Hammer of the Gods (The Myth Hunter Book 5) Read online

  Contents

  Title Page

  Before You Start...

  Prologue

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Epilogue

  Continue The Adventure!

  Also by Percival Constantine

  About the Author

  Copyright

  Mjolnir. Hammer of Thor, the Norse God of Thunder. One of the most formidable weapons in all existence, capable of granting unimaginable power to whomever wields it. And now, it’s fallen to Earth, just within reach of a ruthless dictator. Elisa Hill and her allies must locate the weapon before their enemies. If she fails, she will be at the mercy of the Hammer of the Gods!

  HAMMER OF THE GODS

  A Myth Hunter Adventure By

  Percival Constantine

  BEFORE YOU START...

  Just go to percivalconstantine.com/subscribe to get your free stories!

  PROLOGUE

  It all happened so fast. One minute, Armand Estopa stood aboard the fishing boat he worked on, staring at clear skies. And the next, the skies had darkened with a speed he’d never seen in his twenty-five years. The sun’s illumination was blocked, replaced by flashes of lightning in the black clouds.

  The rain poured down in buckets, drenching Armand and the rest of his crew within moments. The winds picked up next, tossing their tiny trawler to and fro. The captain tried to keep a firm grip on the wheel, but it did no good. The men braced themselves for the worst, scrambling for life vests and quickly distributing them.

  But one sound emerged from the chorus of screams, the only sound capable of overriding them. It was the sound of thunder. Armand had never heard thunder of this nature before. It was deafening, violent. For some reason, the image of a wounded lion appeared in Armand’s mind.

  Lighting struck down on the deck of the ship, the bolt going right through the chest of Emilio. He and Armand had been friends since they were children and now, Armand had to watch as Emilio’s entire body stiffened, his face contorting in agony as the electricity coursed through his body before he collapsed on the deck.

  Another wave lifted the ship and then dropped from beneath them. They hung in the air for a moment before crashing right back down onto the ocean’s surface. The impact threw the boat again, nearly capsizing.

  Armand held tight to a rope, but he was helpless to prevent Emilio’s body from rolling across the deck. With the next wave, the boat was thrown and Emilio was gone, hurled over the edge.

  There was another clap of thunder, this one louder than all the others. So powerful that it drew Armand’s eyes to the heavens. The clouds parted and something fell through them. Bolts of lightning streaked from the clouds, all of them converging on the mysterious object.

  Armand screamed, but in the throes of the storm, no one could hear him. And the strange object struck the deck, burrowing right through it. The boat broke in half and the winds whipped around them, pulling the remains of the ship and its crew into a vortex.

  For the briefest of moments, Armand could see into the center of the vortex. The water had parted and there, on the bottom of the ocean floor, was the strange object that had struck them. Despite having the force of a comet, Armand was shocked by how small it really was.

  But more than that, he was amazed at the appearance of the thing. The lightning ceased striking it and for just a moment, he was able to clearly see the object. It seemed to be constructed of some kind of metal, engraved with strange, glowing runes along its surface. Armand wasn’t quite sure what it was he saw, because before he could put any more together, the water closed in on him.

  Armand was swept beneath the waves, choking on the seawater that surrounded him. Even in what he believed would be his final moments, all he could think of was the strange object.

  CHAPTER 1

  In the golden age of piracy, Tortuga was a popular port for many of the buccaneers at the time. Today, that image mostly exists in popular culture and Tortuga, with its population of just over twenty-five thousand, has become a tourist destination for cruise-ship passengers or backpackers. But there remain elements of Tortuga’s past that still exist in the modern day.

  The Cove was a prime example of that. Located in an isolated part of the island, the Cove had become a haven for a different kind of pirate. Found near the coast and with no signs advertising its existence. Instead, the Cove is only accessible to those who are of the right persuasion to enter—mercenaries who travel the world seeking out ancient legends. People who have taken to calling themselves myth hunters.

  Rufus Elliot was the owner. Even with the bushy, silver mustache that mostly covered his mouth and the wrinkles that indicated his age, his green eyes showed a lifetime of experience. And though he’d lost a step or two since retiring from his previous occupation, he still had the skills to take on men half his age.

  “Hey, old man!”

  Rufus grunted, forcefully setting down the glass he’d been cleaning. He threw the towel over his shoulder and turned to the bar, ready to slap around whoever was stupid enough to mouth off that way. But once he set eyes on the person, his lips curled into a broad smile.

  “Sonnuva bitch.” He walked around the bar and embraced the dark-haired young woman who’d insulted him. She returned his hug. After a moment, Rufus broke the embrace and looked her up and down. “Elisa Hill, as I live an’ breathe.”

  “Good to see you, Rufus,” said Elisa.

  “Go on, have a seat. First round’s on me.”

  Rufus returned to his spot behind the bar. He set down two empty glasses and took a bottle of bourbon, filling each about halfway. Rufus slid one glass across to Elisa and took the other in his hand. They both raised their glasses.

  “To the biggest damn fool in the western hemisphere,” said Rufus.

  “Are we talking about you or me?” asked Elisa with a grin.

  Rufus scoffed. “Some things are better left unsaid.” They clinked their glasses together before drinking. Rufus let out a contended sigh and set the glass on the counter. “Happy as I am to see you, it’s been a while, kid. And last time you were here, it didn’t end too well for you.”

  “It all worked out, more or less,” said Elisa, sipping her bourbon.

  “Heard some rumblings that you’d found Lemuria. Others say you went batshit. What’s the truth?”

  “The truth?” Elisa sighed. “Truth is I did find it. But I’m not so sure it was a good thing.”

  Rufus furrowed his brow. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  “Long story. Anyway, that’s not why I’m here.”

  “Yeah? Why are you here, then? I hope it’s ‘cause you missed me, but something tells me my luck ain’t that good.”

  Elisa offered a faint smile. “Sorry, but it’s not. I need information.”

  “That I might be able to help you with. You on a job?”

  “Of sorts. I need to know if you’ve heard any rumblings from the Order recently.”

  Rufus looked up, clearly in thought. After a moment, he shook his head. “Can’t say that I have. They’ve been pretty quiet. Were some rumblings some months back, but n
ever heard anything more than that.”

  Elisa sighed and sipped her drink.

  “Why are you looking for them anyway?” asked Rufus. “Thought you were done messin’ around with the Order.”

  “I’ve been…working with some people,” said Elisa. “They were holding Wade prisoner but he managed to escape.”

  “He’s one slippery snake.”

  Elisa scoffed. “You have no idea.” She finished the bourbon and set the empty glass on the table. “So what’s the word? Anyone around here know anything?”

  Rufus refreshed her drink and leaned forward. He spoke in a low voice. “Be careful in here, Elisa. You’ve pissed off quite a few tough sumbitches in your life, and I got no way of knowin’ how many of ‘em are in here tonight.”

  Elisa nodded and looked around the bar. There were quite a number of people in here tonight, and she didn’t know how many of them had a grudge against her. With the dim lighting, it was difficult to make out many faces.

  “There anyone here who might know something?” asked Elisa.

  Rufus shrugged. “I didn’t even know Wade was off the board until you said your people grabbed him.” He raised a brow. “By the by, which people would those be again?”

  “Maybe it’s better you don’t know.”

  “That doesn’t exactly fill me with confidence, girl.”

  “You know what it’s like when you’re working with someone who wants their name kept out of it,” said Elisa. “Sometimes, discretion is—”

  Elisa stopped as she felt a quick whir past her ear. There was a thunk and she and Rufus both looked to see a dagger sticking in the wall behind the bar. The conversations in the bar died down, all eyes falling on the scene beginning to unfold.

  Elisa slid off the stood and turned to face her would-be attacker. Her hand slowly moved behind her back, fingers wrapping around the hilt of the sheathed kukri dagger. The masses parted so she could see exactly who spoke to her.

  “She won’t tell you who she’s working for, because she doesn’t want you to know.”

  The voice was sultry and tinged with a Mexican accent. Elisa eyed the two beautiful women who stood before her, both of them dressed in black leather. They were like mirror images of each other.

  Sofia and Isabel. The Montenegro Sisters.

  “Our dear friend, Elisa?” Sofia held out another of her daggers, pointing it at Elisa in a gesture. “She’s working with the Freemasons.”

  At first, the bar patrons watched the scene with neutrality. But now, many of them looked at Elisa with suspicion. Elisa just kept her gaze fixed on the twins. She wouldn’t let them faze her.

  “We don’t like Freemasons,” said Isabel. “And we don’t care much for you.”

  CHAPTER 2

  The Montenegro Sisters. Twin myth hunters from Mexico. Sofia was an expert knife-fighter whereas Isabel’s expertise lay in her trusty bullwhip. Elisa had encountered them before and the last time they met, they didn’t part on good terms.

  “I see you’re still holding a grudge,” said Elisa.

  “You thought you and Davalos could just snatch that amulet from us?” asked Sofia. “Thought there’d be no repercussions?”

  “That was a long time ago. Things have changed since then. I’m not with Davalos anymore.”

  “Too bad for you. Maybe together, you’d stand a chance of getting out of here alive.” Isabel cracked her whip, the tails slapping against the stone floor—a warning for any bystanders to keep their distance.

  There was the sound of a shotgun cocking. Sofia and Isabel both looked at the origin of the noise and they saw Rufus holding a pump-action shotgun, aimed right at the two of them.

  “We got rules here, ladies. If you can’t abide by them, I’m gonna have to ask you to leave.”

  Isabel sighed. “We like you, old man. So we won’t kill you for your interference.”

  Her whip flew like a blur, the tails wrapping around the shotgun barrel. With another movement, she yanked the gun from his grasp. Rufus tried to hold onto it, but was pulled with it. His head slammed on the counter and he slumped behind the bar.

  The weapon clattered to the floor and with a few well-placed flicks of her hand, Isabel relieved her whip of the gun. She recoiled her arm and threw it forward, the whip flying at Elisa.

  The myth hunter hit the ground, the whip’s tails striking her drink and knocking it over, the bourbon spilling down the counter. Elisa drew the kukri in a rapid motion, hurling it through the air right at Isabel’s face.

  The kukri was knocked away by a throwing knife courtesy of Sofia. She had bandoliers of the small projectiles all over her body. Her fingers reached for the one strapped around her thigh and she pulled out three at once. Sofia’s arm shot out, the knives flying from her fingertips.

  Elisa drew her second kukri. Her movements were like lighting, the Nepalese dagger in her grasp a silver blur as she deflected each of the three throwing knives. In her movements, Elisa’s free hand went to a pouch on her belt and she drew several shuriken. She spun, her arm flailing out and the shuriken cutting through the air.

  Sofia managed to twist and dodge to avoid the shuriken, while Isabel’s quick movements with her whip enabled her to deflect any that came in her direction. The three women locked eyes. Some of the bystanders now began to cheer for either side. But none dared join in the fight. Some either didn’t care enough, others just didn’t want to risk the wrath of either the twins or Elisa. And a few just loved the prospect of getting to watch three myth hunters dual it out.

  “Are we really going to waste time with this?” asked Elisa. “If it’s a question of money, I’ll reimburse you for that damn grimoire.”

  “Not about money, it’s about your arrogance,” said Isabel. “Think you’re so special, just because you came from a family of myth hunters.”

  “Change alliances more often than you change your socks,” said Sofia. “You work for the Order and Davalos, then you work against them. Then you work with Davalos again. Then you work for the Freemasons. Maybe that’s why you’re all alone here.”

  A reddish-orange blur flashed through the opening of the Cove, streaking past Elisa and tackling Isabel to the ground. It took Sofia a moment to register what had happened. She blinked and then saw the large, fox-like humanoid creature perched upon her sister, claws positioned above her face.

  “Zorra!” said Sofia.

  The fox creature looked up at Sofia, with eyes that burned like hot coals. Her body appeared feminine and she was dressed in a pinstripe suit.

  “Who said anything about her being alone?” asked the fox.

  A smile played on Elisa’s lips. “Ladies, I’d like you to meet Asami. She’s a kitsune.”

  Sofia drew a dagger from behind her back and thrust forward. Asami sprung at the bar. Her foot hit the counter and she bounced off it, her leg spinning around and her foot slamming against the back of Sofia’s head.

  The myth hunter fell forward, tripping over her sister’s body and falling to the ground. Isabel was the first to recover, her hand reaching for the bullwhip. Before she could grab it, a kukri slammed into the whip, slicing it in two. Isabel looked up at Elisa, who folded her arms over her chest.

  A gunshot went off and all eyes turned back to the bar. Rufus had recovered and retrieved his shotgun, the smoking barrel pointed up at the roof. He brought it to bear, aiming it at the Montenegro Sisters.

  “I tried to be nice before. Now I’m givin’ you to the count of three. At that point, you can either walk out of here on your own two legs, or someone will drag your corpses out and dump them in the bay.”

  Elisa looked from Rufus to the twins. “You’ve got a way out. I’d take it if I were you.”

  Isabel was the first to stand and she helped Sofia to her feet. The two women stared daggers between the three—first Asami, then Rufus, and finally Elisa. As they walked past, Isabel never shifted her gaze from Elisa. The myth hunter wasn’t intimidated, her crystal-blue eyes locked on Isabel’s t
he entire time.

  “We’ll find you,” said Isabel.

  “Counting on it,” said Elisa.

  Rufus kept his gun trained on them until he saw them exit the bar. Once they were gone, he lowered the gun with a sigh. “Show’s over, folks. Bar’s open again, so you can go back to fillin’ up my retirement coffers.”

  He returned behind the bar and placed the shotgun beneath the counter. Elisa and Asami approached the counter and Rufus looked up, staring at the kitsune as her appearance changed from fox to that of a beautiful Japanese woman. The unusual eye color remained, however.

  Rufus watched the change with interest, then looked at Elisa. “Pretty risky bringin’ someone like her in a place like this.”

  “And why’s that?” asked Asami, leaning over the counter on her elbows.

  “Myth hunters an’ monsters ain’t exactly what you’d call simpatico.”

  Asami frowned. “Monster, huh? Wonder if I should be offended.”

  Rufus shrugged. Don’t bother me none. An’ for what it’s worth, I don’t give a rat’s ass what you are, so long as your money’s good.”

  Asami reached into her jacket and produced a wallet. “Hope you don’t mind taking dollars.”

  “Mind? Hell, I prefer it. Stuff’ll go further than the gourdes.”

  “Good.” Asami slapped a five-dollar bill on the counter. “Tequila.”

  Rufus chuckled and poured her a shot. “I like your style.” He took two clean tumblers and filled them with bourbon, passing one to Elisa.

  “So who were those two?” asked Asami.

  “The Montenegro Sisters,” said Elisa. “Had some run-ins with them before. Good thing you got the drop on them. They can be quite the handful.”

  “Any word on our missing person?” asked Asami.

  Elisa shook her head. She sipped her drink and then gestured to Rufus. “He said he hasn’t heard anything.”

  “That so?” Asami looked at the old bartender.