Page 4 of Monsters of Mayhem

I bit my lower lip as I listened to her gush for a while about Magnus. He was this and he was that. He was wonderful and he was fantastic and fresh and she was ready to start something new, to make a change…to fall in love. I would never fall in love again the way I had fallen in love with Ryder.

So innocently, so willingly, so madly.

Now all that was left were the scars of the ripped-up romance we’d had. It shouldn’t stop me from enjoying the enthusiasm and excitement Laney was having. It was her time. She was a couple of years younger than me and had a bad marriage in her mid-twenties to mid-thirties. I could just imagine how Magnus was probably what she considered her last chance of having a happy relationship.

“I miss you,” I said, sitting down on the couch and smiling despite my situation. Laney always made me feel good.

“Maybe I’ll talk to Magnus. Maybe we can come out and see you,” Laney said. “Why don’t we do that? Why don’t we plan a trip out to California?”

“I’m not sure that’s such a good idea.” I cautioned as Sofie shot me a look. Despite the fact I was on the phone, she seemed to be able to hear the entire conversation.

“No, I think it’s a brilliant idea,” Laney said. “I’ll just check with Magnus. I’m sure he’ll say yes. I’ll see you soon.”

Chapter 3

The DGC owned an entire building in the center of New York, overlooking Central Park. I’d been there many times to answer to the demigods, but this time was different. This time I had to tell them there was a problem with the monsters. A problem I didn’t know how to solve and I needed to tell them I’d married a human.

There were no laws about marrying humans in the world of the Legendi, but it was generally frowned upon. Demigods didn’t tend to do it because we lived so long and humans were so fragile. It didn’t last. However, in this case it was a little bit easier because at least I could say she was a banshee. Though the politics of it were tricky. She was a fae living in New Attica. As a demigod beholden to the Demigod Corporation, it would be frowned upon.

Ava had dropped Ratchet and I off hurriedly at the airport, so she could go back to Alameda immediately. She had things to sort out. Ava was always a witch on the move. She’d spent so long avoiding the demigods, I was surprised she was back in our world at all.

We had a private car pick us up and take us to the high-rise overlooking Central Park. The elevators took us straight up to the center of the demigod world where the corporation made all of their commands that ran New Attica. Rachet had already rung ahead and made an appointment with Vina, the controlling, chip on her shoulder, president of the Demigod Corporation and closely in charge of everything that went on. While, she wasn’t a micromanager; she was incredibly meticulous and not somebody you wanted to get on the wrong side of.

The elevators were a shiny metallic gold. We stepped into the antechamber to the DGC’s receiving room, but I wasn’t headed there. Vina had made it perfectly clear we were to meet in her private office. It was a privilege for the select few, but also for those she preferred to meet away from the prying eyes of others.

She had no personal interest in me. She never had. In fact, Vina had been one of the ones who had thought I shouldn’t belong in the DGC at all. Although my father Typhon was a god and I had every right to be here. Some of the demigods had pointed out how he had eaten his young and created havoc. However, they also had realized they needed my help. They needed someone to deal with the monsters crossing the rift and it sure as hell wasn’t going to be Magnus. Magnus wanted nothing to do with the supernatural world; he was happy living with Mom in Bodega Bay and doing his own thing. I was the only one who seemed to be able to have a handle on the monsters.

“Ryder, come in,” Vina said, dressed in her traditional brilliant sari. She looked up from her desk of paperwork as I walked into the room. Her eyes narrowed as she saw Ratchet following closely behind.

“We don’t normally allow demons into the DGC private quarters,” Vina said.

“You seriously want me to tell him to wait outside?” I cocked an eyebrow at her as Ratchet’s body glowed with light flames.

“There’s no need for your dramatics,” Vina said, waving a dismissive hand at Ratchet. “I understand you could burn this building down and everyone in it.”

“I wasn’t threatening you,” Ratchet said with a cheesy grin. “I just thought you might like to see the light show.”

“Consider it seen,” Vina deadpanned. “You can stay. Just stop with the theatrics.”

Ratchet controlled himself from rolling his eyes as he moved over to the side of the room. “I’m just doing my job…the job you assigned me. To take care of him.”

“Yes, let’s talk about him for a moment,” Vina said, refocusing her attention on me. “What brings you to the DGC today? I was surprised when you made the appointment. There hasn’t been much news on the monster front lately and it seemed like everything was under control. I heard some talk of the demons breaking through in the bay area, but you two were there to solve the situation.”

Vina motioned her hand toward Ratchet without looking at him as she stood up and walked around the large, modern metallic and stone desk. She was a statuesque demigod with certain sheen only demigods seemed to have. She was raised in Bali and wore a bindi between her eyes. She lived far from her homeland, but her traditions were never far from her heart. Her homeland now belonged to the fae and she had been forced, along with the other demigods to live in New Attica. Her father was Suryadeva, the god of the sun. She inherited all of his glamour and beauty, but she was cold. She ruled the DGC fairly but with an iron fist.

She leaned against her desk, crossing her arms over her waist. “So, tell me Ryder. What favors do you need that I can bestow on you?”

“I want protection for a banshee.” I went for the direct approach to her question.

Her eyebrows raised and her mouth opened into a perfect O.

“A banshee?” she asked. “You found a banshee?”

“I did.” I hesitated, not necessarily wanting to tell her Caroline was my ex-wife but knowing she was going to find out sooner or later, it was best if the news came from me. The fact the banshee was my wife or my ex-wife would make a difference. I just wasn’t sure if it was going to make a good difference or a bad difference at this stage.

“Why are you concerned with the care of a banshee?” She looked at me curiously. “She should be turned over to the fae and sent back to where they reside. I believe the banshees are still mostly prominent in Ireland.”

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