Thor looked down where Cody was now forcefully pulling him away. “My home is in Asgard. I do not wish to go home. There is war afoot and I need to find that woman,” he said yanking his arm away, then stood in front of Cody blocking his way in what looked like a fighting stance.
“Asgard? The mythological place that doesn’t exist? Like Norse mythology?” Cody’s eyes bulged. He just knew this man had escaped a nearby mental institution. “What have I gotten myself into?” he muttered under his breath.
Thor shook his head and balled his fists. “It is not mythology as I am standing before you, man! Will you help me find my woman or not?” Thor asked, his anger boiling to the surface. He was done talking and wanted to continue his search. Athena had no doubt found Ares to warn him and he needed to get to her as soon as possible.
“Come on, man. I’ll help you out, but first, you need clothes. You can’t walk around the streets of New York half naked. I’ll take you to my place, then we can search for your woman in the morning after you’ve had a good night’s sleep,” Cody told him.
“The plan is not ideal, but I will accept your offer, because I do need assistance. Thank you for your hospitality, Cody,” Thor agreed, slapping him on the back and nearly causing Cody to topple forward.
Cody gave himself a wide berth. He didn't realize the big guy was so strong. “My apartment is just a few blocks from here. I’d like to offer you a bit of advice, though,” he said looking up at Thor when they resumed walking down the street. “When referring to gays or homosexuals, you shouldn’t act like we have cooties. We’re normal human beings with feelings and some of the things you’ve said could be construed as politically incorrect,” he continued.
“Politically incorrect? What does politics have to do with ones looks? We’re at war, man. I never meant to be disrespectful, it was unexpected. That is all,” Thor ground out, thoroughly confused.
Cody hung his head, knowing Thor was a lost cause. He must have forgotten his medication. He needed to call the local mental institutions tomorrow and ask if they were missing a patient matching Thor’s description. For some reason, Cody wasn’t frightened of the man, though. He felt pity for him instead and wanted nothing more than to help him.
“All right, Thor. We’re here,” Cody said as he ascended the stairs to his walkup apartment building. He lived on the second floor. When Thor walked into the lobby, his eyes bulged. “What is this place? It is a tiny hovel and you live here?” he asked looking genuinely concerned.
Cody didn’t respond. He knew Thor was a mental patient and didn’t want to upset him further. Once they made it to the second floor, he turned the key and opened the door to his sparsely furnished apartment. It wasn’t much, but it was affordable. The couch was worn and had seen better days, but was comfortable all the same. There was a small dining room off to the left housing a table set for two leading into an even smaller galley-type kitchen. Down the hall was one bedroom on the right and a nice sized bathroom to the left.
Thor looked around the tiny apartment and shrugged. “Thank you for allowing me into your humble abode. I will never forget your kindness,” he said, taking a seat at the kitchen table.
“Would you like a drink?” Cody offered.
“Mead if you have it,” Thor answered.
“Well, I don’t have mead, but I do have Corona,” he said, opening the refrigerator door grabbing one for himself.
“Yes, that will be fine.”
Cody handed Thor a bottle of Corona and he gulped the drink down in one go, then stood. “Where are your facilities?” he asked.
“Down the hall on the left. Wait just a minute and I’ll get you something more comfortable to sleep in.”
Cody rummaged through his closet looking for the largest pair of sweats that he owned. He finally came across a set with “Honk if you’re horny” displayed on the back, but it would have to do. He walked across the hall and turned the shower on until the temperature was just right. He had no idea if Thor knew how to operate it, so he thought he would help him out just in case.
As he stepped out of the bathroom, Thor was waiting by the door. “While I appreciate the clothes, I do know how to bathe,” he muttered, walking past him and slamming the door in his face.
Cody held back a laugh and made a bed for Thor on the couch with an extra pillow and blanket from his bedroom. He yelled through the door, “You can sleep on the couch. I’ll see you in the morning.” The only response he was given was a grunt. He retreated to his room and closed the door, exhausted from the strange night he’d had.
Chapter Six
“Where is she?” Hera demanded, storming into Zeus’ throne room. The god was sitting on his throne, eating grapes from a silver tray held by a servant girl. He was putting them into his mouth, one at a time, crushing them between his teeth.
“Where is who, my dear wife?” Zeus asked, the apathy in his tone apparent.
“Your daughter! Athena!” Hera shouted. “She’s gone. Again.”
“I’m sure she is around,” Zeus answered, plucking another grape. “There are only so many places she can go.”
“I’ve looked everywhere!”
“I am not her keeper,” Zeus replied. “Now leave me, woman. I have matters to attend to.”
“Of course,” Hera said sarcastically. “Like one of my handmaidens again? Or will you be rutting with one of your own servants this time?”
“I would never,” Zeus started but Hera interrupted him.
“Don’t play innocent with me,” she growled. “I know the kind of filthy whore you are. I saw you with Hannah’s legs around your shoulders in the orchard last week! And now, you have lip stain on your neck!”
Zeus rubbed his neck. “I’m sure it is only grape juice,” he remarked. “Why do you want Athena?”
“You are quite good at changing the subject when it suits your needs,” she told him. “I was looking for her because the last time she escaped, no one knew. I wanted to know how. I’ve been keeping tabs on her, but she has vanished. Again!”
“After lunch we will send out a search party,” Zeus offered.
Hera rolled her eyes. “You know what? Don’t worry about it. I will find her myself.” She slammed the throne room door closed and stomped her way down the marble steps into the courtyard.
She didn’t stop there. Hera searched high and low for her daughter, checking the stables first, then the gardens. By the time she reached the end of the gardens, a thought occurred to Hera. What if Athena went into the caves in an attempt to escape? It wouldn’t be the first time one of the cursed gods tried it. Ares got away with it and was able to break his curse.
She eyed the overgrown path in speculation. Should she go? Not once in the centuries that she had been trapped had she ever wandered down that path. Her feet were moving before she made the decision to do so. The thorned bushes cut at her feet and ankles, but Hera had to know. Was Athena there? Had she fallen victim to the beast in the cave?
As Hera entered the mouth of the cave, she saw something that had her catching her breath and holding it. The dragon slept. But that wasn’t the only thing she saw. On the other side of the sleeping giant beast, was the exit from the cave and from Mount Olympus. She could see the sky and clouds. She could see freedom.
She stood there, at a complete loss for what to do. Had this been how Athena and Ares escaped before? Had her brilliant children figured out a way to free themselves from this cursed hell? Unknowing how she had gotten around the dragon to the exit, Hera took in the beautiful sight. She could leave. She looked back at the sleeping dragon. How long the beast would sleep was unknown. She should do something. Looking back at the exit, Hera knew what she had to do.
She ghosted back to the throne room and took Zeus by the arm. “Come with me, now,” she hissed.
“Woman! I told you that I have work to do!” he replied so loudly that Hera ground her teeth together. Everyone was going to know if he couldn’t keep his mouth shut! Everyone would floc
k to the cave where they would certainly wake the beast and ruin any chance of escape.
“You have to be very quiet,” Hera whispered in his ear. “I have something wonderful to show you.”
Zeus turned his head and looked at her in confusion. His wife’s dark eyes swirled with anticipation, her breathing was quick and uneven. This was not like her at all. This was important. “Show it to me,” he said. “Tell me what has gotten you in such a twist.”
“I can’t,” Hera reminded him. “You must come with me now.”
Zeus was going to argue with her, but Hera took the opportunity away. Grabbing his bicep, she ghosted them both to the entrance of the cave.
“What? Why have you brought me here? Are you crazy? No one should see that I have left the throne room!”
“For the love of yourself,” Hera shout-whispered at him, “Shut your trap and listen to me! Be quiet and come see what has happened.”
She took him by the hand and led her husband into the cave where the dragon, thankfully, still slept. “See?” she whispered.
Zeus had never seen the enormous beast at rest, yet there she was. Her scaly skin shimmered in the sunlight that filtered through the cavern exit as she snored deeply. Her snores rumbled the walls and floor, but it did not wake her. Tiny plumes of smoke rose from her nostrils on all three heads as she slumbered and—did he just see the exit?
“Come, carefully,” Hera told him, taking his hand and leading him around the giant. She stopped at the exit. “We can leave.”
Zeus could think of so many reasons to jump and only a few to stay. “We must tell the others,” he whispered hoarsely to Hera. She shook her head.
“We have to look after ourselves now,” she said. “Haven’t we protected the others enough? Haven’t we sacrificed enough?”
Zeus saw the pleading look in his wife’s eyes and knew that this was what she wanted more than anything. He had not been the best husband to her, in fact, he had been a shit. But she loved him, even if he didn’t deserve it. And he didn’t. He didn’t deserve her. Taking her hand into his much larger one, Zeus smiled at Hera. Then together, hand in hand, they jumped, freefalling to Earth.
Athena didn’t have to look for her brother, she knew exactly where to find him. He and his new wife had bought a house in the suburbs. Who would have thought that the God of War would be living it up in the suburbs with a wife and a human vehicle? She knew this because unlike her, Ares could move freely between the realms after breaking his curse. At first, Athena thought she wanted to go back to Mount Olympus. She enjoyed her time on Earth, but her powers grew weaker with each passing day.
After Ares broke his curse, he returned Athena to their home. She thought that was what she wanted. After more than a year back on the mountain, Athena had not found the happiness she had been looking for. Everything about her home felt empty and cold. She lived her day-to-day life just going through the motions.
Even though she could already feel her power waning, Athena didn’t care. She felt more at home on the streets of New York than she had ever felt on Olympus. She knew that now. And, now that she was away from Thor and had time to cool off, she was thinking more clearly. Thor had come to Olympus and was set on going to Zeus. Why? He mentioned a coming battle. Shit. The Asgardians were planning an attack on Olympus and she had left everyone unaware.
Something that others would probably describe as guilt filled her chest and made her stomach feel heavy, but Athena didn’t feel guilt. It was probably the last bout of grapes that she had upsetting her stomach. Still, Ares could go back to Olympus and warn them. She had to tell him.
As she rounded the corner, Athena saw the house bearing the address that Ares had recited repeatedly on one of his visits to the mountain. It was quaint, to be sure. Green hedges that were manicured to perfection lined the large porch where a wooden swing moved lazily in the breeze. Potted flowers decorated the steps on one side. The paved driveway was empty of vehicles, but she was sure the screaming death box was in the garage. She stepped up to the door and pressed the bell. Then, she waited.
Emma answered the door with a smile until she saw who it was. The human woman looked the same as she had the last time Athena saw her, except that she had gained some weight. “What the hell?” Emma barked, closing the door soundly in Athena’s face. Okay, so she probably deserved that. When Ares had fallen for Emma, Athena had done all she could to keep them apart. In the end, Emma’s love for Ares had been key in breaking his curse. So really, if she looked at it like that, Athena helped Ares break his curse. The least they could do was see her.
She rang the bell again.
She could hear her brother inside asking Emma who was at the door. “It’s that bitch sister of yours,” Emma told him with no small amount of disgust.
“It can’t be,” Ares said.
Athena rang the bell once again. This time, Ares opened the door. “What are you doing here? And how did you get off of Olympus?” he demanded.
“Is that any way to greet your sister?” she asked sweetly, “Especially after I helped you break your curse?”
Ares frowned at her.
“I have something important to tell you,” Athena continued. “Can I come in?” When had she started to ask permission to do anything?
Ares thought about it for a moment, then stepped aside, holding the door open. Athena walked in. The large living room was warm and inviting. A tan sofa spread around the perimeter of two walls with a table in front of it. A comfortable looking recliner sat on the end near the open walkway to the kitchen. “Cozy,” she said as she closed the door behind her.
“Why did you let her in?” Emma demanded, walking into the room.
Athena’s eyes widened when she got a good look at her. Emma had not just gained weight. Her belly was round with child. “Are you pregnant?” she asked.
Emma rolled her eyes and said, “No, I’m just fat.”
“Yes, she’s pregnant,” Ares said quickly, taking Athena by the elbow and leading her to the sofa. “What is it you wanted to tell us? And I ask again, how did you get off that mountain?”
Athena sat down and Ares conjured a drink for her. “That’s the same answer,” she said, taking a sip from the chilled vodka. Ares had remembered what she liked. Maybe he didn’t hate her as much as she thought. “I was on Olympus, tending to the stables when guess who showed up? Thor!” She recanted the story up to the part where the dragon was asleep.
“You left them there?” Emma asked, her voice rising and getting louder with each syllable. “You rat!”
“Look, I’m not saying it was right of me to do so,” Athena said, “But I know that you can go back and warn the others. I can’t go back.”
“Yes, you can,” Ares told her. “I’m taking you back right now.”
“No,” Athena said firmly. “I don’t care if I rot and die in this realm like a human. I’m not going back. There’s nothing there for me anymore.”
Ares smiled knowingly at her. “I can go. I’ll tell the others.”
“When is your little god or goddess due?” Athena asked, looking at Emma.
“None of your damn business,” Emma replied.
“Please don’t piss her off,” Ares whispered.
“What?” Emma asked, having heard it.
“I said not to upset you, dear. You need to relax. After all, growing a human is hard work,” Ares replied quickly.
“A human?” Athena barked out. “Why would you grow a human?”
Ares shook his head in a silent attempt to shut her up.
“We are gods! Your offspring will be a god too!” she continued, half shouting by that point.
“No, my baby is human,” Emma said. “I’m human.”
“But Ares is a god,” Athena corrected.
“And I think that’s enough visiting,” Ares said, urgently trying to diffuse the situation. “Come Sister, tell me everything you know.” He pulled Athena out of the house to the front porch.
“Why doe
s she believe her baby will be human?” Athena asked once the door was closed.
“I haven’t really told her yet,” Ares admitted. “She’s just so stressed already and she worries about everything. Hell, she already has a school picked out and we don’t even know if the baby is a boy or a girl yet.”
“How much longer?” she asked. Something strange was going on with her body. When she thought about Emma and her coming child, Athena’s own belly felt empty. Maybe she needed to eat.
“Eight more weeks,” Ares answered. “I’m so nervous I can’t hardly see.”
“You will be a wonderful father,” Athena announced, surprising even herself.
“Are you feeling alright?” Ares asked her, looking at her suspiciously.
“I’m fine. I have a Norse god’s ass to kick. I just wanted you to know about their plans.”
“Speaking of Norsemen,” Ares said, “I saw Loki here on Earth. I had to smite him a little bit.”
Athena couldn’t help but smile at her brother’s look of absolute pride as he explained what had transpired. When he was finished, he told her, “It’s no doubt that they are up to no good. I’ll go to Olympus, but first I have to call someone to protect Emma while I’m gone.”
“I can protect her,” Athena offered.
“Yeah, that’s not gonna work,” he said. “She won’t let you within a mile of her without me around. Besides, she’s been very hormonal lately. I’ll just call Thanatos.”
“The God of Death?” Athena shrieked. “He can kill her with one touch!”
“But he won’t,” Ares told her as he took his cell phone out of his pocket. “He broke his curse. Now he only kills when he intends to.”
“Are you freaking kidding me?” Athena shouted. “How are you idiots all breaking your curses? Why can’t I break mine?” The words of her curse were forever emblazed into her mind.
The Goddess of Battle, Strategy and Wisdom,
Legends and Heroes: War of the Gods (Curse of the Gods Book 3) Page 4