by Staci Hart
Zeus stood, and his grey eyes stormed. “And you believed I would be pleased by this?”
“Y-yes, father.” The joy washed out of him and fear took its place, heavy in his chest. He took a step back as his father loomed over him.
Hera ran through an archway and onto the patio, her emerald robes flying behind her, her face wild. As she passed through the arch, she slowed into a brisk walk, smoothing her robes and painting on a placid smile to mask her distress. Her eyes betrayed her. “What is this?”
“Not now, Hera.” Thunder boomed, and the sky grew darker by the second. Wind began to whip around, and Zeus fixed his cold eyes on Ares, his voice dead calm. He stepped toward his son, and lightning jumped between the fingers of his open hands.
“Dearest,” Hera laid a hand on his arm. “What has he done?”
He turned his glare on her. “Slaughtered Grecians. In my temple.”
She looked to Ares, shocked, but quickly recovered. “I am certain he had good reason. He was defending your honor, I presume?” Her eyes shot to Ares.
Ares nodded as he shrank away from Zeus.
Zeus pointed at Ares, white lightning crackled at the end of his fingers. “This will not go unpunished.” He flipped over his hand and splayed his fingers.
Ares’s arms were pressed to his body by an unseen force, and he cried out, feeling his bones bend until he cried out. Zeus raised his extended hand, and Ares rose slowly through the air with it. And when Zeus closed his fist, Ares screamed, thrashing as his eyes rolled back and all thought left him.
“Stop,” Hera screamed and pulled Zeus’ arm. “He did this for you! Please … please, let him go!”
“Not yet,” Zeus said through his teeth. Lightning wove a cage around Ares, and when Zeus released him, he slammed into the base of it. Electricity crackled in the air around them.
Zeus walked to the cage where Ares lay inside, panting. He looked up at his father. Zeus’ gray eyes were charged, the muscles in his neck taut. “Never presume to act in my name.” He clapped his hands, and Athena jumped, wide-eyed and startled.
The cage disappeared.
The blood drained from Hera’s face. “What have you done with him?”
The room returned to its natural light, and he turned to her with narrowed eyes. “I’ve left him in the great hall to be mocked. Perhaps he will learn the humility that you could never teach him.” Hera shrank away from him, and he blew past her, his white cloak flapping behind him.
“Did you hear me?” Hera’s voice was sharp with impatience.
“What?” Ares snapped, still shaken from the memory.
“I said, if you win, what will you do with the token?”
“I’m not sure. I suppose it just depends on how the competition goes.” He could use it for her or against her, depending on her actions. He smiled, thinking of the things he could ask as a favor.
Hera eyed him. “You really think you have a chance, don’t you?”
He hung his arms on the back of the couch. “Probably not. But it sure would be nice if I did.”
“Well, someone should beat her. She’s gotten far too haughty. If it’s not you who beats her, perhaps it will be me.” A crafty smile passed her lips.
Everyone knew that Hera would love to beat Dita more than anything. The humiliation Hera had endured through Dita’s efforts to punish Zeus would never be forgiven.
“Maybe it will be you, Mother. And then you can devise some horribly embarrassing way to exact revenge.”
Hera’s smile stretched wider, and she stood to go, tucking her clutch under her arm. “Oh, yes. I’m sure I could come up with something.”
Apollo stretched out on Dita’s bed while he watched Dita and Perry bustle around a very wary Daphne.
She stood in between the goddesses as they went on about her like she wasn’t there. Her moss-green eyes followed them with mild suspicion, and she clasped her hands behind her back. Her deep green robes were bloused over a golden rope wound around her waist and crisscrossed between her breasts. A brooch, twinkling with rubies, was pinned where the rope crossed between her breasts to make a strophion. Apollo folded his hands behind his head. He could stare at her all day. His eyes would never get their fill.
Dita and Perry had been on a mission to bring Daphne into the twenty-first century, which Apollo found amusing. Daphne was clearly out of her element, having just been awakened after being locked in a magical tree for three thousand years. She gave Apollo a tentative smile, and he winked back with a comforting smile of his own.
Dita held up a pair of black skinny jeans and a sheer, gold blouse. “These are going to look amazing with your hair.”
Daphne took the clothes hesitantly as the corners of her mouth turned down a smidge. “I am not sure—”
“Oh, don’t worry. You’ll get the hang of it.” Dita shuffled Daphne toward her closet. She stopped short of the door and snapped her fingers. “I almost forgot. Hold, please.” She ran into her closet and came back a moment later with a black lace bra. “It goes like this,” she said, and held the bra up over her shirt.
Apollo raised an eyebrow, and Daphne took the elastic and lace device, perplexed.
Dita giggled. “It’s like your strophion, except a little more … intense.”
Daphne looked down at it again and ran her fingers across the brooch between her breasts, clearly not buying Dita’s flippancy about the undergarment.
Perry turned Daphne toward the closet, and Daphne glanced at Apollo over her shoulder with pleading eyes as Perry closed the door behind her.
Dita gathered her long, golden hair and twisted it as she walked across the room. She tossed it over her shoulder and plopped onto the foot of the bed.
“So, Kat and Dillon look like a real match,” Apollo said, his voice laden with sarcasm.
Dita’s mouth fell into an ‘o’ as she mocked, “You doubt moi? Didn’t I just beat you? Again?”
Apollo shrugged. “I got what I wanted, so I suppose it’s debatable.”
Dita laughed and hit him with a throw pillow. “Don’t be a douche.”
He batted the pillow away. “Speaking of douches, I’m guessing it’s going to be the usual triple-X show with you and Ares?”
Dita rolled onto her side and propped her head on her hand. “Probably.”
Apollo shook his head. “I will never understand the attraction, Dita. He’s such a shit.”
“Well, he’s my shit.” She sighed. “I don’t know why, Apollo. Some of it is that we’re so much alike.”
“Personally, I don’t think you’re anything alike.”
“We’re more alike than you’d think. I’m just not evil. Well, not unless provoked. We’re both too competitive, and we have a high appreciation for beauty, power, and sexual aptitude.” Her lips inched into a lewd smile.
“So, basically, it’s like sleeping with yourself?”
“Sleeping with your evil self. Pretty much.”
“There has to be more to it than that, Dita. He’s a prick far too often for that to be enough.”
She shrugged. “It helps to have distance. We go a long time between being together, or at least we have in the past. Now that Adonis is gone … ” She let out a heavy breath. “I don’t know when he and I will be together again. Ares is comfortable. We’ve been through so much. We love each other, and we hate each other. We’re bad for each other, but we always come back for more. It’s complicated.”
“I’ll say. You’ll still be trying to beat him, though, right?”
“When have I ever not tried to win?”
“Point taken. Do you have any moves planned?” Apollo picked up a small, red pillow and laid it behind his head.
“Kiki and Owen are my big play. There’s no way I can get the players together outside of using force. If Kat had her way, she’d never see Dillon again. She wouldn’t go out of her way for a second chance with Dillon. She’s already written him off.”
“Sounds like you picked a winner, Dita.�
�
“Don’t doubt me. They need time to realize that they’re not enemies. Without the siblings, my chances drop drastically. I’m sure I could still win, but I’d have to actually work for it. Kiki and Owen are the reason I chose Kat as my player.”
“Do you think Ares will try to expose that? Break them up?”
Dita flipped on to her stomach again and crossed her ankles in the air. “I’m not sure he’s smart enough to see anything but the direct path. His forte is spontaneity. The heat of battle, and all that. He relies too much on his emotions. Athena is the sibling with pragmatism.”
“She’s so pragmatic, she’s practically a robot.”
Dita snickered. “Ares will probably use Eric, but I’m hoping that by the time he figures to put him in the game, I’ll either be close enough to winning that it won’t matter, or I’ll have a plan to take care of him. If Eric comes after the girls, I’m afraid he’ll kill them. He’s a psychopath, and he wants Kiki.”
“Honestly, Dita, Kat really sounds like a bad choice. You could have just handed this whole thing to Ares.”
“There’s definitely a risk in Kat. But they have a really strong connection, and I couldn’t resist getting the siblings together. I’m pretty sure I’ve got this. Perry and I bet on how fast I can beat him and on what his reaction will be. He hates to get smoked by me.”
“He hates to get smoked in general. Remember that chariot race he and I had in Rome?”
“Oh, gods, do I ever.” Dita laughed as she ran her hand through her hair. “That was one of the many reasons why I avoided him before we got together. He hates losing, but with you he’s got something to prove. Zeus’ golden boy versus the ne’er-do-well.”
Apollo folded his arms across his chest. “It was a fair race, he just lost. I don’t know why he would challenge me. He’s always been the second best chariot racer in the history of the universe. He should have challenged me to a gladiator fight. I would have sucked at that. But no, he had to pick one of the things I’m amazing at, and he lost. He is the sorest sport. Ever. We should have Heff make him a medal.”
Dita snorted. “I think it should be shaped like a giant dick. Gods, remember afterward? When he stomped around the finish line and threw his helmet?”
Apollo laughed. “Are you kidding? I play that on a loop when I have a bad day.”
The closet door opened, and Daphne emerged looking extraordinarily uncomfortable. She waddled into the room and tugged at the thighs of her jeans until she stopped in front of the mirror. Apollo sat up when he saw her. Dita was right. Modern times looked good on Daphne. He swung his legs off the bed and stood to walk to her.
Daphne eyed him warily. He touched her freckled cheek and brushed his lips to hers. “You look beautiful.”
She bit her lip. “These clothes are so strange. Women really wear garments such as this? I feel naked.”
Apollo turned to Dita with an eyebrow up. “You couldn’t have started her off with a dress?”
Dita hung a hand on her hip. “It’s all about diving in.” She beamed at Daphne. “You look fantastic. Now, let’s do something about that hair.” She pulled out a chair at the vanity. “Sit, please.”
Daphne sat very carefully, and Dita began pulling out bottles from under her sink. She stood and held one out. “This is mousse. See, you push it here.” Dita mashed the button, and a mound of foam grew in her palm with a whoosh. She rubbed her hands together and walked behind Daphne, watching in the mirror as she combed her fingers through the wild curls. “You just sort of work it through your hair, like this.”
“But why do I need it?”
“Well, you don’t. Not really. But it’ll help sort of … calm it down.” She smiled at Daphne in the mirror. “You look terrific.” Dita turned and hopped up onto the counter. “Okay, Daphne, what do you want to learn about the modern world today?”
Perry perked up. “How about the Kardashians?”
Dita rolled her eyes. “I don’t know if that’s relevant.”
Daphne looked up, big eyed. “The who?”
That was all Perry needed. “Well, see, there are these sisters, and they’re famous. They’re really beautiful and rich, and everyone watches them to see what they’ll wear, and really their whole family is famous, too—”
Daphne’s eyes sparkled with wonder. “These sisters, are they princesses?”
Perry’s brow furrowed. “No, not exactly … ”
“You know,” Dita interjected, “On second thought, maybe we should stop there. You’ll need some time to get used to the whole pants thing. I’m sure Apollo can teach you more about your bra.” She jumped off the counter with a wink.
———— New York ————
It was late, and Kat had been in the back room for hours. She counted every bottle of liquor and case of beer in the stock room, and Kiki hadn’t bothered to come check on her, which stung a little. She figured the brothers were still there, which made the whole thing even worse.
She took a deep breath and pushed the door open with a scowl, ready for round two.
Kiki turned from Owen and walked to her, her face full of concern. Dillon was nowhere in sight, and Kat relaxed considerably.
“You okay?”
Kat threw on a sarcastic smile. “Great. Just peachy.”
Owen ran a hand through his dark hair. “I’m really sorry about him. He’s not usually so … ”
“So much of an ass tunnel?”
“Yes. Exactly.”
Kat twisted her hair up in a knot. “It’s not your fault, and it’s nothing I’m not used to. I’ll shut him up on the track.” She tossed Kiki a towel. “It’s about closing time.”
Kiki caught the towel and twisted it in front of her, biting her lip. “Uh, Kat? Would you mind if I borrowed your car to drive Owen home?”
Kat picked up a rack of glasses and stacked it on a cart with a clank. “Can’t Owen take the subway like the rest of New York?”
“Kat,” Kiki’s eyes went a little wide and darted to Owen. “Come on.”
“It’s really late, Kiki. Owen’s a big boy. He can take care of himself.”
“It’s just … I just thought maybe we could hang out for a little longer.”
Owen stood and picked up his coat. “It’s okay, Kiki. We can do it another time.” He smiled warmly at Kat. “It’s all good. Really.” He shrugged on his jacket, and Kiki begged Kat with gigantic puppy dog eyes.
Kat sighed. It wasn’t that she didn’t want Kiki and Owen to spend time together. It was that she didn’t want Kiki out of her sight. Not yet. But she couldn’t really hold Kiki back, or she would likely revolt. And Owen seemed nice enough. Maybe he’d be good for her. “How about you come to our place instead?”
Kiki and Owen grinned across the bar at each other. “Works for me,” Kiki answered.
“At least that way I can keep an eye on you.” Kat made a ‘v’ with her fingers and pointed them at her eyes, then Kiki’s.
Kiki rolled her eyes, smiling as she pulled the bins of drink garnishes. “God, you’re more like a big brother than a big sister, you know that?”
“You’re welcome.” Kat reached for a scoop to empty the ice as Owen sat across from her.
He glanced at Kiki, who was out of earshot. “Thanks, Kat. Kiki said that the last guy she dated was a jerk and that the two of you didn’t get along. So I really appreciate you not tossing me out on my ass.”
“Yeah, you could definitely say that Eric and I didn’t get along. But here’s how to stay on my good side, Owen.” She squared her shoulders, her voice heavy with warning. “First, do not fuck with her. And second, if you have anything but noble intentions, you need to leave. She’s been through a lot, and I still think it’s too soon for her to get involved with anyone. Don’t prove me right. Do you hear me?”
“Loud and clear.” He turned his gaze to Kiki, whose arms were full of rubber mats as she walked to the back room. “I’m usually the one who gets dumped, if that makes you feel any be
tter.”
Kat laughed. “Well, then good luck with Kiki because she’s a man-eater. Though I will say that you’re not her usual type, so you actually may stand a chance.”
“And what’s her usual type?”
“Big, douchey meatheads. Sorta like your brother.”
“Touché. I really am sorry about him.”
Kat shrugged and tossed a scoop of ice into her bucket. “It’s all right. You’re far more pleasant anyway. I’m glad that she’s into you and not him.”
“Me too,” he said, smiling crooked.
Day 3
BRIAN SHOUTED COUNTDOWNS AND INSTRUCTIONS, moving the pads on his hands at intervals, targets that Dillon’s eyes trained on as they circled each other in the gym. Shift, pop, shift, pop, with every thump of his gloves on the pads reverberating up his arm, into his mind, alongside her name.
Kat.
He had been thinking about her. A lot. And his overall conclusion after the hours of thinking about it was that he was confused.
Brian flinched with every hit as Dillon laid into him, feeling like an asshole. He had been such a dick to her, but he didn’t trust her, and the feeling was mutual. But that was it his fault? Was he as presumptuous as Owen said? How had he not realized it before?
Owen was all about Kiki, and Dillon knew that all he could do at that point was to let Owen get her out of his system and be there for him when shit went south. Kiki was going to be around, which meant Kat likely would be too, so he had to find a way to keep it civil.
He wanted to make it right, and not just for Owen.
From the minute she walked away from him in the bar, Dillon had replayed their conversations over and over in a loop. He’s imagined her lips as she smiled, heard her laugh in his mind, watched the shift into anger — the set of her jaw, the flush in her cheeks. Kat was fierce and strong, smart and sharp. She didn’t seem like the type to back down.
They were a lot alike, but that wasn’t serving them very well so far.
The push and pull when he was near her overwhelmed him. He wanted to fight with her, but he wanted to kiss her. And in the end, he’d challenged her to a drag race, the one thing she was apparently the goddess of.