Legacy of Olympus (In the Gods' Secret Service) (18 page)

“I’ll be starting at CNN in a couple weeks, but to be let out of my current position, I have to submit a research paper about global warming.” Alec paused, searching for words that could get him the information they needed. “I have it on good authority that you may possess some, uh, unique insight on the subject.”

Mallaki’s laughter echoed off the marble walls. “That’s quite an understatement, don’t you think, my dear?”

She flinched and set down her fork. Where was the self-confident woman he’d come to know? She seemed frightened. Her hand had been trembling. How had Mallaki threatened her?

“Are you going to tell Alec the truth?” Eleni said, her gaze glinting with a hint of challenge.

So Eleni
was
still there, hidden behind a veil of fear.

Mallaki seemed to find her question humorous. Amusement danced in his black eyes as he broke off a piece of baklava with the side of his fork, then slid the delicate layers into his mouth. “I can tell by the way you say his name you have feelings for him. Would it mean so much to you for me to explain everything?”

“Why don’t you let him go?”

Outrage played across Mallaki’s face. “Why, that implies he’s a prisoner here. Alec, are you here against your will?”

Alec scrutinized Eleni’s profile. “No.”

Eleni pushed to her feet. “I’m tired. I’d like to retire now.”

“You can rest, of course. But don’t forget we have something special planned for this evening. I’ll escort you back to your room.” Mallaki stood, circled the table, and took her hand. “You’re so cold.” He raised his brows at Alec. “I bought her a shawl to go with the outfit, but she refuses to wear it.” He gave a pointed look to the front of Eleni’s dress. “But I must admit, the result is quite impressive.”

Alec followed Mallaki’s gaze to the area where Eleni’s erect nipples pressed against the filmy fabric.

Color flushed high on Eleni’s cheeks, and tears swam in her eyes. Why? She liked men looking at her, didn’t she? Yet this was different. Mallaki wasn’t being appreciative...he was goading Alec, at Eleni’s expense.

He knew he should do something gallant and defend her honor, but he had to find out what the truth was. If that meant staying on Mallaki’s good side, even for appearance’s sake, he had to, for the time being. But Mallaki
would
pay for that remark, and his disrespect to Eleni.

Alec met Mallaki’s dark gaze. “I’d like to talk to you tonight about your involvement with global warming, if that would be possible.” He was leaving in the morning, and Eleni was going with him.

“Of course. But we have a special program planned in your honor, a tribute to our ancestor Dionysus. Afterward, we can talk at length.”

Alec watched Eleni leave the room, her back lined with tension. This wasn’t some game she was playing. This went way beyond being careful. She was terrified.

The music changed and became deep and menacing. The girl glanced behind her, let out a shriek, and the man pounced. They struggled, but he was much stronger. He grabbed her around the waist. She shoved her fists between them and pounded against his broad chest. As they struggled, they were all over the stage, twisting, turning, her pushing against him, him trying to kiss her, both breathing heavily. They stumbled across the stage, sandals striking the marble in heavy thumps.

His blood ran cold. This wasn’t a polished act. Hell, it didn’t appear rehearsed at all.

He shot Mallaki a questioning look, but his host’s attention seemed focused on the stage, where the attacker had forced the girl to her knees, facing the audience. Her dress had been torn in the struggle, exposing a ripe young breast.

She appeared terrified as her attacker raised the hem of her dress to her waist, giving the audience members seated on the sides a flash of her bare hips, and knelt behind her. Alec knew a lot of Greek myths included the seduction and rape of innocents, but Mallaki was taking this too far.

Did he consider rape a form of sexuality? If so, he had a twisted sense of what turned people on.

The attacker fumbled with the front of his toga, leaned over the girl then, gripping her exposed breast, and lunged forward. She shrieked, and tears streamed down her face.

Pulse thundering through his veins, Alec started to rise. If this were real...He should have acted sooner.

Mallaki stretched an arm out in front of him. “They’re acting. No one is being harmed.”

Her cries turned to sobs as he thrust at her. From where Alec was sitting he couldn’t tell if there was actual penetration. There could be, hidden from the audience by the attacker’s long robe.

The girl hesitated, looked confused, then shook her head, a flash of a smile on her face. A sick sense of relief washed over him. She’d obviously missed a cue.

Alec scanned the audience. The guests weren’t fixed in rapt attention, as he’d expected. Many of the women appeared shocked, upset, while the men looked equally disturbed, whispering amongst themselves.

If this wasn’t Mallaki’s usual performance, why do it tonight?

Alec glanced back at the stage where the girl lay crumpled in a heap on the floor, while the man adjusted his clothing.

Alec turned his attention to Eleni, whose face had drained of color. Every muscle in her body had tensed, her lips were pressed tight together, and her chest rose and fell in rapid succession. Damn, the act would disturb anyone, and was designed to.

“Are you enjoying the show so far?” Mallaki’s keen eyes sparkled with something Alec didn’t like.

“The skit was disturbing and...enlightening.”

“In what way?”

Behind Mallaki, Eleni shook her head in warning, her blue eyes wide with fear.

“I’m getting an idea who you are.”

“That was my intent.” Mallaki turned to Eleni. “What do you think, my dear?”

“I don’t like this game you’re playing, Mallaki. I’d like to return to my room now.”

“Why, the fun’s only beginning. Mr. Androulakis isn’t going anywhere. I’d thought you’d want to see him while you can.”

The last was a threat, but what did he mean by it? Was he threatening her welfare? His? Maybe both?

A thundering beat of music vibrated the floor and chairs, and the stage flooded with costumed men and women, a bearded man with trident, a helmeted woman carrying an owl, another with a spear. Alec managed to keep his jaw from dropping open when a dark-haired man with matching beard paraded a three-headed dog across the stage. Audience members gasped. If the abomination was some sort of trick, whoever created it belonged in Hollywood. The beast looked pretty damn real to him.

The people on stage parted, allowing a bulky man with what appeared to be a fake white beard to take center stage. A younger man bowed before him, then handed him a scepter. He pointed the staff toward the vacant side of the room, and a bolt of lightning shot from the end, searing the wall. Alec shielded his eyes from the intensity of the light as the man proceeded to write
Zeus
in cursive on the stone surface. The audience roared their approval.

Mallaki leaned toward him. “I chose only descendants with the purest powers to perform tonight.”

Another bearded man stepped forward. He swept his arm in the direction of the crowd, and the floor and seats began trembling immediately.

Mallaki shrugged. “He’s not the most impressive descendant of Poseidon. I am, but I’m too busy to entertain in that manner.” He shot a lascivious grin in Eleni’s direction. “Besides, I have to keep up my strength.”

Alec gritted his teeth, knowing Mallaki was trying to bait him again. The problem was, it was working. He wanted to take his fist and slam into that cocky smile, wiping the arrogant expression off his handsome face.

A young man and woman dressed in bronze protective gear and helmets stepped into the limelight. The armor mainly covered the torso, leaving the arms and legs bare, exposing vast amounts of muscled flesh. Each carried a spear. They started circling each other.

Mallaki leaned toward him. “Brother and sister, Alcander and Pyrena.”

That explained the strong resemblance around the nose and high cheekbones.

Without warning, Alcander thrust, catching his sister on the leg. Through the helmet, which also ran down her nose, she glared at her brother, did a swift side-step, then caught her brother on the arm. Blood flowed freely from both wounds, but neither would admit to defeat. According to Mallaki, this was supposed to be a performance, but both seemed determined to win. Less than ten minutes had passed, and the floor was streaked with blood. They stopped only when a gong sounded. Breathing heavily, they slapped each other on the back.

The knot is Alec’s gut tightened. No harm, no foul? They would both likely be scarred for life.

Mallaki glanced at Eleni, took her hand in his, raised it to midair, then turned toward Alec and spoke in a voice only he could hear. “Which does she remind you of, the warrior woman who kicked her brother’s ass or the unfortunate young girl from the first play?”

Eleni may be docile at the moment, but Mallaki was a fool to underestimate her.

The female host took the stage once again, her lush red lips curving upward in a suggestive smile. “Don’t go far. The best is yet to come.” She reached her hands behind her neck, tugged, and spun around in one fluid motion. The fabric pooled on the floor.

Alec’s mouth dropped open. She was stark naked, her slender back, her tight, youthful behind facing the audience. She glanced back over her shoulder, winked, then sauntered toward the rear of the stage.

There were loud guffaws and cheers, and the servants, carrying trays loaded with goblets of amber liquid, started passing out the drink to the ravenous crowd.

When a servant attempted to offer a goblet to Eleni, Mallaki stilled his hand. “None for the three of us.” He indicated Alec with a nod. “He and I have business later and need to be clear-headed.”

The floor vibrated again as two marble slabs parted and a dense stone table rose from the center of the stage. Again, Alec managed to keep his jaw from dropping open. Obviously Mallaki held these performances often enough to have such elaborate staging. Servants carried out several sturdy chairs, then set pitchers of the same amber liquid the audience members were drinking plus overflowing bowls of green and red grapes onto the table.

The audience hushed as the stage filled with men and women of all shapes and sizes. Each wore heavy make-up and colorful costumes he assumed were designed after the ancient myths.

Sultry, seductive music filled the air. The “rape” victim from the earlier skit was back, smiling and flirting with audience members. Alec got an inkling where this was heading, and the ball in the pit of his stomach tightened into a firm knot. His idea was verified when the actors and actresses started shedding their clothes.

Eleni shot to her feet. “I’m leaving, Mallaki. If you try and stop me, I
will
scream.” Her voice rose on the last two words, punctuating her promise.

Mallaki threw his head back and laughed, then stood. “That’s quite all right, my dear. I have much to do. We’ll leave them to their celebration.” He turned his attention to Alec. “You’re more than welcome to stay.”

“No.” Alec rose.

“Then if you’ll agree, I have something I’d like to show you.”