by S. E. Babin
“Why am I here, Zeus?” Once I had managed to extricate myself from Marshall this morning I was rushed to get ready, and didn’t have time to worry until I’d made it here.
“Didn’t Hera mention a reward?”
I tensed. “Yes,” I said hesitantly. “I’m not sure I want it, though.”
“Abby,” he said. “Relax. Seriously. Your fidgeting is making me nervous and giving me a complex about how I treat everyone.”
“Well, then. If the shoe fits.” And I immediately cursed myself for saying it aloud.
“There’s my girl,” Zeus said fondly.
“Where’s Hera?” I was surprised she wasn’t with him for this reward. Whatever it was, it was bound to be up her alley.
“She’s resting. Eris’ influence sapped her strength. Hera will have a long recovery period ahead of her. She needs to regain her power. She’ll need it soon enough.”
“And you? Are the apples in their proper resting place?”
He sighed, a tired sound. “They are,” he confirmed, “but I’m strongly reconsidering my choice in that respect. The apples have been compromised so I’m debating on how I should store some of my powers.”
“Horcruxes,” I murmured.
“Excuse me?” Zeus turned quizzical eyes to me.
“I guess you’re not a fan of Harry Potter. You should read the books. They’ll keep you up for hours.”
Zeus stared at me like I was an alien, so I explained. “The apples are like Horcruxes – just like in the book. The villain – Voldemort – stored pieces of his soul in various objects as a way to ensure immortality. The majority of your power rested in them. If even one was destroyed you would be weakened.”
He still was staring at me in confusion. I sighed and told him to read the books. “Maybe after you do, you won’t hide all your powers in one place. Harry had a bitch of a time tracking all of Voldemort’s horcruxes down. It’s much more difficult for someone to steal them and take over the world when they don’t know where to find them.”
A curious light appeared in Zeus’ eyes and he studied me closely. “I will, Abby. I think you’re onto something.”
Go figure. I could picture Zeus becoming a J.K. Rowling fan boy and I chuckled.
Zeus stood up and beckoned me to walk with him toward the throne. Behind it was a smooth, blank wall made of marble. With a quick wave of his hand, a picture appeared on the surface. I gasped as I took it in. A large house stood alone, its only background the Smoky mountains. Green grass and flowers of every color surrounded the home like a Thomas Kinkade painting.
I stared at it, wondering why Zeus was showing it to me, and became absorbed in its detail. As the picture moved from the outside view to the inside I was mesmerized with the details of the architecture. And the kitchen. Oh. My. Word. I could do some damage there.
I turned to Zeus and found him staring at me, a curious smile on his face. “Do you like it?”
“Of course I do. You could already tell. What’s it for?”
“You,” he said.
My heart stopped. “Me?” I gaped at him like a fish out of water. “Why?”
“Why not?” he said. “I’ve threatened you and your friends, placed you in danger repeatedly, and you’ve done nothing but plunge forward trying to solve this. At any time you could have refused me, but you didn’t.”
I had no clue who this man was, but I didn’t think it could be Zeus. “Could I have refused?”
“You could have,” he said. “It might not have ended well for you, but you could have.”
I snorted. “That’s what I thought. But I don’t understand. Why a house? Why there?”
“New York doesn’t suit you any longer, Abby. Plus, there’s room for Artie there and Keto if you want him. I’ve watched your dynamic over the years. You should fight for his friendship. Even when he’s resistant to you. He’s fighting his feelings for Artie. You are a wrench in his plans for keeping her safe.”
“Knocked up and pregnant, you mean.”
Zeus winced. Oops. Best not to remind Daddy Dearest his children were running around fornicating. “Maybe that,” he amended.
I stared at the home, wanting to accept it so badly but feeling like there were strings attached I couldn’t see yet.
“So what’s the catch?”
“Catch?” he repeated. A little too innocently for my taste.
“Yes. What’s in it for you?”
“Not much,” he said.
So there it was. “But something?”
He grinned like a naughty schoolchild. “Of course there’s something in it for me. Haven’t you met me?” He raised his hands and shrugged his shoulders in a sheepish gesture and I shook my head.
“How do you feel about being on…retainer?”
“Why would I be on retainer?” I wasn’t quite following his train of thought.
“For things I need done. People I need watched.”
“What does that mean? You want me to be a spy for you?”
His face fell serious and he looked at me with pleading eyes. “No. Not a spy. I have Hermes for that.”
I knew it. My heart sank a little. So Hermes wasn’t telling the complete truth when he was around me. I was unsurprised yet still disappointed in him. “Then I don’t understand why you need me.”
“Abby, you and your friends managed to save Olympus. Not a small feat and not one that could have been done without your help. We are peaceful now, but there will be times in the future my rule will be threatened. I’d like you to work for me.”
I opened my mouth to decline and he stopped me by saying, “Not as a servant, Abby. As an employee.”
I shut my mouth and stared at him. “Do I get a 401k?”
“If you want it.”
I decided to push my luck. “A 1950 fully restored Chevy truck with air conditioning and stereo radio?”
He growled a little bit and clenched his teeth. “Yes,” he bit out. Wow. He must really be hurting for good help if he’d agreed to that one.
“What kind of salary are we talking about here?” I’ve never had a real job, but I sure could use a decent income.
“It will be enough to maintain your current lifestyle.”
“Plus thirty percent,” I added, to see how far I could stretch his goodwill.
“You’re pushing your luck, Abby.”
“I know.” I grinned sweetly. “So, thirty percent?”
“That’s it.”
“I’ll have my lawyer visit you to draw up the contract.”
“Lawyer?” Zeus stared at me as if I were a stranger. “We don’t need lawyers for this.”
He certainly didn’t. But I did. This ordeal made me wise up in more than one area. Nomos would get a call from me first thing in the morning. He’d be delighted to hear who I needed the contract drawn up with.
A wicked gleam sparkled in Zeus’ eye and he started to laugh. “Have it your way, Abby.”
“I plan to,” I said and blinked out of the throne room and onto the porch of my brand new house.
I stared at the beautifully stained wood and wrought iron door. A deep sense of satisfaction settled into my bones as I breathed in the pine scented mountain air. I opened the door and stepped into the foyer only to see Artie, Marshall, and Keto had already made themselves at home.
We all grinned at each other like fools and Keto came forward with a steaming cup of coffee. Our friendship might be on shaky ground right now, but we loved each other. Sometimes that was all that mattered.
I could look around and explore the nooks and crannies of my new house later. Right now I wanted to spend some downtime with my friends and Marshall. I stepped into his waiting arms, careful not to spill my coffee, and squeezed him tightly.
“Home,” I finally said. “Can you believe we’re all still alive?”
Laughter, with hope the first of much mirth in this gorgeous home, rang out and a sense of hope stole through my veins and settled in my heart. I didn’t know what t
he future held for any of us, and I certainly didn’t know what kind of things I’d be doing for Zeus. What I did know was as long as I had everyone here with me, we’d make it through okay.
Thanks so much for reading Out of Practice Aphrodite. If you enjoyed her adventures, will you consider leaving me a review at your favorite retailer?
Thanks!
S.E. Babin