Fear coursed through my body like a toxic potion, weakening me. I was drained and empty inside. The sudden hollowness in my soul was debilitating. The weight in the words I heard next felt like a ton of bricks had been dumped on my head.
“You belong to me now and I will rule the world.”
My body jerked violently as I opened my eyes. I was surrounded by the usual furnishings of my room and the roses were gone. My head swooned. I thought for a moment that I might be plagued with a mild case of Vertigo. My breath spurted in short jutting heaves. I clenched my chest to calm the staccato tempo of my heartbeat, which sounded more like horses trotting as they pulled the carriages through this dusty little town. The haunting feeling of the dream was hindered by the sudden knock on the door.
“Come in.” I sat up and cleared my throat.
“Miss Cordelia, Mr. Evander is here. He is in the parlor. Shall I have him wait?” Sun Paw said entering my bedroom through the adjoining sitting room divided by drawn velvet curtains.
Just the mention of Evan’s name brought a smile to my face. I nodded my answer as Sun Paw smiled too. Her radiant terra cotta skin practically glowed in the morning sunlight. Her bone-straight hair shone like a lake shimmering in the moonlight.
I dressed quickly, choosing an emerald, floor-sweeping day dress, which brought out the jade green of my eyes. I decided not to go with the customary bun, knowing how much Evan loved to run his fingers through my hair. I marveled at the dark brown waves that framed my heart shaped face and tumbled over my shoulders. Wearing my hair down was not an issue as it often was in the spring and summer. The mid-winter frigid breeze blew harshly from the looming Sierras.
I shut my door, whirled around with the joyous thought of seeing Evan and slammed into Victor.
“I’m sorry. I was just coming to see you,” Victor said as he stepped back and held up his hands. His pitch-black hair, which was tucked behind his ears, shone like onyx. His steel gray eyes burrowed into mine. As always, he was impeccably dressed in a tailored, three-piece suit.
“But you decided to knock me out instead,” I said, chuckling lightly. I adjusted the pleating in my dress. “Was there something you wanted? I’m heading downstairs.”
“If you have a second, I would like to talk to you.” Victor’s eyes darted around the hallway as if he thought someone was eavesdropping.
“Well, someone is waiting for me,” I said hesitantly.
“I know. He’s already here,” Victor said thrusting his chin out as his lips formed a thin line across his face.
“Can it wait?” I asked, now slightly annoyed with Victor’s arrogance at my choice of visitors.
“No, I’m afraid it can’t.” Victor’s voice took on a harder edge. “I’ve just spoken with Ares.”
“It’s nice to know that you two are getting along,” I said, looking away from him. I wish I could say the same for Zeus and me. I’m still waiting for some form of contact from him since I’ve regained my memory and powers a month ago. Secretly, because of course I don’t want my disciples to know of my humiliation, I’m annoyed that Zeus hasn’t answered me all the times I’ve tried to reach out to him.
“Ares confided in me and I must share the information with you,” Victor said.
“Tell me.”
“Well, according to my fath–, uh, Ares, Hermes sent a message to Hades, as instructed by Zeus, not too long ago. In response, Hades said that he was preparing to take you as his bride as payment for the Queen you killed.”
Suddenly, it felt like someone opened a window and allowed the chilly air in. I shivered, remembering my dream. I could almost taste the coal from Hades’ kiss as he stole my lightning bolt.
“What else did Ares say?” I said calmly, not wanting Victor to notice my fear which crept in with the cold.
“I don’t mean to scare you, Delia.” Victor said reaching out to touch my arm. Thankfully, there was fabric between us. At this point, I wasn’t sure what would happen if our skin touched.
“You haven’t. Go on. What else did he say?”
“He said that Hades has already set the plan in motion.”
“What plan?” I asked, trying to remember anything from my dream. I remembered nothing besides the devastating kiss.
“I tried to get it out of him but he said that he didn’t know for sure.”
“Do you believe him?” I asked.
“Yes.” Victor nodded.
I took a moment to think. I wondered just what it was that Hades had under his devilish, black vapor sleeve.
“Thank you Victor,” I said, trying to smile. I wanted him to know that I appreciated the fact that he was trying to help.
“It is my honor, Empress.” Victor winked seductively, and headed back to his room.
I stood in the hallway for a long moment trying to catch my breath. It hadn’t been a dream at all. It was a premonition. Hades was aware of what I had done. Killing his queen Driella, second to his prisoner bride, Persephone, had been an accident. Although the nasty bitch deserved being torched, her king knew and wanted revenge.
I found Evan in the parlor looking magnificently handsome. I fought my frazzled nerves so that he wouldn’t see me shaken.
“Aren’t you the late riser?” he asked, as he widened his stride. He now stood an erasable inch away from me. I didn’t answer. Instead, I leaned into him and kissed him deeply. The moment our lips touched my thoughts of Hades and wilted roses dissipated. Evan kissed me back and washed away any remnants of my dream. “Hmmm… now that’s how I want to begin every morning, my love.”
I moaned into his silky-smooth neck and he found my lips again, and again I felt as if suspended in the air. No one with the extraordinary powers I possessed could have torn me away from his embrace. When we stopped kissing, Evan looked into my face, narrowed his eyes, and the corners of his mouth began to curl upward. He was blocking his thoughts so I couldn’t read them.
“Oh, come on, aren’t you going to let me in on your little secret,” I said, playfully and I leaned so far into him that I was practically in his lap. I wanted him to know that I was well aware of him using his powers against me.
“What secret?” he asked. His eyes brightened and his grin widened.
“The one you’re blocking me from learning!” I said, crossing my arms over my chest and pretending to be upset.
“It’s for me to know and for you to find out,” he said, chuckling and then he did the one thing that he knew would wipe the fake pout off my face.
“Stop! Oh, gods no!” I squealed, uncontrollably. I couldn’t stop giggling in ripples as he ran his fingers up and down the sides of my torso and squeezed my belly with his fingertips. “Stop, Evan… stop!”
“Read my thoughts now, mighty empress!” Evan roared with laughter as he tickled me. I rolled around, laughing hysterically.
We rolled about on the sofa. I laughed hysterically and squirmed until I nearly fell off the sofa in order to free myself of him. He laughed so hard and he snorted so loudly that I could have sworn to the gods that there was a piglet loose in the parlor.
“Okay, okay. I’ll tell you what’s on my mind,” he said, recovering from laughing uncontrollably.
I stood up, smoothed my wrinkled dress, and pouted some more, which just made him chuckle, again.
“I dreamt it again.” Evan said, clearing his throat.
“Really?” I sat back down on the sofa beside him and did my best to compose myself.
“It was very similar to the one I had the night before.” Evan said as he faced me. “You know the one where you and I are…” Evan said, as his cheeks turned several shades of pink. I understood why he had given me that sexy stare a few minutes ago.
“Yes, I remember.” I nodded, feeling my face flush too. I remembered his vague description of us making love. Evan was such a gentleman, and I doubted that he would have ever told me about the dream if it hadn’t been for the strange ending.
“This time it was much more intense. Your
aura was irresistible, even more than usual. I could never imagine your aura being sweeter or hotter than it is now but it was in the dream. Your face stayed hidden. Oddly, your hair was several shades darker – as dark as a raven’s, your skin was paler, and our love making was terribly consuming, but then you…,” his words trailed off.
“I know,” I sighed. “Burst into flames.”
“Yes,” he said with a deep breath, as the corners of his mouth sagged. “I tried to drown out the flames, but woke up soaked wet.”
It didn’t surprise me that Evan shape shifted into a Tsunami. What did was the fact that he was unable to save me.
“It’s just a dream, my love. Nothing more.” I tried my best to assure him. I raised his hand up to my cheek and brushed it with my lips. Evan sighed and shut his eyes.
“So she’s on fire and you can’t save her?” Victor said sarcastically. “What a waste of power.”
Neither Evan nor I had heard him enter the parlor. We should have known we couldn’t have an intimate conversation with Victor having free reign of my house. Although the mansion was huge and designed so that each room offered some privacy, lately Victor seemed to be in every room I was in.
“Are you so desperate that you’ve resorted to eavesdropping?” The tension in Evan’s voice was understandable, yet thick enough to halt buck shots. Clearly, he hated that Victor lived with me. I guess I couldn’t blame him since Victor was his competition for my heart and my betrothed. Also, it was obvious that Victor wasn’t going to allow Evan to forget that.
“Actually, I’m here doing Sun Paw a favor. Your breakfast is prepared and awaits you in the sunroom, Cordelia,” Victor said, in his most business - like voice.
“Thank you Victor,” I said equally stuffy. He winked at me and turned to leave the parlor, but not before his eyes paused on Evan as a sneer crept along the edge of his lips.
“Will you be joining me?” I turned and faced Evan, pretending to not hear him growl under his breath.
“It seems like you already have a date.” Evan rolled his eyes.
“Oh, Evan, come on. You don’t need to feel jealous.” I stroked his cheek.
“I’m not.” He took my hand and brought it down to my side, smoldering on the inside. “I would love to join you but I’m needed at the office. I do so enjoy overseeing the haul of silver from the mines.” Evan hated running the mines, but since his parents were no longer around to manage them, the responsibility was his now.
Evan rested his head against mine and stared into my eyes. I hooked my arms around his neck again, and he pulled me closer. I wished that my dress and his tailored suit weren’t in the way of us being closer. Lately, I’ve been wanting so much more from him. We sat together for a while in silence on the large mahogany-framed, velvet sofa. Both of our thoughts ran wild with perplexing notions. His were of us together, the way I hoped we’d graduate too soon, and mine were of Victor. What he told me a little while ago nagged at me incessantly. I decided to tell Evan what I’d been told.
“I need to tell you something.” The goose bumps rose on my arms. I quickly fingered my medallion and allowed its icy temperature to keep me calm.
“What is it, Delia? Your hand just turned as cold as ice.” Evan said looking down at the hand he still held.
I hadn’t realized that I was projecting my emotions and fears. I was a jumble of nerves and just decided to spit it out.
“Evan, he knows.” I said, quivering.
“Who knows what?”
“Hades.” I had to catch my breath. “He knows that I killed the vampire queen.”
“H – How do you know that he knows?”
“Hermes told Ares, and he told Victor.”
“Victor?” He scowled and narrowed his piercing blue eyes. “I knew that it was only a matter of time. What’s he up to now?”
“I don’t doubt him, Evan.”
“And Hermes?” Evan asked with a raised eyebrow. “You know how he likes to spin stories. I don’t believe it. Matthias would never betray you. That vampire knows the consequences.”
“I thought about that too. Just hear me out,” I said and Evan nodded. “According to Ares, Hades sent Zeus a message – he plans to make me his bride.”
“It’s probably just one of Hades’ threats.” Evan shrugged.
I jumped to my feet. “No, Evan. I’ve dreamt it.”
“You have?” Evan asked, getting up from the sofa and following me over to the marble fireplace.
“I’ve seen it – the wedding, everything.”
“The wedding? You actually see yourself marrying Hades?”
“Yes,” I whispered as I watched Evan allow all this information to sink in. His skin blanched and it made me feel as if the dream had been real. It was as if I’d betrayed him by marrying the evil younger brother of both of our fathers.
“Does he kill you?” Evan said, breathlessly.
“No, but he takes my bolt.” Evan’s face tightened, especially around his mouth.
“Have you consulted the council?”
“No. Victor just told me about this just now.” I said.
“I think you should consult them, Delia.”
“No.”
“Why not?” Evan asked, throwing up his arms.
“Because… I need to know more.”
“Alright, fine. Maybe you should speak with Zeus,” He suggested, and then shook his head. “No, you should talk to Athena,” he said. “Zeus is upset about our union and won’t interfere either way. Athena may be able to get more details out of her brother. Ares could never elude her for long.”
“You’re right. I’ll talk to her.”
“Good,” Evan said and smiled.
“On another note, are you ready to set the plans concerning your parents into motion?”
“Yes,” I sighed. “I want to know where they’re buried. I need to know.”
“Alright. Let’s get everyone together.” We were stunned by high-pitched screams that seemed to originate from outside.
We stared out the window and saw the huge black mass swallow several mortals before dissolving into a virtual hole in the ground. Millionaire’s Row was vacant due to another smothering by the grotesque smog of Apolluon shadows. We both turned and looked at each other, thinking the exact same thought. It was time to consult the elders. It had been a month since the incident in town involving Heracio and since then the attacks from the Apolluon had tripled.
“I think we had better inform the elders of what happened a few weeks ago in town and of my plan to dispatch the warriors,” I said.
Instinctively, we looked up, although it wasn’t the patterned ceiling that we saw. The elders were summoning us. They wanted a council, immediately. Every member of the Ischero Empire had to be present within a minute and accounted for. There were no exceptions.
“It looks as though the elders may have the same idea,” Evan said. “I’ll get him.” He motioned with his chin to the rear of the house. Victor had no way of teleporting to the meeting without an Ischero escort.
“No. You go on ahead. I’ll bring him,” I said, dashing to the sunroom and leaving Evan no room to argue.
“Lover boy doesn’t let you eat?” Victor asked when I appeared in the sunroom. The corners of his lips curled up slightly and to my surprise, my heart lurched against my chest. He sat at the table with an enormous banquet, prepared by Sun Paw, spread out before him. Unfortunately, it would go ignored.
“There’s no time to eat. Our presence is needed elsewhere,” I said.
As the blinding and crackling bolts ignited from within me, I took his hand.
Three - Cordelia
Hostile
Victor and I stood before a little over a hundred members of my empire. I released Victor’s hand and he roused immediately, blinking rapidly as if he woke suddenly from a deep sleep. As a true mortal, he would be ashes right now. However, since he was still a deity, he never felt the lightning bolts scorch through him, just the temporary bl
indness by the light.
The disciples eyed Victor cautiously. The members hadn’t seen Victor since the Masquerade Ball and seeing him amongst them now made them a little uncomfortable. There wasn’t a trace of malice in their thoughts, as I read them all. Victor seemed nervous in such close proximity to my other disciples.
“Are you alright?” I asked telepathically.
“I’m not going anywhere,” Victor whispered. He stroked the ivory silk fabric of his Ischero robe. Everyone watched him, cloaked in their customary ivory robe – trimmed with a sash in a shade of violet or garnet. My sash was gold and glimmered in the flickering light of the oil lamps hanging on the wooden beams along the Tieron mine walls.
Victor had only been in contact with whoever lived or worked for me in my house and Evan when he paid me a visit. Normally, the list would include my best friend Bethany, but she has been avoiding my house, Victor, and me lately. However, she couldn’t avoid me now. Not here.
Bethany stood across from me and beside her betrothed Nikolas, in the vast dungeon-like space, smoothing the loose golden tendrils into her taut bun. Her icy blue eyes swept across the room, but darted downward as they passed me. She looked past me to her brother, who guarded my right. Bethany wouldn’t make any eye contact with me. She smiled briefly at her brother and didn’t allow her eyes to swing towards me, and never permitted a glance at Victor, standing at my left.
“Empress Tieron, we call this council to attention,” Lucien Viniturin, the highest ranking elder and descendant of Aphrodite, said. His words thundered, grabbing everyone’s attention. He strode toward me and bowed. It was times like these – watching a man hundreds of years older than me bow to me, which made me feel most uncomfortable as an empress of an ancient empire. I gulped, nodded, nodded, and gave him the clearance he needed to proceed with the meeting.
“This council is called due to another attack by the Apolluon. They are multiplying.”
“Why are they multiplying so quickly?” I asked Lucien.
“Hades is no longer waiting for the mortal sinners to die nor are the Apolluon waiting for a display of power to attract their attention. They are smothering mortals at random. Hades is utilizing every death, those of the innocent and evil, to extend his army of undead souls.”
Sacrifice Page 2