by Debbie Behan
‘Well, don’t you look refreshed and happy? I hope you told that brat of a nephew of mine to nick off, that you’re my girlfriend again?’
She slapped a hand over her mouth to muffle a laugh before speaking. ‘You two are so much alike. Now play nice.’
‘Not until you tell me I’m your favourite.’
She chuckled. ‘You’re both my favourites; now stop it.’
‘I have you for a whole day, and I will use my power if I have to, but I will get my way.’
‘Planning this wedding has put him right up there,’ she teased him.
‘That crawling snake. I knew I’d have my work cut out for me today. But by sundown you will be mine again, I swear he will not steal my girl.’
She leant into him laughing, he was such a funny man and had missed his skylarking.
He smiled, his dark caring eyes gave her comfort, always had and no man could give what he gave. It was a friendship that would last the ages, this she was sure of, and he didn’t ever have to prove it. He winked, knowing exactly what she was thinking. He loved making her laugh. In that moment of quiet confidence and comfort with each other, he transported them to Dolphin Island within Delphinus.
Caitlin squealed and splashed him when he accidentally landed them in the water instead of on the beach. He had missed the fun they enjoyed together and even now it mystified him how he could be so in love and yet still hold this strong feeling for his Glow. The smallest of gifts gave her pleasure, and he shivered with the power of the vibe she set off inside him. Glow’s magic was getting stronger, and he pondered for a moment if it was due to the joining of her with her father.
‘Let’s get changed. We’re wet anyway.’ She started trudging up the sandy bank.
‘Yes, I’m coming.’ He almost ran after her as she headed for land. Like a magnet, she drew him to her and for today, with just Caitlin was exactly where he wanted to be.
The resort staff gave them towels, and after drying off, they lay on them chatting. Never had Jett confided in anyone as he did in Caitlin; she had such an innocent mind, and a word here and there settled trepidations like no others could. ‘You know I love you Glow.’ He met her compassionate eyes.
‘And your Melita and I love you too, but differently, as you do me.’
He liked that she got it, that his deep affection was as a friend, sibling and the deity he believed her now to be, his goddess, best friend and confidant.
* * * *
‘Hades, what are you doing here?’ Startled by a familiar voice, they shaded their eyes to see his brother, Zeus standing over them.
He nodded towards Caitlin. ‘Glow Girl, what a surprise!’
‘Calyx!’ Caitlin was quick to stand and giggled shyly when he wrapped her in his massive, golden-haired arms for a hug. ‘Is Zuri with you?’ She peered around him to see if she was near.
‘No, this is a business trip. I’m entertaining a business associate.’ He moved to look over her head and gave Jett a wink.
A gentle movement had her at arms’ length. ‘You’ve recovered and look well.’ He smiled, ‘and your perfume is delightful. Do they make a water resistant fragrance now?’ He noted her look and picked up a ringlet of her red locks. ‘I only say that because your hair is still wet from a swim.’
Jett had noticed how strong her “fear bouquet” had become but figured it was because they were alone and once she settled it would ease up, which it did. Yet he had noticed it got strong again seconds before his brother arrived. He was showing up as her inner fear, and it surprised him as they had met a few times now. However, this scent was different and made him wary, so much so he decided to hide the truth, not wishing his brother to know of Caitlin’s secret weapon, her calming agent against the most notorious of tyrants.
‘I bought that perfume for her a while ago; the magical scent lingers on her skin for days and is enhanced by heat.’ He put his hand up, gesturing to the hot day.
‘Thanks,’ she mouthed as she dropped beside Jett. He had her back as always, and she relaxed beside him while Calyx made small talk. Jett finally stood up and pulled Caitlin up with him. ‘Well we’re off to have some lunch, so I guess we’ll catch up later.’
‘What, I don’t get an invite?’
‘Course, join us.’ Jett’s face, however, said the opposite. He had hoped his brother would be on his way as always. The last thing he wanted was to share Caitlin when this would be their last time together before she married Axon. The thought worried him. He questioned if Axon would be so willing to share her once they were man and wife. He contemplated how to get around the new treaty he signed. It stated in the contract to “never again” kidnap her, and he had smiled at the wording. He knew Axon had drawn it up. He couldn’t imagine any existence without her anymore so would definitely be going back to re-visit that agreement if Axon stopped her visits to Pluto.
Calyx grinned and ignored the obvious, “nick off will you” look his brother gave him. ‘Thanks, bro, we’d love to join you both. My business associate is good at her job, but the conversation is proving to be a real tooth puller.’ He winked again at Jett as if he understood the double meaning.
Caitlin was no fool and as she eyed Calyx, she felt sorry for his wife, Hera. He was here with another woman, flirting with his eyes, and she knew now the stories of Zeus being a lady-killer were true. Caitlin had befriended Zuri, this being the alias of the goddess Hera. She wished now for her sake that the newly improved god she knew as Calyx would see the light and stop his cheating ways. The sadness in Zuri’s eyes… she now knew the reason. His wife knows.
At the restaurant, Calyx overpowered the room with his entrance. All heads turned as his striking good looks caught their attention. The leggy tall blonde with far too much makeup and a tight red dress, who hung off his arm was barely noticeable due to his vibrant personality.
As he held the chair for her, the perfume almost gagged Caitlin. Her only option was to sip on water until her senses adjusted. The blonde woman started to talk when seated and didn’t stop until her meal arrived. Peace, at last, Caitlin thought, and Jett nodded, agreeing with her. She kept forgetting he could read her every thought and grinned. And did you get a load of those boobs, what a fake! Jett spat his drink and gagged.
Calyx gave him a hard pat on the back. ‘You right there?’ He looked concerned as both men eyed each other. Calyx suddenly understood by Jett’s impatient sigh, that he wasn’t enjoying the company of his brother’s friend.
Caitlin picked it up too and was glad she wasn’t alone.
‘Calyx, we are brothers, so you will understand when I say, four is a crowd. I want time alone with Glow, to talk to her, not listen to that waffle. I can barely make out what Glow is thinking with the ramblings of your friend. If you want to stay, she goes!’ He glanced towards the woman who still waffled to Caitlin, not taking a breath. She wouldn’t have heard a word he said.
Calyx’s head swung towards his lady friend. He had not noticed her since they arrived at the table. His mind was elsewhere, but with Jett mentioning it, her voice unexpectedly irritated him too. His nostrils flared. ‘Enough, I can’t hear myself think, woman. Go find someone else to bug or I will turn you into one!’ he seethed with teeth closed in a growl.
The woman almost ran from him. The tone even shook Caitlin, but if she was to be with superior beings, she had to get used to how they spoke sometimes. To settle down, she decided to let the two brothers bond and with a smile, got up. ‘My shout!’
‘What with?’ Jett was amused. Caitlin never carried money with her.
‘Hey, who needs money when I have a table to book it to?’ She chuckled and, giving them no choice, she left them to have some brother bonding time.
When she came back, their differences had been sorted and whatever was said had cleared the air.
‘Here we go.’ Caitlin had a waiter beside her holding a tray
. She sat while he placed the drinks in front of them.
‘What’s this?’ Calyx sniffed the aroma. ‘Ah, you are mixing our drinks. She wants us in a better mood, brother.’
‘Then let’s not disappoint her.’ Jett clinked goblets with them both and drank his down. Licking his lips, he looked up at the waiter. ‘Another round of whatever that was.’
‘Moonjuice, Starstarter and your friend’s secret ingredient coming up.’ He left.
Both tried desperately to find out what it was, and even tried tickling her, but she didn’t give it up. It did work. The elixir loosened their tongues, the conversation becoming vocal, competitive and what she hoped for, lots of fun.
* * * *
A sobering dump in Aurek’s pool as they miss-landed had them in stitches as they scrambled for the sides and pulled themselves out. ‘How did we end up back here?’
Calyx had scratched his head before he swam to catch up. Once out of the water, the three of them headed for the deck chairs, opting to have an afternoon siesta. Calyx pulled his lounge next to Caitlin’s.
‘Can’t get enough of that scent you wear. Now, don’t move while I sleep or I’ll have to use my magic to keep you here.’ He flopped onto the deck chair beside her, his eyelids dropped on impact, and a slight snore escaped him that made Caitlin chuckle.
‘Shh, sleep sweetie.’ Jett ran a hand over her head before he too collapsed.
* * * *
‘What’s going on, Cait?’ She woke to Rory, his arms folded and his eyes alight with seething fury.
‘They’re wasted,’ Torpez said.
‘You think!’ Rory stared back at Caitlin.
Aurek shook Zeus awake. ‘What are you doing here, Uncle?’ But the god closed his eyes again, ignoring him.
Caitlin was between them and put her hands out and slapped them both on their arms. ‘Wake up you two! I’m not taking all the blame by myself.’
Both men sat up, rubbing their eyes.
‘It’s Glow’s fault.’ Jett was quick to blame. ‘She was in charge of drinks only she tricked us by mixing them.’
She made a defensive sound. ‘You didn’t have to drink them.’
Calyx’s hands went up. ‘No way am I going to take the blame either. I’m with Jett. It was all her fault.’ He was enjoying the blame game just as much.
Caitlin chuckled. ‘Whatever, it worked. You both had a good time and don’t tell me you didn’t.’ She slapped them both again.
They laughed with her. Both woke happy from an enjoyable day and ignored the hands on hips and huffy looks they were receiving.
‘Who’s your new friend?’ Rory asked in the tone of, hell no, not another one.
‘Rory, meet Calyx, Jett’s brother.’ Caitlin introduced Rory, although his expression didn’t change as he shook his hand.
Rory still hadn’t been able to let go of the protectiveness he felt towards her. He was especially ticked off Axon was getting so lax with her security. If this was how she was acting around these gods, especially someone as powerful as Zeus, this was stopping right now.
‘Calyx,’ he said and gave a polite nod before he folded his arms again and stood back assessing the situation. He didn’t like this at all. Something didn’t feel right, and as soon as the introductions were over, he intended on speaking to Caitlin not only about her behaviour as a Rider but about whatever was going on here. His instinct had his hackles up.
Caitlin pointed to her father. ‘And this is Torpez from the camping trip I told you about.’
‘Refresh me.’
‘The begrizzo, remember?’
‘Ah, that’s right.’ Calyx shook her father’s hand for the first time ever. ‘Pleased to put a name to the story. Where are you from, Torpez?’ Calyx had an uncertain look in his eyes. ‘I’m sure I know the face.’
Caitlin’s father had grown a full faced beard and had mentioned how much weight he had put on of late, so luckily for him, Calyx shrugged. ‘You look like someone… but…’ He tilted his head and looked him up and down. ‘Nope must be too much of that elixir Glow Girl had me drinking.’ He brushed away his thoughts with a sweep of his hand. ‘Where did you say you were from again?’
Jett was almost sure Calyx would not recognise the man he hounded. Even he’d had a hard time identifying Lord Mensa when meeting him the night before. It had been many years since Calyx met with Lord Mensa and afterwards, it was his squadron leader who was instigating and carrying out the many raids on behalf of Calyx. Yet he was still astute enough to question. Jett was just about to intervene when Caitlin rested a hand on Calyx’s arm.
‘Like you, he prefers to keep his Home World private, but what I can tell you is that his land is picturesque and,’ she smiled, ‘is now short of one big old bear.’
‘A begrizzo you say, they are mammoth and hard to catch.’ Calyx was intrigued. ‘Was it a big mongrel?’ His interest was genuine.
‘Sure was. The killer beast was as tall as a two-storey building and one wide. We had quite a battle bringing the oversized furburger down.’
Caitlin chuckled…’He gets bigger every time this story is told.’
Calyx patted her hand that was still on his arm. He liked it and smiled at her. ‘It’s a man’s bragging rights, Glow.’
With him not needing any further calming, Caitlin took her arm away from him. ‘Then I will leave you two thrill seekers to your tale that I have now heard many times over. Rory has asked to speak to me, so call me if you want the real story.’ She waved her hand in a gesture, blowing them off, and stuck her nose in the air. This action made them laugh, and although she had moved from easy earshot, she kept a watchful eye on both while listening to Rory. She was pleased when Calyx placed an arm around her father and directed him to the bar, where they sat and chatted. ‘I love a good hunting story, continue,’ she heard Calyx say and during the possibly over-exaggerated tale, heard them laugh on and off as it unfolded. She stood half listening to make sure all was well while Rory drilled her about her drinking.
‘Caitlin, relax, they’re fine, now start talking.’ Rory walked her away from the others. He could see she wasn’t listening to him and was getting more frustrated than he had been when first arriving. ‘I want to know who gave you permission to go out getting drunk with the planet Rulers while on the job. It sure wasn’t me!’
‘I only had a couple to get them in a better mood with each other. So what – you never drink with any of the Rulers?’ She threw it back at him.
‘That’s different, Cait, I’m a man, and your behaviour is unbecoming of you. And by sleeping between them, you’re acting like a tart instead of a Rider.’
‘You know why men do that. I can’t control the scent I give off. Get over it, Rory,’ she yelled at him.
‘Caitlin! Quit this crybaby boohoo, shit. It’s me you are talking to here, and I will not pander to you. I’m ordering you to try and regulate that power for all our sakes. These deities have no idea how innocent you are or what you have been through. Need I remind you these are ancient men who are used to getting their own way? So stop throwing yourself at them to get your way. It won’t always work, but you don’t understand this yet, and that is the innocent in you. I am and always have been your teacher and voice of reason and deserve more respect.’
She hung her head. She wasn’t sure at all what she was doing and he was right, she would always need him, her saviour. ‘Rory, all I know is something overpowers me. It sets me on a course I cannot deviate from. Then it’s gone and leaves me to deal with the situation I have been put into. At the minute I’m me, here, talking to you. But at any moment I can be steered into a new mission. I don’t mean to hurt or scare you, but this thing is big, and I have no control when it takes me over, dumps me in a situation and leaves me to sort it out.’
‘What! Really? Does Axon know?’
She nodded. ‘He thinks
the universe is fuelling me. He trusts that I will learn to control it as we all do when given a new gift. Zoren thinks I channel an ancient goddess. That she teaches me to be the one I was put here to become.’
‘Cait, you should have told me. I can adjust the team’s powers to give you more will to control it. I hold things back too, but we should never do it from each other. I don’t think even Axon knows how much stronger our team has become since taking on the Cloud Riders’ powers. We were extraordinary anyway. Now it’s intense.’
She poked at his chest. ‘You’re no better than me, your abilities are still growing too, aren’t they Rory?’
‘Shush.’ He quickly looked around to make sure no one was near listening.
She motioned for him to bend closer so she could whisper and put her hand to his ear. ‘I know what you are capable of and that we’ve both continued to evolve, but I’d never tell a soul if that’s why you are worried about me drinking with the gods. I lock everything I love up inside so no one can find that information. I store you all in my secret garden, you know, where I used to hide from the pain before I met you.’
He held her face between his hands. ‘I know my secret is safe with you. You are my dearest friend, Cait, and always will be. I just don’t want them finding out about your capabilities. One day, you may just need that talent of yours to save not only you but all of us.’
His sweetness brought tears to her eyes. ‘From now on, that’s locked deep in my secret garden too.’ She patted her chest area. He pulled her in for a hug. ‘Just don’t shut me out, please trust me, okay.’
Her wet eyes stared up at him. ‘She does.’ A voice unlike hers, but coming from Caitlin’s mouth, spoke to Rory, and his eyes widened, her grip not letting him move. ‘For saving her life her bond with you is forever, but you must trust in the measures put in place to prevent this war that is imminent. Hades will fight beside Zeus to claim Mercury. Her work is not complete.’
Caitlin collapsed against Rory, and he scooped her up and laid her on the lounge. ‘Caitlin, you okay?’ he whispered close to her ear, not wanting to attract any of the others to them. He had been given a message but needed to talk to her privately. She fluttered her eyelashes as she came around. ‘Rory, what happened?’
