Page 31 of Hell’s Weapon

I can’t stop the snort of laughter that bursts from my throat. “I can handle Garrick, that giant pussy cat might head up your torture chamber, but he’ll soon realise I’m cleverer. Once you tell him who I am of course.”

“Fine, maybe it is better he knows.” Hades conceding surprises me a little but I don’t let it show. “Are you sure you’re okay with him knowing your true identity?”

“I’m sure he can keep a secret. If not, I'll take him for a flight. I hear cats really don’t like heights.”

Hades laughs this time.

“It will help me cut down the list a lot quicker if I can see the files for everyone,” I add.

“Okay, okay.” Hades raises his hands in submission as he stands. “We’ll play it your way now. But I want results before the second game begins.”

That gives me a couple of weeks. Doable.

“Fine.”

“Guess I better go give Officer Zephyr the good news then.” He moves towards the door.

“Tell your husband I miss him,” I say instead of goodbye.

“He misses you too, can’t bloody stop going on about Hallow’s Eve,” he says looking back over his shoulder.

Each year Khaos and I tend to cause more than a little trouble at the Hallow’s Eve party he and Hades throw for the elite of Elysium. Last year we slipped lust potions into several people’s drinks, it was hilarious.

I give Hades a shit stirring grin as I pull the maps back across the desk.

“Shouldn’t you be leaving soon? The morning shift around here starts early,” Hades asks.

“I’m aware. I’ll be out before they notice, don’t worry,” I tell him.

He simply gives me another eyeroll and leaves.

Chapter 12

Garrick

This has been one of the most stressful few days I’ve had in a long time. I want to shift and go for a run outside the compound but something tells me I really shouldn’t leave right now.

Instead, I’ve spent the last two hours in the Officers’ gym, pounding my body with the weight machines and practicing my knife throwing skills. I launch another dagger at the wooden board a hundred feet away. It hits the bullseye, which in this case is the drawn on left eye socket of the human shaped target. I’ve already placed a knife in the right one, and the heart and the neck.

Swiping the sweat off my forehead, I walk the distance to collect the knives, ready for another round. This whole thing has the very real possibility of going to shit. I thought we only had to be on high alert from an attack from the Angels. But clearly some jumped up little prick thought they could flagrant the rules of the games and start taking out competitors in the rest weeks. Unless it was the spy from the Heaven Realm that started murdering the contestants.

In which case we are double fucked because not only do we not have a clue who the perpetrator is, we have no idea how to stop it happening again. I’ve placed a few officers on double shifts for the next few days so we have more on patrol at all times but it’s not sustainable.

Unease sloshes like acid in my stomach. I’m meant to be in control here. If something gets fucked up, its on me. If anyone dies, it's my fault. Not that I really care for the victim from this afternoon but if anyone is dying around here it should be on my orders, or within the fucking challenges we’re setting.

I throw the first of the knives, launching it harder than any I’d thrown on the previous round. It strikes the wood directly where the base of the throat is. The dagger sinks in to the hilt with a crack.

One after the other I aim them down in a straight line. They all hit true. After the last splits the wood I rise out of the throwing stance, panting.

“Feel better?” A voice behind me has me spinning, and my claws almost pushing through my skin.

Instead of unleashing my pent-up fury on the officer that has dared to disturb me though I’m straightening before dropping my eyes. “Sir, I wasn’t expecting you to still be here.”

Hades stands before me in one of his perfectly tailored suits. The expensive black fabric somehow making his dark eyes shine like onyx, and his demeanour scream power. Not that he needs the suit to do that, the Lord of the Underworld is practically a god with the amount of magic he possesses.

“Relax Zephyr, I only came to check on you. How are you doing after today?” He leans back against the wall acting casual although he is the furthest thing from it.

“Truthfully, sir?” I ask, waiting for him to nod before continuing, “I’m pissed. With every procedure and safety measure we’ve put in, I am livid that we couldn’t stop this.”