Hellbound Warrior: (Dark Warrior Alliance Book Five) (17 page)

Having her necklace close to his heart had reminded him that she loved him more than anything and had helped keep him grounded. Now, as he unclipped the hook, he was giving up that connection to her. Placing the enchanted chain into Mammon’s hand, he barely bit back a sob of grief. He was losing his mother all over again, but could do nothing less to ensure his Fated Mate’s safety.

“This will be my crowning jewel, ensuring my place for centuries to come,” Mammon barked, satisfaction showcased by his shit-eating grin.

Rhys, Illianna, Dante and Kellen stepped to the exit. “Will that even fit around your wrist, Jabba?” Rhys chuckled, using humor to brush away the suffocating grief. Grief did him no good at the moment, and they had still a job to do. There would be time later to acknowledge what he had been forced to give up.

Mammon turned red and Rhys wondered if he was going to keel over and die from a heart attack or something. Not that immortals died from heart failure, but the male was one fat, fucking bastard. “I told you stop calling me names,” he snarled at Rhys.

Dante grabbed Rhys’ elbow. “And, that’s our cue to leave. Thank you for your hospitality,” the Cambion Lord uttered, bowing his head.

“Are you certain I can’t change your mind, Illianna?” Mammon asked, in a last ditch effort to convince her to remain by his side. He couldn’t force her or harm any of them because of the oath he had given in exchange for the necklace. Still, Rhys held his breath waiting to see how his angel responded while biting back his reply.

He wanted to clamp his hand over her mouth and answer for her, but he refused to be yet another jailer. She deserved to be in charge of her own destiny after what she’d been through.

Initially, he had been upset that his Fated Mate had to choose him and wasn’t driven by the same compulsion as he was, but once he realized her independence was stolen from her, to coerce her into a mating would only add insult to injury. He wanted his mate more than anything, but it would mean so much more when she chose him of her own free will.

Without hesitation, Illianna stepped up next to Rhys and faced Mammon. “My place is not here in Hell. My place is in Heaven, so there is nothing you can do to change my mind.”

“So be it. Best be going before your father’s men get here,” Mammon laughed, making Rhys curse. He had betrayed them anyway.

“We should have known better than to trust a fat fuck like that,” Kellen spat as he kicked into a run, crossing into the Fifth Circle.

Rhys pushed Illianna into movement in front of him and they crossed behind Dante and Kellen. The flames licked at his skin as they left behind a laughing Mammon. “We should’ve gutted that fucking pig!I” Rhys bellowed. “I can’t believe I thought his greed would outweigh his allegiance to the others.”

Illianna stopped walking and put her hands on her hips. “Why are you so surprised? They’re demons, for God’s sake. That’s what they do!”

Rhys flinched at the venom on her words. “Let’s get something straight right now, Angel. I am nothing like the vile demons that call this plane home, so don’t treat me like I am.” He inched closer and practically touched her nose with his. “If it weren’t for us three
demons
,” he sneered the term, “you’d still be a slave in chains in my father’s domain. If nothing else, that deserves your respect.”

Her eyes widened in alarm and she blanched. “I wasn’t referring to you three, merely pointing out that we aren’t dealing with upstanding creatures. I’m sorry for not making myself clear. So, where do we go now?” she asked, changing the subject, clearly uncomfortable.

Rhys sensed her regret and decided to let it go. He glanced around, getting the lay of the land and scanning for danger. He hadn’t been on guard when he’d come through and was grateful that hadn’t bit them in the asses. They could have walked right into an ambush.

In the distance was a river, water black as night. The souls fighting on the surface told him they were at the banks of the River Styx. Everyone was familiar with the lore that those who were violent during their lifetime were relegated to battle each other on the surface of the river in the Fifth Circle. He’d never been there and had to admit the sight was grisly. The souls viciously tore at each other. Had they been corporeal the river would have flowed red.

Dante and Kellen had continued ahead and were stopped near the trees on the bank. A chill skittered down Rhys’ spine as much from the noise of battle as from the chill in the air. Rather than the high velocity winds or the freezing rain, the temperature reminded him of a crisp, autumn Seattle night. He looked to Illianna, “Shall we?” he asked and started walking when she nodded.

When they reached the edge of the water, he looked down and noticed that it was a clear glassy black and there were countless souls trapped beneath the surface. “Are they trying to drown themselves? They don’t seem to be fighting to get to the surface.”

He bent and picked up a rock from the ground, skipping it across the water and through the countless beings. It was eerie to watch the rock skate across the surface and through the transparent souls as if nothing was in its way.

“Those are the sullen. This is the price for living a life of repressing your anger,” Illianna responded.

“How do we get across?” Kellen asked, shifting his weight, clearly anxious with the sight before him.

“That one I do know,” Dante interjected. “According to the Mystik Grimoire, we need to summon the ferryman, Charon, and pay him to take us across in his boat. That’s what the coins are for.”

Rhys turned in a circle, “And, how exactly do we summon him? Here, kitty, kitty.” Rhys pulled out the cell phone he had in a side pocket of his pack, tapping the screen. “Nope, he’s not on my speed dial,” he quipped while searching for a sign of a bell, or chime, or anything that might call the boat to them.

Dante lowered his backpack and opened the front zipper. “We wait, smartass. My guess is that he knows we are here. Our presence will surely be noticed given the fact that we are the only living beings in this place. Unlike the other areas, we shouldn’t have to worry about other demons and foes while here.”

“Thank the Goddess for small favors. Well, we may as well rest while we can,” he said, sitting in the dirt.

Illianna walked closer to the edge and slipped in the mud. Rhys was up on his feet and at her side, catching her as she landed on her ass, hauling her away from the water just as a soul’s hand reached for her.

Together, they watched the soul snarl at them from amidst a heap of those suffering. Up close, Rhys got a good look at the beings that called Styx home. They were zombie-like with gray flesh that hung off in chunks, making their bones visible in places, yet they were apparitions that he could see through. Their gray eyes flashed with anger, snarling as they watched Rhys and Illianna. One of them had fangs, like a vampire.

“Please tell me the Goddess protects us from this fate. We live a life of violence as her warriors,” Kellen muttered from above them.

Rhys looked up at his fellow Dark Warrior and smiled ruefully. “If there is one thing my mother taught me, it’s that the Goddess never turns her back on her own.”

“That one over there that looks like a vampire?” Kellen challenged.

Rhys stood up and helped Illianna to her feet. “I have no doubt there are supernaturals in this river, but they are there because they stopped following Her edicts. Shit, I know a few who I can’t wait to send here, like that evil bitch, Lady Angelica,” he replied, thinking of the sorceress who had held Jace prisoner while forcing him to be her sexual play thing. She had also made a pact with Kadir and continued to be a thorn in their side. There was no one more deserving of this fate in his opinion.

Dante growled and slung his backpack onto his shoulder. “I couldn’t agree more and I hope that Jace and Evzen eliminate her soon. We have enough to deal with involving demons and their skirm. And, your mother was right about the Goddess. She has managed to find a way to help us in a realm where she should hold no power.”

Rhys was about to respond when Illianna interrupted him. “You haven’t really talked about your mom much. Who was she? It seems like she has a lot of insight into the Goddess for a human.”

Rhys smiled and reached for his necklace, only to remember that he’d given it to Mammon. “My mom is a handmaiden to Morrigan,” Rhys admitted, watching the shock that crossed all three of his companion’s faces.

“What? How is that even possible? Demons can’t enter
Annwyn
.” Dante blurted before Rhys could continue.

“Mom was sent to earth on a mission and dear-old-dad used his powers to trick and seduce her.”

“So where were you born?” Kellen asked, retrieving an apple from his pack. Luckily, they had gathered as much food from Mammon before leaving his circle.

“I was born in the Goddess’ realm. My mother had no idea she’d been tricked by an incubus, let alone that she was pregnant. Morrigan almost didn’t let her return when she discovered what had happened. Thankfully, mom was the most dedicated and loyal handmaiden, and the Goddess couldn’t live without her.”

“Holy shit!” Dante exclaimed, punching Rhys on the arm. “Why didn’t you ever tell me all this? You have firsthand knowledge of
Annwyn
.”

Rhys paced a small circle around his friends. “No, I actually don’t. I never left my mother’s quarters. The tutors came to me and my mom sent me to my dad when I hit maturity. A fully-matured sex demon had no place there so she sent me to Hell, where I belonged,” he practically spat.

He stopped when Illianna touched his arm. Sparks flew between them and shot straight to the mark above his groin. The pain of the mate mark would worsen until they completed the mating.

“What was her name?” she asked.

He wondered at the odd tone to her voice and hesitated before answering her. “Anthea. She is the second-most beautiful female I’ve ever laid eyes on, with her light brown hair and compassionate nature.”

“You have her eyes,” Illianna said. He cocked his head and considered her.

“How do you know that?” he asked quizzically. Not that it was hard to conclude given she knew his father had black eyes.

“Because I was assigned to bring her happiness after she was forced to send you away.”

All the blood drained to Rhys’ feet, leaving him lightheaded. “You were assigned to my mother?”

Before Illianna could respond, a chime sounded behind them, followed by a deep bass voice. “Only the dead can cross. The living are not permitted.”

They all spun around to see a male standing in a small boat. He was dressed in a red cloak that was pulled over his head. With a quick glance, Rhys noted the skeletal hand on the pole. His face was mostly hidden beneath the cowl, but what could be seen reinforced the image that a skeleton lived beneath the fabric.

“Will you take us if we have the correct obols?” Dante asked, holding out his hand with three coins in his palm.

The ferryman looked from his hand to the four of them and Rhys went still at the realization they didn’t have enough. “There are only three coins there, cambion. But luckily, two of you share souls, so three will suffice. Climb aboard,” he murmured, gesturing with his free hand. The movement caused his cloak to slide up and reveal his arm. The limb was covered by paper-thin skin, making him look even creepier.

Beside him, Rhys felt Illianna draw in a breath, but he wasn’t fast enough to stop her words. “I do not share a sou—” her words stopped mid-sentence by his hand covering her mouth.

She glared at him and he met her furious gaze with one of his own. He leaned down to whisper in her ear, “Now is not the time to deny me. Would you like to be left here for my father to find?”

He waited until she realized the scope of their situation and she shook her head before he released her. “Shall we?” he asked the others as he ushered her to the boat.

Dante placed the fare into Charon’s hand and they all climbed aboard the small craft. The boat wobbled and water slipped in as they settled into their seats. The boat was made of what looked like drift wood, but felt like stone beneath his palm. He wiggled, setting off ripples again. The seat just wasn’t big enough for him and Illianna. His movements incited the souls and they clamored at the sides, trying to crawl inside.

When a ghostly hand touched Rhys’ arm it burned with a cold sensation and left a red mark in its wake. Charon lifted his pole and slammed in into the water, stilling all movement within. “That’s why I do not ferry the living. It incites the dead,” the male said aloud, shaking his head. The cowl swayed with his movement and Rhys swore he saw blank eye sockets before it settled back into place.

The boat was adrift before the ripples settled in the water. They slowly moved along the river in silence. Their tour guide wouldn’t last a hot minute transporting sightseers around Lake Washington with his doom and gloom attitude.

“So what do you do for fun around here? Whack-a-Ghoul? Do you get more points for the gooey ones?” Rhys mocked, hoping to lighten the mood.

“Fucking Rhys,” Dante muttered under his breath, making Rhys chuckle. His comment hadn’t ruffled the ferryman. In fact, it hadn’t garnered any reaction at all.

Shaking his head, Rhys glanced around and realized as they traveled that some of the souls looked like they had died in the Underworld, their flesh glistening from puss and old blood. And, the smell was enough to knock him unconscious. The combination of brimstone, sulfur and rotting meat was absolutely putrid.

A loud scream followed by a splash had him jumping to his feet. Illianna had fallen into the water and was rapidly sinking below the surface to the souls trapped there. His heart began racing in his chest as he watched her struggle. Without thought, he dropped his pack, ready to dive in after her when Charon’s cold, brittle hand settled over his wrist.

“You must be of stout heart to leave the River Styx,” the ferryman said in a voice that rang like the death knells.

Without further thought to his warning, Rhys dove after his mate. The icy water was a shock to his system, nearly freezing him in place. Knowing Illianna was suffering and possibly dying gave him the strength to forge ahead.