The Battle Cry: The Guardians of Tara, #2

By S. M. Schmitz

When the Guardians are confronted with the unthinkable, the hunt for Huitzilopochtli and his allies becomes more important than ever. But none of the gods searching for the Aztec alliance can pursue them because of the horrors they’re unleashing on the world. As diseases spread in New Orleans and Baton Rouge and panic sets in, mortals turn on all of the gods, which means the Guardians as well.

In the second book of The Guardians of Tara series, Cameron and Selena are no longer combatting just the evils of a god intent on ruling the world, but the price he’s willing to pay to win. But what the Aztec gods and their allies have started may signal the destruction of the very world the Guardians are trying to protect.

• Language: English
• Publisher: S. M. Schmitz
• Release date: Jan 9, 2018
• ISBN: 9781386649908

Book preview

Chapter One

The cold, stone walls of the cave’s empty chamber with a single bed made of rock seemed even colder without the fire that usually burned in the center of the room. Thor kept his arms folded over his thick chest and stared at the empty bed, not moving or blinking or responding to the hushed conversations behind him. Cameron finally grew tired of shivering and relit the fire that had burned inside this room for over two thousand years .

Thor never turned around.

Badb stepped beside him and pulled the collar of her coat higher around her neck, and Cameron did a double-take as he noticed the transformation of her normal blonde hair into the fiery red he’d only seen her use once. He jutted his chin toward her and warned, Stay away from Jasper like that.

Badb snickered and lifted a shoulder. He’s got his own redhead. I haven’t walked around Earth like this in centuries. I kinda miss it. Thought I’d bring it back.

Selena grunted at them and hissed, "Loki is missing. We have bigger problems than Badb’s hair!"

My hair’s not a problem, Badb pointed out.

No, Cameron agreed. You’re just generally the problem.

Shut up, Sun God, Badb sighed. She put her arm protectively around Selena as they all waited for Thor to give them some kind of direction as to what they should do now.

Sigyn, Loki’s wife who had remained by his side throughout his confinement in this cave, had also disappeared. But no one believed she had helped him escape or had agreed to disappear with him and Loviatar. Instead, she was most likely in serious danger since her presence here had been partly motivated by personal vengeance.

Thor, Selena said quietly. "How did he escape? I thought it was impossible."

The giant Norse thunder god closed his eyes and took a deep breath, his nostrils flaring as he attempted to regain control over his anger. When he finally turned to face Selena, his pale gray eyes softened, and Cameron found himself smiling at the tremendous ability his girlfriend had to calm even the angriest gods.

"Our own prophecies never told us how he managed to break free from his bonds, Thor responded. Only that he would at Ragnarok in order to fight against us."

Oh God, Cameron moaned. "Please don’t tell me we triggered Ragnarok. I really am going to end up having to fight Jörmungandr, aren’t I?"

Thor shook his head before Selena could ask him, Which god? even though Cameron already knew she suspected the answer would be Loki.

That’s my battle, Thor told Cameron. Not yours.

"Yeah, well, maybe if I help you, you won’t die," Cameron retorted.

Thor waved him off, seemingly unconcerned about his fated death.

Any chance you know where Loki might have gone? London asked. I mean, you were like best friends for thousands of years, right?

Thor waved her off, too. "Our travels together were almost always in what is now Norway, and I doubt he’s here. He wasn’t always so evil, you know."

I’m sure he wasn’t, Selena quickly assured him. Nemain rolled her eyes, but Cameron shot her a keep-your-mouth-shut glare so she rolled her eyes at him but kept her mouth shut. But the one time Cameron and I talked to him, we were able to tell he’s clearly insane. And a crazy, powerful god is potentially more dangerous than the sane gods who want to rule the world by murdering those with power.

Thor nodded and closed his eyes again, running his large hand over his face as he tried to wrap his mind around Loki’s escape.

If this is the end of the world, he muttered, let’s blame Ukko for retiring.

Totally on board with this, Cameron quickly responded. In fact, I’m pretty sure most of our problems can somehow be blamed on Ukko.

I heard that, Ukko called from the entrance to the room.

Good, Cameron called back.

Is it too late to change my mind about being Selena’s bodyguard? Badb asked.

Cameron was about to tell her this might be the only time he’d insist on her sticking around, but Selena shot him a keep-your-mouth-shut glare so he kept his mouth shut.

I guess this means Huitzilopochtli is on the back burner. Again, Nemain sighed.

We could split up, Thor suggested. I’ll go home and get Tyr then we’ll find Loki. We did it once. We can do it again.

Cameron thought about it and what Loki’s escape into a much more connected and heavily populated world could mean for Earth. "He’s a much bigger problem for humans now. And he’s with Loviatar. He grimaced and added, They’d better not add any evil offspring to the mix."

Ukko snorted and reminded him, Pregnancies among goddesses aren’t common. His pale blue eyes flickered to Selena, and he bit off whatever else he was going to say.

None of them had mentioned the possibility that Selena might be pregnant, so Cameron assumed Ukko had been eavesdropping on their thoughts. Again.

He was still too hung up on the fact that his girlfriend might be pregnant to care.

Thor finally moved away from the empty stone bed and nodded toward Ukko. Let’s go look for them. Let the Irish and their old allies go after Huitzilopochtli.

"This is probably exactly what they wanted, Badb exclaimed. Divide us so we are weaker. I wouldn’t be surprised if Huitzilopochtli is behind Loki’s escape! Weren’t those restraints enchanted?"

Of course, Thor answered. But Loki was fated to break free from them somehow anyway.

Yeah, Cameron reiterated. At Ragnarok. I’m telling you. Ukko triggered the apocalypse.

Shut up, Sun God, Ukko sighed.

Good luck with that, Jasper’s voice chimed in.

All of the gods turned to gape at the young demigod standing in the entryway to Loki’s former prison. An unfamiliar god stood next to him, surveying the room and the empty bed with the bonds that had held the infamous trickster god lying on the floor beside it.

"What now?" Cameron groaned.

I told you, Jasper said. You can’t seem to stay out of trouble.

"This isn’t my fault," Cameron interrupted.

"Everything’s your fault," Jasper argued.

Boss, London said uneasily, why are you and Jensen in Norway?

Jensen? Cameron repeated. "Is that your first name?"

"This coming from a god named Cameron," Jensen retorted.

Conceded, Cameron agreed.

London sighed and shot him a keep-your-mouth-shut glare, but he had no problem ignoring her.

You’re not dumping another one of your agents off on us, Cameron told Jasper. "It’s bad enough I have to deal with her." He gestured toward London who flipped him off. He ignored her again.

Not dumping anyone off on you, Jasper said. "I’m only a demigod. I couldn’t get here quickly without the help of one of my employees. But this couldn’t wait. It’s my job, Cameron. I had to tell them…"

Oh God, Selena groaned. Who did you tell? And why is this so urgent?

Which god? Cameron asked. Loki, Loviatar, Huitzilopochtli, Tlaloc? He paused and nudged Thor with his elbow. Did I miss anyone?

God I hope not, Thor mumbled.

You know I’ve got to ask you now, too.

My answer is the same as Selena’s answer, Thor sighed.

"What is wrong with them?" Jensen asked Jasper.

See? It’s not just Selena and me, Cameron said.

"I have a feeling it’s mostly you," Jensen muttered.

For God’s sake, just tell us why you’re here! Ukko shouted. He immediately turned to Cameron and pointed a finger at him. Don’t even think about saying it.

Cameron wanted to now just because Ukko had told him not to, but he was actually curious about why Jasper had tracked them down in a remote cave in Norway so he just folded his arms over his chest and stared at the head of the New Pantheon.

Jasper eyed him cautiously for a few seconds before explaining, "I report directly to the President’s National Security Advisor. When London told me that Loki was missing, I had to pass that information on to him, and he is obligated to tell the President. After consulting with the head of the CIA and the Joint Chiefs of Staff, they’ve decided we’re not doing enough to stop these gods from becoming considerable national security threats. And now they’re planning on getting involved."

They can’t! Selena cried. Humans can’t fight gods! They’ll die!

I know, Jasper sighed. "I’ve tried explaining that. They don’t believe me because they’re insisting it’s not like they’ll be fighting in hand-to-hand combat but with modern weaponry. Since the New Pantheon has always taken care of the handful of rogue gods over the decades, they don’t have any experience fighting them, only fighting alongside them with Ukko’s agency."

I don’t know, Cameron interjected. "I’ve often wondered what would happen if we did just start carrying guns with us. After all, it stopped Thor and Tyr when Jasper pulled a gun on them."

True, Thor said, but Jasper’s also a demigod, which gave him a natural advantage humans don’t have. Gods can just disappear then reappear behind a human before he has time to realize what’s happening. Jasper is fast enough that he would have been able to follow us. If humans get involved, they’re going to die… especially against gods like these.

So what do we do? Selena asked. "Cameron can help me heal people, but even together, we can’t save hundreds, if not thousands, of men and women who were ordered to fight gods."

No, Ukko agreed. "You can’t. There’s only one thing we can do. Convince the President to stand down and let us take care of the supernatural threats just as we’ve done for decades. I’ll go back to D.C. with Jasper, but if you find Loviatar, send someone for me immediately. I want to deal with her myself."

Thor nodded and added, And believe me. We Norse will be dealing with Loki. I’m going to Falias to get Tyr. We’ll meet you Irish back in Baton Rouge unless you’re planning on meeting somewhere else from now on. Preferably somewhere with fewer snakes.

Cameron nodded seriously. How much you wanna bet Loki has figured out how to get Jörmungandr into the Basin?

Thor scratched his chin as he thought about it then let his large hand fall by his side. On second thought, I’ll stay in Falias with Tyr.

Don’t blame you, Cameron responded.

Just figure out where we’re going, Badb pleaded.

"Well, we know Huitzilopochtli is hiding in the Atchafalaya Basin somewhere, so we have to stay pretty close, Cameron said. But I’ve been thinking…"

Not again, Badb groaned. Bad things happen when you think.

Technically, Cameron argued, "bad things happen when I don’t think."

Cameron, Selena sighed, just tell us.

The Basin is huge, and yet every time we go there, we’re encountering either one of Huitzilopochtli’s allies or his own hummingbird army. There’s no way we’re getting so lucky as to stumble upon his hideout every single time.

Hey, Nemain interrupted. "I’m tracking! It’s not luck."

Jasper, can I go back to Houston with you? London asked.

"I can’t even go back to Houston, he answered. I have to go to Washington to convince a bunch of assholes to stay out of our business."

I’d rather do that, London mumbled.

"Do I need to remind you all that Loki is out there somewhere? Thor interrupted, his deep voice rumbling from the stone walls of the cave. All of the gods and the single demigod fell silent and nodded sheepishly at the Norse thunder god. I’m going home for Tyr. The rest of you just shut up for once and do something rather than standing around arguing."

Cameron opened his mouth to tell the thunder god they didn’t usually argue, they bantered, but Thor was already gone.

He gets kinda grumpy when his old friend turned enemy breaks out of what was supposed to be a mostly permanent prison, London said smartly.

Cameron nodded and added, just as smartly, "You should have met him before I pacified him with shrimp po-boys and gumbo."

He was definitely kinda grumpy when he tried to kill us in a motel parking lot, Jasper also added just as smartly.

He’s not wrong, you know, Selena pointed out. "Because we’re all still standing here talking instead of looking for our escaped convict, the disease-inflicting goddess, or the heart-stealing god who’s most likely amassing an army of asshole gods."

And they probably all have giant snakes, Cameron said.

Badb patted him on the shoulder and smiled. Don’t worry, Sun God. Your track record with giant snakes has been decent so far. You’ll probably survive.

I hate you, Cameron reminded her.

No, you don’t, Badb reminded him.

Nemain, Selena directed, go back to Baton Rouge with London. We’ll meet you there soon. I have… something I need to do in Murias first.

Nemain arched a questioning eyebrow at her as Ukko snickered, but he didn’t reveal her secret. Instead, he told Jensen to head back to Houston since he could take Jasper to Washington. Cameron took a deep breath as he slipped his hand around Selena’s. They needed to know for sure, but the truth terrified him. Surprisingly, he didn’t know what truth terrified him more: that Badb was right or that she’d been wrong.

Is there like a… Walgreen’s or something in Murias where we can pick up a test? he asked her.

I have no idea how this works, but we need to be able to talk to Badb about it. If she’s right, I don’t want the others to know.

Cameron glanced at her face then his eyes quickly trailed down to her abdomen. If she’s right, then the others will know soon enough, won’t they?

Cut that out,