Page 88 of Hell’s Half Acre

“And I was born from the belly of a woman who wasn’t my mother.”

Sorcha gaped. “Wait. What?”

“My mother was a goddess. She removed me from her own stomach and placed me into that of a human. Gods are capable of all manner of bullshit.”

Apparently. “And you really didn’t know?”

Acheron shook his head. “I knew something wasn’t right, but I had no idea until my powers came in. I thought my adoptive parents were my biologicals.”

That really screwed with her head. If Acheron, with all his powers, had been clueless, what did it say about her? “Do you think that happened to me?”

“I don’t know. There is an old power in you. That much I know. Why it’s there or even how…” Acheron sighed. “I hate when I can’t see someone’s future or details about them. There aren’t many creatures with those powers. You are one of them.”

Awesome. That was the last thing she wanted to be. Invisible to the one person who might be able to help her.

“Were you ever pursued by a god?”

Acheron let out an evil laugh. “I was pursued by an entire pantheon.”

Chapter

Seventeen

Luke cursed as he teleported to the top of Mount Aconcagua. Of course, the friggin Chthonian would choose a freezing place in the Andes to call home.

Manifesting a parka, he still felt the cold all the way to his soul.

“I hate this fucking world.” Why did it have to get this cold?

Every part of his body shivered. He doubted if he’d ever be warm again.

Think of Sorcha.

Naked.

He was so cold, even that didn’t help.

As one of the seven natural wonders of South America, this mountain was impressive. The tiny ledge where he stood was on the steepest face of the mountain. It was an incredible view, and he’d appreciate it a lot more if he wasn’t freezing his balls off.

Damn it!

At first, he didn’t see anything other than rock and snow. It wasn’t until the faint rays of dawn touched the mountain’s face that he saw the glimmering doorway.

Hopefully, it was warmer inside than it was out here in the wind.

Ducking in, Luke cursed again. Of course, it was colder than a witch’s tit in here.

Why?

He held his hands up to his mouth and blew into them. Yeah, he was wearing thermal gloves and what he did was pointless. Didn’t matter. He just wanted to be warm again.

“Who are you?” The voice rumbled through the glassy walls.

“Xynzara, son of Samael.” Normally, he hid his name from strangers. But there was no need to do so here. Not when he needed the ancient being’s help.

“Why have you come?” This time it was an eerie whisper that rushed up and down the chilly walk and echoed all around him.

“I’ve come to speak to the Chthonian Ecanus.”