Pride of the Lion

Chapter Fourteen

Araminta glanced warily around the room, hating that she had no idea where the next threat would come from. Leander’s broad shoulders gleamed, his tanned skin like polished bronze as he slowly turned in a circle, eyes narrowed, nostrils flared. He was a sight to behold, one she would have enjoyed if it weren’t for the fact she was expecting more killer demons to appear at any moment.

“Where are they?” she whispered, not quite knowing why. It was sort of like being in a library or a church where you naturally kept your voice low. There was such an air of anticipation the room practically hummed with it.

The light seemed to dim and then one entire corner of the living room seemed to totally disappear from view. “What’s happening?” Even as she asked, she knew. She’d written about the portals to and from Hell in her books, the ones that only Hades could command to open at will. But this wasn’t supposed to happen. Not in reality, and certainly not in the middle of her living room.

“Get back.” Leander reached out with one long arm and yanked her behind him.

Araminta hated the fact that she was unarmed. She didn’t have a gun, nor did she know how to use one even if she had. But she did have kitchen knives. She scurried into the kitchen, keeping one eye on what was happening behind her. The knife block sat on the counter and she drew the largest one, gripping it in her hands. “You better be worth the money I paid for you.”

She was about to head back to the other room when a thought occurred to her and she grabbed the reminder of the knives and shoved them into the oven. Better to be safe than to let one of the other knives fall into enemy hands.

The entire living room was almost lost to the black hole. It had grown much larger in the past few seconds. Red eyes glowed from the depths of midnight and the air filled with a pungent burnt smell that had her wrinkling her nose in displeasure.

Leander stood still as a statue, sword arm raised and ready. His other hand had morphed into a large claw-tipped paw, which she had to admit was more effective than simply using a knife. Those lethal claws meant he could really take a nice-size chunk out of his enemies.

Her bloodthirsty attitude surprised her. But then again, when a girl was fighting for her life her priorities changed. She was glad to have Leander on her side, even if she wondered if it would be enough.

“Stay behind me.” He kept his voice low and calm even as the first creature stepped out of the void.

Araminta swallowed hard and her knees went weak. She forced herself to straighten them but took a step back when a second demon appeared quickly behind the first. Shit, these guys were big and ugly and ready to fight. One of them opened his mouth and roared. Spit flew from his mouth and spattered onto the floor. The wood began to sizzle and burn. Crap, there had to be some kind of corrosive property to his saliva. Not good. Not good at all.

Leander attacked immediately, which wasn’t easy given the small space. The demons were as large as he was, and there were more coming through the black swirling circle. Swords clashed and sparks flew. Leander thrust one demon up against the wall. The picture window shuddered and photographs fell from the wall, the frames crashing onto the floor.

The fighting was fast and intense. There were now four demons in her home, and Leander was holding them all off at once. This was so unfair.

Leander raised one large booted foot and hit one demon in the stomach. The demon crashed into one of her bookshelves and tipped it over. Books and trinkets flew everywhere.

Not her books! They were her most treasured possessions and she had to fight the urge to try to gather them up and move them to safety. Paper and ink, that’s all they were. She could replace them when this was over. Not the ones her grandmother had given her as a child, the voice in the back of her head taunted. They were one of a kind and very precious.

Her television went flying and she ducked as it barely missed her head. It shattered into several large pieces. No loss there. She’d needed a new one anyway.

She realized she was practically hyperventilating and forced herself to take a deep breath. Leander was a fighting machine, keeping all the demons back, but their sheer numbers and the fact he was protecting her meant he wasn’t able to kill any of them.

Just when she thought it couldn’t get any worse, two more figures stepped out of the void. Araminta’s blood ran cold as she got her first glimpse of the one in the fancy suit. These weren’t demons, but she was very afraid she knew who the first man was, no, not a man, a god. If she wasn’t mistaken, that was Hades himself.

She tightened her grip on her knife, not really knowing what good it would do her against the Lord of the Underworld, but it was better than nothing. Hades jerked his head at the man slightly behind and to his left. He was tall with jet-black hair that hit his shoulders and eyes as dark as midnight. He was wearing boots and khaki pants and a skintight T-shirt that stretched at the seams. He was big and broad and, when he looked at her and smiled, it sent a chill down her spine.

Mordecai. Had to be. He was exactly as she’d described him in the first book. This was the warrior who’d killed the woman who’d freed him and then joined up with Hades.

Leander released an ear-splitting roar and attacked with a vengeance. One demon lost his head before he could move out of the way. The demon’s head bounced to the floor, leaving a slimy trail of blood and brain matter. The wood sizzled and burned.

With the area so tight and space at a premium, there was little room for the three remaining demons to maneuver. She noted with a sneer that Hades and Mordecai stayed near the portal opening where it was safest. Cowards.

Leander kept the demons blocked in as best he could, but one of them managed to slip around him and came straight toward her. He was huge and wearing some kind of leather armor. She didn’t want to speculate what kind of creature the leather was actually made from.

Araminta kept moving away from the grotesque creature until she hit a wall. She had two choices. She could run and hope she stayed alive or she could stay and fight and probably die.

Leander ducked under a demon, stabbing him in the stomach where the breastplate of protection ended just above his waist. A quick twist and he pulled his sword arm up, slitting through the leather armor and opening the demon from navel to throat. Demon blood and guts spilled everywhere. Leander’s chest and arms were covered in blood and burns where the demon’s spit had hit him. Their blood burned too. He had to be hurting, but you’d never know it from the fierce gleam in his eyes. He caught her gaze and roared. “Run!”

Araminta half-turned to escape out the back door to freedom but couldn’t make herself do it. If she left Leander alone in this fight she’d regret it for the rest of her life. Better to take a stand with him than to run.

The demon was smiling at her and she hid her right hand behind her back, concealing the knife as best she could. Her only hope was to surprise the creature. He stalked toward her with a smile on his face. She shuddered at the display of black gums and rows of sharp teeth. He’d tear her to pieces if he caught her.

Her chest heaved as she struggled to take in enough air. Her limbs felt weak, but determination flooded her. She would not let Leander down.

The demon rushed at her, arms raised, sword outstretched. He struck out, his blade cutting through the air as she ducked beneath his arm. Being short was an advantage in this situation. She jammed the sharp carving knife into the creature’s belly as she’d watched Leander do to the other demon and yanked upward. Her blade met the edge of the armor and went no farther. Her kitchen knife was no match for the demon’s armor and nowhere near as strong as Leander’s sword. Knowing she was in trouble, she yanked out the knife, avoiding the worst of the spray of blood and guts. But some of it hit her and she winced as her skin began to burn.

The demon let out a roar and fell to its knees. It glared at her, death in its gaze as it dragged itself toward her. Her arm and hand were burning from where the creature’s blood had hit her. Crap, it hurt. Tears filled her eyes as she twisted on the kitchen tap and stuck her hand, knife and all under the stream of water. It helped soothe the burning sensation a little so she no longer wanted to scream aloud with pain.

The creature was on its hands and knees, crawling faster and getting closer. She pulled her arm from beneath the spray, prepared to defend herself once again.

The demon sprang at her, and she dropped to her knees and scuttled away as fast as she could. Her attacker hit the counter hard enough that he should have been knocked unconscious. But no such luck. The creature fell but shook his head and picked himself up again. This guy just wouldn’t die.

The entire house shook and she heard glass breaking in the living room. The fight there was still going strong. Leander roared, the beloved sound making her eyes fill up. She swallowed hard, glad he was still alive but knowing there was still too much time left until midnight. Araminta had no idea how much, but she didn’t see how they were going to make it.

Her hands and knees were covered in demon blood and slime that burned her skin. Already blisters were forming on her hands. The demon she’d stabbed grabbed the edge of the kitchen counter and used it as support as he came at her once again. There was no choice left. She had to go outside, had to leave Leander alone with the other demons and Hades.

She hurried to the back door, cursing when the handle slipped in her grip. Araminta swiped her hand over her jeans, leaving a stain of demon sludge behind. Her fingers continued to burn, but she ignored the pain, turned the lock, twisted the knob and shoved the door open.

She stumbled out into the dark yard and took a breath of crisp spring air into her lungs. It steadied her and she ran out onto the grass, turned and waited for the demon to follow her. Even though he was injured, she knew the creature would be close behind.

Leander let out a roar that made even Hades cringe as he dispatched the final demon, dragging his claws across the creature’s throat before chopping off its head with his sword. Mordecai and Hades both watched him, the first one with a gleam of pleasure in his eyes, the latter with a hint of amusement.

He’d kill them both. But first he had to save Araminta, and after he did that, he promised himself he’d shake her until her teeth rattled. He’d told her to run, but she’d disobeyed him and stayed. He’d watched in horror, unable to help as the creature attacked her. The only reason he knew she was alive was that the demon hadn’t come back to fight him.

He whirled around and sprinted from the burnt and blackened remains of the living room, not caring that his back was exposed to his enemy. Nothing mattered but reaching Araminta. He jumped over a fallen bookshelf, shoved aside the dining-room table and almost skidded on a trail of demon blood as he entered the kitchen. Somehow she’d injured a full-grown demon that was more than twice her weight and had about a foot in height on her.

The back door was wide open and he practically flew through it. The demon was staggering toward her, sword raised. Araminta was holding a bloodstained carving knife in her hand.

Instinct kicked in and the lion took over. His clothing and sword disappeared in a flash as he leapt at the demon. Bones lengthened, muscles stretched, fur replaced skin and both hands became lethal weapons as his fingernails became claws. His powerful jaw parted on a roar of sheer fury.

The demon sensed the danger from behind, half-turning to meet him, but it was too little too late. Leander struck hard and fast, slashing at the demon with his claws, tearing the leathery armor from its body. Strong jaws clamped down on the creature’s head, shattering bones before ripping at what was beneath them. Blood spurted everywhere, covering him. He knew it burned, but he could barely feel the sting. All he cared about was the kill, the fact that this demon could no longer hurt his woman.

Araminta stood nearby, one hand over her mouth, the other gripping her knife. Leander dropped the demon and swatted it once more with a massive paw. Then he tilted back his head and roared so loudly even the leaves on the trees trembled with fear.

The sound of clapping reached his ears and he quickly turned to face the newest threat. Hades stood a few feet away, hands coming together once more. “Bravo, lion. That was quite a performance. Very impressive.”

Leander positioned himself in front of Araminta and then shapeshifted, letting the lion fade away as the man took his place. Clad once again in pants and boots, his sword in his hand, he stood with his feet braced to face his biggest enemy, the god himself.

Behind him, he could hear Araminta struggling for breath. He knew this was a lot for her to assimilate. In less than a day, her entire life had been turned upside down. She’d been attacked several times by demons and tossed in the middle of a war that had begun thousands of years before she’d even been born.

Yet she hadn’t run away to save herself. She’d engaged a demon, fighting alongside him. His chest swelled with pride even as his heart ached. He wanted to turn to her and take her into his arms but didn’t dare, not with Hades and the traitor, Mordecai, so close by. He couldn’t even bring himself to look at his former friend.

A soft hand touched his back. His tattoo rippled as the lion shuddered with delight. Araminta. Even now she was seeking to comfort him, to let him know he wasn’t alone. He took a deep breath and slowly released it. Adrenaline pumped through his veins, his muscles flexed and determination solidified. He would protect Araminta. Hades would not have her life or her soul.

Hades strolled forward and stopped just beyond the reach of Leander’s sword. He shook his head. “Such a waste of good fighting demons.”

“Then you shouldn’t have sent them,” he countered.

Hades laughed and Leander barely suppressed a shudder. There was something about the god that made him want to grab Araminta, toss her over his shoulder and run. Hades was too sure of himself, too confident. Leander glanced around, wondering if there were more demons coming.

Then he wondered why the humans living in the neighborhood weren’t peering over their fences. Araminta’s backyard might be filled with mature trees, but surely someone had heard something with his roars and the demons’ cries. He quickly glanced to his right and then to his left but saw no one. His acute hearing told him the four of them were alone.

“Oh, no one will bother us.” Hades flicked his hand toward the sky. “I’ve got a force field around this house. No one gets in or out unless I will it.”

Araminta stepped out to his left side and he had to fight the urge to shove her behind him. “Doesn’t that defeat the whole purpose of getting the warriors to join you?” She sounded so composed all he could do was stare at her. “After all, won’t Zeus and the others notice such a display of power?”

Her jeans and top were ragged with rips and holes burned into the fabric from the demon’s blood and saliva. Her hands were red and sore and he wanted to roar with the injustice of it all.

“Intelligent question, Araminta. I knew you were different from the others.” He frowned and shook his head as if disappointed “Just not smart enough. I thought you’d be happy to be rid of the warrior in exchange for the fulfillment of your dreams.”

Araminta chewed on her bottom lip, looking worried. Leander took a step closer to her, wanting to be close enough to protect her if Hades tried anything. And then there was Mordecai. He glanced at his former friend and found him standing in the shadows watching the drama unfold.

She tilted her head to one side and her braid fell over her shoulder. “You sound so familiar.”

Leander stiffened. That couldn’t be good. What connection had Hades made with her?

Hades’ smile made Leander uneasy. The god gave a short bow. “Allow me to introduce myself. You know me as Sam Black.”

Araminta stumbled and Leander caught her with his left hand.

“My agent?”

Leander looked from one to the other, trying to understand the implications. It seemed Hades had infiltrated Araminta’s life long before she’d freed him.

“Yes, Araminta. I’m the one who got you your big publishing contract. I’m the one who pulled your career out of mediocrity. You couldn’t have done it on your own. Without me, you’d still be nothing.”

Araminta was reeling from this latest development. Almost being killed by a demon and watching as Leander brutally dispatched the creature had been more than enough for her already frayed nerves. But this, this was the final straw on the camel’s back.

“Why me? I don’t understand. Why send me the dreams to write my books? Why get them published? Why get me to go to the writer’s conference? Why the elaborate setup?”

Hades looked pleased, as though she was some kind of prize pupil and he the willing teacher. “Once again, intelligent questions, my dear.” He tugged on the cuffs of his shirt and aligned his suit jacket. “This pesky little detail called free will. I can influence, but I can’t make a person do something they don’t want to. Unless, of course, they sign over their soul to me in a contract.”

“I didn’t do that.” She struggled to remember the terms of her contract with her agent. That only had to do with her books and not with her. Still, she couldn’t allow herself to relax.

She longed to throw herself into Leander’s protective embrace. Even now, even knowing she’d been in league with his enemy, albeit unknowingly, he was beside her, ready to defend her.

He truly was one of a kind. The world needed him if they were going to survive this bid for world domination by Hades. The sad truth was, she was expendable, while Leander was not.

She might not have the muscles and power to fight Hades, but she did have something else—brains and common sense. If she could keep him talking long enough, keep him entertained, maybe the clock would run out on the curse and they would both be free. It was all she had to cling to.

“No.” Hades tapped a finger against his jaw. “No, you didn’t do that. I couldn’t take the risk. If I tampered with your soul in any way, it might have kept you from being able to free the warrior. I needed you untainted until you set the lion free from captivity.”

There was some satisfaction in that. Not much, but some. Depression hit her hard when she realized her entire publishing career was a sham. The devil himself had sold her books to a publishing company. It had nothing to do with the books she’d written from the stories he’d sent to her in dreams.

Her aspiration of being a successful writer shattered, but she shook off that disappointment. She started to speak, knowing she had to keep Hades talking, but he held up his hand to silence her. “Enough. I know what your game is. You want to keep me talking until time runs out on the curse. Smart girl, but not smart enough. That’s not going to happen.”

Hades turned to Leander. “Last chance, lion. If you join me I release the girl, free and unharmed for the rest of her life.”

“Don’t do it.” Araminta grabbed Leander’s arm and shook him, or at least tried to. It was like trying to shake a mighty redwood. Leander wasn’t moving. “He’s either lying or he’s got a loophole.” She thought fast. She’d written about the other two warriors and knew how Hades thought. “He said for the rest of my life. I bet I’d have some sort of unfortunate accident right after you leave. Maybe get hit by lightning or a bus or something.”

Hades laughed. “What an imagination you have.” His features tightened as he turned his attention to Leader. “Time is running out, lion. Tick tock.”

She stepped in front of Leader and dug her fingers into his shoulders. “If you do it I’ll never forgive you. You need to fight to free yourself. The world needs you.”

“How very tedious.” Hades was no longer amused. Araminta could feel the waves of anger emanating from the god.

“How about this then. Leander, give me the girl and you can go free. You can find your fellow warriors and meet me again on the field of battle after I conquer this little planet. I may not be able to attack you ever again if you somehow break the curse, but that only holds as long as you leave me alone as well. Attack me after you are free and all bets are off.”

Leander stirred and Araminta knew he was going to toss Hades’ offer back at him. There was no doubt in her mind that he would protect her, give his life for her. She loved him too much to let him do such a thing.

“How about I go with you if you promise to leave Leander alone for as long as he lives. No matter what happens in the future,” she added as extra protection.

“Yes, I’ll leave him alone forever.” She started to sigh with relief until Hades added, “Unless we meet again when I launch my takeover of the world. If he fights then, all bets are off.”

She nibbled on her bottom lip. There was something wrong with his offer, but she didn’t have time to figure out what was bothering her, and it was better than the alternative—Leander’s death. And probably the best and only offer she was likely to get from the god. Time was running out.

“Araminta, no.” Leander dragged her to his side and placed one large hand over her mouth to keep her from speaking. She tried to fight him, but his hold was unbreakable. She stomped her foot down on one of his and he didn’t even flinch.

“This is boring and is getting us nowhere.” Mordecai stepped out from the shadows. Between one breath and the next, he attacked. Leander shoved Araminta aside and she fell, barely catching herself with her blistered hands and stopping her face from hitting the ground. While Leander’s attention was turned to her safety, Mordecai struck hard with his sword, stabbing Leander in the side and yanking his blade upward, opening up a huge wound. Blood poured down Leander’s side, painting his chest red in seconds.

Leander let out a grunt of pain and slowly fell to his knees. As if in slow motion, he tilted to the side and fell to the ground with a heavy thud. Araminta screamed. What had she done? Her distraction had caused Leander’s death. She tightened her grip on her kitchen knife and ran at Mordecai, screaming in anguish as she struck. But he was a warrior and countered easily, shoving her aside. As he raised his sword, she caught a glimpse of black off to the side.

“No, Percy.” But the cat wasn’t listening. He flew through the air, hissing and spitting, and landed on Mordecai’s arm, digging his claws into the warrior’s flesh just as he struck. Mordecai’s aim was deflected and he missed Araminta’s heart, but the sharp blade sank into her stomach. Mordecai swatted Percy aside, sending the cat flying. He disappeared into the underbrush and she prayed he was unhurt.

Suspended upon his sword, Araminta couldn’t move. The world around her went still. Mordecai yanked out his blade and she fell to her knees, her legs unable to support her weight. The knife fell from her hands as she clutched her stomach. Warmth spilled onto her hands. In the distance, she heard a lion roaring.

Cold, she was so very cold.

“Araminta.” It took every ounce of strength she had, but she managed to turn her head toward the sound of Leander’s voice. It was better that way. She didn’t want to feel her life’s blood running out of her and onto the ground.

Leander pulled himself along the ground, claws digging into the earth as he reached for her with his other hand. She toppled to the side, wanting to be near to him one last time. She reached out with one bloody hand but their fingers didn’t quite touch.

“I love you,” she whispered.

His roar of anguish almost broke her heart. “Araminta,” he growled. “Don’t you give up. Stay with me.”

She wanted to stay. Oh, how she wanted to. It would be so nice to have one entire day with him untainted by demons and curses, a day where they could be nothing more than a man and a woman.

Okay, so he’d always be more and she’d always be human, but that was okay by her. All she wanted was one day to love him, to do ordinary things with him like cook dinner and maybe go to the park. Watch a movie on television or spend the day in bed.

That would be good. Definitely spending the day in bed.

She smiled as the world began to fade around her.

Hades stood next to her shaking his head. “So much waste. I’ll have both your souls now.”

Leander growled in protest and started to rise, ready to fight in spite of his debilitating injury. Hades sneered, manifested a sword and stabbed Leander in the stomach, pinning him to the ground with the blade.

Terror hit her. That couldn’t happen. Not now. She wouldn’t allow it. She dragged herself along the ground, reaching for Leander’s hand. If only she could reach him, maybe she could protect him.

Her thoughts made no sense at all. What could she do?

A dark pair of eyes watched her and Mordecai came into sharp focus. She could almost hear his voice in her head. And maybe she did. Reach for him. It was a command.

Finding a store of strength she didn’t know she had, she reached out to him. Leander stretched toward her, arm extended, muscles trembling. Their fingertips touched and she smiled.

Then the world exploded.