Damian's Immortal (War of Gods 3) (17 page)

The Black God picked his way through the
rocks and crags before disappearing into the forest. Cold wind
whipped snow against her face. She lost sight of him and hurried
her step. For half an hour, Jenn tried to find his trail. She
paused to listen, looked at the ground, and changed directions
three times before she heard the sound of water flowing. Instincts
took her in the direction of the stream, and she reached the top of
a shallow ravine in whose valley the stream flowed. Most of it had
frozen in the coldness that made Jenn’s breaths hang in the
air.

Jonny was on a low, flat rock, making love
to a woman writhing in pleasure beneath him. Jenn watched,
confused, until he lowered his head to her neck. The woman jerked
beneath him and clawed at the Black God draining her blood. Her
body went still, and Jonny threw his head back, pure pleasure on
his face and blood dripping down his chin.

“
He made his choice.”
Xander’s voice was quiet. His warm body materialized beside
her.

Jenn couldn’t speak. She
knew what vamps were and what they did; it was why she hated them.
She’d hoped … she’d
wanted
Jonny to be different. Jonny was only accepting
the path he’d already chosen, but it was a difficult pill for her
to swallow.

“
Did you make him do this,
or was it really his choice?” she asked at last.

“
It is as it should be.”
Xander’s eyes glinted as he gazed down at Jonny. “Your pity is a
weakness.”

“
I mourn the loss of what
made him human,” she returned. “I know you can’t understand
that.”

“
He was never human to
begin with.” His gaze shifted to her.

“
You don’t have to be a
human to have a human trait,” she said and looked up at
him.

“
Interesting. Human or
vamp, he had a choice. All of them do.”

“
So do I. I choose to kill
those that hurt others. Creatures like you, whose hearts I would
cut out with my nails if I had nothing else.”

“
I look forward to it.”
The slow smile, the one that made her shiver, spread across his
face.

“
Anytime, shithead,” she
said. “You got twenty-five days left.”

“
You’ll start to feel your
world shrinking soon, Guardian. I disabled your beacon and removed
your weapons from your room. I’ll be watching the wolves circle
you.”

“
I’m not afraid of you,
Xander.”

“
I’d be disappointed if
you were.” He turned and walked away.

Jenn watched him go. The creature walking
away from her wanted something, and she couldn’t figure out what.
He could have her killed or sent her away at his wish, but he
didn’t. Her eyes returned to Jonny, who was lapping up what was
left of the dead woman’s blood.

Hardening, Jenn turned away and retreated
through the forest and rocks to the compound. As she hopped the
short distance from rocks to the ground leading up to the compound,
she caught the silhouettes of two men against the cloudy sky. One
was plainly Xander by his size, and the profile of the second was
familiar to her. He glowed with a different sort of power. For a
moment, she wondered if Darian had followed her here, too, like he
did everywhere else.

She crept near enough to make out the second
man’s features and was surprised to see the White God’s commander
of the Eastern Hemisphere, Jule. Half a head shorter than Xander,
Jule was speaking quietly to the vamp, whose arms were crossed and
head tilted in consideration.

“
Jenn?”

She turned at Jonny’s voice. The Black God
absorbed the darkness around him, glowing eerily. He smelled of
fresh blood.

“
Hi, Jonny,” she said
softly. “Trouble sleeping?”

“
A little.
You?”

“
Yes. I thought a walk
would help,” she lied. “How are you feeling?”

“
I feel … good. Real good.
Alive. Must be the winter air.”

“
Yeah, Jonny. I noticed
it, too.” Her eyes went to the rocks. The two silhouettes were
gone. “It’s a bit chilly for me. Do you need anything?”

“
No, no, I won’t keep
you,” he said quickly. “I think I’ll stay out for a little
while.”

“
Stay safe,” she said and
returned to the compound. Her heart felt heavy as she walked away
from the Black God, aware he’d crossed a point of no return. Jenn
returned to her room and flipped on the lights. It looked
untouched, but a quick search revealed the only weapons remaining
were those she’d taken when she left her room, and the beacon was
gone.

I’ll be watching the wolves circle you.

She went to lock her door, only to find the
lock had been removed. Xander was playing games with her, like the
bored predator he was. She’d just have to play smarter.

* * *

Jule Transported himself to the Black God’s
compound, vaguely aware of Xander’s presence. The Original Being
was impossible to track with his senses and seemed to fade in and
out of existence. Sensing him, the large vamp stopped walking to
the fortress built into the mountain and faced him. The cold night
didn’t affect Jule this time; he used his magic to keep himself
warm.

“
Ready?” Xander
asked.

“
Ready enough,” Jule
replied.

The vamp strode towards the fortress and cut
through a trail to the rocky area to the west. Jule trailed,
forcing himself to ignore the tingle of vamps that made him itch to
reach for his weapons. Xander faced him and crossed his arms,
waiting.

“
I don’t remember much of
anything,” Jule started. “But I know I hate the Watchers about
now.”

“
They betrayed
you.”

“
They seem to think I
betrayed them.”

“
You made a choice to
fulfill your role then refused to be confined again,” the vamp
said. “I tried to defy them once. I didn’t know the key was getting
here first.”

“
I guess I figured it out,
though I don’t know that I’d say I won that round. I have no
powers. How is it you haven’t ripped my head off?” Jule asked
warily. The massive vamp hadn’t attacked or turned his back at the
first sight of him, a sign Jule took as positive. He didn’t
remember Xander, but Xander remembered him. Jule saw it in his
face. Xander had seemed curious, the opposite of what Jule expected
from the father to the creatures Jule regularly killed. For once,
he wished he remembered his time before the Schism.

“
You really don’t
remember. The Originals have a truce that’s older than all of us
combined. We don’t turn on one another.”

“
Like the balance between
White and Black Gods?”

“
Stronger. If any of us
turns on the other, we all cease to exist. Powerful motivation,”
Xander said, amused. “Doesn’t mean we can’t mess with whoever else
we want.”

“
If you’re free, why are
you here?” Jule asked.

“
I do whatever I please,”
came the guarded answer.

“
Very well. Do you know
how I can regain my Original power?”

There was a pause, then Xander purred, “You
know I do nothing for free.”

“
No one does,” Jule
replied. “I’m not asking for a free pass.”

“
Sounds like a favor to
me.”

“
You’re here for a reason.
Tomorrow, this world will be destroyed if one-- or both-- of us
don’t step up. This seems motivation enough,” Jule said.

Xander considered him and then stepped away,
thoughtful. Jule couldn’t shake his amazement that there was a vamp
capable of thinking. He sensed a great deal in what Xander wasn’t
saying about his purpose in the mortal realm.

“
I want two things. I see
the girl and the Other in your thoughts. I want the Other,” the
vamp said at last.

“
As long as you kill
him.”

“
Definitely. I have a debt
to settle with all of them,” Xander said.

“
You won’t see me
arguing,” Jule replied. “What’s the second?”

“
I want to see the
Oracle.”

“
Why?” Jule asked. Sofi
wasn’t surprised to learn he was an Original Being and had known
where to find this creature. He suspected she was expecting Xander
to want to see her, too.

“
I need an answer to a
question.”

“
There’s something she
knows that an Original Being doesn’t?”

“
I’m not a Watcher. I see
only what is in my narrow lane.”

“
I can’t agree to that
without the White God’s permission,” Jule said.

“
My terms are far kinder
for you than I’d give anyone else. Just because we can’t fight each
other doesn’t mean I must help you.”

“
Something tells me it’s
in your best interest to help me regain my power,” Jule
noted.

Xander chuckled. “Yes, Guardian, it is.
Summon your White God. I will see the Oracle.”

Jule frowned. Certain creatures with
unlimited power and motivations thousands of years in the making
weren’t what Damian really needed right now. He almost refused
before he realized he had no choice, if he wanted to help Yully
survive and Damian defeat the Other. Jule Transported himself back
to Damian’s headquarters. The Oracle seemed to be waiting for him.
She raised her eyebrows at him, and he hesitated.

“
I’m not taking you
there,
kiri.
”

“
Bring him here,” Sofi
said promptly. “Jule, he has to be there. You won’t save her
without him, and you’re running out of time.”

“
You don’t pull any
punches, Sofi,” he growled. “Where’s Damian?”

“
Charles found the Other.
Damian went to scout things out.”

“
Who’s
Charles?”

“
He’s a Hunter vamp we
borrowed from Jonny,” she explained. Jule’s brow furrowed, and Sofi
smiled. “I’ll explain later. Xander’s waiting.”

“
Is Darian here? I’m not
bringing an Original Vamp here without some sort of
backup.”

“
I’m here, Jule,” Bianca
said from behind him.

“
Great, so I can piss off
both my brothers.”

“
I just meant I can fix
anyone who decides to brawl,” Bianca retorted.

“
Darian’s here,” Sofi
replied with a laugh. “I’ll go get him.”

“
At least then we’ll stand
half a chance if the vamp goes ape-shit crazy.”

“
We’ll be fine, Jule,” she
assured him. “Just don’t tell Damian or Dusty.”

Jule ground his teeth. Silently cursing
Oracles, he Transported back to the mountainside. The vamp hadn’t
moved, as if he and Sofi already knew Jule would facilitate.

“
Y’all are cutting me no
slack today,” he said.

“
Wise Oracle,” Xander said
with a cold smile. “Take me to her.”

Jule raised his hand, and the Original Vamp
rested his on top. They Transported to the study where Sofi,
Bianca, and the Grey God awaited. Xander’s attention was caught
first by Darian.

“
Gatekeeper,” the vamp
said. “You’re negligent in your duties.”

“
As soon as I figure out
what they are, I’ll take care of that,” Darian shot back. The vamp
frowned.

“
You will when you’re
ready, Darian,” Sofi said.

“
Gatekeeper, Oracle,
Healer, Original Immortal,” Xander said, taking in everyone
one-by-one. “You have a message for me, Oracle, and an answer I
seek.”

Jule shifted forward as the vamp held out
his hand, palm up, in the traditional greeting to an Oracle. Sofi
stepped to him, unafraid, while Darian edged closer. She placed her
hand on the vamp’s, and her eyes began to whirl hypnotically.

The Original Vamp closed his eyes. Their
exchange was silent. Sofi dropped her hand, and the vamp remained
still, as if letting her magic settle.

“
You are certain?” he said
at last.

“
It’s not the only answer,
but it’s the most likely,” Sofi replied.

“
Very well. A pleasure,
Oracle,” Xander said and opened his eyes. “Immortal, take me
back.”

Jule obliged quickly, unwilling to keep the
vamp close to his brothers’ mates longer than necessary. They
Transported to the mountainside again, and the cold wind swept past
him. Jule released the vamp, who turned to him.

“
I know one way to return
your power to you.” As he spoke, his fangs lengthened. “Are you
certain this is what you want?”

Realization of exactly what he’d asked for
made Jule breathe out hard. His thoughts went to Yully, and he
stepped forward without hesitation.

“
Absolutely,” Jule
replied. “Bite me.”

“
As you wish.”

Chapter Eight

Yully spent the drive north learning how to
manipulate her father’s magics with his patient tips as guidance.
She purposely kept her thoughts of what was to come-- and her fear
for Jule-- at the back of her mind, instead filling it with her
willingness to learn her trade.

Only when they reached the small bed and
breakfast that was their destination did she cease practicing her
magic. She was drained but more confident in her ability to use it.
Yully stepped from the warm car into the cold night and followed
her father into the inn.