Bliss (26 page)

“You know if I could just pop...” said Rylan, seeking out Darius’ private channel of communication.

Darius answered, all the while keeping his barrier up, not daring to let Saad overhear this conversation. “Shut up, Rylan. You can’t pop anywhere. If they discover who you are, all of Tartarus will break loose, and I mean that literally. No gods, and that includes semi-gods, are allowed in the undersea kingdoms. Didn’t Zeus explain that to you? And that’s not a question. Just sit still until I figure out how to get us out of here.” He took another look out the small opening in the door, wondering if the guards were the type to get bored.

“Okay
, I am not going to pop anywhere, but I am certainly going to heat things up in here. Just how do Titans live in this environment?” answered Rylan.

Darius noted that for all the kid
’s brash talk, he was afraid. Rylan’s eyes darted here and there, probably trying to adjust to the light. It was times like now, when the kid was under stress, he forgot he was a semi-god and could simply at will make his eyesight adjust to the darkness, or for that matter heat up his own internal temperature.

As for Darius
, his tattoo was starting to really itch and burn his skin. Instinctively he knew he was relying more and more on the gift the sea dragon had bequeathed him. It should have unnerved him, but it didn’t. Without it, he knew he’d be blind. A helpless Titan wasn’t a Titan at all. Without a doubt, he knew darkness was not an impediment for Saad.

No, it was the blasted cold, locked door and bloody guards that made escape almost impossible. Almost, thought Darius, refusing to believe there wasn’t a way out. He sighed in frustration. Then the hairs on his body stood on end. A quick look around informed him that both Saad and Rylan had felt whatever he had.

“You did well, Saad. I am proud of you.”

The
voice was a soft whisper but the caress of the tone hinted at undefined power.

“Mother?” said a startled Saad, attempting to sit up straighter in the confines of the tight space.

“Mother? Who exactly is your mother?” asked Darius, afraid he wasn’t going to like the answer.

“So
, untrusting as you should be, but Saad has proven his worth to me today and I need for you to get out of this place to get something very special. Something that will not only save you and your
mardom
, but save my future and my son,” said the voice.

Darius didn’t say anything. He waited for either the voice to explain itself or for Saad to answer his initial question. When nothing came he pushed his thoughts into Saad’s mind.

“My mother is Sesta, the Sister of the Future,” said Saad, loud enough for all of them to hear. His eyes dared Darius to say anything.

“No way....that is way cool, way cooler than having an uncle
who’s a god...I mean the Creator created her, ohh my gawd when I get back to my Uncle’s palace he is going to be so amazed that I met...does this count as a meeting when I haven’t actually seen her...I mean, do you even have a figure, well, duh, of course you have a figure I mean otherwise how could she be your mother...”

Darius placed a calming hand on Rylan’s shoulder to stop his prattle.

“Why are you here, Mother?” asked Saad.

“To set things right, Saad. I was summoned by the Creator after I left you
, and he has filled me in on my future...on your future...on us, so I am about to make things right. Prepare yourself.”

With that slight wa
rning the ice walls began to vibrate and shimmer. The water started to flow in slow motion around them, and Darius watched spellbound as time seemed to suspend itself. Then, in a heartbeat he felt his body transported through time. As abruptly as it started, it was over.

Looking around
, he realized he was back at the fourth portal, the last one before he’d made it to Thorgeir’s seas.

“You will need this.”
And before his eyes Poseidon’s trident materialized.

Darius took the offering reverently with outstretched hands
, staring at the glowing celestial being who shimmered in front of him. “Why are you helping us, really?” He wanted to believe it was an act of kindness, but Saad’s family always left him feeling uneasy.

Then
, before his eyes, her shimmering form crystallized into that of a beautiful Siren. There was no mistaking that this creature was made by the Creator and that she was the Sister of the Future. She was beyond the description of worldly beauty, but there was an edge to her expression that radiated power, fury and something more, something he couldn’t name.

Her
hand reached out to touch him. He forced himself to stand his ground. Deep down he knew this was a test of sorts.

“You are a noble creature, Darius, Prince of the
north seas, descendant of Oceanus. He would be pleased. Integrity and loyalty are ingrained in your heart more than you will ever know, but beyond that you are passionate, and that is what I want. That is what I crave. I am helping you because if I don’t your race will die. This is my last interference with time. Saad and Rylan will have no memory of being in Thorgeir’s seas. Do not trust the Court. Now, I must go. Time is a precious commodity but remember, without love...time means nothing.”

“The Court...what about it
? Don’t leave,” shouted Darius, seeking more answers.

The words were subtle an
d washed over him slowly. “The trident you will need for another reason. What you really seek is Gaia’s tears.”

Then in a blink her presence was gone. That was it. Once again
, he was left on his own. Was the infamous Court playing with him? Why? Why would they send him on a wild goose chase? The idea infuriated him. To think he had let them play him like a pawn.

Grasping the ancient t
rident tightly in his hand he turned for home. Now, more than ever, he felt the yearning to be with Kassandra. Why that was, he couldn’t fathom. All he knew was that he needed to see her. The need to feel her naked skin next to his washed through him. When he got home, he planned to kiss her sweet lips until they were both panting with desire. Passion would be his tool to drive the pounding anger away.

Chapter
Twenty-Four

“So if I ingest these two oblats today, I will abort. That’s what you’re telling me, right, Jamie?” Kassandra forced herself to say the word as her stomach clenched in fear and her mouth dried up.

“Yes. Basically you have twenty-four hours to make the decision
. After that it will be too late,” answered Jamie, holding out her hands.

“To late for what?” asked Mercka, gliding unannounced into Darius’ dwelling.

The last thing Kassandra wanted was to explain her current dilemma to Darius’ little sister, so she tried for a diversion.

“Any idea when Darius might return?” she asked, quickly taking the two small black oblats from Jamie and tucking them inside her bra.

“He’s home now. He just arrived. He seemed pretty excited about getting the trident. He was on his way here a minute ago, but Father wanted a word with him, which means you won’t see him for hours,” declared Mercka, flouncing around as she twirled her tail and then darted to and fro around Darius’ living quarters.

Kassandra knew her face had drained of color. What if Darius had overheard her and Jamie talking? That idea
terrified her. She wasn’t sure what choice she was going to make but the last thing she needed was to have to deal with Darius.

“I think I’ll go take a walk...”she laughed, “okay...a glide around,” she said, hopin
g they’d both get the hint she needed privacy.

Jamie whisper
ed something to Mercka, and then they were both giggling.

“No way! She wouldn’t want to see that,” said Mercka, all but swishing herself in one space, her eyes were wide with excitement.

Curiosity got the better of her. “See what?”

“I think I’ll let Mercka explain, but in truth it’s something you have to see with your own eyes,” said Jamie. There was an odd twinkle
in her gaze that unnerved Kassandra. She was sure she was missing something.

“Okay let’s go,” said Mercka, grasping her arm to lead the way.

“Guess I have no choice,” answered Kassandra, waving goodbye to Jamie.

Darius was fuming mad. Stealthily he had hurried home, intent on seeking out Kassandra, only to discover she wished to abort his children. The thought sickened him. Worse was the knowledge that his brother’s
Sokhan
, Jamie, was consorting to help her.

“Will you stop pacing, Darius,” roared King
Sadok, as he looked up from his examination of Poseidon’s trident.

Darius stopped abruptly. “Well
, did you find anything?”

“No nothing. None of this makes sense. Maybe you should take it to Kassandra to see if she’s able to figure out these strange etchings,” said
Sadok, leaning back in his chair. His hands lazily waved away the green orb vying for his attention. “I am amazed Sesta sought you out. Are you absolutely sure she said to seek out Gaia’s tears?”

“Yes,” answered Darius, for the umpteenth time. Even in his agitated state he noted that
this was the fourth time the green orb had attempted to reach his father. “Answer that bloody thing, father,” said Darius, his teeth clenched in frustration as he took possession of the trident again.

H
is father waved the orb away again, reminding him that he was King and still ruler of the north seas, and he’d answer the pestering orb on his own time and not a minute before. “I have no idea what she meant by Gaia’s tears. Go ask Kassandra. She is, after all, a scholar of ancient things. She might be able to shed more light on these etchings as well. In the meantime, I will send a missive to a Court clerk I know who owes me a favor and see if he can shed some light on what’s going on behind the scenes with the Court. For now, we must be extra careful, Darius. You know our defenses are down. We should at least be thankful that Hades’ isn’t up to his old tricks with those blasted Tartahounds of his.”

“Ahh
, that reminds me, Father. I forgot to tell you about some very unique Tartahounds Kassandra and I met before we came here,” said Darius, interrupting his father.

Sitting back regally in his throne chair,
the King plucked the orb from the water. “Tell me everything. And, Darius, I mean everything,” demanded his father, motioning for him to take the seat opposite him.

“
Great. That’s just great,” grumbled Darius, careful to keep his shields up. He wished he’d kept his mouth shut. Now his father would interrogate him until he’d gleaned every ounce of information he thought might be helpful from him.

What felt like hours later, Darius leaned back in his chair, feeling spent. His father had a way of draining him of his powers.

“Are we done?” asked Darius, rising from the hard, uncomfortable seat, knowing full well his father had made it that way on purpose.

“For now. Seek out Kassandra. And Darius
, try to be patient. Her life as she’s known it has been completely altered and changed. She needs time to adjust.” King Sadok grasped another flashing orb that was now darting in front of him.

“
I can’t give her what she needs and wants,” said Darius. With that realization his heart constricted.

His father rai
sed his head, ignoring the pulse from the orb. “Are you so sure, son? Look inside your heart. What she needs and wants, you of all Titans,
can
give her. In fact you are the only one who can make her whole.”

Great
, now I’m getting a love lecture from my father. Well, there’s a first time for everything.

“That’s not how she sees things
,” he tried to explain to King Sadok. “She wants her life back. She wants to be a human again, and you know that’s not within my power. Plus, I’m not sure it’s safe for her here. Maybe I should have let her...” Darius paused, unable to even say the words. “Besides, this plague is destroying our
mardom
. Seth seems to be getting worse and Mother...”

“Do not talk of your mother. She will rec
over and be fine. I will not lose her,” said Sadok, motioning with a wave of his hand that Darius was dismissed.

I hope you’re right,
Father.
He darted from his father’s dwelling. In his haste he almost slammed into Jamie.

“Ahh, there you are. Kassandra was wondering when you would be finished?” said Jamie, cradling a bundle of newly matured oblats in her arms.

“I just bet she is,” snarled Darius.

“Ahh, you overheard us. Darius
, don’t judge me too harshly. This is a decision only she can make. But it is a decision you can certainly help sway,” said Jamie, transferring her bundle to her other arm, offering him a tentative smile.

Having a sister-in-law who is a Sensitive is a bitch
. Darius wanted to remain angry at Jamie, but deep down he knew exactly where the fault lay – with him.

“Mercka took her to see the
freshling’s
play of Sleeping Beauty. I thought it might be a good chance for her to see the younger ones play for a change. You know she’s never seen or held a newborn. Why don’t you join her and then take her to see Ferra’s newborn?”

“Ferra has a newborn?” Darius tried hard to picture the young, perky gardener with a
freshling
.

“You’ve been gone for quite some time, Darius. Ferra has three
freshlings
. A little more than five years ago she and Aaron mated. A week ago, she delivered her latest siren. She’s a delight. It would do Kassandra good to see the
freshlings
. She’s still thinking in human terms, and the idea of carrying twins terrifies her.”

“That’s her and I both.” Darius was
alarmed at one moment with the idea of being a father, proud the next. “Thanks, Jamie. I’ll do that.”

“And, Darius, let her use her brain. Don’t be afraid of her powers. Encourage her to embrace them. Trust me
, it will makes things go a lot smoother for you both,” she said, once again rearranging her bundle of oblats before gliding away.

“I will save you my love,” said the young Titan. Instead of a sword, the
freshling
brandished a Triton, and instead of clothing as a costume, he was adorned with a shining shell necklace. His upper body was painted in tattoos that he proudly showed off at every chance.

Kassandra laughed at the young
Titan’s antics. Bravely, he surged forward to kill the evil witch. And since none of the
freshling
Sirens could be convinced to be the evil witch, their guardian – the primary teacher who looked after them during the day – had gamely undertaken the task. Bedraggled with ugly mops of seaweed covering her face, she bent over in pain when the young Titan playfully jabbed at her.

“You are no match for me
, ugly witch. Be gone!” shouted the young titan, delivering the witch a fatal blow.

Kassandra couldn’t take her eyes from the stage. Rigged up on what looked like a sunken pirate ship, the young cast of characters had eagerly embraced their roles.

She caught his masculine scent moments before his arms circled her waist to possessively bring her body close to his. She hadn’t realized how much she had missed his touch, his scent, or his body until she allowed her own to be molded to his. The soft, feather-light feel of his breath against her ear caused her to shiver.

“Enjoying yourself?” asked Darius, gently nipping at her ear lobe.

“Shh! Don’t interrupt,” she snapped, with more force in her voice than she meant. She didn’t like how he seemed to take over her body, her mind, and her heart with one touch. It unnerved her. Made her feel vulnerable. And the last thing she wanted was another complication in her life. She wanted more than anything to remain mad at him but with his body holding hers, clarity and reasoning were fleeing.

“As you say, no speaking.” The words were a light breeze in her ear and then he boldly kissed her exposed neck. She couldn’t help the full body shiver. Without a doubt
, she knew she shouldn’t have challenged him.

“When this play is over I want to show you something.” Again, his words burned a promise of something decadent. His husky voice was a low sexy note playing in her mind. Kassandra had to forcibly place her hands on her lap to keep her tail from moving in anticipation.

A few minutes later, the entire cast of young characters was assembled in front of the ship. Swaying in motion to the current, they bowed low. The entire audience, made up of family and friends, briskly moved their tails. It was Darius’ voice inside her head telling her that this was part of their custom. The faster the current created, the more the audience had liked the performance. Considering that even Kassandra was starting to feel the wake of the undersea waves, she gathered it was a huge success.

“Come,” he commanded, pulling her up with him when he rose.

She bristled at his commanding tone of voice. Before she could say anything to Darius, Mercka gave her a fierce hug.

“I have to go
, Kassandra. Thanks again for coming with me. I promised to help clean up the mess when the play was finished,” she said, winking at Darius as she darted away.

Kassandra wasn’t amused. “Did you make her leave?” she asked, careful to keep her back to him. She wasn’t ready to see his face or those haunting emerald green eyes of his.

“Maybe,” he replied, and she could have sworn she saw his grin in her mind.

Turning her body around
, he took the choice away from her. “Please come with me. I want to introduce you to a good family friend.”

The tender look in his eyes undid her. “Sure. That would be nice. And then
, Darius, we can...”

But Kassandra didn’t get to finish her sentence. His mouth came down hot and hard on her lips. Demanding. His hands pulled her in tighter. She could feel his heart beating in time with hers. She yearned to run her fingers through his long silky hair and realized she was losing her inner battle. It was like going against the current. Useless.
Her fingers grasped his head with a will of their own, bringing him even closer. His ragged groan shook her.

As abruptly as it started
, it ended. It was only then she realized that they weren’t alone. The audience, some fifty Sirens and Titans had all stopped their talking to watch. Kassandra felt her face burn in shame.

“This is not your fault, Kassandra
,” Darius said. “It is mine. I am their Prince and they have never seen me with a Siren before. By openly embracing you, I have let them know you are my
Sokhan
. And that is what I want to talk with you about soon. But for now, let’s leave before I forget my true intentions.” He nodded his head to the few Titans who openly grinned at them.

Leaving sounds good
.
She let him pull her along, not missing the possessive feel of his arm around her midsection. After a short glide they came to what looked like a large garden. At one end of the garden was a small dwelling.

“Ferra, may we enter?” asked Darius. Kassandra knew he asked the words out loud for her benefit.