Gods and Demons (Blood and Darkness Book 3) Read online

  Gods and Demons

  Melissa Sercia

  Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Afterword

  Acknowledgments

  About the Author

  About the Publisher

  Additional Titles

  GODS AND DEMONS

  By

  Melissa Sercia

  Copyright © 2018 Melissa Sercia

  * * *

  Edited by Amanda Roberts.

  Cover Design by Mibl Art and Tina Moss.

  All stock photos licensed appropriately.

  * * *

  Published in the United States by City Owl Press.

  www.cityowlpress.com

  * * *

  For information on subsidiary rights, please contact the publisher at [email protected]

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental and not intended by the author.

  Except as permitted under the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior consent and permission of the publisher.

  Author’s Note

  Love urban fantasy? Discover more stories like WAKING THE DEAD by D. B. Sieders!

  A chance encounter with a dying stranger opens an empathic connection between down-on-her-luck caregiver Vivian Bedford and the world of spirits. The supernatural seek her at every turn, and the cost of protection isn’t worth the price. When guardian spirits make an offer to help as long as she works on their side of afterlife management, she soon learns these guardians are no angels.

  * * *

  With her ability to channel energy from the living, she has only one bargaining chip left to play. And becoming a soul broker might cost her more than she’s willing to pay, even if the grim reaper comes in a seductive package. Will Vivian’s power be enough to save her soul and her disabled sister, Mae, from a fate worse than death?

  * * *

  Only death knows.

  BUY NOW!

  For my Mom and Dad. Literally and figuratively, I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for you both. Dreams really do come true. Thank you for teaching me that. I love you both so much.

  "The balance between light and dark is a delicate scale, tipping back and forth in a sea of fire and gold. Demons may have many faces, but gods have many eyes. One cannot exist without the other."

  One

  I used to think we were all immortal. That we never really died. There were different realms in which we existed, but we would continue to exist somewhere. And that is what my enemies counted on. An existence beyond the earthly one where their evil could continue to reign. There would be no rest for the wicked and no hope for the innocent. Only more and more layers of lies that have been told to us since the beginning of time.

  Demons wanted to live like gods. They wanted to be worshipped and bowed to. They wanted blood sacrifices and marble statues of their likenesses. They wanted laurels laid at their feet. They wanted power. But the gods would not allow it, and they would eradicate this world if that’s what it took to stop them, destroying all of creation along with it.

  To start again, to rebuild from scratch—those were the terms of the Hades Protocol. Those were the rules of immortality that they had etched in blood. But I had my own terms. And rules were meant to be broken.

  Cerberus had taken over New Orleans, The Furies—goddesses of vengeance—were after me, and there was possibly a traitor in my midst. As the new head of the Consilium, to say I had a lot on my plate would have been an understatement. There was also the matter of Aldric and Dragos. With my marriage to Aldric on hold, Dragos could be using this as an opportunity to reel me back in.

  Valentina and Lycos were requesting my presence at Stonehaven to discuss the matter of the Fury that slaughtered a couple of Lupi wolves. Tensions were high, and I was still dealing with the dark pull from the Narcissus, which was now mixed with Hera’s pomegranate magic. A tug of war raged inside me, while a blood war was brewing out. These days, it felt like the war would never end. Death was no longer final, just a path to a stranger place. We were immortal, but we weren’t free. The veil had been lifted, and I feared we would never be the same.

  The shores of Stonehaven were a welcome sight. The salty air whipped through my hair, tinged with droplets of water from the sea. A crisp chill reached the back of my neck, cooling my skin as my blood boiled underneath.

  Aldric gave me a wink and squeezed my hand as we pulled into the docks. His blond hair blew back off his forehead, revealing his bright blue eyes. They reflected the deepest depths of the ocean.

  My heart skipped a beat at the sight of him. We had only known each other for a short time, but his heart, the way he loved me, felt ancient and familiar. I was still amazed that he had any love left after everything I had put him through. Every bad thing that happened to him was a direct result of being associated with me. And then there was the incident with Dragos. How he ever forgave me for that is still a mystery to me.

  As we climbed, side by side, up the hill to the gatehouse, no one would have ever guessed that Aldric and I ever had any problems between us. We moved in step together with clasped hands and rosy cheeks, flushed from the last kiss we shared. My heart fluttered thinking about it. He had pulled me close and pressed his lips to mine, gentle and sweet.

  The sight of Lycos and Valentina waiting for us at the top of the hill shook me out of my reverie. They stood side by side, pensive and stoic. Her thick red hair fell loosely around her shoulders, blending in with the fur on the collar of her coat. Lycos was a stark contrast. With his white blond hair braided down his back, he towered over her petite frame like a Viking. But her size was not an accurate portrayal of her strength. She could toss him on his behind in a blink of an eye if she wanted to. Her new wolf blood only made her more ferocious and cunning.

  I inhaled that familiar scent of lilac as I embraced her. “It’s good to see you, Val.” It had been three weeks since our feast at the Hall of Secrets—that haunting night Seven stumbled through the doors, half-dead and mumbling about the Underworld being empty.

  We had been watching the demons from a distance. As far as we could see, they had only taken over New Orleans. Cerberus, the guardian of the Underworld, had taken up residence at the Three Blind Mice on Pirate’s Alley. The Crescent Witches were in the bayou, gathering at the Wolf and Crescent and awaiting further instructions. As the newly appointed Imperator of the Consilium, every action and every decision rested on me.

  Valentina forced a half-smile. “Gray, we need to talk.”

  A tremor rippled through my veins. Her tone was grim and layered in uneasiness. Aldric tensed beside me.

  Lycos motioned toward the gatehouse. “Yes, let’s go somewhere private.”

  I nodded and followed the
m down into the hub of Stonehaven, the sound of Aldric’s heart wildly beating behind me.

  They led us to a room just inside the first hallway. With the door firmly shut behind us, I held my breath and braced myself for more bad news.

  Lycos took a deep breath and faced me directly. “I don’t know how else to say this, so I’m just going to get to the point. The Lupi want you dead, and they want Valentina to be the one to kill you.”

  My stomach dropped as Valentina let out a gasp and slapped him on the back. “Lycos. You could have eased into it.” She gritted her teeth, flashing a hint of her fangs.

  I shook my head. “No. It’s okay. We don’t have time to beat around the bush. What is their reasoning behind this?” My stomach was in knots.

  Valentina sighed and threw Lycos another warning look. “It stems from the prophecy. The Lupi believe the world will end by the hand of a creature with black eyes and that only a red-haired wolf queen can stop it. They believe that creature…is you.”

  It felt like the floor was moving. I placed a hand on Aldric’s shoulder to steady myself. “They think I’m going to destroy the world? That’s insane. I’m the one trying to save it.”

  Lycos nodded. “We know that, but the Lupi are superstitious. Especially after what happened with the Furies. They are convinced that you will be responsible for our doom.”

  Aldric clenched his fists. “Gray had nothing to do with the Furies attacking the Lupi on the beach. She is the one who liberated them from Arcadia. They should show some appreciation.”

  Valentina hung her head. “No. In their eyes, I’m the one that freed them from Arcadia. And I’m the one they have chosen to end Gray’s life.”

  My head was spinning. As if I didn’t have enough enemies, now I had to worry about the Lupi coming after me too?

  Aldric stepped protectively in front of me. “Well, you’ll have to kill us both then, because I’m not letting you lay a hand on her.”

  Valentina snorted. “Don’t be ridiculous. I’m not going to off my best friend.”

  I gently nudged Aldric to the side. “It’s okay. We just have to figure out a way to hold them off until we can come up with a solution. I can prove to them that I am here to help.”

  Lycos nodded. “I’m their alpha—most of them still listen to me. I will keep them in Diana’s Forest for as long as I can.”

  Valentina’s eyes welled up with tears. “Gray, I’m so sorry. I don’t know how this happened.”

  I cupped her face in my hands. “Val, this isn’t your fault. We are going to make things right with the Lupi. Try not to worry.”

  She nodded as Aldric rolled his eyes. She glared at him. “Got something you want to say, Bannister?”

  His eyes narrowed down at her, his jaw tightening. “I don’t trust any of this. You may think you know what you’re doing, but you don’t. You’re gonna get Gray killed.”

  I could have cut the tension with a knife. Valentina’s eyes flashed red. Lycos tugged her back and away from Aldric, who mirrored her look, his pupils shifting to a shade of milky white.

  I let out a deep sigh. “Both of you need to calm down. Nothing good will come if we start turning on each other. We’ve been through too much to let it fall apart now.”

  Lycos kissed Valentina’s cheeks, causing her eyes to shift back to normal. But Aldric’s chest heaved, his pulse erratic. I squeezed his hand and he started to relax.

  I was about to breathe a sigh of relief when it caught in my throat at the sound of loud deliberate clapping, ringing in my ears. My body prickled all over. I knew who it was without even turning around. And so did Aldric.

  Dragos snickered and planted himself right in front of him. “Are you threatening my sister, Bannister? The Lupi will be the least of your problems if that’s the case.”

  Aldric’s eyes shifted back to white as he took a step toward him, their faces just inches apart. “Why are you still here?”

  Dragos cocked his head to the side. “To make sure you don’t do anything you might regret. Now, if you flash your eyes at Valentina again, I’m going to rip them from your head.” He bared his fangs and let out a low guttural growl.

  I wedged myself between them. “Stop this. No one is going to hurt anyone. Everyone needs to take a breath. Get some air.” Aldric walked backward as I pushed him toward the door, keeping his eyes trained on Dragos. A quivering breath escaped Valentina’s lips as we left the room.

  As soon as we were back outside, I whipped around. “What has gotten into you? Val would never hurt me. And antagonizing Dragos is not helping matters.”

  Aldric closed his eyes and unclenched his fists. “I’m sorry. I…I just couldn’t bear losing you again. It seems every time I turn around, someone is trying to kill you.”

  My heart sank. I never stopped to consider that this life—all this blood and death—was eating away at him. For me, it was all I’d ever known, but sweet Aldric was a human less than a year ago. He’d always put on a brave face, but now it was becoming clear that the facade was cracking.

  I stroked his cheek. “I know you want to protect me, but you can’t. Not from everything. I’ve survived for over four hundred years this way. I’m touched that you want to defend me, but I don’t like seeing you like this.”

  He pulled me toward him and rested his forehead against mine. “You’re right. I’m sorry I snapped. I think I’m still recovering from Jezebel’s spell. I thought I was fine, but maybe it’s affecting me more than I realized.”

  I gave him a light peck on the cheek. “When we get back to the Hall of Secrets, we can have The Keeper take another look at you. Okay?”

  He smiled and pressed his lips to mine before drawing in a sharp breath. Dragos cleared his throat behind us.

  “Sorry to interrupt your touching moment, but we have a blood war to strategize for.” Dragos shot Aldric a challenging look.

  I rolled my eyes. “Thanks for reminding me. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

  Dragos winked. “You would be bored and miserable. More than you already are. Thanks to Aldric, of course.”

  Valentina sauntered out before Aldric could respond. “Gray and I need to go to London and speak with Arcadia. Without the Lupi helping us, we will need her Rougarou army.”

  An uneasiness formed in my chest. Arcadia was my half-sister and a pain in my ass. She blamed me for everything bad in her life and no doubt resented the fact that our father chose me to lead the Consilium instead of her. Valentina wasn’t Arcadia’s favorite person either. Lycos had been romantic with Arcadia before meeting Valentina. There was no shortage of hatred between the two wolf charmers.

  My brow furrowed. “Val, are you sure you want to go with me?”

  She hesitated before nodding her head. “Yes. I’ll be fine. We need to put our differences aside and learn to work together.” She turned her nose up in an attempt to look noble.

  I gasped. “Wow. How mature of you.” I bit my lip to stifle a laugh.

  She rolled her eyes. “Oh, don’t kid yourself. I’ll still snap her neck if she annoys me. I’m not that evolved.”

  I chuckled as I remembered how Lycos had to drag Arcadia, kicking and screaming, away from Val in Diana’s Forest the first time they met. The two of them knew how to get under each other’s skin unlike anything I’d ever seen.

  “We should head out now. The sooner we get this over with the better.” I gave Aldric another peck on the cheek as we said our goodbyes.

  Valentina threw Lycos an annoyed look as she charged ahead of me toward the docks.

  I paused and turned around to give Dragos and Aldric one last look. “Please try not to kill each other while we’re gone.”

  Dragos winked and chuckled. “I can’t make any promises, love.”

  Aldric shook his head, ignoring him. “Be safe.” He forced a smile, but his nerves were written all over his face.

  I flashed him a grin. “Always.”

  Valentina was already on deck as I approached my ship
. We pulled away from Stonehaven in a bubble of silence—both of us lost in our own moments of reflection and deep thought.

  Aldric’s words echoed in my mind. Be safe. I didn’t know what those words meant anymore. I wasn’t sure if I ever did. As if she was thinking the same thing, Valentina’s expression darkened.

  I placed my hand on top of hers. “Are you worried about Arcadia?”

  She shook her head. “What if the prophecy is true? What if I hurt you?”

  I stared straight ahead into the black night that felt eternal. “You won’t. I trust you. Besides, I don’t believe in prophecies. We make our own fate.”

  As we sailed for London, a part of me wondered if that were true. I gulped in a deep breath of ocean air and prayed to the gods that I was right. Otherwise, we were just lambs heading for the slaughter.

  Two

  I would never get used to the vile stench of the sewer tunnels, deep below the city. Slithering down the slimy walls, my stomach turned every time. There was no fresh air down there—only the stale recycled breaths of rats and Rougarou.

  Arcadia met us in her makeshift indoor garden, far below the sewer entrance. She was poised and flawless, as usual. Her demeanor was tense and rigid, coupled with an underlying hint of amusement. She held herself high above everyone else, despite her failures. At times I admired her. For all her faults, she was always true to herself and never wavered in her pursuits.