A Touch of Greek

by Tina Folsom

  “Are you sure you know how to get to Hades from here?” Triton asked his friend.

  “Of course. Every casino has a direct portal to it. Uncle Hades thought it would only be fitting.” Hermes laughed.

  Michael didn’t find the joke funny. Hell, it wasn’t even a joke. Whatever the two were talking about, Michael couldn’t make heads nor tails of it. All that talk about Hades. First, Triton had said Hades meant hell, now the other guy called Hades his uncle. They clearly were joshing him, trying to confuse him. They couldn’t even keep track of their own lies. And Michael still didn’t know what they even wanted, though he could guess.

  The casino was busy, even for early evening. Michael had spent many a night in here, trying to hit it big, only to find in the mornings that Lady Luck hadn’t been with him. But he knew, one day he’d crack the jackpot and all his worries would be over. He could finally live in luxury, the way Sophia did—undeservedly so. It wasn’t right that Eleni had given the house to her alone.

  Michael barely watched where they were heading as he stewed over his dim prospects. The gambling hall was behind them now, and they’d entered a corridor clearly meant for employees only. When they came to a halt in front of a door marked Boiler Room, Michael looked up.

  “I should have guessed,” Triton chuckled, pointing at the sign. “He does have a sense of humor, doesn’t he?”

  Who the fuck were those two talking about now?

  Hermes nudged Michael. “After you.”

  The door opened by itself. It had to be a trick. Hermes or Triton had probably pressed a button somewhere, one of those buttons that opened doors for handicapped people. He wouldn’t fall for this cheap trick, Michael promised himself as he set a foot across the threshold.

  The moment he entered the dark room, which smelled of oil and something else he couldn’t place, Michael wondered why the two hadn’t beaten him up in his apartment. Why bring him here first? Was it one of their intimidation tactics? But he kept his mouth shut, still hoping an opportunity for escape would present itself. If anything, he was patient.

  He felt a hand on his back, pushing him further into the room. Then the door shut behind them. Michael only heard the sound of the boiler laboring and the breathing of the two guys behind him. He braced himself for the blows that would come any moment now. This was where they’d beat the shit out of him—and then?

  “A few more steps straight ahead,” Hermes ordered.

  Ahead of him was only the wall. “It doesn’t go any further,” Michael protested and stopped. Another push from behind, and Michael hit the wall. He pushed back.

  “Relax.” Hermes’ voice behind him was surprisingly calm and soothing. What the hell? “Breathe.”

  A moment later, the wall gave way and his body slid through it—yes, through the damn concrete wall. Michael panicked. Now he knew for sure those assholes had drugged him. What had they used? LSD? Acid? Fuck!

  Seconds later, he was free of the wall, having pushed through completely. Triton and Hermes were behind him. The boiler room was gone. Ahead of him was something he’d never seen before: an underground river, blood red and on fire.

  Michael smelled the vile scent more intensely now. And it came from the river ahead of him. Oh no, he was going nowhere near that treacherous waterway. “Eww!”

  “That smell you’re trying to identify is brimstone,” Hermes whispered behind him. Could that asshole read his thoughts? “Welcome to my world.”

  Michael jerked away and turned to the two hoodlums who’d kidnapped him. He had to fight them—now. “You fucking assholes. Get me out of here. I don’t know how you did this, but this isn’t funny anymore.”

  “It was never meant to be funny,” Triton answered in a cool tone. “Or do I look like I’m joking?”

  “What is this? What did you drug me with?” Michael felt his heartbeat speed up. He had to get out of this damn hellhole.

  “We didn’t drug you. And trust me, the bit of weed you smoked isn’t capable of making you hallucinate. Just open your eyes and look around,” Triton invited and stretched his arms toward the burning river. “This is reality—a reality you’ll have to live with if you don’t stop hurting Sophia.”

  Ah, shit! Triton knew. Had he found him out, or was he just guessing? Michael had to deny the accusation. “I’ve done nothing to hurt Sophia.” The lie rolled off his lips as easily as a gulp of beer would trickle down his throat. He’d been lying all his life. By now it was second nature to him. No reason to stop now.

  Triton took a step toward him, his big frame looming menacingly above Michael. “I know what you’ve done, and I’ll make sure you’ll never try anything else again.” Then he turned his head to his friend. “Hermes, I think he’s ready for a preview of what’s going to happen to him if he ever harms Sophia again.”

  Michael didn’t like the sound in Triton’s voice. Denying what he’d done wouldn’t help now. He knew he had to bargain. “It wasn’t my idea.” Well, it was, but what better way than to blame somebody else?

  Triton snapped his head back to him. His eyes narrowed. “I’m listening.”

  “That guy, he offered me money. And I needed it. I mean, my aunt cut me out of her will. I had no money. Sophia got everything. It’s just not right—”

  “Stop blaming Sophia,” Triton hissed through clenched teeth.

  Bad move. “No, no, of course not. It’s that guy. He didn’t want you two to get all cozy. He’s the one who wants to hurt her.” Well, it wasn’t exactly what the guy had said, since all he’d wanted was to make a relationship between Triton and Sophia impossible, but how would Triton ever find out the truth?

  “Who is he?”

  Michael shrugged. “I don’t know. He never told me his name. Honestly.” It was the first honest sentence that had come over his lips during the entire evening. It was true, the man had never mentioned his name. Now that he thought about it, he found it rather odd.

  “What did he look like?” Triton continued his questioning.

  “I don’t know.”

  “Think, and think fast. I’m running out of patience.”

  Michael shivered despite the heat rising from the burning river. “Tall, brown hair.”

  “That’s not very descriptive.”

  “He was dressed quite weird,” Michael added, desperate now to have all this stop.

  “Weird?”

  “Yes, as if he was going into the woods, hunting game or something. I mean, in the middle of the city, that’s just—”

  “Orion,” Triton and Hermes said in unison.

  They knew the guy? Hell, this wasn’t good news. Had he been set up? This didn’t make any sense.

  “Not even Orion would try to kill a mortal just to get back at me. Oh, I believe he tried to drive a wedge between me and Sophia and used you for it, but the rest, all those accidents, they were of your making.” Triton turned to Hermes. “Give him a tour of Hades, and bring him back alive. I’ve got things to take care of up top.”

  Then Triton leveled a glare at Michael. “If you ever cross Sophia’s or my path again, you’ll return to Hades—permanently. Have a good look around. The choice is yours.”

  Thirty-Three

  Sophia heard the footsteps on the stairs and sat forward on the couch. The person hesitated in the hallway before entering the living room. She saw the outline of his form, tall and broad. His gait as he approached was familiar. Despite her failing eyesight, she instantly recognized him.

  “Triton.”

  She’d waited for hours for him to come back, her mind racing from one cycle of doubt to another. Her emotions were confused, battling with each other. One moment she was ready to forgive Triton for all his deception and the next, she wanted to toss him out on his ass and tell him never to come back. Why he’d come back, she still didn’t understand. What did he want from her?

  Triton stopped in front of the couch and dropped down, crouching before her. He took her hands into his. “Sophia, how are you feeling?”<
br />
  “Better. I’m better now.”

  “I promise you, Michael will never hurt you again.”

  Sophia’s breath hitched, and her heart beat into her throat. “Did you hurt him?”

  Triton shook his head. “I promised you I wouldn’t, even though it wasn’t easy for me to keep that particular promise. He would have deserved a good beating.”

  Relief swept through her. “Did he admit that he caused those accidents?”

  “He did—after I convinced him that it was to his advantage to tell the truth for once.”

  “You threatened him.” It was merely a statement. She knew Triton had to threaten him, with what, she didn’t really care to find out. “What makes you so sure he won’t try again?”

  Triton led her hands to his mouth and kissed her knuckles. She should pull her hands back, but the contact felt good. “He knows that I’ll be here to protect you, and he fears me enough to stay away. You’re rid of him. That’s what you wanted, isn’t it?”

  Sophia nodded. “Yes. He’s caused enough trouble. It’s better for all of us. But …” She hesitated. He’d said he would be here to protect her, but why and for how long?

  “What is it?” Triton moved closer, his head now only inches away from her.

  “You’ll be here, but … why? Triton, what is it that you want from me?” Sophia held her breath. She needed to know.

  He cleared his throat. “This might all sound very fantastic and outrageous, but I assure you, everything I’m going to tell you is the truth. Can you promise me to keep an open mind?”

  What on earth did he mean by that? How outlandish could his explanation be? Was he some secret agent who’d come to protect her? Some bodyguard her aunt had hired before her death because she suspected that Michael might try something?

  “Okay?” She knew her voice was laden with doubt, but she would give it an honest try. He’d saved her life—more than once, in fact—and he deserved that she listen without pre-judging.

  “I’m not from here.”

  “I know that. You’re from Greece.” Or was that a lie too?

  “Well, not exactly. I’m Greek, but I’m not from Greece, not the Greece you know.” She felt him hesitate as if he didn’t know how to continue.

  “What other Greece is there?”

  “You’re familiar with Greek mythology, aren’t you?” he asked.

  “Sure, but what’s that got to do with where you’re from? And why is that even important? I just want to know who you are and what you want from me.”

  Triton pressed another kiss on her hands. “Where I’m from is important, because it explains who I am. Sophia, I know you’ll think I’m crazy when I tell you this, but please believe one thing: I’ll never hurt you.”

  In her heart, she knew he spoke the truth. He’d protected her, he’d cared for her. He’d been there when she needed him. No, he wasn’t here to hurt her. But what was he here for? “I know.”

  “Sophia. My name is Triton, but my last name isn’t Waters. I have no last name. I’m simply Triton, son of Poseidon and Amphitrite, calmer of storms, god of seafarers and sailors.”

  Sophia jumped up, wrenching her hands free from his. “Of all the despicable things you could do, you had to make fun of me? How could you?” How could he be so cruel to her? To torment her with alluding to the creatures she used to see, the gods and monsters, the fairies and gnomes. And of all of them to mention Poseidon, the god who’d saved her from drowning when she was a little child. There was only one other person alive who knew about it.

  “Michael put you up to this, didn’t he? I should have known. You were in cahoots with him all along.” She tried to get away from Triton, but he stood up and cupped her shoulders.

  “Sophia, I’ve just told you that I’ve taken care of Michael. I’m helping you, not him. Why would you think otherwise?”

  She tried to get out of his hold and twist away, but he didn’t allow it. “Let go of me.”

  “Not before you tell me why you suddenly think I’m on Michael’s side.”

  “I’ll tell you why. Because you taunt me with the things I’ve seen. Michael is the only person, who knows about it. He’s the only one, who could have told you.”

  Triton became impatient. “Told me what?”

  “That I see creatures,” she shouted. “That I’ve seen creatures that only exist in myth: fairies, gods. Michael is the only one who knows that I’ve seen gods and other creatures when everybody knows they aren’t real.”

  “But they are real. The gods—they exist, just like the fairies and the nymphs. I talk to them all the time. They are my friends.”

  Sophia’s mouth dropped open at the seriousness of his tone. They were his imaginary friends? Could it be? “You say you see them?”

  He nodded. “Of course I do.”

  Was Triton just like her? Did he have the same problems? A knot formed in her chest. She’d been through this before, but she’d succeeded in making the creatures go away. She didn’t have the heart to turn away from somebody who needed her help. And if he had the same symptoms she’d once suffered from, then he clearly needed her help. But she had to know more before she could be sure he wasn’t lying. “You say those creatures exist?”

  He nodded eagerly. “Yes, that’s what I’ve been trying to tell you. The gods, the fairies, all of them. Of course, nobody can see them. I can, because I’m one of them.”

  “Tell me more about them. What do you see when you see them? What do they look like?”

  “If they are on earth you wouldn’t really know that they are not like mortals, except I can see their energy float around them.”

  “Like a haze or a mist?” she asked. It was exactly how she’d seen the creatures.

  “Yes, exactly like that. It’s their aura.”

  She nodded. Yes, he was a lost soul. His symptoms were just like hers had been. “What does Poseidon look like?” She needed to make sure he knew things he couldn’t have found out from Michael, because even her cousin didn’t know all the details.

  “Father? He’s not too bad looking for his age.” Triton chuckled. “But I don’t look anything like him, except that of course my lower half turns into a large mono-fin when I’m in the ocean, just like Poseidon’s—but only then. So you won’t have to worry about it: on dry land I have my human body.”

  Sophia remembered how she’d seen Poseidon. Of course, Triton could have picked up the knowledge of how the god looked from a book about mythology. That’s probably how she had fabricated the vision too. It didn’t prove anything. Only the sincerity in Triton’s voice did. He believed what he told her. He truly believed that he saw these mythical creatures. “I understand now, Triton.”

  “So you believe me then?” His voice sounded full of relief.

  She nodded. She needed to play along so he would accept her help. “I believe you when you say you see the gods and all those other creatures. I thought I’d seen them too. But I managed to close my eyes and wish them away. You can do the same. I can help you.”

  ***

  Triton couldn’t believe what he heard. She thought he was crazy? Ready for the nuthouse? “Sophia, I’m not imagining this. I am a god, and Poseidon is my father.”

  “I know how real these apparitions might seem to you. They were like that for me too. When I was five years old Poseidon rescued me from downing in the ocean. But he wasn’t real. I just imagined him.”

  “Agapi mou, you didn’t imagine him. I believe you when you say Poseidon saved you. That’s one of the things he does. He might have a violent temper sometimes, but he is known for saving little girls from drowning. I’m just surprised you were able to see him. The gods are normally invisible to humans. You must have a special gift.”

  Sophia shook her head. “It’s not a gift, it’s an ailment. And I got past it, just like you will.”

  Triton tipped her chin up with his hand and pulled her closer. “You’re not mentally ill. And neither am I.”

  “Tri
ton, accept it and you can heal—just like I did.”

  “Listen to me, please. I was punished for being a bad boy. Zeus stripped me of my godly powers and banished me to the mortal world. He won’t give me my powers back until I’ve proven myself, until I’ve earned the love of a woman. Your love. I came to you under the guise of a healthcare worker because I need you to fall in love with me so I can earn my powers back. That’s why I’m here. I’m sorry I deceived you, but I need you.”

  He pressed his mouth to hers and captured her upper lip with his. “Sophia,” he whispered between feather light kisses, “I need your love.” When he said it, he realized that he didn’t just need her love to have his powers returned to him, he needed her love for himself. He wanted her love, to feel it spread in his heart, to capture it, treasure it, hold it. “Love me, please.”

  Her lips parted under his, and a sigh escaped. “Triton, please, I can help you.”

  “Help me by loving me, by believing in me. Everything I’m telling you is the truth. Please trust me.” He’d never begged in his life, but he didn’t care now. He would fall on his knees if that was what it took to win her love. He would walk to the end of the earth and back for her if it would make her love him.

  Sophia’s hand came up to cup his cheek. He turned into it and kissed her palm. “Yes. Triton, kiss me, and we’ll make each other forget everything.”

  “Not everything,” he answered back, “only the bad stuff.”

  He molded his lips to hers and kissed her, gently at first, showing her how precious she was to him. But then his desire for her pushed to the surface. He wanted this woman like he’d never wanted anybody else, neither goddess nor mortal woman.

  Triton lifted her into his arms.

  “What are you doing?” Her voice was raspy, colored with the same passion he felt for her.

  “I’m taking you to bed, and then I’m going to make love to you until we both collapse, because today I almost lost you. And I need to wipe that memory from my mind.”

  Before she could answer, he showed her with his lips how deep his need to forget was. Seeing her hanging off the balcony had almost killed him. He’d never before felt the kind of despair that had gripped him at that moment, and he never again wanted to feel anything else as painful.