyuko stood several feet behind Jason, her shoulders heaving slightly with each breath.

”A G.o.d, a nuisance, and a frightening prophesy,” Kydoimos said. ”Woten will be most pleased when I present your heads.”

Gunfire filled the hall.

”No,” Jason yelled. ”Get back.”

With an unimpressed chuckle, Kydoimos phased out of sight. Jason spun, willing the barbs on his whip to flatten, and for it to grab hold of Fuyuko, pulling her back to him.

An iron hammer, tapered from the blunt killing edge into an elegant branch motif, smashed through the s.p.a.ce where Fuyuko's head had been. The two remaining guards were already dead.

Kydoimos moved so fast, he seemed to glide along the floor as opposed to running.

Plaster and wooden splinters rained on Fuyuko and Jason as they rolled away from the hammer's strike.