Soul Unbound (Key to the Cursed Book 3) (24 page)

The shackles clattered to the ground and Siya
threw her arms around him. “Thank you, Bomani.”

Bomani hugged her back. He could not ask for more
than this.

Bomani blurted out a whistle. A moment passed
before the sound of thundering hooves carried down the beach. Execution’s black
mane and tail unfurled with the long graceful strides of the steed. The horse rocketed
down the beach, sand and water kicking up into the air.

With bridle and saddle in hand Bomani raised his
arms in greeting. The horse slowed and circled him with its chin tucked and
neck and tail arched.

“Siya is not with me today.” Bomani set the saddle
down on the log and offered Execution an apple.

The horse knocked the large red treat into the
sand and snorted a retort.

“Sorry, you have to deal with me.” Bomani raised
the bridle again. “I think you will like what I have to offer.”

Execution’s ears flicked forward.

“A god, you are familiar with.” Bomani rubbed the
location of the previous injury.

Smoke curled out of the edges of the steed’s black
nostrils and his eyes flared a bright red. Execution lowered his head.

“I thought so.” Bomani slipped the bit into the
horse’s mouth and pulled the bridle up over its ears. Much to Bomani’s
surprise, the horse accepted the saddle after weeks of freedom. The true test would
be whether Execution would accept Bomani as his rider. Bomani took a moment to
admire the beast. The thick broad muscles flexed under the shiny black coat.
The strong legs would easily support Bomani’s weight.

He grabbed the saddle to mount the horse.
Execution sidestepped and broke his grasp. “Easy boy. I would not ask this of
you, but we have Siya and our baby to protect. As long as Theris is out there,
they are not safe.”

The horse stilled, allowing Bomani to hoist
himself up into the seat. He pulled the reins to the left and Execution
conceded to his commands. From the elevated vantage point, he could see and
assess the entire beach.

“Let us take this slow.” He nudged Execution’s
flanks with his heels.

Execution whinnied and bolted forward. Bomani jerked
back in the saddle barely keeping a hold of the reins. Quickly righting
himself, he leaned forward and adjusted to the rhythm of Execution’s cadence.

“Maybe there is no slow with you.” He laughed.
After several runs down the beach, he pulled Execution to a stop and patted the
horse’s neck.

“Ready?”

He pulled their energy inward and shifted them to
the human realm. Black charred remnants of the warehouse splayed out before
them. Not much had changed since he was pulled from the rubble. He circled
around the destruction. Execution’s hooves clacked on the wooden dock. The
light scent of Creation blood still circulated on the air currents along with
the putrid smell of siravants.

Bakari appeared farther down the dock. Execution’s
ears lay back against his head.

“Do not worry, he is a friend.” Bomani nodded his
greeting to his brother.

Bakari walked towards him. His brother’s daggers were
sheathed in his chest holster. “Too much time has passed. Nothing is left of Theris’
trail.”

“What do you think, Ex? Think you can find him?”
Bomani loosened the reins, leaving the steed unencumbered.

The horse snorted several times, his ears flicking
right and left.

From a walk to a canter Execution steered them
away from the docks and forced them into the suburbs. On the open street
Execution’s powerful legs propelled him over fence lines and cars. Vehicle alarms
wailed into the night set off by the thunder of hooves on the pavement.

Despite the lack of stealth, he urged the steed
onward to their only lead. Not willing to lose this opportunity again, Bomani
would ensure Theris would be on his knees begging before the sun reclaimed the
sky.

Execution surged into a gallop. Large green refuge
trucks blurred in Bomani’s peripheral vision. Large security gates awaited
ahead. The horse launched over the twelve foot chain link fence. His back hoof
clipped the barb wire and pulled the sharp metal links. Tethered by the left
foot, Execution staggered on the landing.

Bomani slipped out of the saddle and pushed
Execution back to relieve the tension. Blood coated the spat above the hoof. The
wounds appeared only superficial. Snapping the wires, Bomani freed the horse.

He looked around the enormous junkyard. A chorus
of howls and barks announced the charge of four large black and tan dogs. A
heavy pressure filled the air around them, announcing Bakari’s arrival.

His brother stepped in front of Bomani and
Execution and intercepted the canines. All four cowered on their haunches at
Bakari’s feet. His brother grabbed the first dog by the lower jaw and turned
the animal’s head. The fur around the face and neck had been singed and red
burn marks marred the skin.

“Suffice to say, I think we have found our mark.”
Bakari stood and unsheathed the Mevt daggers.

“Good boy, we will take it from here.” Bomani
rubbed Execution’s nose and turned to walk with Bakari down the center road.
Cars stacked high on both sides created a funnel into the heart of the yard. In
its center sat a rusted out trailer. Bomani sensed no human energy. Several
scorch marks and piles of ash were all that remained of the owner. The dogs
whimpered and sniffed the ground around their feet.

“Think he will run?” Bakari asked, his gaze
searching the aisles of metal and discarded vehicle parts.

“He has nowhere to go, not with Menthu out there.”
Bomani scowled, realizing Siya would not be truly safe until both were dead.
The bombing at the bunker only delayed her father’s plans. If Menthu survived
being impaled with the Mevt dagger, he would endure the piles of concrete left
behind by the missiles. Not to mention, Nebt had the powers of the Underworld
on her side. She knew death too well to succumb to it. Until then, Bomani would
gladly start at the bottom of the most wanted list and work his way up.

“I will be around, if you need me.” Bakari whistled
for the dogs to follow and jogged down another row. “If I am lucky, I will
flush Theris out.”

Still stunned how things had changed between them,
Bomani stared after his brother. He had expected to feel at least some
trepidation, but Bakari had not failed him. Not when he needed help the most. His
father was always talking about the journey to enlightenment. Perhaps, Bomani
had finally found his path. He just never figured Bakari would be such a
significant part of it, like Siya and even Kendra. Now, an innocent life echoed
through his bond with Siya, stirring a level of devotion and love he never
thought possible.

Everything worth protecting.

Bomani walked to the center yard and stooped
before the ash. He prayed the man would find his way to the Afterlife but knew
Apep would be waiting for the human, like all the dead before him.

The scent of Creation energy was stronger above
the ash. Enough, Bomani dematerialized and followed the scent trail. Mere mist
in the darkness, he traveled undetected among the junk and trash. He
accelerated as the scent grew stronger. Theris had started several fires, which
Bomani drifted through unscathed. His ability to absorb energy had grown since
he released his powers. With Siya’s help he embraced his deity blood to the
extent he had gained full control.

At the point Theris’ scent saturated the air
Bomani rematerialized and sprinted down the aisle. Cargo containers stacked
three high created a perimeter fence. The shape of the yard reminded him of a
colosseum.

“Did you think you can hide from me?” Bomani yelled,
sensing Theris lurking among the metal boxes.

Heat rolled down from the upper level and filled
the dirt lot. Theris dropped down with wisps of fire preceding him and ran out
the closest exit.

Bomani pursued unencumbered by the heat, his
combat boots chewing up the ground between them. He dodged balls of fire and
charged through flaming wreckage. A blur of black suddenly flashed in the
corner of his eye a millisecond before Execution slammed into Theris and sent
him sailing into a wall of stacked cars. The tower teetered and then toppled
onto the god. Execution reared up and came down on the pile with his hooves.
Flames exploded beneath the wreckage and engulfed the horse.

“Execution!” Bomani leapt into the flames and
absorbed the energy of the inferno. He tackled Theris as the god attempted to
escape. Bomani slammed his fist into Theris’ face until blood soaked his knuckles.

Theris flopped back and laughed, his blue eyes
wild. Blood coated his bright white teeth. “Piece of shit horse.”

The horse lay on the ground, but then rolled up to
stand. His once long mane was singed and brittle. Several areas of his muzzle
and chest were burnt, but otherwise he appeared battle ready.

Bomani snatched Theris by the throat and yanked
him to his feet. “We were not quite finished with our discussion.” Heat curled
around Bomani’s hand as the god threatened to erupt into flames. “Not going to
happen again.” Bomani drew in the energy around them, starving Theris of the
elements he needed to manifest his power.

Theris thrust his arms up to break Bomani’s hold
to no avail. “You are just a—” The god’s eyes widened, panic amplifying his
already manic state.

“Warrior? Right now, I am your worst nightmare
unless you start talking.”

“I do not know where he is,” Theris said, suddenly
still. Fear rolled off in sour waves.

“Good thing because Menthu would rip you apart
piece by piece, but you already know don’t you, otherwise you would not be
hiding out in this junkyard.” Although Bomani wanted Menthu’s location there
was more important intel he needed from the god. “I want to know who on the
council is working with Menthu?”

Theris shook his head. “I do not know.”

“Bullshit, you said in the warehouse he had gotten
to someone. Is it Bast?”

“Bast is not worthy.”

“Then whom?”

Theris’ jaw tightened. “I do not know. Menthu
never tells me shit.”

“Then I think he is out lived his worth,” Asar
said, stepping into the dim light, followed by Bakari and Kamen.

Theris trembled within Bomani’s grasp and the
smell of urine filled the space. “As you can see, Menthu is the least of your
worries.” Bomani shoved Theris to his knees.

“You have been found guilty of murder and treason
against the Pantheon, punishable by death,” Asar declared.

“I demand a trial.”

Asar smirked. “You have been misinformed,
Creation. I can exercise my full rights as I see fit. I am your judge, jury and
executioner.”

“Have mercy.”

“I will show you the same mercy as you had for
Khalfani.” Asar glowered down at the male.

Bomani grabbed the back of Theris’ neck “Who on
the Council is working for Menthu?”

Bakari unsheathed the Mevt dagger from his holster
and twirled the blade in his hand. Theris had no escape. Death had found him.

“The Chancellor.”

“Thoth?” Bomani turned to his father. He knew of
the male as he was one of the divine judges. Scribe to the word of Ra and
author of the three sacred books. A waif of a god. Either way, the Chancellor
had enough power to influence and direct the course of the Pantheon and open
the gates for Apep’s slaughter.

“What is Menthu’s next move?”

“Once the younglings mature, he will take down the
Council.”

“Younglings, how many?” Bomani tightened his grip.
His thoughts veered to the youngling that stabbed him. How many more had been
turned?

“Ten.”

“He is lying,” Kamen growled and stepped closer to
the doomed god.

Bomani cringed, knowing it could be untold numbers
of them.

“Your soul is unworthy, Theris. You shall not pass
through the gates but be cast off soulless with the rest of the fallen,” Asar
said with his hand hovering over the god’s heart.

“Tell Apep we are coming for him.” Bakari slammed the
dagger to the hilt in Theris’ left chest.

The god arched back as the dagger’s spell and
double blade tore his soul in half. The glow dimmed in his eyes as his powers
and immortality faded. When the task was complete, Bakari pulled the crimson
stained blade free.

Theris remained on his knees. Alive, but mortal. Well
aware of what was to come, Bomani released the god and followed Bakari to where
Execution stood. Asar slapped Kamen on the shoulder. “Make sure he remembers
every last bit of his life.”

As the Devourer, Kamen finished Asar’s sentence.
Theris would be cast out to Duat, his soul consumed until nothing, not even a
glint of his previous powers, remained. Never to be reborn. Never to harm
anyone again. A message to Apep, the Underworlders were waiting for him.

Bomani glanced one last time at Theris. Justice in
Khalfani’s memory had been served and Siya’s honor redeemed. But Bomani would
not rest until Menthu and Nebt paid for what they had done to his mate as well.
With blood in his veins and power in his soul, Bomani would protect all that
threatened his family.

Execution greeted Bomani with a snort and a stomp.
He was grateful for the beast. “He will not hurt you again.” Bomani rubbed
Execution’s neck.

“Fine stallion,” Asar said.

“Yes, he is.” Bomani patted Execution’s flank.
“Perhaps we can bring him to the stables in Aaru.”

“Might as well.” Asar laid his hand on Execution’s
neck. The horse leaned into his father’s touch.

“I am indebted to you, Sire,” Bomani said with a
bow.

“You have fulfilled what I have asked of you,”
Asar said and squeezed Bomani’s arm. “You only need ask for my help.”

“I know and now I must ask for your
understanding.” Bomani’s gaze gravitated to his brother. “I will not be
returning to the legion. Once Siya delivers we will be returning to the human
realm. The younglings cannot stay in the Underworld forever, and there are so
many more to find.”

Asar frowned. “You do not want to stay with your
family?”