by Lisa Kessler
She jogged toward the building before he could probe any further. Gavin faced the street so she couldn’t see his expression. He wasn’t sure he could mask the contempt. Tera hadn’t said the words, but her eyes had confirmed it: Her mother had abused her. And probably more than just mentally. He wanted to hunt her mother down and dole her out some vigilante justice.
His phone buzzed in his pocket, snapping him back into the moment. His buddy, Jim, was on his way over with the cameras. He shot a text back and then went to the SUV for his tools and a ladder.
When he came back inside, Tera was dancing. Shit, to call it dancing seemed much too simple. The sound system was pumping out “Take Me to Church,” and every nuance of her body spoke volumes. Words she couldn’t bring herself to speak were plain as day in her movements.
As the singer wailed the lyrics, “Let me give you my life,” Tera’s eyes met his in the mirrored wall. Her gaze demanded his attention. The world could have stopped spinning on its axis, and he wouldn’t have noticed. Bombs could’ve exploded outside the door, and he wouldn’t have looked away.
Her dance inspired mixed emotions. Rage, pain, sadness, and raw need blossomed within him until he ached to run to her. But he didn’t move. This was her dance, not his. She was showing him her scars, not asking him to cover them.
As the song ended, her dance slowed, and finally, she walked over to him. Perspiration rolled down her cheek as she stared up at him. Her chest heaved from the effort, but her voice was strong and even. “Dance with me.”
He almost blurted out his instinctive I don’t dance, but he closed his mouth, allowing her to take his hand and walk him out onto the hardwood floor. The next song was slower, less intense. In front of the mirrored wall, she turned him to face his reflection.
She stepped behind him, placing her hands on his hips. “At its heart, dance is an extension of your soul braided into the music; it’s not a bunch of steps to be memorized. Everyone can dance.”
He raised a brow. “Were you reading my mind?”
She treated him to a rare smile that had his pulse stuttering in answer. “Choreography is memorized steps. Free dance is a language. Think of this as…language lessons.”
“I can do that.”
She pushed and pulled his hips from side to side in time with the beat of the music. “Loosen up. Let the music flow through your body. Feel the rhythm like a heartbeat.”
He watched her reflection in the mirror. Although she was focused on helping him move, she wasn’t stationary. Maybe she couldn’t be. Her gaze trailed lower on the mirror to the scars on his knee.
He stopped and turned away from his reflection. “I should get up in the ceiling and see how tough it’s going to be to run cable to the cameras.”
A crease knitted across her forehead. “I didn’t mean to…stare.”
“You can look all you want.” He shook his head slowly. “But all I see are bad memories and dreams I gave up a long time ago.”
He walked away, and true to his word, Gavin climbed to the top of his ladder and moved ceiling tiles around to see inside. With his head craning around up there, she could take in the view without fear of being caught gawking.
The door opened, and Tera flinched. For a second, she forgot her first class started in a few minutes. The little ones in her tot class were between three and six years old, so the cuteness factor was off the charts, but keeping their attention when there was a man on a ladder nearby was going to be next to impossible.
Once she had all five of her young students lined up in front of the mirror, she took them through first position and second position with plies and relevés.
They all wore pink leotards and ballet slippers, but unlike some of the strict studios where Tera had studied as a little girl, she was lenient about the tights, allowing the girls to choose any color they liked. Most chose pink to match their outfits, but Rose wore white tights with bright-yellow polka dots. It was tough to miss her little legs in the mirror.
When Tera had the girls turn around to grip the barre with their other hands, Rose giggled, and her hand popped up into the air.
Tera raised a brow. “Do you have a question?”
“Who is that man, and why is he on a ladder watching you?” Rose leaned closer, her hand at the side of her mouth as if she had a big secret to tell. “Is he your boyfriend, Miss Tera?”
Tera had been so focused on her students, she’d lost track of her bodyguard. She turned around, and he gave a guilty smile. “Just waiting on the cameras to get here. I didn’t want to interrupt.”
Her tots were rapidly losing focus. Tera crossed to the other end of the mirrored wall and reached into her ribbon barrel. Squeals echoed through the studio as she walked over and handed each girl a stick with a long ribbon attached.
With the stereo remote in her hand, Tera scanned the row of tiny dancers, keeping her expression serious. “Who can tell me the rules for ribbon dancing?”
Rose’s hand shot up first, and Tera pointed her way. “No hitting.” Rose recited with a serious expression on her face.
“Perfect. And…” Tera went down the line, each girl adding a rule: no running, no floor dancing, no laughing at others.
Then they repeated the most important rule together. “All dancing is beautiful.”
Tera grinned and pressed a button on her remote. The soundtrack from Rapunzel filled the room, and the girls danced and ran and hopped. A few partnered up, holding hands while they mimicked each other in the mirror. And then there was Rose. The little girl twirled the wand above her head in circles until the ribbon was a tornado of color around her. Without slowing the ribbon, she put her heels together, toes out in first position. She bent her knees into a controlled plie and then rose up on her toes in relevé. Each move was timed perfectly with the music.
Tera glanced over at Rose’s mother, relieved to see her reading a book. Rose showed a natural ability to understand music, and her coordination was impressive for her young age. Of everyone in the class, Rose had the most potential as a future professional dancer. And Tera was grateful to see that her mother didn’t seem to notice.
When Tera had been Rose’s age, her own mother was already pushing her down the path to becoming a prima ballerina. Tera studied ballet four days a week, and the other three days, she learned different dance styles. If her mother ever caught Tera daydreaming, the punishment would come as soon as they got home. Her calves ached just remembering the painful hour she’d been forced to remain in relevé. Cramps would bind her muscles, and if her heels hit the floor, her mom’s fly swatter would sting the backs of her legs.
One of the girls stopped in front of her. “My feet are getting tired, Miss Tera. Can we do butterflies now?”
“Sure.” Tera nodded, rattled. She hadn’t meant to lose herself in her memories and leave them dancing for so long. She clicked the remote until she found a slower Enya tune. “Okay, put the ribbons away and meet me at center floor for cool down.”
Tera sat with her back to the mirrored wall. Thankfully, the security cameras had arrived. Through the glass in the door, she could see Gavin outside talking to a tall, skinny man. The little ones plopped onto the floor and pulled their feet toward their bodies, pressing their soles together and gripping their toes. Tera did the same and bounced her knees up and down.
“Fly faster, beautiful butterflies.” The girls beamed, flapping their knees as if they could really take off at any minute. Tera leaned forward, pressing her knees to the floor with her elbows. “Now stretch out those wings.”
Her students followed her lead. They finished up with a few more stretches and then a group hug. After they scrambled back to their moms, Tera went over to grab her dance bag. She had time for a quick water break before her teenaged students arrived. Unlike the tots, the teens were driven, and the recital was just under two weeks away.
The rest of the day was a blur: two more ballet classes, one en pointe, then a tap class, jazz, and finally modern dance.
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She changed shoes over and over, and ended the night in her lyrical half-soles. Along the way, she’d forgotten all about cameras and bodyguards and men in gold masks. That was the gift of dance. It not only fed her muse, but it freed her mind and soul from the crushing anxiety her mother had cultivated. The exertion relaxed her like nothing else could.
After her final class left, she sat on the floor, pulled off the half-soles, and plucked her socks out of her bag.
Gavin folded up his ladder and glanced over his shoulder. “I’m tired just watching those classes and you danced with all of them. You must be beat.”
She chuckled and pushed her foot into her tennis shoe. “Nah. This is easy compared to the schedule I had in New York. I feel like a slacker.” She pointed to the ceiling. “Do I have security cameras now?”
He nodded. “You do. Come on. I’ll show you how it all works.” She followed him to the far wall. He opened a panel and showed her the controls for four cameras. “All the footage is going directly to the alarm company and to a remote website so you can check the feed from anywhere.”
“And we’re putting these in at my condo, too?”
“I’ve got two more cameras in the car to put up at your place. They won’t be able to sneak up on us.”
She smiled. “Works for me.” She picked up her dance bag. “Ready to grab some dinner?”
“Sure thing.” He walked her out. His hand barely brushed the small of her back, but her entire body reacted, alert and hungry for more.
CHAPTER 6
Ted followed Mikolas into the only four-star hotel in Crystal City. Mrs. Zervos—or Rhea, if he were to use her real name—didn’t want to risk meeting at the Blessed Mary Village retirement community. If Kronos was following them, she didn’t want to lead him to her friends. Ted couldn’t agree more.
In the elevator, Mikolas sighed. “I’ve been thinking about a contingency plan in case Rhea can’t stop him.” He met Ted’s eyes. “But I’ve got nothing. The future of humanity can’t rely on her to trap her husband again. We need a plan B, just in case.”
Ted nodded. “You’re right, but we’re talking about immortals. Even if the military hit them with a missile, they’d keep coming, right?”
Mikolas shook his head slowly. “That’s where we’re missing something. The muses killed Philyra, and she was immortal. We have to know how they did it.”
Ted ground his teeth. “And you want me to find out.”
“You know they’re not going to talk to me.” The elevator doors opened, and Mikolas stepped out, Ted behind him. “You have an in with Trinity. Set up a meeting. Get her to talk.”
Ted agreed but had no idea how he’d make that meeting happen. Trinity barely tolerated him. For now, Rhea was their only hope. The Mother of the Gods had taken the form of an elderly woman named Rita Zervos in this lifetime. He’d tracked her down a few weeks ago and discovered her true identity while they were trying to stop Philyra, but in the end, the muses had done it for them.
Mikolas knocked on the door to room 533 and waited. The door opened, but the woman standing there was far from elderly.
Lia Youlos, the Muse of Comedy, smiled at them. “Surprise.” She checked the hallway before allowing them inside. “No way we were letting Mrs. Zervos meet with you alone.”
Rhea sat in the center of the couch with Trina Mardas and Maria Spanos on either side of her. Ted had met them previously, too. They were all members of Lia’s geriatric poker group.
Lia took the wingback chair, leaving Ted to pull out the desk chair. Mikolas remained standing, his gaze fixed on the Mother of the Gods.
“Mrs. Zervos, thanks for agreeing to see us,” Mikolas started. “We have reason to believe that Kronos is coming for you.”
Ted nodded, adding, “He wants revenge. He thinks you betrayed him with Zeus.”
“I did.” Her chin lifted a little, making her look regal. “And I would do it again to protect my children.”
Lia crossed her arms. “Why are you two suddenly not on Team Kronos?”
“Because the Order was wrong.” Ted shook his head slowly, his attention on Lia. “Kronos has no loyalty to us or humanity. I’ve spent enough time with him in his current form to know humans aren’t even on his radar. He could wipe out the human race, and he’d do it without a second thought.” His attention shifted to Rhea. “The muses are also on his list now that they ended his mistress.”
Rhea cleared her throat. “Good riddance.”
Mikolas took control of the conversation again. “As far as we know, you’re the only immortal in this world who can face him.”
Rhea met his eyes. “You may overestimate my power. It took my son and all the Olympians to imprison him the first time. Alone, I cannot defeat him.”
Lia frowned, a crease forming on her forehead. “But you’re not alone. Most of the muses have found their Guardians, and they all have special abilities. Together, we could stand with you.”
A sad smile curved Rhea’s lips. “Even so, you’re still mortals. He could cut the cord on your destiny with a wave of his hand.”
“Then why hasn’t he?” Mikolas asked. All eyes turned in his direction as he went on. “The rest of the Titans are still locked away in Tartarus. Kronos is alone in a world that has forgotten him. Maybe he’s afraid to start a war he can’t win. Humanity is global now and has access to technology he never could have imagined the last time he walked this Earth.”
Rhea nodded. “You could be right.”
“Right now, Kronos walks among us as Kevin Elys.” Mikolas gestured to Ted. “Ted has convinced Kevin of his loyalty. With a man on the inside, we might be able to counter his moves, but we have no hope of winning without your help, Rhea.”
She chuckled. “No one has called me by that name in a very long time.”
In the blink of an eye, her image changed. Long red hair fanned out around her head, her skin glowing with inhuman radiance, and her eyes shone gold. And just as suddenly, she was an elderly woman again.
Ted rubbed his eyes and noticed Lia and Mikolas doing the same.
“Forgive an old woman for her vanity.” She smiled. “Some days it’s easier to hide among you than others.” She glanced at the ladies on either side of her and then back to Mikolas. “And I’m not the only immortal in your world. My friends are actually the Guiders of Destiny, Titias and Kyllenos, and if I face my husband, they will both be by my side.”
“I’ll call Callie and the others,” Lia chimed in. “We’ll stand with you, too.”
Ted looked up at Mikolas. “I’ll let you know if Kevin finds out about Rhea.” He cleared his throat. “I mean, Mrs. Zervos.”
Mikolas offered his hand to Mrs. Zervos and then to the other two elderly women flanking her on the couch. “Thank you all for standing with the human race.”
Ted got up and sighed. “I’m so sorry we freed him. This wasn’t how it was supposed to turn out.”
Mrs. Zervos turned to the Guiders of Destiny and back up to Ted. “He would have escaped eventually with or without your help. That’s why I remain here in the human world.”
“What about Zeus?” Lia asked. “Can you contact your son? He defeated Kronos once before.”
Mrs. Zervos sighed, resting her hands in her lap. “Sometimes I imagine he is nearby, but he faded from this dimension lifetimes ago.”
Ted frowned. “Maybe Kevin was right.”
“About what?” Lia asked.
Ted glanced at Lia. “He’s planning to torture the muses until their cries lure their father back into this world.”
Mrs. Zervos shook her head. “We must stop him.”
Mikolas nodded. “We will. Somehow.”
“Can I get your cell phone number?” Ted took out his cell. “I’ll call if he finds out your identity or where you live.” If he hadn’t been so worried about the future, Ted might’ve laughed at the insanity of swapping cell phone numbers with the Mother of the Gods. But once he had her contact info, they merely said th
eir good-byes and left the hotel suite.
Once the elevator doors slid closed, a muscle in Mikolas’s jaw ticked. “Contact Trinity. We need to know how to stop an immortal.”
“You don’t think Rhea can handle him? The muses and their Guardians, and the Guiders of Destiny, will all be at her side.”
The hard edge in Mikolas’s eyes made Ted’s gut twist. “If he discovers that Mrs. Zervos is really Rhea, he’ll come for her. She couldn’t stop him on her own, hell, Zeus needed all the Olympians to cage his father.” Mikolas shook his head. “Our only hope is to kill him first.”
After Gavin finished installing the security cameras at the condo, he came inside to test them and found Tera dozing on her couch. God, she was beautiful. He forced himself to focus and went to his laptop. After logging into the remote site, the screen filled with the view of her empty porch. He smiled and closed the laptop.
“Everything working?”
He glanced her way. “I didn’t mean to wake you.”
She chuckled. “I shouldn’t sleep in my bodyguard’s bed. What would the neighbors say?”
Her sense of humor still surprised him. It also blurred the line between them. She barely made eye contact when they first met, and now she made him smile. Was he becoming her friend? He shouldn’t care, but he did.
Gavin chuckled. “They’re probably already talking after seeing us leave together this morning.”
“True.” She’d let her long hair down. It framed her face, falling around her like a waterfall of silk. She pulled it back from her forehead. “At least it looks like I have good taste.”
He raised a brow as he tucked his laptop into his bag. “Are you saying I make good arm candy?”
She grinned. “Is there an additional charge for being arm candy?”
He shook his head. “That’s not usually a service I offer.” He sobered, suddenly remembering this was work, not a date. Why was it so tough to remember with her? “The security systems are all set, so I guess we can call it a day.”