Blood Finale (God Wars #5) (17 page)

"Take Larentii with you," I warned.

Without asking, several Larentii, including Pheligar and Renegar, arrived in my dining hall, ready to transport us back to Earth in the past.

"I'm ready," I said, standing and nodding to Merrill, who stood with me. Gavin was already up, preparing himself for whatever we might find when we arrived.

"We go," Pheligar nodded and transported us to Fresno.

* * *

Bill, Trajan, Jayson and Opal met us at the property. Local law enforcement had arrived, so we had to conceal our unusual arrival and come in by more mundane methods.

Several cars arrived within minutes of each other—Gavin and I were in the second car, behind Adam, Merrill and Kiarra.

"You the owner?" A police officer walked up to Adam.

"Yes," Adam replied. "Can you tell me what happened?"

"Explosion. Haven't determined a cause," the officer replied briskly. "Anybody home?"

"No. We were out having dinner," Adam replied, shaking his head at the pile of rubble beyond. "With a few friends. We came home as soon as we received word."

The pile still smoked and burned in a few spots, and I could see the twisted metal that used to be the refrigerator poking up amid a pile of burned cabinets and exploded canned goods.

Heading back to the car, I got inside, shut the door and turned to mist before going through the windshield. It was easier this way—I could go through the site without getting yelled at by the police and fire department.

All of Kiarra's things can be replaced in one way or another
, I thought as I scanned everything carefully. That's when I saw it. At first, I imagined it was a piece of clothing that hadn't burned—it looked brown and flat to me as I misted toward it. It lay in the backyard, near the door. The scent reached me first—it smelled of death and disease.

What the?
I attempted to puzzle this out in my mind. Reaching out with a tendril of power, I gently flipped it over before mentally screaming—it had a fucking
face
.

Chapter 10
 

Jarnis
, Gavin's mindspeech permeated my mind. He recognized what remained of the face. Adam and Merrill dispensed what might have been the fastest compulsion on record to get rid of the authorities on the scene, the moment they'd heard my scream in their minds.

I was still mist, so I sent my question back—
Jarnis?

The one who brought Breanne to Le-Ath Veronis. Told me to turn her and then left with no explanation. You see where that got us,
he added.

I know exactly where that got us
, I replied stiffly. If Jarnis had bothered to explain, so many problems could have been avoided.

Rogue.
Belen arrived in a corporeal fashion, and walked up to us.
Lissa, Gavin and I will shield you if you wish to turn back
.

I became myself and stared at the leathery pile of skin that still bore a face—Jarnis died in corporeal form, and that might present a puzzle to all of us. Not to mention how the hell he'd died to begin with—none of us were capable of doing what had been done to Jarnis, rogue or not. Not only had he been drained—his bones and internal organs had disintegrated, leaving only a puddle of skin behind. No matter how you looked at it, it wasn't pretty.

"I'll transport the body to the Larentii archives and allow them to take a look—this defies logic," Belen shook his head.

"It looks as if he were sucked dry," Gavin muttered.

"That's exactly what it looks to be," Belen allowed. "Yet I have never heard of such happening to one of the powerful. The body might be destroyed, yes, but this—I believe what he was no longer exists in any form."

"I saw something similar to this on Noppen," Kevis arrived, looking the worse for wear after folding in.

"On Noppen?" Adam, Kiarra and Merrill joined us, but Merrill was the one who asked. Kiarra looked ill as she studied the pile of skin lying on the ground.

"A rogue god was sitting in the Noppen President's chair. Something similar started happening to him, but I didn't see the whole thing—Cayetes and his guards started shooting Ranos pistols and destroyed the office around us. Things were so chaotic, I couldn't tell what eventually became of the rogue."

"So we're two rogues down, then," I blinked at Kevis. "Do you need to sit down or something? You look exhausted."

"I came as soon as I heard. I didn't even think about being this weak," Kevis replied.

"He's going home now," Karzac appeared and frowned at his son.

"Thanks, Dad," Kevis nodded. "I need the help."

"Then I won't yell," Karzac smiled and disappeared with Kevis.

"Belen, let me know about this," I toed the rubbery skin at my feet, "after the Larentii perform their examination."

"I will," Belen agreed and studied the pile distastefully before disappearing with it.

"My guess is that this rogue destroyed the house, and then something else destroyed him," Merrill speculated.

"Then he either messed up or pissed somebody off," I said. "Or both."

"If they wanted us to know they were after me, they certainly have my attention now," Kiarra mumbled. "Usually it's wise not to let your quarry know that you're hunting them."

"And you can't announce it any louder or more directly than this," Merrill said. "Is there room at your compound for all of us, Lissa?"

"Yes. Ashe's shield is still up, thank goodness."

"I wholeheartedly agree," Adam said.

* * *

"Quislus told him to take the woman and destroy the house. It appears as if he left his assignment half done and disappeared." Calhoun growled as he paced. He knew it was an extremely human thing to do. He did it anyway. "She has since relocated, and I cannot trace her."

"This is unacceptable," Moxas huffed. "We were given a promise. We are waiting for delivery on that promise. Did your experiments we suggested not go well? Is the population not sufficiently panicked? Tell me, how have we failed you?"

"It is merely a matter of time—she cannot hide from us forever," Calhoun snapped. "I suggest you recall to whom you speak."

"I have not forgotten," Moxas fumed. "We will wait patiently—for a little while."

"Good. I have planning to do," Calhoun said and disappeared.

* * *

"I can't find Jarnis," Calhoun complained to Quislus.

"I have not been able to reach him either, and that is most unusual. He has always followed through before, even when he found the assignment distasteful."

"What about the other Hidden—can you reach them?"

"Of course. Jarnis is the only one who has disappeared. No, that is not true—Hydel was destroyed with Cayetes on Noppen, and I have not heard from Morren or Ploddas."

"I know Hydel and Cayetes are dead," Calhoun reminded Quislus. "Killed by those we destroyed on Du'Ferias. Have Morren and Ploddas not been seen since then?"

"Not to my knowledge." Quislus felt a bit of fear before releasing it—the Three were gone and the One had never destroyed any except for Acrimus, and Acrimus had defied the decree and murdered a Larentii.

"Keep looking—they'll appear," Quislus commanded. Calhoun nodded and disappeared.

* * *

Lissa's Journal

All of us had a bad night. Connegar eventually arrived and tapped my forehead, sending me into a healing sleep. I hadn't been able to get the vision of the rogue god's body out of my mind.

When I awoke in the morning, the same visions clouded my mind as I shuffled to the kitchen for coffee. Merrill was there ahead of me. "Come," he held out a hand after I poured a cup for myself. I went. He seated me on the barstool next to his and wrapped his arms about me.

"You smell good—like fresh coffee," I said as he kissed the side of my neck.

"You smell wonderful—like Lissa." I could feel his smile against my skin.

"How's Frankie?" I turned in his arms and kissed him.

"Frankie, as you put it, is just fine. He and Shane are chasing Farzi and Nenzi about this morning. He says he can't keep them in bed and they insist on crawling all over your palace. I believe they've scared half the vampires in the Council."

"Probably the wrong half," I said.

"You're saying half of them deserve to be scared?" Merrill asked before kissing me again.

"Maybe more than half," I shrugged. "But only by snakes. Big snakes."

"I hope they know not to attempt to harm those two."

"If they don't, they'll find out soon enough. I imagine Kooper would turn with them, and they'd have a vampire hunt."

Merrill smothered his snicker against my shoulder.

"Cara," Gavin touched my shoulder gently as he walked past. He was heading to the coffeemaker, just as Merrill and I had done. How happy was I that there was no jealousy between these two?

Kiarra and Adam wandered in next, closely followed by Joey. "I'll start breakfast," I said and pulled away from Merrill, who seemed reluctant to let me go. Kiarra and Joey helped me put biscuits, eggs, bacon and ham together while Merrill made more coffee and Adam and Gavin folded to the grocery store for milk, orange juice, jam and honey. Norton and Bearcat, two of Joey's mates, showed up as we sat to eat.

"I like this—having breakfast this way," Joey said, stuffing half a biscuit coated in butter and strawberry jam in his mouth.

"I like cooking in the morning for people I care about," I said. "Instead of being queenie pants every day."

"Queenie pants?" Adam almost guffawed.

"Grant and Heathe," I muttered. "They call me that."

"Not in my hearing," Gavin growled.

"Honey, nobody says anything in your hearing," I patted his back affectionately.

Norton slapped Joey's back when he choked on a mouthful of food.

* * *

"We have to make it look as if we suspect nothing," Adam sighed as we studied fixtures at a local home improvement warehouse. "I'll start rebuilding, so they'll realize we're still here."

"Then you'll need to get a temporary home and make it look as if you're there," Gavin said, lifting a faucet and studying it carefully.

"We have one in mind, and we'll make arrangements," Merrill said. "I just don't want to stay there often. Not after what happened to the last one."

"I'm just glad we weren't home," Joey shivered. Bearcat responded by hugging him.

"We only had a minimum of shielding in place," Adam took the faucet from Gavin and nodded at his choice. "The rogue tore through it as if it were tissue paper, and we didn't even get any alarm bells when the house blew."

"That's odd," I said. "We always know when our shields are breached."

"Not this time," Adam shook his head. "Merrill and I received no warning at all."

"I think I want wood and tile in the whole house," Kiarra said, handing paint chips to Adam.

"Good choice," I said, giving her a smile. "It's easier to change an area rug than carpet."

"Exactly what I was thinking."

"Martin can act as my construction manager," Adam said, tapping product information into his cell phone and then taking a photograph of the faucet. "I can be on the worksite most of the time and let my current construction manager handle other projects."

I kept forgetting that Adam was taking his own place in the past, when he owned a construction firm. He had work to do, just to make everything appear normal. At least Aryn and Rigo could take care of things for me on Le-Ath Veronis, which included stepping over lion snake shapeshifters inside my palace.

"Somebody say my name?" Martin walked around a tall shelf. Mack, his son, followed close behind. This was the adult Mack instead of his nine-year-old former self. That one was on Kiarra's private planet, playing with a young Justin.

"Good to see you," Adam grasped Martin's hand immediately and smiled at the werewolf-turned-Saa Thalarr. "We haven't built anything together in a long time."

"Hey, Dad," Justin stepped in behind Mack. "Thought we'd show up and help."

"Good," Adam grinned before hugging Justin. "I'll put you to work right away."

"I'll buy lumber tomorrow," Martin said. "I'll take these two with me." He nodded toward Justin and Mack.

"It's better, seeing Fresno from this height," Justin said. "Just wish the circumstances were better."

"Honey, I think we all feel that way." Kiarra put an arm around her son and hugged him.

* * *

Hank's Journal

"I heard you'd shown up," I grumbled. I almost couldn't look at him—to me, he was still Wisdom. Somewhere within him, Breanne lay. All I could think of—all I wanted—was to pull her away. I knew better than to try.

"It wouldn't do you any good, she isn't here," he said.

"What the hell are you talking about," I snarled, my response tinged with smoke.

"I mean she's safe elsewhere, that's what I mean," he snapped. "You could be a bit more respectful, you know."

"I want to see her." Yes, anybody could have guessed what my reaction would be. I loved her. Would never give up on that love. If she were alive and elsewhere, I needed to know where that was.
Now
.

"You'll see her, but we need to take a short trip into the past, first," he said, studying his fingernails absently. "I wouldn't look this healthy if I hadn't taken power from a few rogues recently," he added, lifting clear, gray eyes to study me.

"How is she?" I began. If this one wouldn't be healthy without acquired power, what would Breanne's condition be?

"She's fine—better now, actually. We're weak when we come back to corporeal bodies. It's like moving everything from a vast castle into a small tent. The power has to slowly accumulate or the body is destroyed. I'm pushing things at the moment, because so much needs to be done."

"You say I can see her?"

"If you come with me first. There's something we need to do—together. It affects our futures."

"Lead the way." I blew more smoke. I'd do almost anything if it got me to Breanne.

"I hoped you'd see things my way, instead of just being pissed," Wisdom grinned.

"How far into the past?" I asked.

"Not far." Images filtered into my mind and I stared at him in surprise.

* * *

Trajan's Journal

"They offered me a raise, and three other restaurants have called to hire me," Fes placed the rolled case containing his knives on the counter and blinked tiredly at me.

"Sit down and have a drink," Bill offered, rising to pull a bottle of expensive bourbon from the counter behind him.

"I could use it—the owner is talking about expanding the restaurant," Fes shook his head. He'd been on the job for ten days. Not much had happened in that time—Adam and his crew had made strides on rebuilding the house. The foundation and framework were up and construction crews were busy as ants putting the house back together. We'd gotten no obvious nibbles on Saxom or Moxas, however, while Lissa, Karzac and I were still waiting for word from the Larentii about Jarnis' remains.