I lay no claim to any work by Sherrilyn Kenyon or Laurell K. Hamilton. I just wanted to have a bit of fun between ice time.

 

I guess this is rated PG. There is nothing too bad in it.

 

Nate’s Story: Part Three

By Nathan

 

I resisted the urge to drop to my knees before the Olympian. Instead I stood and nodded once. I can be awestruck if I want to. Mitch looked amused.

 

Acheron was dressed in leather pants a black tee and that colonial coat he liked so much. With the dark glasses he wore it was an awesome sight, but the orange hair? I couldn't resist.

 

"Is that your Halloween do?" Mitch took that moment to skate. I looked at Acheron, the classic big bad. He did have a soft spot, just not for many.

 

"So you're responsible for me being here." 

 

Acheron nodded at my question. “Better than where she wanted to send you.”

 

I couldn’t help getting a bit defensive with the first of all Dark Hunters, “All I told her was that I didn't want to be there.”

 

“You never tell Artemis anything. Trust me.” He replied then studied me for a long minute.

 

All I was thinking was don't take off those glasses. He did. His eyes were an eerie silver swirl and they always freaked me out. Those inhuman eyes bore into me. “You still feel the guilt of his death after all these years.”

 

“I should have been paying more attention. I could have maybe… I could have gotten to the German before he got to Paul.”

 

Acheron nodded at me. “Maybe or maybe you'd be dead as well.”

 

“You mean I'm not? Death would be far better than this.” My anger had allowed me to speak my mind despite his intimidating presence.

 

He spoke to me slowly and calmly. “Look at all you would have missed, all the wonders you've seen.”

 

Sighing, I couldn’t keep the sadness out of my voice. “All the people that meant anything to me are gone. Where is the wonder in that? The future doesn't mean anything to me anymore.”

 

“It meant something to your brother. The night before the mission, Paul had a vision and it worried him. He asked the Fates to protect you. To help you if something happened to him. He believed...”

 

“Yeah he believed in a lot of things.” I knew it was disrespectful to interrupt my leader but I couldn’t listen to him talk about my brother. He had no right.

 

“Yes. One of those things was your survival over his own. You were destined to do great things.” Acheron gave me one of those curious looks that always seemed to mean he knew more than he was telling you. I hated that looked and it pissed me off.

 

“Like becoming one of Artemis' toys? Tell me oh Mighty Acheron, what have I done, besides being an assassin for the gods? Why did Artemis make me her pet? I'd already got my revenge.”

 

“Artie had little to do with it. It was the Fates that delivered you from death. They fulfilled their promise to Paul. So here you are.” He explained.

 

I couldn’t help muttering, “Excuse me if I don't jump for joy.”

 

The big guy sighed like he was butting heads with a two year old. Well maybe to him, it was. I was only eighty. He put his glasses back on before replying. “In that folder Mitch gave you is everything you need. Credit cards, bank account.  Driver's license. I'm sure you'll be a good kid.”

 

“Yes dad.” I snapped back.

 

“Stay out of the District and stay away from Anita Blake.” He added giving me yet more rules to remember.

 

“Who?” I heard him say the name, but damned if I knew it.

 

“Trust me. You do not want to run across her.” His voice got lower, as if he was worried someone might overhear. It was like he warning me to stay out of the closet or I might find the boogeyman.

 

“What is she? Vampire? Daemon?” Surely he would give me some more information on her if she was that bad.

 

The big guy just smiled at me and said, “Actually I think she may be worse than both.”  With that, he disappeared.

 

 

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