I pulled the towel tighter around my shoulders as we stepped out of the elevator. The air conditioner was running, and the cold air didn’t help our combined state.
“Probably should have brought a sweater,” I mumbled to myself.
“Goodnight Summer.” Morpheus said as he breezed past me. “Try to get some rest.”
“I will,” I said lamely. “Night.”
I watched by the elevator door for a moment as he disappeared into the darkness of his own room. He didn’t bother to look back and I wondered if I had done or said something wrong. Or maybe he was still embarrassed about jumping into the water after me.
The key card zipped smoothly through the handle, lighting up green on the small pad as it unlocked. I slipped into the darkened suite and closed the door quietly behind me.
As my eyes adjusted to the darkness, I realized everything was exactly as I had left it. Everything in our suite was still and quiet. Perhaps Darce hadn’t awakened. I suppose if he had, he would have gone out to find me. With another shiver, I tiptoed to the bathroom and slipped in soundlessly. A hot shower was absolutely necessary. I really didn’t want to smell like pool chemicals the morning before we made it to Mount Olympus. I didn’t think smelling like chlorine would make a great first impression.
The second I stepped into the stream of hot water, I felt my muscles finally relax. I guessed that a trip to the pool had done little for my nerves.
Once I was rinsed, I stepped out into the steam. I hadn’t realized how hot the water was until I saw the mirror had clouded over. Not that I minded any. Dad used to tell me that I took too hot showers sometimes and it was a wonder I hadn’t burned my skin off my bones completely. I smiled at the memory, as I began to dry off. It was strange to have such a deep, thick silence surrounding me. I hadn’t been able to comb my own hair since Arae had insisted she do it for me. Combing it now felt special, so I took extra care to do it thoroughly—the way I wanted to.
As tedious as it was to clean up my mess, I knew no matter how much time I took, it would not prevent the morning from coming. I put on my discarded clothes from before and rinsed out my bathing suit. I didn’t want to go back to bed, knowing that in a few hours, we’d be leaving for Mount Olympus.
I was mere hours away from seeing my mother again.
Tears sprung to life, but I did my best to push them away.
In the back of my mind, I saw that not-so-long ago car accident happen again and again. I heard my mom’s scream and my dad’s voice call out for me. I thought of the last time I saw my dad; the dream Morpheus had given me.
What would my mom say to me when she saw me? What was she planning now? There were so many questions spiraling in my mind that I didn’t know where one ended and another began. My chest tightened as the overwhelming power of my nerves surged to life, causing my arms and stomach to tingle. I braced myself against the sink and sucked in a deep breath.
“Get a hold of yourself, Summer,” I cautioned myself. “Everything will be alright. You’re not alone. Darce is here. . . Morpheus is here. . .”
Like a mantra, I repeated it in my head until I felt calm enough to breathe again. With that calm came exhaustion, and I knew I needed to try and get some sleep. Emerging from the bathroom, I blinked until I could see clearly enough in the darkness. I padded lightly back to the bedroom, startled by the moving figure leaning up against the backboard of the bed. Darce was awake and watching me.
“Did I wake you?” I asked quietly, taking a seat on the edge of the bed. My heart was pounding in my chest.
He was silent and stoic. For a second, I was afraid I had made him angry. Had my disappearance upset him? My hand reached gently for his, drawing it away from his lap.
“You weren’t here when I woke up,” he murmured softly.
“I couldn’t sleep,” I confessed. “I went for a swim.”
He watched me carefully. So much so, I felt a shiver run down the length of my spine.
“I know you’re nervous,” he said with a slight nod. “I thought you might have gone for a walk.”
“Were you afraid I wouldn’t come back?”
Darce tugged at my hand with his, lifting it to his lips and pressed a kiss against my knuckles. “No,” he said, shaking his head. “I wanted to give you your space.”
“Aren’t you nervous?”
“Yes,” he replied calmly. “Yes, I am.”
“You don’t seem like it,” I released a sigh. “My mind just keeps racing and I can’t stop thinking about them. My mom and my dad. Persephone. I’ve been wondering what Zeus might say, and what will happen to us.”
“Nothing will happen to us,” Darce replied. “I promise.”
“You can’t promise that,” I replied, hearing the strain in my voice as I spoke. “From what I understand, Zeus could easily change his mind about everything.”
I felt him shift against me, sitting up straighter than before.
“Zeus just likes to have his ego pampered,” he said with a sigh.
“How long has it been since you’ve last seen your brother?”
Darce lifted his arm, inviting me to relax against him. It still surprised me how easy this was; him and I. How fluid we were together. I hadn’t even known him that long; it had only been at the beginning of the summer that we had met. Time had been lost to me, lost in the Underworld. But time had also been such a strange, fickle thing—stretching across a series of lifetimes. I had only known him in such a short amount of time as me, myself—as Summer. But my soul had known him far longer.
As I tucked myself into his arms, Darce slid his hand along my side, pausing just at the back of my neck, cradling me. I took my time as I gazed up at him. His hair, which was usually in a state of constant perfection, was now disheveled from sleep. His almond eyes looked heavy, and his lips were arched in a gentle smile. I could feel how weary he was just by looking at him.
“It’s been some time,” he replied. “Centuries.”
“Really? Centuries?”
Darce squinted, as if he had to think twice, and then nodded again. Could it really have been that long?
“Just about,” he responded.
“Are you nervous? About seeing him again, I mean.”
I imagined a reunion very unlike the one in the Disney movie. Hades wasn’t James Woods anymore, he was Darce, and I wasn’t entirely sure if Zeus was as fatherly as he appeared in the film. I didn’t have any siblings, so I didn’t know what it would be like for them; if it would be friendly or deadly. Darce drew me closer and pressed a kiss against my forehead. The warmth of his breath on my skin sent a wave of warmth through me.
“Zeus isn’t the cuddly type. Not like Poseidon. He’ll cut right to the chase,” he licked his lips. “I’m more nervous about how he’ll rule. How he’ll determine what is best for you. . .for us.”
“Do you think he’ll rule in our favor?”
“Only if you woo him enough,” Darce said with a slight chuckle. “If he feels important, and you’re the reason, the more likely he’ll do exactly what you wish.”
“Is it that easy?” I asked, raising a brow. Darce’s thumb grazed over my cheek as he nodded.
“It can be. I’ve seen it a time or two. Women compliment him, and he takes them to bed. His wife will shower him with compliments, and he gives her a diamond or two.”
“So you want me to compliment him?”
“I think if we play into his emotions. If we can win over Hera…”
“Hera might end up hating me,” I retorted, remembering all that Morpheus had just told me. Darce let out a huff of air.
“She might. Or she might not. She might take one look at you and see everything. . .” He paused, trailing his finger along the arch of my neck. “No, she wouldn’t see what I see. But she could see us. She could see our love. If we win over enough of the courtiers . . . if they favor us, Zeus will have no choice but to favor us as well.”
I wasn’t sure how we were supposed to win over courti
ers. I wasn’t even sure about me trying to spend time with Hera. If she did dislike me for being one of Zeus’ offspring, wouldn’t she want me to disappear—to sink below, back to the Underworld? Or would she want me to disappear with my mother? The countless sleepovers I had experienced with friends had not prepared me for one-on-one time with an ancient Goddess. I seriously doubted it would be as easy as painting our toenails and talking about boys.
“Darce… ” I murmured, but he slipped a finger over my lips.
“Just sleep,” he whispered. “We have a big day ahead of us. Let’s worry about all of this tomorrow.”
“I’m not tired,” I answered, though it was partially a lie. My body was tired, but I felt wide awake. “At least not yet.”
A hint of amusement sparkled in his eyes.
“Yet,” he repeated the word, smirking. He turned to his side more sharply, pressing himself against me. A small moan escaped from my lips as his hands slowly slid over my thighs, and knees. He drew me closer, until I felt the warmth of his breath against my neck.
“I recall not having time to share my bed with you,” Darce began as he trailed hot kisses along my skin.
“Now?” I asked; my hands sliding over his back. My eyes grew wide with surprise as Darce’s fingers trailed over my stomach, pausing at the waistband of my pajama bottoms.
“We have time,” he whispered against my lips. “At least until dawn.”
In my heart, I knew there would never be enough time for either one of us. Nothing seemed to matter as Darce’s mouth pressed against mine. At least not at this moment. Not now.
Chapter 6
Darce’s weight lifted from the bed and I raised my head from the smooth pillows, watching as he pulled on a pair of black pants. The muscles in his back rippled as he leaned forward and stepped into them. Whatever brand of pants they were, they fit him perfectly. I couldn’t help myself and admired every little move he made, right down to his hand sliding through his hair.
“I can feel you watching me,” he said with a chuckle as he pulled a shirt from his bag.
“I like watching you,” I admitted softly as I nestled deeper into the blankets. I stretched my legs and turned to my side, tucking a pillow under my chin.
His dark gaze lifted, meeting mine as a smile pulled on his lips. My toes curled as he leaned forward on the bed—shirt forgotten by his hand.
“And I like watching you too, Summer Mavros,” he whispered against my lips. The scent of him, the warmth of him—I just wanted him back in bed with me. I had only slept for three hours—at most—and felt like a ton of bricks were weighing on my chest. My eyes were sore from sleepiness.
Why couldn’t we just stay in bed?
I knew there was nothing between him and that ridiculous pair of what looked like Gucci pants. I craved for him, wanted him—wanted more time with him.
“Come back to bed then,” I murmured quietly. I patted the empty space beside me, where he had just been laying. “I promise I won’t bite.”
“Much,” he teased. I saw the twinkle in his eye as considered another round of rolling in the sheets.
“Unfortunately, my love, we have to get dressed.”
I groaned.
“Hermes will be prompt this morning.”
“As always,” I muttered, rolling my eyes. In the few days Hermes had stayed in the Underworld with us, he had always been the first at the table for our morning meal. I was certain if we had to share one more meal with him, Arae would have thrown real daggers at him instead of staring them right into his skull.
Almost as if on cue, a knock came from the hotel door. Darce clicked his tongue with a sigh. “Just as I expected.”
I lifted the pillow beside me and pressed it over my face with another loud groan.
“Tell him to come back tomorrow. I’m not getting up.”
I could hear Darce’s muffled chuckle through the pillow.
“Maybe if you had slept…”
My cheeks began to warm at the memory of us. There was a very good reason why I hadn’t drifted to sleep after my swim with Morpheus. Darce had made it nearly impossible with the gentleness of his lips; the way his hands slid over my body. Get a hold of yourself, Summer.
His hands glided over my covered legs, beckoning me silently to emerge from my pillow. They slid over my hips and paused at the arch of my shoulder.
“Summer…”
I burrowed myself deeper into the bed. I didn’t want to go. I didn’t want to travel to some mountain, where Gods and Goddesses were apparently going to do whatever they could to separate me from Darce. I didn’t want to face my mother—my mother who had seemingly lied to me for my entire life—and I hadn’t known. My mother, who probably had had a hand in the cause of my father’s death. Sadness threatened to swallow me whole.
I felt Darce try to lift the pillow from my face, but I held onto it more tightly.
“Please…” I whispered. Please don’t make me go.
“Summer…” He purred. I could hear the pang of guilt laced in his tone. It was obvious he didn’t want this anymore than I did. He slowly lifted the pillow away with his godly strength and brushed a strand of my hair away from my cheek. His thumb brushed over my skin as he watched me intently. He seemed calmer; more composed than I felt.
“She’ll just try to—” I began. “She’ll just take me from you.”
Darce pressed a finger against my lips and shook his head.
“Everything will be alright.”
Maybe it was a lie, or maybe it was partially true. Morpheus had said the same thing to me. I felt as though everyone wanted me to believe that everything would be alright, no matter how much I may doubt it.
“We’ve found each other time and time again. We have a bond that cannot be destroyed. It has a far greater power. . .more ancient than any of their powers combined.”
The sincerity and gentleness in his expression pinched my heart. I felt the sting of tears all over again, but I blinked it away. I wouldn’t cry. I had to be stronger.
He needed me to be strong.
I knew I needed to be strong for myself. I wasn’t the sort to hide away just because something became hard.
“I love you,” I whispered. Darce’s lips broadened into a smile, and he nodded in reply.
“And I love you Summer. Nothing—no one—could ever change that for me.”
In all that I trusted, I knew Darce’s words were true. He had traveled across more than just the world for me, he had waited through centuries. He had never given up hope in reuniting himself with Persephone’s soul—me.
“In a moment, I’m going to leave the room before Hermes barges in on us. Take your time in dressing yourself. I’ll take care of the rest.”
I pulled on his hand, tugging him towards me as I pressed my lips against his. At least this would give me the strength I knew I needed.
“I’ll be waiting for you,” he said reassuringly against my skin. He rose back to his feet and adjusted his shirt, smoothing away any apparent wrinkles. I watched as he walked towards the bedroom door, fiddling with the buttons around his wrists.
“Darce?” I called after him, sitting up. He turned to look back at me. His eyes were warm as they caught mine.
“Yes?”
We held each other’s gaze for a moment. I felt my heart twist in my chest. There was so much I still wanted to say; so much I still longed to share with him. I couldn’t explain why this felt like a prolonged goodbye. I knew our forever could not yet begin. And perhaps it never would. I was human, and he. . .he would live on beyond me. Any time we spent together now felt borrowed.
“Thank you,” I replied slowly. It was all I could muster. Darce returned my words with a reassuring smile.
“Your dad would be proud of you,” he replied. My heart felt the pang of loss again. At least Darce’s words brought some comfort—enough to force myself to gather my courage. After the door closed with a soft click, I laid back in the blankets and released a deep breat
h. A stray tear rolled down my cheek as I closed my eyes. If my dad was watching over me, then I knew everything would be alright.
I was, after all, my father’s daughter, first and foremost.
Dressed in the same gown Arae had chosen for me only yesterday, I emerged from the hotel room. This time, I felt different. I stood up straighter; tried to keep my chin lifted forward. This was really happening, and I wanted to make a strong, good impression. From any passerby, I figured I looked as though I were going to an elegant Greek-themed party. If only they knew the truth, that I was going to meet the Gods and Goddesses of Mount Olympus. Maybe if I said that enough to myself, I’d actually start to believe it. I sounded like I was crazy.
Maybe I was.
Maybe all of this was a dream.
Maybe I was still in the hospital, just waiting to wake up from the car accident. I paused for a moment, trying to push the memory away. The cries from my family echoed in my ears.
Slowly, I flicked my gaze to Darce, who was waiting by the door. As I peered at him, I knew I wasn’t dreaming. He was real. I didn’t want him to not be real. I certainly wasn’t creative enough to dream up this entire situation: meeting an ancient god, falling in love with him and finding out I was his long-lost beloved bride.
I still didn’t understand the logistics of how we were going to get to Mount Olympus. The last time we had left the hotel, Darce had dragged me through the hallways, eventually hoisting me up over his shoulder as we tried to escape the spirits Minthe had sent after him. We had stepped through that sparkling darkness, where time seemed to move on at its own pace, and we had arrived at the opening of the Underworld.
As his gaze raked over me again, I felt my cheeks begin to warm. I noticed the golden wreath around his head, matching mine; his black hair perfectly in place. Around his almond-shaped eyes, he wore a faint line of black makeup. He looked so regal and powerful. Exactly how the God of the Underworld should have always appeared.
“Ready?” He asked softly as he straightened. Sucking in a breath, I shrugged and shook my head.
“I—I don’t really know. I. . .”
Gilded Ruins Page 5
