Fangs and Fennel (The Venom Trilogy #2)(13)

“I am. I thought I should introduce myself. I’d like to discuss the situation we find ourselves in. You see, I need to kill you to be free of the bonds Hera has placed on me. You obviously want to cause chaos and destruction wherever you go, which in and of itself is not something we can have in the world.” He dusted off the arms of his suit.

“What, you aren’t just going to try and cut me in half like Achilles?” I kinda hoped he would. We could fight right here, get it over with.

Funny that I just assumed I would win if we battled on the steps of the courthouse. Maybe I was getting prideful. I’m sure that’s what my mother would say.

There must have been some hint of my thoughts in my face. Theseus smiled again. “Oh, I don’t want to fight you yet. Achilles is a fool, nothing more than a meathead, and really, he underestimated you. It’s a flaw of his, one that has hurt him in the past.”

“You mean the whole heel issue,” I pointed out. Theseus laughed softly, and I wasn’t sure just what was happening. This felt too . . . conversational. Too much like he was trying to be my friend. I didn’t like it one bit. “Aren’t you supposed to kill me and get it over with?”

“Not this time. You’ve upset Hera. You made her look like a fool. The other gods are laughing at her, something she can’t stand to have happen.”

Remo stepped up, putting himself a little in front of me. “So you want to make Alena suffer for surviving Achilles?”

Theseus pointed at Remo, a red ruby on his index finger glinting. “Now you begin to understand.”

“And you wanted to shake hands with me why?” I didn’t know how to handle him. With Achilles, things had been straightforward. He was a bad guy, with thugs, and he’d stolen my brother and threatened to kill him as well as making an attempt on my life.

Theseus was being far too rational for my liking. Far too calculating.

“Ah, because, while I know in the end I will end up killing you, I wanted to see you first. I understand part of Hera’s hatred better. You rival her beauty. Shame.” He smiled and took a step back. “Be assured, my beautiful snake, you will see me again when you least expect it.”

“And then you think you can kill me?” I couldn’t help the confidence I felt, and I knew it came through in my voice. “Achilles thought the same thing, and look where he is now. In a home for the mentally insane.”

Theseus nodded. “But Achilles was a mere human with extraordinary gifts. I am a demigod, Alena. Immortal. You are not immortal. You can be killed.”

His words sank into my heart like lead stones. Immortal. That single word took the stuffing out of me.

He gave me a mocking bow from his waist, flourishing with both hands. “Until we meet again.”

A burst of light exploded at his feet, and I reeled back with a cry. Remo caught me a second time, his head tucked against mine. Blinking, my eyes watered like mad, and my vision slowly came back online. Theseus was of course gone.

Remo’s face was bright pink on one side, a flash burn. I reached up and touched it. “Are you okay?”

He winked, wincing with the movement of that side of his face. “I could use a little color.”

I cleared my throat and looked around us. No one seemed to notice that we’d had a strange visitor who’d just magically exploded out of existence.

Remo snorted softly. “People are blind to what they don’t want to see. Easier to pretend supernaturals don’t exist in their perfect little world, that they all live on the other side of the Wall.”

“Kind of hard with me,” I muttered.

He smiled. “True.”

People gave us—no, me—some strange stares. No doubt the robe was confusing. Not exactly what I would call high fashion, even in an eclectic city like Seattle.

Finally the adrenaline began to slow in my veins, and fatigue washed through me. That and hunger. Something about fighting and shifting left me ravenous. I could have eaten a whole cow. I blinked and shook my head. Bad image when the Drakaina in me all but nodded at the thought.

“Don’t think about Theseus; there is nothing you can do, and worrying won’t help.” Remo strode at my side, keeping our pace up and really partially helping me walk as I leaned against him.

“Is that how you are dealing with Santos?”

His hold on me tightened ever so slightly. “No, that is not how I’m dealing with Santos.”

I wanted to ask how he was going to deal with the other vampire, but I suspected I already knew. “Why is he fighting with you? Is it just territory he wants?”

Remo sighed. “Yes, among other things.” He paused, and I could almost feel him thinking, like he was trying to figure out how much to tell me.

“I could just ask Dahlia,” I pointed out.

He grunted. “She’s a turncoat.” There was no heat in his words, though. “Santos and I go way back. We have been at war for years. He wants what I have: power, respect, influence, and territory. But he won’t go out and make it for himself.”

I thought about what he was saying. “The power . . .”

“The number of vampires who work for me is the main source; they all bring certain abilities and talents, and I put them to work in different areas. I’m particularly good at understanding where to place people to get the best out of them.” For a moment I thought of Dahlia and her friendship with me. Surely she wouldn’t be my friend only for Remo. He continued.