Out of Practice Aphrodite (The Goddess Chronicles Book 1)

by S. E. Babin

  He sighed softly and sat up, yellow eyes searching mine. “Thank you.” One hand reached out and tugged at one of my curls. “I missed you, Abby girl.”

  I felt a wobbly smile touch my face. Tears sparked in my eyes. “Missed you too, Bird Man.” A strangled laugh broke from Keto.

  “Thank you, too.” Keto nodded at Hermes.

  “Of course,” Hermes said. “Any friend of Abby’s is a friend of mine.” I tried not to laugh as I gave him a meaningful look. “For the most part,” he amended sheepishly.

  My attention turned back to Keto. I scooted further away from him and made room for Hermes to sit down. “Who did this to you?”

  The skin around his eyes tightened. “I had a little run in with Eris.”

  I was surprised he’d made it out alive and the look on his face must have revealed my thoughts. “I was lucky,” he admitted. “It’s important for you to know you have allies in some strange places, Abby.”

  I had no idea what he was talking about. As the Goddess of Love, I was running pretty short on friends and told him so.

  “I don’t think that matters anymore. Most know something is going on. They don’t know specifics, but they sense a threat bigger than us.” Keto looked around the cabin, a frown touching his brow. “Where’s Artie?”

  “She’s recovering at Zeus’ palace,” I said.

  He burst from the couch in a daze of energy and turned back to me, fury evident in every line of his body.

  “What?” he exploded. “You left her in the lion’s den?”

  I was taken aback. “Keto, she’s fine. I promise. We had to leave her there for her own safety.”

  He stared at me in disbelief so I told him about the events that had transpired since he’d been gone. At last his shoulders drooped and the anger fell away.

  “I still don’t like it,” he said. “But I can understand why you did it.”

  Keto turned his back to us and walked toward the kitchen. “Anyone want coffee?” he called over his shoulder.

  Both of us cried “Yes.” and trailed after him. He pulled everything out to make a pot of French roast. Watching him tinker in the kitchen, I finally brought up the subject that had been bothering me. “So, the argument we–”

  Keto raised one thin hand and interrupted me. “Stop. Nothing you could do or say would ever make me walk away from our friendship. I had some time to think and I wanted to apologize about the things I said. I was scared for Artie, but she was right, too. She’s a goddess. The both of you are and you are well-equipped to take care of yourselves. But it is good to know there was something egging our argument on. I felt weird for a day or two before everything happened. The feeling became stronger when I was around Artie, I guess because of the earring she was wearing. I’m not sure how we all missed that.”

  “It was a subtle magic,” I said. “Eris’ specialty. It was done in a way to amplify long seated resentments.” I was having the most trouble with that. Although Eris had instigated our fight, the fact remained that Keto did have doubts about me. I couldn’t blame him, but I struggled with the new dynamic in our relationship. I needed to be more responsible and less lackadaisical if I wanted to keep him as a friend.

  Keto set two steaming cups in front of Hermes and me. He grinned and patted my hand. “Stop thinking about it. There will be plenty of time to talk about it later.”

  “All right. Let’s talk about Eris. How are we going to wiggle our way out of this one?”

  Hermes barked a short laugh. “There won’t be any wiggling. More like crawling and hoping we survive with all of our limbs intact.”

  Keto leaned his hip against the bar. “Tell me exactly what happened when you went to see Zeus.”

  I grimaced but leaned forward and explained about the apples and how they were linked to Zeus. His eyes widened and shock dropped his mouth into a surprised O. I was endangering him by telling him Zeus’ secret, but I trusted Keto as much as I did Artie and I could use all the allies I could get.

  “Huge, Abby. Huge,” Keto said. That was the understatement of the year. “It changes everything.”

  Hermes interjected. “We need to plan for two contingencies. It would be best if we were able to sneak in, grab the apples, and return them to Zeus. We both know that probably won’t happen, especially since we will have to land directly in Eris’ den, but maybe the gods of luck will shine on us.”

  I snorted. Just like they’d been doing since that concert? Hardly.

  Keto looked lost in thought and I nudged him with my mug. “Bird Man?”

  He startled and grinned at me. “I have an idea.”

  14

  Chapter Fourteen

  “That’s a terrible idea.” I slammed my mug down and glared at Keto.

  Hermes, a calculating look on his face, shrugged and said “I have to agree with him.”

  “You what?” I shouted at Hermes. Keto’s idea was insane. I’d rather have Zeus hang me upside down off the edge of Olympus by my toenails than do what Keto had suggested. Few survived visiting the Fates with their minds intact. The fact he had suggested it showed just how much shit we were in.

  “You actually think the Fates will offer us help and we will walk away unscathed?” I shook my head and muttered under my breath about the size of Keto’s bird brain. I’d met with the Fates only one time and I swore never to do it again. I had been lucky because I visited on behalf of Zeus. Never had I asked for a favor from them. I almost wanted to walk away right now and turn myself in to Hephaestus. It would be an easier end than what the Fates had in store for us.

  “Listen,” Keto began. “The Fates are three of the most powerful women in creation.”

  “I know that,” I whined. “But they’re batshit insane.”

  Keto chuckled and Hermes struggled to keep a smile off his face. “So are most of the people in Olympus, dear. We should count our blessings every day that we still possess all of our faculties.”

  “I think it’s our only option. All of our powers together can’t defeat Eris. To win this, we’re going to have to go in with guns blazing and an ace up our sleeve. No one would suspect we requested assistance from the Fates.”

  “I’ll say it again. That’s because it’s insane!” I couldn’t believe we were even entertaining the idea. No one in their right mind went to see the Fates. I shuddered remembering the first and only time I’d visited them. Bones littered their cave and the crunch under my feet as I walked toward them would stick with me for the rest of my existence. They never did favors out of the goodness of their hearts. I highly doubted any of them had one. However, I would be fooling myself if I believed Keto’s idea didn’t have any merit. It would be the last thing anyone expected of me. The Goddess of Love never got her hands dirty if she could help it, or at least that was the consensus among the Olympians. I kept my secrets close to my heart, so no one knew about the trials I had experienced through my life. No one except those closest to me.

  Keto could feel me softening toward his proposal. “I know it’s crazy. But it’s crazy enough to work.”

  I wasn’t so sure about that, but since I was pretty sure I was going to die no matter what happened, I might as well go out with guns blazing. “And you think my ideas are bad? This one takes the cake,” I finally said.

  “So you’re in?” Keto stared at me, an expectant look on his face.

  As much as I knew I’d end up regretting it, I realized it was the only way we would have a chance at keeping Zeus in power. “I’m in, Bird Man.”

  Hermes, quiet through the exchange, patted me on the shoulder. “Brave girl,” he murmured. “You’re going to need it.”

  No kidding, I thought. Zeus would be on his own if I didn’t make it out of the Fates’ lair. If I was his only hope, Olympus might be screwed.

  I sure was getting dressed up a lot lately, I thought as I gave myself one last critical glance in the mirror before I squared my shoulders and prepared myself mentally for the day ahead. Meeting with the Fates was
not something to be casual about. No one knew how old the women were, but speculation amongst Olympians placed them far older than Zeus. Very few of us ever involved the Fates, but we were all smart enough to realize they were involved whether we visited them or not. I’d walked away unscathed the last time I’d visited. It didn’t mean I wanted to go through the experience again.

  Today I knew I was on my own. It wasn’t a comforting thought. I spared a moment to curse Keto and Hermes again. I didn’t see why I was the one who had to go. Keto said the Fates would be more open to listening to a woman. I wasn’t sure I believed him. But here I was, all dressed up and ready to die.

  I threw on a pair of jeweled sandals, took another cleansing breath, and stepped out of my bedroom into the living room of the cabin. Keto and Hermes were sitting on the couch waiting for me. An appreciative look lit Hermes’ eyes, but Keto’s gaze appraised my appearance from head to toe to see if anything was lacking.

  “Less jewelry,” he barked. “You look like you’re competing in a pageant.”

  His words stung. The Goddess of Love did not compete in pageants. I glanced down at myself and frowned. Maybe he had a point. I did love my bling. I slipped off three of my rings, leaving only a plain platinum band and an emerald ring Ares had given me many years ago. The emerald sparkled and winked when the light hit it. It was a treasure I had not been able to part with. Even after his betrayal I felt no urge to get rid of the ring and the last tie I had to him.

  I removed several bracelets from my right arm, but left the circlet high on my left arm. Keto held out his hand and motioned me toward him. I dropped the jewelry into his outstretched hand, then crossed my arms and glared at him.

  “Better,” he said with a grin. “Turn around.” He made a circle with his finger and I grudgingly obliged. Hermes wolf whistled, earning a laugh from Keto. I chuckled and turned back around to face them.

  “Do I finally meet your approval?” I said mockingly.

  “Barely,” Keto said. I reached over and punched him in the arm.

  He reached into his pocket and extracted a long golden chain. At the end of it dangled a worn and tarnished locket. He held it out to me and I watched, fascinated as it twisted and turned in his hand. Power wafted off the piece, ancient and unused.

  “Whose is it?” I tore my eyes away from the jewelry and looked at Keto. He met my gaze, worry and fear evident in his eyes.

  “It was Clotho’s,” he said. “And lost thousands of years ago. I found it while I was on a mission for Zeus. I didn’t know what it was right away, but I eventually discovered the origins of the treasure I carried. I haven’t let it out of my sight. Until now,” he added.

  I reached out a tentative finger toward it, scared to touch it but intrigued all the same.

  “What’s inside?”

  Keto shrugged. “I have no idea. I haven’t been brave enough to open it. But if negotiations with the Fates start to go south, this is your ticket in.” The serious look on his face gave me pause and I nodded.

  “Whatever you do,” he continued, “don’t let this out of your sight even if Clotho agrees to your terms. Wait until she meets her end of the bargain before you hand it over.”

  It sounded easy enough, but a thought occurred to me before I took it from him. “And what if she demands some form of payment before she agrees?”

  Keto’s eyes darkened. “Do not hand over this amulet, Abby. No matter how tempted you might be. It’s your only way out of there alive. If she demands payment, offer to take a binding spell to make sure you will live up to your end of the bargain.”

  “A binding spell?” I spluttered. Those types of spells were notorious for backfiring, often resulting in the death of the person who had taken it on. “I think that’s an even worse idea than meeting with the Fates, Keto.”

  “It’s our only choice. We all know how powerful Eris is, and the odds of all of us walking away from this unscathed decrease the longer we wait.”

  Hermes finally chimed in. “I understand why you don’t want to do the binding, Abby, but I think in this case Keto is right. We have a treasure Clotho will want. The Fates are sisters. They’ll stand by Clotho’s decision. Although it may seem they are all evil, that’s not the case. They may be tricksters and fall on the grey side, but ultimately they have as much at stake as we do. If taking a binding gets us out of this mess and saves Zeus’ throne, I think it’s the best scenario we can hope for.”

  “Says you,” I grumbled. “I don’t see you stepping in my shoes offering to take it.”

  “I may look good in a dress, but you’re the lady around here, dear.” Hermes winked at me. “I’d be dead before I even set foot inside their caverns.”

  Keto told me to turn around and I felt the heavy locket swing around my neck and rest in between my breasts. The magic hummed uncomfortably within my chest. He lifted my hair up and clasped the necklace before turning me toward him. He placed his hand over my chest and mumbled a few words I couldn’t understand. The tightening in my chest eased and the weight of the locket disappeared. I looked down, surprised at the change, but still saw it there.

  Keto put his hand down and smiled. “It’s a cloaking spell so the Fates won’t be able to sense the locket when you walk in. I also nullified the magic, but it’s not permanent. As soon as the deal is brokered, the cloaking will fall off and the magic will return. It will be uncomfortable until you are able to remove it,” he said.

  I squared my shoulders and glared at both of them. “So basically all I have to do is stroll into the Fates’ den, demand help, and then tease them with a priceless artifact?”

  “That’s all,” Hermes said with a straight face.

  “Easy peasy,” Keto said. “You’ve done more damage with a bottle of Fae wine. This is nothing.”

  “But Fae wine won’t kill me,” I grumbled. I adjusted my chiton to fully cover the locket. No need to carry anything else because I wasn’t feeling so good about my chances of returning.

  A loud knock shook me out of my thoughts. No one knew we were back here so no one should be at the door. I rushed to the window and peeked out of the curtains. Marshall stood there, a deep frown on his handsome face. My heart lifted and immediately sank. He shouldn’t be here. I released the curtains and flipped the lock on the cabin door. I pulled the door open and we stood staring at each other for an uncomfortable moment.

  “Marshall,” I said.

  He pulled his Stetson off and stood there without saying a word. His frown still present, he pushed his way inside, halting only when he saw Hermes and Keto in the room.

  “I can’t believe you all were dumb enough to come back here.”

  Surprise dropped my mouth open and a hysterical giggle bubbled up. This guy really needed a class in etiquette. He was lucky concerning the company we were in right now. If Ares had been here, the odds were good we’d be staring at a pile of dust formerly named Marshall.

  “It was the only place we could go back to,” I finally said.

  He took his eyes off the two men and turned my way. “My house. You could have gone back to my house. Plus, it seems you’ve forgotten about our deal. You were supposed to keep me in the loop. You seem to have forgotten about the local law enforcement warrants out for your arrest.”

  I had forgotten about that. It seemed like such a small problem compared to what we were dealing with now. “I apologize, Marshall. I didn’t mean to exclude you, but things have gotten out of hand in the past few days.”

  “Of course they did. None of you can have normal problems. It’s all fate of the world and doomsday prophecies.” He tossed his hat onto a nearby chair and scrubbed his hands across his face. I was so happy to see him at the door that it took me a moment to realize how tired he looked. Marshall’s face was covered with a five o’clock shadow, and his normally pristine uniform looked like he’d slept in it.

  “Abby,” he motioned toward Keto and Hermes. “Would you mind if we had some privacy for a few minutes?”

&
nbsp; Keto glanced at me. “I don’t think that’s a good–”

  I interrupted him. “Of course, Marshall.”

  A quick look at Hermes showed me he was not happy with the request, but right now it didn’t matter. I was off to meet the Fates soon, and even if I made it back, the odds were good I wouldn’t be the same when I returned.

  “Would you mind leaving us be for a few moments?”

  Both men nodded stiffly and disappeared from the room. However, I was no fool and I could still smell Hermes’ cologne.

  “As in, out of the room and hearing distance?” I shouted, staring right where I knew Hermes was still standing, invisible for the moment. A deep sigh was the only sound I heard before the amount of magic in the air decreased and I felt we were alone.

  “Would you like to sit down?” I motioned toward the couch and he nodded. Once we were situated, me in an armchair in front of him and him sprawled on my living room furniture, I asked him the reason for his visit.

  “Do we have to be that formal?” he sighed and closed his eyes. “I know you and I are from different worlds. There’s no way anything between us can work. But no matter how hard I try to forget you, I can’t. I don’t know what’s happened in the last few days, but from the strain on your face, it’s nothing good.”

  This man was too perceptive for his own good. And he was right. Even if we did take that first step with each other, it couldn’t end happily for either of us. “Look, Marshall,” I started, but he raised a hand and cut me off.

  “Don’t,” he said, his words gruff. “Let me continue. I’m not a man of many words and I’ve never been good at relationships.” He toyed with the badge pinned on his chest, one of the only nervous gestures I’d seen from him.

  “I was married once.” He met my eyes and a crooked grin formed on his face. “Can you believe it? Someone actually married me?”

  I felt my heart break in a hundred pieces. “Of course I can believe it,” I said softly.