by Holly Kelly
“Oh, Zeus, the king of the gods. Let’s go inside and I’ll tell you about him.” She turned to Ty. “You, stay out here until you don’t stink anymore.”
He smiled. “Yes, ma’am.”
Nicole followed the woman into a small, faded kitchen with peeling wallpaper. Everything around them looked old—clean, but old. “Zeus is a proud god. He rules all under his domain with an iron fist. Well, not really iron—that would be Hephaestus. He’s the god of ironwork. But Zeus is no nonsense, well, unless we’re talking about women. He does have a soft spot for a beautiful woman—much to the dismay of his wife, Hera. Now, she’s a jealous woman. And you’d better not let Hera catch you with Zeus’ boots under your bed. If you know what I mean.”
Nicole smiled, carried along on the journey in the conversation. “Zeus is god of the skies, right?” Nicole asked.
“He’s ruler of all the gods, but his power lies in the skies. He wields his power with his bolt. With his bolt, he has the power to command the winds currents and control the weather. Basically, the skies are his.”
Nicole asked, “If the gods really live on Olympus, why can’t we see them? I’ve heard it’s popular to hike up there.”
The old woman smiled. “Olympus isn’t his home. Well, that’s not exactly right. Olympus is his home, but the mountain we call Olympus is only the gateway to Olympus. Do you understand?”
“Uh…” Nicole frowned, trying to figure out what the woman was saying. “No, I don’t understand.”
“Zeus’ domain in the skies is not completely part of this world.” Ty’s voice came from behind. “Though both worlds are connected,”
“What do you mean?” Nicole asked.
“It’s like… well, it’s like another dimension,” Ty said. “And the link between the dimension of this world and Olympus is found on Mount Olympus.”
“He’s right,” Hanna said. “Hey, you’re not as dumb as I thought you were.”
“Did you think I was an idiot?”
“Well, you did end up at the bottom of a well,” Hanna said.
“Exactly,” Nicole said, earning a scowl from Ty.
“That wasn’t my fault. Tyche dropped me there.”
Hanna burst out laughing. “What did you do to make her mad?”
Ty didn’t answer.
“Well, regardless, I certainly wouldn’t want the goddess of fortune on my bad side—though you’ve got to admire her sense of humor.”
“She doesn’t have a sense of humor,” Ty said.
“You don’t think what she did was funny?” Hanna asked.
“Not in the least.”
“Well,” Hanna said. “I think it’s hilarious.”
“I agree,” Nicole said, earning her another glare. Nicole ignored him and said, “So, Hanna, how many gods have you met?”
“Oh, I wouldn’t know that. They don’t let themselves be known. But you learn to recognize their mark—as it seems your husband does.”
“Mark?”
“Yes, mark. It was bad fortune that he fell down that well. And, you might guess from looking around that Tyche doesn’t concern herself with someone like me. But then, I can’t complain much. I have enough to eat, a roof over my head, and clothes on my back. So maybe I earned a little something from her after all.”
“It looks like you’ve had plenty,” Nicole said. “I haven’t always been so fortunate. But then I think I appreciate what I have more because I know what it’s like to go without.”
“You have a point. Perhaps not receiving a blessing from the gods is a blessing in and of itself. By the way, do you two have a place to stay? It looks like it’s starting to get dark. You and your husband are welcome to stay here. I have a small bedroom in the loft with a double bed.”
“But we aren’t—” Nicole began.
“We would be most grateful,” Ty interrupted.
“We don’t want to put you out,” Nicole said.
“It’s no trouble. Come, I’ll let you get settled in.” She led them up a set of dark, narrow stairs to the second floor. Saying the room was small was a major understatement. The double bed took up pretty much the entire room, with a couple of feet on each side. And what little floor there was to walk on creaked with each step. Nicole turned to Ty and whispered, “Careful not to stomp. You might go through the floor.”
“Yeah,” he whispered back, his eyebrows rising.
“Breakfast is at six sharp. Oh, and my son, Alex, will be coming early tomorrow, so don’t be worried if you see a bearded man walking about the house. The bathroom’s there across the hall, and there are extra blankets in the chest at the foot of the bed. Just make yourself at home.”
“Thank you,” Nicole said. “We appreciate everything you’ve done for us.”
Hanna shook her head. “It’s nothing,” she said as she shut the door.
Nicole looked at Ty and her chest tightened. He pulled his shirt over his head and hung it over the bedpost. His muscles bulged, his body lean, muscular—a perfect specimen. When her eyes returned to his face, she found him smirking at her. He stood and stepped toward her. She put her hand out.
“Just because I like what I see doesn’t mean I want it right now. I’m not a slave to my impulses. I have restraint. Unlike some people I know,” she said as she raised her chin.
“Hmmm. Really?” he asked as he brushed her hair away from her face and traced his fingers down her jaw. “Do you have enough restraint to give me a kiss goodnight and nothing more?”
She swallowed and avoided his eyes. “Of course I do.”
She could feel the heat of his body as she raised her lips. Ty leaned down and pressed his lips against hers. Her knees went weak and she thrust her hand against his chest, pushing him back. He must have let her because he moved away—despite the fact her effort was weak and her hands trembling.
Ty cracked a smile and raised an eyebrow.
“See, I…” Her words dropped away when she looked into his glimmering, blue eyes.
Without a thought, she threw her arms around his neck and smashed her mouth against his. He responded with a growl and met her with equal enthusiasm. The warmth she’d felt ignited to a fire as he kissed her. Moments later, he tore his mouth from hers to devour her neck, lifting her off the ground. “Gods Nicole,” he said against her throat. “I…” His words dropped away and his lips paused, unmoving as they pressed against her pulsing neck. With an angry growl, he pulled away and sat her down.
Her knees buckled as she sank to the bed. He took a step away from her. His face darkening, he closed his eyes and clenched his fists. Anger colored his cheeks red.
Nicole gasped breaths into her lungs as her chest heaved. Looking up at his frown, she clenched her own fists. His rejection stung as disappointment burned her cheeks. Quickly, the disappointment switched to anger as she lashed out bitter curses. She didn’t often lower herself to speaking profanities, but she thought this situation warranted it. He was the one giving her signal after signal! And now he changed his mind?
His eyes snapped to hers. “Nicole, I… Gods, it’s not you. I want you. Hades, do I want you.” He dragged his fingers through his hair.
“Oh really?”
“Yes,” he said adamantly.
“Then why did you stop?”
He pointed to his temple. “Your unwelcome visitor has a few choice words for me, along with some powerful threats. Apparently, until I get Sypher out of my head, we will be practicing abstinence.” He said the last few words in a near rage.
Before she could speak, he was walking away from her. “I’m going to take a cold shower,” he snapped. The fury he’d displayed went a long way to making her feel better. This was definitely not a rejection. She smiled as he stomped away.
Nicole’s aching body was slow to relax, though. She really could use a cold shower too, but showering with Ty—cold or not—would not be a good idea in her condition.
A long time later, Ty climbed into bed. Nicole ached to reach out and
touch him, but she didn’t want to torment herself. He lay with his wide back toward her—a wall between them.
She didn’t much like walls.
Triton awoke to the most amazing feeling—Nicole’s warm, soft body wrapped in his arms. Her face glowed, a hint of a smile at her lips. She was beauty. She was perfection. And he was a fool to have not realized what she was. No human was so flawless. He literally ached to kiss her. Careful not to disturb her sleep, he pressed his lips against hers and traced his tongue over her mouth. She tasted sweet, like nectar, only better. As he pulled away, he puzzled at the mystery of who she was, what her god powers might be. Regardless of what they were, using them would be dangerous—except…
Being at the base of Olympus, it would be hard to distinguish the use of her powers from the other gods who made the skies above them their home. He smiled, realizing why her mother chose to drop them here. Nicole could not only hide among the humans, she could hide among the gods.
On that thought, this was also an ideal place to search for someone to release him from Sypher—the sooner the better. A low rumble shook the room as the pictures on the wall swung and dropped, cracking their frames against the wood floor. It was an earthquake. The old, wooden house swayed, threatening to topple over. Triton tried to flash them to safety, only to remember his power was gone. He knew he should probably be afraid, but truly, he didn’t know how to fear a natural disaster. Luck was on their side—or perhaps Tyche. The rumbling stopped, and everything settled into place.
He looked down at Nicole; she was fast asleep. “I forgot how soundly you sleep.”
“Hm,” she mumbled in her slumber.
“Nicki, wake up. We need to get out of the house before the aftershocks come.”
Her eyes fluttered open. “Mmm. Did you just say aftershocks?”
“You just slept through an earthquake.”
“What? I didn’t know they had earthquakes in Greece.”
“Apparently, they do.”
He sat up and tugged her arm. “Come on, love. Let’s get outside.”
“Shouldn’t we get under a doorframe?”
“I would say yes, but I don’t trust this house will be left standing if there’s another quake. I think we’re safer outside.”
They stepped outside into the cool, crisp morning air to see a large, bearded man arguing with Hanna. He turned to look at them. “See, they’re fine,” he shouted.
“If the house had fallen and crushed them to death,” Hanna said, “I would never forgive you, Alex. It’s my job to see that they are safe in my home. I can’t believe you dragged me outside and wouldn’t even go back in to warn them. I taught you better than that.”
“Mom, no one could have slept through that quake. I knew they’d be out when they could.”
Nicole looked at Triton and shrugged.
“You’re lucky they’re still alive,” Hanna said as she rushed over.
She took Nicole’s hand and carefully inspected her as she spoke. “You’re okay? You didn’t get hurt?”
Nicole shook her head. “I’m fine. I actually did sleep through it.”
Hanna turned and glared at her son. “See. She did need to be warned!”
“Hanna,” Triton said calmly. “We’re fine. I woke Nicole up and got her out safely.”
Alex walked up to them. His eyes lingered over Nicole, appreciation in them as he took her hand. “If I’d know what beauty awaited me, I would have braved my mother’s crumbling home to save you. What’s your name, beautiful?” he said as he lifted her hand and kissed it.
Triton’s hackles rose. How dare he? “My wife’s name is Nicole.” Triton moved an intimidating step toward him, forcing the man to let go of Nicole’s hand. “And I am Triton.”
Nicole’s eyes widened at the word wife, but she didn’t correct the lie.
“Ty, short for Triton?” Hanna said excitedly. “Named after the sea-god. Ha!” her excitement turned to a frown when she looked him over. “Though I must say, you don’t look a thing like him.”
Nicole chuckled. Her eyes sparkled as she looked at Triton.
“Married, huh?” Alex said. “I should have known.”
Triton looked back at Alex. The man looked disappointed, but the way his gaze lingered on Nicole let Triton know Alex didn’t consider a married woman off limits. If this human weren’t the son of such a kind woman, Triton would have quietly taken him aside and broken his neck.
“So is everyone hungry for breakfast?” Hanna shuffled toward the house.
“Mom.” Alex sprinted after her. “You can’t go inside yet. What if there’s an aftershock?”
“Alex, my guests are hungry.”
“Alex is right,” Nicole said. “It’s really not safe right now.” She stepped up and took her hand.
Hanna frowned, looking downtrodden. Nicole looked down at the sweet, old woman and sighed.
“I’m such a terrible host. I wish I could provide you with a proper breakfast.”
“Hanna, we’re fine,” Nicole said. “You’ve been an amazing host. You gave us a roof over our heads, opened your home—”
“Wait a minute. What’s that?” Hannah interrupted as her eyes drifted behind Nicole and narrowed. She shuffled away, trudging through the long grass, around the linens hanging on a line, and into the overgrown brush deep in her backyard.
“Look at the grapes!” she exclaimed. “It isn’t time for these to ripen yet.”
Triton followed Nicole as she made her way into the backyard. Hanna was right. The vines were covered in ripe grapes. Other spots of color dotted the foliage. Triton pointed back. “It looks like your apples and your pears are ripe too.”
“Go get some baskets from over by the shed,” Hanna said to Alex hurriedly as she held her apron up and filled it with grapes. “I don’t get it. None of these should be ripe yet.”
Nicole gestured Triton to the corner behind the grapevines. Another tree was loaded with fruit. “Hanna! Your oranges look just right for picking too.”
“Oranges?” Hanna stopped and looked up. “Did you say oranges, dear?”
“Yes, just over there.” She nodded in the direction of a large orange tree.
Hanna’s eyes opened wide in shock as her fingers loosened, letting the grapes spill on the grass.
“Hanna?” Nicole stepped forward. “Are you alright?”
She slowly shook her head. “That tree died three years ago. Alex was supposed to cut it down.”
“Are you sure it was dead?” Nicole asked. “Maybe it was just sick and decided to make a full recovery.”
“Oh no. It was completely dead.” She stepped forward, not even noticing she was trampling the grapes under her feet. She walked over to stand under the tree. It looked as healthy as any other fruit tree Triton had ever seen. It looked as healthy as the trees he’d seen gracing the fields of Olympus.
Nicole turned to him and whispered, “Did you do this?”
“I couldn’t conjure a drop a water in my condition, sweetheart,” he whispered back. “This is all you.”
“I wish I knew how to control it.”
Hanna looked around at them. “What is going on here?” Her eyes honed in on Nicole. “Who are you?”
Nicole’s eyes widened in shock as she looked toward Triton for help.
Hanna followed her vision and locked eyes with him. She stepped over. “Did you do this?”
He frowned.
“You are Triton, aren’t you? King of the Atlantic?” Her excitement was clearly evident. “I didn’t realize you have power over plants.”
He pressed his lips together and then he sighed. “Yes, I am Triton, but I didn’t do this.”
“But you know who did. Was it your wife? Is she a goddess?”
Triton could have lied to her and ended it right there, but looking in the face of the old woman who went out of her way to help them, the woman who had such abiding faith in the gods, he couldn’t bring himself to lie. “Nicole only recently learned she is
a goddess.”
“What is she a goddess of?”
Nicole answered her. “I wish I knew.”
Hanna clapped her hands together and shouted. “I have a god and a goddess in my home!” She looked at Nicole. “And you’re lost, aren’t you? You came to the right place. I know everything there is to know about the gods. I’ll help you figure this out.” She snatched Nicole’s hand and yanked, pulling her toward her house.
“But Mom, shouldn’t we—?”
“Oh shut up, Alex. This is my house. It wouldn’t dare fall down on the gods.”
Triton raised an eyebrow and looked at Nicole. She smiled back at him and shrugged.
***
Nicole was shoved into a chair, and Hanna bustled about the kitchen. Ty wandered in behind and took a seat.
“What would you like for breakfast?” Hanna asked her.
“I could use some coffee.”
“Would you like to eat first?”
“No, thank you. I prefer my coffee first thing.”
“Me too!” Hanna’s smiled widened. “My mother used to drink it before breakfast too. Would you like some too, Your Majesty?” she asked Ty.
“Sure, but only if you stop calling me majesty. Just call me Ty.”
Hanna pulled out a strange-looking copper pot with a long handle and poured in several drinking cups of water. She set three small teacups in a line. Then she turned on a single propane burner, perched atop her counter. “Would you like it with sugar or without?”
“With please,” Nicole answered, confused at the funny pot.
Hanna poured a couple of scoops of sugar into the cold water and then two scoops of fine brown powder, and whisked it. After several minutes, she spooned out some froth into each of the cups and then poured.
Handing a cup to Nicole and Ty, she sat and turned to Nicole. “Now, tell me what you know about yourself.”
Nicole blew out a breath and answered, “Not nearly as much as I thought.” She took a sip of coffee and suppressed a gag. The stuff tasted like burnt dirt. She kept the cup in her hands, but couldn’t bring herself to take another sip. Nicole hoped Hanna wouldn’t notice she wasn’t drinking it.
