Varu glared at them both while Khent ignored them, gathering his dead servants. He sent two new crows ahead through the portal Mormo had crafted into the floor, which should take them to an area just outside their target in Magnolia. “I’ll scout and await you at the witch’s home.” He transformed into an owl and followed them.
Hecate had felt the presence of a demon god the second the creature entered the mortal plane and directed them to the home Sabine owned in Magnolia. “It’s a sure bet Kaia is there,” she’d said before disappearing to handle more disasters flaring around the many crossroads she guarded. Apparently, all the demon activity was stirring chaos between the realms.
Mormo looked around at the remaining Night Bloode. “Rolf, I think we need you on the island. There’s too much to fight there.”
Rolf groaned, waved, and walked through the portal Mormo directed him to. It disappeared.
Mormo continued, “Varu, Kraft, Khent, and Orion, you four will have to handle Pazuzu. I need to help my mistress. The foul energy from Hanbi and Pazuzu’s machinations is spreading, creating chaos. That’s why Hecate’s so busy lately.” Confirming what Orion had thought.
Mormo swore and vanished then quickly reappeared and grabbed Orion by the arm. “Do not give it what it wants or it wins. But you may be able to bargain with Pazuzu.” He vanished once more and didn’t return.
“No idea what that means, but Kaia is hurting.” It took everything inside Orion not to fly into a rage and go straight for the demon’s throat. Then the witch’s.
“Steady,” Varu ordered. “We go in. You focus on your mate. We’ll handle the rest.” He then reached into his heart, his hand disappearing inside his chest, and removed three Bloode Stones.
Kraft gaped. “That’s not freaky as shit. No, not at all.”
Varu let go of the power gems, which floated in the air before him. “Find Fara. You can’t stay with me when we encounter the dark ones. Go.”
Orion shook his head. “You keep getting weirder, Varu.”
“I know.” Varu smiled, showing sharp fangs. “Now let’s go kill what needs killing.”
“Finally.” Kraft darted to the portal on the floor, swearing in German about slow-ass vampires as he crossed.
Orion followed.Get ready, Kaia. I’m coming.
He appeared behind Kraft, who knelt while Khent flapped his wings and settled on a tree branch, magnificent in his eagle-owl form. They looked to be in someone’s backyard overlooking the water. The scent of demon seemed distant, as did the scent of his mate.
Varu appeared, and Khent shifted back into his human form to report, “Kaia lies upon an altar, being drained of her blood in a ceremony of some kind. The demon Pazuzu is there, as is Sabine Belyaev.” He blinked, his eyes completely black, staring through the eyes of his scouts. “I see several lycans inside, all tainted with the sea witch’s power. I don’t know if they’re willing servants or enslaved.”
“Try not to kill if you don’t have to,” Varu said, and everyone stared at him in shock. “Only because we need that artifact the lycans have that leads to the fourth Bloode Stone. After we have it, I don’t care who you kill.”
Orion nodded. That made sense. But he’d come to the end of his patience. “I’m going after her.”
“Go.” Varu nodded to the house. “We’ll deal with the rest.”
Orion followed the source of his heart—his mate—and bounded to the rooftop of a very nice home clouded with dark energy. He spotted Kaia immediately, but before he could rescue her, that bastard Pazuzu, from his dream, was there in his monstrous form. Upon spying Orion, he shifted so that he looked like a man, the darkness of his features fading, along with his wings, tail, and monstrous dick behind a gray suit.
The rain and wind didn’t touch him.
“So, my payment arrives.” The demon turned and frowned at the empty deck. “Tricky sea witch, to leave when I’m just getting started.” Pazuzu sighed. “Ah well. So, Orion of the Night Bloode, you have come to fulfill the bargain the sea witch made.”
“I’ve come to take back my mate and cut your fucking head off.”
Pazuzu grinned. “A fight then? Excellent. I haven’t had one of those in eons. You have no idea how boring the afterlife is.”
“Don’t you mean hell?”
“I wish.” Pazuzu sighed. “Irkalla is the afterlife, where the dead go to roam. It’s nothing but dust and ash at home. I rarely get the chance to come out and play.” He spread his arms wide. “Yet here I am, ready to change it up. So here’s the deal. I was promised your bloode. If you give it willingly, I’ll let your mate go and stop chewing on her soul. If not, we fight. And by the time we’re done, I’ll have eaten her up. She’s delicious, by the way.”
Orion glanced at Kaia and saw her wan features and fading essence in danger. “I’ll kill you.”
“Boy, you can’t,” Pazuzu said, almost kindly. “I have been alive for thousands of years. Even if my body leaves this plane, it will go back to Irkalla. I am destined to guide and guard the lands of my people. But with Kaia’s soul, I’ll have enough power for a quick rebirth.”
“Why are you telling me this?” Orion had no idea what his kin were up to, but Pazuzu needed to be stopped.
“Because I feel cheated, to be honest.” Pazuzu removed a handkerchief from his inner pocket and dabbed at his mouth. “She is tasty.” He turned it to show Orion a hint of blood.
