Going Thru Hell (17 page)

Chapter Twenty Nine

Tiamat, the Valkyries and Aki cleaned up the mess. I didn't ask what they did with my parents, I didn't want to know. We learned Mom and Dad planned the whole thing, in an attempt to gain a normal life.

We searched the entire bunker, finding medical kits and patched Riot's injury. I stared as he did his best not to cry while Aki sewed the wound. Riot had his father's green eyes, a head full of blond hair glint
ing with copper highlights. I could see he'd be a heartbreaker as an adult. He was already showing a heavy bone structure, and his height indicated an end maturity around six and a half foot. But behind the spring green irises, power sparked, glinting in the fluorescent lighting. Riot promised to be an exception to every rule.

“Momma, where have you been?” His voice husky, even prepubescent. The women were going to fall over themselves as he aged.

“Trying to keep you safe.” I couldn't meet his eyes, knowing the danger was only diverted for a short time.

“I met my father and his family.”

“I heard.” I sat in a metal chair, elbows on knees, hands clasped between my knees. “I'm sorry, son. I thought I was keeping you safe.”

“Why do they want us?”
he whispered.

“They believe we are weapons to be used. They will never stop warring with each other, son, and think we can win one side or the other for them.”

“They can kiss my ass.”

I snorted, unable to stop the laugh. “I feel the same. But I have to find a way to keep you safe from all of them.”

“You're afraid of braiding, aren't you, Momma?”

I fell to my knees, finally allowing myself to hug him tightly. He smelled so very good, his heartbeat calming some of my fears. Nice and warm, strong bodied
, but so very young and fragile. My soul stretched, burst forth, allowing emotions to explode. Fear, love, panic, elation, the bond I felt from the moment I knew I was pregnant, all mixed into a potent slurry. I stood, holding him close as his legs wrapped around my waist and arms clung tightly to my neck.

I cooed, moving as I did when he was an infant. I never wanted to let go. I'd missed too many years, ignorant and blinded to the hints my parents dropped over
time.

Eventually, his body relaxed and I walked him to another room. I tucked him gently into a bed, sitting in the chair next to it, staring at him, unable to
leave.

A large hand gently landed on my shoulder. I could tell from the heat it was Aki, and I placed a hand over his
fingers.

“He is resilient, Kylie, but he is not out of danger.”

I sniffled, “I know.” I wanted to plan, to hide Riot from the world until he was old enough to fight on his own. Perhaps he would be a physical fighter too, because I sure as hell wasn't. Unlike my parents, I would never betray my son.

“What do you want to do?” Aki crouched next to me, a hand on my shoulder, another on my thigh. I met his gaze in the soft lamp light, trying to read his expression.

“I don't know.”

He nodded, straightening. “Will you consider the other option now?”

“Please don't, not right now.”

He kissed the top of my head, squeezed my shoulders and left. Behind me, Bru shuffled and Tiamat snorted.

“Yeah, the peanut gallery opinions aren't appreciated right now.”

Bru ignored me. “Think about it. He's willing, Kylie. You have options. You could still braid to before Riot was given up, arrive early and take him out of here. Or you could do as Aki requests.”

I nodded, refusing to think about killing Aki. I could hurt most immortals, and do it with a smile. But Aki? The Berserker who'd stood by me all these months, saving me on more than one occasion, thinking only of my safety and sanity? All of them were requesting I take the life force of a man I loved.

Instead, I gave credence to the other suggestion. I
could
braid a timeline in which I grabbed Riot and removed him before the kidnapping. It would be a week at most, half of what little soul I retained. But Aki would live, and Riot would be out of danger. Tiamat and Bru would be able to plan where we could hide.

The excitement of a plan fluttered in my breast. I could do this. I only had to talk about the specifics of what I needed to find in the threads for a damn good braiding session.

Running a hand over Riot's hair again, I thought of the strategy, and the implications for my child. Would he remember? He did carry immortal genes, meaning he might. Would he keep the injury inflicted by Anahita? Again, possible.

Sighing, I signaled the others to follow. The tunnels were closing in, the betrayal by my parents refusing to be pushed into the background. I didn't have time to think about it, to work through the emotions. I needed to hold everything, use the emotions as fuel.

The large silo's darkness was only broken by the light of the half-moon. I stood on the dais again, staring at the starry sky so far above. Part of me wanted to wail at the bad turn of events, to have time for a good breakdown, feel sorry for myself. Mourn the loss of parents I loved, the horrific days of captivity for Riot, the choices I'd been left.

Strong arms wrapped around my waist, a warm body pressed to my back. I relaxed into the embrace, wishing I could let it all play out as he wanted. I wanted the courage to take his life in exchange for a daughter I didn't have and a son I needed to save.

“You'll do fine,” he kissed my neck before releasing me and stepping off the dais.

I whispered, “I hope so.”

I waited for everyone to gather. I turned slowly, meeting each of their eyes, seeing only their trust in my decisions. It weighed heavily.

Tiamat carried Riot carefully in her talons. He slept, snuggled to her chest, likely lulled by the thick heartbeat and body heat. I knew he was safe, even as I hoped I didn't have more betrayals.

“I'm going to go back a week, to before Riot's abduction. I need details. Where can I place us, out of danger and hidden. Any suggestions?”

Four hours, and one sunrise later, we had plans.

I called the power forth, let the timelines blaze brightly on the inner HD TV. So many options. I chose carefully, weaving them together until I had the necessary changes.

Damn, this was going to hurt.

The power filled all the spaces of my body, the sensation almost overwhelming. I concentrated it on what I'd chosen, the floating sensation lifting me, as if in a body of water. I spun slowly, arms out, head back, staring at the stars, circling at an ever faster rate. As the speed increased, the world fell away, arms close to my body because of the centrifugal effect, hair whipping in the created wind. A white foam replaced images, and I watched as all the events of the past week disappeared, back to the moment when Anahita made her threat. The inner screen showed her leaving and I dropped into the room.

Tiamat, Bru and Aki appeared in my peripheral vision.

“I accept the cost, I accept the cost, I accept the cost,” I begged, knowing the ripping would render me unconscious.

Pain and agony tore me apart, and I reached for the blackness.

“Kylie, we are on the clock. We have to retrieve your son. Wake up,” Bru's voice could be heard over the throbbing in my head. I nodded, wanting to remain in the allure of unconsciousness. But I had to move fast, or we'd go through it all again.

Tiamat went ahead with the Valkyries to Wyoming. We drove from Nashville to Wyoming, breaking speed laws the entire way, pushing the truck hard. I leaned against Aki, weak, trying to gather myself. My soul was a gaping wound again, and no matter what we tried, it refused to stop bleeding.

What should have been a two day drive only took a little over twenty eight hours. I envied Bru and Aki's ability to go without rest. They had a nice daisy, spring fresh look. Or would if they didn't have travel hair and the smell from driving. Dust covered our clothes, the truck and lined my mouth.

Bru steered onto the dirt road leading to the missile silo, kicking up clouds of dust behind the truck as she rushed forward. Riot was due to be taken in only a few hours.

“What do you want to do with your parents?” Aki forced me to look at him.

I shrugged. “Makes no difference to me.”

“Do you feel anything at all?”

I tried to find emotions,
but it was an empty tank. I tried to see the aura of my soul, the image of a dull gray shadow the size of a can of Dr. Pepper flickered. Beside it, the bright blue timeline appeared, the color blinding against the fading aura.

I was damned.

Bru pulled the truck inside the silo, a huge door shutting behind us.

“Leave us, Brunhilde,” Aki ordered, reaching over me to unbuckle the seat belt.

She made eye contact with me, nodded once and jumped out, disappearing through a door to the outside. I assumed to meet her sisters and Tiamat.

Aki grabbed me roughly, and positioned me across his lap. One hand held me still while the other held my chin. He kissed me, and memories of our last encounter played in my head. A hand made its way to the skin of my back, a delicious slide of callused
fingertips on sensitive skin. It wasn't until he grabbed the back of my head, and a handful of hair, pulling gently, that I felt something. My heartbeat gathered speed, I began to pant.

“That's it,” he whispered against my mouth, taking control and trying to lead me to emotional waters for a drink. My hands buried themselves in his thick hair, holding him close. A moan vibrated against my shoulder. He invaded my mouth, and the wounds cauterized themselves, letting me
feel.

He pulled me back, extricating my hands, his eyes close and blazing. “It isn't much, Kylie, but you need everything possible to make this plan of yours work.”

I stared as he moved me off his lap and stepped out of the truck. “That's it? Really?” I was hurt at the abrupt end to what could have felt damn good. Angry and a smidgen tossed aside.

He smiled over his shoulder, full of mischief. I gave him the New York State Bird before scrambling out of the truck and heading deep into the silo.

I watched the tunnels, searching for cameras, trying to avoid any confrontations. The great amount of effort it took to walk the mile or so to Riot's room reminded me of how weak the last braid left me.

Ancient spices filled the air. I slowed to a shuffle, out of breath. I turned in a circle, searching. I attempted to pull power into my palms, not surprised when they barely reached above lukewarm. My battery was almost dead.

“Come on, Anahita, don't hide any longer.”

“You're too late.
Thor and Artemis have already taken Riot.”

A spurt of panic stopped my heart, but I turned and ran the rest of the way to Riot's room. Muscles shaky, unable to catch my breath, I pushed hard against the door, nearly falling as it swung open easily.

Riot sat on his bed, reading the newspaper, glowing brightly in the light of a lamp. He looked up, yelled before charging. I caught him, legs giving out and I twisted at the last minute so he could land on top of me.

“That's what I'm talking about, Thor. Two for one. She's weak
,
and he's easy pickings,” Artemis's snarky tone sent shivers down my spine.

“I don't think so,” Bru stood in the doorway, the sisters behind her. I could smell the brimstone breath of Tiamat, see Aki's tall form behind all of them.

I rolled again, covering Riot. I couldn't fight,
not with next to nothing left to give. I wanted to prevent Riot from using his.

“Use me, Momma. You can connect to me. I know it
,” his husky voice whispered in my ear.

“I can't, honey. Too weak.”

As pandemonium erupted around us, Riot calmly placed a hand over my heart, so small and light. Seconds passed as he searched, his power, young and bright, reached for my soul.

“There is almost nothing left, Momma.”

“I know.”

Thor kicked my ribs, sending us rolling until I landed against a wall. I'd heard the cracking sound of ribs breaking, and Riot stood, his hands growing bright red, the aura around his body bright and pulsing.

“No, Riot, don't,” I gasped, reaching to stop him.

“My beautiful grandson, so much of Modi evident in your spirit. Come to me, son, and I will spare your mother.” Thor held out a palm.

“No, Riot, come to me, we can do this.”

“I can save you, Momma. I just got you back. I won't let them take you away again.” He took Thor's hand.

I screamed, the last of my soul ripped apart, my heart breaking as they disappeared. “Riot! No! I'm not worth sacrificing for! Come back,” I sobbed, trying to crawl to the spot he'd disappeared. Thoughts of following
them
, giving up everything to get my son, forced power to my hands. I finally had enough to do harm.

Standing, anger and anguish boiling under my skin, creating pricks of pain, I rushed Artemis. I had to get the rage out, take it out on someone. Logic said I didn't have enough to follow Thor, but Artemis had enough to give. She was going to give
a lot.