Chapter 39

"Pulkovo Airport, St. Petersburg, Russian Federation."
"Yes, very good, Vervain."Horus patted me on the head. "That's where we are. Maybe you can learn your Arithmetic next."
"Sorry."I shrugged and gestured to the view before us. "I was having an X-Files moment. It felt as if the scene could use some groovy subtitles to let the audience know where we are."
Where we were, was standing off to the side of the main terminal of Pulkovo; watching people come and go through the glass doors. Some looked exhausted, some excited, but none of them looked like the guy I'd seen in Blue's head. I frowned as I watched a tall woman dragging an overstuffed, brown suitcase behind her. It was so strange to have arrived at the airport without actually stepping off a plane.
"Where's this guy supposed to be?"Brahma sounded bored.
"He should be walking through those doors at any second."I pointed toward the entrance of the parking garage. "And there he is!"I grabbed Thor's hand and started walking briskly, but casually, after Medvedev's man.
The man's eyes were glassy and his movements robotic. He banged into the shoulder of a red-faced man bundled in black fur and barely noticed. The fur-pile yelled something nasty after him, but he just kept walking. He was obviously under Blue's control already which meant that Blue was probably somewhere nearby. All we had to do was stop him from planting that bomb without alerting Blue, and we'd be golden. No problem.
We entered the parking structure right behind Blue's zombie. It was Brahma, Pan, Persephone, Thor, and I. Horus was out flying recon around the airport, and Teharon was on standby with Ull, Finn, Mrs. E and Mr. T at Bilskinir. Thor had thought that too many of us would draw unwanted attention. As if he didn't draw attention all on his own. Please. His height alone was worth a second look. Although, I have to admit that in Russia it wasn't as unusual as it was in Hawaii.
Medvedev's man headed toward priority parking which was a row of sleek black sedans and limos. One red Porsche stood out like a whore in church, but he passed it by; heading for a limo on the end with tinted windows. When I saw how far ahead of us he'd gotten, I started to jog. How had he moved so fast?
"Excuse me,"Pan called over to the man. "Do you speak English?"
The man shot an alarmed look over his shoulder and then ran the last few steps to the limo. In a move any pro-baseball player would admire, he slid the last bit and disappeared under the car.
"What the hell?"I looked up to where I knew the security camera would be and sure enough, it had been focused right on the guy as he made his home-run slide. "Thor, we gotta get rid of that security tape. There can't be any evidence pointing to the Prime Minister."
"Brahma?"Thor turned to face the Hindu god.
"No problem."Brahma smirked as he faded into invisibility.
"Now what?"I grimaced as the bomber ran off, having completed his mission.
About ten feet away, his steps faltered and then he stopped altogether. He looked around in confusion before starting off again in a much slower shuffle. He was going to be annoyed when he saw that big oil stain on the back of his coat.
"You don't happen to know how to defuse a bomb, do you?"Persephone asked, her voice muffled by the huge scarf she had wrapped around her face.
"Not one of my skills."I sighed.
"What did you see happening next?"Thor asked me.
"The driver comes in from there."I pointed at a door on our left. "He picks Maria up in front of the airport, and they make it down the main road about a mile before the car explodes. At least, that's how Blue envisioned it."
"Okay, hold on while I contact Horus."Thor's forehead creased. "He's on his way."
"Why do we need the bird-brain?"Pan stuck his hands on his hips and pouted. He looked pretty cute in his cold weather gear. His hair was desperately trying to escape the confines of his knit cap and his thin frame looked good with the added bulk of his gray down jacket.
"Because I'm the only one who can fly,"Horus answered smugly from behind us.
"Big deal,"Pan huffed, not the least bit startled by Horus' amazingly fast arrival.
"It's a big deal when we need someone to steal a limo and then fly out the window while it's still moving."Thor clapped a hand on Pan's shoulder. "We don't have time for this. Go, Horus."
Horus nodded and ran for the car. Within minutes, he was driving out of the parking garage. I felt immediately relieved. For the moment, Maria was safe. Stranded at the airport for a bit, but alive. Horus would drive the limo into a ditch and fly away unharmed. Everyone would be fine.
I smiled a bit as I watched the driver walk into the parking garage and start searching about for his missing limo. He made a frustrated motion with his arms and stalked away; muttering to himself.
"Trust me, buddy, you're better off."I chuckled.
"Hello, little witch."
We all spun around to find Blue leaning casually against the cement wall; one leg crossed over the other. He'd somehow managed to sneak up behind us. I threw my hands down, grateful that I had my full combat gear on beneath my coat; gloves, sword, knife, black leather, and my heavy boots with the hook blades in the heels. I was all set for any hurt he tried to dish out.
"Calm yourselves."Blue was wearing blue; a wool and fur coat. His hair gleamed darkly against the bright cerulean. "You won this round; I concede."
What do you want?"I started forward, but Thor stopped me with a hand on my arm.
"It looks as if you've chosen lightning over lust."Blue's mouth twisted as he stared pointedly at Thor's hand.
"Lightning over bloodlust, you mean,"I growled.
"Did you wear that coat to match your new name?"Persephone asked Blue with a sweet smile. Oh, that girl was dangerous.
"No, to match my mood."Blue grimaced at her before looking back at me. "I've been so melancholy lately. Don't you want to cheer me up, little witch?"His voice oozed sarcasm and snark, but his eyes were intense. Oh, this guy did not like to lose.
"Actually, I want you to drop dead."I started forward again, and again Thor held me back. I pulled my arm away but stayed put to add, "And I'd be happy to help you with that."
"I just want another taste."Blue pushed himself abruptly away from the wall, and we all tensed. He smiled like a shark circling prey as he looked me over slowly. "Your blood is better than ice cream"-he licked his lips—"better than anything I've ever known."
"The line is love, not blood,"I shot back. "Don't fuck up Sarah's song."
"Love or blood, it doesn't matter; I'll have them both from you."He took another step forward.
Thor stepped between us. He didn't say a word. He didn't have to; the lightning in his eyes said it all.
"Have you tasted her yet, Thunderer?"Blue licked his lips again. "She tastes like midnight; dark and sweet."
Thor frowned until he realized it wasn't my blood Blue was referring to. The air went still and crisp; static sparking like fireflies. My hair started to lift in the breeze and thunder boomed somewhere above us. I wanted to throw up all over Blue's shiny black boots.
"Sounds like a no."Blue peered around Thor as if completely undisturbed by Thor's thunder and focused on me. "So, you haven't decided after all."
"Oh, I've decided all right."I edged out to face him. "I've decided to kick your ass before I kill you."
"You don't mean that, little witch."Blue's eyes went soft and for a second I thought I saw a glimmer of hurt. "When you gave yourself to me, it was the most beautiful moment of my life. Tell me that it meant something to you as well."
Pan, Persephone, and the recently returned Brahma gave gasps of various degrees, but Thor just grew more still. A snowstorm began to rage outside; sending icy flurries into the parking garage. I spared a moment of concern for the planes trying to land before I rounded on Blue.
"I didn't give you anything, you malicious son of a bitch. You mind-raped me, and now you want to mess with Thor's mind too by throwing it in his face!"I felt my body go cold beneath my warm layers and it had nothing to do with the storm.
Some people feel anger as intense heat, some shake with the rush of adrenaline, some even cry as they throw punches. I get cold when I need to fight. Not numb, just a light chill that steadies me. Cold enough to kill. I'd worry about morals later, after I got warm again.
"Oh, but you did."Blue's eyes brightened. "You told me you were mine. I'm holding you to it."
"It was a dream; a dream which you controlled!"I wanted to cut off his smirking lips and stomp on them. "You manipulating, evil—"
"Enough!"Blue held up a hand. "I can wait. A woman always changes her mind."
Then he was gone.
"Not this woman!"I shouted at that empty space but then Horus flew right into it and hovered there as he changed back into his man form.
Horus smoothed out his ruffled fur coat, took in our tense expressions, and shrugged. "It's done. Relax."