Pure Requiem - Aja James Page 0,68

his winged-man form, having snatched Tal from between the canyons, out of the spraying path of Medusa’s poison. Valerius and Cloud stand with them, armed and ready.

But as the hydra rises from the lake, stomping its giant claws into the shallow banks, and its long, spiked, scaly tail whips behind it like a third monstrous head, I see just how doomed we all are.

The giant beasts look like harmless stuffed animals next to the monstrous hydra; the fearsome warriors like tiny insects. No human weapon short of an atomic bomb can destroy that thing.

Medusa likely comes to the same conclusion as I have, because the sound of her voice rings across the valley like deafening thunder, though neither head opens its mouth to speak.

Fools. You think to defeat me. You run blindly toward your own destruction. I wonder whose bright idea it was to lead you here.

The head that spewed poison curls in my direction, aiming a glowing, yellow, slitted eye at me.

You’ve done well, my little Creature. Recruiting these lovely new additions to my army. It has certainly taken you long enough.

I brace myself imperceptibly, thinking fast.

Does my Mistress truly believe that I am working in her interest, or is she merely taunting me? She’s the most mistrusting thing on the face of this earth. Surely she does not put stock in my loyalty?

But then, Medusa has always been over-confident. I have always been her poor, pitiful Creature. And I have two fragments of her soul within me. Perhaps she believes I have no independent thoughts of my own. In addition, she must know that I saved her after Ishtar all but stomped her into the ground.

Perhaps I can use that leverage now.

I don’t bother to conceal myself as I make my way forward, still in my Creature form, toward the menacing hydra that threatens to exterminate the Pure and Dark Ones at the slightest provocation.

“Yes, I have brought them to you, Mistress,” I say with my trademark smirk. “Even if you used up most of your front-line army to draw them close, I think this is still a win. Nine Pure and Dark seasoned warriors to add to your store. Nine of the best.”

You neglected to convince my Enlil to join the group, she utters sourly in our heads.

I can see that everyone hears her thoughts as well as I do. They look between us warily.

“There’s always next time,” I placate. “For now, you have both your little sister, your beautiful prisoner, and their daughter and her Mate. Three animal spirits, not counting Ishtar’s, and two generals.” Not counting the Paladin, who should still be near death from his wounds hidden in the cave, I don’t add.

“What would you have to look forward to if I brought you all the tasty morsels at the same time?”

Something like a satisfied purr gurgles through the head on the right, igniting a rash of unpleasant goosebumps, like boils, all over my flesh.

Steadily, I draw closer, almost abreast of Tal’s group now.

I catch Ishtar’s violet leopard eye, and we exchange a silent communication. I only hope she understands what I need her to do. I hope she doesn’t believe Medusa’s words.

In her beast form, she communicates telepathically to her sister, and through the link I have with Medusa, I can understand her as well.

You will never take us alive, Anunit. I will never let you have him again, Ishtar growls.

Yes! Whether she’s doing it because of our exchange or simply because she’s Ishtar, she’s doing it—trying to distract Medusa’s attention.

The right serpent head twists toward her, locking Ishtar in its monster sights.

They exchange more mental taunts with each other, but Medusa doesn’t attack. She wants the warriors alive to turn. It’s ever much more fun that way.

I pay them no mind and hurry the last steps toward Tal.

As I pass him, I whisper urgently into his ear, “Take the right head. The left regenerates.”

I don’t wait for his confirmation of understanding or even that he heard me before yanking on the chain of Valerius’ unsheathed scythe and slicing my arm with it.

“Arrrgghhh!” I yell—because fucking gods! that hurt!—“look out!”

The right head swivels back in my direction, just as I intended, while Ishtar, Maximus and Ariel launch an attack from the Hydra’s left side.

The three beasts manage to gain claw-holds on the left Hydra neck and head, avoiding its fire-breathing mouth. They keep it busy while the right head focuses on Tal’s group, with Valerius and Cloud already in motion, leaping onto the