The only thing Hercules cared about was, of course, Virgo, and now, his baby Marmalade. The best gift he’d ever received, and he was still scared of hurting her. She was still so little, but Hercules couldn’t help himself from falling in love with her. She was the cutest little orange kitten in the Cosmos, and she was a gift from Ace. Hercules knew never to return a gift, because that would only add more years to his curse, so he kept the little kitten, and now his life revolved around her. That was, until the accidents started happening again.
The latest incident was still healing, thanks to the thirteen stitches running along his jaw line, courtesy of the Crystal Tumblers brick facade. All he wanted was a cold drink and something to eat. So like the many times before, he left his gym and headed down the block to the Tumbler. It was no more than a hundred feet. He had walked it a thousand times. Knew which cracks to avoid, when to duck from low hanging signs and he even knew the exact number of steps. Yet, none of that information saved him when he placed his hand on the door. If it were anyone else, Hercules would have laughed along with everyone else because it was comical, but he didn’t because it was him and he was inflicted with that stupid curse.
It was just after lunchtime, and with the crowd dispersing from the Crystal Tumbler, Hercules figured he better head on over there and go get his lunch before the triplets stopped serving. Of course, he wouldn’t blame the brothers if they had. Hercules knew they waited until he came to stop serving, as to why was beyond him, but he was grateful. The walk over was uneventful thanks to a little sidestepping and the occasional body slam against a wall. With the place in sight, Hercules sighed and took three more steps, placing his overly large hand on the door, and that’s when his curse reared its ugly head.
From out of nowhere, a black cat screeched, hissed, and then bolted under his legs, trying to claw its way up his back, while a small black poodle with fangs like a saber tooth tiger and the eyes of the devil barked viciously as it jumped, unsuccessfully trying to get at the cat. Hercules tried to be gentle, he really did, but when he managed to grab the cat, it let out a gaud awful noise, and the next thing he knew a black sparrow swept down from the sky and started pecking away at his face. It was at that instant that the door opened, the poodle bit his ankle, the cat clawed its way across his shoulders, and the bird flew between his legs, and Hercules fell face first into the brick wall.
Thirteen! Of all the numbers in the world, it had to be thirteen. Thirteen stitches in all, not twelve or fourteen, thirteen. Dear Gods in the cosmos, this curse of his was going to be the death of him, if he didn’t get it under control soon.
“I found it!” he said triumphantly, waving the red leaf in the air before handing it to Moon Goddess.
“I wish you would let me talk to the Delphenia. I’m sure I can persuade her to lift this curse,” Moon pleaded with him, as she started lighting candles. Although Hercules appreciated the fact that Moon Goddess wanted to help, he didn’t want to anger Del any more than he already had. Besides, there was no way the town oracle was going to remove the curse. What he did was unforgiveable, and she had every right to punish him, even if it was all a horrible accident. He always knew his height and strength was going to get him into trouble, and boy did it ever.
“You never did tell me what it was you did, for her to curse you.”
“That’s not important, what is, is making sure this spell works,” Hercules replied and then asked. “What else do you need?”
Moon Goddess looked at the table before her and sighed. “I have everything.”
“Thank the Goddess,” Hercules whispered, turning to look at the sleeping man not far from him. God, just looking at V made his heart ache. Last night was more than he could have ever hoped for, but if Hercules wanted any kind of future, he needed to protect V.
Hercules stepped back as Moon Goddess approached the table. He’d gathered everything she needed, and then some. He didn’t want to be without anything, even carrying his lucky rabbit’s foot in the front of his pants, just in case. He said nothing as Moon began by gathering the three red leaves he searched high and low for, considering it was still July and everything was greener than goose shit. Laying the leaves on the flat surface, she formed a triangle with the stems pointing inwards, almost touching. In the center of the triangle of leaves, Moon placed a lighted white candle, and on each leaf, she placed a few drops of chrysanthemum oil. Raising her hands in the air, she spoke clearly, as Hercules held his breath.
“Red leaves, gifts from earth. From birth to death and death to birth. Keep all evil far away. From day to night and night to day.” She repeated the saying two more times before she blew out the candle and wrapped the leaves in a white cloth. Then she placed them under the mattress near where Virgo’s head lay. It was done, and Hercules sighed, “Do you think it will work?”
“Like I said before, the spell is good for protection against nightmares and invasions of evil, but truly only works in the autumn.”
“But July isn’t that far away from fall. So, it might work, right?” Hercules asked, hoping like the dickens it worked. He really needed this spell to work, because if it didn’t, he was going to have to get out his cone of shame suit, and he really didn’t want to use that again. He could still hear Apollo laughing at him, the gorgeous Greek bastard.
Moon Goddess smiled reassuringly, and said, “I’m sure for you, Hercules, it will work. Now, I must be going. If you need anything, just call.” After kissing Moon on the cheek, Hercules stood by his front door until she was out of sight. Closing the door, he smiled for the first time in months. He felt really good about the spell and could actually feel it working, that was until he turned, stubbed his toe, tripped over Marmalade, and fell face first on the floor.
* * * *
Moon Goddess had just turned the corner, when she heard Hercules yell out, followed by a large crash. Wincing, she debated on returning to see if the large man was all right, but decided against it, knowing she had bigger fish to fry. This curse of his had gone on long enough, and if Delphenia didn’t remove it soon, Moon feared that Hercules was going to get seriously hurt.
Heading toward the Best Lay Hotel, she looked both ways before crossing the street, and then ran across quickly. The sun was coming, and if she wanted to get hold of Delphenia, she needed to before it crested over the horizon. Running into the lobby, Moon bypassed Pandora, making a beeline for her office. Once there, she shut the door and picked up the phone, dialing the number she knew by heart.
Living in Celestial for most of her life, there wasn’t anyone that Moon didn’t know, and thank the Goddess for that, because what she was about to do was going to put a kink in her already straining relationship with Delphenia. Unlike most of the other inhabitants in Celestial, Moon wasn’t born in Celestial. Her parents, Joanna “Jasmine” Dynasty and Payton “Pluto” Virgos, left right after High School, wanting the world to be their home. Her parents never conformed to the way of life in Celestial. They always wanted more than what their small hometown had to offer. Because of that, Moon Goddess, or, at the time, Natalie Evangeline Virgos, was born overseas in the small town of Florence, Italy.
She loved her life in the beginning, traveling around with her parents, seeing the universe’s wonderful sights and experiencing everything the Cosmos had to offer, but eventually the thought of never having a solid home and friends wore heavy on her, and she started to wonder what it would be like to live in one place.
That was when her grandmother, Raven, showed up. Natalie had never met her grandmother before, and when the beautiful woman walked into her life, Natalie knew her life was meant to be with her grandmother, especially when her grandmother started talking about Celestial. It didn’t take long to persuade her parents to let her go, knowing that her mom and dad truly never wanted a third wheel following them around. She didn’t harbor any ill will toward them. She loved them, but love could only go so far when the couple only thought of themselves.
So at the age of seven,
her grandmother, Raven Virgos, helped pack up all of her belongings, and brought her back to Celestial to live, stating that a small girl needed stability and a firm home, not the world as her oyster kinda of crap her parents spewed all the time. Natalie was grateful for her grandmother’s intervention, especially when her parents relented. Of course, at the time, Natalie didn’t know that exchanging one life for another was going to be harder than she imagined, nor was the fact that she would have to contend with Delphenia, her cousin.
“Happy rising, Natalie,” the irritating voice said, bringing Moon out of her reminiscence. Goddess, Moon really disliked when her cousin used her average name. Of course, Moon knew Delphenia did it only because it irritated her.
“Delphenia,” Moon replied. “We need to talk.”
“About what, dear cousin? It’s rather late and the sun is cresting as we speak.”
“I want to talk to you about the curse you put on Hercules,” Moon stated, getting right to the point. There was no easy way to broach the subject, and knowing how Delphenia felt and acted where Hercules was concerned, it was best to rip the band-aid off quickly, so the healing could start.
“I’m not removing the curse, cousin.”
“I know, but I was thinking that there’s some arrangement we can make to give the poor man a rest. Seriously Del, have you seen his face? He looks hideous, and those stitches are ridiculous. You’re torturing the man. Why are you doing this?”
“It is of no concern of yours, Natalie. If you must know, ask Hercules.”
“I did and he refuses to tell me.”
“Are the two of you no longer friends?”
Ignoring that question, Moon took a deep breath and did the only thing she knew to do. She asked, “A favor for a favor, cousin?”
“Interesting,” Delphenia replied. “I’m listening now. What do you have in mind?”
“A reprieve, so to speak.”
“Why would I do that?”
“Because you loved him once.”
“That was a long time ago, and if memory served, you loved him, too. As a matter of fact, I would bet you love him still.”
“I do,” Moon whispered.
“Enough to give up your true love?”
“What do you mean?”
“If you love Hercules as you say, then set your true love free. I will lift the curse, but your happiness belongs to me and only me…forever.”
“Why are you doing this?”
“Because I can cousin, because I can.” Delphenia laughed. “Do we have an accord?”
“Yes,” Moon Goddess whispered, and then hung up the phone.
Leaning back in her chair, Moon Goddess looked at the ceiling of her office and prayed for guidance. She didn’t care which deity answered, as long as one of them did. For so long she had watched and did nothing as her cousin ruined relationship after relationship where love was concerned in Celestial. For those who managed to fly under Delphenia’s radar, well, they were the lucky ones. Nevertheless, there were still many couples fighting Delphenia’s invisible influence. It was easy for Moon to make the pact. She didn’t have a true love, never really wanting one. After watching her parents, so immersed with each other, ignoring everything around them, she decided long ago that love was not for her. So agreeing to Delphenia’s silly request wasn’t hard.
However, time had come for a change in Celestial. Though Moon didn’t know how or what she was going to do, she did know two things, first, if she wanted to protect Hercules, she was going to need a true and honest fighter to make sure nothing happened to her good friend. Second, if she wanted anything done in this town, and done right, she needed seek out her grandmother. Looking at the calendar, she thanked the Goddess, because her grandmother was due back from Denver today.
Chapter Three
The next morning, Virgo Hummel Craven shouted, “No, no, noooo!” as he banged his head against the wall mats in the gym. Thank the Goddess, too, because if he had to stand by and watch another wannabe Mike Tyson cringe from being punched one more time, he was going to go all Conan the Barbarian on them. It wasn’t that the person before him wasn’t talented. She was, just not with fighting. He should have known that offering his services was going to be a hassle. Anything to do with Celestial was. The residents of Celestial were pacifists, the worst thing he’d ever seen any of them do was point a finger in another’s face and stutter out words of condemnation.
Ooh…talk about shakin’ in his boots. Damn, he should have left when he had the chance. But did he do that…no. Thanks to his ungrateful, narcissistic brother, Virgo stuck around and helped that vain bastard get his life back on track and then, when he was about to leave, his conniving asshat of a brother talked him into staying, pleading that he needed him around, that his life wouldn’t be the same if he left.
Fucking hell, Pisces was such a pussy sometimes.
To make matters worse, Virgo let Moon Goddess hoodwink him into helping out Hercules at his gym, because according to her, the gorgeous Olympian was a clumsy, bumbling, walking caution sign. How that man survived long enough to open a gym, Virgo would never know. Regardless, Virgo was stuck. Obligated to fulfill his duty until Hercules was back on his feet, and not stumbling over them. God, Moon owed him big time for this shit. Of course, after last night, helping Herc may not be such an inconvenience after all. The man did have one fine body, and a smokin’ tight ass. Damn, just thinking about Hercules had Virgo’s cock standing ramrod straight and ready for action.
Pushing off the wall, Virgo took a calming breath and said, “All right, Cricket. You’ve had enough for the day. Go hit the showers.”
“But V, I was just getting my inner Rocky on. Look!” she replied, and then started sidestepping from side to side as she punched at thin air. Virgo stood rooted in place, and tried to ignore the fact that the ninety-pound girl in the boxing ring was waving around a pair of gloves on her hands, bigger than her head. She looked like watered down version of Olive Oil with the biggest set of clown hands he’d ever seen…utterly ridiculous, and he didn’t even want to think about her pink tutu and ballerina shoes she wore. Nope, all he wanted to do was clear the ring and go grab a cup of coffee or three.
“Now, Cricket,” he growled, as the fighting ballerina girl smiled and pirouetted from the ring. Shaking his head, Virgo left the main gym area, heading for the front doors. Oh, he so needed coffee, gallons of it.
He still couldn’t believe he was here in his hometown again, when he should have been miles away, heading east toward New York City. Yep, his home away from crazy home, and he loved it. All the noise, smells, chaos, and crime…he couldn’t get enough of it. Instead, he was still in make-believe-land waiting for Puff the Magic Dragon to rear its ugly cartoon head. Growing up in Celestial had been a blast when he was five years old. Yet the moment he was forced to attend school, that’s when he realized that this town was missing several genetic markers…like human DNA.
Unlike his brother Pisces, who adapted to his surroundings with ease, it took Virgo a little longer. Hell, he was still waiting to feel comfortable in this crazy town and he was going to be twenty-nine next month. Virgo could handle all the witches, and potion making, the hippies, Goths, and tree huggers. Hell, he could handle the gorgeous Greek Gods walking around half-naked while men and women admired their stunning beauty. Then there were the plethora of celestial women who had such divine bodies that they seemed to be carved from the cosmos itself, but what confused the shit of him was the fact that each and every one of the residents of Celestial were completely, one hundred percent, bat shit crazy.
Just to prove his point, he was about to head into the Crystal Tumbler when out in the middle of the only street that ran through Celestial, Aquarius Deveroux and Capri Chantilly were having another bout regarding the repercussions of liquor and herbs, versus the reproductive attributes within the universe.
It was a long-standing argument that neither seemed to fully understand. While Virgo agreed with Aquarius, in tha
t enabling mother nature’s remedies could produce a cosmic entity, he also agreed with Capri, that too much enabling could produce stupidity. Yep, according to Virgo, both of them were correct. Too much drinking, and a good woman could make for an interesting nine months, however, on the flip side, it was the cause of such stupidity, that if he or she abstained from consuming or inhaling such frivolities, then one wouldn’t be visiting Capri in the first place.
The sad part of the whole public display was that Aquarius and Capri had been seeing each other since high school, and the drama between them had grown to such a state, that neither one could see the writing on the wall between them. Neither one was going to win, and come nightfall, they would be wrapped in each other’s arms. At first Virgo thought, it was just their way to get sexually stimulated, but after so many useless arguments, he realized that their love life mustn’t be very good, if they needed a public fight to get laid. Regardless, Virgo had to admit, their fighting was entertaining. Depending on who had the upper hand, it could be quite comical, and after spending the last hour with Cricket, he needed a good laugh.
“Come on, Capri, you know I love you,” Aquarius said.
“Is that you or the liquor talking?”
Aquarius straightened and clearly replied, “It’s me talking to the liquor.”
“You are such a donkey’s hind end!” Capri yelled, as Aquarius grimaced, as if a marching band was playing right next to him. Clearly, the man was suffering from another horrendous hangover. “Aquarius, you do realize that alcohol doesn’t turn people into somebody they’re not. It just makes them forget to hide that part of themselves.”
Embracing the Celestial Way [Celestial Nights 2] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) Page 3
