Chapter 10

CHAPTER 10

After the concert, Tyr escorted Celeste backstage, where he introduced her to the band. They were as amazing as their music. Friendly, welcoming, and all-around a bundle of fun. Celeste thanked them a dozen times for giving her a ticket.

“Anything for Tyr,” said the drummer. “I mean, he’s the God of War, right?”

The band laughed, and Celeste peeked up at Tyr to gauge his reaction, but he seemed to take it all in stride.

Hephaestus lounged on a deep couch with several band members, chatting and smiling. The gentle giant looked right at home with them, and she wondered how his relationship with his own family was after so many centuries. She knew the legends, but… how could anyone not like him? He was like a huge teddy bear.

One of the band members led Celeste over to their instruments. It made her wish she’d learned to play something instead of just listening.

“You can still learn,” said Johan.

True. Now that she’d gotten out from under her mother’s thumb, she supposed there would be time for her to do everything she always wanted to.

Celeste’s neck prickled, and she peeked over her shoulder. Tyr leaned against the wall, drinking a beer, his gaze trained on her. A shiver raced over her, and she flushed. How could one man be so damn sexy without trying? No swagger. No posturing. No fake charm. Just being. Living. Breathing.

His expression gave nothing away, but she swore she caught little flecks of gold in his eyes, and she wanted more than anything to discover what they meant.

After almost half an hour of Celeste gushing over the show, Brothers of Metal gave her a t-shirt and CD and signed both before saying their goodbyes.

Celeste hated to leave, but they had to be exhausted from such a performance. She got exhausted from talking to people. She couldn’t imagine ever getting up on a stage and doing what they did for over two hours.

As she, Tyr, and Phes walked through the sparse crowd toward Tyr’s car, Celeste couldn’t help the buzz that still lingered from the music.

“It was the coolest thing I’ve ever done. Can I play the CD in the car?”

Tyr smiled. “I don’t have a CD player, but I can hook up my phone, and we’ll listen that way.”

She and Hephaestus chatted as they walked across the parking lot. Celeste hugged her new t-shirt to her chest. She didn’t want the night to end. She’d never had such an awesome time. Not only did she get to go with the super-hot Tyr, but she got to meet Hephaestus, who she decided had to be the best Greek god ever, hands down. The mythology books didn’t do him an iota of justice.

She smiled at the signed CD, but an icky sensation slithered up her spine, stopping her dead. She sucked in a breath, but she couldn’t pinpoint where it came from.

“What’s wrong?” Tyr questioned.

She shook her head. “I need to let down my shield.”

Tyr glanced around. “Are you sure? There’s a lot of people here.”

She nodded. “Something… doesn’t feel right.” She had to find out what. She wasn’t trapped in her mother’s house anymore. And her dad wasn’t there to protect her. She had to learn to use her powers, one way or another.

Tyr moved her to his sports car, and he and Hephaestus stood on either side of her. She took a deep breath and let her mind shield drop. Hundreds of voices flooded inward.

“Breathe,” said Tyr. “Breathe. We’re right here.”

She nodded and closed her eyes, letting her mind travel out over the cars and down the row.

“That was an epic concert.”

“Damn, I am so wasted I shouldn’t drive.”

“I wish I’d gotten the number of the cute guy in front of me.”

“I can’t wait to get this little cutie back to my place. I’m gonna tie her up and do all those things I’ve wanted to try. It doesn’t matter what—” The slimy feeling oozed down her spine again, and her stomach roiled as she caught the disgusting thoughts. She bit the inside of her cheek as he cataloged in his mind the steps he needed to go through to abduct the woman.

She grabbed Tyr’s arms.

“What is it?”

“There… There’s a man, but I’m pretty sure he isn’t a man.” She shook her head, trying to pinpoint the thoughts. “The things he’s gonna do to a girl he’s following… I?—”

“Where?” Tyr growled.

She shook her head again.

“Focus, Celeste. Where is he?”

She pushed away all the voices in her head except for the one she searched for. The sick sensation rolled over her again, and she focused harder. A moment passed, and then another.

Her eyes flew open, and she whirled around. “There,” she pointed. “They’re up there.”

She dropped the t-shirt and CD and took off so fast that Tyr yelled her name. It didn’t matter. She had to get to the woman. Had to help her before it was too late.

Celeste dodged through the lingering patrons and pushed past a couple, getting to their car. She ignored people’s protests, swearing, and the ache, which had returned to her body as she raced to the end of the row. She scanned both ways and spotted them. A long, red-haired woman walked arm in arm with a blond man.

“Celeste—”

“That’s him!” She pointed.

Tyr grabbed her around the waist and pulled her back against him. “Wait here.” His breath tickled her neck. He squeezed her hip. “I mean it. Stay put. We can handle this.”

He nodded to Hephaestus and strode off for the couple.

Celeste started forward, but Hephaestus caught her.

“You need to listen to him. We have no idea what we’re dealing with.”

“I have to make sure the woman is okay.” She wrenched free and moved toward where Tyr had stopped the couple.

Anger and frustration wafted off the man. The woman seemed confused. Celeste locked her shield back in place to hear the actual conversation.

“Piss off,” said the man. “Go find your own date.”

“I’m not looking for a date. I’m looking to get this woman home safely.”

“Yeah, sure you are. Come on, sweet thing, let’s go.”

“Uh… I… um… what did you say your name was again?” She stepped sideways away from the blond man.

“You don’t know him?” Tyr questioned.

The woman shook her head. “He offered to help me find my Uber.”

“Ubers are back by the building.”

The man stepped up to Tyr and tried to shove him, but Tyr didn’t move an inch. Without warning, the man’s entire body changed from a cute frat boy to a blue scaly monster with deep red eyes.

He hissed at Tyr.

Demon!

Tyr carefully positioned himself between the demon and the woman. She cocked her head to the side as if listening, but she didn’t scream. Had the woman already known he was a demon?

The demon slashed and spit at Tyr, but it was futile. Within a quick strike and a spin Tyr must have done thousands of times, he had the demon pinned to the ground with his knee in the demon’s back and his metal hand gripping the demon’s throat.

The demon spit and clawed at Tyr’s arm. The leather glove melted away, and his metal hand sizzled.

Celeste rushed to the woman’s side and took her hand. “It’s going to be alright.”

“What’s going on? Who are you?” The woman turned to Celeste.

Celeste patted the woman’s soft hand. “I’m Celeste, and as crazy as this is about to sound, that man wasn’t taking you to an Uber. He is a demon who wanted to hurt you.”

“A demon?” The woman faced Celeste, but her gaze didn’t quite hit Celeste’s eye line.

“I know you don’t understand. Just know we’re here to help. I promise. We want to keep you safe.” Celeste lowered her shield and allowed the woman’s mind to touch her own. She sent calming, peaceful vibes to the woman, and the woman’s hand relaxed in hers.

“What… What are you doing to me? Are you a psychic?”

“No. I’m not psychic. I’m… showing you I’m telling the truth. That you can trust me.”

“I knew that the moment you took my hand.” Her eyes drifted toward where the demon had stood a moment before. “I just don’t understand why I couldn’t tell he meant me harm.”

“What?”

A bright light flashed, and Celeste covered the woman to shield her from the glow, but the woman didn’t move.

Tyr moved to Celeste. “We need to go.”

His blood-red eyes jerked involuntarily.

Tyr’s brows knit together, and he turned his back to her. She wanted to apologize, but he stepped away.

She looked to where the demon had lain moments before, but only scorched asphalt in the shape of his body remained.

What in Yggdrasil had Tyr done?

“We should go,” Tyr repeated. “Before we attract any more attention.”

“We can’t leave her here,” Celeste replied.

“Fallon,” said the woman. “My name is Fallon.”

“Fallon, do you have a car?” Tyr refused to meet her gaze.

She chuckled. “Why would I have a car?”

Tyr glanced at her, perplexed for a moment, then at Celeste, and quickly away.

The idea that he felt the need to hide himself from her slammed Celeste in the gut.

“So, you can drive home?” said Tyr.

Fallon laughed again. “That would be interesting for me to try.” Fallon widened her eyes. “I’m blind.”

Blind? No wonder she hadn’t reacted when the demon had changed form.

Tyr nodded as if he should have realized it before. “We need to get you out of here. Where there’s one of his kind, there are others.”

His words were a punch to Celeste. “His kind?” she spat.

Tyr looked at her, confused for a moment, and then recognition dawned on his face. His eyes edged back to their murky, unfathomable deep color. “Fear demons. I mean, fear demons. They feed off people’s pain.”

“I wonder if that’s why I couldn’t get a read on him,” said Fallon absently. “Because he was a demon.”

“We’ve told her too much. She needs to get home before shock sets in.”

“I’ll take her,” said Hephaestus. “Back to the Ubers, I mean.”

Fallon turned toward where Hephaestus stood. “I wondered if you were going to join the party.” Her peachy lips parted into a smile, and her freckled nose crinkled.

Hephaestus’s eyebrows smashed together. “Uh… Sorry.”

Celeste wasn’t sure about letting Fallon go yet, but the beautiful redhead stuck her hand out in Phes’s direction.

“I’m Fallon.”

He took her small hand in his massive one. “Hephaestus.”

She smiled. “Like the Greek god of metalworking. That’s so cool. You know, he was given a raw deal in the myths, if you ask me.”

Hephaestus shot her an awkward smile.

“Hephaestus is a friend of ours. Would you be comfortable with him getting you to your Uber, or do you want us all to go together?” Celeste asked.

Fallon laid her hand on Phes’s forearm. “No need. I’ll be safe with your friend.”

Again, a myriad of questions flooded Celeste. “Do you have a cellphone?”

Fallon reached into her pocket and pulled out a larger pink, glittery phone with bigger than normal buttons and raised numbers on it.

Celeste looked at the phone, only to realize she didn’t have a phone anymore. She held it out to Tyr. “Can you put your number in so she can text us when she gets home?”

Tyr opened his mouth but closed it and nodded. “Of course.”

Fallon had yet to let go of Hephaestus’ arm.

“You can call me tomorrow or the next day if you want,” said Celeste. “Maybe we can have lunch.”

Fallon smiled. “I’d like that. Thank you all so much for your help. I don’t know what I would have done if you hadn’t been here.”

Tyr handed her back the phone, and Fallon and Hephaestus moved a few steps away. Phes stopped and jogged back, pulling something out of his jacket. “You dropped your merch. I didn’t want anyone to take it.”

Celeste took the items and smiled. “Thank you, Phes. It was great to meet you. I hope to see you again soon.”

He gave her a strong, one-armed hug. “Absolutely.”

Hephaestus strode back to Fallon and offered her his arm. “Don’t screw it up, Tyr. She’s a keeper,” he called.

Celeste blushed and had to duck her head to keep Tyr from seeing the smile that spread across her face.

Tyr splayed his hand on the small of her back and led her to his car without a word.

Celeste chewed her lip, trying to decide how best to approach the subject of his eye color.

“Fallon’s gonna be alright, right?”

“Hephaestus will die before he lets anything happen to her on his watch.”

“I wasn’t implying he would do anything. I meant the demon. He can’t come back for her, can he?”

“There’s no coming back from where I sent him.”

“Good.” Celeste thought about Tyr’s words. “Hephaestus will die before he lets anything happen to her on his watch.”

She pulled to a stop. “Wait. Hephaestus is an immortal. He can’t die.”

He finally looked straight at her again. “Then I guess she’s safe, isn’t she?”

He opened the car door for Celeste, and she slid into her seat. The noise of all the people dropped away as soon as the door closed, and Celeste relaxed.

They drove in silence for a long time. As they neared the portal, Celeste realized they were going to go back to the Underworld.

She gazed out the window and let her mental barrier down. She shouldn’t have done it, and she knew she shouldn’t have. He would be mad she went up there, but she couldn’t help but try.

“Papa?”

She waited, the portal coming into view.

“Papa, are you there?”

The silence that stretched out from her call made Celeste’s heartbeat quicken. Why wasn’t he answering?

They’d almost made it to the portal.

She threw out a call as wide as she was able. “Dad! Where are you?”

Seventy yards.

“Sylax!”

Sixty.

Forty.

Twenty.

“Celestine. I feel you, girl,” came a familiar voice.

Celeste gasped and threw her barrier up.

“Is something wrong?”

She shook her head as they entered the portal and roared through the darkness.

The sound of the voice reverberated in her mind. I feel you, girl. I feel you, girl. I feel you, girl.

Fear trickled down her spine. It wasn’t possible. It wasn’t… Please, no. Don’t let her find me. Don’t let my mother know where I am.