by A Lonergan
Zeus plopped a grape into his mouth and chewed slowly before speaking. “I wanted to wait for the marrow, but I have a feeling that Apollo will force my hand sooner rather than later.”
“I’m not going to the highest bidder?” I chewed my lip.
He chuckled. “My dear, gods no.”
I wrinkled my brow. “I just don’t understand.”
“My dear, this isn’t your trial. This has always been Apollo’s, but I needed a confession. I knew I wasn’t going to get one unless he thought I was on his side.” Crawley was getting closer to us with suspicion on his face. I gave him a wink, and he slowed his pace. I was safe for now.
“This whole time I thought you were going to auction me off.” I traced the scar on my wrist.
“There’s still time.” He chuckled again, but I couldn’t tell if he was serious. “There are many formidable bachelors here. They would love to have your hand.”
My eyes found Crawley again, his eyes had never left me. He was leaning against a column watching closely like he always did. I smiled at him, he was so handsome in a suit.
“But I see that your heart belongs to another.” Zeus leaned forward. “The Beast. He is an excellent specimen.”
I nodded my head, scared of what I would say.
After a few sips of wine and the attention of many of the men in the room, I eventually gave in to the bachelors and let them sweep me off my feet. Though Crawley had a special place in my heart, I was wary of him.
The first god that approached me had long golden locks, pulled back away from his face. He pulled me close, and I noticed that his eye was blue. “I’m Hercules. It’s so nice to finally meet you. Perseus has been keeping you busy I hear and your room a secret” he winked, and I could have swooned. The muses hadn’t been wrong, he was definitely hunk-ules. “You also don’t have to worry about my advances, I figured I’d give you the opportunity to have a platonic friend through all this chaos.”
“It really is. I never thought I would have this problem.” I laughed, feeling more carefree.
“Oh, what a terrible burden.” He shared a smile with me before someone tapped his shoulder and cut in. The woman had dark hair and even darker eyes. She looked familiar, but I couldn’t place it.
“Finally! I’ve been waiting for you to come to this direction. The men around here are ravenous.” She put her hand on the small of my back and lead me from the dance floor. I searched for Crawley but couldn’t find him anywhere. I didn’t like having him out of my sight, we needed to stick together.
The woman interrupted my thoughts. “Gods can be such pigs. That’s not why I pulled you away from the party though.” She spun me around. “I heard a story in the Underworld recently. A story of my daughter.”
I didn’t know where this was going, but I knew it wasn’t right. “Chloe,” she whispered. “What do you know of her? I heard that she was married to the brother of the dark and handsome in the corner, watching you.”
My heart sank. She had no idea that her daughter had been right within her grasp. “Chloe shared the same fate as Keenan, her husband. There is no point in beating around the bush.”
The woman spun me around and dipped me low before leaning forward and whispering in my ear. “What fate would that be?” She pulled me back up, and her eyes were twinkling dangerously.
“They reside in the underworld with their child.” She didn’t look surprised, and it worried me even more.
She leaned closer to me. “You’re more than what I expected. I suppose you deserve a proper introduction.” She let go of me and bowed low. “Hecate at your service.”
“You’ve been in the underworld all this time, correct?” She shrugged and turned away from me as I spoke.
“Yes and no. Hades doesn’t like me to speak on my whereabouts. The only reason I’m here is because of him. I’m taking his royal place at all of the events. Zeus knows I don’t like the party lifestyle.” She walked to a table closer to Crawley and grabbed some fruit. She offered me a plate, but I shook my head. There was no way I could eat right now.
“Zeus listens to you?” I crossed my arms over my chest.
“Yes, sometimes.” She looked at Crawley and smiled. “He’s so brooding. I love it.” She got closer to him and grabbed his white tie, pulling him from the shadows.
He gave her a bored look. “What do you want, Hecate?”
She faked wounded then sneered. “I want Apollo’s head on a spike.”
Crawley rolled his eyes. “Get in line. You must have not heard.”
She frowned at us both.
“My next challenge is Apollo.” I picked a toothpick up from the fruit table and snapped it in half.
.
As much as I didn’t want to admit it, I actually really liked the dress I had chosen and didn’t want to take it off. A knock at the door had me hastily removing it and slipping to tank top and shorts. Crawley stood in the doorway when I opened it, his massive body taking up most of the room. His white shirt was untucked, and his tie was gone. His hair was a ruffled mess around his head, and it added to his charm.
“Can I help you?” I took all the pins from my hair and let it cascade down my back.
“I’m worried about you.” His voice broke at the end, but I didn’t turn back to him, I was too afraid of the emotions I was going to find.
“Don’t be, I’m a big girl.” Once all the pins were free from my head, I tore I brush through the hairspray and spirals.
“I know that you can take care of yourself, but Apollo plays dirty.” He took the brush from my hands and turned me to him.
“I don’t know what his first move will be, but this has to end, one way or another. The only way it will is if I act now.”
He ran his fingers through my now smooth hair. “I’m not leaving your side until we get in the arena.”
I nodded my head as he pulled me closer to him. Crawley ran his fingers down my back and kissed the top of my head. I loved the tender side of him. I hugged him back before I pushed away and headed to bed. I didn’t need any distractions.
One moment I was sleeping peacefully and the next, searing pain was shooting through my body. I jerked awake in agony, unsure of what had caused it. Then I noticed him.
Apollo.
He was seated at the end of my bed holding a long knife, but something was off. I tried to pull the covers away from my body, but my hands were shackled to the frame. It was too dark to see much else.
Apollo spoke low, “Turn the lights on,” I didn’t know who he was talking to but I also didn’t care. When the lights came on, all I could see was Crawley and that we weren’t in my room anymore.
The walls were stone, much like the prison I had been held in before. There was a large rug stretching across the room and paintings of hero’s covering the walls. Crawley was shacked to the only barrier that didn’t have pictures of it. There was a thick metal collar wrapped around his neck.
“Get out Crawley, change and rip through everything. Let your beast tear this place to shreds!” A bolt of electricity shot through the shackles and stunned me senseless. I choked and coughed as the pain vibrating throughout my body.
“Do you think we wouldn’t have come prepared? In fact, he’s already tried to escape.” Apollo smiled as he gracefully pulled himself from the mattress. He approached Crawley and traced what appeared to be goose flesh under the collar. “There are little needles in this, and as soon as Crawley’s beast comes to the surface, even a smidge, the needles elongate and will puncture him. They’ll eventually sever his head off.”
Tears pricked at my eyes, but I couldn’t let him know what he was doing to me. I blinked the tears away as Apollo started to speak again. “It took some powerful magic and a bit of Persuasion, but we are in business and better than ever.”
A pale man dragged a bound woman into my view.
Hecate.
Her eyes were wide in anger, and she had metal wrapped around her face, covering her lips. Her hands w
ere bound behind her back with a metal band as well.
“What are you going to do with her?” My voice sounded steady even though I didn’t feel it.
“I’m going to show her what her disobedience costs. She had precise instructions on who not to talk to, and you were on that list.” Apollo clicked his tongue.
Hecate thrashed and appeared to be screaming behind the medieval device around her head.
“It really wasn’t that hard. All I had to do was convince Hecate that I was holding her beloved pregnant daughter and son in law captive. Simple magic really. I’m surprised she even fell for it.” Apollo cackled. “Do you know what this is?”
He held up the blade. The jewels in the hilt shimmered in the light. I shook my head. I had no idea. Crawley’s eyes were big with fear. He was never afraid of anything. My stomach sunk.
“This is a blade forged by adamant. It’s considered the immortal blade.” He sliced his finger with a masacistic gleam in his eye. Crawley started to thrash and pull on his restraints. Even Hecate looked afraid. She shook her head wildly, her eyes crazed. “Do you know what adamant can do? I wouldn’t imagine that you know much about god slayers, but Crawley does.”
Apollo turned away from me and snapped his fingers. The tape that had been covering Crawley’s lips was ripped free.
“What could you possibly want from me?” Crawley growled. “You already killed me. She knows what it’s like to be without me.”
Apollo started laughing, a hysterical, bone-chilling laugh. “Oh, I’m not going to kill you.”
Apollo paced in front of Crawley while Hecate drove herself mad trying to get free herself from her binds. He placed the tip of the blade against Crawley’s collarbone and began to drag it as he walked to the other side. Blood started to bubble from the cut and run down Crawley’s bronzed, bare chest.
“This metal is very similar to his beasts talons.” Apollo removed the blade from Crawley’s skin and stared at the blood on it like a psycho. “Zeus would never admit it, but he created Crawley for a reason. Zeus plans everything. It may seem like his lust fuels him, but it isn’t so.”
“You’re crazy.” I couldn’t take my eyes away from the blood dripping onto the rug.
He chose to ignore me but then turned his attention to Hecate. “You have caused so many problems in my scheming. What makes you valuable enough to live?” He touched the tip of the blade under Hecate’s chin and made her look into his eyes. That was when I realized she was smiling. “You are of no value.”
He swung the blade wide, and I wished I had closed my eyes. The knife sliced her head cleanly from her shoulders, and it took everything in me not to cry out. I looked to Crawley as a tear slipped past my lashes. Crawley was clenching his jaw closed.
How had this monster gotten his hands on the immortal blade? Though I wasn’t familiar with it, I was sure he wasn’t an easy prize to find.
“Zeus will find me.” I pulled on the cuffs on my wrists.
“Oh, I count on it.” He wiped the blade on his pants then sat down beside me. “You can prevent that though.”
I spoke through clenched teeth. “How would I do that?”
Crawley shook his head at me. Apollo traced the scar on my ankle. I tried to pull free, but my restraints kept me in place, at his mercy.
“You’ll marry me. You’ll tell Zeus that the fight is off and that you chose to take me as your husband.” Apollo shrugged like it was common sense.
“What if I don’t?” I bit out.
“Then you will watch me torture Crawley for eternity or until he dies. Whichever happens first.” He chuckled with glee.
I looked at the stone ceiling and tried to think of something witty, a plan to free me and Crawley, anything. Crawley shook his head at me.
“I’ll never marry you!” I spit.
“Enjoy the show then.” Apollo kicked Hecate’s head out of his way and stood in front of Crawley, thoughtfully. He pressed the tip of the knife into Crawley’s left peck and drew downward. Crawley’s face remained emotionless until Apollo applied more pressure. I could see sweat starting to bead up on his forehead. Apollo then moved to his right pec and did the same thing until Crawley let out a small squeak. It was enough for him. He removed the blade, and with a quick flick of the wrist, he sliced across Crawley’s bicep. Crawley didn’t make a sound.
Apollo dropped the knife to the floor with a clatter and clapped his hands. Two men moved from the shadows and bowed. “Turn him around.” Magic had to be the only explanation as he spun in the air and now had his face pressed against the stone walls. “Bring my bag!” The men scurried back and grabbed a large duffel before retreating to the shadows again.
Apollo made humming noises as he dug through the bag. A few long minutes later and pulled out a long whip. I squeezed my eyes closed, unable to watch what was about to unfold.
Apollo laughed. “Watch or don’t watch, you’ll soon hear his cries!”
The thwacking of the whip against his bag made me jump every time. After five minutes Crawley had started to whimper and cry out. I peeked my eyes open, guilty for choosing to close myself off. I cried out then at the sight. His back was a bloody mess and torn to shreds.
“When we had the blade forged, I said, I need something more. I need torture devices too. A mear blade can only do so much.” Apollo swung the weapon around like a child.
He hit Crawley again, and his cry of anguish sent me over the edge. “Fine! I’ll marry you.”
I could hardly hear Crawley say, “Let me die, don’t do this.”
Chapter 20
Jessa
Apollo’s henchmen stood at the back of the bathroom with their eyes averted. I wasn’t going to be able to be alone ever again, but it was worth it. If it saved Crawley some misery, then I could go through with it. I would rather die inside then watch him die because I was too selfish.
I struggled to zip up the back of the black dress. Apollo had left me several impressive numbers to choose from, but none of them had spoken to me quite like the black one. The tulle it was made out of barely brushed the top of my knees, and the corset bodice was magnificent. But it wasn’t those things that made me choose it. It was the color. It was the color of mourning, and if I couldn’t speak to anyone, I was going to do my best silently.
Brushed my long hair flat against my back and stared at my grief-stricken face in the mirror. I didn’t look like a twenty-year-old. The anguish and turmoil had aged me overnight. I chose against shoes, knowing that if I needed to get away, running with heels wouldn’t help much.
When I emerged from the bathroom, Apollo clapped his hands and slapped Crawley on the shoulder. He hissed but didn’t close his eyes. They watched my every move. Tears welled up, but I blinked them back quickly. Crawley was a bloody mess, and if I wanted to save him, I needed to go through with all of this, convincingly.
Apollo held out his hand, and I grasped it, tightly, wanting to rip it from his body. When we emerged into the hall, I was surprised to see that we were still in Olympus. I had been so sure that he would have taken us somewhere else. We walked hand in hand to the arena where people were starting to crowd. Zeus sat up straight when he saw us step in. His face remained passive, but his eyes said something else.
“It’s funny what a good nights rest can do for you!” Apollo held up our joined hands for everyone to see. Zeus narrowed his eyes then looked at me.
I swallowed hard. “Yes, funny how that works.”
Zeus licked his lips before he spoke. “What does this mean? Have you two called a truce?”
“More romantic than that!” Apollo pulled me to his side, and I had to force myself not to recoil in disgust. “We’ve decided to elope!”
Zeus’ brows shot to his hairline before he looked around the room, curiously. “Is that so?”
I nodded my head as enthusiastically as I possibly could. I knew that if I spoke I would have broken and I had to stay strong. I doubted very much that there was more than one immortal bla
de, forged to kill gods. I didn’t need anyone else getting hurt, there was no telling what Apollo would do.
I smiled as sweetly as I could, but I knew I was probably just baring my teeth, so I stopped. Zeus observed me, so I just nodded my head again. I didn’t know what to say, I was shaking on the inside, terrified.
“Then I guess the fight is off.” Zeus scratched his face before he addressed the crowd behind us. “Go back to your rooms. We shall have a wedding! No eloping allowed in Olympus! This shall be the grandest wedding of all time.” Zeus turned away from us, but just before I couldn’t see his face anymore, I caught the wink thrown my way. He knew something was off and I hoped it was enough to stop the lunatic on my arm.
Apollo pushed open my bedroom door and gave me a bored look. “You could have done better, but this is nice. Zeus was always one for theatrics. What a spectacle but the perfect way to start the rest of our lives together.” He moved in to kiss me, but I dodged effortlessly. He scowled. “You will consummate this marriage on the wedding night, or you’ll hear the screams of your loved ones every other night for the rest of your life.”
I turned away from him and buried my face in my hands, trying my hardest to keep it together. A knock at the door had me shuffling to get myself back together.
A boy around the age of 6 opened the door and gave me a broad smile. “Zeus has summoned the presence of Jessa and only Jessa.”
When the boy left, Apollo turned on me quickly. “You will sell this to him, or your precious Crawley will die before your eyes, then Artemis, then Shaskia, then every other damned god in the universe if I see it fit.” He grabbed my face and forced me to look into his eyes.
“I wouldn’t dream of turning on you, I don’t want any more pain to come to my loved ones. You have my word.” Once I cleared the doorway, I ran. I ran so hard that when I hit a wall, I didn’t realize it was Perseus.
He steadied me. “Woah! Watch out there.” He searches my face then removed his hands from my arms. “I can’t say that I’m not disappointed, I hoped that I would have had a chance but the heart wants what it wants.”
