CHAPTER 205

"Your magic is all over the place, lover." She grabbed his face with her hands and pulled him close. Nebulous clouds of red and purple floated ominously in the distance as if watching them. "Let's see if we can't set you right again."

And when she pressed herself into him, he felt their souls mix and spin. It was new, yet familiar, and the distant clouds broke apart into stars that doubled in number the ones he could already see. Each one sparkled as if polished anew, and his soul filled with light.

Mike arched his back as he groaned, then came hard inside of Naia. A magical wave of light radiated outward, scattering the levitating water droplets. The resulting spray soaked everything around them as it was carried along by both his magic and Naia's. The swirling core in the center of Naia's body unleashed a beam of light in the direction of the wrought-iron gate. It glowed briefly, then faded back to normal.

The ground around the fountain vibrated as he caught his breath, his limp body being squeezed between Naia's legs as she held him close against her skin. Below them, Amymone was gasping for air, her arms shaking.

"That was hot and all," Amymone said, breaking the silence. "But after that orgasm, I'm tired of being your furniture."

"You have the personality for it." Naia laughed as she slapped her sister on the ass, causing Amymone to squawk. "Maybe I'll have Mike polish you later."

"Holy shit," Mike muttered, gasping for air. His heart pounded as he slid out of Naia and fell into the remaining water of the fountain. Amymone stood, causing Naia to tumble over and transform back into water on impact with the ground.

"Here, let me help." The dryad pulled Mike to his feet and helped him to the edge of the fountain. He thanked her and got out, his legs shaking beneath him. "Do you think it worked?" she asked as Naia reformed behind her.

"I really hope so."

He walked toward the edge of his yard as the others came out of the house behind him. Up above, the clouds were building up into a massive thunderhead, one that Quetzalli would have been proud to spend hours detailing to him.

Once at the gate, he touched the bars again and stared through them, willing the land beyond to change.

His senses expanded once again, but this time, he felt the magic wrap itself around the stone fence as the forest beyond filled with fog. A shape moved among the trees, and the three-headed human form of Cerberus emerged.

"You are back," they said, each of them looking hesitantly out into the fog. "Things are wrong in here."

"How so?" he asked as he pulled open the door.

"The gate was gone," they told him as they walked forward and pressed against his body. He could hear them inhaling his scent, and then a triple sigh of contentment followed. "The demons were chased away. It has been too quiet."

As he held them, he felt a presence deep in the fog of the Underworld. It was a sensation similar to waking up to an imaginary sound, or thinking someone had called his name. When he concentrated on it, he had no doubts that it was the house he was feeling. His magic practically sang now, his whole body vibrating in anticipation.

Even though it was some distance away, he could feel the house approaching. Up above, the gloomy skies of the Underworld had become stormy like the clouds over his house. The horsemen were coming, and it was time to stop them. If they managed to make it back to Earth, it was game over.

"Well?" Yuki stood behind him now, her face serious.

"I can feel it," he replied, then pointed. Asterion and Sulyvahn appeared, the latter astride his dark horse. The dullahan's spinal-column whip was coiled up in his hands and Asterion's axe was strapped to his back. They all looked at each other, and Mike nodded. "It's time to go."

Cerberus transformed back into their animal form and both Mike and Yuki mounted her. Mike used his fingers to blow a piercing whistle. He wasn't certain where the mace had been hiding, but it shot toward him from over the roof and landed in his outstretched hand.

"We need to stick together," he told the others. "This place is dangerous."

"I've got this 'un's back," Sulyvahn replied, then patted Asterion's shoulder. "Ye just need to lead the way to our girl. Don't wait on us."

"Will do." He stared into the mists and scowled at the dark shapes that flitted within them. Anything that tried to stop them was about to have a very bad day.

"Wait!" Ratu stood at the gate with a scowl. "Don't forget this!"

She held up Harpe, which had been wrapped in a thick blanket. Mike took it from her, then contemplated the blade. He couldn't use it, and nobody else seemed that interested in it.

"Suly? Can you carry that?" he asked.

"Don't know that I'm much fer the sword," Suly grumbled in reply.

"I'm out of hands is all. Maybe someone at the house can use it?"

Suly laughed so hard that the seam in his neck spilled black smoke. "Oh, I be likin' that plan, I do!" He grabbed the blade with his free hand and tucked it under his arm. "I'll try not teh fall on it."

Mike nodded, then looked over at Yuki. She was clutching Cerberus' fur tightly in her fists.

"Ready to be my weapon?" he asked her.

"Fuck yeah," she responded with a grin that showed all her teeth. Her features became feral, her face elongating slightly as Cerberus dashed forward into the fog.

Together, the group disappeared into the mist.