The Wager- BBW Erotic Curvy Paranormal Romance (TOUCH OF THE GODS) (28 page)

             
“Do I get a say in this, or am I just going to have to smile and nod?”

             
“Hmm, a feisty one. You'll do fine, of this I'm sure. Your time starts now. Enjoy.”

             
“Wait! One more question.”

             
“Yes?”

             
“How many have succeeded in doing this? I can't be the only one.”

             
He tilted his head, as though the question was foreign to him, then he finally answered, though his voice sounded hollow with what sounded like pity. “My little soul, millions have gone through this. Stood in various places to be with the god or goddess they fell in love with. But in all those many, only one has passed. Does that answer your question?”

             
“Uh, yeah. Thanks.”
For making me feel worse.

             
Hades shrugged, and I knew he could read my mind, but didn't care at the same time. Expecting the band to play him out, I was shocked and grossed out when he turned into a silver snake, a creature I probably despised more than Ares hated scorpions.

With a flick of his long silvery tongue, he slithered through the tall grass, disappearing into the thick brush.

A hundred days of staying put. That I could do, if I was given amenities, but what of the gods chosen for me? That was the question that left my stomach in knots.

Chapter XXII

Hephaestus

              I couldn't focus, which meant I wasn't able to get my backed up work done and it was all because I was waiting to be summoned by Vanessa. There was no other way for me to see her, for once I returned to Olympus, a very angry Zeus revoked all the vacation time I may have gotten at a later date.

Supposedly, my twerp brother told on me, exaggerating the events to make it seem as though, I did nothing but pick on poor, little him.  Since he was the favorite son, neither the King or Queen of the Gods gave me a chance to defend myself. They even went so far as to make sure I remained locked in my forge, until I caught up on all the orders that were left unattended while I was away. This wouldn't have been true, but the moment I left, Ares made sure to tell Frias that I wanted all the Cyclopes to take a break as well, which left me with months of items, and more steadily coming in.

My old friend was back with his brothers, helping me get out weapons, shields and a spiked whip for Persephone, but the longer I waited to hear from Vanessa, the more anxious I became. The more apprehensive I got, the harder I found keeping my temper in check and if that went bad things usually happened after. What if she needed me? Ares was allowed to go back to earth, whereas I couldn't! If he so much as laid a hand on her, so help me gods....

             
“Easy, friend. You're shaking the volcano we're in. I don't know about you, but I'd like to go home unscorched today.”

             
“Sorry, Frias. There’s just a lot on my mind. How much more do we have to finish?”

             
“Well, considering a new load of orders just came in, I'd say we've got a shit load.”

             
Growling, I looked over the new list, seeing that most of the requests came from my brother. I had to take several, deep breaths, counting to ten in order to calm myself. Tossing the paper on the large work table, I imagined how lovely it would be to make every one of his devices turn into scorpions. But to do that, would mean I had to stoop to his level and I would never submit myself to that kind of a nightmare.

Turning my attention back to the gold tiara I was making for Aphrodite, I tried to imagine what Vanessa would be doing at the same moment. The image in my mind of her smiling face as she looked up at me with love, left me both grateful and sad. I am truly glad that I got to know her, having all the beautiful memories for a lifetime. Yet, I missed her so much that my heart ached. Even when my nephew came to visit, trying hard to cheer me up. It didn't work. My thoughts kept going back to the woman I left back in the mortal realm. Not that I didn't enjoy Eros's company, because now that he stayed with Psyche more, her birth to their first child growing closer, I felt a bit lonely.

The clock chimed, alerting the staff and I that the day was almost to an end. While they would all go home to their families, I would trudge through the tunnels until I reached my apartment. Maybe this night, I'd watch a movie, seeing how masturbation had lost its thrill and it wasn't like I had much else I could do. Sleeping only meant dreaming of what I couldn't have. Striking my hammer onto the soft, heated metal, I nearly crushed my thumb when a white light temporarily dulled my sight. Around me, the mumbles, shouts and curses of Cyclopes echoed my inner sentiments.

             
“Who dares enter my forge without declaring their presence first?”

             
“Yo, bro! Sorry about the flash. I totally forgot where I was coming into!”

             
As if my day couldn't get any worse, now I was staring at my baby brother Hermes, one of Zeus's love children. I signaled Frias, he and his brothers went to work hiding all our supplies.

Of all the gods, Hermes was the least trusted. Not only was he the Messenger God, but he was also the God of Thieves and had been known to take things that didn't belong to him. It's how Olympus got all its cable and internet. Wearing his trademark bright orange flip flops, he floated off the ground. He was dressed in cargo shorts with a red, white and green Hawaiian shirt. Unlike most of the immortals, he was made a god by his father at the age of fourteen, so he had a permanent impish face that was pimply and covered in the beginnings of a mustache. His purple Mohawk was spiked and his mischievous, green eyes took in everything around him, even when they didn’t seem to.

With all of his failings, the worst of it was that he was extremely forgetful. Not a good trait for the guy who brought us the world's current events and messages. Flying around haphazardly, with no direction in mind, he plucked at the various posted notes that were stuck to his body while mumbling a stream of nonsense.

If I didn't get him on track, he'd be in the forge forever and I would end up throwing him into a wall. “Hermes, what message do you have for me?”

              “Uh, well… I think it's this one. No, that's from Demeter asking Iris for more bran muffins for her irregularity. Hmm… this one? Oh crap, I was supposed to deliver this one a month ago to Dionysus, telling him that his shipment of specialty grape seeds were going to be late.”

             
“Does my message have to do with a person, place or thing?”

             
“Huh? Oh, uh, yes! A person! Victor? Varsity? Vagina?”

             
“Vanessa?”

             
“Yes! That's right!”

             
My heart was pounding by this point and I gripped the ledge of my table so tightly, my knuckles went white. What would Hermes have to tell me about Vanessa, when the only messages he gave pertained to the happenings of the gods? “What of her, Hermes? Is she in danger?”

             
“Nah. Uncle Hades said to tell you, ‘Your little mortal is down in the Underworld, going through her hundred day trial.’  It seems he's also upset, because he would’ve liked to have her in his personal suffering collection, but rules are rules.”

             
“I have to see her. How long has she been there?”

             
My brother shrugged, no longer caring about my issues as he had done his job and with another bright flash, he was gone. Probably off to tell Dion about his grape shipment which would be far too late.

I, on the other hand, was left in the dark, helpless and oddly excited, all at the same time. She had chosen to be with me. Vanessa, decided to take the ambrosia and die for me, a gift no one had thought me to be worthy of. I knew once she passed, I would spend the rest of our eternity making her new life the best she could hope for. Even when that little voice in the back of my mind, suggested she'd fail and have to live forever with Hades, I didn't listen. My woman was strong, independent and when she wanted something, she'd get it. I had hope, faith and love on my side. If only I could find out if she was okay. Seeing how I couldn't leave the forge, I would have to summon Eros.

The clock struck five and my workers packed up to call it a day. I bid them goodnight and waited until I was alone, checking over everything once more, before retiring to my home. Gathering my thoughts, I closed my eyes, pushing out into the realm until I brushed upon my nephew's mind. It was wrought with fear and worry for his wife, the unknown of what was to come eating at him.

The moment he felt me, he excused himself and manifested immediately. His eyes were shadowed with dark circles, his hair standing on end where he had ran his fingers through it and the clothes he wore hadn't been changed in days. Yet, his bright smile told me he knew exactly why I called him and like me, he was thrilled with the hopes that lie ahead. “She's here, uncle?”

              “Yes, Hermes just informed me. Vanessa is in the underworld, starting her trial.”

             
“Trials.”

             
“What?”

             
“You mean trials. She's to go through three in the hundred days.”

             
“What do you mean? What will happen in these trials?”

             
“She will meet with three gods, Hephaestus.”

             
Stunned by this news, I stood staring at him as though he had grown three heads and had to clench my fists to keep from blowing apart. She was down there, my Vanessa with my fucked up masochistic uncle, waiting to be visited by three immortals? Which ones, I wasn't certain and that unknown news worried me even more. How I wished I could leave, go to her and snatch her away, but that would cause an automatic disqualification. This grounding until further notice was really starting to suck. I growled loudly.

The sound frightened Eros to the point that he actually backed up closer to the door.

              “Sorry, Eros, I'm just frustrated that I can't do anything but wait here. I need to see her, save her from this.”

             
“You can't, though. The only way she'll succeed, is by proving her worth. It's hard and trust me, I know, but I know that Vanessa will win. She was born for you.”

             
“Well, when you put it that way...”

             
The deep laugh he spontaneously released at the peculiar face I made, gave me a smile. It had been a long time since I’d seen Eros happy.  Ares made sure that upon the Love God's return, his life was turned upside down and inside out. The golden love arrows that he used to shoot the lovers he felt were destined to be together were broken into multiple pieces, while his lead ones had been given to his older brothers Phobos and Deimos. The two very wicked twins had caused a lot of havoc in the world below, and with Psyche close to giving birth, there was no way he could go reverse the damage. Not to mention, Ares placed a death sentence on the young man as well.

I’d asked Eros how he felt about the whole situation.

My nephew smiled, shrugged his shoulders and stated that nothing could’ve been better than to have irked his father so much, that he was now on his deadly radar. Yet, I knew it pained him to have a parent hate him that much. It nearly destroyed me knowing that had he not helped me, this wouldn't be an issue. Sighing, I pulled my nephew into a one armed hug, looking down at his smirking face, and was suddenly struck with the theory that Vanessa pointed out.

His features were very similar to mine, almost eerily so, but it couldn't be. Aphrodite was adamant that the boy belonged to her lover, Ares. Just like her other seven children. Either way, I loved him and hated the pain caused to him by my dick brother. “Speaking of waiting for important things in our lives, how is your wife doing?”

              “Uncomfortable. Our daughter is moving lower, wishing to burst free.”

             
“You know it's a girl, do you? I'm so happy for you both. I hope to see her.”

             
“Of course! And when Vanessa joins you, you can both come to dinner.”

             
I couldn't help but notice that Eros said, ‘when’ and not ‘if’ and my smile broadened.  His belief in the strength of love was tender and endearing. With his faith, I had no doubt in my mind, that I would be reunited with Vanessa, because if there was one thing I knew about her, it was that she was the strongest woman to ever hold a piece of my heart.

Giving my nephew another tight hug, I sent him on his way, since the magnetic pull of the moon told me Artemis was on her way and a baby would be born to Olympus this night. With nothing else to do, I turned on the late night Muse News, which was the only way I kept current, since I was stuck in this forsaken place. There had been a time I loved my forge and humble abode, especially, when it was without the gaudy touch of Aphrodite, but now it was merely a caged prison of loneliness. I barely paid attention to the weather, which would be perfect and the other fluff pieces that were being reported on, but when the breaking news came on, I sat up alert and pretty damn pissed.