The Gatekeeper's Secret: Gatekeeper's Saga, Book Five (The Gatekeeper's Saga) (20 page)

He stood up again. “But…”

“Just wait. I’m not finished.”

He sat back down with a look of tenderness on his face that melted Therese’s heart. When she spoke again, her words came gently, softly, and through quivering lips.

“So, my promise to you is to love you forever and to continually strive to be deserving of you.”

This time when he stood, she did not stop him. He stepped from the table and took her into his arms. He didn’t say a word. Instead, he covered her lips with his and spoke to her from the heart in a different way.

***

“Are you sure, honey?” Mrs. Holt asked her daughter. “That dress looks stunning on you, and Therese will be so disappointed.”

Jen dropped onto her bed and fiddled with the golden satin sash. “You’re only making me feel worse. I can’t help that I’m sick.”

Jen’s mother shook her head. “You’re right. I’m sorry, baby doll. Should I stay home with you, then?”

“No, that’s okay.” Jen glanced up at her mother, who looked better than she had in years—hair dyed to its original blond and face glowing with powder and lip gloss. Jen had a feeling Mr. Stern’s recent attention had something to do with her mother’s transformation. “Just be sure and tell Therese how sorry I am. At least she won’t have to worry about her matron of honor sharing the spotlight with me.”

After her mother left, Jen felt like such a coward. How had she allowed a dream to stop her from going to her best friend’s wedding? Without changing from the maid of honor dress Therese had picked out for her to wear, Jen lay on top of her covers and decided it was okay to have a pity party for herself as long as no one else was around to see it.

She had told
Hip she wanted to become a god, but now she worried she didn’t have it in her. Had the tables been turned, Therese would have gone to Jen’s wedding no matter what. Jen felt like the biggest fraidy cat that ever lived.

I don’t want to die. Not today, anyway.

A soft rap came at her bedroom door. She sat up, wiping her eyes. She thought everyone had already gone.

“It’s me, Pete,” her brother said. “Can I come in?”

“Yeah.” She wished she had waited to open the floodgates a little later.

Pete stepped inside and frowned. “Don’t be scared. Everybody’s going to do everything they can to protect you. You’ve got Therese, Than, Hip, and a whole bunch of gods looking out for you, not to mention me.”

That last part made her laugh. She loved her brother, but, really, what could he do? She lifted her smile to him and thanked him, surprised by how he, like their mom, had cleaned up so good. The gray tux brought out the deep blue of his eyes. She wondered if Therese ever regretted not picking Pete over Than.

“I’m staying here,” she said.

“Good.”

“You sure it’s the right thing to do?” She twisted the skirt of her dress in her hands.

“I’m sure. It’s safer.”

Jen nodded, tears threatening to well once more in her eyes.

“We’re leaving now,” he added. “But we’ll see you soon. I’m coming home right after the ceremony.”

He shocked her by leaning down and kissing her on the top of her head, which had the opposite effect than was probably intended. It scared the heck out of her.

He must think I’m going to die.

***

Thanatos
walked across the screened porch and entered the house.

“I don’t think you’re allowed up there anymore,” Richard said from the base of the stairs. He was dressed in a gray tux with long tails, similar in style to
Than’s. “It’s considered bad luck to see your bride all decked out.”

Mortals and their traditions,
Than thought as he gave Richard a forced smile. “Oh. Well, people are arriving. Am I supposed to greet them without her?”

“No worries. That’s what the ushers are for. Pete’s already on it, and the other two should be arriving soon. Come on. Let’s go make sure everything’s running smoothly.”

The two men stepped outside where the gravel pad and drive had been transformed into something beautiful by Aphrodite’s Graces. The rows of white chairs were beginning to fill up with people, some of whom Than did not know, and with a few gods incognito. His parents, Demeter, Athena, and Hephaestus were seated in the front row on the groom side. Mrs. Holt, Mr. Stern, and Bobby sat a few rows back on the bride side.

“Than!”

Than turned to find Therese’s good friends, Ray and Todd, walking up the gravel path.

“Hey, guys,” he said with a smile.

“Long time no see,” Ray said.

“Congratulations, man,” Todd added, shaking his hand.

“Thanks.”

They both wore gray tuxes and sunglasses in the bright
, late-morning sun.

“Hey, boys,” Richard said, behind
Than. “Nice to see you. Thanks for coming. Are you ready to help usher the other guests? Some arrived a bit early, but Pete took care of them.”

“Reporting for duty, sir,” Ray said with a laugh.

As the ushers helped the guests—gods and mortals alike—fill up the chairs, Than kept a close eye on Zeus, who stood in vibrant gold robes beneath the floral arch, waiting, like a bird of prey. The king of the gods did not fidget or smile, but stood still like a panther ready to strike.

What are you planning?
Than wondered.

Soon Apollo and three muses arrived with violins and took their places near the floral arch, playing a variety of soothing melodies as the rest of the audience took their seats. Poseidon, Amphitrite, and two of their daughters sat just behind
Than’s parents next to Hephaestus’s daughters. Hera, escorted by Ares and accompanied by Cupid, Deimos, Phobos, and Anteros, took the row behind them. Artemis, Callisto, and their entourage of nymphs arrived and were soon greeted by the three ushers, whose faces had all taken on a permanent hue of pink. They probably hadn’t been around this much beauty ever before in their lives.

Than was pleased to see that Ariadne, who had threatened not to come if no
god would transform her brother into human form for the wedding, had come anyway. Thank goodness, because no one in the Athena Alliance could figure out a way to change him, and Dionysus would have not been happy if Ariadne had not shown up. He had become a key player in their plan.

“Speak of the devil,” Than murmured to himself as Dionysus strolled forward to take a seat beside Ariadne. Thankfully, he wore more clothes than was his usual custom.

Hestia then arrived with her maidens, followed by Dione, all whom the ushers had no choice but to seat on the bride’s side. The seating on the groom side was completely full.

Some of Hermes’s children began walking up the path toward the ushers, but the messenger god was not to be seen. This worried the god of death.

“Nervous?”

Than
turned to see his brother smiling back at him.

“Yes, but not for the usual reasons, unfortunately,” Than replied.

“Never fear,” Hip said with a wink. “Your best man is here.”

“And you say I’m corny?”
Than grinned.

According to Athena, everyone is ready,
Hip conveyed to Than through prayer.
We’ve got the greatest might on our side.

Might didn’t always win. Cleverness and trickery had a better track record.

With his hand on Than’s shoulder, Hip guided him to stand beside Zeus beneath the floral arch. Zeus narrowed his eyes at Than, providing no pretense of this being a happy occasion. Anxiety hammered on every bone in Than’s body. This was it. Everything was about to go very right or very wrong.

Todd now seated Carol, who held Lynn in her arms. When she and the little girl took their seats, Demeter moved beside them and gave
Than a reassuring wink. Meg and Tizzie swept in late and sat in the very back just as Apollo and the muses began the wedding march. Than guessed it was Alecto’s turn to mind the store.

Then the Graces emerged from the house wearing matching golden gowns and sparkling golden tiaras in their hair. One by one, they carried beautiful sprays of white calla lilies as they walked down the center aisle to take their places in the front. When Aphrodite appeared, also in gold, a collective gasp swept over the crowd. She was the most beautiful creature alive. In spite of that beauty, she could not eclipse the bride, at least not in
Than’s opinion, for when he saw Therese step down from the wooden deck on Richard’s arm, she took his breath away, and for a moment, a
very brief
moment, he forgot the impending conflict around him

You look incredible
, he prayed to her.

***

It suddenly occurred to Hip that the prophecy from Pete had said nothing about the person who was fated to die being present at the wedding. What if Jen were in worse danger alone at her house than she would have been here among the gods? More than anything, Hip wanted to god-travel directly to her, but the witching hour was upon them, and he had to remain at his station.

***

Therese mustered a smile for Than, despite her nerves, as she held onto her uncle’s arm. Her father hovered just above them, causing several people in the crowd to say, “Look at that red bird!” and “Wow, look at that!” and “It’s a sign!”

Her
mother, perched on one of the elms, tweeted, “Quit stealing the show, Gerry!”

Therese should have laughed, but instead, she was on full alert. She made note of everyone’s position. It was almost
time.

Zeus gave her a smug grin as she approached him.

Are you okay?
Than asked as he took her hand.

She smiled at him and nodded.

“Dearly beloved,” Zeus began in his deep, booming voice.

As Zeus delivered the traditional speech to the crowd, Therese cued Amphitrite, who cued her son-in-law
Briareos, the storm god. Within seconds, a huge cloud drifted over them.

Zeus glanced at the cloud, but did not hesitate in his speech. “Do you, Therese, take
Thanatos to be your lawful wedded husband, to have and to hold from this day forward?”

“I do.”
No tears threatened to spill from her eyes like they had the night Than had shared his vows with her. Today she had no time for tears and sweet sentiments. She glanced back at Carol and Richard.

Richard mouthed, “
Thanatos?”

She would have to explain later why Zeus hadn’t called him
Thancules—that is, if she weren’t in the belly of Zeus.

“
Thanatos,” Zeus continued. “Do you take Therese to be your lawful wedded wife, to have and to hold from this day forward?”

“I do,” Than said with a charming smile.

Who could have known he was better at acting than she?

At that moment,
Briareos dropped a deluge upon the wedding. Therese shot into the sky to the east with her bow and arrows, and, once above Quebec, took aim and shot each of the Cylopes as they gazed upon their thunderbolt-laden sheep. She should have been trembling with fear, but she was steady with determination. This was the most important battle of her life. In an instant, Therese rushed back to the ceremony to help usher the mortals onto the deck and under cover from the rain.

At the same time, Poseidon and Hades leapt forward and pinned each of Zeus’s arms as Persephone and Hephaestus
bound him with an iron chain. When Zeus gave the command for his thunderbolts, nothing happened. Hermes appeared, red-faced.

“The Cyclopes refuse to cooperate!” Hermes cried. “And they won’t let me near the sheep!”

Therese had no time to glow with victory, for, from that moment on, everything was a whirlwind. Athena and Artemis captured Hera. Dionysus and Apollo overpowered Ares. Aphrodite demobilized Hestia. Dione bound her grandchildren with Amphitrite’s help. God fought god, and all seemed to be going according to plan until Therese noticed Jen scurrying up the gravel path beneath her polka-dotted umbrella.

***

Jen couldn’t stand herself anymore. What a coward. This was one of the most important days in her best friend’s life. How could she not be there? She glanced at the clock on her nightstand. It was ten-fifty-seven. She had three minutes to get herself there before the ceremony began.

She thrust her feet into the gold satin pumps, snatched up her purse, and headed to her truck in the garage. When she backed out, she was surprised to see a giant thundercloud looming in the sky. Turning up the road toward Therese’s house, she hoped and prayed the rain would wait until after the ceremony.

***

As soon as the wedding guests were seated at the tables on the covered deck, Hypnos embraced his role as god of sleep and, in his presence, every mortal fell asleep. Some lay their heads on the linen-covered tables. Others leaned back, mouths opened, and snored. Still others dropped against another person, and a few slipped from their chairs to the wooden floor.