Bliss

by Renee Field

  However, the proposition had spiked an interest in him. He’d wanted to see if it was plausible. Saad like the control of science, but he that didn’t mean he wasn’t also keenly aware of the magic that lurked in the ocean, thanks to the gods. Could one actually manipulate genetic behavioral coding? That answer had been a resounding yes.

  Well, sort of. At first it had appeared that they were able to control the sharks that had been released into the ocean, but within a few months, the experiment had gone horribly wrong. Worse, the sharks they had engineered had somehow been able to trigger the aggressive gene in all the other sharks they had encountered. Short of killing every shark that roamed his ocean frontage, Saad was momentarily at a loss to deal with the problem.

  Strangely enough, Trevor hadn’t seemed one bit worried about it. In fact, he had seemed euphoric about the possibility of their specialized genetically engineered sharks triggering the aggressive gene in sharks naturally. He had rambled on about the possibility of what this could mean for the Canadian Navy’s specialized marine service core, but at that point Saad had tuned him out. Now, he wished he’d paid more attention to what he’d said.

  Even when Fiona dipped her other foot in the water to entice Saad, he didn’t bat an eye.

  “Leave, Fiona,” said the commanding voice of Retan as he materialized in human form to stand by the pool to look down at his son.

  “Father,” said Saad, quickly rapturing into human form to slip out of the pool.

  “Aja, Master,” said Fiona, meekly, bowing low as she left the room.

  “I see you brought some of the Um’elles with you,” his father said, sarcasm lacing his words.

  Saad was not in the mood to discuss the Um’elles. He knew from previous frustrating conversations that his father disapproved of his choice of Sirens.

  “Where is the book?” his father asked bluntly, turning his back to his son.

  Saad took a moment to admire his father’s physique, trying yet again to guess his age. He seemed timeless and immortal all at once but he wasn’t. His father, like him, did not bother with human clothing. They were both comfortable in their own skin.

  “Saad, where is the book?” asked his father, giving him a penetrating stare.

  Saad knew it would be useless to try to stop his father from reading his mind, so he didn’t even bother to shield his thoughts. “I don’t have it.”

  “What!” bellowed Retan, his eyes turning a dangerous shade of dark blue that Saad knew too well.

  Saad chose to ignore his father’s rage. Instead, he sat down on the rouge velour settee and grabbed a nearby oyster to eat. “I’ll get it. Don’t worry.”

  His father leashed his temper. “You had better. I need that book.”

  “What’s so important about it anyway? It’s not like there’s a cure in there to stop the plague from killing our mardom,” he said, watching as his father’s face took on a guarded look. “Is that it?” Saad persisted. “That’s why you need the book, isn’t it? There’s a cure in there for this blasted plague spreading through the seas. By Zeus, tell Darius. I’m sure he’d hand over the book. In fact, I know he would. This plague has killed more of his mardom in the north seas than anywhere else,” said Saad.

  Then it clicked. His father wanted the first spawn of Oceanus, the rulers of the north seas to die. That was it. He didn’t want the book to cure them; he wanted it to ensure their extermination.

  His father grinned. It wasn’t a pretty sight.

  “Your thoughts are correct. Darius has been sent on a wild goose chase by the Court of Cabiri, when in reality all I need is to get my hands on that book,” said his father.

  Reaching for another shucked oyster, Saad asked, “Does Mother know?”

  “Your mother is in denial. Her plans are why I’ve been forced to interfere. She is blind to her own plight. Once I get that book, she will come to me,” replied his father smartly.

  Saad had never met his mother. All he’d heard growing up were stories of her from his father. At one time, the stories had been tales of a loving, tender Siren, but then, as the years passed and the centuries accumulated, his father’s tales grew more dark and sinister. Gone was the loving mother he’d fantasized about and in her place was a creature so mysterious, so unreal, he knew he never wanted to meet her. He had grown up with the shame of being a zeta – a son without a history, a son whose mother had deserted him at the moment of his unique birth.

  Growing up with his father had been anything but gentle. Even though his father had taken three other mates, producing two half-brothers, and one half-sister, he’d always felt like the outsider in the family. And, he’d always felt as if his father was testing him, looking for any type of weakness in him, any excuse to disown him. After all, he knew that every time his father looked at him, he was a reminder of the one and only time in Retan’s life when fate had interfered and he’d lost the thing that had mattered the most to him – his own Sokhan.

  Over the years, he’d come to realize why his father’s tales had turned sinister. His father suffered from a broken heart. Getting his father, the famous Titan that the all-mighty Creator had taken into confidence, the only Titan ever to serve on the Court of Cabiri, to admit that would be a major coup.

  “You need to get that book to me. Do I make myself clear?” snapped his father.

  Saad nodded his head in acknowledgement, only to find himself once again alone as his father vanished from the room. How he was able to do that remained a mystery to him, but then again, most things about his father were mysterious. It was why so many Titans and rulers feared him.

  “Your father sent me back to you. Are you in need of service?” asked Fiona, as she walked into the room wearing only a pale blue bathrobe.

  “Yes,” he replied. “Take it off.”

  The material slid to the floor. Still sitting on the settee, he had a perfect view as she raptured into her natural form. His breath hitched as the power of the sea claimed her. Not one to waste the moment he walked into the pool and raptured into his Titan form, looking forward to a very physical evening.

  Darius was no longer in the mood to talk. More than he cared to think about, it unnerved him that Kassandra could speak ancient Greek. From following the course of human history over the last few centuries, he knew only a handful of people today actually spoke the original language. Many of those were Titans who had given up the sea to live on land. Could it be? No! There is no way she’s a siren, he thought, even as he eyed her graceful form. She stood tall and proud at the tail of the yacht, her long hair streaming behind her from the force of the wind. She looked regal and sexy, and for a moment Darius wondered if the Fates were playing him for a fool. He wouldn’t put it past them. His eyes narrowed in disgust at his current predicament.

  Shaking his head, he turned his thought to other more pressing matters. Getting the blasted ancient relic the Court seemed to think could help cure this plague, for instance. And he had only two days. What could be easier?

  He laughed loudly, pleased after transforming into a Titan he’d been able to telepathically link with his mardom. He’d sought out Seth and told his twin what the Court demanded of him.

  “You’ve always been up to a challenge,” Seth had replied, and Darius could almost picture his boyish grin. There hadn’t been much Darius could say. He knew his brother was in no condition to help. As it was, it had taken every ounce of his own willpower to force both Seth and his wife, Jamie, from venturing to Saad’s to see their son with their own eyes.

  It hadn’t been easy, but he’d allowed them both into his mind to witness what had happened to Reece. He’d heard every pain-filled cry from both Seth and Jamie as they witnessed his memories firsthand to see what had happened to their son. Knowing that the plague had somehow been responsible for forcing Reece to mature into a full-blown Titan scared them.

  But it had been Jamie who had quietly informed him that Seth was also affected by the plague. Not wanting to risk anyone else getting
infected, Seth was forced to rely on his younger brother for a change, and Darius could just imagine how much faith he had in him. I won’t let you down, brother. I will find the relic no matter what I have to do. I will succeed.

  Cutting the engine quickly, Darius docked the yacht. He expected to see Saad—not Rajheb—standing on the dock. His eyes narrowed in disbelief. Is that freshling looking to get killed today? He couldn’t forget for one minute how scared Kassandra had been. Not that she’d let on, but he’d been able to tell.

  He felt Kassandra move to his side. “Is that who I think it is?” she asked, squinting her eyes to make out the shape.

  “Yup,” he replied, throwing the rope onto the wharf to fasten the yacht.

  “Nice to see you again, Darius. I don’t believe we’ve been formally introduced. I am Rajheb, Saad’s brother, and you are...” said Rajheb, holding out his hand to help Kassandra up to the dock.

  “None of your concern, Rajheb,” replied Darius curtly, as he hoisted Kassandra up to the dock by circling his hands possessively around her waist. In one leap, he landed on the dock beside her, enjoying the look of disbelief on Kassandra’s face.

  She composed herself and pulled down her tank top to reply, “It’s Kassandra. So you actually have a name. Tell me, Rajheb, do you make it a habit to harass women on the high seas? Because I have news for you... pirating isn’t a turn on.”

  Rajheb bowed gallantly. “You have caught me, Kassandra. Feisty, I like that, Darius.”

  “You can like all you want, Rajheb, but that head-butt you received is nothing compared to what I will do if you ever lay a hand on me again,” said Kassandra, as she stared down her opponent.

  Laughter from both Darius and Rajheb quickly filled the silence and broke the tension.

  “You actually head-butted him?” asked Darius.

  “It completely caught me off guard. Like I said, she has spunk,” chuckled Rajheb.

  “Why do you talk about me in the third person? I’m standing right beside the two of you. And as much as I’d like to be somewhere else, I can’t.”

  Darius knew Kassandra wanted to push both of them off the dock. She was mad as hell, but he wanted to make it plain as day to Rajheb that she was his woman. He pulled her in close to his chest and proceeded to thoroughly kiss her. The last thing he expected was for her to bite his lower lip.

  He knew the yelp of surprise wasn’t a very Titan sound, but no woman, or Siren for that matter had ever bitten him before. Except when he’d wanted them too, of course.

  She walked away from him and Rajheb without another word.

  “Like I said, Darius, I’m thinking she’s more than you can handle,” smirked Rajheb.

  Darius grabbed Rajheb and dangled his body over the wharf, not caring that his elegant suit was being rumpled. “In case you didn’t understand my earlier message, stay away from her or else.” Using his telepathic abilities he easily pushed past his barriers to inflict what he knew would be a serious migraine on Rajheb. The young Titan’s face contorted with pain, but Darius still didn’t release him.

  “I haven’t heard a reply to my statement. And until I get that, well, let’s just say that what you are experiencing now is just the smallest part of what I can make you feel.”

  “Okay, Darius, stop being such a beast. She’s yours. Hands off. I get it. Now, let me go,” replied Rajheb.

  “With pleasure,” replied Darius, eyeing the murky water below.

  “Darius, can I come up now?” asked the pubescent voice from below, just as he dropped Rajheb into the water.

  “What the...”said Rajheb before his body went under the water.

  Rylan’s body materialized next to Darius.

  “Is that who I think it is?”

  Darius eyed the kid. While Rylan had been below deck he’d taken the liberty to speak telepathically to him, ensuring that the half-god teenager understood why he had to act like a normal kid and not simply pop here and there. It wasn’t like he wasn’t grateful to the kid for saving him again from Muroka and from rapturing underwater into human form.

  The simple truth was that whenever the kid was around, things seemed to get complicated. Like now. It was bad enough having to make up another lie to explain Rylan to Kassandra, but the last thing he wanted was for Saad and Rajheb to know what had happened to him.

  “I told you about popping around,” said Darius, letting a hint of warning creep into his voice.

  “She was gone. No harm. That is Rajheb. Why is he in the water in his Armani suit?” Rylan looked at him more closely rolled his eyes.

  “Ooh, I see. You threw him in. Hey, you want some help?” yelled Rylan to Rajheb, who was fumbling none too gracefully to the shore in his very wet, expensive suit.

  “Darius if that is who I think it is, you are in big trouble. Get him out of here,” said Rajheb, slinking out of the water. He looked like an expensively dressed drowned rat.

  “Aw, come on Rajheb, not happy to see me?” replied Rylan, actually punching Darius in the arm, like they were bosom-buddies. “Should I tell Darius about the last time –?”

  “Shut-up, Rylan, or I promise you I will kill you. I don’t care if that does start a war or if your sweet Uncle Zeus kills me,” screamed Rajheb.

  Now that piqued Darius’ interest, but he decided now was not the time to tease Rajheb, especially since he had his own fair share of secrets Rylan knew all about. Secrets he didn’t want publically tossed about.

  Rajheb’s message was loud and clear and for once he actually agreed with the annoying Titan. I mean it Darius, make him go. He’s trouble.

  Trouble, Rylan? That’s an understatement.

  “Rylan, what did you do to him? No, I take that back, I don’t want to know. You said you were close to finding a spell to get me unbound to the book and Kassandra. I need you to get on that pronto. Can you do that for me?” asked Darius, forcing his tone to be gentle and persuasive.

  “Can’t I stay with you? You’ve got this great quest, and I never get to go on any adventures. That’s why I was taking all those relics in the first place. It was an adventure. Now, thanks to my Uncle, and yes I know you’re listening,” shouted Rylan to the wind, “I’ve been grounded.”

  “Grounded?” asked Darius, wrinkling his nose as he forced his mind to pay attention to the kid. Just how does one ground a god...okay, semi-god?

  “Uncle said I had two choices. Stay with him at the palace or be with you. So I picked you, okay? Because really, after two days being in the Palace is so boring, unless you happen to catch Apollo or one of his winged horses to play with. But, come to think of it, the last time I did that Apollo locked me up in the stall with Thagesaurs, and that wasn’t fun, at all...”

  “Shut up!” bellowed Darius.

  He knew his eyes were blazing with fury as he advanced on the kid. “No, it most certainly is not okay with me.” This was the last thing he needed. How by the gods can I get find this relic in two days if I have to babysit Mr. Catastrophe?

  Forcing a calm he didn’t feel, Darius continued, “You promised you’d find a way to get me unbound from your last misadventure. I need you to do that.” He stood at his full height as he towered over the kid.

  “Okay...don’t get so riled. I was only trying to help, need I remind you...I did just save your life, twice. Not that it seems to count for anything these days,” muttered Rylan.

  Darius rubbed his face with both hands, weary of the situation. He felt as if he was sliding into a deep sink hole and quickly going nowhere. Or worse, heading straight to Hades’ lair. Bowing his head in defeat, he knew his honor bound him to repay Rylan for saving him and that grated the hell out of him. “Okay, you can stay,” he muttered, turning towards Saad’s house.

  Darius closed his eyes momentarily, as Rylan proceeded to jump up and down in excitement. “Did you hear that Uncle? I can stay. He said I could stay. I’m going to help him. You’ll see,” shouted Rylan, as Darius left the dock, wanting more than anything to avoid every
one so he could get on with his quest. He could have sworn he heard Zeus laughing in his head which really worried him.

  Forty-eight hours that’s all I have! But before he began he had to have a talk with Kassandra to set some things sort-of straight.

  Chapter Eleven

  Kassandra strode into the bedroom with the grace of an angry barracuda. That had been her father’s nickname for her as a kid whenever she’d had one of her major tantrums. She’d avoided answering Saad’s pointed questions about the trip or about meeting his brother. She was sick and tired of them all. How the hell in only twenty-four hours did her life go from truly mundane to frightening to now the ridiculously bizarre?

  Thankful for the change of clothes laid out on her bed, she stomped into the bathroom and proceeded to take a long, hot shower. Once cleaned and clothed she felt more human. She was attempting to coax her long, wet hair into a ponytail to keep it off her head, when she felt Darius’ hands on hers.

  “Why do you always do that?” she asked tartly, trying to brush off his hands. His reply was to push her hands away so he could finish braiding her hair.

  For a man with thick fingers he was surprisingly gently and deft at gathering her hair to twist the ends into a tight braid “I like your hair down,” he said in a husky voice.

  Note to self, shave my head.

  Darius chuckled, which infuriated Kassandra.

  “There we go again. You never answer any of my questions, Darius. You know I can keep a secret,” she replied, watching his reflection in the mirror.

  “Can you, Kassandra?” he asked, turning her body around so that they were face to face.

  “Yes. I can. I’m not your average woman who blathers away about things. In my line of work, keeping secrets is my specialty.”

  His eyebrow rose in speculation. “Your line of work?”