Dark Goddess (3 page)

Another male god I didn’t know with waves of flaxen hair, deeply tanned skin, wearing a pair of threadbare jeans—and nothing else—sat on a pristine white high backed chair in the corner, reading a leather bound book.  Lean muscles etched his bared chest, his skin glistening in the golden light.  A pair of nearly pure gold eyes smoldered like a hot sun while the edges of his lips lifted as he surveyed me.

A gasp echoed through the cavernous room and my eyes shifted to find Zeke playing chess with a scowling woman I instantly recognized from description as Demeter, Persephone’s mother.

He shot up, hitting the game board and knocking several pieces askew, and hurried toward me. 

I threw my palms up, halting his excited welcome a foot away before he did something unwarranted like hug me. 

Pain flashed across his face.  “Hartley,” he breathed as if the sight of me was a relief. 

He was different from the last time I saw him several months ago in this very room.  His dark blonde hair was longer and a messier than usual.  His sky blue eyes held a layer of sadness and shined as if rain was on the horizon of a late summer day.  Dark stubble coated his chin, making him appear all the more unkempt.  He was so far from the polished, sophisticated god I met months ago it was unsettling. 

Anger still burned deep inside, but it was slowly turning to hurt.  “No hugging Zeke.”  I crossed my arms against my chest defensively and couldn’t help the pout from forming.  “I’m still mad at you.” Unfortunately my voice held more sadness than anything, disputing my statement.

He rubbed his face in frustration.  “I’m sorry.  I’m so sorry.”

“I guess our game is done.”  Demeter’s voice echoed bitterly through the cavernous marble room, her tone so biting I was afraid the delicate trinkets on the shelf close to her would shatter.  She wore a long flowing green and lilac dress cinched at the waist by a gold robe that showed off her hourglass shape.  A crown of flowers encircled her head while jewels dropped from her ears, neck, and arms.  Just like Hera, she dressed the like epitome of a Greek goddess.

When Zeke didn’t respond she impatiently tapped her fingers against her arm.  “Well… are we done Zeus?”  She glared at me from across the room, the angles in her face so harsh they could have been carved from stone. 

I glared right back.  “Obviously.”  She could probably snap me in half unless we were in the Underworld. 

The golden eyed guy snorted from beneath his book.

“Shut up Apollo,” Demeter hissed.

Ah, the sun god.  Should have known.  Should I thank him for my lovely tan?

Zeke’s eyes remained on me as if afraid I’d disappear.  “I’ll see you later Demeter.”

With an arrogant toss of her bronze hair Demeter spun around and slinked down one of the halls leading toward the rest of Olympus.  Aphrodite led Apollo out of the room and a reluctant Dionysus and company. 

Damn.  I didn’t mean for her to leave me alone with Zeke.  As I stared at him, tracing his handsome features I couldn’t help but get bombarded with images of us together.  Even though my friends didn’t remember we dated for several weeks I did.  So did any other god or demigod including him and Hayden. We had made out.  A lot.  I’d be lying if I said I didn’t find him attractive.  I’d also be lying if I said I didn’t care about him.  Obviously that was the reason I was here.  But the hurt kept me from relaying any of that to Zeke.  And it was a good thing.  He’d probably try using it to get closer, something Hayden was very afraid of.

He clasped his hands in front of him as if to keep from reaching out toward me again.  “Hartley, what are you doing here?”

My lips tightened, suddenly second guessing my decision.  What if Zeke and Hera did something really drastic to stop Ixion?  What if Hayden was right?

His golden eyebrow arched questioningly.  “Does Hayden know you’re here?”

“Of course.” Zeke could detect the lie lingered in my quick response.  I shrugged.  “He
will
.”

“He’ll be angry.”

I scoffed.  “I can handle Hayden.”

Zeke’s mouth lifted slightly, threatening a smile.  “You’re the only one who can.”

That almost smile made me think of never seeing it again and a little flutter of panic struck my chest.  I should just tell him.  I was already here. 

I let out a long sigh and pointed to a chair.  “Maybe you should sit.”

His brow furrowed.  “That bad?”

I nodded.

Zeke found the white bench I shared with Hera the first time I visited Mt. Olympus—before I knew she was my mother. 

I shook my head, shattering those anger inducing thoughts.  I crossed my arms against my chest and rocked on my feet, stalling.  What was I waiting for?

Zeke’s blue eyes raked over me, slowly taking in my appearance.  I realized I was barefoot in tiny black cheerleading shorts that said
Lions
on the butt and a red Hollister hoodie.  What had I been thinking coming in my pajamas?

Words were unnecessary.  The expression on Zeke’s face was enough to make me know what he was thinking.  That I looked hot.  Of course I did, but it wasn’t for him.

“I left Hayden sleeping in my bed so I better just blurt it out.”  That promptly wiped the grin off his face.  “A guy named Ixion escaped from Tartarus.”

Color drained from Zeke’s face while his eyes blinked confusedly, the pupils suddenly unfocused.  “That’s not possible,” he whispered more to himself than me.

I shrugged.  “On the way back from the beach we almost crashed into the wheel thingy you had him strapped to, which is disgusting by the way.”

He ignored my insult, his eyes beginning to flash with lightning.  He rubbed his knees.  “This is not good.”

No duh.

He paused and glanced accusingly at me.  “Hayden wasn’t going to tell me?”

I bit my lip and absentmindedly traced a gold vein in the marble floor with my toe.  “He wanted to wait in case you did something rash.”

He scoffed.

I shot him an incredulous expression.  “Yeah because you and Hera have never made mistakes in a panic.”

He haughtily crossed his arms against his chest, bulging his biceps.  “Like a mere demigod is going to make me panic.”

I eyed him levelly.  “He’s been in purgatory for eons because of you.  The one thing that’s probably kept him company is plotting your revenge. 
I’d
be worried.”  He couldn’t lie.  I could see the disquiet shimmering in his lightning eyes.

He cursed and dragged his fingers through his hair until it stuck up in different directions.  I could see the gears turning in his head, probably concocting some outlandish attempt to stop Ixion.

In a split second decision I gripped his face between my hands, shocking him.  And me.  It was the first physical contact we’ve had since he scared and injured me during Hecate’s spell.  “Don’t do anything stupid Zeus.”  This was also the first time I used his real name. 

His blue eyes seared into mine, full of longing and pain.  It was almost enough to make me cry.  “What would you have me do Hartley?  I have to do
something
.”

I rolled my eyes.  Gods are so impatient.  “Please just lay low for a while.  Let Hayden come to you with a plan.”

“Do nothing?”  Disbelief laced his tone.  “I’m not one to stand back and watch things unfold.”

No shit.  That was how he always found himself waist deep in trouble.

“Yes nothing.”  I let my thumbs caress his cheeks a tiny bit.  “For me. Please.”  It was dirty, but I wasn’t opposed to flirting to get what I wanted.

His brows furrowed.  He couldn’t handle it any more than Hayden could. “Fine.  For now.”

Hayden

My eyes fluttered open to a darkened room—and an empty bed where Hartley should have been.  Damn it.  I didn’t need to search the house to know she wasn’t in it.  Of course not because she was in Mt. Olympus, spilling her guts to Zeke and possibly Hera.

My jaw flexed as I threw the covers off and positioned myself on the edge of the bed, waiting.  I could already feel my fire eyes igniting.  Hell, they were casting shadows on the wall in front of me. 

If Hartley thought I was going to let this slide she’s got another thing coming.  No amount of pouting would get me to back down.

Who was I kidding?  She’d probably have me caving in seconds.

No.  No.  I’d be strong.  I was the freaking god of the Underworld.  I could withstand Hartley the demigod.

I felt it the moment she returned—and smelled a bit of coconut.  Aphrodite was going to be lucky if I didn’t singe her pretty blonde hair next time I saw her.

The bedroom door slowly creaked open as Hartley tiptoed in.  She immediately halted when she caught sight of me awake, flaming.

“Oh.”  She shut the door behind her.  “Busted.”  She bit her bottom lip to hide the naughty little smile trying to escape.

Damn her she so sexy.  It took a lot of effort to keep desire from reaching the surface.  And then my eyes focused on what she was wearing and my anger brightened the crimson in my eyes.  “You went to see my brother dressed like that, in your
pajamas
?”

She made a face.  “Yeah.  I didn’t really think about it at the time.”

“I’m sure he did.”  I could picture him ogling her bare skin, a lightning storm flashing in his eyes.

“It’s not like we were alone.  Aphrodite was there.  And Dionysus.  Oh and I saw Apollo.”

My brow arched.  “Was Hera there?”

She shook her head, a gleam of anger entering her own eyes.  I wasn’t sure if it irritated me more the reason for her trip was solely my brother and had nothing to do with her mother. 

“Why’d you go?”  I tried to keep my voice from deepening.

Hartley shot me a look that said ‘isn’t it obvious’ while she trudged toward her desk.  She peeled off her hoodie, leaving her in just the shorts and tank top she had on when we went to bed.  I stifled my growl because I knew she did it on purpose to distract me.

My eyes took a moment to trace her bare skin and I mentally cursed, my hands itching to caress her again.

I shook myself to find her standing in front of me with her hands perched on his hips.

“Why do you care about Zeke after what he did to us?” I hissed.

Her jaw flexed.  “Because I just do.  And he left us alone for months.  We haven’t seen or heard one word from him.  He’s really trying to give us our space.”

I didn’t buy that crap for one second.  He was probably plotting his next move on Hartley. 

She tossed her hands up in exasperation and edged around the other side of the bed away from me.  “I think he’s starting to learn his lesson.  You didn’t see him.”

I spun around and shot her an incredulous expression.  “You can’t be that gullible Hartley.”

“Oh what does it matter anyways?  It’s not like I’m ever leaving you, especially not for him.”

A rumble I couldn’t help echoed from my chest.  “He doesn’t think so.”

Her hazel eyes penetrated me, burning me from the inside out.  If we were in the Underworld they’d be flaming redder than mine.  “Do
you
think so?”  She kneeled on the bed.  “Do you still think one day I’ll run off with Zeke?”

“No.”  I didn’t think she’d completely leave me.  We were soul mates.  Hell, I had part of her soul in the Underworld.  But a deep, secret part of me always feared she’d fall in love with him too at some point.

With a growl of her own she threw a pillow at me.  “How many times do I have to tell you that’s never happening?”

I expected her to storm out.  Instead something wild and dark glinted in her eyes.  “Maybe I just need to show you you’re the only one I’ll ever want.” 

My blood boiled for another reason now.

She crooked her finger at me.  “Hayden, baby, come here.”

Oh shit. 

Before I realized it I was crawling toward her, pulling her down on the bed.  Her roses and pine scent flooded my nose while her warm skin met mine.  The devious smile curling her lips as she twined her fingers through my hair let me know that she had once again sent my resolve crumbling to a never ending abyss. 

She won the damn argument.

As her lips collided with mine and I tasted her sweetness, I figured it wasn’t so bad being on the losing end of an argument with Hartley.  At least not for me.

Hartley

My eyes followed the ghost down the school hall as it trailed Meredith Knowles.   The male with white tuffs of hair and dark eyes matching hers was probably her grandfather. He floated around her sometimes, watching. 

A knot formed in my chest from the deep sadness on his face.  I wished there was something I could do to help him.  But since he wasn’t bound for the Underworld yet and didn’t even seem to notice me there was nothing I or Hayden could do.

I would never get over seeing and hearing ghosts.  I used to plead that they would never interact with me.  Hello, I have seen scary ghost movies.  But now—being so used to souls in the Underworld, it was a little heartbreaking watching them wander around, lonely.

Of course these weren’t the amped up, vengeful ones that attacked my friends and me thanks to Hecate’s spell.  Those I wouldn’t want hanging around, talking to me.

I turned back to my locker, twirling the combination.  The hall was crowded and while I was aware of my friends around me, their conversations were static in my ears.  I was having one of my
moments
, feeling disconnected from life. 

“Did you hear what I said?”  Laurie Mason was staring at me, her green eyes shining and face expectant. 

“Sorry.  What?”

She waved a dismissive hand in the air, unbothered by my inattentiveness.  “I was thinking about a new look.  What do you think about a few pink highlights?”  Her soft face scrunched.  “Not pink pink.  More like a reddish pink.”

Laurie dyed her long hair all black a few months ago.  I had a feeling she was trying to look more respectable for Will’s parents who were a smidge conservative.  She even attempted to wear clothes that somewhat covered her luscious curves, not that it did anything to hide her beauty.  She of course didn’t give it all up.  Today she was wearing a short jean skirt, a purple and white tank top beneath a sheer blouse. 

I bit my lip, imagining her with pink highlights.  “Yeah.  I think it’ll look good.” 

Her eyes lit up.  “Really?”

I grabbed my green notebook out my locker and nodded.  “Definitely.”

She sucked her teeth hesitantly.  “What about Will’s parents?”

“What about my parents?”  Will Michaels strode up and slid his arm across her shoulders with a dazzling smile complete with dimples and baby blues so pretty they could make a girl weep.

They’d been dating for months now and it was a relief the awkwardness between Will and I was slipping away.  We were almost back to being the close friends we were before we dated. 

“Laurie was thinking of getting reddish pink highlights.”  I closed my locker and leaned against it.  Several people walked by, waving.  I quickly returned their greeting, half of them I never met before.

Will grinned.  “Go for it babe.  It’ll look cool on you.”

Worry still laced her expression.  “But your parents…” she trailed off.

He made a face.  “Who cares what my parents think.  They’re not dating you.  I am.”

She beamed up at him.  “Really?”

“Yep.”  He kissed her head.  “Besides, maybe my mom will like it and get some pink highlights too.”

I started laughing so hard I nearly choked.  Mrs. Michaels would rather wear lipstick with a name like harlot than dye her stunning blonde locks pink.

Will shrugged.  “Maybe she’ll sport a pink wig.”

Laurie elbowed him with a dramatic roll of her eyes.

The atmosphere shifted in the hall and a buzz filtered through the air.  That was a clear indication Hayden was approaching—that and the drooling girls.

He walked down the hall with his bad boy swagger, the corners of his lips lifting in a naughty, crooked grin lighting his stormy gray eyes.  His sinfully dark hair curled around his sculpted face.  He wore a black button down shirt, threadbare jeans, and scuffed black boots. 

Embers burned through my insides, obliterating any ice that took up residence where part of my soul should be.  If I was in the Underworld my eyes would be alit with crimson flames.

That was how hot my boyfriend was.

A hungry glint entered his eyes where distant fires burned.  His long fingers curled around my hips as he drew me into him, meeting me with a kiss that should be illegal in public.

After several lingering seconds, Hayden pulled back with a wicked grin across his damp lips.  “Hey baby.”

Laurie whistled and fanned her face dramatically, reminding me we had an audience.  “You guys could start a fire with a drowned log.”

My cheeks burned red with embarrassment, but Hayden only seemed amused.

“Laurie.”  He nodded. 

Will shook his head, fighting a grin.  “You’re going to make me look bad, you know that,” he laughed, giving Hayden daps.

Hayden shrugged indifferently.  “What can I say?  I’m good with the ladies.”

I scoffed and socked his arm.  It probably would have hurt if I my demigod side hadn’t been released.  “Be good or I’ll put you in time out.”

He rubbed his chin in thought.  “Would you be joining me in this time out?”

“You wish.”

“Come on.”  He grabbed my books and started tugging me toward our next class.

I waved back at Will and Laurie.

We rounded the corner, the faint scent of gunpowder sifting through the air.  My brow furrowed moments before I realized the reason for the out of place smell.  None other than Ares, god of war, was moseying toward us with a cocky smile plastered across his face.

His thick pitch hair was longer, brushing his forehead and framing his impenetrable black eyes.  Thick biceps led to wide shoulders tapering down to a trim waist that probably held a twelve pack beneath his red t-shirt.

I didn’t even get a squeak out my mouth before Hayden dropped my books, took two steps, and connected with Ares’ square jaw, a loud smack echoing.  Ares’ head snapped sideways and didn’t fully make it back forward when Hayden gripped him by his shirt and slammed him into a locker, denting it.

A chorus of gasps resonated through the hall while people scurried away.  They’d be running a lot further if they knew they were gods.

“You must have a death wish,” Hayden growled, his body so tense it was trembling.

Ares licked a droplet of blood that had pooled on his lip.  “Not really.  In hindsight I probably should have warned you I was coming.”

“I still would have kicked your ass.”

Okay.  Time to intervene.  If we weren’t in front of a mob of humans I’d let Hayden pummel the god of war after what he did—releasing sin spirits on us, trying to steal the Underworld, and almost killing me.

I strode toward them and gripped Hayden’s arm.  “Let go.”  His eyes were burning scarlet flames and I had a feeling they were strong enough a human would notice.  “Calm your eyes Hayden,” I gritted between my teeth.

Luckily Ares didn’t spew another smart ass remark and Hayden eventually backed away—minutely.

“We got a problem Hayden?”  Blake was standing a few feet away with his arms crossed against his broad chest and hazel eyes blazing.  Jake was next to him sporting the same hard expression.

Awe.  That was so cute.  The football team was backing Hayden.  They’d get their asses handed to them, but still.  It was sweet.

I nudged Hayden because he was still glaring at Ares with unadulterated fury.

His jaw flexed.  “We’re fine.”  His voice sounded more like a growl.  “Just some family drama—as usual.”  He mumbled that last part.

This got Ares several interested glances, especially from girls.  He was a god so of course he was hot.  His dark hair gleamed from the sun streaming in through the windows yet it did little to lighten those dark, enigmatic eyes.  His mouth was supple, currently fighting to suppress a smile.  Dark stubble coated his chin, giving him an even darker sex appeal than he already had.  His red t-shirt was taut across his muscles and his jeans frayed in places.

Ares glanced toward the two football players.  “I’m his cousin, Reese.”  He went as far as winking at Darby, Kathryn, and Leslie who were huddled together a little ways down the hall.

Oh great.  Here we go again.  Another god diving into my human life.

Hayden’s eyes narrowed as he gripped Reese’s shoulder.  “We need to have a family meeting cuz.”  They started down the hall and he knew better than to tell me to go to class.