Oh yeah, because Acheron Parthenopaeus had never minded his own business when it came to badass Daimons. "Seems I've heard that one before."
"Fine," he said, shrugging nonchalantly, "I'll take my unwanted information and-"
"I've already heard what the Oracles said."
"But you don't know the rest of the story," Liza interjected.
Acheron frowned at her.
"What story?" Kyrian asked.
Acheron took a piece of gum out of his coat pocket and unwrapped it. Meticulously. "You said you didn't want to know."
"Fine, I'll go after him without it."
As Kyrian reached the door, Ash's voice stopped him. "Don't you find it odd that Desiderius has powers beyond anything you've seen from a Daimon?"
"Oh," Kyrian said, turning back to face him. "Let me think. Yeah."
Liza sniggered until Acheron gave her a sideways glare. She straightened up, then burst out laughing. Excusing herself, she ran to the back of the store, and cackled.
Acheron watched her leave, then turned to face Kyrian. He sobered. "All right, here are the facts. It seems old Bacchus got horny one night and made out with an Apollite babe. Nine months later, she had Desiderius."
"Shit."
"Yeah," Acheron concurred as he picked up one of Liza's dolls she had fashioned to look like Artemis. He frowned at the startling likeness, then set her back on her shelf. "The good news is old Daddy Bacchus couldn't care less since he has bastards strung out all over history. The bad news is Desiderius was just a little ticked off that Daddykins doesn't care about the twenty-seven-year time limit on his life. Since he's half-god, he thought he should have a little longer life span than that. One, say, that reaches immortality."
"So, he turned Daimon."
Acheron nodded. "And with those added demigod powers, he is equal to us in speed, strength, and skills. And unlike us, he has no Code."
"That explains a whole lot, doesn't it? If you can't get back at the gods themselves, then go after those who serve them."
"Exactly. And we are prime Desi bait."
"One question."
"Answer."
Kyrian ignored his sarcasm. "Why does it have to be a Dark-Hunter with a soul who defeats him?"
"Because that is the prophecy, and you know how prophecy works."
"How do you know all this?"
Acheron looked back at the doll he'd picked up. "I talked to Artemis last night. It took a while, but I wormed it out of her."
Kyrian considered that for a minute. Acheron had always been the goddess's favorite Dark-Hunter. Her preference for Acheron had been a long-standing grudge in the hearts of many Dark-Hunters. But Kyrian didn't mind. He was grateful for the Atlantean's ability to find out information from Artemis and give it to them.
"You know," he said to Acheron, "one day you're going to have to explain to me this relationship the two of you have and why you're the only Dark-Hunter who can be in a god's presence and not get fried."
"One day, I might. But it won't be tonight." Acheron handed him a retractable sword and a throwing dagger. "Now get your ass back to bed. You have a job to finish and you need your strength."
Kyrian started away from him.
"Oh and Kyrian?"
He turned to face him.