The Gatekeeper's Daughter (13 page)

On top of feeling guilty for her father’s condition, Jen was depressed about her breakup with Matthew. Worst of all was her treatment from Pete, the big brother who had always stood up for her in the house when no one else would. So even though Therese was burdened by her own fears and concerns, she had to be strong for Jen.

She distracted Jen over the next several weeks by inviting her to do things with her. Part of Therese’s new curriculum required her to accumulate service hours, so she convinced Jen to go with her to the animal shelter they used to volunteer at back when they were in the Girl Scouts in the fourth and fifth grades. Even though Therese hadn’t gone to the animal shelter regularly since then, she had continued to volunteer there a few times a year, and the employees remembered her. They also volunteered at Mr. Holt’s assisted living center on Sundays, running games like Bingo and Jeopardy. After their third visit, Therese had an idea.

The idea came from a paper she was writing for one of her classes on the use of animals in therapy. The therapy ranged from children with autism to the elderly. Therese shared her idea with Jen, and together, they convinced both the assisted living center and the animal shelter to allow them to take two well-behaved dogs, Bo and Meatball, to visit the elderly at the center every Sunday. They developed a routine in which they worked at the animal shelter on Saturday and took animals to the assisted living center on Sundays. Jen led Bingo or Jeopardy while Therese supervised the pet therapy, and then during the week Therese worked on her studies and groomed Stormy. At night, she and
Than spent time together. Some evenings, she and Jen went to the movies with Ray, Todd, and Courtney.

Pete no longer joined them and their friends on their outings.

Besides looking for the item of doom, Than was also helping her to figure out how to reverse the effects of the arrow on Pete’s attitude toward Jen. Cupid had no answers and Aphrodite was looking into it.

She also discovered, weeks after
Than had found her a replacement Coach bag and wallet, who had stolen her purse. It had been a mortal after all. In late August, when marching band camp began, Jen recognized the purse on Gina Rizzo’s shoulder. She called Therese that night.

“Maybe Gina bought one like it, but it looks just like the one you had. I thought you should know.”

She thanked her and hung up, but was surprised to find she wasn’t angry. If Gina really wanted that bag, let her have it. She was hurt that her precious photos had been so carelessly thrown away, but thankfully, she had them back. She saw no reason to confront Gina. Jen tried to change her mind, offering to help, but Therese wasn’t interested. She laughed a little at herself over this. Here she was a powerful goddess finally able to kick some ass, and she no longer wanted to.

Her mood was further lifted by the fact that she had saved a two-year-old yellow lab from being euthanized by convincing Todd that his yellow truck would look even better with a yellow dog. Ray and Todd had come to the shelter to take a look at Chuck while she and Jen were there volunteering.

“Chuck is short for Chuckles,” Therese had said. “We call him that because he’s always happy.”

Then just about the time when Therese thought things might be getting better, they got worse.  She was home cooking dinner for Carol and Richard. She wore her favorite t-shirt and faded pair of jeans with holes in the knees, which reminded her of her father. Than, supposedly guarding her from the evil twins, was a distraction with his flirtatious kisses and booty slapping as she bent over the oven to check on her
spinach lasagna. When they heard Richard’s vehicle pulling up on the gravelly drive, Than gave her one last kiss goodbye with promises of seeing her later that night. Therese hummed cheerily as she mixed the salad and got out the dinner plates. But when Carol and Richard walked in, she could tell by their tear-stained cheeks and red-rimmed eyes that something was wrong.

“What’s happened?” Therese asked, nearly dropping the plate in her hand. What could possibly be wrong now?

“Come and sit down.” Richard helped Carol to the couch. “We need to talk.”

Had they learned Therese’s secret? Were they mortified to discover she would soon be joining the god of death in the Underworld? What else could have them so fragile-looking and defeated?

Therese emptied her hands and moved to the living area to sit across from them, pulling her knees up to her chest and hugging them.

“We have some bad news,” Richard said.

Carol hadn’t even looked at her yet. Oh, God. This was not good.

“There’s something wrong with the baby,” Richard said in a broken voice.

Therese dropped her feet to the floor and sat up. “What? What’s wrong? Is everything going to be okay?”

Carol shook her head. Without looking up, she choked out, “No. I’m afraid not.”

Therese felt her chest tighten and her hands and feet go numb. Was there a ringing in her ears? “Why? I don’t understand.”

“It has to do with Carol’s placenta. Apparently, the baby isn’t getting enough nutrients and isn’t growing properly. The doctor said odds are Lynn…won’t make it.”

Therese sat quietly, dazed and unable to believe. She felt like she was looking down at herself from the ceiling and recognizing how helpless she looked. But she was a god now. There was bound to be something she could do, some other god she could bribe. Athena had saved Sahin. Someone must be able to save Lynn. Hera was the goddess of marriage, family, and unborn children. She would go to Hera.

She jumped to her feet. “I won’t let this happen.”

Carol crumpled into a ball of shaking sobs in Richard’s arms at Therese’s defiant tone.

Therese stroked her arm. “I’ll think of something. There must be something we can do.”

“Calm down, pumpkin,” Richard said.  “Just take a breath and calm down. This won’t help your aunt. You’ve got to be strong. All we can do is wait and see.”

Therese dropped to her knees at Carol’s feet and took one of her hands. “I’m going to think of some way to save Lynn, Carol. I promise you.”

Carol gave her a half-smile, with quavering, wet lips. “Oh, sweetheart. There’s nothing you can do but pray.” She kissed Therese’s hand before breaking down into more tears.

Therese hugged them both, stood up, and said, “I know you probably don’t feel like eating, but maybe you should try, for Lynn. Everything’s on the table. I’ve already eaten.” That last part was a lie, but she wouldn’t be able to eat now. She had to figure out a way to help her sister. “I’m going upstairs.”

Than was waiting for her in her room with open arms. “I’m so sorry.”

She sank against him and wept harder than she had since the day
Than was ripped by the maenads. He held her close, caressing her hair. He kissed her forehead, her cheek, and the top of her head. Then she stood up, wiped her eyes, and said, “I’m going to see Hera. I don’t care how mad she is at us, I’m going.”

“You can’t go to Mount Olympus.”

“Oh yes I can.” She clenched her fists and lifted her chin, feeling the power rising inside her.

Than’s eyes widened at her resolve. “Well, at least let me take you in my father’s chariot so you don’t risk god travel.”

“I’ll wait for you outside.”

“Are you sure about this?”

“Absolutely. Please hurry.”

“I’ll be right back.”

Chapter Twenty: Hades

Than entered his father’s chamber, having decided to ask for, rather than take, the chariot. He and Therese were already going to be in so much trouble when they showed their faces on Mount Olympus. He didn’t need to add to their problems by stealing a chariot, too.

He knew his father was in his worst mood at this time of year after having been bereft of Persephone’s company for five long months.
On September 21
st
, she would finally return, but until then, Hades would be irritable.

His father sat at his table across from Meg in a whispered conversation when
Than arrived. The two of them stopped talking and glared up at him.

“Sorry to interrupt.”

“Then don’t,” Hades said.

“Therese and I are going to Mount Olympus tonight.”

Hades narrowed his eyes. “Good luck with that.”

“I need to borrow your chariot.”

“Take it. It’s yours.”

Than looked from his father to Meg, her blonde hair usually up in a knot now spilling down her shoulders. He asked, “Is everything alright, Father?”

“Nothing’s been alright since you first laid eyes on that girl.”

“What’s going on? It concerns me, doesn’t it?”

Meg averted her eyes, but Hades climbed to his feet. “It seems Ares never intended to take Therese to Tartarus. That was a decoy. We’ve been monitoring the pit every minute of every day, wasting valuable resources when he’s been hatching another plan.”

“What plan?” He looked at his sister. “Tell me.” He wondered if Poseidon had been duped by Ares or had been working with him to throw them off the real plan.

Meg stood now, too. “We don’t yet know.”

“But trust no one.”

“Do you think it’s unwise, going to Mount Olympus?”

“It’s the safest place for you. Ares would never take her in front of the other gods.”

“Even though we disobey Zeus in going?”

Hades tugged at his beard. Then he put a hand on
Than’s shoulder. “I’m no seer, son. I don’t know how Zeus will react.” He lowered his voice, “So you’re finally standing up for yourself? I’m glad.”

Than glanced again at his sister, but her expression told him nothing. “It’s Therese. She wants to ask Hera for help.”

“She’s got some nerve,” Meg said.

“I like it,” Hades added. “Take the chariot and go.”

Than bridled Swift and Sure to the golden chariot, wondering over his father’s reaction. He really wanted Than to stand up to Zeus? In what way exactly?

Chapter Twenty-One: Storming Mount Olympus

Although the chariot was invisible to mortal eyes, they had to fly it high in the Colorado skies to avoid the tree-covered mountains. The air was crisp and the stars bright and the moon only a sliver, like the shiny hilt of a sword. Therese wished she hadn’t lost hers at Lerma with the Hydra—not that she would have used it to attack. She clutched the locket from Athena at her throat. She was a god, and she could do this.

“What’s the plan?” Than asked.

“I don’t know yet. I’ll make it up as I go.” What more could the gods do to her? Turn her over to the maenads? She’d do anything to save her sister.

She was glad Than hadn’t tried to talk her out of this, hadn’t forced her to articulate her motives and expectations. She was thankful he sat beside her with the reins, supporting her in silence as they sailed across the night sky. If only she could think of her purpose before facing them, then she’d feel less temporary, less transient. What could she do? Hermes had so many purposes and Artemis had all Therese’s favorites. She loved music, but Apollo had that covered. Even her ability to maneuver through the water was out-mastered by Poseidon. What talent did she possess that could possibly add anything new to the roster of gods and goddesses?

“Help me think of my purpose,” she said. “There’s got to be something I can do.”

“Only you can discover it.”

“You’ve got to have some ideas.
Anything?”

“Your gift with animals is remarkable.”

“But Artemis has animals.”

Than leaned over and kissed her nose. “You don’t have to figure this out right now.
Quit being so hard on yourself.”

Than was such a good person. The gods were wrong to keep him from Mount Olympus. He may have broken an oath, but they were wrong to make him take it. They hadn’t
asked
him to swear on the River Styx never to make her a god; they had
told
him he must. There was a difference. And their demand was simply not fair.

She decided not to tell
Than about her second reason for facing the other gods. She wanted to save her sister, but she wanted to save Than, too.

If it could only be as easy as saving Chuck, the yellow lab.
Wait a minute, she thought. She looked at Than, her mouth and eyes wide open. Saving animals. Not wild animals, because that was Artemis. Saving animal companions.

“What?”

“I know what my purpose is!”  She waved her fists through the air, full of excitement. “I know what I’m meant to do!” She jumped to her feet.

Than pulled her back down in her seat. “You’re going to fall out of this thing. Now sit down and tell me.”

She spread her arms wide. “Meet the goddess of animal companions.”

“The what?”

“You know how Cupid shoots arrows into people to make them fall in love?”

“Yeah?”

“Well, I’ll shoot arrows into humans and their animal friends to make them love one another. I’ll help save rescue animals by piercing the hearts of visitors when they come into the shelters. Don’t you see?”

“You’ll rescue pets. That’s you to a tee.”

“And I’ll stop animal abuse by piercing the hearts of the abusive owner!”

“Like that man you told me about and his pit bull.”

“Boxer.”

“That’s right.”

“And I’ll help reunite lost pets with their humans.”

“Like we did with the tabby.”

“Oh, Than! I know this is what I’m meant to do! I just know it! Artemis shouldn’t object. She’s the goddess of wild animals. That’s totally different!”

Than dropped the reins, took her face in both hands, and pressed his mouth hard against hers. The chariot took a sudden dive toward the land, so he snatched the reins back up, laughing. “You’re so great, Therese. I knew you’d figure it out. I can feel your power emanating from you. The transformation is complete!”

“Zeus has got to listen to me now. He’s got to!”

When they reached the summit of Mount Olympus,
Than guided the chariot to the outer gates and said, “Spring, Summer, Winter, and Fall, open the gates of Olympus so Therese and I, Thanatos, may enter.”

A face appeared in a gray cloud, female and beautiful with black-lined eyes and an equally black-lined mouth. She blinked long lashes and smiled upon them. “I’m afraid we cannot open the gates for you, Thanatos.”

Therese stood up in the chariot. “Listen. We need to speak with Zeus and Hera. I want to explain why they were wrong to banish us, but I can’t do that if you don’t let us inside.”

“Sure you can,” the cloud replied.
“Through prayer.”

“You want to explain what?” Than interrupted. “I thought we were here to save your sister.”

Therese turned inward, to her mind, and directed a prayer to Zeus. “I need to talk to you in person. We’ve traveled a long way. Please let me make my case to you and to your queen, Hera. Plus, I need to claim my purpose!”

The cloud moved from the gate, saying, “You may enter, Therese, but Thanatos must remain outside the gates.”

“I go everywhere she goes,” Than insisted, standing.

The cloud returned to the center of the gates. “Goodbye then.”

“Wait!” Therese squeezed Than’s hand and looked up at him. “I know you want to protect me, but I’m a god now, too. Let me go alone.”

“You don’t know what Zeus is capable of, what he’s done to other gods in the past.”

“I need to do this. Trust me. Please.”

He took both her hands in his. “You’re sure?”

“Never surer.”

She kissed him hard on the mouth and then stepped from the chariot and walked through the gates and across the courtyard to the steps of the palace. When she entered the court, all gods were present, including Hades and Poseidon, who were usually in their respective palaces. She hadn’t expected a full audience. Even Ares was there. She glared at him wishing she could hurl something at his smug face. Now was not the time to pick a fight. She’d take on Ares another day.

Her throat felt dry as she walked to the center of the ring of gods and faced the double throne where Zeus and Hera sat, but she swallowed hard and said, “I’ve come here for three reasons. Please hear me out.”

“Speak,” Zeus
said, his manner and look reminding her of Hermes. His curly hair and beard were darker than those of his brother Hades but exactly the same as the god of both commerce
and
theft.

“First, I’ve found my purpose. I’m the goddess of animal companions.” She turned to face Artemis. “Not of wild animals. Not of
the hunt. I’m talking about tamed animals meant to live with humans. As a descendent of Cupid, I’ve shown I can use a bow and arrow. My job will be to pierce the hearts of humans to make them love their pets, and vice versa, and also to help them when they’ve lost one another.”

“Bravo,” Artemis said. “Well done!”

“Congratulations!” said Athena.

“Wonderful news!”

“Congratulations!”

Therese turned slowly around the circle to meet the eyes and congratulations from each of the gods. She filled with pride, the corners of her mouth spread wide. All but Ares seemed happy.

“Thank you.” Therese felt confident and more powerful than ever.
“Now for my second purpose for coming here tonight. The only reason Than swore an oath on the River Styx was because you made him do it. He had no choice.”

“He most certainly did,” Zeus objected.

“Not a real choice. When you hold a gun at someone’s head and tell them to do something or you’ll shoot, is that someone truly free? No. When you tell a woman give me all your money or I will kill your child, does she freely give it? No. You coerced him by giving him horrible consequences if he refused: My death. That’s no choice, Zeus, and you know it.”

“Now just one minute, Therese, goddess of animal companions,” demanded Zeus.

“Please let me speak. I have more to say.” Therese widened her stance, setting her feet firmly on the marble floor. “Than is a good person. He has served all of you and humanity for centuries without a single complaint. He has the most loathsome job of all of you.” She looked upon each of the gods surrounding her. “Would any of you say otherwise?”

No one replied.

“I thought so. I’ve been taking classes lately, and I’ve had the opportunity to study what humankind knows of you. I’ve learned that all of you have done things you aren’t proud of, except maybe Hestia, who lives her life serving the rest of you.”

Hera gasped.

“I won’t allow such insolence!” Zeus shouted. A crack of thunder sounded above them. “You may be one of us, but no one comes to court pointing an accusing finger at me.”

Therese felt her knees weaken, and she thought,
Oh, crap! What have I done? Now they’re all against me!
But she clenched her fists and kept her stance.

Before she could speak, Hades was at her side. “I say we hear her out. Isn’t her fierce ability to stand up for someone she cares about something we gods value?”

“Hear, hear!” Persephone cried, and a smile was exchanged between husband and wife.

Zeus looked down his nose at Therese and pressed his lips tightly together. He stared at her with an expression that said he was not pleased. She held her breath, wondering if she had just made the biggest mistake ever. Maybe she should have come on her knees begging for mercy.

No. She knew she was right.

She didn’t wait for an invitation to continue. “Like I said, nearly all of you have done something you’re not proud of. I’m not here to accuse, but merely to point out that this is the first time
Than has done anything that might be considered wrong.

“And think about it. He did it because he wanted what everyone wants: Someone to hold his hand.
Someone to love him forever, no matter what. We all want that.”

“What are you asking us to do?” Zeus demanded.

She took a breath and said, “He broke no real oath. He deserves no punishment. No maenads. No banishment. What he went through with the maenads already is more punishment than he deserves. I want you and the court to reconsider your decision.”