My Date From Hell (The Blooming Goddess Trilogy Book Two)

by Tellulah Darling

  I ran out of steam and looked at Festos, who watched me expectantly.

  “I just remembered something, didn’t I?” I asked.

  “Bing! We have a winner,” he mocked, adjusting his fedora for maximum rakishness.

  “Whoever tried to kill me as Persephone did some weird move with a knife as they stood over my body.”

  Festos twirled his finger to indicate I should keep going.

  “And Kai did that same move back in the cave before he cut off Delphyne’s head.”

  Festos stared at me expectantly.

  I scrunched up my face in dismay at the logical conclusion. “Kai might have been the one who tried to kill me when I was Persephone.”

  “Waa waa waa waaaaa …” He imitated a sad trombone.

  Of the many things I had or ever would believe Kai capable of, murdering Persephone was not one of them. I found it really hard to imagine.

  Festos looked worried. “Are you going to want to do the girl thing now? I don’t do that. Not unless alcohol and Adele is involved and you don’t look legal, which means ice cream and sharing, so I’m out.”

  “Thanks for the compassion.” I thought about the whole undoing of magic for a moment. “Do you know who Bethany is? She’s become really popular—”

  “And gorgeous,” Festos added.

  I shot him a look.

  “I’m gay. Not blind. The camera melts ten pounds off that girl. Very impressive.”

  Ignoring that. “It’s magic. Bethany is what she is because of a tattoo, even though the dragon who gave it to her is dead. But what if I blasted it off? Would that work?”

  He shrugged. “In that case, it might. Pretty low level of power involved in the tattoo spell. Basic glamour and compulsion yadda yadda. ‘Course you also might kill her.”

  I mock pouted. “And wouldn’t that be a tragedy.”

  Festos laughed.

  “I tried to blast my memory spell out,” I blurted.

  His laughter quickly turned to a wince.

  “Yeah.”

  Festos jabbed me in the gut with the tip of his cane. “Don’t do that again.”

  I rubbed just above my belly button where he’d nailed me. “Then it’s up to your machine.” I slung an arm around him. “Fire this baby up again and let’s see what else I can remember.”

  But in the end, despite running the machine several more times, I had nothing.

  “Again,” I panted.

  Festos shook his head. “You look wan. And not as in Obi.”

  “Okay, but there’s this one section. I’ve almost nailed it.” If I couldn’t lift the memory spell, at least I wanted to get through the damn sequence.

  “No, you haven’t. And even if some miracle of rhythm occurred and you did, it still wouldn’t help you remember.” Festos shook his head. “Those puppies are buried in you deep.”

  Looked like I was going to have to go with Pierce and his dubious Plan B. I really hoped the pain wasn’t a blinding fourteen. My stomach knotted up at the infinite torturous possibilities and I grasped the bar behind the dance platform as any adrenaline I’d been coasting on evaporated and my legs buckled.

  It really would be nice to have just one calm day instead of the never ending wild ride that my life had become.

  Festos stopped the machine, balanced himself on his cane, then with one hand, ripped the wires off my head and slung me over his shoulder like I weighed nothing. Impressive, especially since for a god, he was remarkably human-sized. Moved crazy fast too, given his foot.

  He carried me over to the lounge area and dumped me on a low sofa.

  I lay there, feeling the burn in my legs as I traced my fingers over the myriad of buttons on the red leather couch.

  “I’m sure whatever Pierce has in mind will work great,” Festos said, still sounding doubtful but at least trying to be reassuring. “You’ll remember all the important details and save the world.”

  Except I still needed to find Kai for that part. “Maybe I’m just being really stupid about Kai,” I said, staring up at the hip, silver, pressed tin ceiling tiles. “Like ‘girl thinks stalker is nice guy then ends up as a corpse on news at eleven’ stupid. But I don’t believe he tried to kill Persephone. He loved her.”

  “That he did. Wow, gotta suck knowing if he does love you, it’s ‘cause he has to. And if he doesn’t, then bye bye humans.” Festos pulled a “yikes” face.

  “You can shut up at any time.”

  Festos turned his head to look at me. “So, why isn’t he here wooing you?”

  I sighed. “I don’t know. Last time I saw him he was fighting a gajillion minions.”

  He shook his head. “There’ve been no rumblings about Kyrillos being dead.”

  I exhaled hard. So relieved. “Then why hasn’t he come back? Gawd, listen to me. Stupid.”

  Festos lay down beside me. “Yeah, but more hormone stupid than inbred stupid,” he clarified.

  I elbowed him in the ribs. “I like you. I’ll make sure Theo likes you, too.”

  “Sister, if you can do that …” he paused.

  “What?” I prompted. “You’ll be my slave for life?”

  He propped his hands behind his head, forcing me to scrunch sideways. “I was thinking more I’d speak of you fondly to people.”

  “I’ll take that deal. I could do with more fond wishers in my life.” I really could.

  I stared down at our feet. “Why aren’t you taller?”

  Festos looked pointedly away.

  I propped myself on one elbow. “Spill or I tickle.”

  He made a rude gesture at me then said “Prometheus. As long as he’s in human form, I want to stay at a more compatible height. In case I run into him.”

  “And by ‘run into’ you mean hole up in this Seattle warehouse waiting for him to come find you?”

  “No. I like Seattle. That part has nothing to do with him. Although, yes, he could have brought you here and asked for the favor in person. That’s just basic etiquette.”

  “Festos looooves Prometheus.” I made a few kissy noises for good measure and then asked “Can you get us food?” I could tell the switch in topics had thrown him. “Sorry. But when the hanger comes on, this girl has to feed. Angry hunger,” I clarified at his look. I pursed my lips with a frown. “Or is it hungry anger? Either way, I expended a ton of energy getting out of Olympus and I haven’t made up the calories yet. Plus you made me dance.”

  Festos hoisted himself up. “Heard your dad went all Vader on you.” He scrounged in his kitchen.

  “Yeah, a heartwarming reunion.”

  After a few minutes he came back with plates loaded high with hummus, baby carrots, and spanakopita, this amazing cheese pie in a flaky phyllo pastry which probably had a zillion calories. “All that dancing I did has to be good for about four of them,” I explained as I double-fisted the treats.

  “Or you were raised by wolves. Manners much? I’ll say one thing,” he continued, “whoever cast this memory spell was good.”

  I made sure to swallow before speaking. “Big deal. She cast a memory spell on one person. The dragon did that to our entire school. Made them forget two students and one of our teachers.”

  “Child’s play. That’s just a big blanket spell. Doesn’t matter if it was sloppy. But this? She had to suppress your entire true personality.”

  “Part of my true personality. Sophie does very much exist.”

  “Fine. Your other true one, Jekyll. If she hadn’t done it correctly? Imagine spending your whole life with this little niggling feeling that something wasn’t right. That you were forgetting something.”

  “Yikes. Crazy making.”

  “Exactly.” He bit into a carrot. “It’s delicate, precise work. High level. Which is why you better hope Pierce knows what he’s doing, otherwise, you could end up even more messed up than you are already. Memory-wise,” he clarified, with a grin that made it clear that’s not what he meant at all.

  It was a risk I’d have to ta
ke. I had two months till the spring equinox and Zeus and Hades had to be stopped.

  Thus, I’d help Pierce stop Bethany so that he could help me save her.

  How insane was that?

  Time to head back. I hugged Festos goodbye. “Thanks for trying, Fee. Come see me soon.”

  “Baby steps. Feed Prometheus the idea. Give him time to adjust. Then I’ll come.” He dipped me dramatically, “Until then, I shall burn for you, my lady.”

  I squealed as he nuzzled my neck, jokingly.

  “Goddess, I’m shocked. I battle hoards of minions for you and instead of pining for me, you’re letting another guy have a go at your happy spot.”

  I blushed furiously as I clutched at Festos’ chest to keep from being dropped on my butt. Kai’s appearance had startled us both.

  Festos stepped away from me, with a look of distaste at my neck. “Way too much info.”

  Kai was safe. I went almost lightheaded with relief. “Where were you?”

  Kai glanced down, all sheepish. “I needed a nap.”

  “Ooh, big manly god needed a nap,” Festos taunted.

  “Says the guy who likes umbrella drinks,” Kai shot back.

  “One time. And I wasn’t the one asking for seconds.”

  “Yeah,” Kai nodded with a smirk, “but asking in a manly way.”

  I tuned them out as my initial relief turned to interest. My my, Kai had cleaned up nicely. Showered, shaved, poured into dark blue jeans that were faded with wear and fitted him perfectly, he was mouthwatering indeed.

  Kai and Festos were still going at it. “… And there is such a thing as knocking,” Festos groused.

  “If you had better wards,” Kai said, “then yeah, I’d have to knock. If Sophie’s going to come visit, amp them up so she doesn’t get hurt.”

  “She’s fine from all monsters except the fat-headed uninvited one. I’ll be changing the wards appropriately.”

  I found myself getting closer to Kai. I could smell the faintest hit of his musky cologne that made me tingle like a Pavlovian dog. Then I realized that Kai was holding something. “You brought me a flower?” I squinted at it. It was brown. “A dead flower?”

  Kai laughed and held it out. “Not dead. Chocolate.”

  My face lit up in delight as I took the proffered gift. It was fantastic. A perfect chocolate daisy wrapped in clear plastic and tied with a bright yellow ribbon.

  Festos came around to the side of us, hummed the Psycho violins and made a repeated stabbing motion. “Lest you forget,” he said to me. He mouthed the word “murderer.”

  “Don’t kill my happy, Fee.” I had to take these moments where I could. And I still couldn’t believe Kai had tried to kill Persephone.

  Kai looked at us both like he was totally lost, then stuffed his hands into the pockets of his jeans, his shirt cuffs scrunching up with the motion. He lazily eyed me up and down.

  I could feel his gaze on me and tried not to visibly shiver.

  Don’t drool …

  Channeling classic girly girl, I gave a flirty head toss, hoping it might upgrade my hair from limp and sweaty to something slightly less “wet dog.” “Glad you got out unharmed.”

  Kai’s gaze never wavered from me. “Me too. Otherwise I couldn’t ask you on a date. Wanna go on a date with me, Sophie Bloom?”

  “Is that a euphemism?” Festos asked from behind me. “Because you don’t date.”

  Kai shot him the finger.

  A date, huh. Until I convinced Pierce to just shoot us into falling in love, I guessed it wouldn’t hurt to go on a date, since getting to know each other better was important when falling in love. I could handle that. “That would work.”

  Kai focused on me with a look so intense it could fool any girl into believing she was the only thing of worth that existed. “It’ll be fun.”

  Oh my, yes. My smiled widened. My heart raced. I was lightheaded with anticipation.

  And nerves. Definitely nerves.

  Because Kai was an ancient god who’d been with how many girls? During Persephone’s absence alone I got the sense he’d bagged a lot of trophies. Whereas my dating experience was limited to practically zilch.

  I took a step back, discreetly wiping my palms on my thighs. I knew we had to be in love by the time the equinox rolled around in a couple of months. But especially if Pierce wasn’t going to help, I needed to proceed at a comfortable rate. I could talk big but channeling my feminine wiles wasn’t easy for me. It was actually kind of scary. Especially with Kai. Nevermind all my other issues with her. “It would. Be fun. But we wouldn’t want to rush things.”

  “Speak for yourself,” he said, reaching for me.

  I ducked out of his way. I’d set the pace here. “Nope. You don’t get what you want this time.”

  Kai just grinned and grabbed me around the waist. He leaned in close. “I always get what I want.”

  “Bos-sy,” Festos called out.

  I flashed him a huffy scowl.

  Then I tilted my head up to look at Kai.

  Bad move. His face was inches from mine.

  “What’s the matter, Goddess?” he murmured, his eminently kissable mouth right there in smooching reach. “What are you scared of?” He dragged his finger up to my lip.

  Was that a challenge? I couldn’t help myself. I bit his finger.

  His eyes flared dark.

  “Holy Hannah, sister,” Festos said. “Changed my mind. Go with him before I combust over here.”

  I walked forward, intent on backing Kai up against the wall. Making it clear I was in charge.

  It halfway worked. Kai managed to flip our positions in a fluid motion so that my final step resulted in my back hitting the wall.

  I gazed at him through half-lowered lashes. “Whatcha gonna do, bad boy?”

  Kai leaned in, bracing his arms on either side of me. He shot me a grin that was 90% Cheshire cat and 10% wolf. “Do you even need to ask?”

  His low, slightly accented voice vibrated through me all the way to my toes.

  I barely registered Festos’ laughing comment of, “Ooh, I wish I had popcorn.”

  Every cell in my body was hyper-aware of Kai, but other than my fingers twining into his soft, thick hair, neither of us pulled closer.

  My body throbbed with wanting him so badly. But I couldn’t bring myself to close the gap between us and kiss him. It was irrational, but I was the tiniest bit nervous. Even though we’d kissed before, we were starting down a whole new path. Everything was on the line.

  I chickened out. Instead, I made it his move, jutting my chin out, daring him to kiss me.

  I thought he was going to. Not like he hadn’t before. But no. His eyes flared and an odd look crossed his face. Kai balled his hands into fists with a growl and took a step back. “Go back to Hope Park. I’ll meet you there and we’ll have our date. Properly.” He vanished.

  My jaw fell open.

  It was only somewhat comforting that Festos had the same expression on his face. “Did he just say what I think he did?”

  I nodded, still stunned.

  Festos looked worried. “You sure he wasn’t hit on the head?”

  “Thanks a lot, dummy. Maybe he’s trying to do this the right way. Maybe I’m worth that?” Hope and doubt warred inside me resulting in a churning, queasy feeling in my belly.

  “Maybe.”

  I kissed Festos on the cheek, grabbed my coat, and carefully placed my flower in my pocket. After Festos pried the door free of the lava so we could open it, he came outside to cover me in case of incoming minions. None were about so I headed straight to my tree transport and back to school.

  I arrived in a secluded corner of the back field in time to see Pierce holding a gold arrow. Along with Theo and Hannah, he stared at Bethany across the grass. As usual, she was holding court. The rain had stopped and the sun broken through, making it warm enough to hang outside.

  I hurried over to my friends.

  No sign of the Gold Crushers or Infernorat
ors. Theo caught my upwards glance. “Reinforced the wards,” he said as I approached. “Don’t know if they’re coming back with new tricks, but all is quiet for now.”

  “Any luck?” Hannah asked.

  I pulled out my chocolate flower and cracked off a piece for Hannah. “Kai’s back. He brought gifts. He’ll be here soon.” I popped a petal in my mouth. “But in terms of the memory retrieval?” I shook my head and tried not to think of pain that came at levels of fourteen. “Plan B it is.” I munched on the daisy.

  She gave my arm a consoling squeeze before stealing the last piece of chocolate.

  “Is it time for the firing squad?” I asked. “Who’s the contender?”

  Hannah laughed and pointed over to Jackson Birt, doltish jock extraordinaire, currently attempting to crush a pop can with his head. After two misses he succeeded, thumping his chest with a “Who da man?” and a large belch.

  “Not evil but still stupid, sexist, and egocentric,” Theo said.

  “He’ll do nicely,” I agreed.

  Pierce nodded. “Aphrodite has her knickers in a twist about getting this done, and now. Soon as Bethany gets in line with him? Showtime. Then your turn.”

  “Curious about how any of it went?” I asked Theo as we waited. “Because Festos was delightful.”

  Hannah got the significance of the scowl Theo bestowed upon me. “Really?” she gushed. “Do tell.”

  “Nothing to tell,” Theo said. “Except treachery and deceit.”

  “He was cute, if you like them cooler than thou,” I told Hannah.

  “All the best love stories have treachery and deceit. Right, Sophie?” Pierce asked, as he notched up the arrow, Bethany coming ever closer.

  “I wouldn’t know. Or care. All I want is to get Persephone’s memories back.”

  He let the arrow fly. “And we’re off,” he told Hannah, since she couldn’t actually see his arrows.

  “Has it hit her yet?” Hannah asked.

  I shook my head, watching in fascination as it flew straight and true toward Bethany, waiting for the the hopefully painful impact.

  But it never came. Instead, it flew right into Kai, who had chosen that moment to follow me.