Illusions: A Grace Murphy Novel

by Nicole Hamlett

We'd walked another five miles through the forest before reaching Apollo's palace. Tired, hungry and aching, I could only stop and stare, slack-jawed at the edifice. It was as if the city planners for Las Vegas had gotten together and decided to re-create Arabian Nights, Vegas style. Everything glittered, flashed, and reflected the light. We just needed a few neon signs to complete the look, and we could have plunked this bad boy into the Nevada desert.

  "You're a peach, Grace," He drawled. "Never change."

  No worries on that end, it was doubtful I'd ever grow up and mature into a real girl. "It sparkles." A hand shaded my eyes against the glare of the light.

  "Well, it is Apollo. He likes bright shiny things."

  "Obviously" I replied dryly. "So, what's the plan?"

  We hadn't discussed what we were going to do while trudging over the uneven paths to the coast. That right there told me that something was very wrong with my companion. Drew was starting to look a little gray around the edges.

  "Don't die?" He said with a sigh.

  Well, that was uplifting. And - a pretty solid plan, all things considered. I mean, if the only goal was to not die, I had quite a bit of leeway.

  "Good plan. Can we make some time for food while we're here?"

  "I have nightmares where we're at war, and the enemy plans its attacks during meal times, knowing that you'll be occupied and out of the way. But, and I can't believe I'm saying this, I'm actually hungry as well."

  I nodded and started down the path. We still needed to cross the bridge spanning a small inlet before entering the palace grounds. Jagged cliffs rose on either side. It wasn't far, but Drew was quickly losing steam. He stopped halfway down the path and under the guise of scanning the area, tried to catch his breath. I silently handed him a bottle of water, and he nodded his thanks. When he was finished, I put the bottle back in my pack and tried to add some levity to the situation.

  "I wonder if they kicked him off Earth to preserve a sense of dignity and style."

  "If it makes you feel better, last time I was here, the food was magnificent." Drew cajoled.

  "I could get magnificent food in Vegas too. Bonus points for nobody trying to kill me there."

  His chuckle loosened the tightness in my chest. Maybe he just needed some rest. Hell, I could go for a nap myself. A few moments later, we reached the entrance to the bridge. Two monoliths on either side of us, rose a hundred feet in the air, coming to jagged points. This close I could see the gem encrusted designs in the hammered gold finish. Runes? Hieroglyphs? I couldn't tell which, but as we passed, a cold shudder raced through me. I grabbed Drew's hand and squeezed to stop the trembling in my own.

  He squeezed back and murmured quietly, "Turn back the way we came and run."

  "What?" I breathed.

  He'd stopped and was staring at the pillar beside us. "Leave me here. I'm not going to be able to run with you.”

  "What? Why? What are these things? What do those symbols mean?”

  “Run as fast as you can and don't stop until you reach where we Rifted in. Bring a team back."

  “I'm not leaving you here alone, Drew. Tell me what's going on in your head."

  He opened his mouth, but before he could start explaining, the bridge started shuddering beneath our feet.

  "Too late. Here they come."

  Drew laced his fingers through mine, grimaced, and stared forward. I stood beside him, baffled and inexplicably terrified of what we were about to face. It's not necessarily that I always need to know what's going on, to feel secure in the world. It's just that – I always need to know what's going on. You get the point. Nothing seemed to be going according to plan, and having no knowledge of this world or their language, I felt adrift. It made me angry and afraid. Those were two emotions that never ended in anything good.

  A group of soldiers stomped across the bridge and stopped at the mid-way point. Like Dmitri, they were all enormous, muscle-bound and clothed in nothing more than helmets and loincloths.

  "Nice welcome committee," I murmured.

  Drew's fingers tightened around my own before he raised his other hand in greeting. He shouted a few words and then plastered a thousand kilowatt smile across his face. The line parted to show a single man outlined in a golden halo.

  My eyes laser focused first on lips that looked kissably soft, the dimpled cleft in his lantern jaw, and finally eyes that were the color of a Caribbean ocean. "Oh," I said stupidly. It wasn't even just his face. He was dressed in nothing but a pair of soft cotton trousers that hung low on his hips. The thin material clung lovingly to his muscular thighs. I'd never envied cloth so much in my life. His chest, shoulders, and arms didn't have the plastic look that most bodybuilders accomplished, but they were well defined just the same. The entire package was stunning and exquisite.

  Another spike of fear and rage hit me. The last time someone had used this much glamor on me, I'd ended up strapped to a table and tortured to death over and over. It had taken me a long while to forgive Zeus for that transgression.

  "Glamour much?" I muttered before giving an equally sunny and fake smile.

  "Apollo!" Drew called. "I didn't expect to see you!"

  "Adonis, I assure you, the sentiment is mutual. But come! Join me inside for some refreshment. You've had a long journey." With that, the unit in front of him closed ranks and spun around in unison. The soldiers looked well trained, and that made me feel even more nervous.

  As we trudged across the bridge, I had to force myself not to look back at the monoliths behind us. Their proximity made me nauseous and Drew looked little better. "How are we going to play this?" I murmured.

  "Just follow my lead, and please for the love of all you hold dear, keep your mouth shut." he replied.

  For once, I didn't argue and just nodded. I was out of my depth and all too happy to let Drew take point.

  To my surprise, the archway into the great hall was beautiful. The murals were done in golds and various shades of muted blue that were pleasing to the eye. If you discounted the rest of the gaudy decor, the entryway would have been worth it. We crossed the marble floor and stopped beneath a dais where Apollo was seated on a golden throne with sun rays spiking from behind his head. It was ostentatious. It made the contrast to the entryway mural all that much more striking. I briefly wondered what had happened to whoever had commissioned it in the first place. Were they rotting away in a dungeon somewhere for the crime of having good taste?

  "Apollo, it's good to see you again." Drew, stepped forward and grasped the man's hand. "How have you been?"

  "Good my friend. Splendid even. As you can see," He waved his hand around the room. "This world has given me much. But that's neither here nor there. What brings you to my glorious realm? And more importantly, who is this enchanting creature you brought with you?"

  I offered Apollo a short bow. "It is a pleasure to meet the famed Apollo."

  He preened at my flattery and nodded. "The pleasure is mine indeed. Have you eaten yet? Dmitri says you've been here in Sol for hours now." At that, he gave Drew an indecipherable look. "Diana hadn't informed me that we'd have visitors from Earth."

  "Oh, you've spoken with my mother recently?" I asked innocently. "She hadn't said. We could have saved ourselves the trip and just asked you if you knew about our missing Hunter." Too late I realized that I was supposed to keep my mouth shut and I hadn't. I could have smacked myself saying anything beyond a polite hello.

  His head jerked slightly, and he frowned. "Missing Hunter?"

  Drew waved off my words with a short laugh. "Grace is confused. We're just checking in with the local Hunter. Have you met her yet? She's only been on this planet for a short time."

  "I didn't— I didn't know that you'd replaced Serena." Apollo's eyes grew dark, turning his Caribbean gaze into one of a stormy sea. "I have not met the new Hunter. I'm surprised that you would send another woman after what happened." His voice had also turned chilly.

  "One can never guess what Diana or Zeus will deci
de." Drew gave Apollo a chagrined look and a shrug. "You aren't wrong, though. We have been traveling without food for some time now. A meal would not be unwelcome."

  "I'm surprised you didn't Rift into town as you used to. Has Diana forgotten how?"

  Drew's responding chuckle sounded forced. "No, the Rift was opened by a newer recruit. They need the practice you know? It's a wonder we didn't end up on a lava covered planet."

  I opened my mouth to protest. I'd created the Rift exactly where he'd asked me to, but he pinched me hard, and the pain made me grit my teeth. I batted my lashes at him instead, hoping that my eyes promised retribution.

  "I hadn't heard that you had a recruit that could open Rifts. What a unique power to develop. I thought only Diana's line were able to do so." His eyes zeroed in on me, and I had to force myself not to squirm under the scrutiny. Instead, I gave him a blank look. No big powers here. Nope, not a one.

  Drew shook his head. "We were surprised as well when one of Cupid's get developed the power. Must be a latent gene in there somewhere." He snickered. "You know how it is. It's a gamble these days; you never know what talent will pop up."

  "In my time, the breeding was carefully monitored to ensure that the powers would continue to grow." Apollo frowned. "Are you saying that they are letting just anyone breed now?"

  What?? Nobody had ever told me that there had been a breeding program in place. The thought of it disgusted me. It was becoming more evident why Apollo was no longer welcome on Olympus.

  "I wouldn't say that," Drew waggled his eyebrows, (which looked ridiculous by the way) and then winked at Apollo. "You know how new relationships are. If you don't have some spontaneity, everything grows dull."

  "Indeed," Apollo murmured absently. "But we’ve gotten sidetracked. You have a new Hunter in Sol. I must speak with Dmitri about his oversight in not informing me. Then we shall see what we can do to help you find her. In the meantime, please allow me to offer you hospitality. You can refresh yourselves and have a meal before continuing your journey."

  Drew tensed beside me but kept his voice light. "That would be welcome. Thank you, Apollo, for your generosity."

  Apollo called to a guard stationed at the entrance and instructed him to show us to a suite of rooms with a view. He winked at me and added, "with a nice comfortable bed."

  I favored him with a strained smile and curtsied. "You're too kind. I could use a nap."

  Drew wrapped an arm around my shoulders and said, "Perhaps we could extend our stay a bit."

  I wondered at what kind of game he was playing. We had a place to stay. It was all in the brief. After meeting the contact for the communication device, we'd remain in the inner portion of the city where Aliana was last seen. I was more than happy to let Drew take the lead on this, but I was having trouble keeping up with the conversation which had switched to the local language.

  Apollo noticed my consternation and paused. "Adonis, have you not implanted a communication device in your companion? I can have someone do that now for you."

  Drew took my hand with a deceptive casualness and laughed. "You know me; I'd like to keep her to myself a while longer. She's entirely too independent for her own good." He ended that bit of drivel with an exaggerated wink at the sun god, and I nearly punched him right in his face.

  Instead, I increased the pressure of my grip, grinding the bones in his hands together as I tittered and forced a blush. "Oh, Adonis."

  His breath wheezed against my ear as he nuzzled my neck and whispered. "You're going to break my hand."

  “I know,” I murmured against his ear before giving it a sharp nip.

  Apollo guffawed. "Please, stay for dinner. I have some entertainment in mind that I think we'll all enjoy."

  He nodded at his guard, and we were led away before we could answer. That was okay. I didn't think I'd enjoy Apollo's entertainment as much as he thought I would. The atmosphere had a sour taint to it, and I was more than ready to get away as quickly as we could.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  I stumbled into the room after Drew, tripping on the rug at the doorway. He caught me and held me for a moment. I could have wallowed in his embrace and took the comfort that he offered, but that wasn't how our relationship worked. Ever since I'd found out that he was still married to my sister, Hope, Drew had been classified as ‘hands off.’

  Easing back with a smirk, I asked, "That a flashlight in your pocket or are you just happy to see me?"

  His neck pinked right up and I felt a flush of pleasure at making him blush. He cleared his throat and replied, "Actually, it is a flashlight. Always be prepared, right?"

  “Yes, let’s talked about your preparedness, Drew.” My tone brooked no argument, and his flush deepened.

  “Sure, I should have been better prepared, but to be fair, I thought I was coming in with an experienced team.”

  Then it was my turn to blush. I looked around the room to hide my embarrassment and was surprised to see that whoever had painted the mural in the entryway had also had a hand in decorating the room. The decor was subtle. Pale creamy walls, offset with dark teak furniture. The fabrics were soft, muted colors of the sea from Earth. "Lovely," I murmured.

  "Would you like to take a walk?" Drew moved behind me and opened the door to the bedroom, looking around. "Maybe explore a little?"

  "Frankly, no. I'd like to sit my ass down in a chair and forget that I have legs. I can’t remember the last time my legs went numb from fatigue."

  "Probably when you started training."

  I thought about that and then nodded in agreement. Yeah, the last time I'd been this bone tired had been before my transformation. "How are you feeling?"

  Drew shoved his hands in his pockets and shrugged. "Could use some rest."

  His face still showed signs of the beating. I wanted to do a more thorough examination and make sure nothing was broken, but I couldn't figure out how to broach the topic without alerting him to my deep-seated terror. The situation was grim. We weren't healing or bouncing back. Drew had wanted me to run. Run from what? And why? It was on the tip of my tongue to ask, but he was staring at me with an intensity that made me uneasy.

  "What?" I asked, defensive.

  He brought a finger up to his lips said, "Let's take a nap. We can eat after a rest," in a loud and booming voice.

  I ignored his weird behavior and countered, "That sounds delightful, but I am starving."

  He glared and shook his head. "You wouldn't rather sleep first? That way when you wake up food will be even better." He was still practically shouting. I wanted to assure him that I hadn’t gone deaf, but it was easier to just ignore him.

  "I wake up starving and cranky. You know that. I should eat a bit before I sleep, so I don't turn into a monster."

  He took a deep breath and looked heavenward as if he were asking for patience.

  "What is going on?" I mouthed.

  He pointed at the door and then his ear. They were listening in on us. Well, eff that. I stormed over to the door and jerked it open. The two guards stationed there started at my unexpected appearance but didn't move. "Why are you at my door?"

  Grace Murphy, blunt and to the point.

  "We're here to ensure your safety, ma'am." The one on the left answered in heavily accented English before resuming his hard stare at the wall across the hall.

  "I hardly think that we'll be attacked in our own rooms. Are you saying that staying in the palace is dangerous? Should we leave? Drew, I don't think it's safe here. We should go."

  The last thing I wanted to do was go, but I also didn't want all my conversations to be reported to Apollo. I hadn't been joking when I said I was tired and hungry. I probably would have laid down in a ditch and eaten garbage food at this rate.

  "There's no need to fear, ma'am. Our God knows that you do not speak the native language and is concerned with your comfort."

  Drew finally stepped into the fray. "Could you see that tray from the kitchen is sent up, please? We'll have a lig
ht repast and then take a rest before meeting with Apollo for dinner. I think that would be the best course."

  The second guard nodded and snapped his fingers at a servant down the hall. "It will be with you shortly." With that, he reached into the room and pulled the door closed.

  I looked at Drew with alarm. He shook his head and held up a finger indicating he wanted me to be silent. "Come and look at this view. It's magnificent."

  I followed him through the French doors and onto the balcony. The vision before me took my breath away. As promised, the view was glorious. The sea roared far beneath us, with waves crashing against the rocks below. The foam caps ranged from violet to a deep amethyst before fading into the dark royal purple that made up the vast ocean. It smelled the same as an ocean on Earth, and I breathed in the salty mist. Layered over that were the scents of seaweed and decaying fish. It should have been disgusting, but it reminded me of my time spent on Elliott Bay in Seattle. If I closed my eyes, I could pretend I was walking through Market Street instead of light years from Earth.

  I was pondering what caused the discoloration when an enormous tentacle shot from the depths and jerked a soaring bird from the sky before plunging back down. "Jesus Christ!" And instantly, I was aware that I was nowhere near Earth. "What in the hell was that?"

  "Have you ever been to Australia, Grace?"

  I shook my head. "Why on Earth would I go to a place that has spiders as big as my face?"

  He chuckled. " You're right. Everything native to that continent is likely to kill you. It's beautiful, but it's deadly. That's how it is here. I can see the scratches and cuts on your legs, so you’ve intimately experienced the wild wheat on the plains. I'm surprised we didn't encounter anything in the woods, and the sea is no different. You're more likely to be eaten alive stepping into the water than not."

  I leaned into him so that it looked like I was going in for a cuddle and whispered, "Oh that’s right. You weren’t conscious for the monster that swallowed one of Dmitri’s men. So, no escape over the balcony then?"

  He wrapped an arm around my shoulders and whispered back, "No. No going over the balcony. We’ll get out of here somehow. We have to.”