Out of Sorts Aphrodite (The Goddess Chronicles Book 2)

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Out of Sorts Aphrodite (The Goddess Chronicles Book 2) Page 5

by S. E. Babin


  Artie shook her head and grabbed my hand to pull me forward. “No. Should I be concerned that you do?”

  I saw Keto roll his eyes in exasperation. Hermes was way ahead of us now, so we picked up the pace. We stopped when we were just behind him and allowed him to lead us the rest of the way. We were escorted toward the throne room and I noted that Hera had once again redecorated, but this time it didn’t seem so forced. The last time we were here everything had been decorated like a catalog, but now it looked more like Hera – cool and classic. The walls were painted a soft light green and the paintings captured landscapes across Olympus and earth. I liked this better. It felt more like Hera was being herself and not under the control of a madwoman.

  I mean, everyone knew how much Hera hated the Pottery Barn, right?

  To our surprise, instead of a long wait, the throne room doors were flung open. All of us stepped back except for Hermes, who stood his ground. He motioned to us to follow him and as we stepped in, we saw Zeus standing to the right of his throne. He was dressed in the traditional white chiton, the jeweled crown resting proudly upon his head.

  “Welcome. Do come in.” Zeus motioned us closer and when we were only a few steps away, we all fell onto one knee and bowed our heads.

  Zeus chuckled. “How I love to see you all come into my throne room. This is the only time I feel like a king. The rest of the time I feel like I stepped into a frat party around you. Stand up.”

  I was the first to rise and noted the glint of amusement in Zeus’ eyes. I was relieved to see he was in a good mood. But why? If I knew Typhon was walking the earth I’d be in a terrible mood.

  He waved at one of the guards outside, who came in bearing four chairs. Looks like we’d be here for a while. I sat down and noted Hermes sat beside me. Zeus took his place upon the throne and clasped his hands together, his face pensive.

  “I heard about your visitor. As much as I adore Athena, I don’t know that she always has her head on completely straight. Her implications about Typhon are indeed concerning, but that’s only if they’re true. Gaia is awake, yes. Did she help Typhon escape? She cannot.”

  I cleared my throat. “Zeus, Athena doesn’t believe Gaia is the one who released him. She believes Typhon is trapped in human form without his memories.”

  Zeus frowned. “If it was not Gaia, who could it be? I can think of no one with that big a death wish.”

  I shrugged, just as stumped as he was. “No idea. But if we find Typhon first, we can re-imprison him in a place where no one else knows.”

  Hermes spoke up. “If, and it’s a big if, he’s actually out, why wouldn’t he have any memories?”

  Keto leaned forward. “Sometimes when powerful magic is used it can wipe memories from someone. If Typhon was slumbering beneath the mountain, he probably has no idea who woke him up or why. We just need to make sure we find him before he recovers his memory.”

  Artie fidgeted. “Okay, call me crazy, but why would someone wake up Olympus’ most treacherous enemy, put him in human form without his memories, and then turn him loose? It sounds like an episode of Laurel and Hardy.”

  It was a good question and one that none of us had the answer to. Zeus looked disgruntled. He obviously still didn’t believe Typhon was awake. It was hard for all of us to believe. And how in the world did someone force him into a mortal shell? It defied belief. We could do a lot of things, but subduing someone like Typhon was in an entirely different league. I wasn’t even sure Zeus could do it.

  Zeus waved a hand. “I called you here today to do some investigating for me. I will handle Gaia, as it doesn’t appear to be directly related to this incident. You will search for Typhon. Do not, I repeat,” he glared at me, “engage him. Even if he appears to be harmless. Follow him. Find out what he’s doing and see if you can discover who’s pulling his strings.”

  It sounded easy enough. “And one more thing.” Zeus grinned and I knew whatever he was about to say I would dread. “You will take Hermes back with you. He will assist you in any way that you need. And I do require that he stays with you, Abby. Close quarters are what everyone needs right now.”

  He winked at me as I felt my insides shrivel and die. Marshall was going to be ecstatic about this development. I risked a glance at Hermes. He sat stone still glaring at his father. “Is this really necessary?” he asked. “I can assist from Olympus.”

  “I can assure you it’s not necessary, son. But I require it.” Zeus stood and with a swipe of his massive hand, removed the chairs out from under us, causing us to tumble into a massive tangle of limbs. A quick burst of wind blew through the room and escorted us out. Apparently Zeus had left his manners at the breakfast table this morning.

  A few seconds later, we landed in a heap in my living room, every single one of us cursing.

  “Ow, dammit! Keto, get your elbow out of my ribs,” Artie grumbled.

  Unfortunately, I had a different burden. Hermes lay on top of me, his eyes staring right into mine. “I can say I’ve arrived in worse ways, eh?” He chuckled, but made no move to get off of me.

  The sound of a throat clearing above me made me cringe. Marshall loomed over all of us. I kneed Hermes, but he twisted to the side before I made the money shot and grinned at me the entire time. He waggled his eyebrows and slowly moved off of me. “Someone’s a little testy, isn’t he?”

  I glared at him, pinned down by the weight of his body. As soon as I could move, I rolled over to the side and stood up.

  “Marshall,” Hermes said. “I wished for it to have been longer before we met again, but I’m here to stay for a while. Daddy’s orders, you see.”

  Marshall bared his teeth. “Wonderful. I’m sure we’ll all be holding hands and bonding soon enough.”

  Artie and Keto finally managed to extricate themselves from each other. “This is going to be a long few weeks,” she mumbled.

  “Tell me about it.” I headed over to Marshall and placed a quick peck on his cheek. He didn’t respond, still glaring at Hermes standing there. “Marshall, it couldn’t be helped.”

  “Says you,” he said and turned and walked out of the living room.

  “Shit,” I said, exasperated.

  “Yep.” Keto gave me a sympathetic glance and reached for Artie’s hand. She stared at him for a beat before finally clasping it. They headed upstairs leaving me alone with trouble, also known as Hermes.

  “I’m sorry,” I finally said. What else was there to say?

  He ran a finger through his curly blonde hair and chuckled. “Not your fault. Seems Daddy Dearest has a plan for us.”

  “Not going to happen,” I said.

  “Tsk, tsk. Don’t be so quick to deny him, Abby. He’s ruled all these years. Sometimes he knows what he’s doing.” Hermes studied his surroundings, his face lighting up as he noticed some of the artifacts I had taken from my temple. “I remember these,” he breathed as he reached out and touched one particularly sentimental vase. He’d brought me flowers once for my birthday. We were just friends then, but I cherished that gift as he had done it out of the goodness of his heart and not because he had wanted anything. It was the only gift I had received that year.

  “I do, too.” I cleared my throat. “It’s getting close to dinner time. Do you have any preferences?”

  He turned a wolfish grin on me. “Anything?”

  I made a disgusted noise and turned to walk up the stairs. “This is going to be a painful visit if you keep turning everything I say into a double entendre.”

  He shrugged and raised both of his hands. “I like pain sometimes, goddess. Especially when it has to do with you.”

  I snorted and walked away, not letting myself get caught up in his games. Marshall sat in the chair in our bedroom lacing up his muddy work boots. He didn’t glance up when I walked in. I sat on my knees in front of him.

  “Marshall? It couldn’t be helped.”

  He stopped in mid-tie, stormy gray eyes meeting my own. “That’s what bothers me,” he said.
He ran a hand across his face. “Look, Abby. I know we literally come from different worlds. But love is…love, right? Do you agree?”

  I nodded. Love was the same no matter where it came from. “So if you agree, then I think you’d do more to fight for us. For this.” He waved a hand around the room. “No red-blooded male would be able to tolerate another man blatantly fighting for his lover’s affections right in front of him. How can you ask me to?”

  He was right, but my hands were tied. “I agree with you, Marshall, but this is by the edict of Zeus. I cannot tell him no.”

  He groaned. “And why not?”

  I closed my eyes and begged silently for patience. “Because I’m not a human! I can’t just do what I want, Marshall. He is my liege. I am sworn to obey him.”

  He gave me a dubious stare. “Forgive me, Abby. I’ve seen you disobey him multiple times. What makes this one different?”

  Another point for Marshall. I did disobey Zeus at almost every turn, but I felt like this was different. “Hermes is here to prove a point, Marshall. And he doesn’t want to be, I promise you that. He’s obeying his father. I won’t deny that he wants me. It would be a blatant lie. But he does respect me, Marshall.”

  He held a hand up. “But he doesn’t respect me, Abby.”

  I bowed my head. How could I make him see? “Marshall…I.” I inhaled, steeling my spine. “I love you.”

  He stilled and tilted my chin up. His eyes were a maelstrom of emotion. “And I, you, Abby. But you cannot ask me to live under the same roof with another man who wants you just as much as I do.”

  Tears filled my eyes. “What are you saying, Marshall?”

  He stood up, maneuvering around me and fumbling through the closet before he pulled out a small suitcase. My breath hitched in my throat as Clotho’s vision came back to me. I watched from my knees as Marshall filled the case with the few items from the bedroom that were his. “Please don’t do this, Marshall. Don’t walk away from me.”

  He said nothing, his mouth a harsh line against his handsome face. I tried again. “Zeus wins if you do this.”

  His hands stilled. “According to you, Zeus always wins, Abby. I know when I’ve been beaten.”

  In that moment, I felt ancient, every bit of my age falling down around my shoulders. I watched him, detached. I had not loved in thousands of years. And this was why.

  Everyone always walked away from me.

  I was the Goddess of Love. But I was cursed.

  7

  Chapter Seven

  Dinner was a somber affair. I left the bedroom because I couldn’t continue to watch Marshall pack without losing every shred of pride I had. The sound of his truck starting up would haunt me the rest of my days. Even Hermes knew better than to poke me about it.

  Now we sat around the table, silent as a tomb. The only sound was that of our forks scraping our plates. Keto thankfully had stepped up and cooked. The roast tasted dry in my mouth, the glass of milk tasteless. I’d forgotten what a broken heart felt like.

  Artie reached over and patted me on the arm. “He’ll be back, Abby. I know it.”

  I shook my head. “No, he won’t. He believes I’ve chosen Olympus over him. And he’s right.”

  My eyes met Hermes’. I was surprised to see empathy swimming in them. I looked away quickly and stood up from the table to try to busy myself with cleaning up. I could have used magic, but I needed the monotony to soothe me. Everyone piled out of the kitchen, leaving me to my task. I focused on scrubbing the dishes until they were sparkling. I wiped the table down, swept the floor, and basically pulled a Cinderella on the kitchen. An hour later I was sweaty but satisfied. I wiped my hands on my jeans and got out my stash of ambrosia. I poured myself a healthy portion and mixed it with half a glass of wine, while I kicked off my shoes and headed out the back door to sit on the deck. It was chilly outside, but one of the perks of being immortal was our resistance to the elements.

  I sat down at the iron table, crossing my legs and resting them on another chair. The wind blew through my hair, tangling my curls into a wild mess, but I didn’t care. The sunset tonight was beautiful. Streams of pink and red crossed the sky as the sun slipped beneath the horizon. I sipped my wine, the ambrosia relaxing my bones and taking away some of the ache in my soul.

  Sometime later another glass appeared in front of me. I smiled blearily up at the person who had given it to me. Hermes. But he wasn’t alone. Keto and Artie were behind him, each holding a wine bottle and my stash of ambrosia. Hermes held an additional and much larger bottle.

  “I figured tonight would be a good time for us to use this,” he said and smiled softly at me.

  I lifted my legs off the chair, but he shook his head. He sat down in the chair and picked my feet up and placed them on his lap. At first I tried to lift them, but with one hand he pressed them back down.

  “Relax, Abby. I’m not that big of a monster. Despite everything, I am still your friend.” He lifted the bottle of ambrosia, pouring a healthy serving into my wine, and did the same for himself. Keto poured glasses for him and Artie, watching me warily, a sad twist to his lips.

  Keto, looking more and more like the daemon I now knew him, to be raised his glass. “Abby, lovers will always come and go, but our friendship and our love for you are here to stay.”

  “Here, here,” echoed Hermes and Artie. We all clinked our glasses and took a healthy drink.

  My heart warmed. I loved all of them in spite of the ridiculous circumstances we’d been involved in over the last few months. I gave them all a wobbly smile, the ambrosia taking effect. “Thank you,” I finally said.

  Artie scooted her chair closer and leaned her head against my shoulder. “All will be well, Abby.”

  I touched her chestnut hair. “I know. Right now it doesn’t feel like it, though.”

  Hermes cleared his throat. “As soon as we find Typhon I will leave. You have my word, Abby.”

  Touched, I smiled at him. “There is no need for that, Hermes. Marshall is gone.”

  A smile touched his lips. “There is every need. If you love him, you should wring every moment out of the relationship. I will not interfere anymore. That is my oath.” He patted my leg.

  “Thank you, Hermes,” I said. Regardless of my mixed emotions when it came to him, he was still one of my closest friends. The fact that he was willing to walk away from me so I could try to salvage my relationship with Marshall meant more than I could say.

  We sat in a companionable silence until I had an idea. “Let’s spar!”

  Artie snorted and laughed when she realized I was serious. “Abby? Perhaps you should lay off the ambrosia.”

  “I’m serious,” I said, and I was. None of us had sparred in ages. We were all a little rusty, especially me. I was never the best sparring partner, considering my job focused on emotions and not violence or physicality. Artie was in fantastic shape because of her constant jaunts through the woods, and Keto took physical fitness to a completely immortal extreme. I wasn’t sure about Hermes, but he was the Messenger of Zeus, so I had no doubt his sparring was beyond reproach.

  “If we are going to go up against Gaia or Typhon, I need to be taught.”

  Hermes snickered. “Sweet, you underestimate yourself sometimes. Remember your powers, goddess. Remember what you can do.” He set down his glass and moved my feet from his lap so he could stand up. He held a hand out toward me. I accepted his assistance and pulled Artie up with me.

  “Come on!” I pulled them down the stairs and into the back yard. There was a wide circular area built to allow us to worship or perform a ritual whenever we chose. It was the perfect spot. “Who will go first?” I asked when we were all gathered around. I looked at everyone, but no one volunteered.

  Keto finally stepped up. “I’ll go.”

  I nodded. “Hermes? Want to step up?”

  He bowed mockingly. “As you wish.” This was going to be good. Hermes had no idea who he was up against. They both stood in the circle
studying each other, both men smiling.

  Keto turned to me. “Rules?”

  I clapped my hands, buzzed on the ambrosia and excitement of the moment. “First ichor. Whoever draws it, wins.”

  Both Hermes and Keto nodded. The two men circled around each other, still grinning but eyeing each other for weakness. In a breathless blur of speed, Hermes attacked. Keto evaded effortlessly.

  Hermes’s eyes narrowed. I laughed. Hermes was known for speed and cunning. Daemons…I knew they could shapeshift. That was about the extent of my knowledge. Obviously from what just had happened, their speed rivaled the gods. And Hermes was rumored to be the fastest of us all.

  Hermes snapped his fingers and his Caduceus appeared. “Rut row,” I whispered to Artie. “Shit’s getting real right now.”

  She chuckled and shoulder bumped me. “Who do you think will win?”

  I had no idea. I shook my head. “I can’t wait to see.”

  Hermes tilted his staff to Keto in a move I couldn’t help but think was almost cheating considering it controlled lesser beings, but Keto just grinned. A sharp burst of yellow light blinded me momentarily and after I blinked a couple of times, I saw Hermes on his ass staring up at Keto.

  Those beautiful ebony and ivory wings fluttered behind him as he hovered above Hermes, a jeweled sword in his hand.

  “Holy shit,” breathed Artie.

  “Ditto,” I said, staring up at my friend in awe.

  Hermes, shaking off his shock, stood up and circled Keto warily. Neither had drawn ichor yet. “Keto, man.” His eyes widened as he took in the expanse of his wings. “You’re a daemon?”

  At Keto’s nod, Hermes laughed. “Holy gods. I’ve never met one of you before.” Then he straightened up. “Now that I know what I’m dealing with, are you ready to go another round?”

  Keto laughed, a deep boom of sound in the otherwise quiet night. “As you wish.”

  Hermes disappeared in a crack of light. Keto shot up through the air just as Hermes appeared behind him with his staff. Hermes’ muffled curse of frustration made Artie and I laugh. He eyed Keto, plotting his next move. He motioned for Keto to come down. Keto drifted slowly to the ground, amusement evident on his face, but Hermes wasted no time.

 

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