Free Dark Descent - [Nyx Fortuna 02] by Marlene Perez

“He’s particularly interested in our bottling division.”
    “I’ll bet he is,” I replied. The Fates had been trying to manufacture ambrosia, also known as nectar of the gods. Mortals would and had killed to get their hands on a way to stay young forever.
    “What did you want, son of Fortuna?” she asked, but I ignored the question for one of my own.
    “So what happened to Mr. Foley?”
    “He died,” she said. “Why do you ask?”
    “Seems to be one of the hazards of the job,” I said.
    She gave me a level stare to let me know she wouldn’t be prodded into revealing anything else. “Is there something you wanted?”
    “I found Claire,” I said. “At least I’m pretty sure I know where she is. But I need your help.”
    “Where is she?”
    “I think Hecate has her.” I expected her to freak out or something, but she didn’t even blink.
    “Then fetch her.” Her lips pressed together tightly. She wasn’t as calm as she tried to appear.
    “That wasn’t part of the deal,” I objected. “How do you expect me to bring her back from the land of the dead?”
    Morta gave me a look that would have chilled the bones of a mortal man. “That is not my problem. I have no power there.”
    Her lips curled like it hurt to say the words. Maybe it did.
    “You’re asking a lot of me.”
    “Your beloved, is she not worth it?” she asked.
    “She’s not my beloved anymore.” I shifted uneasily at the knowing look in her eye, but Morta didn’t comment on the pathetic state of my love life. Elizabeth had been the means to an end for her.
    “It is settled, then,” she said.
    “How did the Fates manage to trap Hecate in the underworld?” I asked.
    “None of your business,” she snapped. “I wouldn’t put it past you to free her just for spite.”
    “She can’t be much worse than you three,” I muttered, but Morta heard me. She looked at me with more contempt than usual, if that was even possible.
    “You have no idea,” she said. “Whatever you do, do not set Hecate free and fulfill the prophecy.”
    “I don’t believe in the prophecy,” I said. I folded my arms across my chest.
    “Then you have nothing to fear, son of Fortuna,” she replied, but she didn’t seem to believe her own words.
    She refused to call me Nyx. It had been her mother’s name, my grandmother’s, and I’d appropriated it a long time ago. I don’t know why I kept using it, except it fit me now. And it pissed Morta off, which was always an added bonus.

Chapter Twelve
    On Saturday, the pawnshop was full of window-shoppers who spent hours looking at the knickknacks. Talbot watched them with an eagle eye, but I was bored.
    “I’m going back tonight,” I said.
    “I don’t think that’s a good idea,” Talbot said.
    “I don’t have a choice,” I said. “Deci doesn’t let the Book of Fates out of her sight and Morta refuses to help me.”
    “But Claire’s her daughter,” Talbot said.
    “Doesn’t seem to matter right now,” I said. “And if I can’t get her out of Hecate’s clutches on my own, my aunts will hunt Elizabeth down and hurt her. They probably already know where she is.”
    “Then I’m going with you,” he replied.
    “Talbot, haven’t you noticed? People get hurt around me.”
    “That’s life, Nyx,” he said. Then he slapped his hand on his head. “I forgot. I’m supposed to go out with Naomi tonight.”
    “Then go,” I said. I was relieved. I didn’t want to have to worry about both of us getting out of there alive.
    “No way,” he said. “I’ll make up an excuse.”
    The store finally emptied out about an hour before closing and Talbot flipped the sign over and locked the door.
    He laughed at my surprised look. “Nepotism pays sometimes.”
    *
    I parked the Caddy a block from Hell’s Belles and we walked the rest of the way. We could have hoofed it, but I liked knowing I had a quick getaway if I needed it. The restaurant’s sign was in sight when I realized there was a flaw in