Chapter three
Unknowingly, fate decided it wasn't done with her yet.
Because as soon as she made it to the French square, a terrified scream of a young girl reached her ears. Looking to her left into the alley she was about to pass, there was two men who appeared almost exactly like Donovon; tall, handsome and blonde.
Except their natural beauty was ruined by the cruel smirks on their lips as they were crowded around a young girl, no older than six. Her pale skin contrasted with her dark ebony hair but her eyes were not visible because they were squeezed shut in fear.
"Oh, saints help me," Sinsa sighed, sagging in resignation. "Ok, insanity be my guide, I guess..." She quickly pushed her way through the crowds moving in varying speeds away from the men, except one idiot who tried to save the girl. And ended up with a good look at his heart before he collapsed, dead.
And you're running toward this? Sinsa thought to herself. Well, it was better than letting the girl suffer the same fate.
Fate. Hah. She'd never feel the same way about that word after this...
"The hell are you doing, girl?" a smarter bystander called after her. She ignored him and darted across the square. The men... the Daimons, had their backs to her and she carefully ran on her toes, suddenly glad her heels were low enough that she could dampen the sound of her running, hiding it under the sounds of people running away.
Which is really what you should be doing, her self-preservation nagged. She sped up. As the Daimons reached for the girl, Sinsa straightened her shoulders, spreading them as wide as she could, and rammed between them, hitting one in the kidney, and the other in the hip, shoving both to the sides. Wincing at the pain screaming through her shoulders, she snatched up the girl and dashed around the nearest corner, cradling the girl to her chest.
"Now would be an excellent time to appear out of nowhere, Axel," she panted, slowing only enough to search for a hiding place. A chance glance over her shoulder made her heart sink; the Daimons were already following, hate blazing in their eyes. The similarity to Donovan made her stomach lurch, and she swore to every saint she knew that if she survived this, she'd apologize to Axel and do whatever it took to make it up to him.
The little girl clutched her jacket and was crying into her shoulder. For some unknown reason, the little girl gave off a strange vibe, something remotely similar to something she felt before. But she didn't have time to think as the Daimons were drawing closer.
"If you exist," she growled, picking an alley at random and running into it, "I could really use a little help here, stupid gods!" She bit back some rather creative curses as she realized she'd just trapped herself in a dead-end alley. Spinning around, she spotted the Daimons coming around the corner and tightened her hold on the girl, stepping backward until her back hit the wall. The Daimons saw that she had no escape and slowed, sharing a victorious grin. They each took a side of the alley, blocking any way out, and slowly moved forward, savoring their success.
"Well, looke here," one chuckled, cruel joy dancing in his eyes. "Seems a bluejay got caught in the mousetrap."
"Pity we have to kill it," the other agreed, sneering at Sinsa. "Think I could have a little fun with her first? I like terrified souls; they taste better and they're more filling." Sinsa gagged.
"God, do you have to be so fu-" Her gaze flicked down to the girl in her arms before returning just as quickly. "...freaking gory? I swear I'm going to lose everything I've eaten today."
"Hand over the girl, and we'll make your death quick and painless," the first said. "In fact, we can even make it rather pleasurable for you." Sinsa set the girl down and stepped between her and the Daimons.
"Yeah, I'm sure," she deadpanned. "Unfortunately for you, I don't like getting that kind of pleasure from strangers. And I rather like my soul right where it is, thank you very much." As she spoke, she cautiously felt around for something, anything, to use as a weapon. Her fingers met only cold, unyielding stone.
Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, she pleaded silently, HELP ME!
"When are you Daimons, demons and other low lifes who think they're badasses gonna learn to stop praying on the humans?" A familiar voice spoke up from behind the Daimons. The two men spun around to meet an extremely tall goth man with long black hair and red streaks.
"Damn it!" One of the blonde's cursed. Neither had time to make an escape before they were vaporized on the spot.
The little girl slowly opened her eyes from where she sat on the ground. Bright liquid Mercury eyes looked to the two piles of golden dust before looking up at the one who got rid of them. Her eyes started to water again, but this time in relief.
"Grandpa!"
Sinsa stared, breath catching.
"Glad you're safe, Sorcha," Acheron smiled as he scooped the girl up with ease. "Where's your father? And your mother? You didn't run away again, did you?"
Sinsa tuned them out as she took a moment to process everything. Trembles racked her body, partly from the fading adrenaline, and partly with the realization that everything Axel had said was completely true.
Her entire world suddenly seemed so tiny; if all those creatures and gods existed, what did that mean for her?
Well, for one, it meant she was about to try and pull her foot out of her mouth, possibly for the first time ever. Scratch that; her entire leg.
Sorcha smiled awkwardly. She knew she wasn't supposed to try attempting to go see her father on her own, but she couldn't help it. "Momma's busy on Olympus and Polly and Art are being mean again!" Using the nicknames she used for Apollo and Artemis since she hadn't been able to properly say the names when she was younger. She pouted. "bullies..." She muttered quietly.
Acheron sighed; though he didn't like having missed Katra and Kamali's younger years, it was times like this that he was almost glad of the fact.
"Alright, let's go find your father, then," he said, turning his attention to the woman whose brave actions had surprised him a little, only to see her on the verge of collapse. "Sinsa?"
She looked up sharply at the sound of her name. Acheron watched her with obvious concern and she managed a weak, faltering smile.
"Ah, I'm... alright," she said, feeling for the wall to support herself. She missed and stumbled, and abruptly Ash was beside her, steadying her with his free hand.
"I'm no doctor, but that doesn't look alright to me," he noted calmly. "Come on; I'm taking you to Tory."
"No, wait," Sinsa blurted quickly. "I need to see Axel first..." At the curious glance Ash gave her, she flushed sheepishly. "I, uh... I kinda need to apologize..."
Acheron raised a brow at her. "Dare I ask, what for?"
Sorcha looked at her curiously as well. What could she have to apologize to her dad about?
"Um..." Sinsa's copper skin looked burned, and continued to get redder. She couldn't meet the man's gaze, and she prayed desperately to the saints he wasn't the side of the family Axel got his godhood from. "I... kinda... slapped him..."
Sorcha's eyes widened in shock while Acheron simply shook his head and sighed.
"You're lucky you made it out of the building. He's normally good at reining in his temper. But unfortunately, being slapped is one of a few triggers that can set him off." He looked down to her again. "And correction, he is a full god. He gets his godhood from both sides."
A stunned pause was followed by Sinsa's attempt to shrink. She didn't get much of a chance to do anything before Ash flashed them both to Axel's apartment. He set Sorcha down just as she caught sight of her father and lit up like a Christmas tree. Possibly brighter.
They had appeared behind the couch where Axel had taken residence and there was a guitar in his lap, having paused when he felt them flash in. He turned around to see them and Sinsa took in a quick intake of air.
His sunglasses were actually off and showed the same eyes his daughter had inherited, only they were much older and narrowed into a cold glare as they meet her own green eyes.
I'm dead. She cringed, her gaze dropping to the ground.
"Daddy!" Sorcha greeted gleefully. Axel's gaze softened exponentially as he returned his daughter's hug, and then he put her aside.
"Hold on, baby," he murmured gently, stroking her head lovingly. "I've gotta take care of something first."
Sorcha didn't argue; she jumped off the couch and went back to Acheron, whose gaze went between Sinsa and Axel in mild amusement. As thought she completely understood what was going on, Sorcha took her grandfather's hand and pulled him quickly out of the room, leaving the other two alone.
"Axel..." Sinsa began, and then hesitated. How was she supposed to say this without sounding like a petulant kid who'd just gotten over a temper tantrum?
Axel turned back around, as if he didn't want to look at her. "Whatever you're gonna say, just spit it out." His voice held a sharp edge like a newly sharpened knife, the smallest nick of the skin could cause a bloody wound.
Yikes... One wrong move and she was sure he'd take her head of. Not that he needed to; being a god, he could probably extinguish her entire existence with a single thought. Shudder.
A new thought came to mind; if both parents were gods, who was Acheron? A minor god she didn't know? Or perhaps other cultures were real too, and he was a god from one of those?
Sinsa quickly pushed the dilemma aside; save it for another time, focus on not dying right now, so there is another time...
A moment more passed as she tried to choose her words. But none came; she'd have to just try, and hope he didn't hurt her too bad after.
"...I'm sorry," she whispered, voice breaking slightly. "I shouldn't have reacted the way I did, and I didn't know what slapping was to you. It was wrong to hit you, in any case, and... I'm sorry." Her past ripped at her, digging a hollow ache in her chest with the knowledge that he'd probably never want to see her again. That's how it usually went; everything was fine and dandy until she hit someone's trigger, even on accident, and then they shoved her away and screamed at her never to come back. She blinked back tears, her hands clasped tightly in front of her as she softly added, "I understand if you don't want to forgive me..."
She didn't even get to finish before he was suddenly before her and pulled her against him, his arms wrapped around her smaller frame and holding her. He buried his nose into her hair as his natural body heat sent goosebumps across her skin. The point of her voice breaking reminded him of how he had once been; alone and desperate. Wanting nothing more than just to be loved and never left alone. He held her tighter, not wanting to ever let go.
"Just please... Don't do it again." He spoke in a husky whisper.
For a long, stunned moment, she didn't move, absolutely floored by his reaction. She wasn't sure whether to run away screaming, or bounce up and down, or just plain hug him back. Settling for the last, she slowly, tentatively lifted her arms and pressed her hands to his wide, warm back. When he didn't pull back or push her away, her hold tightened, relief filling her in a gentle flood that soothed her raw nerves.
"I won't," she whispered, so softly she wasn't even sure she'd said anything. "I promise."
He smiled against her hair and simply continued to hold her for a moment. Then he wondered about something and pulled back enough to look down at her, but not letting go. "How in the name of Apollymi did you run into my daughter?"
Pink blossomed in her copper cheeks.
"Ah... That's actually why I came back," she admitted sheepishly. "A couple of Daimons were ganging up on her and I tried to help." She made a face, wrinkling her nose in annoyance. "Fat lot of good it did; your dad had to save us both."
He laughed. "Not unheard of. Dad does have a bit of a saving people thing going on." Then he noticed a look of curiosity cross her face, as if she had something she wanted to ask before but didn't. "What?"
"...Your dad... He's a god, isn't he?" she asked. " What culture? And, I hesitate to ask... How old is he? I mean, if you're eleven thousand years..." She paused. "Eh, hold on; that fact is still processing... But, if you're that old, how much older would he have to be? And here I believed the Christian's view of the world only being a few thousand years old..."
Axel nodded and tried to fight back a grin. "Try not to faint. But he's Atlantean. As I understand his God name is Apostolos and is the God of final fate. Basically the harbinger of the apocalypse if you will." He ran a hand through his hair as if thinking about it. "Well, as the son of the Great Creator and the Great Destroyer, I can see why he is. And he's only 193 years older than me. Blame my mother, she is pretty much a total bitch to everybody."
"Ugh... My head's probably gonna explode before I come anywhere close to fainting," Sinsa groaned, leaning her forehead on his shoulder. "Atlantean? Great; another myth that's not so fake for me to process... Just how many cultures and religions are real?"
"All of them." He ran his fingers through her hair. "It's kind of funny how we all exist in the same world."
"No kidding," Sinsa said, laughing softly. A new thought jumped into her mind. "Does that mean Simi's a goddess? Somehow, the idea of her as an all-powerful being is a little terrifying..."
Axel shook his head. "Simi is what is called a Charonte demon. Demon protectors of the Atlantean Parthenon. They are fierce and deadly. And are also known to age 1 year to every 1,000 years." He chuckled a little. "While she isn't a biological child of my father's, she's the oldest child than even my sister Katra. Who is probably the only one who can still stand our mother... but not by much with the recent crap she's pulled." The last part he muttered more to himself.
Suddenly curiosity, Sinsa cocked her head. "Who's your mother?"
He growled quietly. "It's not you." He explained at her frightened look. "I don't have any love for the woman. Never have, never will." He let out a slow sigh. "Artemis. Apollo's twin sister."
"Whoa, hold on," Sinsa said, shaking her head in surprise. "Artemis? As in, the moon goddess of hunting? As in, the virgin goddess?"
"Yup. Though she hasn't been a virgin in over eleven thousand years. Trust me." He grit his teeth. "I know."
She pressed her fingers into her eyes, trying to press back the impending headache.
"I think I need a break," she groaned. "From reality, would be nice..."
Axel seemed to gain an idea as a small smirk worked across his lips. "Hold that thought just a moment..." His tone had gone to a mischievous, sly and purely sexy tone.
He let go of her long enough to go to the doorway of the other room, mostly to ask his father to watch Sorcha for the night. At which, he got tease from his old man not to be too loud about it before taking his granddaughter. He rolled his eyes but the smirk was back by the time he turned around and came back to Sinsa's side.
Sinsa waited patiently, obliviously curious. Admittedly, the lithe movements he made to and from the door drew her gaze up and down his well-formed figure. 'God' took on new meaning now; she wondered if all gods were as sexy as him.
He gave her a predatory grin as he placed his hands on her waist, slipping his fingers just under the hem of her shirt to tease her skin. His lean hips gently pressing hers into the wall behind her. He leaned in till his lips hovered over her ear. "I'm sure I can take your mind off everything..." She could just hear the smirk in his voice.
"Wha-b-b-b-b!" Finally getting it, she quickly slipped out under his arm and darted over so that the couch was between them. She flushed head to toe, ears and nose turning redder than roses and even her arms darkening with blood pumped by a fluttering heart. "I didn't mean like that, pervert! I'm not that easy, jerk, and you've got a wife!"
Axel rested his hands on the back of the couch as he gave her a slightly annoyed look. "No I don't. I was married once, but I've been divorced for a little over four years."
Sinsa's mouth opened to reply, but she stopped, considering that.
"Oh."
"Yeah." Sitting on the back of the couch and stretching his arms over top of his head, subconsciously caused his tanktop to ride up and expose a washboard stomach.
She blushed again.
"Would you stop that?" she scolded, facepalming to avoid staring. "I like you, but I'm not going to sleep with you; that's got to be earned."
He gave her an innocent look. "What? I can't stretch?"
She gave him a bland stare, trying to ignore the heat pulsing up and down every nerve in her body. A moment later, she raised a finger.
"We're moving on," she said in a tone that brokered no arguments. Turning, she glanced around for her purse. "What's your favorite restaurant? Preferably an affordable one; dinner's on me-where the hell did I put my purse?"
He gave a soft whistle to attract her attention, which she now saw it hanging by two fingers out to her. "You kind of threw it when you marched out like a preteen." He gave a sly smile as he watched her ears turn red. "And I'm easy. Sanctuary is really the only place I go to here in New Orleans."
"Well, that's good," she said, trying to remain calm as she took it. At least, outwardly. "Sanctuary is pretty good. So-" A ping from her purse cut her off. "Hm?" She dug her phone out and promptly almost dropped it. Four missed calls, three voicemails, and half a dozen texts, all from the lady who was supposed to interview her.
"Shit!" Sinsa groaned, drooping. "My interview!"
His head tilted slightly to one side. "What job were you applying for and what place? I might know them and can give them a reasonable excuse as to why you couldn't make it." At her questioning look, he shrugged. "Like you found one of your friends wounded and emitted them to the hospital, but they didn't make it. It's not completely lying but it bends the truth enough that it's believable."
"Yeah, not happening," she scoffed. Sighing, she clicked through the messages, deleting them after the last one said someone else was in line for the same position and they'd have to bump her off the list.
"It's probably a good thing," she said, tucking her phone back into her purse. "I wasn't sure I wanted..." She stopped, blinking. "Hold on; you might know them?"
He gave her a look. "Eleven thousand year old god over here. I do have human friends. And yes, a handful do know what I am. But most of the ones that know work for Dark Hunters in the area."
"Dark-? No, never mind," she said, putting up a hand. "I'm overloaded enough as it is." Taking a deep breath, she let it out between her teeth. "Can you get us to Sanctuary without crashing?" Oh great, did her voice seriously just squeak?
"If you're up for it. I know an easier way." He held his hand out to her.
She hesitated, drawing her hand up to her chest uneasily. he gaze skipped from his welcoming hand to his gentle eyes.
"Er... It's not gonna, like, make me sick or anything... is it?"
He shook his head as he made a pair of sunglasses appear in his other hand before putting them on. He may of gotten used to her seeing his eyes, but he still wasn't going to go out in public with everyone able to see them.
"Ok, I'm trusting you," she said, sliding her hand into his and closing her eyes tightly. "Please don't be lying..."
He smiled and flashed them to Sanctuary, to a spare bedroom on the second floor set aside for anyone coming in by other means than their own two feet. He squeezed her hand. "You can open your eyes now."
"...different," she hummed, glancing around. "Your dad's was more like... fluid. Yours was just a... a... displacement, I guess?" Shaking her head, she moved for the door. "Whatever; it didn't make me sick, so we're all good."
Just as she opened the door, three bear cubs shot past, yowling in a way that sounded suspiciously like laughter.
"Get back here, you little brats!" a woman shrieked, but there was no venom in her words, only playful annoyance. "I'm gonna...!" The person attached to the voice stopped short when she caught sight of Sinsa, blue eyes widening in surprise. Sinsa was immediately jealous; the woman had long blonde hair and perfect porcelain skin, the kind she knew she could never have.
"You're not...!" the woman began, looking like she was about to sound the alarm, or attack, or both.
"It's alright, Aimee," Axel said, stepping out behind Sinsa. "She's with me." Aimee's gaze flicked to him, irritated.
You of all people should know better than to bring humans here, Dark-Hunter! she sent to him mentally. Sinsa sensed a silent argument and wisely kept her mouth shut.
Now he looked slightly irritated. You're one to talk. This IS a bar and a Sanctuary Aimee. Besides, she already knows. He let out a sigh. "Front door next time." Was all he said before he turned away from the Were and gently pressed his hand against Sinsa's back to lead her down the hall and around the corner before going downstairs. Once they had reached the bar area, Axel rolled his eyes at the song playing since Aimee obviously told whoever was at the door.
"Who the hell's idea was it to choose that song?" He quietly asked no one in particular.
"Yo, Ax!"
The Altantean/Greek god looked up to see a man with brown hair and bright blue eyes waving him over from the bar. He chuckled and lead Sinsa over. "Hey, Nicky. Long time no see."
The Cujan rolled his eyes. "Speak for yourself, old man." He smirked when Axel flipped him off.
"I'm not that old yet."
"I beg to differ..." Sinsa muttered under her breath, rolling her eyes. Before either man could comment, she moved on. "Ah, Nick Gautier, right? I've heard a lot about you, from a lot of people, and not all of it good." She smiled sweetly. "How much should I believe?"
"Depends on the person." He shrugged. "Course of its this one." He hooked a thumb to Axel. "or his old man, chances are most of its true."
"Really?" Sinsa gave him as flattering a look as she could. "I guess that means I should be watching my back, then?" Her smile turned utterly innocent. "I mean, we can't take a chance on you grabbing my ass or anything, now can we?"
At this both, men laughed.
"I don't think you'll need to worry 'bout that honey." A new voice spoke up. When Sinsa turned to see who spoke, she immediately felt envious again.
The woman was about twenty one and stood five foot nine and had a gorgeous athletic build and black/dark brown hair with natural red brown highlights. Her skin was pale almost like snow, but her eyes were a vibrant shade of lavender. Like Axel and Acheron, she seemed to fully support the goth movement.
Maybe it was just envy of the woman's skin, but Sinsa's proverbial fur bristled. Probably it was the possible, if unintentional, slight toward her figure.
"Is that so?" she chuckled, hoping the icy note wasn't noticeable. "And why's that?"
She grinned. "Cause he's my boyfriend."
Axel raised a brow at Nick. "So you finally asked her out?" His tone had gone to a playful tease which caused the Cajun to blush.
"Oh shut up."
Emily chuckled and kissed his cheek. "And his momma raised him right, so you don't have to worry about it."
Sinsa immediately relaxed and her smile turned warm again. A case could be made that she actually liked the woman.
"Thank the saints for small blessings," she said, and then held out her hand. "I don't believe we've met; Maxima Sinsabaugh. Call me Sinsa."
Emily grinned and shook her hand. "Emily Potter-Snape. Yeah, I know I got the Harry Potter names." It was noticeable that she had a slight British accent. "My mum went a little nuts with naming me."
"Oh please tell me your mother's obsession didn't put you off the Harry Potter books!" Sinsa exclaimed, excited. All jealousy and ice vanished under the force of a possible common ground on her favourite series. "I am absolutely in love with them!"
She laughed. "Nah! I will say my favorite characters are Severus Snape, the Weasley twins, their older brother Charlie and Lily Potter!" She grinned. "As the wife of a Marauder, you would think she'd have to be a least a little mischievous to get back at the boys. And ironically my mum's name is Lily."
"Seriously?" she beamed. "I envy you!"
A deep, sarcastic sigh from Nick cut into the conversation, and Axel, through some inexplicable male intuition, picked up his thought.
"Should we leave you ladies alone?" he asked, only to have the last word muffled by Sinsa's fingertips and sharp "Shh!"
"Never interrupt Potter fans, Axel," she tsked. "Just... Bad idea. Especially if they're both women."
Emily gave her friend a sly smile. "Oh, he knows better Sinsa, especially after I kicked his ass the last time." Her grin widened at the god's blush. She looked to her Potter fan mate and winked. "Yeah, I kicked an eleven thousand year old god's ass."
Sinsa's laughter rang high and clear, much higher than one would expect given her 2nd-alto-ranged voice.
"I officially love you!" she giggled, throwing her arms around the woman's neck and kissing her cheek. Then she glanced over at Axel, who looked like he was trying to decide whether showing his embarrassed annoyance would be worth the possibility of injury. A mischievous gleam sparked in her eyes and she slipped around behind Emily, putting the woman between her and god in question. "If he comes on to me again, would you mind kicking it again for me?"
Emily laughed. "Sorry, but I'm taken. And I'm not interested in a threesome." She joked. Then she grinned again. "I got a better idea; me, you and Simi all team up and drive him nuts."
Nick smirked as he looked at his friend. "You are so screwed."
"Shut up."
Sinsa lit up, ideas already forming. A flash of midnight blue on copper caught her attention and she glanced over automatically, expecting a mirror. What she saw, or thought she saw, stunned her into speechlessness. With a choked gasp, she stumbled into the bar, eyes widening in shock.
"Sinsa?"
She didn't know who said it, but a flicked glance told her all three of her companions were worried. She ignored them. Shoving off from the bar, she shouldered her way between the patrons, muttering apologies and following the tail end of a tan leather trench coat that vanished out the front door.
God, please don't let my eyes be playing tricks on me! she pleaded as she slammed through the door and tripped, tumbling down to the sidewalk and scrapping her knees and palms. The injuries throbbed, but she blocked out everything as she jumped to her feet and cast around frantically for the person who couldn't possibly have been there. Tears choked her; there was no sign of the one she couldn't have seen, the sister who'd never woken up.