Simone tinned to glance at him and he pointed over Xedrix's shoulder. There in the shadows, leaning against the wall, was Kerryna and she looked terrible.
They rushed to her side.
Xedrix picked her up in his arms and cradled her close. "Are you all right, me arita?"
Kerryna gasped as if she were fighting a wave of severe nausea. She clung to Xedrix while tears brimmed in her eyes. "They've given me Aperia."
Xedrix's face paled.
"What's that?" Simone asked.
Xypher cursed. "It's a slow-acting poison that's deadly to demons."
"I have twelve hours," Kerryna said, her voice breaking. "If I kill Xypher and the Destroyer, Satara will give me the antidote."
Xedrix looked up at Xypher. "You're one dead son of a bitch."
"No!" Kerryna snapped, clipping his face and making him look at her. "We can't do this."
An angry muscle twitched in Xedrix's neck. "I'm not going to let you die. I don't care who I have to kill to save you. I will."
Simone cleared her throat to get their attention. "Can't we get the antidote?"
Kerryna shook her head. "Satara has it all and she's guarded by a thousand Spathi Daimons and gallu demons. It's hopeless. She wants Xypher dead. His life is the only thing she'll trade the antidote for."
Simone refused to believe that. "There has to be another way."
Xypher turned to her as he remembered someone who not only was connected to Apollymi and Satara, but one who also owed him a favor. "I have an idea. Give me your phone."
Simone did.
He opened it and dialed Acheron who answered on the first ring. "I need a favor."
Acheron laughed. "Really?"
"But not from you. I need to talk to Katra."
"Why?" There was no missing the ice in Acheron's tone. Not that Xypher blamed him. Katra was Acheron's daughter and he was sure the Atlantean would do anything to protect her.
But right now, they had a much more pressing problem. "I need someone who can walk into Kalosis, kick Satarars ass, and save the life of an innocent. . . Dimme."
Acheron cursed. "You're not asking much, are you?"
Xypher ground his teeth before he uttered the word that galled him. "Please, Acheron. This isn't about me. It's about saving a mother and her unborn baby." He seriously hoped that would work on Acheron's conscience.
"Where are you?"
"Club Vampyre in the Warehouse District. Do you know the place?"
"No, but I'll be there shortly."
He hung up and looked at Xedrix. "I'll have the cavalry coming. Trust me."
Shifting Kerryna to one side, Xedrix reached over onto the wall and pulled down the lever for a fire alarm. It rang out in a deafening tone that drowned out everything, even the music.
Every human in the club ran for the doors; while the demons gathered around Xedrix.
"We're closed for the night," Xedrix announced to his staff. "Tyris, call the fire department and tell them a drunk customer pulled the switch by mistake. Let's get this place cleared out."
While they waited for Acheron, Xedrix took Kerryna to the bar and set her on a stool.
"What are you planning?" Simone asked Xypher. "And don't say 'nothing' I've learned to know you better than that."
He glanced to Kerryna before he answered. "I'm tired of seeing innocent people get hurt. I'm going to stop this once and for all."
"And if you can't?"
"I will."
Simone felt a fissure in the air an instant before Acheron appeared with an extremely tall, unbelievably beautiful blond woman who was obviously pregnant. She must be the mysterious Katra.
The Charonte hissed as soon as they saw them, then fell to their knees.
Acheron looked around with one brow arched high. "This was wholly unexpected." He scowled at Xypher. "Where did the Charonte come from?"
Xedrix rose slowly to stand before Acheron, but he made sure to keep his eyes downcast. "Forgive us, akri, for our lack of vigilance. I ask for no mercy for myself, but for my men, spare their lives. They only followed me and did as I told them. I'm the one you should kill, not them."
Katra gaped at the sight of the demons. "So this is what happened to all of you. I'd wondered. Nice to see you guys again. I'm glad you survived. Have no idea why you're in a club, but still glad you're all here." She looked at Acheron and indicated Xedrix with a tilt of her chin. "Xedrix is of particular interest to you."
"How so?"
"Well, one, he's your mother's favorite of all her demons, and two, he's the older brother of your Simi."
Acheron frowned at her disclosure. "Really?"
Katra nodded.
Xedrix looked every bit as puzzled as Acheron. "Simi?"
"Xiamara," Katra said quietly.
Xedrix's jaw went slack. "My sister lives?"
Katra smiled affectionately at the demon and nodded. "And is spoiled absolutely rotten."
Xedrix's eyes softened. "Bless you, akri, for your kindness and mercy. I have grieved for centuries over the fate of my simi sister."
"Brace yourself," Acheron said in a deadpan tone. "Xirena lives with us, too."
Kerryna put her hand in Xedrix's.
The demon seemed pleased by the news. "Then I can die happily, akri, knowing they are alive. Thank you."
Acheron rolled his eyes. "I'm not going to kill you, Xedrix. Simi would torture me for eternity if I even considered it. By the way, how did you guys end up in a bar in New Orleans of all places?"
Kerryna laughed, then grimaced as if a wave of pain hit her. "The bear, Kyle Peltier, found them after they'd escaped from Kalosis. They were trying to eat a tourist, but Kyle stopped them before they'd killed him and explained that if they wanted to live here and not die, they'd have to follow rules and make a home. He took his own money and invested it in the bar and showed Xedrix how to run it all. The two of them are still partners."
Katra narrowed her gaze on Kerryna. "I remember you from Vegas. You're the gallu Dimme who escaped."
"And I you, goddess. I well remember you trying to kill me."
"She's not evil, Kat," Xypher said quickly, stepping between them. "She's been hiding out, trying to fit into the world, too."
Simone moved forward. "And she's the one Satara poisoned. The only antidote for it is in Kalosis with Satara. As an expectant mother yourself, you can see why we can't let her die."
Xypher nodded. "I was hoping you could help us."