Chapter Seventeen

Anshar woke slowly. His senses told him he was home in his own room. Why wasn’t he in Chicago? It took a minute for his brain to catch up. That’s right. Lenore! That bastard cousin of his…and a sedative. Anshar struggled to sit up. He was going to kill Dagon.

Ninurta was by his side instantly. “Stay calm, my man. I have another sedative here and, if you freak out, I’ll have to use it.”

Anshar gave him no warning but pounded his fist into Ninurta’s invisible nose, sending his incorporeal form flying across the room.

“Don’t touch me with one of those fucking shots again!” He tore the blankets away from his body and came to his feet. “Is Lenore still trapped in Plymouth?” His eyes had already darkened.

His other babysitter, Absu, leaned against the wall, arms folded across his chest. “You can play the part of a madman, and I’ll be forced to see you suffer the consequences of another injection…” he paused, “…or you can come to your senses and we can make plans to rescue your damsel. The decision is entirely yours.”

It usually drove Anshar nuts that Absu would use the speech of olden days, but this time it had the opposite effect and brought Anshar’s head back to a more reasonable place.

He eyed the god he’d tossed into the wall. “Sorry, Ninurta. But you should know better than to get close to me when I’m upset.”

“No damage done.” Ninurta had already picked himself up. He eyeballed the syringe that was now bent and smashed. “It’s a good thing you listened to Absu, or we would have been forced to pound you into insensibility.”

Anshar acknowledged that with an apologetic nod. “Bring me up to date.” Anshar ran a hand through his hair. Gross. How long had he been out? Information first. Shower a fast second.

“No word from Plymouth, although we know that both Dagon and that ass-wipe Matthew are still in Chicago. Enlil says only one PP is guarding your girl in Plymouth, so it shouldn’t be too tough to spring her.”

That was all good news from Ninurta, and Anshar calmed even more. As soon as they left, he’d talk to his mate, and that would make him feel even better.

Absu continued his report, “Enlil has completed his healing process and will join Marduk in Chicago to continue the search in your absence. Once you have freed Lenore, Marduk wishes for your return.”

“Sounds like a plan. I’m going to go for a quick shower, then I’ll meet you out front in fifteen minutes. We’ll all head to Plymouth and kick some ass.”

“You and Absu will have to go,” Ninurta apologized. “Kulla has some notion that Lenore’s relatives will need a place to stay after they’re released. Somewhere that Dagon can’t get them, and he’s reluctant to have what he calls ‘witchy people’ in the main house.”

“So what’s that got to do with you?” Anshar was lost.

“He’s got me excavating land next door, within our protective circle, for a guest house.”

Absu laughed. “Me thinks our divine architect is looking for a task to assuage his boredom.”

“Whatever!” Anshar wanted to get moving. “Will you come with me?” He looked at Absu.

“It would be my pleasure to accompany you to the fine colony of Plymouth. I’ll inform Shamash of our impending absence so he can remain aware of our circumstances using his…microwave.” Absu said the word as if it pained him. He ghosted out, and Anshar wasted no time getting to some hot water.

Lenore, honey. Are you there? Once the water was running over him, he attempted contact. He had been sensing her presence in his head ever since he’d woken up and worked harder at the connection. Sweetheart, I’m back in the Blue Hills and headed your way soon. Can you hear me?

I…think…going away…working…get out. Dagon can’t hear…more. Collar…wearing off. I…successfully block…

Anshar actually heard Lenore’s voice in his head. How he’d missed it! You’re coming in a little broken up, but I hear you. That was good news about Dagon. The bastard wouldn’t be privy to Lenore’s head anymore.

Why…get here now. What’s keeping you?

Anshar could feel the impatience in her voice and was thrilled she wanted him sooner rather than later. I’m in the shower, sweet cheeks. Making myself presentable for you.

Want to…with you. How about you…yourself for me.

What was she asking? Anshar felt his cock swell. He needed some clarification. Did you just ask me to…?

…touch yourself. Yeah. And I need you to describe it to me in detail. I need some distraction from the dirty job I’m undertaking.

Anshar knew he should ask “what job,” but his tongue was stuck to the roof of his mouth. His little mate wanted him to masturbate and relay all the details. Could he do that?

Palm yourself, lover. Lenore demanded, and Anshar sucked in a breath. He couldn’t help himself. He wrapped a fist around his now-tumescent hard-on and began to slowly stroke.

I’m working it for you, baby, he told her. I’m so hard, and I’m dreaming of being deep within your snatch. His hand moved quicker, up and down. Your sweet little cunt is squeezing me tight, clenching my cock. Anshar had never imagined that he’d be rubbing out an orgasm while talking about it, but it was an incredible turn on.

That’s it, Anshar. I’m so hot for you. If there weren’t eyes on me right now, I’d be touching my pussy and imagining that it was you.

I can imagine it, Lenore, and the thought is making my balls tighten up, and I’m going to…I’m going to…ahh. Anshar lost his words with how quickly his orgasm had come upon him. His dick lurched in his hand, and cum burst from his penis, mixing with the water to pour down the drain. Was that a satisfied snicker in his head?

That didn’t take you long, Anshar. And I could feel every bit of how good it was. Now finish up in the shower and come get me. I want us to enjoy the next one together.

Anshar got busy with the soap and finished up in record time.

Twenty minutes later, he and Absu stood invisible in a doorway across the street from the red house.

Lenore was aware the minute the pair arrived. She’d continued to hear everything going on in Anshar’s head and was heartened to know that he was hearing most of hers. The previous, all blocking thing that Dagon had earlier commanded, Anshar had likened to a radio station with lots of static, making it difficult to hear, but now that he was across the street, she was getting him loud and clear.

Lenore? Absu and I are outside the house. Have you had any success thinking about escape?

Yeah. I have. I’ve been working on it while you were in the shower sending me those…special moments. Lenore said it, impishly, on a channel that included Absu so that Anshar’s companion could tease him. She could feel the instant the redness moved up into Anshar’s cheeks.

Gods, she loved making him blush. She didn’t give him a chance to reply. Hopefully I’ve found a way to defeat the perimeter barrier. I’ll know in a few minutes. My folks and I are attempting to dig through the stone foundation at the back of the house and tunnel up into the yard. All you have to do is keep an eye on the guard once we get close to breaking through.

Can do. Just keep us up to date on your progress. Anshar must have turned to Absu because Lenore heard him speak to the other god. We could work around the outside ourselves and see if we can hasten their progress, he mused.

I don’t think we can help, Absu replied. Enlil tried previously to breach the enclosure without success.

From within, Lenore could feel Anshar’s impatience. She felt, through her connection to him, that he wanted to help, and that it was taking more time than she had originally anticipated to dig free. But they had to move one of the larger foundation stones in order to reach dirt, so he’d just have to tough it out. He was lucky that she’d found a likely area at the back of the house. A stone by the bulkhead appeared not too big for her to wrestle but large enough so that when displaced, she and her mom and gram should all be able to fit through the hole it left.

Finding tools had been another problem. But her industrious grandmother, followed tenaciously by the fat cat and armed with a flashlight, had discovered an old wooden storage locker. It fortuitously held a couple of pry bars and some rusted, but sturdy, garden trowels. That, with the spade Lenore remembered seeing beside the jail cell had been enough, and the excavation had begun.

Lenore was quite sure that the house wouldn’t fall down with the loss of one rock. Being antique post and beam construction, a large supporting beam crossed over the line of boulders of which they would only be removing one, so that would technically keep the structure standing.

The problem was prying out their puzzle piece without disturbing the rocks around it. They eventually chipped enough space to wedge one of the crowbars above the boulder they wanted to move, hopefully ensuring that nothing would tumble down around them. Lenore used the other iron implement as a lever to wiggle the large mass centimeters at a time away from the other rocks.

Sweat poured down her face, and dirt now streaked her visage. She kept getting words of encouragement in her head from Anshar, but it was still back-breaking work. Every once in a while Lenore’s mother would take a turn, but Lenore was the only one who could make any real progress. It took patience and concentration, but finally the stone was far enough out into the basement that Lenore believed one huge tug would do the trick.

“Stand back,” she told her mother and grandmother. The cat needed no warning. After using the dirt pile that had accumulated to “do his business,” he had retired to the opposite side of the room.

“Here goes what’s left of the manicure.” Dagon’s going to big-time owe me a mani-pedi!

Anshar must have heard that loud and clear, judging by the resounding snort.

Lenore wrapped her stronger-than-lily-white hands around one rough protrusion on the side of the rock and, using every bit of her goddess-enhanced strength, pulled for all she was worth. The damn thing wouldn’t budge. Using the flashlight, she saw that the back edge of her rock was caught on a ridge sticking up from the one below. Fuck!

It’s going to take a while longer. Lenore sent the message to Anshar. She knew she sounded discouraged, but dammit, she was tired. I have to chip away the front some more to get at another bit in back. She laughed in defeat. I don’t suppose you can conjure up a good earthquake?

Hold on right there, sweetheart. You may have just hit on something. I’ll be right back.

Anshar poofed back to the Blue Hills, finding Kulla and Ninurta deep in a hole.

“Ninurta! Can I borrow you for a few minutes?” he called down. Anshar quickly explained to the god of excavation what was needed. Ninurta immediately got the picture, and followed him back to Plymouth.

Anshar’s first concern was that the women would be safe.

Lenore, I’m back with help. Now I need all of you go stand under a doorway. Ninurta is going to create a small tremor centered on the area where you’ve been digging and there could be some peripheral fall out, so move away. I don’t want you anywhere near the foundation.

Doing it now, Lenore answered. Then a few moments later, she added, We’re encased in osmium, so we should be good.

Smart girl! Anshar knew just where she was. Nice that Dagon’s jail cell was good for something other than incarceration and torture. He signaled for Ninurta to begin and kept his eyes glued to the PP out front.

Anshar took note that the guard looked startled when the ground began to shake beneath his feet. A few people nearby also seemed a little disconcerted, but the majority of pedestrians a few blocks away seemed totally unaffected. The guard, having been well-tutored in the ways of the gods, had a suspicious look cross his face. Anshar was quick to act.

“Time for some intervention.” Anshar didn’t wait for agreement from Absu or Ninurta but regained his body and sprinted across the street just in time to bump the human from behind and send him sprawling. He knew the man had been only seconds away from going in to check on his prisoners.

“Sorry, man!” Anshar helped the PP off the ground and brushed him off, pretending that the shaking earth had caused the collision. “What the hell is that, anyway?”

The man took one look at Anshar, backed up, and pushed a button on his belt.

Shit! The guy knew his face. He should have decked him while he had the chance. Anshar opened up to every god who could hear him. We’ve got trouble, people. Hopefully, Shamash had his ears on at the gods’ microwave transceiver station. PP about to deploy in full force in Plymouth. I need all the help I can get! Lenore?

I hear you, Anshar. Good. She had remained calm.

What’s the status of that escape route?

The stone’s out, she called ecstatically. And the dirt above it has pretty much caved in. I can see daylight.

Then make your escape and make it quick. Your guard has called in the recruits.

Anshar quickly overpowered the button pusher, bending him over and planting a knee in his face. To the passersby, Anshar hoped it would look like two buddies clowning around as he pasted a big, false smile on his face and laughed heartily. It was going to be interesting keeping this out of the public eye.

Anshar was happy to see Lahar, Ishkur, Dumuzi, and Kulla arrive. With Absu and Ninurta already on hand, that represented a great contingent of immortals. He quickly made a decision.

“As much as we’d like to rid ourselves of the PP who are on their way, our main concern is seeing the women safely out of the house and back to the compound.” Heads nodded all around.

“Since I’m the only visible one,” gods, he hated to miss the action, “I’m going to go procure a car so I can drive the witches back to Quincy.” Again, nods.

“When the PP show up, use your control over nature to slow them down.” Anshar sent a cautionary look to Absu. “But be careful. Any bloodshed here won’t be off the grid, and authorities asking questions is the last thing we need.”

“It will be done cleanly,” Absu reluctantly agreed.

Anshar took off at a run. There were always small used car dealerships dotting the outskirts of a busy town. He looked back and, as he expected, Absu had taken charge. He felt confident that they would kick some bad-guy ass…in a controlled way, of course.

Anshar contacted Lenore. I’m going to get a car. Absu and the others are going to keep the Posse away. Just stay in the hole until I come back for you. Understand?

Lenore wanted to comply, but even more, she wanted to be on the outside, helping Absu kick some PP butt. She turned to her mom and grandmother. She would hear about it, but Lenore wasn’t going to listen to a thing Anshar said.

“I need to get out of here. Fast.” She ran back to the jail room and got a chair. “This place is going to be a battlefield within minutes.” Lenore positioned the chair and stood on it. With the shovel in her hand, she dug quickly in the loose, disturbed dirt. She was itching to get out and help the gods fighting at the front of the house.

“I’m going to make sure things are safe. Then as soon as I give the word, bolt for the street and look for a really tall guy with a blond ponytail who’ll be pulling up with a car.”

“We’ll know him, dear,” her grandmother said. “We’ve seen him in the bowl, remember?”

Lenore didn’t stop moving dirt but acknowledged Addie-May with a grunt. She was ready to position herself between them and any threat, but there was no way she was staying underground like a sitting duck to do it. The thing was, Anshar didn’t have to know that. We’ll be here when you get back, she lied, hoping to keep him calm. Lenore cut off communication as she finally broke through.

The goddess emerged cautiously from the hole and, crouching, made her way stealthily around the house. Her mouth hung open and she marveled watching the immortals at work.

Absu had stationed the gods where they could do the most damage. Lahar, who had the uncanny ability to animate things, was already controlling the downed guard like a puppet, propping him up to interact with his buddies when they arrived.

Ishkur was warming up with a light spring rain, ready to pour on a deluge at a moment’s notice. He was also capable of creating fireballs, but Lenore heard Absu put the nix on that. Too dangerous.

As the god who had control over swamps, Dumuzi called water from the earth. He sat lazily on the front walkway, slowly bringing moisture up from below and bogging down the entire front and side yards. Lenore knew he would be happy to call on whatever rodents might be helpful too, as she also had found out he held dominion over animals.

Ninurta would shake the earth, and Absu could control the salinity in all water sources, turning Ishkur’s rain, if necessary, into a brackish nightmare. Kulla could topple buildings, but Lenore hoped the gods would avoid that.

Now all she had to do was wait. Hopefully, Anshar would be back with a car before the PP reinforcements arrived. If not, she’d enter the fray and kick some ass with the rest of the gods. She wasn’t afraid of Dagon’s goon-squad.

****

Anshar wafted back to the Blue Hills and quickly grabbed a pocket full of money. He materialized at the first dealership he found in Plymouth and perused the lot. Good. An innocuous older model beater in light green. Nothing that would draw attention. A salesman approached.

“That’s a nice little car,” he said. “But a big guy like you would be better off in a truck or an SUV—”

“It’s for my mother,” Anshar interrupted with a growl. “How much?”

The man named a price that was clearly outrageous and, as much as Anshar knew he should just buy it and run, he couldn’t help but haggle.

“I’ll give you a thousand less. Cash. Right now.” Anshar pulled the wad from his pocket and started peeling off hundreds.

“Don’t you want to drive it first?” The salesman saw the money and smiled. His days’ commission check must have suddenly looked better.

“Two words. Lemon Law. If the car sucks, I’ll bring it back.” If it didn’t, the compound needed a reliable vehicle that had more than two wheels. Tess’s car was on its last legs.

“If you’ll just come in, and do the paperwork, I’ll have it cleaned up. It should be ready for your mother in the morning.”

“I’ll take it now. Just tell me where to sign.”

“But…but you don’t have any plates or registration…”

Anshar withdrew more of those hundred dollar bills. He could compel the guy, but it was more ethical—at least from the god’s standpoint—to try money first.

“Five more of these for you if I can borrow your dealer plate until tomorrow.”

The salesman gulped. Anshar could almost read his mind as he eyed the cash. He was figuring that, hell, if Anshar didn’t bring the plate back he could always report it as stolen. “You’ve got yourself a deal!”

The guy stuck out his hand, and Anshar slapped the cash in it. The car was gassed, and he was out of the lot in five minutes.

He arrived at Dagon’s headquarters to complete Armageddon. PP were mired in the yard up to their knees, at least those who were still on their feet. Others had trouble standing as the earth rocked beneath them.

If that weren’t horrific enough, rats swarmed over all their struggling bodies, and it looked like…Could that be Lenore’s family cat that he’d heard about, cavorting around in the mud and chasing the rodents? Rain poured down in a violent cloudburst that only encompassed the one property, and it looked like the bricks from an adjacent building had toppled onto a group of bad guys who were now down for the duration.

Emergency vehicles were everywhere. Police and firefighters had cordoned off the street, but stood around, clearly stupefied by the concentrated bedlam. Anshar, once he picked up his bottom jaw, had to chuckle. The gods had done a great job.

He parked the car and ran around to the back of the property where nothing, thank the gods, had been touched by the chaos out front. He saw Lenore, bloodied and muddied, standing outside the hole, just like he’d told her not to. From the smile on her face, she’d clearly been in and enjoyed the fight.

Can’t you do anything you’re told?

She turned to him with a big grin. And miss all the action? She tilted her head to the front yard pandemonium. Not on your life. Then, much to Anshar’s surprise, she ran lightly across the yard and threw herself into his arms.

Got a ride for me, big boy?

Oh, I’ll give you a ride. He moved his hand down her hips to grip her ass. He hauled her close, his dick hardening instantly. He was headed for a soul-searing kiss when he heard a scrabbling noise at his feet.

“Don’t let me disturb you.” Lenore’s grandmother’s face, wreathed in smiles, poked from the hole. She was watching them make out, and that was just…eww.

Anshar dropped Lenore.

The older woman looked back over her shoulder into the hole. “Could you stop pushing on my rump for a minute, dear? I’m trying to watch the children kiss!”

Lenore laughed, and Anshar’s cheeks burned.

“We’re done here.” He cleared his throat, then made a suggestion with which they would all concur. “We should really get going before anybody decides to check out the back of the property.”

He lent a hand and lifted one woman, then another older version of his Lenore—a slightly graying red-head—out of the hole, and hurried them across the yard to where he’d parked the car. As he turned to help them in, he noticed that Lenore’s grandmother was not following orders. It must run in the family.

“I have to find the cat,” she declared, heading out front toward the chaos. That’s the last thing Anshar needed. If there was an alert PP member, she could get grabbed.

“No, I’ll do it!” Anshar quickly intervened and, moving forward swiftly, drew her back to the car with instructions for Lenore that came with a growl. You will all be in the vehicle when I return.

Receiving a smirking nod from Lenore, he misted into the bedlam.

Anshar got scratched up and down one arm and across the chest for his troubles as he plucked the cat from his rat-catching. Once the fat thing was secure under his arm, he misted back to the women and handed the ill-tempered feline to its owners. He made sure everyone was secure and took off, sending word back to Absu. I have the women safely away. You can wrap things up.

Maybe in a while, came the reply, accompanied by what sounded suspiciously like a “yee-haw.” We haven’t had this much fun in ages.

Anshar pointed the vehicle quickly toward Quincy. The cat refused to settle down and yowled from one window to the next, not caring that a daring rescue had just occurred. It was going to be a long ride home.