Out of Practice Aphrodite (The Goddess Chronicles Book 1)

by S. E. Babin

  As soon as that thought flitted through my mind a feeling of dread crept up my body.

  Marshall.

  “Oh, yes, Abby. Marshall.” Clotho leaned forward, arms on her knees and offered me a predatory grin. “So how far will you go to save your precious mortal?”

  I knew she had me. The locket pulsed against my neck, a grim reminder I had something she desperately wanted. Keto had told me not to surrender the locket. It was hardball time whether I wanted it to be or not. Atropos strolled into the living room balancing a tray precariously on one hand. The sight made me want to laugh because it looked so out of place. She gently set the tea on the coffee table and handed each of us a delicate china cup with a saucer.

  My life was weird sometimes. No one was going to believe I had strategized about murdering Eris over tea with the Fates. I leaned forward and spooned a couple of cubes of sugar into my cup and picked up the delicate tea pot. The scent of jasmine and roses drifted up as I poured.

  I took a hesitant sip and allowed the warmth of the tea to settle my nerves. “Eris has to be stopped. If she gains control of Olympus, it could destroy the peace we’ve worked so hard to create with the humans.”

  “And why should we care about the humans?” Atropos clinked her cup against the saucer and set it down. She had a good point. Most of the gods didn’t care for the humans, but it was in our best interests to keep good relations. Messing with the humans had turned into disaster several times for us. Even though they weren’t magical, mankind still had weapons, nuclear and other kinds.

  “It would bode disaster for us if we were to declare war on humans,” I said in an attempt to play the devil’s advocate. “We are no longer the people we once were. There is no reason for us to meddle in their lives any longer, Atropos.”

  A satisfied smirk played on her face. “It seems like you should be taking your own advice.”

  I knew where she was going with this and cursed myself for walking into her trap. It was useless to try and defend myself, but I felt like I had to. “I live on earth because I tired of the politics on Olympus. I wanted the chance–”

  Lachesis raised her hand and cut off my argument. “Don’t, Abby. She toys with you. We know why you chose to live there. We may not understand it, but it is none of our concern. We do wonder about your association with Marshall. Beware, child. Playing with mortals may get you into much bigger trouble than anything you could do in Olympus. But we digress; our focus here should be on Eris.”

  I set my teacup down on the delicate dish and took a deep breath. “The mortal is aware of the ongoing battle with Eris and who I really am.”

  Atropos smiled that creepy smile, but the other sisters sat there expressionless. “That will require a recompense of a different kind. Rest assured you will be called on the carpet for that later and not from us. You of all people should know about the kinds of trouble love can cause. But I see a different man in your future, one who is strong and courageous. Is he not a better choice?”

  Hermes. He was most likely the best choice, but right now my heart was leading me toward Marshall, for better or worse.

  “Probably,” I muttered, uncomfortable under their scrutiny.

  I felt Clotho’s eyes on my chest again and the locket warmed up under her gaze. We needed to address the elephant in the room while everyone was still playing nice. “Everyone knows why I’m here. I do have a bargaining chip in exchange for your help.”

  Clotho leaned forward, anticipation evident in her posture. “Show it to me,” she demanded. I knew better than to take the locket off, but in a show of faith, I pulled it from underneath my chiton, making sure it stayed firmly around my neck.

  In a blur of speed, she rushed toward me and touched the locket. The pain in her eyes was evident and there was a side of me that wanted to give it to her no matter whether she helped me or not. Keto’s harsh reminder shook me out of my reverie and I allowed her to stand there for a moment before I pulled back and the locket fell away from her touch.

  She sighed. I struggled with my guilt over the piece, but I knew if we didn’t receive help to fight Eris, receiving the locket back might not matter when everything was over.

  “Eris is a cunning and deceitful goddess, something you might have noticed already. Coming at her in a frontal assault will mean your deaths. Defeating Eris will require you to be smarter and faster. She has one weakness, child. Do you know what it is?”

  Was this a rhetorical question? Of course I didn’t know what it was. I wracked my brain, trying to think of anything I could use against her, but I came up blank.

  “Ares,” Clotho said. “Use her brother against her.”

  Easier said than done, but what she said had a ring of truth to it. Ares was the only family she had left. I was surprised he was her only weakness because I had never seen them together in the entire time I had known him. I realized not for the first time there was a lot I didn’t know about the man who had shared my bed for so many years. Lachesis stepped forward. “Are you truly convinced Ares betrayed you?”

  My head told me yes, but my heart was screaming no.

  Lachesis saw the truth in my eyes. “Even the wisest of us can be played for a fool in love, dear. You would be wise to harden your heart against the God of War. He loves no one but himself. We have been unable to gauge how much he cares about his sister, but he is power hungry. He has much to gain if Eris succeeds in stripping Zeus of power.” Her tone gentled. “But that doesn’t mean he has betrayed you. Remember that as you get to the bottom of this. Things can look black in the harsh light of day, but when dusk sets, everything takes on shades of gray.”

  Her words were balm that soothed my heart. Ares was definitely guilty of something, I just wasn’t sure it was betrayal. He was the crux, the stumbling block in my plan. If Eris rose to power, Ares would be right behind her. I couldn’t imagine a world where the God of War ruled. I cared for Ares – a great deal once – but to know he could be in power sent shudders of dread down my spine. It would not be good for Olympus or the earth with either of them ruling.

  “And if I cannot do that?” I asked.

  Atropos, perhaps the most cunning of the Fates, understood my hesitation. “You offer him something priceless,” she said.

  Pretty much the only priceless thing in my possession was my girdle. Fat lot of good that would do for Ares. Having men fall all over you was probably not in his plans of world domination. “Priceless?” I echoed. “Like what?”

  “Are you familiar with the Sword of God?” She paused, waiting for my reaction.

  No way. Shock rooted me to the floor. This sounded like an even worse plan than trying to overthrow Eris. “So, you think it would be a good idea to give the Sword of God to the God of War?” The idea was ludicrous.

  The sword was one of the most powerful relics in the universe. I wasn’t overly familiar with the history of it, but I knew of the legend linking it to Excalibur and Attila the Hun. A Mongolian shepherd stumbled over the sword in a field and presented it to Attila. What resulted was one of the most bloodthirsty reigns in history. Lore claimed anyone in possession of the sword could become a world conqueror. If Mongolian history were true, Ares’ possession of the sword would make him the most powerful man on earth and Olympus.

  “No matter what you think of Ares, the sword once belonged to him anyway.”

  I hadn’t known this and my estimation of Ares rose a notch. If he possessed the sword before and still had allowed Zeus to stay in power, perhaps it was merely the hint he could conquer worlds if he so chose that had given him the willpower not to use the sword against him. Not knowing his current motivations made me nervous. Returning such a powerful relic to him seemed to be equivalent of teasing a lion with a nice bloody steak.

  “And you think returning the sword could help with the Eris problem?”

  Clotho chose that moment to speak up. “Why wouldn’t it? Aren’t you guilty of the same thing standing here lording my locket underneath my nose in
an attempt to bribe us into helping you?”

  Crimson spread through my face. I was ashamed. The good guys didn’t do things like this and yet here I stood, supposedly on the side of good, tempting one of the most powerful beings in the world with one of her most precious possessions. Making a split decision, and one I hoped I wouldn’t regret later, I slipped the locket from over my head.

  My hands shook as I thrust it toward Clotho. “Please take it before I change my mind.”

  She didn’t make a move to accept it, instead appraising me coolly. Her eyes sparked with something I couldn’t identify. Keto was going to kill me when I made it home, if they decided to throw me out of here with no assistance. But she was right. Bribery was a common tactic of the gods, at the expense of other people.

  I tried to be different, but when things were hairy, I often chose to act the same way. Change was never easy, and this was probably not the best time to start, but the look in Clotho’s eyes when she saw her locket told me how much it meant to her. I could never change if I chose to treat other people poorly when trying to gain their assistance.

  “Take it,” I told her again. “No strings.”

  Her hands shook as she grasped my hand with both of hers. “Your decision is honorable and unexpected. I believe you have grown, dear child. For this unexpected gift, you have my assistance and that of my sisters whenever you request it. But don’t take our help lightly. It may come at a great price to you.”

  It was the best outcome and one I hadn’t imagined. The Fates didn’t offer their help without strings. Even with a boon, I couldn’t expect them to offer freely. But having a small glimpse into their lives today had offered me the chance to tamp down my fright and see them as they really were. That didn’t mean they wouldn’t kill me without hesitation if I insulted them, but my chances of getting out of here alive had just increased.

  After a moment of silence where I felt all three sisters were taking my measure, I bowed deeply. “Your assistance is deeply appreciated. Now, this sword. Who has it?”

  Atropos showed her shark teeth as she grinned widely. I would never get used to those. “Eris.”

  Shit. “Does Ares know she has it?”

  “You are still underestimating her, Abby. Continue to do so at your own detriment. Of course he doesn’t know. If he did, he would stop at nothing to possess it. If you can take the sword out from underneath her nose, you could bring Ares over to your side with minimal effort. Eris is an entirely different story. But remove her strongest ally and you can begin to break her down.”

  I had no desire to see Ares again, but if this was the only way, it had to be done. “Where is the sword now?”

  Lachesis spoke up, her deep voice calming in the face of my fear. “She does not have it in her possession. The sword is located in a remote cavern, guarded by harpies.”

  This was getting better and better. “Harpies. Of course there would be harpies. How do I access the cavern?”

  Atropos held out her hands. A glowing red stone appeared. The sluggish pulsing looked too much like a beating heart for me to be comfortable touching it right away.

  “We will send you to the nest through a portal. Our magic is undetectable so it will allow you to sneak in. But take this. It will transport you home from the caverns. They are on earth, close to this Asheville place where you are now, but not accessible by common means. Let go of this to your own detriment. Keep it with you, and we will take it back at a later time.

  If they are nesting or feasting, the harpies may notice your arrival. How you deal with them is of no concern to us. The sword rests inside of the nest. Take care not to cut yourself, for if you do, nothing will be able to stop the flow of blood. It is a dangerous relic and one we do not want here. When you finish, picture home in your mind and the stone will take you there.”

  Okay. Travel with a beating heart, kick some harpy ass, and do my best not to cut myself on a magical sword while hurtling through time and space. Easy peasy.

  17

  Chapter Seventeen

  I accepted the pulsing stone with reluctance and turned it over in my hand. The glow shadowed my hand red and the image of blood sprang to mind. So far we’d escaped relatively unscathed, but now I was walking into dangerous territory. Alone. I wished Artie and Keto were here. There was nothing the three of us couldn’t get through.

  Standing there, I realized I needed to grow a spine and fast. I may be a love goddess, but I was an immortal, birthed from the sea and one of the most powerful beings in the world. I might have funky magic right now, but I could get through this. I had to. I was stuck between a rock and a hard place, no wiggle room. Everything seemed okay in Olympus for now, but once Eris made her move, things would change in a hurry.

  Clotho beckoned me forward. “For your honesty and bravery in coming here today, I bestow a boon on you.” She placed her hands on my shoulders and pushed down. I dropped to my knees not knowing what to expect.

  Magic stirred in the air. Atropos and Lachesis also came forward, their eyes glowing an unearthly silver. They stooped beside me, each with one hand buried in my hair, the others on their knees to steady them. Warmth filled the back of my head, relaxing me more than I had felt in years. I felt my head droop. I was so tired. My eyes began to close no matter how much I struggled to keep them open. The last vision I had before I succumbed was the sight of the Fates, glowing and ethereal in the fading light of their den.

  I awoke with a start, my heart pounding. Frantically I looked around trying to remember where I was.

  “Well, look at Sleeping Beauty.” A voice rang out from the side of the room and I turned my head to see Clotho sitting in a rocking chair, legs crossed and with a satisfied smile on her face.

  The events of the last couple of hours surfaced in a haze. “What happened?” I asked.

  She grinned. “We gave you your magic back, Abby. Try it.”

  I gasped in shock and noticed the warmth in my body was still there. The familiar tingle of my magic rushed through my body and I closed my eyes in joy. Finally, I thought. Finally. I had grown so accustomed to the lack of magic that I had forgotten what having it felt like.

  Now I could fight them. I could fight anyone who dared to challenge me.

  I flexed my fingers, fascinated with the sparks of golden light flowing from them. That was new. I offered a curious look to Clotho who turned away, uncomfortable.

  “We, uh, may have given your powers a slight boost accidentally.”

  I raised an eyebrow. I didn’t think the Fates did anything by accident. I didn’t mention it, instead smiling and expressing my gratitude.

  She waved away my thanks. “You gave me back something precious. This was the least we could do for you. Nothing should stand in your way now, Abby. By now Artemis should have regained full use of her powers. With your friends by your side, you should be able to take on Eris. But it will not be without peril.” She paused, her perfect brow wrinkled. “Aphrodite, beware. I sense something amiss. You…will be tested,” she said. “I cannot see what it is. Even if I could it would not be for me to say. All I can tell you is, bonds will be tested and you will be forced to make a choice. Sometimes love cannot fight your battles.”

  Boy, did I know that. I opened my mouth to speak, but she cut me off. “Choosing wisely will change the course of your destiny, Goddess of Love.”

  I would keep her advice close to my heart even though I didn’t know what she was talking about. I wiggled my fingers and toes, surprised at how fantastic I was feeling. Clotho stood up abruptly.

  “The time grows close, Abby. Eris is making final preparations to move against Zeus. His powers grow weaker every day she possesses the apples. Be cautious, for all is not what it seems.” She waved her hand and a new chiton appeared on the bed. It was beautiful, but the color was blood red. There seemed to be a theme here.

  “Red?” I asked. “Really? It seems…gauche.”

  She laughed aloud. “Just think of it this way. When you ge
t blood on it, and I guarantee you will, it will be easy to launder.” With that sage advice she sauntered from the room.

  As she walked away I wondered if she were talking about enemy blood…or my own.

  Magic simmered beneath the surface of my veins. I felt omnipotent. Normally magic tired me out, especially if I used it continuously throughout the day. Today I felt like I could take on all of Olympus with my pinky finger. I dressed quickly using magic and made sure my glamour was in place before I exited the room.

  The Fates stood in the kitchen, now out of their pajamas and looking gorgeous. I marveled at the about face they had taken from when I had arrived in their realm. Although I still had a healthy fear of them, I felt a kinship. I hoped when I returned home the Fates would remember me fondly. I knew I would remember them that way.

  “Snap out of it,” Atropos barked. “This is not a slumber party.” I forgot they could read my thoughts. Lachesis softened her sister’s remarks with a slight wink.

  “Red looks good on you, Abby.” Atropos nodded in approval. “It’s a good color to merge with the blood that will spill today.”

  There she was. I was wondering when she would show up again. I grinned. “Well, laundry service is expensive in New York,” I quipped. Now that I had my magic back, laundry was of no concern, but I was grateful for the clean clothing they had provided me. In a few moments I knew I would be alone again, fighting for my life. I hoped Ares would be as predictable as the Fates thought he would be. I’d hate to risk my life for nothing.

  “So,” I said, tapping my nails on the counter, “what’s next?”