She kicked and fought, unable to escape his grip when the cold in-between world swallowed her. The world dumped her on top of a pile of sand near the boardwalk with the angry black sea roaring behind her. Her body strained to heal itself and the Black God, whose touch sucked her healing power fast. He released her, and she rolled, coughing. Water, sand, and hair stung her vision and lungs. Through blurred eyes, she saw the ocean poised above them and to either side, angry waves kept at bay by whatever magic the Black God employed.
He was the first to his feet and dragged her up the beach. His own body told her he was spent. He shouted at her, fury on his face, but his words were lost to the storm. She struggled to get her feet beneath her before she finally found her footing in the sand. He refused to release her, instead pushing her into a painful run up the beach, over the sandbags, and out of immediate danger.
She dropped, exhausted. It was then she noticed Talon wasn't with them.
Fury was on the Black God's face as he stared down the storm, ignoring the gale tearing at his clothing. She dared not stand on her own with the winds strong enough to knock her over.
The Black God moved at last, turning to her with his fathomless eyes. She looked away, wanting nothing more than to disappear. He snatched her arm. She felt another drain as he took another swig of her power, and coldness, then silence.
She fell when he released her. They were in someone's living room. The Black God knelt before her, phone outstretched. His eyes were closer to normal, swirling black spheres.
"Call him, love."
She inched away at the inhuman tone. He snatched her neck and shoved the phone at her.
"Now."
"Who?" she gasped.
"Your Watcher."
Confused, she concentrated on gripping the phone. He released her. She hit the speed dial button. The Black God snatched the phone back and straightened.
"It wouldn't be fitting for the Black God to call you," he said.
"No, it wouldn't," the Watcher said in a tone more subdued than any she'd heard. He'd appeared near the doorway to the bedrooms.
"You know what I can do, Watcher," the Black God warned.
Bianca was even more unsettled to see the Watcher's reluctant nod. The creature's emerald eyes stopped sparkling, and his face grew long.
"There must be a Black God," the Watcher said. "Only one."
"My time isn't up!"
"You started down this path when you enlisted the help of the Others. When you forsake divine code, it has a way of forsaking you."