Protector (Daray Hall #2)

by Hoffman, Samantha

  He frowns. “Yeah, I remember. I seem to recall you dying on the job recently.”

  I sit down on a bench, and Kaven joins me. “What was it like, being told I wasn’t coming back? I saw my funeral service, and it seemed like not very many people actually cared that I was gone. I know that other than Tara and the others, you were the only one that seemed to actually miss me.”

  He sighs. “When Carlos told me you weren’t coming back, at first I just didn’t believe him. I didn’t want to believe him. I couldn’t imagine never seeing you again, or never hearing your laugh, or seeing you dance. I thought, ‘I wasted what little time I had with her because I was an idiot’. I wanted to take back what happened the night of the dance.”

  “Well, now you have a chance to make that night up to me.”

  We lapse into silence, and I take this time to look around. The sun has gone down, and the sky is littered with stars. It’s nearly dark out, and the bricks of gold that the buildings are made of seem to give off a dull light. This place is magical, and it’s like nothing I’ve ever experienced.

  “Come on,” Kaven says, startling me. “We should probably head back inside. Zeus’ decision obviously isn’t coming until tomorrow at the earliest. We may as well get some sleep.”

  In the morning, a knock at the door wakes me, and I crawl sluggishly out of bed. When I open the door, Tara frowns. “Are you still asleep?” she asks, confused.

  “Not anymore,” I say dryly. “What do you need? Has Zeus reached his decision?”

  “No, but breakfast is ready. We didn’t want you to miss it.”

  She leaves me alone so I can dress and get ready for the day in peace. My clothes are still torn and bloody, but sometime during the night, a servant left a pair of clean clothes on a chair in my room. I unfold them to find a flowing white shirt with a deeper V cut than is entirely modest, and a pair of khaki slacks.

  I shower and dress for the day in the new clothes, and try not to flinch when I see my reflection in the mirror. The neck of the shirt dips down low, baring the sides of my breasts. I have the intense urge to cross my arms over my chest, and I feel like there should be an undershirt to go with it. A second check of the chair reveals no such thing, and I sigh.

  “Oh well.”

  I sneak down to the dining room we were in last night, and take a seat beside Tara. She eyes the shirt I’m wearing, but can’t laugh at my discomfort because she’s wearing one just like it. The only thing different between ours is that hers is purple instead of white.

  “These gods definitely don’t have a problem showing off their bodies,” she mutters, trying to pull the low-cut part together.

  I pick at my food, hoping that nobody else has decided to join us. When I hear footsteps, I look up, and sigh. Of course it has to be Kaven. He looks as uncomfortable as I feel right now, but that might be because he’s wearing similar khaki pants and a black, flowing shirt of his own. His V cuts down much farther, giving us all a look at his muscular chest.

  He smirks. “Nice shirt.”

  “Right back at ya.”

  Austin and Chloe walk into the dining room together. He’s wearing a red shirt, and she’s wearing blue. Austin looks particularly uncomfortable, but I think it might be because Kaven’s body has so much more muscle, and Austin’s body looks like that of a nerdy sixteen year old that stays inside all day and does nothing but play video games. He’s not fat, but he’s got about the same amount of muscle on his body as I do on mine.

  Just as everyone sits down, someone else walks into the dining room and joins us for breakfast. Selene sits down across from me, between Chloe and Morgan, who both look incredibly shy and honored by her presence. She doesn’t eat, but she sips at a glass of what I can only guess is ambrosia–the nectar of the gods.

  “There’s been no word of Zeus’ decision yet, though I fear it won’t be the one we want. I’ve been hoping that his love for Pandia might overshadow what he feels for Artemis, but I’m not sure anymore. I think he might side with her.”

  “Why would he do that?” I ask, outraged. “I spoke in front of that council, and they know that I spoke the truth. You said the gods could tell when a human or vampire lied, right? Why is this decision taking as long as it has? He knows the truth, he knows who’s responsible for Pandia’s abduction, and he knows what needs to be done. Why is this taking so long?”

  “Kylie, his position as the king of the gods and ruler of Mount Olympus can always be taken away. He needs to weigh his options carefully. Artemis is rash and doesn’t think things through, but she is very well liked by most of the gods and goddesses here. Pandia isn’t as well known, because she spends more time with me than anyone else.

  “If Zeus sides with us, even though we’ve spoken the truth, some of the other gods may begin to wonder whether he’s fit to rule. It sounds strange, but following the truth in this case isn’t a good idea. When it comes to power, either Poseidon or Hades could make a play for running Mount Olympus, and Zeus knows that. If they got enough support from Artemis’ angry friends, he could be in trouble.”

  “So he has to either side with Artemis, even though she’s a lying scumbag, or he might lose his position as ruler of the heavens,” I say angrily. “What you’re trying to tell us is to expect a war.”

  She nods her head. “Yes. If Zeus sides with us, he may lose his throne. If he sides with Artemis, the other goddesses go unpunished, and we’ll be looking at war in the very near future. You have to ask yourself which is more important to Zeus: Earth, or the heavens? The answer is not Earth.”

  Chapter Fourteen

  After breakfast, with still no word on Zeus’ very important decision, Kaven and I head back out to the training field. Athena is out there once again, but this time she isn’t arguing with Apollo; she’s wielding an eight foot spear with eighteen inches of curved, sharp metal at the end.

  For a minute, Kaven and I hang back and watch her move. Athena wears a short, black Grecian dress, and it shows off her every powerful, graceful movement. The hard muscles of her body bunch and flex as she twirls, flips, lunges, and pivots with her fearsome weapon. Watching her in action is inspiring and breathtaking.

  She finishes with a simple flourish of her spear, before turning to us. “Did you learn anything?”

  Kaven snorts. “Yeah. Never mess with a god.” He looks at me and frowns. “I’m sorry, I forgot–”

  “Don’t worry about it,” I say, cutting him off. I don’t like the idea of talking or thinking about my previous experiences with the gods, because they haven’t ended so well. Pain was involved both times, and I only won my second fight by threatening to kill Hades’ Queen.

  Athena regards me with a neutral expression. “I’ve heard about your experiences. Selene is quite proud of you. You’ve become a favorite of hers, and she’s not shy about letting others know it.”

  Of all the gods and goddesses we’ve met since arriving here yesterday, I’ve decided that Athena is probably my favorite. She’s not like what I thought a goddess would be, and she doesn’t seem to have a problem with me or anyone else in our group. Other than Hermes’ brief conversation with us, she’s the only goddess to actually speak to us.

  “I’m sure Selene has had many other favorites over the centuries.”

  She shrugs gracefully. “I’m not entirely sure. There may have been one or two, but Selene tries to remain unattached for the most part. Sure, she likes to meddle and give special gifts, but other than that, she just hangs back and watches the decisions her children make. But with you, she’s become extremely invested in your wellbeing. She even sent you that silver bow of yours while you were in the lake.”

  I’ve wondered how that bow managed to appear when I needed it. “She sent that?”

  “Yes. Most goddesses would have sat back and watched as their chosen ones died. We train them as best as we can with information, gifts, and favors, and then we watch their lives run their courses. If our chosen champions die, they die, and we find a
new one eventually. Every one in a while, a goddess will intervene, but it’s very rare that it happens as many times as it has with you and your friends.”

  “What do you mean?” Kaven asks.

  “Well, Selene intervened in the graveyard, rather than let Tara be slaughtered. She intervened and begged Hades to allow you to return to life. She even made you a full-grown vampire and an official Protector in the process. Then she saved you from the siren in the lake by giving you your weapon, and she spoke up for you during last night’s council meeting.”

  “What council meeting?”

  “The one we had to decide whether or not your truthful claims should make any difference in Zeus’ decision. They won’t, I’m afraid, but Selene and I tried. They just don’t care about vampires; many of the gods feel that nobody but us should live forever, and Selene should not have created more beings like her daughter.”

  I always forget that Pandia is technically a vampire and a goddess.

  “So Zeus really is going to side with Artemis, isn’t he? There’s going to be a war, and Earth and its inhabitants will be in serious trouble. How can we stop that from happening? I won’t let Earth be destroyed because some immature, rash goddess wants to be worshipped!”

  “I truly hope you aren’t talking about my sister,” a low voice says from behind me. Without looking, I know Apollo–the twin brother of Artemis–is standing behind me, probably with an angry scowl on his face. “I will have you know that my sister is not rash, nor is she unworthy of recognition. She is as much a part of the moon as your goddess, and I think it is about time people realize that!”

  Athena frowns, still managing to look flawless in the process. “Apollo, brother, calm yourself. Just because Artemis is your sister is no reason to side with her. Think for yourself. Do you want to see the Earth destroyed? Think of your prophets; do you wish to see them all killed senselessly?”

  Kaven steps closer to me, putting himself directly between me and Apollo. Even though it’s a very charming gesture, it’s a stupid one. If Apollo wants to, he can probably kill Kaven before he even knows what hit him. I know, because I’ve fought the gods before, and it never ends well unless trickery is involved.

  Apollo looks at Kaven with an arrogant smirk on his face. Normally, arrogance makes a man much more attractive, but on this already beautiful god, it just makes him look like a spoiled brat that hasn’t gotten something he wants. Apollo sniffs in disdain. “Surely a vampire doesn’t think to best a god?”

  Kaven remains silent, and does nothing to antagonize Apollo. The two men stare each other down, blue eyes meeting green, and I experience a quick moment of panic. Will Apollo seek to punish us after we leave the safety of Mount Olympus? Selene can’t watch over us at all times, especially if she has to worry about a war starting.

  How easy would it be for Apollo to just take aim at Kaven from anywhere in the world, and shoot him dead? Would he do something so dishonorable and so low? I have to put a stop to this…

  I step out from behind Kaven and face Apollo. “I’m sorry for what I’ve said about your sister. I speak with anger and fear. My home may be destroyed in the upcoming days, and I don’t wanna see that happen. I spoke without thinking, and I apologize,” I say, bowing to him.

  Apollo sniffs again, but I see his entire body relax. “Very well. Think more carefully in the future or you may not live long enough to apologize.”

  That’s the politest death threat I’ve ever heard, and I bow my head again. Apollo takes a golden bow and saunters over to the archery range on the far side of the training field, looking more like a pompous rich boy than an all-powerful god capable of killing me with very little effort.

  Could he though? I may not have done well during my first immortal fight, but I managed to outsmart Hades and get him to concede defeat. I’ve only gotten stronger since then. Could Apollo really kill me so easily? If a newly made vampire could hold their own, are the gods really that powerful?

  I’m not tempted to find out, but it’s something to think about on a rainy day.

  “Well, that was interesting,” Athena says with a chuckle. “You take death threats very well for being so young and I’m sure unused to them. Do you make immortal enemies often?”

  I shrug. “Not if I can help it, though I do seem to be garnering some attention lately. Sometimes I’d like to be able to just fade into the background like I did before I became a fledgling. My life seemed so much easier back then.”

  “If you had the chance to go back, would you? Be a normal human, graduate from high school, go to college, get married, start your own life?”

  I think about everything that’s happened to me, and I’m slightly surprised by my answer. “If I was a normal human, I would never have met Jillian, or Chloe, or Austin.” I look at Kaven. “I would never have met you. As dangerous and uncertain as my life is right now, I can’t imagine a life without you guys. I’ve never felt so…loved…or appreciated.

  “When I first came back, I wasn’t sure about my relationship with Austin and Morgan, because I didn’t know them all that well, but now they seem almost like a brother and a sister to me. If I’d never met them, my life would have been so empty.” This conversation is becoming very deep and serious, and I’m not sure I like that. “Plus, I’ve never had feelings for a guy like I do for you, Kaven.”

  He smiles. “I have that effect on women,” he says, breaking the increasing tension and serious nature of this conversation.

  “Well, I’ll leave the two of you to your training,” Athena says with a smile.

  I feel my cheeks begin to burn, and I duck my face so she hopefully won’t see. Right now I wish I had hair to hide behind, but it’s still too short to do more than tuck behind my ears, and even then it doesn’t usually stay tucked for long.

  “Well, what do you say we get some practice with wresting in before Zeus makes his decision?”

  “You just want a chance to feel me up,” I tease.

  He laughs. “Maybe I do. Would you blame me if I did? All joking aside though, wrestling is a very good skill to have. If your opponent ever gets you on the ground without your weapon, you’re going to need it, or you’ll be vulnerable.”

  “Alright. Teach me to wrestle.”

  Later that night, after spending hours with Kaven at the training field, Zeus finally calls everyone back into the council room. Hermes comes to each of our rooms to collect us, and then shows us the way down to the council room, which is nearly full with all of the gods and goddesses we’ve seen, and a bunch we haven’t met yet.

  Selene walks swiftly into the room moments after we do, and she stops beside me. Her entire body is tense, and part of me thinks she already knows what Zeus’ answer will be. I hope she’s wrong, but one look at the king of the gods tells me that she’s probably right.

  Zeus clears his throat and stands, addressing everyone in the room. “After much deliberation, I’ve finally reached my decision. I have weighed all the testimony, the facts, and the possible outcomes to this situation. Unfortunately, nothing I can say will appease everyone in the room, but I have a duty as the king of Mount Olympus to make as many of my subjects happy as possible.

  “Therefore, I am sorry, Selene, but I will not interfere in your fight.”

  Selene immediately clamps a hand down on my shoulder, silently warning me to stay in my seat, but I want to fight her and leap for Zeus’ throat. How can he do this? It’s not fair! I remember what Selene told us at breakfast, but I didn’t want to believe it. I thought for sure that honor and the truth would win today, but they haven’t.

  Popularity and politics did.

  A quick glance over my shoulder reveals a triumphant Artemis and Apollo, who are exchanging high-fives and hugs. Zeus watches them with furious, cold blue eyes. “Just because I have decided not to interfere in the fight does not mean I will allow others to do so. Hear me now. No other god or goddess shall get involved in this matter. Any gods caught participating in this squabble wil
l be punished in the most severe manner I can imagine. This fight is between those sacred to the moon, and that’s how it will stay!”

  Apollo frowns. “Father, my sister needs me in this fight.”

  “Your sister has chosen her side, as have three other moon goddesses if I remember correctly. But perhaps I have not made myself clear enough on this matter. If you participate in this fight, you will regret it, my son. Do not aid your sister in this war. Am I understood?”

  Apollo hesitates, but eventually bows his head. “Yes, Father.”

  When the entire room goes silent once more, Selene bows her head. “Thank you for your time and consideration.” She tugs on my arm and whispers in my ear, “Do not argue with him, Kylie. Thank him for his time.”

  I sigh, and bow low. “Thank you, Zeus, for your time.”

  Selene has to practically drag me from the council room, because I want to stay and fight and scream at Zeus. I want to ask him if he realizes what he’s doing, that he’s condemning Earth to potential destruction. With this one decision, he could be killing potentially millions and millions of people, and he doesn’t even seem to mind.

  “Kylie,” Selene says. “Zeus has just done us a favor by–”

  “A favor?” I nearly shriek. “He just took the easy way out, and allowed Artemis and the other moon goddesses to get away with what they’ve done to your daughter! His daughter! And you’re alright with that?”

  “Of course not!” she snaps, sounding more like a mother than a goddess for the first time since I’ve met her. “I think his decision is despicable, and the one a coward afraid to lose his position as king would make, but I can’t help that. What he did do however is assure that this war stays between the moon goddesses involved. Artemis cannot recruit the other gods of Mount Olympus to help her. We should be grateful for that.”

  I sigh. “This sucks, Selene. What are we supposed to do now? This war is going to happen unless you give up the moon to Artemis and the other moon goddesses. You’d never do that, would you?”