Going Thru Hell by T. J. Loveless Read Free Book Online Page B

whispered.
    They barely stopped from grabbing me, sporting lost expressions.
    “It would be really nice if the two of you could shut your traps. This headache is going to murder me if I don't get some rest.” I shuffled to bed, gently laying down and rolling away.
    “We're sorry. Only one will remain here until you have recovered, Kylie. We won't disturb your rest.”
    For the next day and night, I remained in the fog of dream and hallucinations. Voices sounded distant, movement in the room shadowed and blurry. I imagined the smaller version of Tiamat hovering over the bed, Anahita in her true form, and the picture of a see through, bright neon blue bear pacing in front of the bed. Bodily needs prevented a thirty-six hour nap, but otherwise I remained under the duvet pretending the rest of the world didn't exist.
    “Come, Kylie, you must wake. You cannot hide from reality any longer.” Aki's voice slipped through a dream about Channing Tatum, a beach filled with bars , and a buffet that wouldn't cause bigger thighs.
    “Yes, I can.” Muttering about interfering males, I snuggled deeper into the bed.
    “No. You stink more than a medieval matron, I believe your curls are going to stage a revolt and, frankly, I am tired of watching you snore.”
    I sat up and glared at him through wildly kinked hair. “I don't snore.”
    “Like a bloody freight train.”
    My nose pick ed up the rich, dark, bitter smell of Anahita's coffee. I resembled a bloodhound, sniffing the air, feet attempting to run a marathon to the source. I landed in the carpet. My face didn't sting. Feeling the skin, the wounds from the major rug burn were healed. Clumsily scrambling to my feet, I pushed Aki aside and made for the tiny coffee pot next to a new mug. Shaky hands poured, added powdered creamer, three packets of sugar and I nosedived into caffeinated bliss.
    “Are you done with the pornographic noises over coffee?”
    “Hell no, now shut up.” I held a hand up in his direction, gesturing for silence until I finished every drop of three heavenly mugs.
    “Am I allowed to speak now?” He crossed his arms, glaring at me.
    “Do I have a choice?”
    “No. Things have worsened.”
    “They always do. What's your point?”
    “A few pantheons speak of warring in the mortal world.”
    I closed my eyes, the thought of an immortal war in the mortal world forcing my heart to skip a few beats. “Which ones? Surely not Greek.”
    “No. Some in the Norse pantheon of my ancestors, a few Asian, two from South America.”
    “Bugger.”
    “Yes, that sums it up nicely.”
    “Get out so I can get dressed.” I stood and grabbed clothes out of the suitcase and stalked into the bathroom. The lock had yet to be replaced and I didn't bother trying to shut the door. Aki didn't leave and could be heard muttering about dirty sheets.
    I had a few ideas to stall the immortal plans. Quite a few owed me serious favors. The one thing I could count on, gods hated owing debts to mortals.
    I’d held the debts for fifteen years, saving for a moment when I truly needed them. The problem would be forcing repayment.
    Showered, hair pulled back and
dressed in jeans, boots and oversized t-shirt, I ran out of the room and upstairs to the roof. Aki's heavy footsteps sounded, as he muttered about the rashness of the female gender. I reached behind me, flipping him the New York State Bird.
    Bursting through the door, I looked into the sky. I had a favor to call in, and knowing the furry immortal, he'd make me beg for what was mine in the first place.
    “Fenrir, you owe me!” I yelled at nothing in particular.
    “You are not calling on the wolf!” Aki tried to pick me up, but I struggled and accidentally grazed his groin. He fell to the ground, rolling back and forth, yelling in a foreign language. I'd never been so glad to understand only English and couldn't help laughing. I'd finally managed a little revenge for his overbearing bullcrap.
    “Still clumsily fighting your way