by Haven Handel
The door opened just as I reached the final stair. Baal and Cynthia stepped over the threshold, arm in arm, matching wide grins on their faces. Cynthia dropped his arm at the sight of me, rushing over and grabbing me into a huge hug.
“Oh my God, Cass, I was so worried about you!” Pushing my hair back with her hands, Cynthia investigated my face. Her concerned eyes looked over every inch of me, inspecting for damage.
“I’m okay, I promise.” I took Cynthia’s hands in mine.
Raising a suspicious brow at me, Cynthia asked, “What is going on here?”
“I’m sorry, Cynthia,” I whispered. “I’m not entirely sure, myself.” Squeezing her hands, I said, “I didn’t mean to drag you into this.”
“Drag me? I’m just mad you didn’t send this demi-god to collect me sooner,” she whispered back, releasing my hands and gesturing at Baal as he left the room.
The grin on his face went from ear to ear.
Laughing, we both dabbed at tears that were forming in our eyes. “Seriously though,” Cy said, “Cass, you know I’d do anything for you. It was killing me knowing something was wrong and not being able to be there for you.”
“I’m so glad you’re here, now.” I looked to the top of the stairs where Draco stood watching us from above, arms crossed, a satisfied look on his face. I mouthed the words, “Thank you,” to him.
Cynthia looked up to see who had my attention. Taking in Draco in his demi-god glory, she gave a low whistle. “There are more of them? Do they all look this good? Though I am partial to my chauffeur, with those jade green eyes and long hair,” Cy said, dreamily.
Giving me a wink, Draco turned, disappearing back down the dark hall.
“That,” I said, pointing at the recently vacated stairs, “was Draco. Then there’s Deo.” I noted the displeasure in Cy’s face at the mention of my husband’s name. “Alekos, Deo’s brother, he’s been by the office before. I believe you called him a ‘beefcake’ last time. And Xander is on the way. I’ve never met him. They call him the baby.”
“A young one? That might end up making me a cougar, if he looks anything like the others,” Cynthia said with a laugh.
“I haven’t seen him yet, but I’m sure he won’t disappoint. And I believe you’ve already had the pleasure of meeting Balthazar, the one with the jade green eyes as you said.”
“Yes, name meaning ‘protect the king’, and make a lady swoon from the way a pair of pants hangs from that frame,” Cynthia purred. “Speaking of pants—what on Earth are you wearing?”
Embarrassed, I looked down at my flowery ensemble and ballet flats. “Deo picked it,” I mumbled.
Cynthia considered me for another moment. “The look suits you,” she said, in wonderment.
“She looks just like a Cassie,” Alekos said, entering the room.
“Deo’s younger brother, Alekos.” I said, gesturing towards him in way of introduction.
“The name means, ‘protecting man’. At your service.” Alekos halted his approach, taking a deep bow.
Clutching my arm, Cy whispered to me, “How on Earth did he hear you? He came out of nowhere.”
Alekos made his way across the hall to join us.
Her momentary spooking was quickly over, and her mouth stretched in a wide grin to match Alekos’. “This one’s charming.” Cy licked her lips.
“Charming and prefers male company,” I said.
“Though, if my heart wasn’t already spoken for, I might reconsider, given the beauty of this woman,” Alekos said with a wink, grasping Cynthia’s hand and giving it a kiss.
“Pleasure to meet you, protector of man,” Cynthia said. Looking around her and taking in the main hall of the castle, she followed it up with, “You all are living a positively fairy tale life up here. I had absolutely no idea there were castles in New York.”
“The castle has been in our family for quite a few decades now,” Alekos said.
“Cass never told me she married royalty,” Cy joked.
“I didn’t know. As a matter of fact, in this case, you know about as much as me, Cy,” I said.
Hearing the worried tone in my voice, Cy put her arm around me and gave me a reassuring squeeze. “It’s going to be okay, Cass.”
Alekos smiled. “The veil will soon be lifted, Cassie. Get ready. Although there is really no way to prepare one’s self for the truth. A couple of lawyers ought to know that better than anyone. Hey, ladies, what’s the difference between a good lawyer and a bad lawyer?” Alekos joked.
“A bad lawyer can let a case drag out for several years. A good lawyer can make it last even longer,” Cy quickly answered.
“Hey, Alekos, what’s the only difference between a female lawyer and a pit bull?” I asked.
“Beats me,” he answered, already laughing at the coming punchline.
“Lipstick!” Cy and I said together, laughing. I linked arms with Cy as we followed Alekos into the dining room. Having Cynthia by my side calmed my nerves. We had tackled some seriously tough cases together. And I knew that we would get through this, too.
Cy gave another low whistle as she entered the dining room. Her eyes widened as she took in the tapestries and gold fireplace.
Looking completely at home in his elegant surroundings, Deo stepped forward to greet her. “Cynthia. So good to see you, though I wish it were under better circumstances,” he said, throwing a wary look in my direction.
“Deo.” Cynthia accepted his kissing of her cheek. As he withdrew, Cynthia pulled him in towards her and whispered something into his ear.
I couldn’t hear a thing, but a smile came to Deo’s face.
“Well said, Cynthia, but you’d better ask Cass’ opinion on the matter, first,” Deo answered.
Giving me a curious look, Cynthia seated herself in the seat beside Deo, creating a barrier between husband and wife. I had the feeling Cynthia blamed Deo for this little fairy tale romp, and as much as she was enjoying it so far, I could tell she was going to watch him like a hawk.
Deo gave a nod, and the men joined him, making their way into the hall, leaving Cynthia and me at the table, alone.
“What did you say to him?” I hissed.
“I said if he laid a finger on you, I’d kill him.” Cy narrowed her eyes at me. “You heard his reply.” She eyed me suspiciously. “Have you been over his knee, again?”
The heat began in my chest, and I could feel it rushing, like a wave, up my neck and through my cheeks.
Cynthia read the flush covering my face clearly. “Cass, you dirty girl,” Cy gasped. Staring at me hard, she said, “You love it.”
“I don’t want to talk about it,” I murmured. “Just try not to get me into too much trouble. All right?” I asked. My eyes cut to the men as they returned to the room. Deo was flanked by Balthazar and Draco. Alekos walked in, his arm hanging casually over the shoulders of a blue eyed stranger whom I assumed to be Xander,
“Ladies, please remain seated,” Deo said. “May I introduce you to Xander.”
Xander walked over to where Cynthia and I sat. Though smaller than the others, from the way his tight muscle tee stretched across his chest, the young man appeared as rock hard as the other men. Xander wore the same style belt and the gold bracelet as the others. His light brown hair was long and tousled, hanging over his eyes, giving him an even more boyish appearance. His light eyes settled on me.
“Hello,” Xander said, softly. “Cassandra, it’s an honor to finally meet Deo’s wife.”
“Pleasure to meet you, Xander,” I replied. “This is my friend, Cynthia.”
Cynthia reached over me, extending her hand to Xander. “Lovely to meet you, Xander. And what does your name mean?” she asked, shaking his hand.
“Protector,” he answered, humbly.
I liked him already.
“Okay then,” Cynthia said, settling back in her chair. “Good to know.”
Xander made his way behind our chairs, seating himself next to Cynthia.
The men
took their seats around the table. Deo at the head of the table, Draco sitting across from me as he had last night. Alekos hesitantly took the seat beside Draco, re-tucking his tee-shirt into his jeans as he did.
I noticed Alekos was careful not to come too close to Draco, and once he was seated, Alekos snuck glances at the handsome guardian. I would not have noticed, save my earlier conversation with Deo. Now privy to the information, Alekos’ affections for Draco seemed unmissable.
Baal sat on the other side of Draco, tucking his long hair behind his ears. His green eyes rested on Cynthia as he sat down, sending her a warm smile.
When everyone was settled, Cynthia was the first to speak. “So, let me make sure I have all the names right,” she said. “Baal filled me in a little on the way.”
At Cynthia’s words, Deo raised a brow, saying, “Did he?”
Cynthia quickly reassured him, “Relax. Just the names, Deo. Everything else in this little adventure is still a mystery.” Turning next to her and flashing a smile at Xander, Cynthia said, “We have Xander, protector, of what I’m not sure.” Xander gave a small a nod. Moving on, Cynthia gestured across from me. “Then we have the dragon, Draco. Pleasure to meet you by the way,” Cy added.
“Pleasure’s all mine,” Draco answered, giving me a look that told me he approved of my choice in friends.
“Alekos, I’ve seen you around the office, but today is the first time I’ve had the pleasure of meeting the defender of mankind.”
“It must be your lucky day.” Alekos winked.
“Then Baal, of course, my personal escort to this strange little party, and protector of the king. Though I have no idea who the king is.” She turned to Deo. “Let me guess, Deo means ‘The King,’ right? That would round this little circle out nicely.”
“Not exactly,” Deo answered. “The meaning of my name is ‘God-like’, but yes, Baal is my protector, and what you may call, ‘my right-hand man’. He has loyally served me for many years now.” Deo gave Baal a look of great respect and gratitude.
Baal raised his hand in a salute to Deo.
I looked over Baal’s lean physique. He sat, confident, calm, relaxed, yet somehow held an air of danger and power. How had I never met this man who meant so much to my husband? My first encounter with Deo’s right-hand man had been the stranger dragging me from my office, my possessions in his gray duffle bag.
I looked to my husband. Seated regally at the head of the table, the vision of Deo was striking. I was mystified by my memory of our last night in our home when I had thought my husband boring, mundane, and threated to leave. Two days later, I felt as if I was in the presence of royalty; Deo, my husband, the king of this castle.
My thoughts and eyes strayed to the figure sitting directly across from me. If Baal was Deo’s protector, what did that make Draco to me? My own personal dragon of a guardian? Draco’s eyes locked dead onto mine, confirming my fleeting suspicions.
“You’re mine,” I whispered, my thoughts escaping my mouth. Draco broke my gaze, looking down, as if it was not his information to give away, but I knew it to be true.
Overhearing my whispered words, Cynthia looked at me. “Let me guess. Draco, Guarding Dragon of Cassandra?” Cy asked.
“Yes.” Deo answered, staring hard at Draco, the small muscle in his jaw twitching as he clenched his teeth.
Looking at my husband, I tried to read his face. There was anger there and something else I could not understand. Draco did not meet Deo’s eye. There was a friction, a tension between the two that was almost visible like a thin white line of electricity between them.
The tension broke when an angry voice called out from the kitchen. “I’m not getting any younger in here. Alekos, come!” Margaret demanded.
Pushing back his chair, Alekos jumped up and ran towards the back of the hall. “Coming, Auntie Maggie,” he said, followed by a jovial string of Greek words.
A moment later, Margaret came hobbling over to the table carrying a tray that was heaping with breads just out of the oven, topped with tahini and honey, and a platter of sliced Peloponnesian, Macedonian ham and salami. In one hand, Alekos held a bowl of fresh fruit, and in the other, a pitcher of juice. Placing them on the table, Alekos returned to the kitchen.
“I have freshly squeezed orange juice from the groves of Laconia, and mountain tea from Taygetos. Thank goodness I had the whole ship to stock before we left Greece, or we would be starving.”
Aunt Margaret slammed the platter down on the center of the table. “Will never step foot in a wretched, what do they call it, supermarket? Nothing super there. Just junk,” she grumbled as she busied herself setting the table to her liking. Crystal goblets and china plates found their way around the table.
A ship. That would mean that Deo was prepared to be here for a long time. My mind wandered as I chose a few pieces of the fruit from the plate before me.
Margaret prattled along to herself, “Have you seen what these people call breakfast, Deo? Rainbow colored skatá in a bowl, with cold milk. Cold—from a cow. In a bowl. Disgusting. Slurping it with a spoon.” Margaret’s rant trailed off as she laid eyes on Xander.
Walking over to him, she placed one of her hands on each of his shoulders. “Glad you finally decided to show up,” she cackled, placing a kiss on the boy’s head.
Xander smiled, reaching up and patting one of her hands.
Margaret left the table, shuffling back to the kitchen, complaining, “Everyone knows only goat milk is fit for human consumption.”
Alekos reentered the room, carrying a large tray that held china cups and a teapot.
“She lets you in the kitchen, Alekos?” Baal asked. “Last night I tried to go in there to get a piece of baklava, and she hit me over the head with a wooden spoon,” Baal said, rubbing his head as we laughed. “It hurt.”
Deo responded, “Only Alekos may enter the kitchen. And don’t anyone dare try to call her Auntie Maggie. She will use that spoon to beat you within an inch of your life, I promise.”
Low enough for only me to hear, Cy whispered in my ear, “So now we know where Deo gets it. Does he have his own wooden spoon?”
I quietly tried not to choke on the grape that was in my mouth while kicking Cynthia with my kitten heel under the table.
Sitting back down by Draco, Alekos tore off a huge hunk of bread. “I can’t help it if the women like me.”
“And the men,” Baal said, glancing at Draco as he did.
Draco did not respond, only took a few pieces of meat from the platter, then passed it to his left.
Alekos took the plate, a pink blush covering his cheeks.
“Enough,” Deo said, shooting a look at Baal. “The time has come for us to reveal the truth to Cassandra. And, Cynthia, now, as well,” Deo added, shooting an angry look in Draco’s direction.
The man of few words, my guardian and now my friend, had even less to say than usual this morning. Worry seemed to dance at his brow, and he ate little. Draco’s eyes went from me to his plate, then back to me.
After a moment of silence, his determined gaze locked on me. “The more she knows, the better,” Draco said. He spoke quietly, but his voice carried authority.
“I will give her the information she needs,” Deo fired back.
I looked at Deo, surprised by my husband’s outburst. His dark eyes shone with concern as they met mine.
The conversation hung, suspended as the doors to the castle suddenly burst open. Straining my neck to see around Deo’s chair, I gasped when I recognized Andrew.
Dressed as if on a camping trip, his clothes were wrinkled and he had dark circles under his eyes. Andrew came flying towards the table, brandishing a large stick.
“Andrew, what are you doing?” I shouted, standing from my seat so quickly, I knocked the heavy chair onto the floor. Before I had time to blink, Draco was by my side, my chair upright behind me.
“I’ve been following you since that thug”—Andrew pointed his stick at the amused face of Baal. Ba
al’s long hair hid his face as his shoulders shook, with laughter—“kidnapped you from your office. I’ve been hiding out in the woods waiting for the right time to intervene. Then I saw they abducted Cynthia as well.”
“Oh, for god’s sake,” Deo groaned, still seated at the table, head in his hands. “What’s the boy doing here?”
“I’m here to save Cassandra, old man.” Waving the stick in the air, Andrew stepped closer to the table. “Cassandra, Cynthia come with me, quick. My car is hidden a few miles from here. Don’t even try to follow us.” He moved the branch in front of him, blocking his body.
I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. Leaves sticking up out of his tangled hair, shirt untucked and pants stained with mud, Andrew look ridiculous. I looked around at the five, stealthy men who surrounded me.
As amusing as the scene was, my heart was heavy. Because of me, another one of my friends was in danger.
Xander slowly stood from his seat beside Cynthia. Reaching out his right arm, Xander lifted his hand in the air toward the stick, focusing his pale eyes on Andrew. The stick left Andrew’s grasp, floating through the air. Passing over the table, the weapon made its way, stopping in front of Xander. The stick hovered in the air. Xander moved his arm towards his body, the stick moving with it. The branch moved slowly, contacting Xander’s open palm.
The room was quiet. Andrew stood frozen a few feet from the table, his empty hand still hanging in the air, eyes wide and mouth gaping in amazement. At the head of the table, Deo sat, looking bored and frustrated.
Xander, a peaceful look on his young face, stood calmly, holding the huge stick. “Excuse me,” he said politely. Moving around his chair, Xander was careful not to bump Cynthia with the branch. Walking over to the fireplace, he broke the wood into three pieces, throwing them into the fire. He then returned to Cynthia’s side, casually pouring himself another cup of tea from the steaming porcelain pot. Tea cup in hand, Xander took a seat.
“Mercy me,” Cynthia breathed.
Gesturing to the empty chair next to Baal, Deo said, “Join us for breakfast, Andrew.” Looking at me, his voice laced with disdain, he asked, “I take it you’ve missed dining with my wife? Is that to what we owe the pleasure of your company?”
