Rhyn grunted and rolled onto his stomach. The stone floor beneath him was cool but not cool enough to soothe the hot fury of his magic. The effects of whatever Toby had injected into him were almost gone.
“My plan didn’t exactly work,” Kiki’s tone was frustrated.
“What happened?” Rhyn squinted towards the sound of his brother’s voice, struggling to balance the sensations within him. Kiki was chained to the wall while Rhyn was sprawled on the floor of the small room.
“Ully’s dart worked a little too well. You went down like an elephant.”
“Where are we?”
“The dungeon.”
Light filtered in from somewhere, and Rhyn tried to make sense of his surroundings.
“How long was I out?” he asked.
Kiki didn’t have a chance to answer before the wooden door to their prison creaked open. Rhyn’s head spun as he was hauled up and dragged into a well-lit hallway. Light and shadows wreaked havoc on his sense of place and time until he hit the cool stone floor again.
“Still no control,” Darkyn said, his voice seeming to come from everywhere. “At least try, half-breed. You made it to the castle by nightfall. I’d planned for some sort of onslaught, not to find you slung over the shoulder of your brother – the wrong brother, though I guess that’s the most I can expect out of a half-breed.”
A tingle of alarm went through Rhyn, but his head was too heavy for him to process it. Instead, he focused hard on containing the power within him. When he felt he wouldn’t explode, he looked around. Darkyn had claimed Kris’s library and stood near a pane of windows overlooking the snowy Alps. The morning light was too bright for his eyes, and he turned to face shelves of antique books.
Toby. The angel needed him. Rhyn focused hard on the demon lord then on putting one foot, then the other, beneath his shaking body. He rose despite his whirling equilibrium.
“So I made it,” he said. “You have to let Toby go.”
“I said I’d let him live, not let him go.”
“Fucking Kiki.” Rhyn grabbed the arm where his brother had shot him. It throbbed still. “What do you want, Darkyn?”
“I happened to overhear your little talk with Death in the sacred chamber.”
Rhyn eyed him.
“I know you spent most of your life in the same place I did, Hell. Which makes me think you don’t know that what she promised you cannot be.”
“She swore it.”
“And you trust her?” the demon-lord challenged.
Rhyn said nothing, aware the creature before him couldn’t be trusted anymore than Death.
“If Death frees a mortal from the underworld, she violates a code even older than she is. I don’t know what the consequences will be,” Darkyn explained. “But I know her well enough to know she won’t make a deal that breaks bad for her.”
“What are you saying?”
“She set you up. She bought herself the time she needed. She won’t need to break the Immortal Codes and return your mate to you, because in the next three days, you’ll be out of her hair.”
“She’s counting on you to wipe me out,” Rhyn said, his stomach sinking. He’d suspected Death’s promise was made too easily, but it had seemed too clear to be anything but what she’d said. Yet Darkyn’s words made too much sense. Gabe had told Rhyn enough about Death’s double-talk for him to know the deity always seemed to shape things to benefit her.
“I imagine she has a few options. Kris isn’t your biggest fan, either. You have fewer allies than I, half-breed.”
“All I want is Katie back,” Rhyn said.
“Go get her.”
“As if it’s that easy.”
“Why isn’t it? You’ve been to Hell. You can go to the underworld. You can find Death and force her to give you what you want,” Darkyn said. “You have the power.”
“Power I can’t control.”
“You’re on your feet right now and the walls are still standing.”
Rhyn glanced around, not noticing his head had cleared and his magic was contained until Darkyn pointed it out. Anger at Death – not power – made his blood boil.
“You are half-demon. Death can only contain your Immortal powers in her domain, just like I can only contain your demon powers in Hell.”
“What do you gain by having me go to the underworld?” Rhyn asked, ignoring the bait.
“How much do you want your mate back?” Darkyn countered. “There’s only one way to do it. You can stay here as my prisoner until Death gets what she wants and one of us kills you. Or, you can find her and make her give you back your mate. Only Death knows where Katie’s soul is. Make a choice.”
“Obviously, I’ll find my mate.”
“Good. Then go.”
“Just like that?” Rhyn asked skeptically.
“Just like that.”
“I’m taking Kiki.”
“I won’t stop you.”
Rhyn couldn’t help feeling as if Darkyn was playing him as Death had. Yet Darkyn asked for nothing in exchange for freeing him.
Save Toby. The words were faint but firm in the same tone Katie had taken with him in the dreamland. Rhyn ignored them, instead fixating on how to track Death in the underworld. He stumbled with his first step but was soon running hard through the castle, his mind on finding Death to regain Katie. He found himself outside the door where Kiki was being kept prisoner. For the first time since leaving Darkyn, Rhyn realized no one had tried to stop him yet. No demons stood in front of Kiki’s door and Darkyn hadn’t ordered the castle after him.
Darkyn was serious about letting them go. Wrenching open the door, Rhyn strode into the chamber. Kiki sprang up from his seat in the corner.
“Toby’s in Hell. You need to go save him,” Rhyn ordered.
“I can’t travel to Hell, Rhyn.”
“I’ll drop you off.”
“Gods, Rhyn, take a minute to think before you act. What’s gotten into you anyway? We have some time to think about this,” Kiki said, peering at him closely.
“I’m going to find Death and take Katie back.”
Kiki started to chuckle and then frowned. “You can’t be serious.”
“I am.”
“Let’s talk to Kris. I can’t just go to Hell without a plan, and maybe he can – “
“No, Kiki. I’m doing this on my own. You want me to drop you off in Hell or not?”
“I want to see Kris first.”
Rhyn turned on his heel and left.
“Rhyn, wait!” Kiki called after him. “You can’t offset the balance of the entire universe for one woman.”
“She’s my mate, Kiki.”
“You’ll destroy everything, Rhyn, and for what? The two seconds you have with your mate before the Dark One unleashes demons across the mortal realm?”
He’s right, Katie’s soft voice said.
“No,” Rhyn growled.
“Andre never would’ve brought you to the Council if he didn’t see the good in you,” Kiki called as Rhyn walked. “All you have to do is –“
“ - nothing and let Kris send me to Hell again?”
“There is a higher purpose to our own suffering. Maybe this is what Hell should’ve taught you.”
“As if you know suffering!” Rhyn said. He spun, surprised his pragmatic brother would compare an existence in Hell to one of luxury and freedom.
“Every man, woman, and creature knows suffering, Rhyn,” Kiki said. A shadow crossed his features, one Rhyn didn’t expect to see.
“Nothing compares to Hell.”
“Lost love?” Kiki offered. “If you loved her enough to destroy the world for her, then you know the pain Kris has been through twice. Hell cannot hold a candle to that kind of pain. Every one of your brothers has felt it at some time. It’s what reminds us of why we fight for humanity, and it’s what makes us who we are. But you have to move on, Rhyn. It’s the way the world works. Katie is dead-dead. There’s an ounce of honor in you. Andre saw it, and I see it. Kris gave you the position of enforcer. Take your place with us on the Council. We can deal with Death without breaking down her front door and pissing her off.”
“It doesn’t have to be this way,” Rhyn replied. “Not for me, not with the power I have. Besides, Death promised to return Katie to me after four days and lied.”
Rhyn opened a portal and left Kiki in the hallway. He paused in the middle of the cool shadow world gazing at the portals. He thought of Hell, and the portal glowed blacker than night. He thought of Kris, and the portal for the Sanctuary lit up. He thought of the Immortal underworld – Death’s domain – and the portal turned gray.
Rhyn stepped into Death’s domain.
***
At the Sanctuary, Kris was just getting ready to return to his tent when Kiki burst onto the beach, looking as if he were being chased by demons. The portal closed behind his half-brother, and Kiki lowered the knife in his hand, facing Kris.
Kris crossed his arms, recalling the last message he’d received from his spies. They’d been certain of two demon shapeshifters infiltrating his organization. While no one knew who they’d replaced, one thing was clear: he couldn’t assume people were who he thought they were.
“What’s wrong, Kiki?” he asked.
“What’s not wrong?” Kiki snapped in response. “Rhyn’s gone ape-shit crazy and decided to kill Death. Toby’s in Hell, and Darkyn is planning something big, but I don’t know what.”
“C’mon, we’ll talk,” Kris said and motioned for him to follow as he walked to the tent he shared with Hannah on the beach. His nerves had been shot since Rhyn left and the Immortals stumbled upon the message about the shapeshifters. Even the Sanctuary didn’t feel safe anymore.
Kiki poured himself a glass of whiskey and tossed it back. Kris watched him for any telltale signs he was a demon. So far, every move was very Kiki.
“I thought Rhyn was going to kill Darkyn,” Kris started. “What happened? And why were you there?”
He listened as Kiki explained Rhyn’s visit, ending with the half-demon’s resolve to destroy the boundary between Death’s domain and the Immortal underworld in the hopes of getting Katie back. When Kiki finished, Kris poured himself a glass of whiskey while he thought.
“That puts me in a difficult spot,” he said at last. “I don’t know if Rhyn could kill Death, but if he disrupted the balance between worlds …”
“He’s done that since he was born,” Kiki pointed out. “He’s just taking it to the next level.”
“He’s a menace to everything.”
“If Katie hadn’t died …”
“She balanced him, even though there wasn’t a day that passed where I didn’t want to strangle her. And I thought he’d started to accept a role on the Council, even if it was the one of the enforcer.”
“Can Hannah’s blood be used like Katie’s?”
“I don’t know. Even if it could, only Ully knew what Ully was doing in the lab,” Kris said in frustration. “I told him for years to take notes so our other scientists can pick up wherever he left off.”
“Whatever Darkyn is planning, it has to do with Rhyn. He let us go. There were no guards when Rhyn came for me and no demons to stop us,” Kiki mused.
“Maybe he’s gunning for Death’s seat and using Rhyn to get to her.”
“Andre always said Death was more dangerous than the Dark One, because he understood what the Dark One wanted.”
“Andre never factored Darkyn into the equation,” Kris said. “Still, Rhyn can’t kill Death. I’m not sure what good Rhyn is to Darkyn. Maybe Rhyn going on this crazy journey keeps him out of Darkyn’s hair.”
“Darkyn let us go. I’m convinced of that,” Kiki replied. “There’s no other reason why, unless Rhyn is doing what Darkyn wants him to. If Andre was still alive …”
“He’s not!” Kris snapped. “As much as my brothers wish I were him, I am not. You just have to deal with it.”
“Sorry, Kris. Andre had a way with people, even Rhyn. Without him or Katie, we can’t fix whatever it is Rhyn is going to do.”
“We’re assuming he will do something,” Kris said. “What if this business with Katie changed him? What if he understands the greater good now?”
“Rhyn does understand, but he can’t control what he is. Even if he wanted to do good, he’d fail. He’s too weak to control his impulses, Kris.”
“Do you believe that?” Kris returned. He rose and paced. He flexed his injured arm and recalled how he’d be dead at the hands of a traitor if Rhyn hadn’t saved him. There had been no hesitation, no second guessing when Rhyn snapped Jade’s neck.
Over and over, Kris had tried to convince himself he’d do the same for his half-brother. Over and over, he finally admitted he wouldn’t. He’d let Rhyn die, just as he sent Rhyn on what he thought was a suicide mission expelling demons from the castle. He’d talked it over with Hannah, and they agreed it was the only option they had.
Yet it hadn’t sat well with him, despite what he knew about Rhyn.
“I don’t know. He pulled the Council together after we split. It wasn’t for us, I’m certain, but for Katie. I don’t think he has a reason to try anymore,” Kiki said at last.
“Something doesn’t feel right,” Kris voiced. “I sent out a party to search for our father’s remains so we can have a safe place for the Council and Immortals again.” Instead of the supportive response he expected, Kiki was quiet. Kris faced him. “You think this was a bad idea?”
“I think the era of us having a safe haven is over. I think … “ Kiki paused. “Kris, I think the era of the Council as a whole is over. I think we are all meant to go our separate ways.”
Kris heard what Kiki didn’t say, that only Andre had been able to keep the Council together after their father’s death. The six headstrong brothers of the Council That Was Seven had respected Andre, who was an adult when the rest of the brothers were born. Even before their father’s death, Andre had taken on the duty to raise and mentor them all.
“Our father – and Andre – would’ve wanted us to stay together,” Kris said in a hushed tone, wounded by his brother’s inference.
“We’d be safer if we could manage the wars within our boundaries. To quote Tamer, there’s too much bureaucracy.”
“No, Kiki, we wouldn’t. We’d be easier to pick off by the demons! This isn’t up for debate right now. Just because Rhyn isn’t here to beat you all into submission doesn’t mean the Council can break up.”
“We know you won’t do it,” Kiki said. “Listen, Kris, I’m not trying to be an ass, but logistically and in practicality, there’s no reason for us to maintain the Council.”
“We’re not talking about this now, Kiki.”
“Alright, but know that Tamer’s planning on bringing it up next meeting.”
“Let’s focus on Rhyn,” Kris said with barely controlled anger.
“We have two options that I can see. Do nothing, and wait to see what happens, or go after him,” Kiki replied.
“Go after him,” Kris repeated. “And leave Darkyn here to do whatever else he’s doing?”
“When Rhyn left, he said something that’s been bothering me. He said Death promised him to bring Katie back.”
“Death talked to Rhyn?”
“It’s what I made out of his nonsense. Death can’t bring a mortal back from the dead – it would break every Immortal Code there is. I may be wrong, but what if …”
Kris didn’t hear Kiki’s words. Instead he mulled over the notion that Death had sought out Rhyn. Their eldest brother, Andre, had spoken long ago about talking to Death on several occasions. Whatever passed between them, Andre had never trusted the deity. Their father as well had been a distant acquaintance to the elusive deity. Death had visited the leaders of the Council – and Rhyn.
The Council had broken under Kris’s leadership and been kept together only by Rhyn. No one gave the half-demon credit for anything but brute force, and yet, none of them knew him after his years in Hell. He’d returned coarse and violent, the opposite of the man Kris was. But he hadn’t run away, even when openly scorned by those around him. Rhyn hadn’t backed down when defending a woman they all were bound by Immortal Code to protect. Rhyn was the reason the Immortals had survived Darkyn’s attack at the castle.
At that moment, Kris couldn’t help resenting both Rhyn and Death or hoping Death’s visit to Rhyn hadn’t been her way of showing support for Andre’s successor.
“Kris,” Kiki snapped. “What do you think?”
Kris felt as if he’d glimpsed his fate – and it wasn’t good. He shook out his shoulders, trying to focus on whatever it was Kiki had been talking about.
“Run that by me again,” Kris said.
Kiki frowned. “I think Katie is alive.”
“Not possible. We saw her die.”
“There was no body.”
“Gabe can take mortals and Immortals straight to the underworld, bodies and all,” Kris said.
“You got a better explanation? If Death told Rhyn she would give him Katie back, then Katie can’t be dead.”
“If that’s true, why would Death promise to bring her back?”
“That’s what I can’t figure out,” Kiki admitted. “But I know where he’s going.”
“You can’t be serious about following him. It’s forbidden for us to travel uninvited into Death’s domain.”
“Two things, Kris. One, Rhyn can get us into Hell, where Toby is. Two, I’d rather not piss of Death. If we can talk Rhyn off the ledge, maybe she won’t crush us all,” Kiki said.
“You want me to help you save Rhyn from himself,” Kris said, crossing his arms.
“Maybe we should give him a second chance.”
“Really, Kiki? Have you forgotten what he did?”
“No, but I don’t think he’s the same Rhyn we sent to Hell. I think he deserves a chance to make things right.”
Kris wanted to think that Kiki was the demon trying to drag him into Hell for nefarious purposes. It was almost easier to swallow than reaching out to help the brother he’d held as his enemy for so long. And who might’ve been more able to hold the Council together than Kris.
Kiki was waiting for him to speak. “If you can’t do it for Rhyn, do it for Toby. We need Rhyn to get him out of Hell.”
“Ok,” Kris said slowly. “Give me a couple of hours then we’ll leave.”
Kiki nodded without leaving the tent. “What’s wrong, Kris?”
“Nothing,” Kris said and turned away. “Go rest up for a couple hours.”
“You can do that to Tamer or Erik but not me. I see it on your face. Something’s bothering you.”
“It doesn’t matter, Kiki. I’ll do what I’m supposed to. It’s what I’ve resigned myself to do.”
“Try not to act so happy about protecting us all from demons.”
“It’s not that,” Kris said with an irritated glance towards his brother. “Kiki, I know none of you have faith in me. I’m trying to do what’s right, and you fight me all the way.”
Kiki was quiet for a moment. Kris sighed and sat down, rubbing his face. His body had not yet healed from the beating Jade gave him.
“I’ll admit, we’re skeptical. Andre was Andre. No one questioned him,” Kiki said at last. “He was the backbone for all of us. I think we all feel his absence.”
“No one more than me. I’ve got to deal with losing him and trying to manage you all.”
“Look, Kris, don’t take our resistance personally. Anyone who tried to step into Andre’s shoes would receive the same treatment. It’s too soon after his death.”
“Rhyn pulled you all together. I couldn’t do it after you all walked out,” Kris said. “Andre’s memory may live on, but I’m the one who inherited his responsibilities.”
“Give it time. One man – even Andre – couldn’t solve the world’s problems. You just have to wait it out. And hope we all come to our senses before the end of the world,” Kiki said with a small smile.
“That’s not good enough. I have a duty to fulfill, an obligation to my Immortals,” Kris said, pensive. “And I don’t feel adequate compared to Andre.”
“You’re more than adequate, Kris. All of us look up to you. You don’t have Andre’s legacy as the family protector, but you’ll find your way. You’ve lost your spark. Is this why?”
“Mostly. And part of it is Jade,” Kris whispered.
“You have a penchant for betrayers, that’s for sure.”
“What the fuck does that mean?”
“Lilith, Jade, I’m just hoping Hannah isn’t among them,” Kiki said.
“Lilith?”
Kiki’s features shuttered and went stoic. “Never mind that one. Bad joke.”
“Lilith would never betray me, and neither would Hannah,” Kris snapped. “You know better, Kiki.”
“Maybe. In any case, whatever you felt for Jade, you have to figure out how to get over it. You have your mate. I’ve been waiting for mine for a lifetime. Unlike you and Rhyn, I’d welcome a partner to share eternity and this disaster of a world with.”
“I’m appreciative. But sometimes I look at Hannah and see Katie,” Kris said, recalling how he’d taken Katie’s blood by force soon after she went to the castle. He’d never forgive himself for that, even if Rhyn’s mate deserved little more respect than the half-demon himself. “Hannah is lovely – and my duty. Jade was …”
“Dead-dead the moment he betrayed you. I may sound like Rhyn, but if someone turns on one of my brothers, I want that person dead-dead,” Kiki said flatly.
“Thanks,” Kris said, managing a smile. “You’re about as effective at pep talks as Rhyn.”
“Don’t get me started,” Kiki said. “Go see Hannah and take a nap. This will all blow over soon, and things will go back to normal.” He slapped Kris on the arm. “Ok?”
“Thanks,” Kris said again. His response was enough to satisfy Kiki, who left the tent.
Kris lingered, deep in thought, until Hannah sought him out. She still looked pale. He smiled at her, understanding what it was to mourn the loss of a sibling. As much as he missed Jade, he was glad he at least had Hannah to fall back on. She had Katie’s beauty – without the abrasive personality.
“How’re you feeling?” he asked, holding out a hand to her.
“Better.” She took it and squeezed. “Was that Kiki I saw leaving?”
“Yeah. Apparently Rhyn has gone on some rampage to kill Death. Kiki wants us to go to the underworld and stop him.”
“Oh, no, Kris, you can’t!”
“It’s against Immortal Code,” he said. “But if he pisses off Death, we’ll have her and the Dark One after us. One deity for an enemy is bad enough.”
“She’s too powerful for him to kill. She’d probably laugh at him and he’ll come crawling back to you,” Hannah said.
Kris let out a surprised laugh at the image in his mind of Rhyn being sent packing like a misbehaving puppy.
“Really, Kris, I don’t think you should go without me,” Hannah pressed. “If Darkyn is serious about killing us, he’ll come back. I’m safer with you.”
“I won’t be gone long. You’re safe here,” he assured his beautiful mate. “Kiki thinks this is the only way we’ll get Toby back, too.”
“What did Rhyn do to Toby?”
“Let him get snatched by Darkyn. I guess Toby is in Hell. Kiki thinks we can break him out, if Rhyn will take us there.”
Hannah’s pretty eyes grew dark. Kris kissed her on the forehead, not wanting his mate to worry, even if he didn’t know what would happen once he and Kiki left for the underworld.
“How will you get out of Hell?” she asked. “If you need Rhyn to get in, do you need him to get out?”
“Hopefully he doesn’t ditch us,” he said with forced lightness. “You’re too precious to me to worry. I’ll be back in a day or so, I promise.”
“You don’t know that. I heard the Immortal underworld is an awful place. What if Death decides to keep you or Rhyn drops you in Hell forever? What will I do? I’d rather die with you.”
“You’ll be treated well among the Immortals for the rest of your life.”
Hannah raised an eyebrow.
“We take care of our own,” he said.
“Except for Rhyn.”
“He’s a half-demon. He doesn’t belong in either world. I’ve gotta get ready to go. Please, don’t worry, Hannah,” Kris said. “It’s late. Go get some rest.”
“You won’t change your mind.”
“No.”
She hesitated then kissed him on the cheek and turned to go. Kris watched her, unable to shake the uncanny sense it was the last time he’d see her.