Darkness Everlasting (Guardians of Eternity #3)(62)

"Take it easy, Styx." The hand on Styx's shoulder became more a vise than a source of comfort, as if Viper sensed Styx's barely restrained need to rush into the night and tear the city apart in his search for his angel. "So far it seems that Salvatore has no intention of harming the young woman. In fact, I would say that he is as anxious to protect her as you are yourself."

"Ah yes, and I have done such a brilliant job of protecting her," Styx said in a biting tone. "I might as well have tossed her into Salvatore's waiting arms."

"Very dramatic, but hardly accurate. You simply did what you thought was best."

"The best for me."

"And what you thought best for all vampires?" Viper demanded.

Styx gave an impatient wave of his hand. "Yes, of course."

"Then what do you have to feel guilty over?"

"Damn you, Viper—" Styx began, only to come to a halt as he caught the unmistakable scent of vampire. "Someone is near."

Viper sniffed the air before a smile touched his face. "Ah, Santiago."

"What is he doing here?"

"He happens to be the finest tracker I have ever known," Viper explained, with a sudden smile. "Santiago can find Darcy, no matter how far or fast she has run."

The neighborhood on the outskirts of Chicago couldn't have been more different from the narrow, dingy streets Darcy had just left behind.

It was amazing what a few miles and several million dollars could do.

Here the streets were wide and decorously hushed with vast homes hidden behind high gates and ancient trees.

There wasn't even a stray leaf to mar the perfection.

Yow.

Still, Darcy was on guard as she parked the sports car on the corner and made her way to the large tree where Levet had directed her to await Shay.

Despite the horror flicks, she had discovered that any number of demons preferred luxurious surroundings rather than dark, narrow alleys.

She wasn't going to be caught off guard.

Reaching the tree, she wrapped her arms about herself as the cold seemed to seep into her very bones.

Dang.

She would trade her soul for a hot bath.

"Darcy?"

The voice came from directly beside the tree, and Darcy moved into the shadows to discover Shay waiting for her.

"I'm here."

"Thank god." Astonishingly the half demon reached out to pull Darcy into a tight hug. "I've been so worried about you."

Feeling strangely awkward at the open display of affection, Darcy glanced down at her rumpled clothes with a faint grimace.

"Despite appearances, I'm fine."

"We can easily enough take care of that," Shay assured her.

"Why are we here?"

Shay tilted her head toward the sprawling mansion down the street.

"We're actually going there."

"Wow." Darcy gave a shaky laugh. "It looks like a palace. Who lives there?"

"It belongs to ..." Shay broke off before she heaved a heavy sigh. "Well, hell, I might as well be honest. It belongs to Dante and Abby."

Darcy rolled her eyes. Did demons invest in every neighborhood in Chicago?

"Let me guess, vampires?"

"Dante is," Shay confessed. "Abby, on the other hand, is a goddess."

Darcy sputtered at the ridiculous claim. A goddess living in the suburbs? A soccer goddess?

"Now you're just ranking my chain."

"Yanking ... ?" Shay gave a sudden laugh. "No, I'm afraid not, but I do promise you that Abby doesn't act like an all-powerful deity. In fact, I predict that you're going to love her."

"You're serious. A goddess?"

"More precisely she carries the spirit of the Phoenix, which is worshipped by many. She is known as the Chalice."

"Can this possibly get any weirder?" Darcy muttered.

Shay reached out to press a finger to her lips. "The one thing I've learned over the past few months is to never, ever say that. It's like waving a red flag in the face of fate."

Darcy couldn't argue with that. "No crap," she said on a sigh.

With an encouraging smile, Shay took her hand and tugged her deeper into the shadows.

"This way," she whispered.

"Why are we sneaking around?"

"There are always vampires keeping watch on the estate. They claim that they merely want to protect Dante and his wife, but the truth of the matter is that all demons want to keep track of Abby and the spirit she carries inside her."

"Why?" Darcy demanded in confusion. "Do they worship her?"

Shay gave a small snort. "Hardly. She's capable of burning them to a tiny pile of dust with a mere touch. It makes them anxious to know precisely where she might be at any given moment."

Good choice. That was a heck of a trick.

"And she's married to a vampire? Is he suicidal?"

"Dante is many things, including the usual traits of a vampire." Shay ticked off the traits on her fingers. "Arrogant, controlling, possessive, and annoying as hell, but not suicidal. Abby is usually capable of controlling her powers, although there has been a singeing or two."

Darcy couldn't help but envy the goddess. She would give a great deal to be able to singe a vampire or two as well.