Tyranny: Goddesses of Delphi

by Gemma Brocato

  Chapter 19

  Jax followed Zeke to the stairwell.

  When they arrived at Clio’s small office, Zeus was already waiting for them. This time, he was dressed in black trousers and a tight black T-shirt. Even his tennis shoes were black. The get-up was far less unnerving than the toga he’d worn earlier. “Mars located her beneath a castle on Corfu.”

  “Angelokastro?” Jax asked.

  “Ah, you know the place?”

  “It was an important part of Greece’s defense system in the Byzantine era. Built on a massive cavern. Which is where Clio said she was being held.”

  “That’s where we are going.”

  “It will take a day to get there,” Jax muttered. Worry slithered up his spine. Anything could happen in a day.

  Zeus’s laugh boomed off the ceiling. “Not when you travel god-style.” He laid a hand on each of their forearms.

  “Get ready, Jax. It’s going to be a wild ride. The pressure will be crushing. Hold your nose and force air through your sinuses. Just like you’re on a plane.” Zeke demonstrated pinching his nostrils closed.

  Zeus nodded encouragingly, urging Jax to mimic Zeke. Feeling a bit stupid, Jax complied.

  The air tightened around Jax’s body, compressing to the point of pain. An ache pounded in the center of his head. Jax opened his mouth, sucked in a deep lungful of air, then pursed his lips together and blew hard. His ears popped painfully as the world around him faded to mist.

  His traveling companions became mere blobs of light in the monochromatic murkiness surrounding them. Bright cobalt-colored light pulsed in the area where Zeke had stood. Jax dropped his gaze a bit lower and saw a syncopated rhythm beating in the man’s chest. Where Zeus had grasped their wrists, light flared under the god’s palm. Zeus himself was a bright beacon of purple light, his entire being awash in an aura. He looked like a great big glow stick.

  Zeus’s voice banged around inside Jax’s head. We will arrive just outside the space where Pierus is holding her. According to Mars, someone is with her. We will be there in a few moments.

  Jax struggled to nod his head. It felt weighted, heavy…as though he was being spun in a centrifuge. Why did mortals ever believe the gods traveled in chariots? This way was definitely faster and more immortal-like. He gave up trying to nod and merely clenched his fist and raised his thumb. His skin glittered silver. The pressure remained steady on his chest, but oddly, he didn’t fight to breathe.

  His ears popped again, and the world around him morphed back into full color. The floor was six inches below his feet. They floated downward until his soles were planted firmly on the ground. Zeus released their arms and snuck toward an opening in the wall across from them.

  From the other side of the gateway, Jax heard the voice he recognized as Peter Russell’s, the crazy old dude he’d met on the street a few days ago. The man he now knew as Pierus.

  “As long as you are my prisoner, I still hold the upper hand, Clio. I can still turn you into a magpie.”

  “Not bloody likely,” Zeus muttered. “Only I have that power.” He put a hand on Jax’s arm to still his forward progress.

  Jax jerked away. “This ends now.”

  Zeus waved his hand, freezing Jax in place. The sensation was ten times stronger than the force he’d experienced seconds ago. Breath stalled in his throat. A loud, cackling birdcall echoed from the space ahead.

  “A minute, Jax. That is all. We do this my way.”

  Jax blinked his eyes, the only part of his body that was capable of movement. Zeus smiled, and the pressure on Jax’s body eased.

  “The Five Nations is negotiating an eleventh hour détente, Pierus. This challenge is over,” Clio bluffed.

  Zeus pointed to a long, oval mirror located near the entrance. It provided a clear view of the cage where Clio stood. She flung her arm toward the barren tree behind her. “Look, Tyranny is changing back to a bird. You’ve lost.”

  “No!”

  “Do yourself a favor, Pierus. Release me.”

  “Never! I may have lost this contest, but I can hold you prisoner for eternity. No one will ever find you here.”

  “Now,” Zeus commanded. He stepped forward and entered the room ahead of them.

  Zeke and Jax followed, assuming flanking positions behind Zeus.

  Thunder cracked in the room right before Zeus spoke. “Pierus! You will not violate the terms you set forth in the challenge. You will release my daughter immediately.”

  Pierus whipped around to face Zeus, his hands buried in the disheveled curls on his head. “How did you find me? This location is hidden from immortal view. No one has found it for seven thousand years.”

  “Olympus is a large corporation with many assets. This cave wasn’t that difficult to find.” He waved his hands toward Clio’s cage. He frowned when nothing happened. He lifted one brow and pointed at Pierus. “Remove the charm now before I remove you from this existence.”

  With a theatrical flair, a spear appeared in Zeus’s hand. The wicked sharp point throbbed with a bluish-white light. He hefted it up until it rested on his shoulders. Spreading his feet apart, he readied to hurl the spear at Pierus if the god didn’t obey. Jax stepped around Zeus and headed toward Clio. Eager to free her, he reached toward the bars.

  “Stop, Jax!” Clio ordered. She softened her voice. “The bars are charmed. Touching them could kill you.”

  Jax stilled his arm. Behind the cage, the grotesque magpie squawked. Jax changed direction and stalked to the tree where it perched. The bird flapped its half-human wings, but could not take flight. She jumped toward another branch, but she wasn’t fast enough. He seized the stick-like legs. Her feathers scratched as she beat her wings, but Jax didn’t release his grip. With his other hand, he covered her head, temporarily blinding it and forcing it to stillness.

  Holding the bird in place, he stalked back to Pierus. “Open those gates, or this one dies while you watch.” His voice came out tough and gritty.

  “Do not hurt her!” Pierus waved his arms toward the gilded cage and muttered in a language Jax recognized as the Ionic dialect of ancient Greek.

  Jax roughly translated the incantation as opening the damn gate. Something near the locking mechanism fizzed, then the barred gate popped open. Zeus looked at Jax with approval of his ploy to force Pierus to release Clio.

  Extending her hand, palm facing the door, Clio cautiously tested the perimeter. She walked through the unlocked gate and moved to Jax’s side. Zeus claimed Tyranny from Jax, allowing Jax to spin toward Clio and pull her into his arms. Heaving a relieved sigh, he tightened his arms around the woman who’d become the world to him. Clio buried her face against his chest and wrapped one hand around his neck.

  “It’s okay. I’ve got you.” Jax smoothed his hand down her back, then pivoted to stand shoulder to shoulder with Zeus.

  Zeke took up a position on Clio’s left, creating a line of united determination.

  Pierus glared at the four of them. “You think you have won?” He darted his eyes to the bird in Zeus’s hands. “You will return my daughter to me this instant and leave my stronghold. You are not welcome here.”

  Without turning his head, Zeus addressed Clio’s bodyguard. “Zeke, please ask Mars if the threat from The Five Nations has been resolved.”

  Zeke tipped his face toward the ceiling. Thirty seconds passed in silence while Pierus paced in front of their line. When Clio stroked the back of her hand over Jax’s, he responded by lacing his fingers tightly with hers. Thirty minutes ago he worried he’d never be able to touch her as a woman again. The contact eased the last amount of fright from his body, leaving love in its place.

  Zeke crossed his arms over his muscle-bound chest and leaned his weight on his hip. “All parties have agreed to sit at a table together. The situation is on its way toward resolution. The Bulgarian government is highly interested in the terms GeoPoly put forth. The Five Nations has halted their advance over the border.”

  Zeus petted Tyra
nny’s feathers. “Then my daughter is successful in this challenge. Pierus, your penalty for challenging the gods in this manner is to forfeit your own daughter.”

  Pierus lunged forward, his eyes wide. Zeus swept his hand in front of Pierus. The man went unnaturally still. Tears winked in his eyes. “Do not kill her,” he begged.

  “She will not die. But never again will she live anywhere but on Olympus. It will be her home for all eternity. The same holds true for each of your daughters when you fail in future challenges. After this, you will no longer be allowed to contest their imprisonment.”

  A wicked light replaced the tears in Pierus’s eye. “And if one of my other daughters is successful? What then?”

  “We will abide by the terms of this challenge. But hear this, little god.” Zeus’s voice became thunderous. “The word is already out that I will find all those who help you and punish them as well. And when the challenge is completed, and we have won, I will turn you into a cat and release you in the aviary containing all of your offspring.”

  Holy hell! Was Zeus going to put Pierus in the position of killing his own children? Jax risked a glance at the stormy face of the king of gods. He was deadly serious about his threat. And judging by the horrified expression on Pierus’s face, that little fucker knew it as well.

  Zeus firmed his grip on Tyranny and faced Clio and Jax. “Congratulations on your victory, my children.” Suddenly, Jax was one of Zeus’s children? Clio squeezed Jax’s hand as wonder filled his soul.

  Zeus continued. “You two may return to Delphi. Zeke, I require your assistance on Olympus.” He offered his arm and Zeke rested his hand on it. “We will meet tonight to debrief. Jax, I’d like you to come as well. I will text you the details.”

  Without releasing her grip on his hand, Clio wove her arm through Jax’s and hugged him close. Pressure built in his chest and pain grew in his head. Definitely not his preferred method of transportation. Beside him, Zeus and Zeke vanished. Before Jax and Clio slipped into what they called the Hollow, Pierus raised his fist and shook it at the space Zeus had occupied.

  Jax swallowed hard, his ears popped and then Clio dragged him into the misty, gray void.

  Chapter 20

  Clio blinked them back to her office. Before their feet had touched the ground, Jax had wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close. Never had a man’s embrace felt so warm and wonderful. So very right.

  She lifted her face to his as she wove her arms around his neck. He slanted his mouth across hers and took her deep into a kiss. Everything had been thrown off-kilter when Pierus had nabbed her. The passion and relief she tasted in Jax’s kiss centered her world. And thanks to him, the fate she had been destined for had shifted back to normal.

  Jax pulled his lips from hers. “Thank God, you are safe.” He snugged her closer against his hard body and rested his cheek on the crown of her head.

  “Thank you for saving me.” She gave a little laugh. “For saving the world.”

  “I was so worried. At first Beryl wouldn’t even consider the idea of the crystals. My word that the field was there wasn’t enough evidence.” Jax smoothed his hands along her spine.

  “I guess I can see that. And without me there to nudge her around to the idea, you had your work cut out for you.”

  “Thanks to Zeus, we provided the intelligence Beryl said she’d need to convince Admiral Burton. But even that wasn’t enough.” He shuddered. “So Zeke informed Zeus of what else was needed. And your dad came through for us.”

  “About Zeke—”

  He quieted her with another lingering kiss. When he drew away, he smiled. “You’ll have to ask him. I don’t know that much about Zeke’s role in your life, but he’s a stand-up guy.” Jax’s eyes gleamed when she leaned back in his arms to look at him.

  “You’re the first mortal to meet my dad.”

  “How is that possible? Surely other men you’ve known have met him. You told me you’ve been married before.”

  “They’ve all known him as merely my father, not the king of gods. You’re the first to know him as he actually is.”

  Jax released her to sit on the edge of her desk. “That doesn’t mean I’m doomed or anything, right?”

  Goddess, she wished she knew. “Zeus wasn’t happy that I’d revealed our existence to you. He mentioned getting Mnemosyne involved.”

  “Goddess of Memory?”

  “You know your mythology.” She sat next to him, laying her hand over his where it curled around the edge of the desk. “I think Zeus might be planning to use her to erase your memories about this.”

  “Can he do that without my consent?”

  “Well, he is Zeus. He can pretty much do what he wants.” She’d learned a very, very long time ago that it was futile to argue with her dad when he’d made up his mind. “And besides, without your memories, you’d never know it had been done.”

  Jax tipped his head to the side and looked her in the eyes. “I won’t forget about us, will I?

  “I don’t know. I hope not.”

  Jax leaned his forehead against hers, holding her gaze, and whispered. “It would be awful if I forget how much I love you.”

  He’d said it, just as he’d promised. Looked her straight in the eyes and professed his love for her.

  Happiness bubbled up like sparkling wine, intoxicating and fresh. “I love you, Jax. Gaia told me that the way my nudges affected you only happens when you share a great love. When you’ve found the person you are meant to be with through all eternity.”

  A frown etched lines into Jax’s forehead. “Your eternity is a lot longer than mine. Especially if my memory is erased.”

  The effervescent delight that had coursed through her body went flat. “We won’t know what the plan is until later. I’ve already waited through eight millennia for you. I believe we can wait a couple hours to see what the Fates hold for us.”

  “Hang on, the Fates are real as well?”

  “Of course.”

  A ray of sunlight beamed through her office window and illuminated a patch of the industrial carpeting that came standard in all the University buildings. “Would you look at that? I feel like this is the first time in a week that I’ve seen the sun.” She angled her head so the light could bathe her cheeks in the warmth.

  “I suppose that’s a sure sign that we’ve defeated Pierus. He’s beaten, and his accomplices have deserted his cause like rats abandoning a sinking ship.”

  “I’m sure Zeus has already had words with Guabancex, one of the weather gods.” She pressed a kiss to his cheek and then jumped off the desk. “We should probably go check on your team’s progress.”

  She offered him her hand. His palm felt solid and warm against hers when she pulled him to his feet. The sun glinted in his eyes, turning them a luscious shade of amber. His gaze was intent as he drew her into his arms. He dipped his head and claimed her mouth, moving his lips over hers with an unspoken eloquence and simplicity that stole her breath and spoke to her soul. His kiss held passion and promise.

  He eased back and spoke against her lips. “I love you, Clio. I will for all time. Even if Zeus decrees my memory must be erased, I swear I will remember you and my love for you.”

  The sun had remained out through the rest of the day, drying out the earth. The media had been all aflutter over the last minute agreement between The Five Nations and Bulgaria. Most outlets had proclaimed the sudden treaty a miracle at the very brink of war. Some spoke about the State Department’s intervention as authoritative and masterful. The more conservative pundits declared it an act of God.

  Clio sat with Jax in the boardroom at Olympus Enterprises and knew it was an act of many gods. This might be her most spectacular feat of altering the course of history. And the greatest source of her inspiration sat next to her with wide eyes. Jax hadn’t spoken much since they had arrived at the six-story corporate headquarters on the outskirts of Delphi. He’d gasped when they’d passed through the marble lobby. Jax had clutched he
r hand in the gilded elevator on the ride to the executive floor.

  Clio pointed to an ornate steel door flanked by a massive security station. “That’s the door to the Pantheon. Many of our employees have homes on Mt. Olympus, and this is a point of arrival.”

  Jax let out a low whistle as she ushered him into the luxurious conference room across from the portal. Clio imagined it was a little dizzying to know he was in an office building that was a gateway to the ‘mythical’ Mt. Olympus.

  In the boardroom, the ceiling was painted with frescoes of mortals cavorting and frolicking, the way they did when the gods were happy with them. The paintings had been a source of amusement for Clio since she’d first seen them in the third century. Men might paint gods on their ceilings, but gods painted men.

  Callie and Nia had been summoned to the briefing Zeus had arranged. When she’d emerged from the Hollow with Jax, they’d been waiting for her. Almost before her feet touched the ground, both women had hugged her hard and long. They hugged Jax as well, thanking him profusely for saving Clio. Oh, and the world, too.

  Jax bounced his knee nervously under the table, barely stopping when she laid her hand on it. “Please don’t be nervous, Jax.”

  “Ha! I’m about to sit through a meeting with beings I’ve never believed in. Beings I thought storytellers of old had made up to explain the mysterious ways of the universe. Except, what do you know? Not so imaginary after all.” His chest heaved as though he was about to hyperventilate.

  Clio nudged him, knowing full well the inspiration she blew his way would distract him. His knee stopped bobbing under her palm. He dragged her hand to his lap where she found hard evidence that his thoughts were no longer on the coming meeting. She gave him a big smile, pleased with her ploy.

  Zeke entered the room and took a seat between her sisters on the opposite side of the massive black granite table. The slab had come from the quarries of Corfu—a fact Clio found amusing and horrifying. Zeke had traded his security guard uniform for a traditional toga. Callie and Nia wore the formal garb as well. Only Jax and Clio wore mortal clothing.