Stryker resisted the urge to be an "I told you so." "What do you want?" he asked War.
A wry grin taunted them. "Simple, really. Your lives."
Stryker returned that look with one of his own. "And you'll release them."
"Of course."
All three of them shook their heads. They knew better. Stryker met Ash's gaze, then Nick's. He saw the same determination in their eyes that he was sure he had in his. As painful as it was, they weren't here to fight for the dead.
They were here to fight for the living.
Inclining his head to Ash, Stryker held his hands up and blasted War with his powers. Ash joined him.
"Kat!" Ash shouted, summoning the others.
They appeared instantly.
War laughed as Ker multiplied and a bright flash lit the entire cemetery. The ground below them shook, knocking all of them off their feet.
"Stryker!" Ash shot a blast at him.
Instinctively, he rolled out of the way, thinking Ash had intended to hit him. It was only after it passed him that he realized Ash was aiming for a demon. Stryker flipped to his feet and ran for War.
He didn't make it. Two of the Keres caught him about the waist and threw him back to the ground. There were hundreds of them. Overwhelmed, he glanced to Katra who was being beaten down by them. As she reached to drain one, three more would appear.
He felt the color fade from his skin as he saw the same realization on Ash's face that he felt.
They couldn't win this.
Not with Ker in the fight. Her ability to replicate negated anything they could do. The Greek gods were surrounded. Both Ash and Nick were pinned down every bit as badly as he was.
War laughed, his voice ringing out. "Bow down to me and I might let some of you live . . . as my slaves."
ZEPHYRA CAME OUT OF HER CHAIR AS SHE SAW the imminent death of Stryker. "No," she breathed, her heart shattering. She couldn't lose him now. Not after she'd just learned to love him again.
She looked up at the ceiling as anger burned through her. The gods had played with their lives enough. "You bitches better back off my man," she growled at the Fates.
Her resolve set, she went to Apollymi to do the one thing she'd sworn she'd never do . . . beg a favor.
TORY PACED THE SMALL AREA IN FRONT OF SAVitar's office while Simi and Xirena watched TV. She had a bad feeling that she couldn't shake. Something was wrong, she knew it.
A fissure went through the hallway. Turning, she hoped to find Acheron there. Instead, it was a woman whose head didn't even reach Tory's shoulders. Tory stepped back, ready to battle her.
"Relax," the woman snapped. "My name is Zephyra and I'm Stryker's wife."
Tory gaped at the angry-sounding declaration. "Why are you here?"
"Our men are about to die, and if you're even half the woman I'm sure you are, you'll want to help me save them."
She had a moment's hesitation as she realized that this could very well be a trap of Stryker's. But Zephyra's demeanor was too sincere and there was fear in her eyes Tory was sure couldn't be faked. "Absolutely."
"Then come." She held her hand out.
Tory didn't hesitate to take it. In the next moment, they were in New Orleans again. That wouldn't have been so bad had they not landed in the middle of a blood bath.
Gasping, she ducked as a screaming bird woman dove at her head.
Zephyra growled as she manifested a sword to fight the Keres with. "Jared!" she called, summoning her slave to her side.