CHAPTER 200

Both Sofia and Dana went into the house together, presumably to find Eulalie.

"I'm sorry, someone died?" Cyrus shifted back and forth on the fountain as if uncomfortable. "I would excuse myself, but..."

"One of our own crossed over." Suly put a hand on Mike's shoulder. "I'm not as sensitive as this lot, but I can feel yer grief. Ye have me condolences."

"Thank you." Mike sighed again. "I wish I had time for condolences, but we simply don't."

He spent several minutes explaining what had happened to the house, only to be interrupted by the surprise arrival of Asterion carrying Ratu. The naga greeted him with a kiss on the cheek and declared that she had sensed his arrival and wanted him to tell her everything. He helped her sit on the edge of the fountain as he started over from the beginning. He told them about the horsemen, the angel, and then Nesferisfet.

When he finished, he looked over at Ratu. "So I need to know what we can do to find the house and take out this priestess and the angel. And potentially the horsemen, if that's even possible."

The naga laughed. "To think I've spent the last few days lounging when the end times have been upon us. I would have worn something prettier." She waved her hand and summoned a silver goblet. "The answer to your question is that we've been busy here, trying to account for all possibilities. Our guest here has been a big help."

"Even with this damned bag on my head," Cyrus grumbled. "Your rat queen has insisted I wear it to protect sensitive information, but I know she's just doing it to hide her identity."

"Sorry." Mike looked at Naia, who gave him a nod. He reached over and undid the straps and removed the hood.

The old man beneath had a scarred face, his mouth falling open upon seeing Mike.

"Better?" Mike asked.

Cyrus looked like a fish out of water, his mouth opening and closing rapidly. He cleared his throat and sat up straight.

"I apologize for asking, but...you are a human, right?"

Mike nodded. "I'm supposed to be, but it's very complicated."

"What happened to your arm? That looks bad."

"Got into a fight with the Jersey Devil." Mike frowned. Dana claimed Cyrus was okay, but he wasn't about to go into more detail about Oregon with a stranger.

"Leeds, huh?" Cyrus shook his head. "That one is a real bastard. Hope you gave him hell, he's slippery. We've been trying to pin that one down for a bit, but he's been far too quiet lately, so fell to the bottom of our list."

Mike set his jaw. "Chances are good you'll never hear from him again. Ratu says you can help us?"

Cyrus waggled his hand. "I'm afraid I am of limited use in what you need to accomplish. I determined some time ago that your home was taken by stretching a dimensional gateway over it." He turned and pointed at the back gate. "Wherever that goes is where you will find your house and your people."

"That's easy enough. Naia? Gonna need that key in a minute." He turned his attention back to Ratu. "That's one problem down. What else do you have for me?"

The naga grinned. "I've got a magic sword that will cut through almost anything. That will be of some use."

Mike held up his broken arm. "I'm right handed," he said. "Afraid someone else will have to use it."

"Oh." The smile on Ratu's face faded. "I'm sure someone else can use it."

"Probably. Speaking of, I need to know who's going with me. If this fails..." Mike sighed. It wasn't just about the house anymore. The whole world was at stake, and all because some crusty bitch in a sarcophagus tattled on Death.

"We also have this." Ratu pointed to the spot near where Eulalie had been sitting. A large mace lifted off the ground and came to hover in front of them.

"Wait, I recognize this." Mike moved closer and held out his hand to touch it. The mace moved away from his fingers. "This was in the tower, right?"

"It was. The story about how and why it's here doesn't matter, but it is sentient and, I think, wishes to help." She tried to touch it, but it dodged away from her fingertips. "Hey, look, I'm sorry I didn't set you free last year. I didn't know."

"Ah, shit, that's right. I'm sorry, too." Mike held his palm out as if waiting for a dog to sniff it. "Do you wanna come with me and smash up some bad guys? Maybe save the world, rescue the princess? Princesses?" He just hoped there would be somebody to save once they got there.

The mace tilted forward and pressed its head into his hands, like a cat rubbing against its owner. He liked how the metal felt in his hands, and he gave it a squeeze.

"I think it likes you," Suly said. "I'm with ye, by the by. Can't have me favorite girl wonderin' why ye've come alone."

"I wish to come as well." Asterion's rumbling voice surprised Mike. Despite the minotaur's imposing size, it was easy to forget that he was there.

"I would assist as well, but am far from mobile." Ratu shook her head. "And if you are all passing through the Underworld, small and fast will be better. Those demons are likely to still be hanging around."

"Excuse me, demons? Underworld?" Cyrus looked gobsmacked. "What the hell have you gotten yourselves into?"

"You coming?" Mike asked. "Sounds like you know some things. You could be the Merlin to my Arthur."

Cyrus shook his head vehemently. "I lack the proper preparations to simply tag along where you plan to go. And if you must travel some distance, my stamina is not what it used to be and I may become a burden."

"Oh." Mike shrugged. "No big deal. It's just the end of the world is all."

"If I could do anything to help, I would," Cyrus protested. "But a large-scale battle against an angel is beyond me."

"How about dealing with a stolen car?" Mike pulled some keys out of his pocket and tossed them to Cyrus. "Won't bore you with the details, but our shortcut ran out of juice about twenty miles from here. Nobody plants the right trees in this neighborhood."

"Trees?" Cyrus looked confused, but Yuki stood behind him now, her hand on his shoulder.