Gone God World Urban Fantasy Series: Box Set: (Books 1-3 plus a Bonus Novella) by Vance R. E

Author:Vance, R. E. [Vance, R. E.]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Publisher: Keep Evolving Studios
Published: 2017-10-24T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 8

Trumpets, Trumpets, Trumpets

We got back to the others, who were still waiting at the back entrance. Astarte leaned against a squad car in all kinds of wrong ways, casually tossing car keys in her hand and making the simple act seem like tantalizing foreplay. And it was working—Enkidu was crouched on the hood of the car, his head resting on Astarte’s shoulder, watching the keys go up and down, up and down … and drooling.

Atargatis, on the other hand, was already in the car, sitting—like the debutante she was—completely unimpressed by the scene and eager to get going. As soon as I emerged, Astarte tossed me the keys. “What?” she moaned. “I don’t drive.”

“Fine,” I said.

Medusa got in the passenger side while Astarte and Enkidu squeezed in the back with Atargatis. Everyone was silent.

“So,” I said, breaking the tension with an easy question. “Who’s going to blow the horn?”

“Me!” Atargatis and Astarte said in unison.

“You bitch!” I couldn’t see which one yelled it out, and they both sounded so similar. It didn’t really matter. They were both thinking it.

“You always steal my glory.”

“And you always shirk your responsibility. Even if I gave you the trumpet—which I’ll never do—you’d probably discard it to have a romp on the beach!”

“Sex on the beach is undignified—too much sand! And secondly, you know damn well why I didn’t show up.”

“Why? Because of him?” Atargatis pointed at Enkidu.

“Yes. And Gilgamesh.”

“That human? Why? He was nothing but a mortal. We could’ve been gods!”

“Because—”

“Because what?”

“Because I LOVED HIM!”

Atargatis stopped speaking, gobsmacked by her sister’s confession.

“I loved him. I knew that if the Assyrian pantheon ascended, Chaos would rule and he would be lost.”

“You’re … you’re serious,” Atargatis murmured.

Astarte nodded.

Atargatis smirked. “The Queen of Lust, the great succubus Astarte, loved?”

“Yes,” Astarte said, her voice carrying a hint of shame in the confession. “And it almost killed me.”

Atargatis took a deep breath. “This really must be the end. Astarte loved.”

“If you’re just going to make fun of me, I’m going to—”

“No,” Atargatis said, her tone soft, understanding. “No, sister. I’m not going to make fun of you. You know that I’ve had many children in my life. I’ve loved every single one of them. Even the little bastards who tried to kill me earlier today. Even Tiamat, who seeks to devour me. I’ve loved each and every one of them, and I’ll tell you that love is a burden. It always comes at a cost, and it always brings pain.”

“I know,” Astarte nodded. “That’s why I’ll never love again. Not when—”

“You misunderstand me, little sister,” Atargatis said. “Love’s price is high, but its rewards are even higher. For pain is what happens when you live. Life without pain is not life at all. It’s animated death.” Atargatis took Astarte’s hand in hers. “Sister—you loved. You lived.”

The two beings embraced in a sororal affection.

Then Atargatis withdrew and in a stern voice said, “I’m still angry at you. Should we live through this night, we’ll have words. Hard words. Painful, costly ones.

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