Instead, I pushed my way out the heavy wood door. Something red fluttered in the wind, down at the end of the drive. Felicia. Standing there in her favorite red dress, having a smoke. Way to role model, mom.
I started down the drive toward her, wrapping my arms around myself for warmth. I was dressed for “cute,” not weather. What could have brought her here? Unless she’d decided that I was on drugs when I’d phoned her the day after my memories awakened and had come to drag my butt into some kind of twelve step program.
Trust Felicia to take a few weeks before doing anything about her daughter’s addiction, if that was the case.
Even though I headed for Felicia, it took me a while to reach her because she was all the way down by the main road from town, which bisected the school. Not bothering to look for me at all. Typical behavior from her. My bet was she was indulging in a bout of passive-aggressiveness, making me hike out to her as a petty way of voicing her displeasure for having to deal with me at all.
Finally, I reached her. She blew a plume of smoke in my direction, which I not-so-subtly waved away.
“Yes?” I asked, testily.
“What? No hug?”
Gritting my teeth, I stepped into her embrace. “Not so tight,” I said. Even if she was mad, she didn’t need to crush me.
“All the better to take you with, my dear.”
I stiffened. The voice that had hissed in my ear had not been Felicia’s. I shot up into the sky, tight in the arms of a disguised Gold Crusher.
Panic filled my chest. I was so tired and mad that I’d failed to pay attention to the line demarcating school property and, therefore, Theo’s wards.
Okay, the fall might kill me, but letting him take me anywhere would be the more painful option. I focused my light at the guy but was blasted with electricity before I could do harm.
“I don’t think so,” he snarled.
The pain and crazy body spasming distracted me for the rest of the journey.
The Photokia landed hard on the ground and dropped me roughly at his feet.
I was in an enormous white and gold hallway. Sunshine kissed my skin at the perfect temperature and the sky outside was royal blue.
I’d been here before. I knew this place. I was back in Olympus.
And I was not alone.
I looked up until I found myself staring into the cold eyes of Zeus. Weakly, I pushed onto my feet, not that five-foot-five was any kind of advantage when faced with a twenty-foot god, but we do what we can in these situations.
He eyed me up and down. “Hello, daughter,” he rumbled. “You’re shorter than I remember.”
End Of Book One
And now for a few...
Acknowledgments
The first barrel of gratitude goes to my friend Sarah, without whom this novel would not exist. Thank you so much for all our Persephone talks and for your encouragement to run with the idea.
Huge love, as always, for my story editors. In this case, the lovely and talented Elissa, Sam, Frances, Corey, Deb, and Lynn. All of you helped to make this the book it is today. And no, I don’t mean that in a threatening way. (Necessarily ... heh heh ... )
Also many thanks to all of my family, friends, and total strangers who were so incredibly supportive with the launch of my first book Sam Cruz’s Infallible Guide to Getting Girls. None of you told me to keep my day job. Plus you laughed in all the spots that were actually supposed to be funny. With me not at me. Big hugs to you all for that.
Finally, though, my deepest thanks and the dedication of this book goes to my beloved daughter. Deciding that enough was enough, she put her foot down and insisted that if her mom was going to ignore her (I mean fall under the creative spirit), then it better be for a book that she was allowed to read. So thank you, my little dictator darling, for not only your request, but all your millions of suggestions which kept me “on track.” Seriously though, you are my joy, my delight, and I’m thrilled to have written this for you.
The Fun Continues...
Sophie Bloom’s junior year has been a bit of a train wreck. After the world’s greatest kiss re-awakened Sophie’s true identity as Persephone (Goddess of Spring and Savior of Humanity), she fought her dragon-lady guidance counselor to the death, navigated mean girl Bethany’s bitchy troublemaking, and dealt with the betrayal of her backstabbing ex Kai (sexy Prince of Darkness). Now you’d think a girl could catch a break.
Yeah, right.
After everything that’s happened, Sophie still has no clue how to fulfill her destiny. If only she could somehow retrieve her memories of being Persephone! So when Aphrodite strikes a deal that can unlock Sophie’s pre-mortal past, what choice does the teen goddess have but to accept?
The mission: stop media mogul Hermes from turning Bethany into a global mega-celebrity. The catch? Aphrodite partners Sophie and her rat of an ex, Kai, to work together … and treat this suicide mission as a date.
Add to that the fact that BFF Theo’s love life and other BFF Hannah’s actual life are in Sophie’s hands, and suddenly being a teenager—even a godlike one—seems a bit like … well, Hell. Whatever happened to dinner and a movie?
The romantic comedy/Greek mythology fireworks continue to fly in My Date From Hell.
Breaking up is easy; dating is deadly.
About the Author
Tellulah Darling
noun
1) YA novelist
2) Alter ego of a professional screenwriter/instructor
3) Sassy minx
Geeks out over: cool tech.
Squees for: great storytelling.
Delights in: fabulous conversation.
Writes about: where love meets comedy, flavored with pop culture. Awkwardness ensues.
Check out her other books, drop her an email, or help her procrastinate in some other amazingly time consuming way at: www.tellulahdarling.com.
My Ex From Hell (The Blooming Goddess Trilogy) Page 22
