Love and War Page 13

  Her leg and arm throbbed as her skin burned. She watched through her hazy vision as the fire in her bedroom extinguished itself. Namtar descended the steps, wielding the blood-stained sword before him. Her blood. She tried to make her muscles function, but she couldn’t move. She didn’t know she could die. And all she could think of was that she would never see Mack again. She only wanted one last kiss.

  “Good night, sweet goddess.” Namtar raised the sword to strike.

  “What did I tell you?”

  The frigid air was welcome on Athena’s singed skin. It made her shiver. Her vision was dim, but she noticed Namtar shrink back.

  “Almost too late,” Namtar jeered as he dropped the sword.

  “I explicitly told you to stay away from my niece and her lover. You didn’t listen. What should I do with you now? Apollo.”

  A dark figure stepped over her body and stalked towards Namtar. She knew that voice, even though it was distant. The pain kept her from assembling her thoughts.

  There was a quick burst of light. “Yes, Uncle. How may I ser…what the fuck?”

  She heard an inhuman howl then gasping. “Apollo, tend to your cousin. Do whatever it takes before she succumbs to her wounds. She’s losing blood too fast. Now, demon, it’s your turn to suffer. Or maybe I should save enough of you for her lover to decimate in the cage.”

  Athena caught a glimpse of Apollo hovering over her, his unruly, bushy blond hair a halo in her sight. “Hang on, Athena. Keep your eyes on me. Stay with me. Hades is dealing with this guy who hurt you.”

  Athena licked her dry lips as she struggled to speak. “Apollo.”

  “Yeah. I got you, cuz.”

  “Apol…”

  The room faded to black as she felt her head loll to the side. Apollo’s cries were the last thing she heard as his voice disappeared.

  * * * *

  Was the River Styx this bright?

  Athena moaned as the flood of light worked to break through her senses. As memory serves, the place was pretty dark. Maybe crossing over was quite the same. Didn’t mortals talk about a bright light?

  She tried to move but hissed in response. Everything hurt. Nothing ever ached like this. She fought to pry her eyes open.

  “Slow, sweetheart. You took quite a beating.”

  Athena’s brow creased in confusion. Demeter? When did Demeter get to her place?

  Athena felt the bed shift beneath her then heard Demeter speak “You better be glad that nothing happened to the baby, Hades.”

  Athena’s eyes popped open. The room around her wasn’t white like her bedroom. Instead it had a coffee colored rustic look. Her aunt sat beside her. A tall man dressed in an expensive, black suit stood beside the bed, his arms crossed across his chest. Stubble grazed his angular cheeks and chin. His thick, black hair was combed elegantly. He watched her with his ice blue eyes. “My first concern was saving her life, Demeter. The baby wasn’t going to survive if its mother was dead.”

  “Baby?” Athena stammered,

  “You didn’t know?” Demeter countered.

  “No. I was supposed to come talk to you. Namtar told Mack I was. But he started training and we sort of forgot about it.”

  Demeter spun towards Hades and glared at him. “Really?”

  The lord of the underworld was unfazed. “We need to get you out of bed, Athena.”

  Demeter huffed. “Tell him to have his ridiculous tribunal without her.”

  “He’s having it because of her. I tried to get him to relent but you know Zeus when he gets on something.”

  Demeter rolled her eyes. “I do. Let her just lay here a bit longer. Did you bring her clothes to change into? I could go see if Persephone has something that will fit.”

  “Demeter, they’re not the same size,” Hades huffed.

  “And you know this how?”

  For the first time since Athena woke up, Hades grinned. “I know Persephone’s size.”

  Athena watched her aunt fight to suppress a snarl. “Please step outside and I’ll help her change.”

  Hades gave them a reverent bow before he strode from the room.

  “Tribunal?” Athena asked, her voice weak.

  Demeter sighed. “Yes. The family is arriving. Your father called for it last night before we knew about the attack.”

  “Did someone tell him about it?”

  Demeter paused. “Yes. It didn’t change his mind. Let me help you out of bed and help you get dressed.”

  Demeter scooted off the bed then offered her hands to her niece. Athena gripped as tight as she could as the older goddess helped her to her feet. Never in her existence had Athena had trouble standing but at this point she couldn’t stop her legs from wobbling.

  Demeter guided her to the foot of the bed then motioned for Athena to hold on to it. “You just hang there and I’ll dress you.”

  “Alright,” Athena agreed.

  Demeter scooped up each garment and assisted Athena as she tugged each article on. Athena looked up at her reflection in the mirror. Her face was peppered with deep bruises. Her lower lip was swollen. The glimmer of tears shone in her eyes.

  “I thought Hades and Persephone were joined at the hip whenever they were within one hundred feet of each other.”

  Demeter brushed a lock of hair from Athena’s shoulder. “When she saw you, she gave him space. None of us have ever seen injury like that. It frightened her. Let's head downstairs.”

  Athena grasped her wrist. “Wait.”

  She turned to the mirror then closed her eyes. She concentrated on her power. Every muscle, every inch of flesh was on fire. It would take everything in her to hold up this illusion. She just hoped her father didn’t filibuster like he was prone to do.

  When she opened her eyes, the blemishes were gone, and her perfect skin was back. It wouldn’t take away the limp though. She’d have to find a reason to sit.

  “Now I’m ready,” Athena murmured.

  “Let’s go then.” Demeter offered her arm to her niece. Athena leaned as much of her weight as she could on the goddess as they made their way from the room and down the stairs.

  Half the Pantheon was already in the living room when they reached the final step. Hades relaxed against the arm of the sofa with Persephone in his arms. Persephone snuggled as close as she could to her husband, intermixing her words with gentle kisses.

  A man with long, dreadlocked hair and sun-kissed skin was sipping on a glass of amber liquid. Uncle Poseidon looked like he was thoroughly enjoying himself, by the smile on his face.

  Apollo, Artemis and Ares were already seated at the dining room table conversing in heated whispers. It looked like the start of a huge family dinner. It was a far cry from the tribunals they used to have on Olympus.

  When Artemis laid eyes on her she shot out of her seat and raced to Athena’s side. She took Athena’s arm and led her to a chair between the two gods. “You healed already?”

  Athena slumped into the offered seat. “Not really. I’m using all my power to give the illusion I am fine.” She looked at Apollo. “Thank you for saving my life.”

  Apollo gave her a sheepish grin. “I did my best. I’ve never dealt with anything like it.”

  “You kept me alive. That’s all I could ask for.”

  She turned to her other side as a hand gripped hers.

  “Where was Mack?” Ares demanded.

  “He slept at the gym. I figured you knew,” Athena answered.

  “No, I didn’t. Why’d he do something like that?”

  “I…”

  Athena’s words were cut off when the front door swung open. First in was Hera, her scowl evident as she took in her sister’s living room.

  Zeus appeared a few steps behind her, his countenance like granite. Athena knew that stony look. Lightning bolts followed soon after.

  Several gods and goddesses filed in behind them and found a seat at the table.

  Zeus gave a pointed look at Hades then strode to the head of the table where
Poseidon waited. Hades pressed one last kiss to Persephone’s lips then followed his brother.

  The rest of the gods and goddesses shuffled off to find their places. Hera looked visibly irritated that Poseidon and Hades took the chairs next to her husband. She dropped into the one next to the lord of the underworld with a snarl.

  “This tribunal will come to order,” Zeus announced.

  “Why exactly are we here, brother?” Poseidon questioned. “You weren’t exactly clear on the phone and I haven’t witnessed anything that would require punishment this dire. Besides, aren’t we missing someone?”

  Everyone’s attention turned to the empty chair between Hera and Demeter.

  Ares’s growled loud enough for everyone to hear. “If that bitch shows her face I swear I’ll tear it off her.”

  “Now, Ares,” Hera chided as she sipped from the wine glass before her. Athena noticed that everyone else but Poseidon was nursing water or coffee. “Aphrodite has just as much place at this table as you. Maybe even more. We all actually like her.”

  There was a shimmer in the air moments before Aphrodite appeared in the empty chair. Her big, blue eyes stared at Ares. “Thank you, Hera.”

  Hera swigged down the rest of her glass. “Anytime, doll.”

  Poseidon’s grip on the god of war was the only thing that kept Ares in his seat.

  Zeus glared at Athena as he cleared his throat. She had never seen him that angry before. It sent a shiver down her spine making it hard to keep her illusion intact.

  “If we can continue, I will explain the charges. It seems that one of our maiden goddesses has fallen out of grace. It would be one thing if it was forced upon her. But she gave up her purity willingly. This cannot go without punishment.”

  Hades gaze flickered from Zeus to Athena. “So what you’re saying is that you want to exile Athena because she lost her virginity and fell in love with someone?”

  “That is exactly what I’m saying,” Zeus replied.

  “Are you out of your mind?”

  “Her actions were unacceptable.”

  “She’s the goddess of wisdom and war. If she were the goddess of virginity I could understand. Wake up and join the twenty-first century, Zeus.”

  “Hold up,” Hera protested. “Do you want the goddess of wisdom to be a little tramp?”

  “Not a tramp, Mom,” Ares argued. “One guy. That’s it. And he loves her. You and Dad both met him, so this isn’t like it’s a surprise.”

  “What brought all this on?” Demeter inquired. “If you know of this man, why suddenly are you bothered by him, Zeus.”

  “Because this human dared walk into my office and had the audacity to ask for Athena’s hand in marriage,” Zeus answered, his teeth gritted together.

  There were gasps and murmurs around the table followed by loud debating. Athena studied those around her as she fought to keep her power in check. She couldn’t shove aside what she’d heard. Mack went to the King of the Gods, her father, and asked for her hand in marriage. That took courage beyond anyone’s belief.

  And she turned him down to please Zeus. She would never get the chance again. She blinked back the tears that stung her eyes.

  Poseidon’s voice rang over the chaos. “Aphrodite is the goddess of love. What does she think?”

  The room fell silent and all eyes turned to the goddess of love. Aphrodite shrunk in her seat at the attention. Athena felt Ares bristle at her side.

  “Great King,” Aphrodite began. “You brought us down from Olympus to this modern world to mingle with mortals. I don’t understand how we can do that and still hold fast to our old traditions.”

  Ares growled at her but Athena gripped hold of his hand quieted.

  “Shh,” Athena gasped out past the agony. “I think she’s on our side.”

  Aphrodite must have heard her because she gave Athena a small smile. “If this mortal had the courage to face you, and Athena loves him, I see no reason why they shouldn’t be wed.”

  Zeus hissed as he took in the rest of the room. “Do the rest of you agree with her? I want a show of hands from those who agree.”

  All but Zeus and Hera raised their hands. Poseidon shrugged as he did. “Don’t force modern technology on us without paying the price, brother.”

  “Tribunal adjourned.” Zeus shoved away from the table and stormed through the dining room and out the front door. Hera seemed perfectly content to finish her second glass of wine before following her husband.

  Apollo laughed as he looked at Athena. “Welcome to the misfits. You know, the kids Zeus isn’t too fond of.”

  Artemis reached across her brother to clasp Athena’s hand. “You can marry Mack. Granted, the fact you gave it up to him still makes me want to throat punch him. But you get your happy ever after.”

  “Not exactly.” Athena looked at Ares. “That’s why Mack was at the gym. He proposed and I turned him down. I figured Dad wouldn’t allow it. I had no idea Mack had gone to him first.”

  Ares clenched his eyes shut and shook his head. “Sis.”

  “We had this tribunal for nothing. I gave him up. Now, I need to get upstairs. I can’t hold this illusion much longer.”

  Athena slowly stood while her siblings hopped to their feet to flock around her. They only managed a few feet before Apollo froze in his tracks.

  “Who is that big guy with Juliet?” he questioned.

  Ares stopped and frowned at Apollo. “Juliet is at home.”

  “No, she’s not. She’s outside with some big guy.” Apollo pointed through the gauzy curtain to something outside the window.

  Ares let go of Athena and ran out the front door. The two sisters looked at each other before they and Apollo followed him.

  Ares had already made it halfway across the large, lush green lawn and had Juliet wrapped tight in his arms. Beside them stood Mack, his gaze locked on Athena. He strode towards them.

  Athena looked at Apollo. “Stop him, please.”

  “Why?” Apollo countered.

  “Because I don’t want to drop the illusion here and I’m about to lose it. If he gets here, we won’t move.”

  “Got it.” Apollo jogged down the staircase, catching Mack before he could ascend it. Mack looked furious as Apollo dragged him back towards Ares and Juliet.

  Artemis braced Athena as they scuttled across the grass as quick as Athena was able. Her body shook as they got closer.

  Mack broke free of Apollo and closed the distance between them. “Hermes came to Juliet and reported the attack. She found me at the gym and told me what he said. She said Namtar attacked you but you don’t look hurt.”

  “I…” A full body shiver raged through her followed by a wave of fatigue. She whimpered at the horror in Mack’s face.

  “Baby. Fuck. I never should have left.” Mack took her tenderly in his arms.

  Athena snuggled against Mack’s chest. His strength kept her standing. She pressed her ear to his chest.

  “That bastard did this to you,” he murmured against her hair. “And when I left, I let him.”

  “It was best that way. He would have killed you immediately.”

  “I’m going to kill him. I’m going to rip his limbs off.”

  She closed her eyes as she leaned against him. She took one deep breath after another.

  “What was the meeting about?” Mack asked

  “It wasn’t a meeting,” Ares replied. “It was a tribunal.”

  Mack’s brow creased as he growled. “Against who?”

  “Athena. Zeus was pretty pissed that you dared ask for her hand. It was bad enough you violated his precious flower.”

  “And?” Mack’s voice was low and dangerous.

  “The gods ruled that it was the twenty-first century and maybe he should catch up. They determined that if she wants to be your wife, it’s her decision, not her father’s.”

  Athena cracked an eye open and smiled. “Thanks for letting me handle that, bro.”

  Ares smirked. “No problem,
Sis.”

  “So now what?” Mack questioned.

  Athena opened her mouth even though she had no idea what to say. Did she want to have Mack as her husband? She’d never really thought about it. It was forbidden. She knew she never wanted to let him go.

  She didn’t get a word out before Juliet interrupted. The nymph stared back at the house. “Who are they? They look so in love.”

  Athena turned back to see Hades and Persephone on the top step, their arms wrapped tight around each other. She had her face buried against his chest as she clung to him like her life depended on it. He hugged her just as tight to him.

  “It’s Hades and Persephone,” Ares answered. “You met him once. He tried to recruit you. Or flirt with you, depending on who you ask.”

  “That guy is not Hades,” Juliet retorted. “The Hades I met in Vegas was a fat pimp who dressed bad. That guy is…”

  A glare from Ares cut off her words. Juliet took a deep breath and continued. “Well dressed.”

  They watched as Hades tipped Persephone’s chin up and placed a long, passionate kiss on her lips. They parted as a voice from the town car called to Hades. He kissed her brow then her lips. His arms were hesitant as he let her go. Persephone grabbed Hades hand, following him as he descended the steps. He looked back at her for a long moment then pulled her back to him once more before letting her go. She waved to him as the car drove off, not budging from the spot until it disappeared.

  Athena gasped as her knees buckled. She clung to Mack to keep from falling.

  “Can you make it home?” Mack questioned, concern in his voice.

  “No such thing.”

  They all turned to find Demeter strolling through the yard to them.

  She smiled at them. “The house is clear. Take her upstairs and tuck her into bed. I’ll make supper for us all.”

  “Where is Persephone?” Juliet inquired with her arms crossed over her chest.

  “Juliet,” Ares chided.

  “It’s not fair they can’t be together.”

  “You do realize that’s why we have the seasons, correct?” Demeter countered.