Chapter 16
Chapter Sixteen
Human. That was what surprised Luke the most. Sorcha’s shooter was a human being.
At first, he’d been sure that it was preternatural in origin, and it wasn’t like him to be wrong.
But the scent in his nostrils was the same exact one he’d smelled when the attacker drove past them on the street.
In canine form, Luke crept closer to the door of one of the rooms at the Thunderbird Inn—a modest little hotel right next to some of the SCAD properties and across the street from the bus station. It was a quaint motel modeled in a retro 1960s style.
Ironically, Luke had spent a few nights here when he’d first arrived in Savannah. Helly had loved the donuts in the morning and free popcorn.
Even though he passed the place rather frequently, he hadn’t really thought about it since Reyes had allowed him to live over the garage at IA.
Until now.
He followed the scent to the green door with the crooked number 6 screwed to it. Inside, he could hear someone rummaging.
Then he heard the man speak in Spanish. “She should be dead. I’m getting out of here immediately and heading back.”
Luke let his canine form melt into the shadow body he’d used often in Hell. Stepping through the door, he watched the squat little man scurry to gather his items and pack them in a small brown suitcase.
As the man turned toward him, Luke narrowed his gaze.
He was a priest of Xolotl.
Just what the hell was going on? Xolotl was the Aztec god of fire, the underworld, and death, among other things.
As another canine Alpha, the Aztec god had once been friends with Luke’s mother…long before Luke had been born. It was in his honor that his mother had chosen her hellhound form.
To Luke’s knowledge, the god was gone. Long gone. He’d been sacrificed centuries ago for humanity.
So why would there be a priest for the ancient god in modern-day Savannah? It didn’t make any sense.
Luke watched as the priest kissed his ceremonial breastplate, then closed and zipped his suitcase.
As he made for the door, Luke materialized.
The priest froze. He stared at Luke as if he were trying to place him. “Who are you?” he finally asked in Spanish.
“The protector of the one you shot.”
He paled at those words, then turned to run for the bathroom.
Seriously?
Baffled, Luke ran after him. The idiot had actually locked the door.
Humans. He’d never understand them.
At least that was his thought as a gunshot rang out from inside.
Dread tore through him at the sound. Yanking the door open with his powers, he saw the little man spread out on the floor. Blood splattered the walls.
“They’re a suicide culture, moron!” How could he have forgotten that?
Those who had no problem dying were impossible to negotiate with. Those who believed a violent death guaranteed them a place in their respective heaven realm were worse.
Grinding his teeth, Luke knelt down by his side and waited.
The moment his soul floated up, Luke seized it. “You’re not getting out of this that easily.”
“Release me!”
Luke shook his head. “I’m a hellhound. Chasing souls is what I do. Now, why did you shoot my partner?”
Before he could answer, a dog growled behind Luke.
One second, he was holding the priest and in the next, a vicious Xolo attacked.
Luke turned into his hellhound form to fight. He snapped at the animal’s neck. It twisted and tried to bite him in reflex.
Just as he was about to get the better of the beast, a flash of lightning shot through the window and into Luke’s chest.
Yelping in pain, he let go as he was slammed into the wall behind him.
Before Luke could regain his rattled senses, the dog and priest were gone.
What the ever-loving Hell?
Luke returned to his human form to see the blood pouring from the wound he’d received. This wasn’t a regular attack.
Only a god could harm him like this.
Could Xolotl be alive?
No…
Reborn.
It was possible.
Think, Luke, think.
While he knew a lot, he wasn’t omniscient. He held just enough information about the Aztecs and Mayans to be dangerous.
“Hello? Hotel security. Is anyone in there?”
Luke growled as a man knocked loudly on the motel door. He had to get out of here before they came in. There was no way he could explain this.
Shit.
Just as the outside door was opening, he teleported out of the bathroom and back to his apartment.
Completely naked, Sorcha felt the air behind her stir. Without thinking, she turned around to find Luke on the bed.
She started to snap at him until she saw the blood covering him. “Oh my God!”
“Not quite.” His breathing ragged, he groaned. “Damn it. I should’ve aimed for the floor.”
“What do you want me to do?”
His gaze darted over her. “Put some clothes on. I can only take so much pain at a time.”
“Wha—” She remembered the fact she’d just got out of the shower and had been reaching for her clothes when he appeared.
Before she could move, clothes appeared on her. Clothes that included an oversized sweatshirt that swallowed her completely.
“Really?”
“Again, I’m in enough pain.”
Shaking her head, she went to him to see what had happened. “Can’t you heal it?”
“I was struck by a god. My powers aren’t strong enough to heal it.”
That terrified her. “What?”
He started shaking uncontrollably.
Sorcha pulled him into her arms. “Helly!”
The imp appeared instantly, then pulled up short as she saw Luke on the bed. “What happened?”
“He said he was struck by a god. What do we do?”
Helly vanished.
Stunned, Sorcha wanted to kill her. She had no idea how to help him. It wasn’t like she could call an ambulance.
Her head spun as she tried her best to think.
“Stay with me, Luke.”
His teeth started chattering.
Panic set in as she pulled the blanket over him, trying to warm his body.
A heartbeat later, Helly returned with Acheron.
Without a word, he pulled her away from Luke.
Helly held on to her while Acheron placed a hand on Luke’s chest. A dark gold glow encompassed both of them. Two seconds later, Luke arched his back and gasped.
Acheron stepped away at the same time Luke sat up. “You all right?”
“Yeah. Thanks for the assist.” Luke used his powers to change his own clothes into something much less bloody.
Helly clapped Sorcha on the arm. “I was lucky I found him so quickly.”
Luke lifted his shirt to examine his washboard stomach. “I have to admit, I was getting scared. That was one hell of a shot.”
Acheron nodded. “Who zapped you?”
“Not sure, but I think it was Xolotl.”
Arching a brow, Acheron glanced at her. “Seriously? How? He should be dead.”
Sorcha had no idea what they were talking about. “Who’s Xolotl?”
“An ancient Aztec god of the underworld and transformation.” Acheron crossed his arms over his chest, then turned back to Luke. “Have you spoken to Ecanus yet?”
“No. Been a little busy. But I’m thinking I need to make time.”
Acheron nodded. “I’m just glad I wasn’t incommunicado.”
“What were you doing?” Luke asked.
“Helping my youngest with his homework.”
That seemed like such a mundane task for an ancient god. Which made Sorcha wonder something. “Do you know this Xolotl?”
“No. I mostly deal with the Olympians and a few Celts. Occasionally some others, but as I said, I don’t normally go into Ecanus’s territory. While he’s South American, he also claims Mexico.”
Scooting from the bed, Luke stood up. “Xolotl’s priest shot Sorcha earlier.”
Acheron’s eyes widened. “What? Why?”
Luke shrugged. “No idea. But can you watch her while I go find their Chthonian?”
“Absolutely.”
Sorcha was still trying to understand this. “Xolotl’s priest shot me?” she repeated. “How is that possible?”
“I don’t know. But I will find out.” And with that, Luke vanished.
Aggravated, Sorcha turned around in the room. She paused to stare at Acheron. “Can I not go, too?”
“Given that you’re a target in that area, I think it’s best you stay away from anything Xolotl.”
“Why target me, though? I’m just a kid from the South. I never even knew about all this growing up.”
“I know the feeling. I grew up as an unwanted slave.”
Those words stunned her. “What?”
“My goddess half-sisters cursed me before I was born and said I would be the end of the Atlantean pantheon. To try and avert that, my stepfather did his best to kill me. So my mother hid me in the human world with my powers bound.”
There was a bitterness in his tone that accentuated those words.
“I’m sorry.” Sorcha meant that.
“So was I. It wasn’t until my twenty-first birthday that my powers were freed and I learned the truth.”
“That must have been frightening.”
Acheron shrugged with a nonchalance she was sure he didn’t feel. “It wasn’t pleasant. But it makes me wonder if there’s not something similar going on with you.”
There was only one problem with his theory. “I’m not adopted.”
“Are you sure?”
Well, yeah. “I’ve seen the pictures of my mother pregnant and in the hospital, holding me and my sister. Pretty positive we’re hers.”
“And I was born from the belly of a woman who wasn’t my mother.”
Sorcha gaped. “Wait. What?”
“My mother was a goddess. She removed me from her own stomach and placed me into that of a human. Gods are capable of all manner of bullshit.”
Apparently. “And you really didn’t know?”
Acheron shook his head. “I knew something wasn’t right, but I had no idea until my powers came in. I thought my adoptive parents were my biologicals.”
That really screwed with her head. If Acheron, with all his powers, had been clueless, what did it say about her? “Do you think that happened to me?”
“I don’t know. There is an old power in you. That much I know. Why it’s there or even how…” Acheron sighed. “I hate when I can’t see someone’s future or details about them. There aren’t many creatures with those powers. You are one of them.”
Awesome. That was the last thing she wanted to be. Invisible to the one person who might be able to help her.
“Were you ever pursued by a god?”
Acheron let out an evil laugh. “I was pursued by an entire pantheon.”