“Oh, that’s going to go over like a steaming pile of Cyclops shit. He comes to me and demands to see, what do I tell him? Uh, hell no?”
“Yes.”
“No.”
“Why not?” Her recently waxed and shaped brows came together over her bright eyes in consternation.
“Hello? Am I the only one who remembers Prometheus?” Being chained to a rock and having an eagle rip out her still-beating heart from her chest every day for eternity didn’t look like it would fit anywhere in her schedule. She hoped to be a grandma one day.
“No, of course not. He can’t do that to me, though. I’m the Queen,” Hera said in a haughty tone. “He can’t do it to you, either. You’re technically a titan.”
“Technically, but you know what happens when he gets a little bitch in his kitty. There will be smiting and what turned out to be a simple matter between an unfaithful husband and his paragon of a wife will turn in to Armageddon.”
“Not if it’s handled with a bit of finesse.”
“Does Hades even want to rule the gods?”
Hera sat straight up as if the possibility he may not want the throne had never occurred to her and Nyx was three bricks shy of a load for even bringing it up. “Why wouldn’t he?” She blinked like a velociraptor contemplating which small mammal to eat first.
“Maybe he’s accepted his lot in the universe and has found some peace,” Nyx said, showing the wisdom that came with her great age.
“And maybe little green pigs with wings are going to crawl out of my ass and sing Fly Me to the Moon,” Hera snorted.
“They might.” Nyx nodded sagely. She’d been around the block a couple more times than Hera had, but Nyx was as old as dirt. Literally. She’d seen a few things and liked to think she knew a little bit about godly nature. Mortals she’d never understand, they were taught the same lessons over and over again, but never seemed to learn anything until it was too late. Gods were different. Or perhaps she was a bit myopic when it came to the whole thing. Still, she didn’t see Hades as burning to take the reins of leadership from Zeus. He probably could have done it himself if he’d wanted it; he didn’t need to wait on Hera to come down and offer it to him like a virgin sacrifice.
Nyx knew better than to say anything else. Hera was the kind of creature who learned by doing, not telling. Hades would have to tell her straight out that he didn’t want it before Hera would believe it even to be possible. She’d plotted her course of action, drawn up her battle plan and nothing would get in her way once she started marching. Even Hades. Before it was all said and done, Hera would get what she wanted. She’d have Hades agreeing to dress in a glitter tutu and dance to Swan Lake if it would get her off his back. She was cool like that. Hera had even nagged Zeus into a few things. It had taken a century of picking at him like a scab, but eventually, he’d caved. Nyx wondered why she hadn’t done that with the cheating, but she didn’t ask. Hera and Zeus’ relationship belonged to them alone and they were the ones who had live within the confines they’d set for themselves. Not anyone else. So it really wasn’t anyone else’s business unless Hera made it such. That was something else Nyx had learned in her long existence, not to poke her nose into things that were best left alone. She also wondered when, if ever, Hera was going to learn that lesson. She just knew this was going to end badly.
“Puh-lease, girlfriend. He’s sitting down there all dark and broody thinking about the unfairness of it all. And I’m going to make it all better. There’s nothing a good piece of Hera can’t fix.”
“Whoa. I can’t believe you went there.” Nyx wasn’t used to this Hera who said whatever happened to drop from her brain to the tip of her tongue. Usually, she had to nag and prod to get to the crux of whatever was on her friend’s mind. Maybe this was good for Hera—maybe not so healthy for Nyx, she thought as she considered Prometheus’ plight again.
Hera slapped a hand to her mouth and stifled a laugh. “I can’t believe I did either. See, the new hair is already doing its job. After this, we’re going shopping. I want something with leather and a corset.”
“Don’t forget the hooker boots. Although, they are super tough to get off if you’re trying to um… get off, if you get my meaning.” Nyx winked.
Hera squeaked with laughter and allowed the assistant to begin working on her pedicure. “How would you know this, St. Nyx? I thought your wild days were centuries behind you.”
“Perish the thought, sister. I am more likely to have a one night stand than a relationship at this point. Who needs entanglements and grief? Certainly not me.”
“Who was the last one?”
Nyx gave her a sardonic look.
“Come on. Tell. I told you my plans for world domination. I thought this was a give and take relationship?” Hera sing-songed and shifted in her chair.
“Fine. It wasn’t a god though,” she warned.
“Whatever. A mortal. Fine. Spill.” She motioned impatiently with her hand that Nyx should get to the telling sooner rather than later.
“I didn’t say it was mortal. I said it wasn’t a god.”
“Then what?” she began, waiting for Nyx to fill in her story.
“Athena.”
Hera squeaked again.
“Stop that, you sound like an orgasmic chicken.”
“But Athena?”
“What’s wrong with her?” Nyx narrowed her eyes.
“Aside from the fact it’s a her? Nothing.”
“Oh, you mean to tell me that after millennia of existence, you’ve never…” Nyx was incredulous.
“No.” Hera blushed.
“Why not?”
“No one—,” she shrugged and broke off.
“You should have Athena over. She’s really very sweet and has the good grace not to be weird in the morning.”
“Zeus always asked me if I would with one of his mortal lovers, but I was always too jealous of them to try and he stopped asking.”
“Yeah, well, he was a dick to already be putting it to them and then ask the wife to join. No class.” Nyx shook her head.
“Absolutely none,” Jean Pierre interrupted. “He doesn’t even have the courtesy to give a reach around when he comes in for my signature massage.”
Hera and Nyx both burst into laughter.
5
DEMETER
Demeter had a secret.
Like all secrets, it gnawed mercilessly at her gut, trying to get out. A trapped rat, willing to chew through anything to get free. It was stronger than most because it was a secret fueled by hatred so deep and pure, it was acid.
Demeter hated her daughter.
She hadn’t thrown the bitch goddess of doom fit and plunged the world into unending winter because Hades had stolen her daughter. No. It was because Hades had taken Demeter’s life. As the earth goddess, Demeter had a life cycle. She wasn’t simply unchanging and enduring; a forever being like the rest of them. Even though she’d hidden it well.
When Persephone fell in love, Demeter’s life would enter the long, cold winter before oblivion. From that love, Persephone would grow ripe and bear the fruit of life and when that life took its first breath, Demeter would die and Persephone would become the Goddess of Fertility and Spring in her place.
During Persephone’s time with Hades, Demeter had grown sick and weak; her body failing though her will was strong. She’d know the second the first tender shoots of love had thrust out of the soil of her daughter’s innocent heart.
Getting rid of mortal seed was easy, so Demeter had only ever had relations with her priests. Or so she’d thought. Zeus had wanted her for as long as she could remember—wanted her all the more because she’d said no. He’d disguised himself as an initiate and had pleasured her well. It wasn’t until her thighs were wrapped around his waist and he was spilling his god-seed inside of her that she recognized him for who he was. Her murderer.
Some would say Demeter had been given enough; she should take joy in the cycle of life and be glad her
daughter would know a love of her own, motherhood. Demeter would have to disagree. She’d never wanted a child, didn’t take joy in the small, chubby fingers entwined with hers, the exultation in watching her run with glee through the endless fields of flowers in Elysium and laugh when the sprites danced on the end of her nose. Those first toddling steps behind her hadn’t moved Demeter to anything akin to motherly pride, but rage.
Rage at knowing after those steps she’d grow tall and strong, soften into feminine curves and her baby heart would be a woman’s that yearned for things as a woman does. When she reached out to take them, Demeter would die. She’d kept Persephone weak—dependant—as long as she could. Demeter had kept her afraid of men, afraid of what happened between men and women.
Yet, the bastard had gentled her.
Hades, the dark and violent Master of the Dead who struck fear into the hearts of mortals and gods alike had treated her virgin daughter softly, carefully. What turned her stomach the most was that he had loved her—thoroughly. Centuries he’d waited for Persephone’s heart to melt for him and his patience had paid off. When she’d been ready to submit to him, that was when Demeter knew she had to do something.
Demeter had prayed every night to the powers greater than herself, although she knew not what those were, that Hades would kill her. She’d been on her knees fervently hoping against hope he’d only taken her in some plot to twist his brother around to his will and when Zeus didn’t comply, Persephone’s death would be his punishment.
That was too easy for Fate. It would have wrapped up all of her angst in one neat little package and tossed it out of her extended existence. No, of all the stupid cow-eyed girls to soften the Lord of the Underworld, it had been her whey-faced daughter and her golden hair.
Demeter hated her. Every breath she took was one that she’d stolen from Demeter. When the girl had been sobbing in her arms after her ordeal, Demeter had comforted her. She’d petted her hair and stroked her back while Persephone wailed into her lap until her voice had failed her and the well of her tears had run dry. In that moment, she’d known peace such as she hadn’t felt since before Persephone had been born.
Demeter wondered if her own mother had felt such hatred for her and if she had, she’d decided she couldn’t blame her. It was all a big act, the overprotective mother shielding her little girl from the lusty ways of gods and men. She stared across the yard at the one god who might possibly be able to figure out her secret if he looked close enough.
Eros, the God of Love.
He could see what love lay in the hearts of beings and if he looked into her heart, all he would see was the dark blanket of the love Demeter had for herself.
He’d been coming every night to read poetry in secret to Persephone. But secrets were relative. Eros was sadly mistaken if he thought anything happened in her temple she didn’t know about, but she didn’t want to antagonize him just yet for fear he might decide to take a good long look in the depths of her heart. He’d find it black as Tartarus and just as cold.
Eros wasn’t at all what one would expect from the God of Love. He was shy and reserved, quiet. He was a measure twice, cut once sort of person and that was a quality Demeter respected. She also knew he was a virgin, so she had little fear he was bent on seducing Persephone. That was the bitch of it when one could see into the depths of a person’s heart; all of the dark little secrets are shoved into the light of day and melt through the veneer of affection like a splash of boiling grease on styrofoam.
It would make sense he wanted to be around Persephone, Demeter had kept her heart pure like brand new white linen sheets. Anything she felt for Hades was pure too. It would be pink and clean with the sweetness like that of a crisp apple. Yes, while he read her poetry, he wouldn’t seek to despoil her. After all, she was the only one of them who wasn’t rotten in some way. Aphrodite had told her long ago that Eros had learned at a young age not to look too closely unless he really wanted to see.
And he’d seen more in these long centuries than any of them. Eros was a reserved and quietly stoic creature. Demeter didn’t think that made him weak though. She knew the power of Love was strong. It could drive anyone to great heights of self-sacrifice or equally dark depths of depravity. She wouldn’t make the mistake of underestimating him.
“Eros,” she greeted. “What brings you to my temple this morning?” Demeter made a show of bringing the snap dragons on the walk to vibrant life.
“I’ve come to ask your permission to take Persephone to Elysium for a picnic tomorrow,” he asked earnestly.
It was a double-fisted punch to her gut. Had she been wrong? No, no, she soothed herself. Eros wouldn’t ask her permission if he had some nefarious intent. He’d been reading her poetry, but never had he sought to come in through Persephone’s window, or tried to touch her, or steal a kiss. This was the manifestation of his comfort with her—their honest friendship. Demeter was sure that while Persephone may have been the only one he found to be unspoiled; he’d want to keep her that way. Even if it meant not having her himself. It made sense.
No one had ever asked her permission to take Persephone anywhere, not after she’d unleashed the wolves of winter on the world when Hades had taken her. Yes, Love was strong and bold indeed, even when it spoke quietly. It could be a good distraction for the rest of Olympus to see Persephone out with a god.
A smile curved her lips and she schooled her emotions to keep them from blaring in Eros’ face. He couldn’t help but look if she shoved them under his nose, could he? “That’s kind of you to invite her, Eros. Have you already asked her?”
“No, Demeter. I wouldn’t do that without asking your permission first. I know you’ve both been through a great deal,” he said respectfully.
She was tempted to snort. He wouldn’t do that, but he’d creep into her garden at night to read love poetry to her? His sense of morality was interesting. “You may ask her. I think it would be good for her.” Demeter watched him carefully. “I can trust you with her, can’t I?”
“Of course.” He looked at his feet for a moment. “She’s got a purity that’s been lost to the world. I wouldn’t do anything to change that.”
Demeter smiled again. “I know you wouldn’t, Eros. That’s why you may go. I trust you.”
He looked at her for a hard moment and she could feel his eyes boring into her—blazing into her dark places. “Demeter, you don’t trust any man or god. But I think I’m as close as any will ever be to that status.”
“You’re right,” she admitted and patted his arm in a calculated move to make herself appear more nurturing. It would have been useless to lie and would have only spurred him to look deeper. Demeter needed to avoid that as long as she could. She knew eventually something would catch his eye, draw his singular attention, but hopefully, all of her planning would have come to fruition by then so it wouldn’t matter what he saw. Neither he nor anyone else would be able to stop her.
His amber eyes suddenly blazed to a golden flame—a fire lit by power of prophecy. Panic grabbed hold of her with deadly jaws.
“There will come a day, Demeter, when you will have to love, forsaking all else. Trust or perish.” She didn’t speak and as the flame died out of his eyes, he shook off the vision. “I apologize. Touch tends to bring visions, so I usually avoid skin to skin contact.”
“No, forgive me. I didn’t know.” Demeter could have palmed her forehead as Persephone was so fond of doing. How did she not know that? Knowledge was power and to let something so important escape her net… She had to bite down on her lip to keep from growling in frustration.
A sudden awareness spiked through her. It was something she hadn’t felt in centuries—carnal desire. Images flashed through her mind; conjured by his words. Skin to skin. Vignettes washed over her, she and Eros; bodies slick and hot writhing against each other under the noonday sun in the garden—his hair and skin golden and glowing, him taking her from behind in the hot tub, his mouth sucking her fingers as he took piece
s of fresh pomegranate from her hands and knowing his lips would work against her clit the same way. She was bombarded by sensation too. Demeter could feel her nails digging into his back, and the smooth muscle there rippling with his exertion as he drilled into her. The heat of his mouth on her breasts, her belly, her neck… All of that quiet intensity inside of him focused solely on her.
She’d always thought of him as a godling, even when he’d grown tall and his shoulders wide. He’d been a boy, a child, the same as her Persephone. She’d changed his swaddling. But there was no longer any trace of that innocence or youth. Where once he’d been baby round, he was a male full-grown; all hard planes and defined muscle. Demeter had seen Aphrodite in the sullen pout to his lips, his large amber eyes, but that had hardened into something else too. There was nothing feminine at all in the full set of his mouth or those eyes that bored into her more intimately than his cock ever could.
Her gaze was drawn down his body to where his traditional style of toga barely brushed the tops of his well-formed thighs. His sandals were laced up to his knees and again, on any other male, she would have found this to be feminine, but on Eros, it only accentuated the very masculine lines of his musculature.
Demeter almost gasped when she saw evidence of his desire for her as well. The hard length of him was outlined against the filmy material and it was then she knew everything she’d seen in her vision had been real.
She wanted to touch him again, but more than a motherly pat on his arm. Why hadn’t she noticed how golden and warm he was before? Demeter was both dismayed and thankful at the same time. Even if he was willing, this wasn’t something she could do. If she let herself get distracted now, all of her hard work would be for nothing. As it was, she had to hope he didn’t decide to delve deeper inside of her because of his reaction.
Her channel clenched when she thought of Eros delving deep in to anything. Sour twinges of guilt were like ice on her spine. He was here for Persephone, and that suited her purposes. Or at least it had until she’d become aware of his cock.
Ambrosia Lane 1-3: Saranna DeWylde Page 3
