Chasing Terpsichore (Muses Across Time) (8 page)

* * * *

The Cave was not exactly what he had expected. Plush, velvet seats lined booths situated against the walls, and chairs in the front of the stage barricaded by a wrought iron railing. The stage was set well back from the patrons, and although the dancers weren’t completely nude, a couple of them had strategically placed patches of sequins that left absolutely nothing to the imagination.

James scanned the dimly lit room and zeroed in on a raised cage to one side. The height of the platform made it impossible for anyone to reach the dancer moving and sliding up against the shimmering pole at the centre. Cigar smoke irritated his nose as he strode across the room hoping it was Corey up in that cage. It was as she’d described to him, right down to the height of the cage above the audience. Seductive music pounded out of speakers that surrounded the room, adding to the deafening thump of a subwoofer. His pulse nervously thrummed in time to the rhythm. Edging closer, he stared at the blonde woman with the sexy, supple body moving to the music, circling her long, shapely legs around the pole above the crowd. There was no mistaking that body, she was magnificent. Sensuality oozed from every pore of her satiny skin. Somehow, she had managed to take a raw and basic dance and turn it into an artistic masterpiece. His dick hardened, proving that where Corey was concerned, he had little control. The chemistry between them was too strong, like an invisible thread reeling him in, little by little.

Leaning against the wall, he contented himself by watching her until the dance was over. He might as well enjoy the view while he could. She’d be finished in a few minutes, and he intended to move her to a safe place. This time he wouldn’t let whatever mind games she used dissuade him from his purpose. Nothing short of a nuclear explosion would stop him from keeping her safe this time.

The music faded before he could approach the platform and he watched Corey climb down the iron stairs at the rear of the cage and disappear behind the velvet curtains that separated the performers from the audience. Picking up speed, he jumped the iron railing, then threw open the curtains as he reached the backstage area. The bright lights contrasted with the dimness of the club and it took a few seconds for his eyes to adjust. A series of doors lined the corridor, which led to the rear of the club. He opened the first one, but one of the muscle shirt-clad bouncers stood in his way, an immovable object the size of half a mountain.

“Get the fuck out of here, shithead. This is a private dressing room,” he said.

Trying to look past the giant in front of him, James raised his voice as the music resumed. “I’m looking for Corey. I need to speak to her urgently.”

“You and every other randy dude in town. Now piss off.”

“I’m afraid I must insist. It’s a matter of life and death.”

“Oh yeah, that’s what they all say.” The giant placed his enormous hands against his chest and pushed, effortlessly shoving James across to the opposite wall as the door slammed in front of him.

He jumped up and pounded. “Hey, I have to speak to Corey. Now! It’s really important.”

Realising he wouldn’t find her that way he looked around and decided to check out the other rooms. However, before he could even take one step, two more bouncers arrived and headed right for him.

Fuck!

Retreat seemed like the best course of action at this stage, so he backed up and headed into the club. There had to be another way to get past the muscle and find Corey. As he headed for the front door, he pulled his phone out of his pocket and tried Corey’s phone again, only to shove it back when she still didn’t pick up.

After leaving through the front of the club, he scouted the laneway. He screwed up his nose, trying to mask the disgusting odours wafting about. The garbage containers reeked of rotting food and excrement and he struggled not to throw up. He found the gate at the end of the alley locked, but it opened readily enough with a shove from his shoulder. The back door of the club was in his sights when a young woman ran out of the building in obvious distress.

James sprinted across the space, catching up with her as she tried to run towards the main street. She screamed as he closed the distance and caught up with her.

“Get away from me.”

He held onto her arm as she struggled to get away. “Hey, I’m not going to hurt you. I just want to ask you some questions.”

“Get real,” she said as she pushed his hand off. “I just want to get the fuck out of here. Let me go.”

“Please, just one question and I’ll leave you alone,” he said, stepping back and giving the girl some space. “I’m looking for Corey. Is she still inside?”

The girl paled, her hands shaking as she picked at a piece of fluff on her coat.

“Please, you have to tell me if you know anything. I have to find her, she’s in danger.”

The girl lowered her head and stared at her feet. “It may be too late. He took her.”

What? No!

Her words were like a kick in the guts, pushing all the air out of his lungs so he could only manage a whisper. “Who took her?” He gripped her chin, raising her face. “What are you talking about?”

Shaking her head, she tried to wriggle away, but he held fast.

“Where is she?”

A tiny tear trickled down the girl’s cheeks. “This old dude was waiting for her in her dressing room. I heard her yelling at him to go back to the hellhole he came from, but he just laughed at her.”

“What happened after that?”

She shifted from one foot to another. “If I tell you, you’ll think I’m crazy.”

“Just tell me for God’s sake.”

“It sounded like a storm, with the wind howling, and then it went quiet. I looked in to see if Corey was okay, but she was gone and the room was trashed. I know she didn’t leave through the door because she would have passed me.”

Holy shit.
He knew weird stuff was happening around Corey, but this was unbelievable
.
“Is there a window?”

“You see that’s the thing. The windows are boarded up. There is no way to get out of that room except the door. You probably think I’m mad. But I’m not.”

She wrenched herself free of his grasp and started to run off. “I’m outta here. This is just too weird.”

His mind was in turmoil as she ran down the street. He slipped back inside, careful to avoid the bouncers, and found the room exactly as the girl had described. Upturned chairs, makeup and clothing strewn from one end of the room to the other. The shattered mirror left dozens of shards scattered all over the floor. Scanning the walls, he noted the wood blocking the windows and saw no visible means of escape.
So what the fuck happened?
He smashed his fist against the wall, before walking back to his car to regroup. Maybe Davo would have some ideas, because he sure as hell had run out.

* * * *

Corey woke slowly, her head throbbing like a symphony of drums. Forcing her eyes open, she groaned. Her nostrils twitched as the dank smell of sulphur overwhelmed her.

Oh goddess, no!

Her memory came back with a vengeance and she slumped back against the cold rock. Prometheus, the Titan traitor, had brought her here—the Underworld. How the heck would she escape? With all her heart she wished herself back with James. He was her destiny, but a side trip to hell made fulfilling it a tad difficult.

She hugged her knees close to her chest as the cold seeped into her bones. Her powers were useless here, so gaining her freedom meant she would have to rely on her wits and determination. Given that only mortals could escape the Underworld, her chances of achieving that were rather slim.

A tear slid down her cheek as she thought of how she might never see James again. As a goddess, she took what people gave her without further thought, but James had taught her that giving of yourself was many times more rewarding. Never had she dreamed that the concept of giving one’s self—one’s soul—to a person could ever be a sane and logical thing to do. Until James, she’d never really understood why mortals left themselves open to the intense, emotional pain of unconditional love. But she was coming to the conclusion that the risk was worth it. She vowed to give more of herself if she ever got the chance again. She’d already given her heart to James, and if she never escaped, at least she had a beautiful memory.

A flash of light pulled her back to the present as her enemy materialised. He had always had a flair for the dramatic, but no one ever took him seriously. He definitely had her attention now.

“Prometheus. I could say I’m glad to see you, but that would be a lie.”

His laugh made her cringe. “Terpsichore, I am immune to your insults. I stopped listening to your meaningless prattle aeons ago.”

She stood up and crossed her arms as she walked away and showed him her back.

“Fine. Send me back home then.”

She sensed him staring at her, but there was no way she would turn around and give him the satisfaction of seeing how much he rattled her.

“Revenge is sweet, my dear. Your dear father deserves to feel maximum pain.”

She grimaced and faked a laugh. “Haven’t you heard? I’ve been banished by my father’s wife. There is no revenge in harming me.”

“That may be true, but Zeus would never allow others to take what he considers his own. When he hears of my plans for his daughters, he will fall for my trap and I will finally have my revenge. Bringing you here to the place of my incarceration is merely the first step.

She swung around to face him, her fists clenched. “So why did you bring me here? Why all the tricks? You could have killed me in my home.”

“That would have been too easy,” he sneered. “I wanted you off balance, to suffer… And yes, I could have killed you there in that strange place, and indeed I plan to eventually, but not until after I have you and your sisters together. When I have captured all of the Muses your father will be more than willing to negotiate for your release.”

This time she laughed for real. “You don’t know Zeus if you think he will bargain with you. He never negotiates. He will hunt you down and destroy you.”

“Oh no, not this time… Not when I have his precious daughters. He will do anything to get them back, and thus I will have my revenge.” He waved his hand in a circle, cutting through the steamy air. “Enough. I have plans to make. I trust you will enjoy my accommodations.”

“Wait. I need food and drink. You can’t get your revenge if I am dead before you finish.”

“Fine.” He snapped his fingers and a tray of food and wine appeared on the floor. “Enjoy it while it lasts, Terpsichore. I will be back.” Waving his arm, he disappeared in a haze of smoke.

Dejected, she ignored the food and slumped back down to the floor. She feared for her sisters, and her heart ached from the loss of James. Who would help her in this horrible place?
Who knows I’m here?

Of course!
She straightened up, feeling hopeful for the first time since she had woken up in this godforsaken place.
Eros!
She prayed to the gods that he had been watching her closely. If anyone could figure out a way to help her, he could.

* * * *

After checking the dance studio, James made his way to Corey’s house. He was desperate to pick up her trail and was fast running out of ideas. After she’d disappeared from the club, he’d called Dave. The cop had taken the situation very seriously, and that more than anything had scared the shit out of him. Okay, Dave didn’t actually believe the bit about her disappearing into thin air, but James was ready to believe anything at this point. Since he’d met Corey, weird stuff had happened to the point where even he was acting completely out of character. Losing control wasn’t his usual way and while his head told him he didn’t need her in his nice, neat, orderly life, his heart wasn’t listening. The thought of never seeing her again and never holding her in his arms was like a fist in his gut.

He parked his car on the verge in front of her home, then jumped out and sprinted to the front door. As he raised his fist to knock, the door opened to reveal a man—a good-looking, blond giant of a man who grabbed his hand and drew him inside.

“Good, you’re here. We don’t have much time. Let’s go.”

“Who the fuck are you?”

The giant sighed. “That’s not important right now, we need to get moving. Corey is in trouble and only you can help her.”

James turned around to face him and stood his ground. “What the hell are you talking about? How am I the only one who can help her?”

He blew out a dramatic sigh. “I guess you had to be told sooner or later.”

“Told what?”

“You’re the only one who can help Terpsichore because you are mortal.”

“Come again?”
What the fuck is he talking about?

“It really is very simple. You are mortal. Corey and I are not.”

James swivelled his head, looking around him from side to side. “Is there a hidden camera somewhere? Is this some sort of joke?”

“No joke, my friend, but like I said—we don’t have time for this. I thought about easing you into it, but the quicker we get to Corey, the better. Hold onto my arm and close your eyes.”

“What?”

“I forgot. You mortals can never see past the end of your nose. Never mind, here we go.” He grabbed hold of James’ wrist and waved his arm back and forth.

The earth spun as they were pulled into some sort of vortex.

Holy shit!

Several minutes and a couple of dizzy spells later, the spinning stopped. James opened and closed his eyes a few times to clear his vision. He could have sworn he was in a dark cave, but that had to be his imagination. Before he closed his eyes he’d been standing outside Corey’s house.

“Open your eyes, mortal.”

“You say
mortal
as if it’s an insult,” he said as he blinked the last few times as the dizziness subsided. “What the heck was that mind trip we just went on…?” They really were in a cave. “Oh. Shit.”

The smell hit him first, reminiscent of the sulphur gas of hot springs. Steam swirled around, obscuring visibility. While his eyes registered what he saw, his mind denied it. It couldn’t be happening. His crazy companion must have jabbed him with a hallucinogen when he’d grabbed him. It was the only explanation for this freaky nightmare. He closed his eyes and screwed them shut.