Gods and Mortals: Fourteen Free Urban Fantasy & Paranormal Novels Featuring Thor, Loki, Greek Gods, Native American Spirits, Vampires, Werewolves, & More (115 page)

“It’s actually quite fun on days when I go to Tartarus and torment the evildoers for their sins on Earth,” Meg said.

Therese shivered and let out a just-audible moan.

Than’s smile faded. “Listen, Therese, my sisters may take satisfaction in their work, but they, unlike the souls they torment, are not evil.” Then he bent his brow at Meg, “Could you tone it down a little?”

Tizzie smirked. “Well, I have to admit, I enjoy my job. Than’s right: It is
very
satisfying. But I also like the precious stones our father has mined from deep underground. He gives them to us as gifts when we are especially swift with his just payment.” She lifted one of her arms to jangle the emerald bracelets.

Than frowned. “Now let’s not go in the opposite direction with extremes, Tizzie. I don’t want her to be terrified, but I also don’t want her under any delusions of grandeur. The Underworld is a loathsome place, even if there are a few perks. There aren’t any animal companions or beautiful plants. No sunrises and sunsets. Everything is cold and lifeless.”

“That’s not so,” Tizzie objected. “Cerberus is there, who can be quite entertaining when provoked, and so are Swift and Sure, Father’s two black stallions that pull his chariot. They look fierce with their red eyes and huge bodies, but they are sweet when they are eating pomegranate seeds from my hand. And as far as real plants, you’re forgetting the poppies around Hypnos’s abode—albeit, they make you want to go straight to sleep.”

“And don’t forget the asphodel along the Elysian Fields,” Meg added. “Those fragrant white flowers are real even if everything else there isn’t. And the rivers are real, and they’re really quite beautiful and serene when neither I nor my sisters are using them as weapons of torture.” The edges of her lips twisted up into a half smile.

Therese narrowed her eyes at Than. “Your sisters don’t make the Underworld sound nearly as bad as you do.” Then she frowned. Maybe he doesn’t want me after all.

As if he had read her mind, he took her hand in his and gave it a warm squeeze. “I would love for you to come with me, but I want you to be sure. I want you to know what you’re getting into.”

So he’s not like his father, she thought. He’s not going to trick me like Hades did Persephone.

“And Cerberus can be kind if you bring him cakes,” Tizzie offered. “Though Alecto never should have given that information to Orpheus.”

“You have to admit, dear sister, how fun it was to see him torn to pieces,” Meg snickered.

“Not for me. I saw no justice in it.”

Meg spoke though grit teeth. “It was his due dessert for how he tricked us all.”

Therese asked them to tell her the story of Orpheus, so Tizzie began.

“First you must know that the very first musicians were gods. Though Athena didn’t play, she invented the flute. Hermes made the lyre and gave it to Apollo, and when he plays, we all lose our thoughts to his beautiful music. Hermes also invented a shepherd’s pipe, which he plays himself, quite well, actually, when he’s not running errands or going on adventures with Zeus; and Pan, Hermes’s little goat-footed son, made a pipe of reeds that sings the songs of nightingales when he blows through it.

“The Muses play no instrument, but their voices are the loveliest of any I have heard in my long existence. I tell you all of this because despite the superiority of the gods to humans in all ways, there was one demigod—part human and part god—who nearly equaled the gods in musical talent, and that, of course, was Orpheus.

“Wherever Orpheus played his lyre and sang his sweet voice, the animals—even the rocks—followed. Every nymph of the woods where he travelled was in love with him, but he had interest for none until his eyes fell on Eurydice. She, like the others, could not resist his song, and she loved him immediately. They were married in the woods among all those who loved them, but right after the wedding, when Eurydice went walking through a meadow with her bridesmaids, she was bitten by a viper and instantly killed.

“They say even the rocks wept. Orpheus’s grief was impossible to endure. He hastened to the Underworld, set on charming everyone there with his song. Our sister Alecto was the first one to be moved by his beautiful voice and the melody emanating from his lyre. She gave him cakes to feed to Cerberus. Once through the gates, his music charmed the judges next, and then Meg and me, the tormenters in Tartarus. For the first time, I think, we wept with tears. Sisyphus got to sit down on his rock, and Tantalus forgot his hunger and thirst. Our father Hades and our mother Persephone came from their chambers to hear the melodious sounds.

“Orpheus sang a song about the bud being plucked before its bloom and his wish to borrow, not take, his love for a little while. Iron tears fell down my father’s face, and my mother kissed his softened cheek. They beckoned Than to bring forth Eurydice, but gave Orpheus this condition: He could not look back at his love until they were through the gates of the Underworld and across the Acheron.”

Meg took up the story here, “Orpheus had little faith, it seemed. Eurydice was behind him, followed by our brother, as they climbed through the caverns above the river. As Orpheus passed Cerberus and jumped onto Charon’s waiting ferry, he looked back, extending his hand, and in that moment, my brother, under my father’s strict command, pulled Eurydice back down into the darkness.”

Therese shuddered and glanced at Than, whose mouth was turned down in a frown.

Meg jeered, “Orpheus did not keep his end of the bargain, and he should have gone on back with the fact of his failure; however, in a desperate rage equal to Zeus, he tried to force his way back into the Underworld. When his entrance was refused, he finally gave up and wandered off until a band of Maenads—women frenzied with the wine of Dionysus—found him and tore him limb from limb, flinging his severed head into the river.”

Therese looked away from Meg’s awful smile. She felt sorry for Orpheus, suspecting he hadn’t meant to betray his deal with Hades.

Than spoke up here, “I found his soul and took him directly to Eurydice, and they are there now together, though as I’ve told you, they aren’t quite the same as when they were alive.”

The change of subject had done nothing to bring back Therese’s appetite, but she chewed on the potato patties lest she appear rude. She forced the food down with the glass of tea, which she tasted now for the first time. She nearly choked. It was sugary sweet, just the way Than apparently liked it. The corners of her mouth curved up into a smile when she recalled the way he had relished his sweet tea at her house two days ago.

The sugar reminded her of the brownies. “Oh, Than, the brownies. Should I get them and serve them to you and your sisters?”

The girls exchanged confused looks.

“She’s not referring to nymphs,” Than explained. “Her brownies are something called chocolate.” He stood up from his chair. “I’ll get them.”

Both girls produced their lustful smiles. Apparently they were familiar with chocolate.

Than brought the platter to the table and passed it around. Therese watched him take his first bite of the chewy, fudgy square. He closed his eyes and uttered something like a moan. “Oh, my,” he said once he’d swallowed. He took another bite. “I can’t believe I’ve lived so many centuries without chocolate.”

“And we’re always so busy,” Tizzie said, still smiling. “We rarely take the time on Earth to enjoy its pleasures.”

“Well, well, well,” Meg said after finishing her square. “I think Therese has discovered a bribing tool. If you ever have a request for me, bring me chocolate.” She took another square and shoved it whole into her dark red mouth.

After Than ate a third brownie, he pushed his plate away from him and took Therese’s hand in his. “So, Therese, will you go with me tomorrow night to the Wildhorse Saloon and teach me more about dancing?”

“On one condition,” she said, with a bargainer’s smile that would have made Hades proud. “I want to meet your parents.”

The three siblings looked at one another with astonishment.

Then Than said, “Maybe if you offer to play your flute for them, they’ll come.”

“Music and chocolate,” Meg said. “A killer combination.”

“No pun intended,” Tizzie laughed.

T
herese felt
strange Friday evening squished in the backseat of her aunt’s old red Toyota Corolla between two gods, Than and Meg, on their way to the Wildhorse Saloon to meet the Holt kids, Ray, and Todd. Richard kept stealing glances behind him at the eccentric beauty beside her, dressed as she was in a red leather short suit, black go-go boots, and her blood-red rubies on her earlobes and around her neck. Although Therese had been proud of how she looked in her olive cotton camisole and her Levi boot-cut jeans, she now felt totally eclipsed.

Tizzie had promised to meet them later after her tormenting obligation. Therese imagined her hovered over her victim with a swarm of snakes dropping from her head. Would the blood still be dripping from her eyes when she arrived at the saloon? Therese shuddered.

“Are you okay?” Than whispered close to her ear. His warm breath sent chills across her scalp and down the nape of her neck. Because her red curls were up tonight in a high pony tail, she could feel Than’s warm breath caressing her neck as he spoke. “Are you cold?”

“I’m fine,” she said. “Just a little nervous.”

“Do I make you nervous?” he whispered.

She made a little nod, but then breathed, “In a good way.”

He gave her a broad smile, showing his perfect white teeth, and took her hand in his. Therese quivered with desire.

“Can you drive a little faster?” Meg asked coldly.

Carol looked at her in the rearview mirror. “I’m going the speed limit.”

Meg rolled her eyes. “Great.”

Therese wondered how Meg could get away with punishing people for forgetting their manners and be so rude herself. “I’m sorry we don’t have more room,” Therese offered.

“It’s quite alright.” Meg’s voice was not kind.

“That’s not what’s getting on her nerves,” Than whispered. “She’s jealous of how smitten I am with you.”

“Than,” Meg threatened. “There’s no need to speak rudely of others.”

Richard gave another uncomfortable glance back at Therese’s companions.

When they arrived at the Wildhorse Saloon close to eight o’clock, Todd’s giant yellow truck stood out as a beacon in the parking lot, but neither Pete’s truck nor Mrs. Holt’s Suburban was among the three dozen other vehicles. Therese texted Todd while she led the group inside the dance hall, a wave of cigarette smoke accosting her like a stifling blanket. She tried to hold back the cough gagging her throat. Ten or so couples danced a fast polka around the wooden dance floor in front of the empty stage where Pete’s band had performed two nights ago. More people gathered around the two bars—one on either side of the hall—and two or three older men, sitting on stools alone, looked drunk. Todd and Ray turned from where they stood in line at one of the bars and waved, their red minor bracelets dancing around their wrists. Therese waved back and led her group across the dance hall toward them.

After their initial hellos and some talk about Todd’s truck and when Therese would get her ride—since she had missed the maiden voyage—they stood around awkwardly sipping their straws and watching the dancers on the floor across the room. One of the older men who had been sitting alone and apparently drunk approached Meg and asked for a dance. Therese was surprised when Meg consented, but Meg’s mocking expression made her wonder about the Fury’s motive.

The new song was a waltz, and Therese could feel Than turning toward her to ask, but before he had his words out, Todd grabbed her hand and said, “Let’s go!”

Therese gave Than a look of apology as she allowed Todd to pull her out onto the floor. He glided her easily around and around with his thin but strong frame, and soon Therese was having fun and laughing out loud, especially at Todd who was now telling her all about his family’s trip to California and the strange people they met there. He gave a glance at Meg as they passed her and her drunken partner and said, “Though we have a few strange folks right here in Durango.”

He wanted to know more about Meg and Than. Although Therese was just a bit tempted to tell the truth—Than was the god of death and his sister was one of three tormenting avengers known as the Furies—she decided to hold her tongue, shrug, and say, “They’re guests at the Melner cabin. I don’t know much about them.” She knew she wasn’t telling him anything he didn’t already know.

“Be careful with this guy,” Todd said. “I have a bad feeling about him.”

“Okay, Obi Wan Kenobi.” She laughed.

She wondered exactly what it could be that gave Todd this negative impression of Than. Had Todd sensed something different about him?

When the song ended, he asked for another dance, but she thanked him and said she was thirsty, maybe later, so they joined the others and finished their pops.

About that time, Pete, Bobby, Jen, and Matthew appeared. Therese thought Jen and Matthew looked like they were back on, the hot item they had been for most of their freshman year. She couldn’t help but suspect that Matthew had wanted his summer free, in case someone new came along, perhaps while he vacationed in Alaska, but now that school was only a few weeks away, he’d reclaimed her. She didn’t particularly care for his behavior, but she was glad Jen looked happy.

As Jen introduced Matthew to those in the group he had not yet met, Pete turned with a look of excitement to Therese. “This is an old Bob Wills song! Let’s go swing. How ‘bout it?”

Therese couldn’t say no. She loved the Western Swing, and Pete was a great dancer. She also loved the idea of showing off for Than.

Pete pulled her around the floor with authority, easily leading her away from him, to him, away from him, and back to him. He swung her under his arm and around his back and picked her up in the air like she was a rag doll.

As soon as the song was over, she excused herself and ran straight to the restroom. Jen followed closely behind. Luckily there wasn’t a line.

Once they were out of the stalls and washing their hands at the sink, Therese asked, “You’ve forgiven Matthew?”

“Yeah,” Jen smiled guiltily. Her hair was in a ponytail tonight, too. It was like they could read each other’s minds. “He said he didn’t mean to get back with me, but he just couldn’t force himself to stay away.”

Therese’s forehead wrinkled with doubt, not because her friend wasn’t beautiful and sweet and capable of making it hard for boys to stay away from her, but because she tended to be too gullible when it came to Matthew.

Jen asked, “So what’s with you and Than? Do you guys like each other?”

Therese couldn’t stop the smile from crossing her face. “I don’t know. I think so.”

“Has he kissed you?”

Therese watched herself blush in the mirror. “Yes. And he had me over for supper last night.”

“And you didn’t tell me? How did it go?” Jen dried her hands on a paper towel and then dropped the towel in the trash can.

Therese told her friend a few of the details.

Jen sighed. “Sounds like he really likes you.” Then she added, “Don’t tell Pete I told you this, but I think he’s jealous.”

“You mean Bobby.”

“No. Pete.”

Therese’s mouth dropped open as she stared at her friend’s reflection beside her in the mirror. “No way. Did Pete say something?”

“No, but I know my brother.”

“You’re imagining things. Pete’s like a big brother to me.”

“Whatever you say.”

When they rejoined the group, Carol and Richard were out on the dance floor and, much to Therese’s astonishment, so were Bobby and Meg. Ray was telling Than a story, but Than seemed to be only half listening as he kept his eyes on Therese. Before she could make it to Than’s side to hear what Ray was saying, Todd grabbed her arm and said, “Let’s go. I love this song.”

Therese glanced at Than over her shoulder, but he had politely turned to listen to Ray.

Matthew and Jen joined them on the floor. It was a Texas Two Step to a George Strait song.

As soon as it was over, Pete took Therese from Todd for a polka. She felt the sweat dripping down her face, the small ringlets of her hair that hadn’t made it into her ponytail sticking to the nape of her neck. Her hands were slippery in Pete’s dry hands, but he held fast to her as he swung her around, closer, she now realized, than he had before.

As she danced round and round with Pete, Therese wondered if there could be even a smidgen of truth in Jen’s assessment of her brother. Pete smiled at her, laughing when they barely missed running into another couple, or when Therese nearly lost her balance and he had to catch her. Yet his smiles and laughter seemed no different to her tonight than they had any other day. Had there always been something there, just beneath the surface? If Than hadn’t stepped into her life, Jen’s revelation would have excited Therese. She had hero-worshiped Pete all her life—she’d liked the kind of music he liked, played the sports he played, watched the shows he watched. He was gorgeous, just like his sister, his blond bowl-cut hair framing a strong face and blue eyes. But it had all been a sister-brotherly love, hadn’t it?

She tried to see Than, but the Friday night crowd had thickened, and he was lost in the swarm of bodies and smoke. When the song ended, Therese thanked Pete and went looking for Than, but before she could reach him, Bobby snagged her hand and asked for a dance. This was a Texas Two-Step, Bobby’s specialty, for he hadn’t yet developed the same level of skills in the polka, swing, or waltz as his older brother and Todd possessed.

The song ended, and a new one played throughout the hall. Therese felt a tap on her shoulder, and she turned midstride to find Than there smiling at her. “A waltz. Shall we?”

“Yes.” She smiled back, a thrill coming over her. Then she thanked Bobby, who went straight to Meg.

Alan Jackson’s voice brought a lump to Therese’s throat as Than took her in his arms and with near-expert control led her in the slow waltz.

As if Than knew what she was thinking, he said, close to her ear, his warm breath sending chills across her cheek and bare neck, “This song describes my feelings exactly. I was worried I wouldn’t get my turn with you. I’m glad it came on this song.”

She leaned her head against his chest and closed her eyes, unable to look at his sweet longing. It seemed too surreal. All of it. Was she still in a coma, and all this was a dream? Could she jump into the air and turn somersaults?

Before she had time to answer her own questions, Meg and Tizzie rushed to their side and began talking fervently in Than’s ears. Therese was unable to hear what they were saying.

“How long?” he asked, his brow bent with worry.

“There’s no time to lose,” Tizzie answered.

The group moved from the dance floor, Therese all the while wondering what was going on. “What’s the matter?” she asked when they stopped between the bar and the exit.

Tizzie answered, “I made your parents’ killer talk, but we don’t have time to explain. You stay here.”

“Where are you going?” Therese was horrified.

“Back to your house,” Than explained. “McAdams has men there waiting for you.”

“They’re waiting for your aunt, too,” Meg added coolly.

“Clifford! My pets!” Therese felt sick. “Oh, please let them be okay!”

“We’re on our way now,” Than assured her. “We’ll come back and let you know when you can return home.”

“Take me!”

“It’s too dangerous,” he said. “Stay here with your friends, where it’s safe.”

She followed them through the exit and out to the parking lot. She forgot about god travel and expected them to take a car, but when they went to the dark part of the lot and simply vanished, she sighed, and a feeling of helplessness washed over her.

Therese knew she should listen to Than and his sisters and stay put, but she was in agony over what might be happening to her pets, especially Clifford, who would have been barking like crazy at the intruders’ approach. Would they have killed her very best friend? She couldn’t wait here for who knew how long. She had to go see for herself. But she didn’t want to endanger Carol and Richard by asking them to drive her home. They would go into her house and directly into danger. The Holts wouldn’t have room for her if they came in Pete’s truck, plus Matthew and Jen were having too much fun. Unless she revealed the true reason she wanted to go, she wouldn’t have their cooperation.

Maybe Todd would take her! He would be bored by now, with Jen dancing exclusively with Matthew and with Therese unavailable. Todd was too shy to approach girls he didn’t know. She could ask him to drop her off and to not even bother to drive up the long gravelly driveway to her house. He would be safe, she hoped.

She ran back inside the dance hall, stopped in the entrance, and turned her head from side to side. The crowd was too thick to spot him, even though he was tall. She texted him as she picked her way through the crowd and the noise, feeling more and more desperate. In her haste, she accidentally knocked into someone’s drink, and some of it spilled on her shirt. She weaved through the bodies and smoke, a wave of panic threatening to overtake her. Then she saw Ray.

She practically ran to him. “Where’s Todd?”

“Bathroom. Why? What’s wrong?” Her face must have looked bad, because Ray, usually quick to joke around, showed sudden concern.

“I don’t feel well. I was going to see if he’d take me home. He promised me a ride in his truck sometime. I thought maybe tonight. I don’t want to ruin my aunt’s good time. Maybe you’d like to come, too? Y’all can come right back.”

“Sounds good to me. I’m bored anyway. But I don’t know about Todd. He loves this place. Where are your new friends?”

“They had to leave.”

A flicker of understanding and suspicion crossed Ray’s face. “And they wouldn’t give you a ride? Some friends.”

“It was a family emergency. That’s why I don’t feel well. I’m worried about them.”

“What happened?”

“I don’t really know. They were in too much of a hurry to explain.”

“Maybe there was no emergency.”

She shook her head. “It was too obvious. They were so upset.”

Todd joined them then, and Therese turned and explained everything she had told Ray to him. Would he take her?