by Teri Gilbert
“Eleni.” Alec kept his voice low.
Mallaki shot around and glared at Eleni, jaw tight, warning in his eyes.
Her mouth trembled, but she remained silent, staring straight ahead, her hands folded neatly in her lap.
Damn. What hold did he have over her? Whatever it was had her petrified. He should take her and get the hell out of there, now.
But curiosity, the fact he still had yet to learn Mallaki’s plan, and the knowledge he might not get out of here alive prevented him from taking any immediate action.
Alec returned his attention to the stage before him.
Talk about delusions of grandeur, the lavish setting, the people flocking about. But Mallaki had managed to make his delusions a reality, hadn’t he?
“There will be three acts.” Mallaki finally sat, then inclined his head toward him and waggled his fingers. “The first, I think you’ll find quite prophetic, the second is about our new world. The last, well, I don’t know how much you know about Dionysus, but his power was ecstasy in all forms, primarily of a sexual and drunken nature.” Mallaki paused, his dark gaze studying him. “I’ll be interested to see your reaction to tonight’s entertainment.”
A chill crept up Alec’s spine. There was an ominous quality to his words.
Mallaki planted his hands on the ornate armrest, stood, and faced the onlookers. “It’s time for this evening’s performance, a tribute to the beautiful woman sitting beside me and our special guest this evening, Alec Androulakis.”
Applause broke out.
Eleni squirmed, clearly uncomfortable with all the attention, as all eyes swiveled in their direction before returning to the platform.
A lovely young brunette wearing a toga and gold sandals took center stage. “Please remain seated after the first act since we won’t need any set changes before the second.” She gave a wide, flirtatious smile. “You’ll be quite happy to have the time originally slated for scene changes after our third act.” The audience laughed, then cheered. The MC put a slender finger to her lips. “Sshh.” She darted a look over her shoulder, then shuddered. “We’re about to begin.”
The light-hearted tones of a flute filled the air, and a young woman not much more than eighteen or nineteen crossed the stage. She was dressed in a knee-length, gossamer lavender frock and wore a wreath of flowers on top of her long, blond hair.
Someone in a white gown and black mask crept behind the girl in exaggerated, wide steps, and from the size and shape, Alec guessed it was a man.
The music changed and became deep and menacing. The girl glanced behind her, let out a shriek, and the man pounced. They struggled, but he was much stronger. He grabbed her around the waist. She shoved her fists between them and pounded against his broad chest. As they struggled, they were all over the stage, twisting, turning, her pushing against him, him trying to kiss her, both breathing heavily. They stumbled across the stage, sandals striking the marble in heavy thumps.
His blood ran cold. This wasn’t a polished act. Hell, it didn’t appear rehearsed at all.
He shot Mallaki a questioning look, but his host’s attention seemed focused on the stage, where the attacker had forced the girl to her knees, facing the audience. Her dress had been torn in the struggle, exposing a ripe young breast.
She appeared terrified as her attacker raised the hem of her dress to her waist, giving the audience members seated on the sides a flash of her bare hips, and knelt behind her. Alec knew a lot of Greek myths included the seduction and rape of innocents, but Mallaki was taking this too far.
Did he consider rape a form of sexuality? If so, he had a twisted sense of what turned people on.
The attacker fumbled with the front of his toga, leaned over the girl then, gripping her exposed breast, and lunged forward. She shrieked, and tears streamed down her face.
Pulse thundering through his veins, Alec started to rise. If this were real...He should have acted sooner.
Mallaki stretched an arm out in front of him. “They’re acting. No one is being harmed.”
Her cries turned to sobs as he thrust at her. From where Alec was sitting he couldn’t tell if there was actual penetration. There could be, hidden from the audience by the attacker’s long robe.
The girl hesitated, looked confused, then shook her head, a flash of a smile on her face. A sick sense of relief washed over him. She’d obviously missed a cue.
Alec scanned the audience. The guests weren’t fixed in rapt attention, as he’d expected. Many of the women appeared shocked, upset, while the men looked equally disturbed, whispering amongst themselves.
If this wasn’t Mallaki’s usual performance, why do it tonight?
Alec glanced back at the stage where the girl lay crumpled in a heap on the floor, while the man adjusted his clothing.
Alec turned his attention to Eleni, whose face had drained of color. Every muscle in her body had tensed, her lips were pressed tight together, and her chest rose and fell in rapid succession. Damn, the act would disturb anyone, and was designed to.
“Are you enjoying the show so far?” Mallaki’s keen eyes sparkled with something Alec didn’t like.
“The skit was disturbing and...enlightening.”
“In what way?”
Behind Mallaki, Eleni shook her head in warning, her blue eyes wide with fear.
“I’m getting an idea who you are.”
“That was my intent.” Mallaki turned to Eleni. “What do you think, my dear?”
“I don’t like this game you’re playing, Mallaki. I’d like to return to my room now.”
“Why, the fun’s only beginning. Mr. Androulakis isn’t going anywhere. I’d thought you’d want to see him while you can.”
The last was a threat, but what did he mean by it? Was he threatening her welfare? His? Maybe both?
A thundering beat of music vibrated the floor and chairs, and the stage flooded with costumed men and women, a bearded man with trident, a helmeted woman carrying an owl, another with a spear. Alec managed to keep his jaw from dropping open when a dark-haired man with matching beard paraded a three-headed dog across the stage. Audience members gasped. If the abomination was some sort of trick, whoever created it belonged in Hollywood. The beast looked pretty damn real to him.
The people on stage parted, allowing a bulky man with what appeared to be a fake white beard to take center stage. A younger man bowed before him, then handed him a scepter. He pointed the staff toward the vacant side of the room, and a bolt of lightning shot from the end, searing the wall. Alec shielded his eyes from the intensity of the light as the man proceeded to write Zeus in cursive on the stone surface. The audience roared their approval.
Mallaki leaned toward him. “I chose only descendants with the purest powers to perform tonight.”
Another bearded man stepped forward. He swept his arm in the direction of the crowd, and the floor and seats began trembling immediately.
Mallaki shrugged. “He’s not the most impressive descendant of Poseidon. I am, but I’m too busy to entertain in that manner.” He shot a lascivious grin in Eleni’s direction. “Besides, I have to keep up my strength.”
Alec gritted his teeth, knowing Mallaki was trying to bait him again. The problem was, it was working. He wanted to take his fist and slam into that cocky smile, wiping the arrogant expression off his handsome face.
A young man and woman dressed in bronze protective gear and helmets stepped into the limelight. The armor mainly covered the torso, leaving the arms and legs bare, exposing vast amounts of muscled flesh. Each carried a spear. They started circling each other.
Mallaki leaned toward him. “Brother and sister, Alcander and Pyrena.”
That explained the strong resemblance around the nose and high cheekbones.
Without warning, Alcander thrust, catching his sister on the leg. Through the helmet, which also ran down her nose, she glared at her brother, did a swift side-step, then caught her brother on the arm. Blood flowed freely from both woun
ds, but neither would admit to defeat. According to Mallaki, this was supposed to be a performance, but both seemed determined to win. Less than ten minutes had passed, and the floor was streaked with blood. They stopped only when a gong sounded. Breathing heavily, they slapped each other on the back.
The knot is Alec’s gut tightened. No harm, no foul? They would both likely be scarred for life.
Mallaki glanced at Eleni, took her hand in his, raised it to midair, then turned toward Alec and spoke in a voice only he could hear. “Which does she remind you of, the warrior woman who kicked her brother’s ass or the unfortunate young girl from the first play?”
Eleni may be docile at the moment, but Mallaki was a fool to underestimate her.
The female host took the stage once again, her lush red lips curving upward in a suggestive smile. “Don’t go far. The best is yet to come.” She reached her hands behind her neck, tugged, and spun around in one fluid motion. The fabric pooled on the floor.
Alec’s mouth dropped open. She was stark naked, her slender back, her tight, youthful behind facing the audience. She glanced back over her shoulder, winked, then sauntered toward the rear of the stage.
There were loud guffaws and cheers, and the servants, carrying trays loaded with goblets of amber liquid, started passing out the drink to the ravenous crowd.
When a servant attempted to offer a goblet to Eleni, Mallaki stilled his hand. “None for the three of us.” He indicated Alec with a nod. “He and I have business later and need to be clear-headed.”
The floor vibrated again as two marble slabs parted and a dense stone table rose from the center of the stage. Again, Alec managed to keep his jaw from dropping open. Obviously Mallaki held these performances often enough to have such elaborate staging. Servants carried out several sturdy chairs, then set pitchers of the same amber liquid the audience members were drinking plus overflowing bowls of green and red grapes onto the table.
The audience hushed as the stage filled with men and women of all shapes and sizes. Each wore heavy make-up and colorful costumes he assumed were designed after the ancient myths.
Sultry, seductive music filled the air. The “rape” victim from the earlier skit was back, smiling and flirting with audience members. Alec got an inkling where this was heading, and the ball in the pit of his stomach tightened into a firm knot. His idea was verified when the actors and actresses started shedding their clothes.
Eleni shot to her feet. “I’m leaving, Mallaki. If you try and stop me, I will scream.” Her voice rose on the last two words, punctuating her promise.
Mallaki threw his head back and laughed, then stood. “That’s quite all right, my dear. I have much to do. We’ll leave them to their celebration.” He turned his attention to Alec. “You’re more than welcome to stay.”
“No.” Alec rose.
“Then if you’ll agree, I have something I’d like to show you.”
As much as Alec wanted to refuse, he couldn’t. This is what he’d come for. They had to find out what Mallaki was up to. He tilted his head in silent acceptance.
He watched as Eleni turned and exited, but not before he’d seen her lower lip quiver.
Again the thought that he should just take her and leave nagged at him. But before he could do that, he had to find out what the hell was going on, otherwise, he could foresee an endless cycle of kidnapping, escape, kidnapping, escape, until the only possible end result would be death.
Chapter 20
Eleni felt her knees give out and braced her hand on the cool stone surface of the corridor wall to steady herself. The rape of the maiden had been directed at her. She took several deep breaths, struggling to slow her rapid heartbeat and keep the contents of her roiling stomach in check.
Did Mallaki get some twisted pleasure out of making her sit through the girl’s humiliation? Of course he did. Otherwise, why the new material in the first act? From the audience’s shocked reaction, this wasn’t something Mallaki had performed on a regular basis. He wanted her to understand what he’d do to her if she didn’t cooperate and obey him.
She continued forward with a quick series of small steps, forcing her back straight, when all she wanted to do was curl up in a ball. Mallaki’s men would report her actions to him, and she damn well refused to let him know how much he’d upset her with the content of the initial performance. Her chest tightened. Not to mention keeping her from talking to Alec. But Mallaki had made it clear before dinner that he wouldn’t hesitate to harm Alec if she contacted him in any way.
But Alec needed to know what was going on. She’d never had a chance to fill Alec in on what Mallaki had planned. She had to find a way to get Alec alone, regardless of what Mallaki might do to her.
Alec watched as Mallaki picked up a tiny remote and gestured for Alec to sit in one of the leather chairs in the center of the small theater. He preferred to stand, but sat anyway, half expecting straps to spring out of the seat and hold him prisoner. A staggering sense of relief washed over him when nothing happened. He’d seen far too many spy movies.
The screen illuminated, showing a map of the world. There were clusters of red and green dots over many of the major cities of the United States, Australia, and a particularly dense collection of red ones in the Mediterranean.
“Can you tell which color belongs to my side?”
“Of course.” Red clearly dominated the map. “Green.”
The lines around Mallaki’s mouth tightened, and anger shimmered in his eyes before he flashed his teeth in a false smile. “We’re red, but I suspect you know that.” He jutted his chin toward the screen. “You can be part of our success.”
“What are your goals?” Besides being terrorists who murder men and women at their places of work.
“Our long-term goal is to unite our people.”
Alec hadn’t known what to expect, but something altruistic wasn’t in the top ten. “And what exactly do you hope to gain?”
“To go back to the way it was before the gods turned on each other and destroyed paradise. Much like the apple in the Christian Garden of Eden. Our ancestors had it all. They ruled the world. We are gods. We can have this again.”
Not if I have anything to say about it.
“You’re describing Utopia.”
“I prefer Elysian Fields. Whatever you want to call it. We have the ability to create a perfect world.”
For the elite. Alec stared at the map again. Apparently there were others who felt the same.
“I suppose you’ll want me to call you Master.” Somehow Alec couldn’t imagine his colleagues being too happy with the idea of calling him Master all day. But he could see the attraction for someone like Mallaki.
There was a short pause. “No. If you prove to be what we think you are, you’ll be a god, like me, and have your own private domain.”
Mallaki was offering him the chance to live like a king, complete with palace, servants, and more money than he could ever use, never to worry about security ever again. “What do you want?”
“A chance to convince you that this is where you belong. My houseguests and I are conducting a trial run tomorrow night. You can judge for yourself whether you think we’re capable of executing this plan, and decide if you’d like to be a part of history. But for now, I’d like to take a dip in the hot tub before retiring for the night, and I’d like you to join me. We can talk more about your future.”
Alec hesitated. He wanted to decline, but gave a sharp nod instead and trailed after Mallaki to the pool. He needed more details. As much as he hated the thought, Eleni would have to wait.
Whatever he could get out of Mallaki now could only help in the end. He would stay and attend the trial run, but time was running out. He had to get this information back to Stephanos and put an end to whatever evil plan Mallaki had designed.
Mallaki had claimed the Androulakis’s were a powerful line. But that wasn’t true in his case. He was no match for Mallaki and his worshipers. Not now.
An
ice-cold ridge of determination snaked down his spine. But maybe he could be.
Chapter 21
Statues of various gods and goddesses rivaling those Alec had seen at the Louvre encircled an Olympic-size pool. The expected odor of chlorine filled the air, as well as a sickeningly sweet, almost floral aroma. An enormous marble depiction of Poseidon rose from the water at one end, taking up at least two-thirds of the pool’s width. The god wore a dark, fearsome expression, his shoulder-length mane of wild hair and stone beard billowed up and outward, as if blown by the wind. He carried a raised trident in one hand, and his bare, ripped torso arched backward, towering over the blue and white tiles at the edge of the pool.
Alec heard the slap of sandals and turned to see Mallaki striding in from another entrance, wearing a black terrycloth robe.
“We have a wet sauna and dry one, if you’re so inclined.” Mallaki headed toward the picture windows lining the back wall. Lights from Mallaki’s property shined upon the pitch-black ocean, where an occasional whitecap burst upward from the restless sea. “I prefer using the hot tub first.”
At first Alec didn’t understand where they were going, but what he’d assumed was the end of the room was actually one side of a stone grotto with two hot tubs nestled inside. Steam rose in pillars from the heated water.
Mallaki studied him. “I see you found swim trunks. I find bathing attire quite cumbersome and unnecessary, but I somehow got the impression you wouldn’t be comfortable if I didn’t wear a suit.”
Not much of one, Alec noted, as Mallaki eased into the hot tub. The tiny black Speedo was enough to fuel the male competitor in him and to not want Eleni anywhere near the man.
“I can’t help but wonder what you’re thinking.” Mallaki’s dark gaze danced with amusement.
As if he’d give him the satisfaction. Mallaki had worn the skimpy suit to make a point. “I was wondering how you got the money for a place like this.”
