Chapter 8

 

 

 

“Aiya! Are you done? Please come here. Loki and his hellhounds have arrived,” Raphael’s voice rang in my mind, making me jump from surprise. Leia got startled, too.

“Are you sure what you see? Your prediction sounds like doomsday,” I said, trying to use humor. The situation was serious enough so a little sense of humor could go a long way.

“This is what I see in the Akashic Records. I am able to download the information about your archnemesis, but I’m pushed away whenever I try to read something about the shifters and their whereabouts or who took them. It’s sorcery.”

Hmm, this coincided with Loki’s statement. I'd barely thought about the Nordic god when Raphael called me mentally again.

“I got to go, Leia. Thank you for your information.” I pulled the tablecloth back over her and left the basement, climbing up the staircase. In the middle of the living room I saw Loki, and lying beside his feet, one of his hellhounds. The animal’s fur glistened in the evening, a ball of gray fluffy fur, but I knew better than to play with hellhounds as if they were puppies. Sensing my presence, the hellhound raised his head, his nostrils flaring, ready to attack me. Loki must have given him a silent command to lay low because the hellhound put his head on the floor again. In the meantime, Raphael and Loki were discussing something with great interest.

“I’m telling you, these things are connected,” Loki said.

“Obviously, you'd have to be a fool not to see the link.”

“Hi, Loki. For the second time tonight,” I greeted him, trying to sound as friendly as possible, and he pulled a face.

“What kind of night would it be without your constant presence, darling?” He greeted me back and I fought a snarky retort. I had bigger troubles than getting even with this prick.

“Loki just told me that three skulls like yours have been stolen from the Louvre in Paris. The event has caused quite an unrest there. The police are searching for the perpetrators, but we believe it’s a supernatural’s doing.”

“Definitely,” I confirmed; the news didn’t come as a surprise after what Leia had told me. “Leia, my skull, saw the same. She went further and said that Drogo’s behind these thefts. What’s more, he’s after my skull, too. We need to stop him. I don’t like where this is going.”

“Whaaat!? That sneaky little slug is after your skull? And he took the other three? What’s he planning to do?” Loki exclaimed, rubbing his forehead. The hellhound that was drowsing by his feet woke up with a low grumble and jumped to his paws, his fur spiked, a snarl creasing his enormous mouth.

“Rocco, lie down!” Loki commanded and the hellhound obeyed, wiggling his tail in a circle as he trotted back to the feet of his master and nestled next to them.

“Leia claims he’ll try to destroy all four skulls, including mine, and thus he can cause a supernatural war.”

“In other words, this is the new threat from this asshole?” Loki clenched his fist, his eyes gleaming with malice—two dark turquoise dots burning intensely in his handsome face. Even though his attitude was that of an arrogant jerk, I couldn’t deny he was easy on the eyes. The only thing he had to master to be the most charming womanizer in town was the ability to keep his mouth shut. As soon as he opened his mouth, his arrogance knocked him a notch or two down.

“We ought to call Durga, Shiva, and the rest from the council. Immediately.” Raphael paced across the floor, to and fro, and finally he slid onto the couch, his face hardening, his eyes closed tight. I knew well by now that this was the way archangels and gods mentally connected to someone. He was probably calling either Durga or someone else from the Council of Nine.

I turned my attention to Loki and the hellhound lying by his feet.

“Meet Rocco, he will guard your skull here in the house, and Wulfrid will guard the house from the outside. No one will be able to enter your property without these puppies noticing them,” Loki informed me as he saw my questioning stare. “If push comes to shove, he’ll inform me, and Enki and I can come to kick the asshole’s ass.” The trickster god’s features hardened again, his jaw clenched tight. He had the hard look of a Mongolian soldier. His plan sounded good, I only hoped the execution went as smoothly. Certainly, I preferred it with the hellhounds. Dara’s protective spells had proved to be meaningless for the creature that had attacked my property, and it was inconvenient to cast my own spell because Dara and everyone else would be trapped inside the house.

“Okay, I just talked to Durga.” Raphael cut off my thoughts as he stood energetically from the couch, drawing nearer to me. “She wants to meet us ASAP. I think we should drop the shifters’ search. They may well be dead. We have more pressing matters, like protecting your skull. If what your skull saw is true, and most probably it is, we’re once again in great danger.”

“Do you honestly think the shifters are dead?” I asked him, a tight knot forming in my throat. I didn’t want to admit defeat or imagine the pain Laura would have to go through if her husband was dead.

Raphael shrugged. “Probably, but we have no time to search for them. Besides, dark and vicious sorcery meddles with any of our attempts to discover them. Even if we kept trying, we’d again be pulled out, and nothing would change. Let’s focus on protecting your skull. I have the hunch that whoever is behind the attack we thwarted might be the key to finding the shifters, dead or alive.”

“But aren’t we going to meet with that druid…?” I asked.

“Sheridan?” Loki offered.

“That one. Maybe he can shed some light on the shifters’ disappearances? I think this trace is important to follow, too.”

“Okay, we can visit that fellow, but before the meeting with the council,” Raphael reluctantly agreed.

“There’s going to be a new Council of Nine meeting? Where?” Loki asked eagerly and his hellhound picked on his enthusiasm and raised his head, staring at the space before him.

“I’m waiting for Durga’s confirmation. She has to contact Shiva first, though, before she can tell me,” Raphael said.

“Seems you’re doing great. I’ll go now. If you need help, call me or my fluffy dogs.”

“Ugh, about that,” I began, eyeing the hellhound suspiciously. “Are your hellhounds friendly? I don’t want them fighting me or their fangs tearing apart my furniture.”

Loki snorted. “Who? Rocco? He’s the most obedient and kind hellhound from the pack. He won’t even snarl at you.”

He'd barely uttered the words when Dara came in the living room, holding a hot bowl in her hands. “Hey, guys, I just made vegan lasagna. Would someone want to join me for dinner? I know it’s a bit late, but I was—” Her voice froze as she saw Loki, but her eyes widened in shock as they fell on the hellhound by his feet. Rocco smelled the food and pounced at my sister, licking his mouth, saliva dripping from his fangs. She shrieked and backed off, avoiding the hellhound’s attack.

“What the hell is this monster doing in our home? Aiya!?” Dara yelled in panic and Loki called back his “fluffy dog.” The hellhound trotted back, his eyes watching Dara intently and the food inside the bowl.

“Calm down, sweetheart, this buddy won’t hurt you. He’ll stay here to protect Aiya’s crystal skull,” Raphael explained to my sister and, coming over to her, he reached for her hand. She avoided his touch and rushed back to the kitchen to put down the steaming bowl on the table there.

“See? This is what I meant. I don’t want Rocco causing mischief here. Besides, Dara doesn’t have internal magic like me, what if he jumps at her? He might tear her apart,” I argued.

“This won’t happen, you have my word,” Loki immediately replied, but Raphael backed my statement.

“She’s right, it’s a hellhound. Even normal dogs can misbehave, let alone a magically charged animal like yours.”

Loki narrowed his eyes, weighing our arguments. Finally he kneeled before Rocco and mentally gave him instructions, judging from his serious and concentrating face. It took several long seconds, but eventually Loki stood up, and he prompted Rocco to obey whatever silent command he’d given him. The hellhound trotted to me and, eying me suspiciously, his tongue came out. Before I could react or even build a defense around me, something soft and wet touched my hand and I realized the hellhound had licked it.

“Feeling safe now? You can be at ease with him, he won’t even snarl at you or your sister,” Loki said and turned to Raphael. “I’ll be going, it’s getting late. Good night, bro.” He patted the archangel on the shoulders and shot me a glance, then left the living room, marching to the front door.

“He’s right,” the archangel said once Loki shut the door behind him.

“Huh?”

“It’s getting late.” He drew nearer, a playful grin dancing on his lips, and for a moment I was lost.

“What are your plans for tonight?” he asked me as he wrapped his arms around my waist, pulling me closer to his bulging and warm chest.

“Well, getting enough sleep.” I fought the urge hard to make out with him here and now. Dara was in the kitchen; the whole day was nothing but a mess and I was tired and wanted to hit the hay.

“Is there space for one more person in your room?” he asked innocently.

I was starting to get his angle and what he aimed at. I was contemplating my response when he hurriedly added, “We’ll have to call and meet that druid Loki recommended us tomorrow. Then comes the meeting with the Council of Nine. It’d be better if I sleep here, not teleport to and back from Angels’ City.”

He was right, and I reluctantly agreed, “Come, let’s find room for your improvised bed.” A wide grin danced on his face and I added, “But there will be no action, Mister Green Wings. Only sleeping.”

“Whatever Her Majesty says. As long as I’m in your room.” He chuckled and I rolled my eyes. We climbed the stairs and as we came inside my room, I tidied up some space, put a yoga mat in the free corner, and hauled some blankets from the wardrobe.

“Come to think of it, yes, you’re right,” Raphael said as he lay on the yoga mat, stretching his legs and arms.

“Huh? What are you talking about?”

“About the sleep. We need to get proper rest.”

“We need?” I asked, surprised in his change of statement. Didn’t he want to at least make out with me or something? Or maybe that was part of his game. I would stand firm in my determination to just sleep. I barely knew this guy, despite our participation in Mission Fallen Conspiracy a few weeks ago.

“Of course, love.” He turned his eyes away as I was about to switch off the light by the wave of my hand. “We need to wake up early. You know, call the druid early on so that we have time before we meet with Durga and the others.”

“Ah, about that...” My head hit the pillow and suddenly I felt incredibly lonely in my bed. A part of me wished he could cuddle next to me.

“I don’t know about you, but I’m pretty excited about this druid guy Loki recommended to us.”

“Have you met another druid before?” I asked him after a few long seconds had stretched into a minute. My mind was swarming with thoughts and my heart raced wildly in my ribcage. Was it because of the attack on Leia the skull, or Loki’s hellhounds? Or maybe it was the disappearance of the shifters and their possible death, or simply the fact that one of the hottest guys on the planet lay in my freaking room less than a yard away from me? I had to concede, it was mostly the last reason. I remembered his passionate kisses, his strong hands wrapped around my thighs, and his bulging chest pressed against mine… Ugh, this didn’t help matters; actually it was making them way worse.

I heard Raphael grunt and turn on his other side. “I’ve only met a druid once, and oh boy, do I remember it!” he said in response to my question.

“Why? What’s so special about them?” I asked with genuine curiosity.

A long silence fell so that I asked myself if he hadn’t fallen asleep. Eventually, his voice cut the stillness. “Didn't they teach you about druids at the academy?”

“Not really. I know they are way more powerful than witches, mages, and fae, but that’s it. They’re supposed to have magic inside them, though they often use spells, potions, and that sort of thing like witches.”

Even though it was dark and I couldn’t see his face in the corner of my room, I was sure he chuckled. “Well, then I have to agree with Loki. They only teach you bullshit at schools.”

“Hey, watch your language!” I pretended to be mad, but deep down I had to agree with him. Most of the cool and handy stuff I knew about was from my parents, Grandmother Onawah, and of course—Jeff and working at his pub. So much for the power of books and academia.

“Okay, I’m going to tell you this, but we’re going to sleep after that, agreed?”

“Yes, sire. Now spill the beans, Mr Hot Pants.”

“Whoa, whoa, whoa, did you just say I was hot?”

I cursed my loose tongue. “Okay, you might be good looking, but don’t let this go to your head.”

This time I could hear his laugh. “Okay, since you gave me a compliment, I’m obliged to tell you what a druid is. It’d be only fair. So, Aiya, a druid is a magical being who can deal, break, or even reverse the dark arts.”

“Dark arts?”

“Yes, like sorcery.”

That made sense.

“It all depends on how well versed or skilled a druid is.”

“Let’s hope this Sheridan guy can get to the perpetrators behind the shifters’ disappearances,” I said.

“Yup, I’m going to say my prayers tonight.”

I tried imagining Raphael the archangel saying a prayer. Who would he pray to? Suddenly the room went quiet and I intuitively knew he’d fallen asleep.

I rolled onto my other side and closed my eyes, trying to think of nice things like high heels, angels, and even working at Jeff’s pub. Instead, dark images flooded my mind. Gore, blood, and snakes flashed in front of my closed eyes, making my heart freeze, and dread coiled in my chest as dark shadows tried to snatch my flesh. I wasn’t sure if I was asleep or awake, but the last thing I remembered was Drogo’s curled lips in a wicked smile, silently chanting something. Icy chills pierced my skin and the world went blank.