If I kept this up, I was going to get myself killed. I got a grip, booted Elton from my brain, and calmed myself. On some level, I understood what she was saying.
“Monty’s not over this darkness thing, is he?”
“Nor will he ever be,” Kali said, standing. “We all possess dual natures. I can no more be all creation, than I can be all destruction.”
“But you seem to favor destruction, or at least that’s my impression.”
“Do you recall the first time you met me?”
She gazed at me. It was a soft gaze, but it felt like she was looking through me. I was exposed, raw, and vulnerable. Nothing was hidden from that gaze. It was the look a parent gave their child, knowing what the child had done wrong, but asking anyway.
“Do I have to?” I said as she furrowed her brow at me. I realized my typical answers could get me atomized. I quickly reversed course. “Yes, I do. You were saving children. Monty and I thought you were harming them. Turns out we were wrong.”
“Then you interfered, and I not only left you alive, but cursed you so.”
“Why?” I asked. “Why didn’t you just blast me there? That would’ve been easier for you…and me.”
“You resort to violence too easily,” Kali said, as the braid of hair wrapped itself around her waist. “Destruction is easy; creation, building when you want to tear down, that is truly difficult.”
“Only the strong, can be gentle?” I asked.
“Only the powerful, understand weakness.”
“You cursed me as an expression of creation?”
“You’re getting there,” she said. “Let’s just say you’ve been weak. Now it is time to gain strength. You have much to protect, shield-warrior.”
“Thank you,” I said. “My life has become exponentially harder, but I have to say it’s better.”
“You’re welcome,” she said. “The day will come when you will curse my name, but that is expected. For now, stand in the gap for those near you. One day, you will need to choose between creation and destruction.”
Her skin started glowing a deep blue.
“I don’t mean to be rude,” I said, pointing at her, “but your glow is showing.”
She smiled, stepped close to me and gently slapped my face nearly breaking my jaw.
“Your mouth is going to get you killed one day, Aspis,” she said. “I will make sure I will be there to witness it when it happens. It’s time for you and your bondmate to go.”
“I have questions.”
“I’m sure you do. What you lack is the capacity for understanding the answers,” Kali answered. “Goodbye, Aspis. We will speak again…in time.”
The glow of her skin intensified until it blinded me, forcing me to look away.
When I could see again, she was gone.
THIRTY-SIX
I looked around and rubbed my tender jaw. The mandir was empty. Judging from the light pouring in through the skylight, it was early morning.
I looked down at my completely satiated hellhound. He lay on his side, looking like an industrial-sized hellhound sausage.
“You keep eating like that and you won’t fit into the Dark Goat.”
He chuffed and gave me a low rumble.
<I can’t move. That was some of the best meat I’ve ever tasted.>
“Don’t let Ezra hear you say that,” I said, leaving the inner mandir area. “Come on.”
<I’m on my way. I almost feel full.>
“I can’t believe Kali,” I said, looking around and raising my voice. “She’s this badass goddess and leaves us stranded in Jersey, of all places. At the very least leave us in the city. This is not a badass move.” I glanced down at Peaches. “You think you can blink us home?”
<No. My stomach is too heavy right now.>
“Are you saying—I can’t believe I’m saying this—that you ate too much?”
<Impossible. There’s no such thing. I’m a growing hellhound. I just need some time before taking us home, and maybe a nap.>
“Fine, let’s catch the sunrise,” I said. “Then we can find someplace quiet for you to recover from your recent meat-a-thon.”
<That would be nice.>
I waited by the exit for Peaches to slowly join me.
We walked outside, and there, sitting menacingly in the empty parking lot, I saw the Dark Goat.
“I stand corrected; Kali retains her badass status by delivering my sweet ride for the win.”
I placed my hand on the hood, and the Dark Goat clanged unlocked. It rocked to one side as I opened the suicide door and Peaches jumped in. I slid in behind the wheel, feeling the familiar tingle of lethality on my skin. The Dark Goat.
I loved this car.
My phone rang a few minutes later.
It was LD.
“Haven, now.”
He hung up.
The urgency in his voice left no room for questions. I stepped on the gas and unleashed the Dark Goat.
THIRTY-SEVEN
The skywalk at Haven was still being repaired when I arrived.
I parked the Dark Goat in front of the building, and raced inside as fast as my still-aching body allowed. Peaches must have digested some of the sausage, since he kept pace with me.
LD was waiting for me at the elevators. He rubbed Peaches’ head when we stepped into the lobby.
“What happened?” I asked. “Where’s Monty?”
“Slow down,” LD said. “Tristan is…well, right now he is under observation.”
“Under observation?” I asked, confused. “I just left him a little while ago.”
“A little while ago?” LD said, looking at me strangely. “They got back from the Sanctuary last night. We were about to go searching for you, when I sensed your energy signature. What were you doing in Jersey?”
“Last night?” I asked, confused. “What are you talking about? I just left the Sanctuary not more than twenty minutes ago.”
“If you keep talking like that, Roxanne will admit you and put you under observation, too,” LD said, keeping his voice low. “You don’t want to speak to her right now. She’s biting everyone’s head off.”
“How’s Monty?”
“Not in a schism,” LD said, leading me away from the elevators and heading into the stairwell. “He came to in Fordey, and then vanished.”
“Vanished? In Fordey? I thought you were watching him?”
LD just looked at me and waited for me
