“Me,” Lucas said immediately. He was leaning against the kitchen bench, a cup of coffee cradled in his big hands. He gave me a lazy smile.
“You do realise this is going to be dangerous?”
“You do realise I’m a werewolf?” He took a sip of coffee, his eyes laughing at me over the rim of his cup. “And also a bouncer. Danger is my middle name.”
Joe threw his little brother an exasperated glance. “Stupid is your middle name. Sometimes I can’t believe we have the same parents.” His gaze softened as he turned to me, and a worried frown creased his brow. “I wish I could come. You need a responsible adult to keep an eye on you. But …”
“But you have other responsibilities, I know.”
“It’s just, with the new baby, and Holly not working, I need to put in extra hours—”
“Joe. It’s fine. No one expects you to come.” I grinned at Lucas. “We’ll make do with the big, stupid werewolf here.”
Lucas flexed his biceps and Syl fanned herself, pretending to swoon. I had to admit, they were impressive. The guy was ripped. Joe just rolled his eyes.
“So it’s just the three of us, then?” Lucas asked, glancing at Syl and me. “Cool. We have beauty, brains, and brawn.”
“Who’s the beauty?” Syl asked suspiciously.
“You, of course, sweet kitten.”
She frowned. “I should be the brains. We’re doomed if we’re relying on Lexi to be the brains.”
“Have you looked in the mirror lately? How could you be anything but the beauty?”
I stuck my finger in my mouth and made gagging noises. “Don’t forget Cerberus. He’s coming, too.” Then I appealed to Winston. “Are you sure I can’t convince you to join us, and save me from these ridiculous children?”
Winston smiled. “I don’t think I would be much use to you. I have no experience with these kind of intrigues. Besides, I too have other responsibilities.”
So did I, for that matter. I sighed. “Me too. But I guess it won’t matter if the bookshop stays closed for a little longer.”
“May I make a suggestion?” Winston asked.
“Sure.”
He looked at Joe. “Perhaps your lovely wife could mind the shop. She seems to be chafing a little at the restrictions of being at home with a baby. But the baby could sleep in a cradle in the bookshop as easily as in your home.”
Joe looked thoughtful. “That’s not a bad idea.”
Ooh, I liked this plan. “Even if she only opened the shop in the mornings, it would be great, and it wouldn’t disrupt Mireille too much,” I said. Holly would enjoy chatting to the customers—it would stop her from feeling so isolated. “I’ve already been paid up to the end of the month—I can just transfer some money from my account to hers.”
“Oh, we couldn’t take your money,” Joe said.
“Don’t be ridiculous. She’d be doing me a favour. Of course I’m going to pay her for her work.” And they needed the money, though I wouldn’t say that. Joe had his pride. “Go ask her.”
“I bet she jumps at it,” Syl said, as the door closed behind him.
I did, too. I gave Winston a grateful smile. “That was a good idea. Thank you.”
“I’m glad to be of assistance. If there’s anything else I can do, please let me know—but now, I must be leaving, too.”
When it was just the three of us again—well, six, if you counted Cerberus—I yawned. “We’ve got a long drive tomorrow. Let’s grab some dinner and get to bed early.”
Lucas grinned at Syl. “Sounds good to me.”
“To sleep, Lucas,” I said wearily. “Let’s go to bed and sleep.”
***
A pounding on the door woke me. It was still dark; I rolled over, disoriented by the sudden awakening, and checked the clock: 5:02. Too early.
Syl’s door opened as I moved down the hall. “What’s going on?” she asked, a shadow in the darkness. Something moved in the blackness behind her: Lucas, hastily pulling on his clothes.
“Don’t know.” My body buzzed with adrenaline. Early morning intrusions were rarely good news.
I opened the front door. Apollo stood there, fist raised to hammer on it again, Winston’s face peering apologetically over his shoulder. Wordlessly, I held the door open, and Apollo strode into the apartment.
Winston followed him in. “I’m sorry for the noise. I told him it was polite to knock.”
I couldn’t help smiling at that, though my smile faded at the tense look on Apollo’s face.
“You need to postpone your trip,” he said. “I’ve just received a message from Zeus.”
“What did he say?”
“‘Hestia lightning’.”
Syl yawned. “Hestia lightning? What does that mean?” She went into the kitchen and began filling the kettle.
Lucas appeared, shrugging into his shirt as he walked. “Is the road trip off?”
“Just postponed,” I said, though I didn’t see what difference this message made, if it even was from Zeus. “How do you know the message is from Zeus?”
“Probably because it makes no sense,” Syl muttered.
Apollo gave her a sharp glance. She ignored him, too focused on taking coffee mugs from the dishwasher. Now that she was spending more time in her human form, Syl had rediscovered the joys of caffeine.
“The local school has one of those electronic noticeboards facing the street. It was congratulating the junior debating team or something—I don’t know, I wasn’t paying attention. As I approached, it switched to saying, ‘Hestia lightning’. Who else could it be? As for what it means, I hope that she has some information about Zeus. If Hestia can help us get him back, we can strike at the shadow shapers and put an end to their schemes once and for all.”
Lucas moved into the kitchen, his big body crowding Syl. Not that she seemed to mind. He nuzzled her neck, then grabbed two coffees and passed them to Apollo and me. “Who’s Hestia?”
Some of the strain eased from Apollo’s face as he took a sip. “One of the minor gods, now, though she was an Olympian once.”
“She got demoted, huh?” said the big werewolf, snagging a coffee for himself. “That’s pretty rough.”
“She didn’t get demoted.” Apollo sounded just like his Uncle Hades when he used that testy tone. “She gave up her place voluntarily, because Zeus wanted to elevate Dionysius, but there were only twelve thrones. It was a noble thing to do.”
“She might be in danger,” Lucas said. “Maybe it means she’s about to get hit by lightning.”
Apollo made a scornful noise. “Zeus is not a fortune cookie. The lightning is his symbol. She has some connection to him.”
“Could she be the one responsible for his disappearance?” Syl asked, pushing past Cerberus to get to a chair. One of him, anyway. I had trouble keeping his/their status straight in my head. Were they one being still, or three?
“You wouldn’t ask that if you knew her,” Apollo said. “Hera may be Zeus’s queen, but Hestia is like a mother to us. It was she who helped Prometheus bring fire to mankind. She is one of the few gods I still trust. We must go to her at once and find out what she knows.”
“Maybe I’ll get dressed first.” I indicated the skimpy pyjamas I was wearing.
“And have some breakfast,” Lucas said hopefully. Werewolves were always hungry.
“Yes,” Syl said. “Can’t save the world on an empty stomach.”
Apollo scowled. “I’m sure Zeus won’t mind waiting until it’s convenient for you.”
“Oh, come on. Zeus has been missing for over a year. Another few minutes won’t hurt. What’s the rush? If you’re in such a hurry, why didn’t you just go straight away? Why come to us?” She returned his scowl with interest. “Maybe you’re not as confident of Hestia as you make out. Maybe you want some back-up before you go visiting.”
“From two shifters and a human? Don’t insult me.”
“Seems to me that you’re the one doing the insulting,” Lucas growled, mo
ving to stand behind Syl’s chair.
To Apollo’s credit, he didn’t react to the hulking werewolf’s threatening stance. He ignored Lucas and spoke to Syl. “You don’t have to come. I’ve managed all right the last few millennia without you. I simply thought to save you a wasted trip to Brenvale. If we have Zeus, then getting Hades back will be simple, and there is no need for any of you to endanger yourselves. But I can see I’m not welcome, so I’ll relieve you of my presence.”
He turned to the door, and I moved to block his way. “Get off your high horse, Apollo. Of course you’re welcome.”
I laid a hand on his arm. His muscles were taut with tension, and there was a hard look in his eyes I’d never seen there before. The poor bastard looked like he could do with a hug, though I wasn’t volunteering.
I gentled my voice and smiled at him, giving his arm an encouraging pat. “Relax, would you? We’re happy to come with you. Some of us are just grouchy because we’re not getting enough sleep.” I glared meaningfully at Syl and Lucas. It was ironic that I was now the one defending Apollo, after Syl’s championing of him last night. “Oh, for God’s sake, Lucas, stand down. This is not a night club. Your professional services are not required.”
Lucas rolled his shoulders, making a conscious effort to relax them. “Sorry.” He looked a little shame-faced.
Syl went into the kitchen and started clattering around with pots and pans. I could tell from the way she wouldn’t look at anyone that she was still cranky. Honestly, that pair needed to spend more of their time in bed actually sleeping.
Apollo’s mouth was still a grim line. One of Cerberus shoved his nose into the god’s palm. Apollo looked down at him and his face softened. He stroked the dog’s silky ears.
*SHINY MAN SAD?* Cerberus asked me.
*Yes, I think he is,* I said, surprised at the hellhound’s perceptiveness. Apollo had been angry—angry at being questioned, too used to having his word taken as law. But now, the anger had faded, and instead he looked hurt. For the first time, I wondered if he had any friends. He’d been imprisoned for the last year, and even before that, the gods had withdrawn from one another in fear and suspicion.
The smell of bacon frying filled the small apartment with its tantalising aroma. I took Apollo’s hand and drew him gently to our tiny dining table. “Come and have some breakfast. We’ll all feel a lot better with some food inside us.”
There wasn’t a lot of conversation over breakfast. Winston started a discussion about the town, which broke the ice somewhat, and asked questions about the best place to shop and the local attractions, which got Syl chatting. Lucas focused mainly on his meal, still looking a little shame-faced, though he very politely offered the salt to Apollo, who accepted it with equally excruciating politeness. I added something here and there, but mainly, I was thinking.
I’d love to rescue Zeus and have us all live happily ever after—I had someone in mind for my happily ever after, and I missed his smiling blue eyes. To have Hades back safe and well, to have everything go back to the way it was before, only better—it was the stuff dreams were made of. But it was a big dream to hang on two tiny little words. Hestia lightning. What did that mean? She knew something about lightning? Where it was going to strike? Like so many of Zeus’s erratic communications, it didn’t make sense. I remembered suddenly that odd text I’d received in the pub on Sunday, that just said “Hes”. Maybe that had been Zeus, trying to tell me something about Hestia. The sender had been “Caller Unknown”.
If only Zeus wasn’t so incoherent. Still, I was all in favour of finding out what Hestia knew. Visiting her would only mean a short delay to our plans to find Hades, and it could give us valuable information. I wasn’t quite so confident as Apollo that it would lead us to Zeus, but it was worth a shot. Besides, I was curious to meet another one of the gods. She was Hades’ sister, wasn’t she?
“Do you know where to find Hestia?” I asked as I cleared away the dirty dishes.
“I know where she was a year ago,” Apollo said.
“But won’t she have gone into hiding by now?” Syl asked.
“She was already hidden. Hestia was never strong. Hephaistos and I were the only ones who knew where she was.”
“And if she’s not there anymore?”
He shrugged. “Then it’s back to Plan A.”
Everyone got up, in a clattering of chairs. I went to get changed while Syl finished loading the dishwasher. I put on dark jeans and a T-shirt, and sturdy boots. Then I paused in front of the wardrobe. Should have asked where we were going. Would I need a jacket? I shrugged and put one on. It was easier to conceal weapons with a jacket.
I came back into the lounge room in time to see Apollo offer something small to Winston, with a casual, “This is for you.” Winston gasped and took a step back, staring uncertainly at his god. Curious, I moved closer, to see what it was.
A gold signet ring lay in Apollo’s palm. It had a design similar to Apollo’s own ring etched into its surface—a sun with spiralling rays coming off it.
“My lord,” Winston protested, “this is a high priest’s ring.”
“No, actually, it’s more than that,” Apollo said, still in that casual tone, as if it were no big deal. “I made it last night, to get Lexi to Brenvale, but she doesn’t need it now. You may as well have it; it will allow you to travel between temples the way I do.”
Clearly, it was a big deal to Winston. He put one hand on his chest, and I had a moment’s worry for his ageing heart. “This is a great honour, my lord.” His voice was very low; even though I was standing beside him, I could barely hear him.
“Simply a matter of convenience,” Apollo said with a shrug, but I wasn’t fooled. I was starting to read him better, and his priest’s gratitude pleased him. “Use it to go to Crosston now and tell Adani that I may be delayed. He is to continue questioning the staff without me.”
Winston’s voice came out in a strangled whisper. “Tell Adani, my lord?” He cleared his throat and resumed in a more normal tone. “He won’t listen to me! He’s a councillor and I’m only a retired priest.”
“Show him the ring; he’ll listen. Take Cerberus with you, if you feel you need the moral support.”
Cerberus’s ears pricked up at mention of his name.
*Can you guard Winston while we’re gone?* I asked.
For answer, all three dogs moved to flank the old priest. It didn’t seem to help allay Winston’s fears. He glanced at them and swallowed visibly.
“In fact, you can help Adani with his enquiries,” Apollo said.
“Me?” Winston squeaked.
“Why not? You’re a good judge of character. See what you can find out.” He pushed the ring impatiently at Winston until the priest took it and slipped it on.
We left him there, the ring glittering on his finger, surrounded by black dogs almost as tall as he was, their red eyes gleaming. He laid a hand on the nearest dog’s head, and three tails thumped the floor in unison.
7
I was glad I’d worn my jacket; the air was several degrees cooler when we stepped out of the tiny building that served as Apollo’s temple in this area. Apparently, this was the fastest way to get to where Hestia lived. It was nothing like the temple in Crosston, hardly bigger than the lounge room of my apartment. Chickens roamed on the patchy grass outside the tiny temple, and a dirt road ran past the wire fence out front.
“Where are we?” I asked, while Lucas sniffed the air. It was heavy with the scents of pine and eucalypt, and had that moist quality that spoke of water nearby. The temple we’d just come out of crouched on the land in a huddle of rustic brick, no more than a simple, windowless cube with a sagging wooden door and a chimney centred on the shingle roof. Smoke from the sacred fire within drifted from the chimney into the pale blue sky.
It was just after dawn, and the birds were squawking up a racket in the trees that surrounded the brick box. There were no other buildings in sight and no people about, just the chickens scra
tching in the dirt.
“Somewhere in the Ridgeback Mountains,” Apollo said, scanning the road for any signs of life. That explained the chill in the air. “Hestia lives about an hour away, over the mountain, but this is as close as I can get us. It’s my only temple in this whole region.”
“But it’s shaper territory, right?” Syl asked. She was sticking close to Lucas, and I doubted it was just because she had the hots for that muscly werewolf body. The unease that I hadn’t seen since Lucas had joined us was back in her face. We were a long way from home, and well out of her comfort zone.
“Of course,” Apollo said. They didn’t worship shaper gods in the human territories.
It hardly seemed as if they worshipped the gods in this territory, judging by the size and dilapidated state of Apollo’s temple. I opened my mind to the life around us. The forest was teeming with it—birds in the trees, insects everywhere. Small creatures skittered through the leafy undergrowth, and possums and owls settled down to sleep in the branches above.
I ranged wider. A herd of deer grazed in a glade that sparkled with morning dew. A mother fox fed her cubs in a den beneath a towering gum. I found kangaroos and feral cats, wild dogs and wallabies. They showed me a forest that stretched for miles, and very little sign of human habitation.
“Hestia’s place is this way,” Apollo said. “Let’s go.”
It was a fine spring morning, with a nip in the air that made it perfect weather for walking. We followed him down the dirt road. Deep ruts in the road suggested that heavy vehicles used it regularly. Probably logging trucks. We saw no sign of them as we walked.
The exercise soon warmed me and I took off my jacket. Lucas kept casting longing glances at the forest on either side of the road, until finally he excused himself and disappeared into the bushes. “I’ll catch up with you,” he called, and a few minutes later, a wolf’s howl drifted through the trees.
“I guess, living in Crosston, he doesn’t often get a chance to run in a place like this,” I said. Syl just shrugged.
Hidden Goddess (Shadows of the Immortals Book 4) Page 7
