“That was our intent, my lord.” She made a sweeping gesture, which took in the sizzling bones.
The bull dipped his head and in three bites devoured the burning piles, cracking and chewing the bones as liquid marrow leaked from his mouth and sprayed the ground. When he had consumed the last of the ivory offerings, he returned his attention to Neferet.
And now, what is it you wish of me? I admit, I am amenable as I had forgotten how delectable burnt offerings can be.
“We have only one simple request of you, my lord, and know that these offerings are not payment for our request. They are true offerings, meant to delight and flatter you, mighty bull.”
His laughter brought to mind midnight mausoleums and the specters that haunt them. You intrigue me. What is it you desire?
“Open the veil between worlds for us, my lord. Our desire is to travel to the other Tulsa, where a lesser, weaker version of us set vampyres against humans—and then did not have the strength to finish the fight.”
And what would you do there?
“Kill the impostor, of course, and finish what she started. Then we would return here to supplant Zoey Redbird and the followers of Nyx forever.”
He moved closer to her and his tongue licked her bare shoulder, leaving a trail of blood and saliva in its wake. Neferet shivered with pleasure.
The bull’s deep voice made the bare trees shake and ice fall from their nude branches. And how will you pay me for such a thing? Will you finally agree to be my Consort and travel the worlds with me, stoking chaos?
Neferet glided closer to him to caress one of his huge, opalescent horns. It was so cold that it burned her hands, but she did not mind. She welcomed the pain as a reminder of what it is like to be subjugated to a male—any male.
“No, my lord. Not yet. We have far too much to accomplish first.”
Then what payment do you propose?
“Why, your favorite, of course. We shall amuse and surprise you.”
He turned his head so that he could look into her eyes. How so?
“Have you ever, in all of your eons of existence, observed what happens when a dark goddess rules two worlds?”
I have not.
“Imagine it for a moment, my lord. Think of the wars we shall start—and finish. Think of the evil we will loose—evil that Light has dominated for ages uncounted. It will be like nothing you’ve witnessed. And it will all be in your name. We will fly pennants with your image. We will burn offerings to you in hecatomb, as in the ancient days, only ours will not be mere cattle. You will feast on human marrow and the bones of Sons of Erebus Warriors until you have had your fill. My lord, it will be glorious.”
Once again you surprise me, my heartless one. I am also intrigued. Mount me. I shall, indeed, agree to your payment and take you through the veil to the Other World as you wish.
Neferet pulsed with victory. The White Bull knelt and offered her his knee so that she could mount him. She leaned forward, pressing her body against his and murmured, “Take us to the Tulsa depot in that world. The sprites tell me it is there we shall find the beginnings of our army.”
His laughter shook the tiled roof of the villa. Sly, heartless one. It was wise of you to summon the sprites. They have long been isolated and ignored.
“When we reign, they shall be set free. Come, children! It is time to depart this world—but only temporarily.” She motioned, and the tendrils of Darkness flowed up the flanks of the bull to wrap themselves around her and hang from his massive body.
Then the bull leaped up and into the moonless night sky, and Neferet was engulfed in darkness so thick that she could not breathe, but she did not panic. She held tighter to the frigid coat of the bull, wrapping her spidery arms around his massive neck as she reminded herself, We are Goddess … We are Goddess … We are Goddess … Until finally, the darkness gave way to the cold light of streetlamps, and the bull stopped beside the railroad tracks on the lower level of Tulsa’s depot.
Neferet slid off his back and gazed around her, wrinkling her nose in disgust.
“It is as the sprite said. This depot is in disrepair.”
I am quite sure you will set it to right quickly. As he spoke he nuzzled her, leaving a slug trail of wet on her bare shoulder as he licked off the blood his caress had earlier caused.
She laughed and stepped smoothly away from him. “Oh, my lord. You mistake us. We care not how our army is housed. We only care that they are loyal and effective.”
I look forward to observing your future but know that what you plan will shift the balance of Light and Darkness, so unless the Black Bull of Light deigns to leave his lofty perch and become involved, I cannot aid you.
His words relieved her. She did not want the meddling bull appearing and acting as her savior. Right now, she only owed him amusement, and that was the last payment she ever intended to owe him. A goddess should be beholden to no one.
She curtsied deeply to him. “We understand, my lord. And we thank you for carrying us across the veil.”
And how do you intend to return when your quest for dominance here is complete?
She shrugged. “That will depend on whether we amuse you or not, won’t it?”
He chuckled. Indeed. Before I depart I have a gift for you. The enormous bull lowered his head and struck one of his horns against the iron rail that used to be part of a thriving railroad track but was now in the same disrepair as the depot building. The rail shattered with a deafening clang. He blew on it, turning
