“Here we are,” Darius said as he opened a door to an airy sitting room.
A statuesque woman sat in the center of the room. She was dark-skinned, full-figured, and drop-dead beautiful. Behind her, gauzy curtains floated on a gentle breeze; the scent of cinnamon riding in with it. She sat on a divan, but there was a pair of chairs across a short coffee table from her; both done in rattan and linen. A woven carpet covered the ground and the wallpaper was made of woven reeds. Two large windows framed a dramatic African landscape; giving her the perfect backdrop of flat-topped trees, golden grass, and roaming wildlife.
“Hello, Niyarvirezi,” Demeter greeted her friend as she wandered in.
I followed Demeter, but as I passed Darius, he whispered to me.
“Help us.”
I glanced at Darius in shock, and he widened his eyes at me before he ran away. A shiver of pain and fury ran through my body as horrible images bombarded me. Not all of them were memories exactly, some were memories of stories that had been told to me. I suddenly knew what kind of a woman Niyarvirezi was, and I hated her with every cell in my body.
But I smiled as I approached her and held out my hand. “I'm Vervain.”
“A pleasure to meet you, Godhunter,” Niyarvirezi said. “I've heard some good things; at least today I have.” She turned her smile to Demeter. “My friend here says that you wish to help her avenge her daughter's death.”
“Persephone was my best friend,” I said softly. “As much as I'd like to claim Demeter's friendship as well; I'm not doing this for her. I want vengeance for Persephone.”
“See?” Demeter said to Niyarvirezi. “We can trust her.”
“In this, at least.” Niyarvirezi nodded. “All right, Demeter; you have my support. What's the plan?”
“Actually,” I interrupted. “After you left, Demeter, I was able to sway Hades into action. He's currently gathering an army to take into Tartarus.”
“How were you able to do that?” Demeter gaped at me.
“I lied,” I said simply. “I told him that I saw Nyx watching Persephone and me when we were out shopping the day before she was murdered.”
“I like your spirit, Vervain,” Niyarvirezi said. “Perhaps after the battle, you can join Demeter and me for a private celebration.”
“If you mean with your lions; I'm married, but thank you,” I said.
“Your husband doesn't have to know,” Niyarvirezi said with a smirk. “My men are very discreet. They're slaves, really; they won't say a thing. And most of them haven't had a woman in years; they'll be clawing at each other for the chance to have you. It does wonders for the ego.”
“I love my husband.” I shook my head. “And I'm a one-man kind of woman.”
Alaric's laughter filled my head, and I grimaced.
“A shame.” Niyarvirezi sighed. “My lions could have changed your whole world.”
“Sorry to interrupt this awkward conversation, but do you have a restroom I could use?” I asked.
“Of course,” Niyarvirezi said. Then she shouted, “Darius!”
The blond man returned nearly instantly. He must have been standing guard outside the door.
“Show our guest to a bathroom,” Niyarvirezi commanded.
Darius bowed and waved his arm out of the door. I got up and followed him from the room. As soon as we were far enough away to not be overheard, I stopped and turned to him.
“You have a broken lion here, right?” I asked him.
Darius' eyes widened, and he whispered, “Insane; yes.”
“What's his name?”
“What? Why are you—”
“Tell me his name!” I hissed as I grabbed Darius' shirt.
