Acheron

'Henry?' Ash asked curiously.

Kim answered, 'Her Baretta baby-sitter.'

He was surprised that Tory would have a gun. She didn't seem the type. 'Can you use that thing?'

Pam laughed as she gestured to Tory who appeared extremely unassuming as she ate more pizza. 'Look at her. She looks so harmless and meek, but inside she's a lion. Tory is an adrenaline junkie the likes of which you've probably never seen… everything from deep sea diving to base jumping. Hell, she even jumps out of perfectly good airplanes for fun.'

Ash was surprised and impressed by that. 'Really?'

Tory shrugged. 'I do like to live dangerously.'

'No,' Pam said, her voice filled with pride for her friend, 'she lives fearlessly.'

He inclined his head respectfully. 'Fearless is a most desirable trait in any human being. Stupidity isn't. I'll stay with you until this blows over.' The statement surprised him, but then again it made complete sense. Her team would get the journal to her and if he stayed close to her, he'd be the first one to find it. Then he could destroy it before anyone else had a chance to read it.

He hoped.

Pam hooked her arm into Tory's. 'I'd go with his offer. You've been to our place before which means you know about Kim and her 'underwear on the floor' problem.'

'That's not my underwear! That's yours.'

Pam waved her ire away with one hand. 'Let's not bicker over the small things in life such as who owns the underwear. Point being, I'd hang with the big guy. He's a lot more intimidating than us.'

'He's cuter too,' Kim grinned. 'If she passes on his offer, can I beg protection? I think I have a neighbor who's been giving me the evil moti. He could hurt me, you know?'

Ash laughed. 'I don't know… that underwear problem of yours…'

Pam burst out laughing.

Kim pouted. 'Like you've never done it.'

Actually he hadn't. He didn't wear underwear to drop on the floor. But the women didn't need to know that. 'Switching topics again. Did you hear back from Dimitri about the journal?'

'Not yet.'

'He's in Greece?' Ash asked.

Tory nodded.

'Okay.' Ash swung his backpack up on his shoulder. 'I hate to leave you guys, but I'm going to my place to grab some clothes. You have my cell phone number. If you so much as see a shadow out the window, call me and I'll be right back. I only live a few blocks away.'

Tory smiled. 'We'll be fine.'

Ash hoped so. Heading for the door, he left them and went out to the street. As soon as he was sure no one could see him, he flashed himself to Greece outside the door of Augustus Tsigas's house.

Gus's father had been a Squire, one of the human servants who helped Dark-Hunters. As an adult, Gus had gone to work for the Greek government, thus helping not only Ash, but other Greek Dark-Hunters when they needed it.

He knocked lightly on the door so as not to scare Gus's wife Olympia who had no idea about the paranormal world her husband was involved with. Not to mention the fact it was two o'clock in the morning here.

He heard footsteps on the other side of the door before a light came on.

Gus opened the door with a scowl on his face. 'This better be important, Acheron.'

'Would I wake you for any other reason?'

'Yes.'

Ash laughed at his surliness when they both knew he would never bother Gus needlessly. 'This is important. Remember the group of people you helped out?'

'The archaeologists?'

'Yes. There was one named Dimitri. I need his address.'

Gus looked extremely irritated. 'I thought you were omniscient. Can't you get it yourself?'

'I come with some restrictions and unfortunately Dimitri is one of those exceptions.'

Rubbing his eyes, Gus yawned. 'Come in and I'll pull the record for you.'

'Gus? Is something wrong?'

Ash closed the door as Olympia came into the room. Tiny and petite, she had long black hair and big brown eyes. 'Sorry I woke you.'

She smiled as she saw him. 'It's all right, Acheron. I know you two probably need me to leave you alone. I'll go back to bed.'

'Good night.' He followed Gus into his office. 'It's a boy, by the way.'

Gus grinned proudly. 'Thanks for letting me know.'

'No problem.' He waited quietly while Gus signed onto his work account on the computer.

After Gus jotted down the address, he handed it off to Ash. 'I hope this helps.'

'It does. Thanks.'

Grateful that at least one person was being helpful to him, Ash flashed himself from Gus's house to Dimitri's apartment across town. He took a deep breath as he tried to think of the best way to handle this. He could either teleport into the house and search it while the man slept or he could wake him and ask him where it was…

Better to find it while he slept.

Ash entered the small, cluttered flat and paused. At first he thought Dimitri was asleep on the bed, but he didn't hear a heartbeat. Walking closer, he saw the man lying dead, face down in a pool of blood.

'Not good,' he breathed, looking around at the chaos that had been left behind as someone tore the place apart during a search.

Ash took a deep breath and closed his eyes, hoping this time his powers worked. Just as it should have done at Tory's house, he saw everything in sudden crystal clarity.

Three large men dressed in black had barged in on Dimitri, wanting the book. Dimitri had fought and told them nothing, even while they tortured him.

His loyalty to Tory had ended with a silenced gunshot two hours ago.

Ash knelt down beside the body and closed the man's eyes. 'Sleep in peace, little brother. The ones who did this will pay. I promise.'

The men had left here in frustration after tearing the flat apart. But if they didn't have the journal, who did?

'Matera?'

Are you going to yell at me again, Apostolos?

I'm sorry. A wave of guilt sliced through him as he regretted being short with her. In all his life, his mother and Simi had been the only ones who'd really loved him. Because of that, he hated losing patience with them. I didn't mean to take my anger out on you, but will you please answer me one question?

The book isn't here, pratio. Dimitri gave it to someone else.

Who?

An image of his mother appeared before him. Her swirling silver eyes held sadness and regret. 'I would give my life for you and you know that. But I can't answer that question. Its existence is tied too tightly to your own. You are a father yourself. You know that you can't always give your children what they want. I'm sorry, Apostolos.'

He wanted so badly to take her hand in his. To feel her touch, just once in his life. 'I understand. I don't like it, but I understand.'

She took a deep breath before she spoke again in a voice that was filled with conviction. 'I know what Savitar told you. But he was wrong about one of those outcomes. I won't let anyone kill you. Not again. If anyone comes near you, I will schism the realms and unleash my army for your protection. I am the goddess of destruction and I don't care what happens to this world of man. You are the only thing I love, and I will kill whatever and whoever I have to to save your life.'

That wasn't overly comforting. Honestly, he'd rather be dead than suffer any more humiliation. But her love