by Mina Carter
Becky nodded. It hadn’t even occurred to her that the men who’d been injured were probably Heath’s friends. “That’s good,” she responded. “Not that he’s unconscious, but they’re going to be okay, I mean.”
“I know what you mean,” Heath told her with a hint of a smile.
“What about you?”
“Concussion, a couple of broken ribs and a lot of bruises.”
Biting her lip, Becky mumbled, “I’m so sorry you got dragged in to all this.”
“Forget it. I dragged myself in. None of it’s your fault.”
“I’m going to be making a lot of apologies, I guess. There’s all those people I chucked out I’ll have to say sorry to. I’ve got no idea how I’m going to explain it all.”
“Well, you don’t have to worry about a police investigation. Chief Inspector Budden has spoken to the Chief Super. They’re going to sweep the whole thing under the carpet, although you might have to make a few hefty donations somewhere along the line to pay for that.” He grinned at her and took her hand.
“Where does that leave us?” Becky enquired softly.
“Well, I do believe someone mentioned a date,” he responded with a wink. Then he suddenly let go of her hand and muttered, “Aw, hell!”
“What’s wrong?”
“My mother. Escape while you can.”
Becky finally smiled properly and took hold of his fingers. “I’m not going anywhere.”
* * *
Entering Frippe House for the first time since killing Miss Freaky, Becky could feel immediately how different it was. Other than getting the broken windows boarded up, she hadn’t done a thing. After a couple of hours seeing what had been damaged, she realised all the blessings had changed something fundamental in the house. There was a lightness, a sense nothing bad could ever happen again. The house even looked different, as if a storm cloud that had been hung over it had finally been blown away.
It was now two months since she had first come to the house. In that time, she had served out a month’s notice at the Royal Berkshire Hospital and got her old house signed over to Dan; he didn’t want to leave his girlfriend and move to a different county. Becky had also been on several dates with Heath. After the fourth, they had slept together. Becky’s expectations of men in bed were quite low, but Heath had really surprised her, leaving her in a floppy, gasping heap by the time he’d finished with her. After that, Becky had decided he was definitely a keeper.
She looked around the hall and sighed quietly. Now she was ready to start a new life here. Imy was following down in a few days with Brenda, which would give Becky the time to get the smashed windows repaired and sort out a couple of the bedrooms a bit more.
Life was moving forward again. After a chat with Piran, she had found out he didn’t want the coffin for his Victorian death exhibition. Becky didn’t blame him. Mr Francis would be back in a few days to begin going through the library from scratch. One of the historians had asked if he could write a book about Frippe House, and he was coming in a couple of weeks, which would give her time to get some papers together.
Becky had heard back from Professor Seager about the notebooks. Apparently they were a detailed description of the ceremony Honoria’s father had done. She’d told him she never wanted to see them again and he could dispose of them however he saw fit. Piran had already told her he didn’t want anything to do with Miss Freaky for the museum.
Turning as the light coming through the front door was shadowed, Becky quivered as Heath strolled in with a broad smile on his face. He had recovered reasonably quickly from his injuries. As had the other men. Whether they needed therapy for what they had seen, Becky didn’t like to ask. All but one of them were back at work. At some point very soon, Becky planned to treat all the men and their families to a meal out. It wasn’t much after what they had been through, but it was a start.
“The glazers will be out in an hour or so,” Heath told her as he wrapped his arm around her waist.
“Okay.” Becky looked up and touched her fingertips to his cheek. “Thank you.”
“Oh, it’s going to cost you later,” he threatened with a dirty grin and she laughed.
Sometimes, she couldn’t believe she had decided to leave her old life behind and move here after what had happened, but here she was. Frippe House wasn’t a bad house. It wasn’t evil, so why not live here? Why not carry on the tradition that had been going for hundreds of years of having a Frippe in Frippe House? There might still be a ghost around, but after what she had already faced, Honoria Frippe was child’s play. Becky knew Honoria didn’t want to hurt anyone, so why worry about her?
“So, what’s first?” Heath asked her. They were both in scruffy clothes, prepared for a day of work.
“Follow me.”
Going to the kitchen, Becky filled the buckets she had brought with her with hot soapy water, chucked a scrubbing brush in each, and handed one to Heath. He frowned a bit but she turned away before he had the chance to ask what she was up to.
Becky entered the secret room with the bucket in her hand, turned on the light she had managed to rig up before Heath had arrived and, after closing the coffin, started to scrub one of the walls.
It took them hours to scrub off all the writing, and once it was done, they removed the light, closed the door and never went in there again.
ABOUT EDEN
Eden Elsworth lives in Dorset, England, with her teenage son, her partner and fellow author, Jack Silince, and a lunatic cat.
Eden Elsworth’s Website
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A Love for Somnus
by
Nicole Garcia
© 2014 Nicole Garcia
Cover Design: Dawn Sullivan
Editor: Patty Hanson
All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of the copyright owner of this book.
Dedication
This book is dedicated to all the hopeless romantics. The ones who believe in love at first sight and finding that one person who makes you whole.
Prologue
Somnus looked over at Victoria. He had never seen a more beautiful creature. The Goddess’ on Mount Olympus paled in the light of Victoria’s beauty. He ran his fingers through her long jet black hair. Her crystal blue eyes gazed up at him with intent. He kissed her gently on her soft full lips and she smiled against his mouth. The joy he felt in his heart was immeasurable.
Today was a special day. One they had been looking forward to for a long time. Tonight they would make love and she would become his for all eternity. His soul mate. The one person he would be able to share his deepest feelings with. And the one person who would always be there for him.
Somnus feared for Victoria for many reasons. His main concern, she was a human. A mortal. Being in love with a human was looked down upon on Mount Olympus. Humans caused too much trouble, they were too frail according to the elder Gods. Any God that was seen with a human was severely punished.
Somnus was in deep trouble. He not only talked to a human, but he fell madly in love with one. He hid their relationship from Jupiter, the king of the Gods. If Jupiter found out about the love he shared with Victoria, he would no doubt suffer severe consequences.
Victoria's eyebrows furrowed. "Somnus, what's troubling you?"
He sighed heavily. He did not want to worry her. "Nothing my love."
"Don't lie to me. I can see sadness written all over your face."
"I'm worried about us. What if you change your mind and don't want to be with me forever? Or even worse, what if Jupiter finds out and banishes me to the Underworld for all eternity. I wouldn't be able to live without you. The sorrow in my heart would be too great."
>
"Somnus, I am not going anywhere. No person or God can ever take me away from you. I am yours forever."
He took her face in his hands and kissed her forehead. "I am the luckiest God on Olympus."
"And I'm the luckiest girl on Earth."
Somnus recalled the day he told her he was a God. Her reaction to his news was shocking to say the least. She said she knew other worldly beings existed. His guess was that all the reading she did gave her those thoughts. In her home she had piles and piles of books written by philosophers and astronomers. She read any book she could get her hands on. She often quoted Galileo, Aristotle, and Plato. A woman clearly ahead of her time. It drove him insane sometimes, but he would never change anything about her.
Victoria interrupted his thoughts with her sweet voice. "Somnus, while you go to Mount Olympus, I'm going to go to the market. I want to make you the biggest meal you've ever had."
"I don't have to leave so soon. Let me come with you. I can help."
"Somnus, you know you're not supposed to be seen by anyone."
He sighed heavily. "You're absolutely right."
"By the time you get back I will have everything ready for tonight."
"Okay my love."
Somnus returned to Mount Olympus to speak with his best friend Cupid, the God of Love. They were almost inseparable. He told Cupid everything. They were like brothers. He was the only God to know about his relationship with Victoria. Cupid had offered Somnus to shoot Victoria with a golden arrow so she would fall in love with him, but Somnus had refused. She eventually fell in love with him on her own. Somnus had always believed everyone had a soul mate and he knew in his heart Victoria was his.
Cupid saw the worried expression on his friend's face. "What's the matter Somnus? Why do you look so depressed? Today is a special day."
"I don't know Cupid. With every minute that passes, the more I think I shouldn't be doing this. I love Victoria with all my heart, but if the other Gods find out, or even worse Jupiter, what am I going to do?"
"Relax. By the time anyone finds out, it will be too late. You will already be mated to her, forever. Okay, so you'll be banished from Mount Olympus for all of eternity, but at least you'll have the girl."
Somnus sighed heavily. "There's something else that's bothering me."
"Well, what is it?"
"I feel awkward telling you this, but tonight will be Victoria's first time. She has never been with a man before."
"What are you talking about? That's a good thing. You will be her first and her last. She will belong to you, and you alone."
"But, what if I...?"
"What if you what Somnus?"
"What if I break her?"
Cupid's laughter echoed in the room of his quiet home. "Don't be ridiculous!"
"Cupid, I'm serious. I'm a God and she's a frail human. I could hurt her."
"Somnus, this is not your first time."
"Yes, it is. I mean with a human anyway. I've only been with Goddesses. They're more...durable than humans are."
Cupid laughed out loud. "I'm sure the Goddesses would love to be thought of as durable."
"I'm glad you find this amusing Cupid."
"I'm sorry. Look, you're being ridiculous. You are the gentlest God I know. You are not going to hurt her. Humans are much more durable than you think."
Somnus got angry. "I'm leaving."
Cupid grabbed Somnus by the arm before he could teleport. "Okay, I'm sorry. But what I said was true. You wouldn't hurt anyone. You couldn't hurt anyone even if you tried. It's not in your nature. We are here to guide the humans and I know for a fact you take that responsibility very seriously. You know, you can put her to sleep while..."
"I will not use my powers on Victoria!"
"Okay, okay. I was only making a suggestion to make it easier for her.”
Somnus shook his head. "I'm so happy I came to you for advice."
"Come on, lighten up. If you love her as much as you say you do, then stop worrying already. Be with her and don't let anyone or any God come between you."
At that moment Somnus felt a heaviness in his chest. A feeling he had never experienced before. He knew something was wrong, but didn't know what it was. He teleported to the reflecting pool where all Gods could watch the humans. Cupid teleported right next to him.
"No!" He stood frozen. Unable to move. What Somnus saw before him was nothing more than agonizing. God's weren't supposed to feel pain or sorrow, but he did. That very minute his immortal life would be forever changed.
Victoria lay in the middle of the street. Her beautiful face pressed against the rain soaked cobblestone. A horse drawn buggy on top of her. Somnus could hear the people down below screaming for help. The horse had been frightened by a strike of lightning and the carriage had careened out of control. Blood was pouring out Victoria's head. He knew he had to do something to help her.
He tried to teleport, but Cupid held him back. "Somnus, don't. You can't go down there."
Somnus tried to break free. "I have to do something. She needs my help!"
Cupid held Somnus back with all his strength. "You can't do anything for her now. It's too late. If you go down there now you will jeopardize not only you, but all of Mount Olympus."
Somnus fell into a heap by the reflecting pool and for the first time in his immortal life, a tear fell from his eye. A rare act of emotion that was unheard of amongst the Gods, and one that would surely never be seen again.
Chapter One
(Present day)
Somnus sat by the reflecting pool looking down at all the hustle and bustle on the Chicago streets. Today marked the one hundred year anniversary of Victoria's death. So much had changed since that day. Clothes, technology, and the way people spoke had become dramatically different. He had to adapt to every change the humans invented. Being a God, there really wasn't much he needed to live day to day. Humans were now allowed on Mount Olympus. That was only if they were mated to a God. The only catch was, they couldn't stay. They were only allowed a short visit if absolutely necessary.
The Gods were also able to walk the Earth if they didn't consort with humans. He often visited and walked amongst the mortals, but being six feet tall with a perfect body, he was kind of hard to miss. Women threw themselves at him all the time and he took full advantage of it. After Victoria died, he didn't want to be in love again. Somnus didn't care much for the rules of the elder Gods anymore. He talked to all the women he could, and had sex with every one of them. Hoping one day he would forget about the pain of losing Victoria.
Of course, nothing distracted him from her. That was until the day Kane was born two years ago. Kane is Cupid's son. Cupid fell in love with Valentina, a human. They now live in Chicago. Kane is special little boy for many reasons. Somnus not only named him, but Kane shares the same powers as he does. Which is a rare occurrence in the God world. There are no two Gods on Mount Olympus that possess the same powers. It's unheard of. But, since Kane was half human and half God, Jupiter wanted to observe the child.
Kane was also an empath. A person who could physically tune into the emotional experiences of another. Having two gifts was never experienced on Mount Olympus, which was why Jupiter wanted Somnus to keep an eye on the child. The baby needed to be able to control his powers. Though Cupid was also a God, he and his son had very different powers.
Somnus was the God of Dreams and with that came a certain responsibility. Kane would need to learn how to touch someone without putting them sleep. Being half human the boy would certainly be going to school with other children soon.
Somnus looked up to find Hercules standing over him. "Are you going to mope around all day? You're depressing me."
Somnus turned back to the reflecting pool. "Excuse me for depressing you. You know, the world doesn't revolve around you Hercules."
"Sure it does."
He stood and rounded Hercules. "I'll see you later. I have things to do."
"Okay, you can be like that i
f you want, but you do realize we have to be at the party for the little demi-brat at the hospital. Or did you forget?"
Somnus stopped in his tracks and bowed his head. He didn't want to be bothered today of all days. "Shit. I totally forgot about that."
He wanted to blow the whole thing off, but the party was important to Cupid and Valentina. Kane was born with a heart condition and had almost died. Cupid organized a small get together for all the babies in the neonatal intensive care unit when Kane was there. All the babies were now two years old and they wanted to have a special birthday party for their only son.
"Nice. Real nice. Even I remembered, and I only think about myself."
Somnus turned to face his friend. "Oh, shut up Hercules. Don't you have somewhere else to be?"
"Uh, no. I was invited too."
"Well this day just keeps getting better and better doesn't it?"
"I'm not thrilled to be spending the day with whiny two year olds either, but Val asked me to go and I wasn't going to turn her down."
"What time do we have to be there?"
"In an hour. How is it that I know more information than you do? This is a sad sad day."
"Hercules, I'm not in the mood for your shit today. Today is a sad day. I don't feel like listening to your annoying childish behavior."
"Somnus, it's been a century. Get over it already. "
Somnus turned and began to walk away. "When you lose someone you love, then come and talk to me."
Somnus teleported home. He didn't want to go anywhere or do anything today. All he wanted to do was sit in his nice quiet house and reflect on his memories of Victoria. He certainly didn't want to spend the day with Hercules. Hercules made jokes about everything. He took nothing seriously. But, this day was too important to his friends. He wouldn't let them down. Especially when Kane meant so much to him.
He would have to grin and bear it, even though the pain was eating him alive inside. He didn't understand why Cupid would have the party on this day. He knew how much Victoria meant to him. He knew losing her was the most horrific event in his life. Well, he really couldn't blame his friend for not remembering. He did have a new wife and baby to take care of. He wasn't responsible for Somnus or what was going on in his life.
