by S. E. Babin
I paused with the slice halfway to my mouth. “This sounds final,” I said. “Why does this sound so final?”
He rubbed a hand across the back of his neck and chuckled. “You just took over an entire kingdom, plus the one you just left. Do you really think you’re going to have time to come and visit me whenever you want?”
I studied him. “I can do what I want.”
His lips twitched. “I feel sorry for Hades.”
I punched him in the arm. “Rude,” I said, but it was without heat. “Things are going to be different,” I admitted.
He nodded. “I am leaving you to fight this war alone.”
I took another bite and chewed, thoughtful. After a moment, I spoke. “That’s because you’re a selfish jerk.”
Hermes laughed out loud. “Looking back it seems like you’ve grown and all I’ve done is regress.”
“The very real threat of murder and dismemberment has forced me early maturity.”
“I never wanted this, Abby.”
“I know. Me neither.” My thoughts drifted to Hades. “But Hades will be a good king.”
He muttered a sound of agreement. “And every king needs a strong queen.”
“I don’t know how strong I am. More stubborn and not risk averse.”
“Not a single one of us could have navigated what you have over the last several months. You’ve kept bloodshed to a minimum and even managed to make several allies. That takes true talent.”
I smiled, rueful. “Yes, but I’ve also managed to get us involved in a war. One that will end in a lot of casualties.”
“I think as hard as it is to believe, that God might have been trying to help you.”
My thoughts had been the same, but I still couldn’t figure it out. “Declaring war on us doesn’t seem to be very helpful. He doesn’t seem very inclined to give up his rule.”
Hermes’ gaze flickered. “You would be surprised. Sometimes you just need something...new. And you need time alone to figure out what that is.”
I wiped my hands on a napkin and put my arms around my friend. “You will find your way. When you do, I hope that you find happiness. But know you will always have a home here.”
“Even though we just spent all that time faking my death?”
“Yep. We will figure that out when the time comes. The immortals aren’t above a little spontaneous resurrection.”
He squeezed me. “I adore you, my friend,” he murmured in my hair.
“And I you,” I said back.
We held each other for a second before he stepped away. “I will see you.”
“Soon, I hope.”
He smiled, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes. “Soon,” he said, a false promise I was sure.
He left me sitting in the kitchen alone, mourning the loss of any sense of normalcy I’d ever had.
Chapter 23
I trolled the castle the entire night, stopping only when my feet were killing me. I slid down the side of one of the castle walls and sat on the floor. Reddish light was beginning to filter through the windows of the castle, telling me sunrise was almost here.
It also told me my friend was on his way to his new life.
We had secrets. So many secrets. I tilted my head back against the wall and looked up at the enormous ceilings. How far we’d come, but how far we still had to go.
I shut my eyes and tried to clamp down the weariness that was creeping into my body.
“Where are you, Keto?” I whispered to the empty hall.
A hand snaked around and clamped over my mouth before I could scream. A strong arm pulled me back into the darkness.
“Abby,” the voice hissed. “Do not struggle.”
I stilled. “Keto?” I said, but my voice was muffled through his hand.
“Shhh,” he hissed. “There are enemies among us.”
I snorted. “That’s the understatement of the year. When is the last time we ever didn’t have enemies?”
“Beside the point. Hades may have let everyone go, but there are people plotting against you as we speak.”
I stared at him. “If you want me to take you seriously, you’re going to have to do better than that. We just faked someone’s death and wrested rule of a kingdom. Of course people are going to be pissed off. I’m just surprised it hasn’t happened sooner.”
I leaned in closer to him and gasped. His normally olive skin was pale and clammy. I reached out a hand to touch him and he hissed and jerked away. “Keto?”
“Don’t,” he said.
I scooted closer to him in the cramped space. The light was dim so I couldn’t see the extent of the damage, but what I did see was enough.
“Oh, Keto,” I whispered.
His dark wings lay in tatters, feathers spilled everywhere and they shook slightly.
“They clipped them,” he whispered.
Rage filled my soul. “Who?” I demanded.
“God.”
We stared at each other for a moment, the weight of what happened sitting on both of our shoulders. Keto would never be able to go home.
“I will fix this.” The amount of promises I’d made over the last 24 hours was oppressive, but I meant it.
“You can’t,” he said, pain and sorrow dripping from his voice.
“Why not?”
“Because my wings are a gift from God and he is the only one who can restore me.”
“No. There is always another way.”
“Unless you have a Skystone lying around, there isn’t.”
“Skystone?”
He gave me a pained smile. “Legend says when war broke out in the heavens and the angels were expelled to Earth, their wings shattered into brilliant veined blue stones. They are long lost in this world, but every once in awhile, archaeologists will find a piece.”
I gaped at him. “That sounds....hard.”
“Because it is. God possesses these stones, but no one knows where they are kept and no one truly knows how they work.”
“Well, I do love a challenge,” I said dryly.
“It isn’t a challenge. It’s a suicide mission.”
“That’s why I was trying to find you,” I admitted.
He snorted. “For a suicide mission? Why am I not surprised?”
“I was thinking instead of a war, we could prevent it before it even started.”
Keto leaned against the stone wall with a grimace. “I’m not sure I’m in the best shape to help with anything right now, much less breaking into heaven.”
“Yeah,” I said. “Boy aren’t we a motley pair? I’m pregnant and under death threats and your wings are shattered beyond repair.”
“Has it ever been worse?”
I snorted. “The castle hasn’t been blown up yet, but there’s still time. Right now it’s a solid maybe.” I reached over to touch his wings. “We need to get you to Asclepius.”
“He can’t help.”
My gaze met his. “They won’t heal?”
Keto shook his head. “They will stay this way until I am forgiven or God has chosen to banish me here.”
“Well,” I breathed. “That’s just awesome.”
“Yep.”
“Can you retract them?”
He nodded. “I haven’t done so because it’s painful.”
“We can’t sit here all night. We have to get you somewhere safe.”
“There is no where in the castle that’s safe.”
“There’s nowhere in my life that’s safe right now,” I grumbled.
I shifted from the floor and stood with a groan. “I’m going to help you.”
He shifted against the wall and tilted pain-filled eyes to me. “Just leave me. I’ll be able to get up in a little while.”
I reached down and put my hands under his arms. “Come on. We’re at least going to have you visit Asclepius. You never know what that old bird will come up with.”
He leveraged his legs to help take some of his weight from me. He didn’t have to. I was s
trong, but Keto was, at heart, a gentleman. He slung an arm around my shoulder and allowed me to lead him down the hall. I was too exhausted to use my magic right now. A weird side effect of pregnancy or something going on in the castle. So we slowly trudged all the way to the small clinic located close to Hermes’ old room. We pushed through the door only to see the old man sitting in his pajamas drinking a cup of fragrant tea. His expression didn’t change when we walked through the door.
Apparently Zeus must have brought in some doozies for him not to bat an eye when I brought in a daemon with jacked up wings. Good to know. I’d had some run ins with Asclepius before and I didn’t find him to be the most likable guy, but he knew his stuff so I tried my best to be somewhat respectful.
Or...as respectful as someone like me could be.
I sat Keto in one of the waiting chairs and turned to Asclepius to speak. He held up a hand.
“If this has anything to do with the incidents of the last 24 hours, I don’t want to know about it.”
I clamped my mouth shut and pointed to my friend.
He sipped his tea carefully. “A daemon?”
I nodded.
“I don’t think I can help him.” He set his cup down and stood, gathering his robe around him. “This seems like the handiwork of something...different.”
I wasn’t sure how much I should admit, so I just nodded.
Asclepius gave me a lingering look and sighed. He plodded over to his shelves and began to gather small glass jars.
Keto watched, his face wracked with pain.
“I’m going to leave you here and check in with Hades. I’ll be back in a little while.”
He gave me a short nod as I slipped through the door.
As it turned out, Hades didn’t seem to care about my whereabouts because he was nowhere to be found. I scoured the kitchens, our guest rooms and back in the throne room. By now the sun was higher in the sky but it was still early. But worry was gnawing on me, and I hoped he was somewhere close. He was angry enough to do something not so smart earlier, but he was usually pretty level headed.
Things were a little different now, especially with the baby.
I spun on my heel and headed over to Artie’s room.
I didn’t bother to knock because after a few thousand years of friendship you tended to dismiss the formalities. I pushed in and was promptly rewarded with the sight of my half naked best friend and Atlas.
“Whoa,” I breathed. “Whooooaaahhh.” I threw my arm up to shield my eyes and slowly backed away right before the screeching started.
“OH MY GOD!” Artie screamed. “APHRODITE!”
I took off running down the hall, half horrified, half laughing.
I heard the door fling open and barefeet padding against the stone floor. “I’m going to KILL you!” she screamed.
By then I was laughing so hard, my speed slowed down. “Virgin Goddess,” I breathed through my laughter. “Boy do the books have it wrong!”
Artie barked out a laugh but followed it up with a growl. “Let’s talk about you, missy!” she shouted as she barrelled down the hall toward me.
“I’m married and knocked up now!” I yelled back. “All my sins are absolved!” I started to slow down and finally stopped, leaning against the wall to catch my breath. I turned back to look at her and promptly lost it again. Her hair streamed out behind her as she stumbled toward me wrapped in a sheet and nothing else.
“Why are you chasing after me when you have the chunk of hunky man waiting for you back there?”
Her cheeks colored prettily. “He is pretty, isn’t he?”
“Very much so.” And he was, but he didn’t really seem like her type.
“He’s smart,” she murmured under her breath.
I didn’t mention Nemesis.
“You like him?”
She blushed him again.
I barked out a laugh. “I know you like him enough to do the horizontal mambo, but do you really like him?”
She shrugged. “I’m not so sure he likes me that way either.”
“Someone would have to be crazy not to like you.”
She grinned. “Well he likes me enough…”
“You dirty dogs.” My face softened. “You do whatever you want to, whenever you want to, and don’t ever let anyone tell you you’re wrong.”
Tears shimmered in her eyes. “Thanks, dude.”
“You’re welcome, hoochie.”
Artie smacked me in the arm and adjusted the sheet around her tighter. “If you’ll excuse me I have things to do.”
I snorted. “People. You mean. You have people to do.”
“I hate you!” she called back to me as she sashayed back to her room.
“I love you!” I shouted back, snickering as I walked away. My momentary worry about Hades had floated away but returned quickly. Then I cursed because I’d gone into her room to ask about him only to see her in flagrante delicto. So I’d promptly forgotten. But...I’d bet she hadn’t seen him because of her preoccupation with the massive blonde man.
I stumbled back to my room just as the sun was getting high in my sky, exhausted. Hades was nowhere to be seen, but I knew he could handle himself. I needed sleep because I was dead on my feet. I slid my shoes off my feet and sat on the edge of the bed only to let myself fall backwards. Draco thumped me in annoyance.
“Shush,” I murmured and let my eyes drift shut.
Whispers woke me the next morning.
“She’s been out for a full 16 hours. Should we call Asclepius?”
“She’s also pregnant. Things get...weird when that happens. Or so I’ve heard. It’s been so long since someone has had a baby I can’t actually remember.”
“Maybe waft a plate of pancakes under her nose?” Another voice supplied.
“I hate you all,” I mumbled.
“It’s alive,” Artie whispered.
“Who said pancakes?” I snapped, still not opening my eyes.
“You have to get up first,” Atlas said. “They’re in the kitchen.”
“You mean you aren’t going to serve a poor pregnant lady in bed?”
In answer to that, Artie nudged my leg with a soft boot. “Get up, lady. We have things to discuss.”
“Like the mob outside the palace,” Hera supplied.
I cracked open an eye at that. “Mob?”
“Yep,” Artie said breezily. “And your husband appears to be MIA. So...pancakes first, mob dispersion second.”
Artie was great. She always had a plan.
Chapter 24
As I was shoveling down an enormous pile of pancakes, a thought occurred to me. “Hey,” I said around a mouthful of breakfast heaven, “does anyone know the lady Hades was speaking to earlier?”
Blank stares were all I got. “The older woman? Helena? Sort of like a Nanny McPhee?”
Artie blinked at me. “Errrm, no?”
“Huh.” It was odd that she showed up and then suddenly Hades disappeared. It was very possible it was coincidental, but I’d learned long ago about me and coincidence. The lesson being that it usually wasn’t.
So who was the mysterious Helena?
I shrugged. “Okay. Tell me about the mob.”
Hera sipped her coffee. She’d been silent in the corner since we’d stepped in. “Typical mob. Angry people. Yelling ugly things. Murderous intent, yadda, yadda, yadda.” She yawned and covered her mouth with a delicate hand. “I say kill them all and sort it out later.”
“You would,” Artie murmured under her breath.
“Yes, I would,” Hera said. One of her perfect eyebrows rose and she gave Artie a smirk. “You don’t talk your problems to death, darling. You solve them.”
I cleared my throat. “Well, we aren’t really into genocide these days.”
She tilted her up at me. “I don’t have to be an oracle to tell you that you are destined to fail.”
I sighed and shoveled another bite in my mouth.
Hera was a real pain in my ass.
/>
“Maybe she has a point,” Atlas piped up in the back.
Artie stared. “You want to kill everyone outside?”
“Not everyone,” Atlas amended, “just...some. To make a point.”
“Oh?” I inquired. “And what point would that be?”
“That you’re serious about dissenters.”
“I’m not a dictator, Atlas.”
He merely eyed me over his mug. “You don’t have to be a dictator to make a point.”
“Differing opinions make a democracy,” I added.
Hera snorted delicately over the top of her mug.
Even Artie huffed out a breath. “Since when has Olympus been a democracy?”
I smiled evenly at all of them even though I wanted to chew their asses. “Since right now,” I said, making my tone as saccharine as possible.
Owlish blinks was all I received in return.
“Now,” I said as I exhaled deeply, “give me more advice on how to handle the mob. I’m going to go Queen of Hearts on the next person who says kill them all.”
“Wouldn’t that kind of defeat your whole democracy thing?” Artie said, her eyes flashing with amusement.
“Off with her head!” I yelled.
Everyone but Hera was amused. Seriously. I was going to buy that lady some books. I didn’t think she’d ever read a fairy tale in her life.
Chapter 25
We stood in front of the main palace doors looking out at the huge mass of people. Hades was still nowhere to be found - a fact that I would thank him for later. If I thought a lot of people showed up for the second coronation, today blew that number way out of the water.
Thousands of immortals streamed from the palace steps out into the city of Olympus. The noise was deafening even with us standing behind the doors.
Hera’s face was dispassionate. “I still think you should take my advice.”
“We aren’t killing anyone today,” I said.
Artemis snorted. “Don’t make that promise just yet.” She motioned to the windows. “It looks like they’re tired of waiting.”
Those immortals gifted with the magic of fire were beginning to use it. Fire flickered through the air and sailed toward the palace. I wasn’t worried because of the sheer amount of spells leveled on this place after the last time it was attacked. But I knew they couldn’t hold forever.
