For the first time since entering Abaddon, she felt ethereal, like she might disappear.
“That’s why I can speak to her when no one else can. That’s the bond we share that she’s sensed all this time.” I caressed her, hoping to coax life back into her but fearing my tainted touch would push her over this final edge. “You put part of her daughter in me.”
That was the reason Anunit had chosen me to succeed her. She sensed my stolen heritage and trusted in it—and me—without understanding why. Now that I knew, I wished I couldforget. But that wasn’t fair. I wasn’t to blame for Ithas or his methods in creating me. But I would make sure I was the last experiment he brought to life.
Theboom, boom, boomI had first mistaken as my heartbeat in my ears came from above and continued growing louder with every strike. The powerful reverberations even set the gaudy chandelier swinging, highlighting Ithas’s dreadful taste in decor. He didn’t tell me what the hell was going on, but the ruckus earned a low growl from him as he left me alone to investigate the source of the commotion.
I hoped Anunit was right, and it was Kierce.
I was terrified Anunit was right, and it was Kierce.
Ankou had been MIA since I woke down here. Not that I could count on him for help. He was part of the reason I was sitting on a cold stone floor in a cold stone room with Anunit staring off into nothing behind me. As to the other responsible party? That would be me. For being desperate enough to trust Ankou alone with my safety.
Still, he had given me the string around my finger, and the longer I wore it, the wider my memories yawned open before me. One word kept circling my head. A name. Berchem.
The implications made me want to curl in a ball down here in the dark and forget the truth lurking on the edge of my mind, waiting for me to acknowledge it.
Anunit was in no shape to assist me with escape plans, even if I was up to it, but I couldn’t leave without Dinorah anyway. She had suffered enough during her life. She deserved to rest in peace, and I was one of the few people who could give her that release by returning her to the Alcheyvaha burial grounds to slumber beside her parents.
I wanted to vomit thinking about what Ithas had done. Having met him, aTitanwith no need for mortal worship to continue existing, he must have pursued this line ofevolutionfrom curiosity. The scheme likely came from the same warped god who offered to loan him Dinorah—Dis Pater.
Had Ankou known Ithas possessed Dinorah? Had that weapon made Kierce a god killer? Or had it been a trick? Ankou could have been lying his ass off to lure me into his trap. I wouldn’t put it past him.
Shuddering thuds rained down from above, vibrating my skull where it rested against the wall until I was unable to determine if the headache came from that or the horrors of what I had learned since meeting Ithas. Ithas who, now that I thought about it, had been quick to laud my excess of fathers but not glorify my mothers. Hindsight being twenty-twenty, I hoped he never told me. I didn’t want to know in case she or they were as bad as him or worse.
Thank God Carter had the bead from Papa Legba and could get everyone to NOLA safely.
“So, Bijou, all the cats are out of their respective bags.”
“Ankou.” A low groan scraped up the back of my throat. “What do you want?”
“I’m here to keep you company while Ithas handles a minor irritant.” He strolled out of the darkness and tossed me one ofthe peanut butter and jelly sandwiches Josie had been carrying. “Lucky for you, I’m entertaining.”
“Is the minor irritant Kierce?” I kicked the offering back to him. “Or Josie?”
“Your sister is a lot of things, but aminorirritant is not one of them.” He snorted and scooped up the sandwich, taking a bite then holding it out me. “It’s not poisoned, if that worries you.”
“I’m worried you stole it off my sister, who might need it.” I tilted my head back. “What’s going on up there?”
“I did steal it from Josie, but it’s been in my pocket since before Ithas came for you.”
“Then I’m doubly glad I didn’t eat food that’s been squished against your butt for who knows how long.”
“You’re not being very nice for someone asking a lot of questions.”
“As if you would answer any of them.” I drew my knees against my chest. “Why are you really here?”
A shrug rolled through his shoulders as he took another bite.
“Okay then.” I made a gamble. “Why did you tie this hair?—?”
“Hush,” he hissed at me, the blood rushing from his cheeks until he was as pale as the Suarez brothers. “You must have hit your head. I haven’t given you anything. Except for a sandwich you were too good to eat.”
“Yeah.” I studied my hand, more curious than ever about the gift. “Right.”
“You haven’t asked me how Kierce is handling his release.”
Stretching out beside Anunit, I rested my head on my arm and shut my eyes. “Like you would tell me the truth.”
