Gods and Mortals: Fourteen Free Urban Fantasy & Paranormal Novels Featuring Thor, Loki, Greek Gods, Native American Spirits, Vampires, Werewolves, & More (234 page)

I
looked at my guard
; it wasn’t the same one who had tackled me yesterday. “I know you’re forbidden from talking to me. I don’t need you to say a word, but I do need you to help me. My guess is you don’t like her any more than I do. Blink your eyes once for yes, twice for no. Do you understand?” The guard’s eyes darted from left to right to ensure no prying eyes could see. He blinked once. My heart did a cartwheel in my chest.

“Does my father know where I am?” His eyes blinked once, again. “Has he tried to see me?” Again, one single blink. “Do you know how long she plans to keep me?” This time he blinked twice. “Will you help me get out of here?” He blinked twice again. What little hope I had felt when the guard blinked his answers disappeared in front of my eyes.

I heard my mother’s voice for the first time since her hospital room, “
Listen to his thoughts
.” I looked in all directions to see if she had miraculously appeared, but I couldn’t see her. I smelled her perfume, and a warm glow overtook me — she was with me. I concentrated with everything I had on this guard standing in front of me. I looked at the lines around his eyes, the way the red vessels showed through the white, and the light caramel brown of his eyes. My concentration did not waiver. I was sure he had to feel me tugging at his thoughts. It was as if a thin membrane separated them from me.

The guard did nothing to impede me. I looked in all directions to see if Zandra was anywhere close. I visualized the membrane separating his thoughts from me, and with near surgical precision, I cut a big gaping hole in it. I saw the guard’s knees weaken for a moment; he recovered quickly and looked away. I asked him my question with my thoughts, “
Can you hear me?
”

No reaction. “
Can you hear me in your head?
” Again, nothing. He had to have known I was there, but he couldn’t hear my thoughts, so I whispered, “What’s your name?”

His answer came to me loudly, through his thoughts, “
I am
Phineas.”

“Phineas, I can hear you.” His eyes glistened and a smirk appeared on his face. I was thrilled to have someone who would talk to me. I talked aloud and he through his thoughts. He must have been suspicious that Zandra was closer than either he or I could see because he instructed, “
Keep your voice low. I am a close friend to your father. I told him of your tantrum yesterday. He was pleased.”

“I wouldn’t call it a tantrum, more of an assertion of independence.”

“
Call it what you want, she was furious when Aragon told her you tried to escape. Have you seen your future?
”

“Uh, no. How do I do that?”

“
I don’t know how, but all Chiron Centauride’s can see the future; very few can see their own. Zandra saw your future and locked you away to keep it from happening. Gretchen is not as powerful as Zandra but believes you are at a crossroads. You are capable of several destinies.
”

“So Zandra is trying to change my future by keeping me locked up here? She can do that? Change someone’s destiny?”

“
She can influence it, but she cannot preclude one that has been selected.
”

“What’d she see?”

“
I don’t know, but whatever it was, it really shook her up. Your father hoped that she would use this time to teach you the things your mother didn’t, to bestow her maternal gifts on you.
”

“The only thing I need from that woman is an exit. So how do I get out of here?”

“
Your father is still working on that. Because you aren’t married, it is within her rights to remain your guardian. Your father wants to know if you have spoken with your mother’s spirit.”

“Funny that you should ask. She spoke to me for the first time a few minutes ago, telling me to delve into your head.”

“She may be able to help you, more than I can. If I am caught aiding you, Zandra will seek retribution on my family. I’ve already put them at great risk
.”

I was so pleased to be talking with someone, I didn’t think of the implications for him. “Thanks, Phineas. Let my father know I’m okay.”

“
I will.”

“Why hasn’t he come to see me?”

“She’s put a spell on the gate, so none of your blood relatives can enter. William said you need to ask your mother about the night they met. He said you needed to know something about that night
.”

“I will. Tell him not to worry.” When I stood up, Phineas followed me, just as he had during his shifts since the first day I came to Zandra’s home. He neither made eye contact nor shared another thought with me. Unsure of whether Zandra would be able to know if he were communicating with me, I silently closed the hole I had opened in the membrane of his thoughts. It was quiet again, but bearable. At least now I knew I wasn’t alone – I had an ally.

That evening, I sat by myself, the same as I had done every evening, to a lonely dinner in an empty formal dining room. My evening guard had relieved Phineas, and I was feeling sorry for myself again. It was Aragon, who was extremely loyal to her; he was the one who stood guard in my bedroom nearly every night. I hated the idea of being watched while I slept, and I especially hated that he was the one watching me. Zandra walked into the room and saw the food I had pushed around on my plate. She looked at me with her usual disapproving glance, then announced, “I have a gift for you.”

I was startled by her voice initially. This was the first time she had talked to me outside of the garden. My heart leaped at the idea that I might be leaving soon. She withdrew a wooden box from inside a linen bag. When she opened it, purple velvet lined the interior and a shimmering necklace lay waiting. “This was your mother’s. I sense you are eager to leave my estate. I wanted you to have it.”

I nodded enthusiastically, pleased that all our lessons and this dreadful prison were soon going to be a part of my past. Zandra motioned for me to stand, and I held my hair away from my neck, allowing her to clasp the exquisite necklace to me. It was made of platinum and unbelievably large sapphires. I had never experienced wearing jewelry made of platinum before and had no real appreciation for how heavy it would be. When Zandra secured the clasps, I felt a short burst of energy encircling my neck. She said, “This necklace’s weight is meant to remind you of your obligations to this bloodline, to your family.”

Zandra had given me a gift that belonged to my mother, acknowledging for the first time that I belonged. I was her flesh. I was thrilled, and without thinking, I blurted out, “When can I see my father?”

An electric shock so powerful shot through my body from the necklace, it brought me to my knees. I knelt on the floor crumpled from the energy, wondering what had just happened. Zandra’s wicked voice calmly responded, “You will not see him until your wedding night, Camille. Each time I feel your belligerence or you initiate a quarrel with me, you will be reminded of your place in my home. Do you understand?”

I nodded my head in horror. A second ago, I had felt like a princess. What I realized was that in addition to my 24 hour guard watching my every move, my grandmother had given me the Centaur equivalent of an electrified shock collar to curb my outbursts. She smiled widely, in an effort to project her dominance, “Your mother wore that same necklace. She, too, was headstrong and threatened to run away at the first opportunity. I mistakenly removed it from her before she could marry the Centaur I selected for her. I will not make the same mistake a second time.”

“Zandra, I can’t be married. I can’t choose. Mr. Richardson had me swear an oath that if his son was still not chosen by the time he was twenty-nine, I would choose him.”

Her smile widened, giving me goose bumps. “You won’t have to wait five years, Camille. I have already chosen Gage Richardson for you. You will be married in a month.”

I shouted at her, “But I don’t even know him!” Another electric charge rocked my body. My body shook in a mixture of adrenaline and desperation. I gritted my teeth, knowing that I would bring on the brutality of the device with another outburst, but I didn’t care. “He is about to be chosen by another Centauride.” The electric charges seemed to grow in intensity and length with each zap, as I braced myself when the third shock hit me.

Zandra shook her finger at me, as if correcting a small child caught in a cookie jar. “I’m afraid that won’t happen. I’ve already spoken with my dear friend, Kyle. After your mother’s stunt, he and I have developed a healthy respect for one another. You and Gage will be married in one month. Preparations are already underway.”

I put my hands to the torturous device in an effort to move it away from the delicate skin around my neck, “I won’t marry him.” The fourth shock hit me so hard that I felt the flesh around my neck scorch, my fingers went numb, and I couldn’t help but scream out in pain.

Zandra seemed to be enjoying the brutality of her present, “Have we learned our lesson yet? I can assure you, you have no alternatives.”

I didn’t think I could make my voice work without releasing sobs instead of words. The smell of burned flesh was thick in the air, and I knew she would continue to batter me until I relented or went up in flames. She stood in front of me, “Do not try to remove my endowment. It is your legacy. It can be removed by me or by your husband. I will only warn you this one time: should you try to remove it, the pain will be unbearable and the scarring a permanent reminder of your insolence. Attempting to leave my estate has similar results. You will learn your place. You will be obedient to me for the remainder of your stay, and you will not run away from your obligations. Goodnight, Camille. ”

With her final threat, the tears that I had held for the last forty-three days of loneliness, and the last fifteen minutes of brutality, let loose. She had won. I was a sobbing mess, and as the salt from my tears streamed down my face, several down my neck and into the now open wounds, the sting was a horrific reminder of how utterly horrible my existence had become. I finally understood my mother’s diary entry: it hadn’t been some vampire. My own grandmother had put this device on my mother. From her description in the diary, it could do far more than scorch my skin.

Sleep didn’t find me that night. The pain of the raw, charred skin on my neck didn’t permit me to find any sort of position that would dull the pain. I asked the guard if he could get me some Neosporin, but he looked forward, with no acknowledgement to my request. I watched the sun pour in through the window, praying that my nightmare would be over soon. Why was she so set on me marrying Gage Richardson? She had set up a similar arrangement with his father and my mother — but my mother was able to escape. Waves of sadness washed over me as I imagined my mom growing up here with this lunatic. No wonder she told me her family was dead. No wonder we never traveled outside of California. I was furious with myself for not having run away to a remote jungle to escape this crazy woman when I had the chance. But at this point, running away was no longer an option.

In one short month, I would be married, married to a man whose heart would forever belong to Bianca. She told me no decision I ever made would drive a wedge into our friendship. Marrying the man that she loved might qualify as a wedge. Three heavy knocks hit my bedroom door with such force that the wall shook. I stared at the door, not willing to utter a syllable.

“Camille, could you come out here?” It was a man’s voice. I didn’t recognize it, but someone was talking to me. It was someone besides Zandra.

A
t this point
I would relish any visitor that was not my captor. I stood up gingerly from my bed, carefully put a sweatshirt on over my nightshirt and grabbed a pair of jeans. My guard didn’t flinch. I turned the doorknob cautiously to be sure it wasn’t some sort of a trick.

I recognized him from the pizza place the day Bianca hatched her “brilliant” plan. It was the man who would become my warden in a month. His voice was confident and his expression told me he was pleased to see me, “I thought I’d stop by to acquaint myself with my fiancé.” He looked handsome. He wore a black t-shirt, a size too small for his biceps, his jeans were well worn but clean, his goatee and mustache were nicely trimmed, and he gave me a willing smile.

“Hi, Gage.” I found the strength to mumble, “Nice to see you again.”

“I thought we could get to know each other. Maybe go for a drive or something.” He gave a startled look at the guard who had spent the night standing at attention. I could tell Gage didn’t know what to make of him, so he added, “We could take your escort along.” He had recovered quickly from his surprise, as if every single Centauride just happened to have a guard posted on her 24 hours per day.

I shook my head, “I’m not permitted to leave the estate.”

“Even with an escort?”

I shook my head a little more vigorously. When I did, the necklace rubbed one of the sores on my neck, and I winced. Gage saw me wince, but I’m sure he didn’t know why. “How about a walk in the garden?” he offered.

I looked at the guard to see if he would object. He continued focusing his attention onto the opposite wall. “Okay.”

Gage seemed nice. He complimented the gardens that I also once thought were beautiful, the statues of the Greek gods that lined each section. The guards hadn’t changed over like they normally would have. I began to wonder if something had happened to Phineas. He should have been here by now. Could Zandra have found out that he shared information with me? He said she would go after his family. If she was somehow listening to us yesterday, what would she have heard?

“Camille, did you hear me?” Gage was staring at me.

“I’m sorry, my mind was wandering. What’d you say?”

“I asked if you had chosen the gardens for our ceremony?”

“Uh, Zandra hasn’t told me where.”

It was obvious that Gage was trying to be charming, “If I get a vote, I’d like it to be next to the statue of Zeus.”

My spirit was nearly broken, “I’ll ask her if she minds.”

“Camille, is there something wrong?”

I couldn’t answer him. His question was wrong, on so many levels. When he realized I had no intention of answering him, he said, “Camille, you’re supposed to be excited. We’ll be united in a few short weeks. You don’t seem the least bit interested.”

I had cried my eyes out last night until nothing was left. I knew there was no escape, and I would be forced into exactly the life my mom never wanted and had carefully sheltered me from, hiding me away for twenty-two years. All her sacrifices for me had been made in vain. Gage grasped both my hands in his, “Do you not want to marry me?” There was a hopefulness in his voice, and I was too emotionally drained to try to figure out if it was hopefulness that I did or did not want to marry him. It didn’t matter what I wanted. It wasn’t my choice. I had no options.

“I...just had a rough night last night. I’m sorry if...I don’t seem into it.”

My lack of enthusiasm didn’t diminish his, “I think Dad and Zandra are enthused enough for both of us. The invitations will be going out tomorrow.” My only response was a solitary tear dripping down my cheek. I tried to wipe it away quickly before he could see, but Gage was far too perceptive.

“Talk to me, Camille. There is something bothering you.” If I hadn’t been subjected to the last two months, the kindness in Gage’s voice wouldn’t have had such an effect on me. But the absence of any human contact, other than Zandra, combined with the emptiness of emotions and the horrible night last night left me broken. It left me needing comfort. I leaned fully into Gage, sobbing silently against his chest as he gently wrapped his arms around me. He told me it’d be okay, and I got the impression he had no idea why he was comforting me, but he held me anyway.

When my emotional meltdown had subsided, I looked up at him with blurry eyes and tear-stained cheeks. I could see he was at a loss, unsure what to say. Finally I took my eyes off of him and found a very interesting patch of grass to concentrate on while he still held me in his arms. The words were out before I realized they had come from me. “What about, Bianca?”

Gage let go of me as if my skin burned him. He took a step away from me and said slowly, “I don’t want you to mention Bianca to me, ever.”

I was confused, “But she loves you. Why would you agree to marry me?”

His voice was harsh and his eyes angry, “Bianca is engaged to another Centaur. Never speak of her to me.”

“But, Bianca is my friend...I don’t...” the necklace must have decided my question constituted disobedience because the wounds that had been caked over with scabs overnight were just reopened by the new zap of electricity. I fell to the ground on my hands and knees and screamed like a Banshee. Gage stood, dumbfounded.

The necklace of horrors was hidden from view under my sweatshirt. The freshly opened wounds seeped blood through the sweatshirt as Gage’s eyes watched helplessly. I saw him look at the guard, who paid no attention whatsoever to me writhing in pain. Gage knelt down beside me and saw the streaks of blood from the freshly opened wounds. He instantly tried to remove the necklace from me, but that only resulted in a second zap to us both and a shriller scream from me.

The guard seemed to have no problems talking to Gage, “The necklace is enchanted. It requires her obedience to Zandra and to you. You will be permitted to remove it from her after you are married,” he added sadistically, “if you choose to.” The guard’s voice held no sympathy for me. His comment, “If you choose to,” wasn’t lost on me either. I’m sure if I had been betrothed to this guard, he would never remove it.

Gage’s voice was full of volume when he yelled at the guard, “Are you insane? She’s bleeding!”

“She is fully aware of the power of the enchantment. As your fiancé, she should have listened to your warning. The necklace does for you what you are too kind to do to her. She will not run away. She will not change her mind. She will be an obedient wife.”

I could see the horror on Gage’s face. He commanded, “Guard, leave us.”

“I’m under orders from Zandra. You two are not to be left alone. I serve as her guard and her escort while you are on the premises.”

Zandra appeared from around the hedge closest to the house. I knew she had witnessed what had happened or at least pieced it together. She flashed Gage a warm smile and held out her hand to him, “Gage, so glad you could stop by this morning. I’m afraid Camille has lessons in the garden every morning. You’ll have to come back later to acquaint yourselves with each other.”

“Miss Zandra. I believe Camille needs a doctor.” I could see he struggled momentarily for the right words. “Her necklace has rubbed her neck raw.”

Zandra’s warm smile broadened when she said, “The necklace teaches her lessons more effectively than either you or I could teach her. She is not in need of a physician. Camille is in need of better manners. I believe she’ll find them soon, don’t you agree?”

Gage reached down, took my hand in his and politely asked Zandra, “It’s really a beautiful day, and we’ve hardly had time to acquaint ourselves. Would it be all right if we spent some time getting to know each other now?”

Zandra eyed him suspiciously. “Very well. Do not leave the gardens.” The polite tone she used with Gage disappeared when she addressed me, “Camille, we will continue our lessons tomorrow morning. I suggest you use this time to fine tune your manners.”

Gage showed no fear, but an overt respect for her authority, “Uh, Miss Zandra, would it be possible for her escort to give us some privacy? I understand that we need to stay in clear view, but I’d like to get to know Camille a little better. Could he watch us from the garden’s entrance?”

Zandra agreed and motioned for Aragon to move the fifty feet toward the elaborate entrance, in between two marble centaurs. Gage still held my hand but motioned for me to sit down. “What has she done to you?”

“She’s been teaching me about Greek mythology, mainly.”

“What’s the story with the necklace of horrors?”

“She didn’t like some of the things I had to say, and I tried to escape. The next thing I knew I was going through some twisted version of electric shock therapy.”

“I’m going to have to leave for a few hours, but I’ll be back, I promise. Is there anything I can get you?”

“Could I...I mean could you... I’d really like to see...Never mind.”

“Who? Your dad?”

“I can’t say her name.”

Quietly, he nodded that he understood. “I’m saying this for the necklace’s benefit more than yours, okay?” He waited for me to nod, then said, “You may say anything you want to me. An opinion or a question is not disobedience. You should not be punished for being inquisitive. It pleases me that you have a strong spirit.”

“Thanks.” I was so embarrassed of the position I was in, it was hard to look him in the eye.

“So, now that is out of the way. Why did you choose me for your husband?”

“Zandra chose you. She didn’t tell me why other than she really wanted my mom to marry your dad. Mom ran away before the ceremony. I just found out that we were engaged last night.”

“Last night? But she and Dad have been talking for over a month. You had no idea?”

I shook my head, still nervous about talking out loud. Gage breathed a huge sigh of relief. I wasn’t sure why, and he didn’t explain. “Is there anything I can bring you when I return?”

“A cell phone. I haven’t talked to anyone in like forever.”

Gage nodded. He stood and took both my hands in his as I remained seated. “I’ll do my best to smuggle it in, although mine was confiscated when I arrived this morning. I was told that the marriage was your idea. You’re saying that isn’t true?”

I started to answer but stopped myself before I could say the word. Telling him the truth might be construed as disobedience to Zandra. I shook my head in response.

He bent down and kissed my hands. It sent shivers through my body. I’d had more human contact with him in the short time he spent with me than I’d had the whole time I’d been here. It felt good to be with someone who wasn’t trying to manipulate me, someone who didn’t believe kindness to be a character flaw.

“I’ll be back soon,” he promised.

As I watched him walk away, I wondered if he’d really be allowed back. Zandra could change the enchantment on the gate to ban him as well. I wasn’t sure if I could make it another month living like this. I looked back at the guard and wondered where Phineas was.