Acheron

needed the clarity of the balcony right now.

'Matera?' he called, summoning her from the depths of the hell realm where she lived.

'Apostolos?'

He counted to ten to get his temper under control so that he could talk to his mother without the fury he felt offending her. Even though they fought against each other over mankind, she was still his mother and he loved her enough to keep his tone respectful. 'I forgave you for sending Stryker after Marissa Hunter in an effort to lure me into Kalosis to free you, but this…' He paused before he exploded in anger. 'How could you?' he asked from between clenched teeth.

'How could I what?' Her tone showed genuine surprise. 'What are you talking about?'

'Demons entered Sanctuary and took Soteria into Kalosis. Are you telling me that you have no knowledge of this?'

'That's exactly what I'm saying.' The angry denial in her tone was too sincere to be feigned. Her shade appeared beside him and there he saw for himself her anger on his behalf. 'I will take care of them, Apostolos. Have no fear. I'll be right back.'

Ash inclined his head to her shade respectfully, but something inside him warned him that it wouldn't be that easy.

Apollymi left her dark garden with a swirl of fury as she teleported from her area of the palace to the hall where Stryker held court over his Daimons. He was sitting there, nonchalantly, as a group of them were feeding on some hapless human at his feet that they'd no doubt kidnaped and brought here.

Stryker looked up with a frown at her approach. 'To what do I owe this honor?'

She ignored his sarcasm as she looked around at the Daimon horde. 'I want them out of here. Now.'

Stryker made a noise of irritation before he nodded. 'You heard the goddess. Out.'

They obeyed instantly, taking the human with them. Apollymi felt badly for the person they'd killed, but it was the state of nature that one life form invariably fed on another. While it wasn't fair the human had been prematurely killed, the Daimons had it even worse. They were cursed to watch themselves and everyone they loved decay over a twenty-four hour period because eleven thousand years ago a god had been angry over the actions of only a dozen Apollites.

No, life wasn't a balance sheet of fairness. It was survival of the fittest, smartest and swiftest.

And right now, that was her.

As soon as she was alone with Stryker, she narrowed her eyes on him. 'Where is she?'

Stryker gave her a blank stare. 'She would be?'

'Soteria Kafieri. Your demons took her out of Sanctuary in New Orleans. Where are they holding her?'

Stryker scowled as if he had no idea what she was talking about. 'What do you mean my demons took her?'

Why was he playing this game with her? 'The Sumerian gallus you welcomed here. Surely, not even you can miss their stench. They violated the Chthonian laws of Sanctuary and they took her hostage to hold against Apostolos. Don't you dare feign ignorance in this.'

'I'm not feigning anything.' He stood up indignantly. 'Kessar!' He shouted, summoning the gallu leader who was as evil as any being Apollymi have ever met.

The demon appeared before him with an arrogance that was commendable given the fact Kessar would have been dead had Strykerius not taken him in. Tall and lean with brown hair and red eyes, he looked more like a fashion model than a demon and he used those good looks to his advantage whenever he sought humans to eat.

He curled his lip in repugnance as he faced Stryker. 'I despise whenever you do that, Daimon. I'm not one of your pathetic minions to come when you call my name.'

Stryker wasn't intimidated in the least. 'So long as you reside here and benefit from my protection, you'll come when I call.'

Kessar's eyes narrowed dangerously. 'What can I do for you, my lord?'

His sarcasm made a mockery of the tone Stryker had used on him.

'I want to know about this woman you've taken hostage. How dare you move into the human realm without my knowledge.'

Kessar shrugged. 'We did what your sister asked us to do. I assumed she had your ear. If you have issue with what's happened. Perhaps you should have a family meeting.' He vanished.

Stryker cursed. 'I hate that sonofabitch.'

'Then why did you offer him refuge?' Apollymi asked.

He looked at her with a coldness she could feel all the way through her. 'You have your demons for protection, it seemed only fair I should have mine. We both know I no longer have your favor, Apollymi. Even though I killed my own son to make you happy. Even though I've spent a million lifetimes in blind service to you, I'm only a means to an end. You want to hurt my father for what he did to your son and I'm the chosen tool for it. Honestly, I didn't mind your using me so long as I thought of you as a mother. But you declared war on me and so here we are. Neither of us happy. Both of us alienated from our children.' He let out a bitter laugh. 'We're a pair, aren't we?'

Apollymi approached him slowly as her restrained emotions roiled through her. It wasn't as simple as he made it sound. 'In spite of what you think, Strykerius, I did love you. But I'm a goddess of vengeance and you made the mistake of forgetting that. The moment you went after Apostolos to harm him, you drew the battle declaration, not I. Where my son is concerned, I have no reason or loyalty to anyone above him. He is what I cherish most and he and his daughter and grandchild are the only things in this world I would die to protect. Now you hold what is sacred to him. Release her immediately, or not even your demons will be able to save you from me.'

Stryker eyed her angrily as he realized this was no bluff. 'Satara!'

His sister appeared instantly in a pique. 'Don't take that tone with me.'

Apollymi glared at her. 'Where's Soteria?'

The stupid child didn't even have the sense to fear her. Instead, she shrugged. 'She's safe for the moment.'

'Release her,' Apollymi demanded.

'Hardly.'

Apollymi threw her arm out and brought Satara into her grasp so that she could choke her with one hand. 'I'm not into games, little one. Release her or I will kill you.'

Satara sputtered and choked as she tried to pull Apollymi's hand from her throat. It was useless. No one outpowered Apollymi. 'You kill me and she dies, too.'

Apollymi squeezed her neck tighter.

'Apollymi, wait!' Stryker snapped. 'She's not lying. Look at her wrist. She's wearing the Atlantean cuffs. And I'm willing to bet the other one is on Soteria. You kill her and Soteria dies with her.'

Satara smiled evilly. 'And you would be correct, brother.'

Cursing, Apollymi threw her against Strykerius. 'I want Soteria freed.'

Satara straightened and met her anger with a smugness that made her want to blast the chit into oblivion. 'When I have my journal from Acheron, she will be freed. Trust me, I don't want her harmed any more than you do.' The taunt in her voice didn't fail to register with Apollymi, who also recognized the fact the bitch was lying. 'I merely want what Acheron has.'

Apollymi scoffed. 'Do you think he would ever trust you to make a trade for her?'

'No. That's why I've had my demons summon Jaden. Jaden will broker the deal. That way I know Acheron won't use his powers against me and I won't use my demons or powers against him.'

Apollymi rolled her eyes at the ridiculous boast. She was ever amazed by the arrogance of people who seriously overestimated their abilities. 'Little girl, you have no powers.'

Satara laughed evilly. 'Oh Apollymi, for all yours, you greatly underestimate me if you think that.' She faded out.

If she rolled her eyes any further back, she'd go blind from it. Apollymi turned to Strykerius. 'I understand the need for family, but if I were you, I'd let that one go before she drags you down to a depth so low you drown in it.'