Out of Cake Aphrodite (The Goddess Chronicles Book 6)

by S. E. Babin

  A cool hand touched my forehead and my eyes widened at the power I felt running through it.

  "Aphrodite," the voice whispered.

  I sank to the soft, mossy ground and lay staring up at nothing.

  "Come to me." The voice beckoned me from my resting place.

  I sat up and gathered the white skirts I was wearing around me. It was coming from my right side and I felt a strong compulsion to follow it. The voice was unfamiliar to me, but I knew it was important.

  I stood and walked toward the repeated call, my feet squishing in the cool, soft ground. I couldn't see anything but the gray fog around me, and I held my hands out to keep from bumping into anything, but there was nothing to bump into. Just the voices and the fog.

  I walked for what felt like hours until I saw a light ahead of me. A warm, beckoning golden light. A sense of peace stole through me as I walked toward it. Perhaps the long journey I'd taken in life had led me here, but something felt off.

  I was not in the Underworld, where all of the souls went. I would know it. Something was different about this place.

  I halted my steps, cautious now, a warning coming from deep inside my belly. My head still told me to keep walking toward that light, but my intuition was screaming at me to stop.

  The defeat was crushing. I'd come all this way only to have to keep fighting even in death? Something was seriously screwed up with that.

  I didn't feel the same pull to the light that I did from the voices. The voices were different, even though they were coming from the same direction.

  I started to walk again, more hesitant than before, listening with both my ears and my body. I still could only see the light.

  "Come to me..."

  "Come to us..."

  I kept walking. Closer. Closer and closer until I stood at the edge of the tunnel where the light was coming from. It beckoned me with warmth and the smell of something comforting. Was it cookies? I loved cookies. I took a step closer until I stood right at the edge, my toes only an inch or so away from the light.

  An unseen force yanked me back and a voice screamed in despair.

  Darkness claimed me.

  Someone was slapping me. Gently. But still a slap. My eyes snapped open like a rubber band, and I glanced around the room. So far being dead wasn't the most fun I've ever had.

  "Oh thank the gods," someone breathed. I blinked rapidly, looking all around until my eyes set on something familiar.

  The Well.

  I let out a sob of relief.

  I was in the domain of the Fates. I came to my knees first, my hands on the wet stone steadying myself until the urge to hurl passed.

  "Why do I feel so weird?" I asked. "Aren't I supposed to be dead?"

  Someone in a long robe bent down to help me up. "Come, child."

  Atropos. She wasn't even wearing her scary teeth. "Aw, you really do care," I said.

  A slight laugh huffed from her as she kept her hand on my arm to steady me. When I could stand without wobbling, she directed me closer to the Well where her two other sisters stood.

  "Clotho," I breathed.

  Her eyes shimmered with unshed tears, and she offered me a wobbly smile. "You've been through much. Would you like a cup of coffee?"

  Hope spread through me like a beacon. "There's coffee in the afterlife?" I gasped.

  Lachesis choked on laughter. She was the one I knew the least, but she seemed affable enough. For a Fate.

  With a wave of her hand, Lachesis produced a steaming mug of coffee and handed it over to me. "You are not in the afterlife," she told me. "Yet."

  I blinked in surprise. "Then what was that light?"

  Clotho's eyes gleamed with hatred. "That was God. Trying to muck up Fate," she hissed.

  I lowered the cup. "What would have happened if I would have stepped into that tunnel?" I asked quietly.

  Atropos gave me a soft smile. "We would not have been able to save you."

  "That bearded jerk!" I hissed.

  "Well, I'm sure he's been called a lot worse," Lachesis said with amusement. "But he still has to play the game, doesn't he?"

  I sipped my coffee and gave her a grumpy stare. "Don't the games end upon death?"

  Clotho nodded. "But...you aren't quite dead yet."

  Atropos grinned. "You're dead to everyone who saw you snuff your immortality, but here you're..." she waggled her hand left and right, "in a bit of limbo."

  I looked at the Fates and their expressions ranged from ecstatic to guilty. "What did you do?"

  Clotho stepped forward this time. She produced two chairs, one which I sank into with a groan. "Well, we may have messed with the timeline a wee bit."

  "A whole lot," grumbled Atropos.

  "Zeus is going to be sooooo pissed," said Lachesis.

  "Hush, sisters," Clotho admonished. "We had our reasons."

  One of my eyebrows rose. "And those reasons were?"

  Lachesis giggled like a little girl. "When you made the selfless decision to take your own life in order to save Hades and the rest of the world, the timelines cleared. They opened up to all kinds of glorious things."

  "Beautiful things," Clotho amended.

  "Wonderous things," Atropos added. "Things we'd never seen before when we looked into your Fate. With this action, you have saved the world, Aphrodite. Something we were never sure you'd do."

  "I was sure," Clotho made sure to add. "These witches were the ones waffling."

  "Anywayyyy," Atropos drawled. "We convened, consulted the Well, and made the only decision we could."

  "And that is?" I asked still sipping on my coffee.

  "To give you the choice," Lachesis said.

  "The choice of..." I stared at both of them not having a clue what they were talking about.

  "Spell it out for the woman, would you please?" Atropos said.

  Clotho took the mug from me, set it on the ground and took both of my hands. "You have the choice to pass on from this coil. If you choose this path, you will die. For good. You friends will grieve, your lovers will pine -"

  "I don't have any lovers," I said.

  Clotho's gaze admonished me. "Which brings me to my next point in a minute. If you die, the world is saved. The book is forever stored safely with Hades. Persephone is saved and marries Hamilton. All hell breaks loose later, but your job is complete."

  "And the other choice?" I ask.

  "You live."

  "And?" I ask motioning for her to give me my cup back.

  Her gaze flicked to her sisters and Atropos gave Clotho a slight nod. "You will be plunged back into battle with Morgana and Demeter. It could go south. We aren't a hundred percent sure, so this entire conversation could be moot. But if you win, you will go on with your life."

  "That's it?" I glared at Clotho.

  She blinked in surprise. "This does not please you?"

  "No, it doesn't please me! So I do all that and die only to have the option to go back and die again? And if don't die, I still get to keep working for Hades and possibly die during every single job I take? That sounds terrible!"

  Lachesis snorted first. Then Atropos. Until finally all three sisters were cracking up, tears streaming down their faces.

  I stood and glared all of them. "I don't see what's so funny! You gave me two seriously crappy choices!"

  Atropos walked down and sat beside me. "We cannot tell you much. And even this we risk reprisal from. If you choose to live, Aphrodite, you will find love."

  I rolled my eyes.

  She held a hand up. "Hear me out. True love, Abby. A love you've pined for your entire life. A love destined to withstand the test of time. There is a man who would burn the world down for you."

  "If he hasn't already started," Clotho muttered, her eyes flashing silver for a moment.

  I stared at her to see if there was any hint of humor on her face, but I couldn't find it. Atropos' eyes were serious and calm. "Truly?" I whispered.

  All three nodded in creepy succession.
<
br />   "What about the games?'

  An amused smile crossed Clotho's face. "Unfortunately those must still go on. I will tell you the worthy opponent will win. But it won't be easy if you choose to go back. Nothing worth having ever is."

  "Is there anything else you can tell me?"

  The three sisters communicated with something other than words. With more nods, Atropos lifted her hands to my face and touched me.

  I plunged immediately into a vision. I looked...relaxed. Something I haven't felt in a long, long time. My face is calm. My eyes are sparkling. And I'm holding something in my hand. Something that's...moving.

  I gasp.

  A baby.

  Tears filled my eyes, and I was completely overwhelmed. It can be difficult for us to reproduce sometimes and most of us are hesitant because of our immortality. But this felt...right.

  I watch as I pull the blanket down and reveal a head of black hair and ice blue eyes. She looks like a fairytale. A dream with pink skin, five perfect fingers and five perfect toes and when I push my senses out further, I feel her spark of immortality and a well of power I'd never seen in an infant.

  This is my daughter. I know it.

  I heard footsteps behind me and I watched myself as I turned, completely at ease. It's a man, but I can't make out his features. He comes closer -

  I'm abruptly pulled out of the vision and gasp in air as I turned wide eyes to Atropos.

  "I have a baby?" I whisper to them, choking on tears and shock.

  They nod.

  "Abby," Clotho said. "Go back."

  "Clotho!" Atropos snapped. "She must make her own decision."

  But there is no decision to make. "I will go back. Now. Please send me now." My heart was breaking.

  Atropos, Lachesis, and Clotho nodded. They stood in a circle around me, joined hands and chanted. I felt myself start to mist away but the only thing I could think about is that child.

  My child.

  I come back into my body, painfully aware of the loud sounds and screeches of anger that surround me. Magic is flying everywhere. If I die again, I'm going to be seriously pissed off.

  I cloaked myself and came into a crouch.

  No one has noticed.

  They're a little bit tied up with Demeter and Morgana.

  I go around behind the witch, knowing exactly what I need to do.

  And all I had to do was touch her, and the Fates' final gift manifested.

  She's a beautiful child, raven-haired and dark-eyed, and her mother adores her. She's obedient and sweet, but there's a darkness that lurks in her, and she sees it every time her mother looks at her. She tries to hide it, but the magic comes out when someone makes her angry. She does her best to obey, but if she sees someone taking advantage of another or trying to hurt her mother, an inky blackness spills from her.

  Time splits.

  She's banished from the village after her mother begs the townspeople not to kill her only daughter.

  But she's only a teenager and she's female. It's dangerous for her to be alone.

  The man tosses her out of the wagon, and she lands hard on her shoulder. She thinks he's going to leave her there, but her robe slides up as she falls exposing a long swath of pale thigh. The man debates for a moment, looks around to see if anyone else is watching and climbs out of the wagon. She scrambles to stand, but the cloak is long, and she keeps tripping.

  His laughter follows her until he yanks her by the hair and pulls her against his chest.

  "You look delicious," he whispers, menace in his heart.

  She's so afraid her teeth are chattering, but she touches that pool of darkness resting just underneath the surface. All she has to do is let it go. And she does.

  She walks away to the man's screams as he lies dying in the middle of the road, his blood already beginning to congeal.

  I let go of Morgana, shocked to my core. This wasn't the only incident she had to go through once she was banished. Her magic was dark, twisted, and ancient, but she loved her mother. Very much so. She was a being capable of deep feeling and emotion, but there was never anyone to share it with. So she used her magic and substituted power for relationships.

  "How dare you!" Morgana sneered and slapped me across the face. There was no magic involved, but I felt how deeply she was insulted.

  "It wasn't your fault," I said and stepped closer. I needed to touch her again if I had any hope this would work.

  She straightened to her full height, anger screaming across her face, but her dark eyes looked hesitant. Hopeful almost.

  I beckoned to her. "Let me help you."

  A blast of Demeter's magic sent me skittering away. I shouted in pain, but I don't think it damaged me too much. She just wanted me away from Morgana.

  Because she knew I could save her and end this.

  I stood again, catching my breath.

  Hades, Artie, and Hermes all stared at me, blinking their eyes in shock.

  "Abby?" Artie whispered under her breath.

  I gave her a little wave and blinked over to Morgana. She looked around frantically, but I came in behind her and wrapped my arms around her chest. My hands lay flat against her heart and though she struggled frantically, I poured my heart's magic into her. Not the death magic I'd just discovered. The magic my mother gifted me with when I was first born.

  Love.

  None of us were born inherently evil, but some of struggled more than others to make the decisions that would better us and other people. I should know. I struggled for years to set aside my vanity and my selfishness. It helped when Zeus and Hera smacked me down a few pegs. As much as I hated them for drawing me back into their world, I knew I should probably thank them. Without that happening, I would probably still be in New York, shopping too much, drinking too much, and generally being unconcerned with the things around me.

  But not anymore. And as I squeezed my eyes shut and began to pour my power into Morgana, I hoped that maybe she would see it, too.

  Demeter screamed with rage, but without Morgana's magic to bolster her, Hades, Hermes and Artemis had no trouble disarming and subduing her. Hermes cuffed Persephone's mother with magic dampening cuffs and tossed her to the ground.

  Morgana's struggles grew ineffectual until she finally collapsed to the ground weeping. I hadn't touched her magic, nor had I harmed her. All I had done was show her the beauty that came in life. The beauty and love all of us struggle to find, and the unique power of second chances. I showed her my struggles. My pain. My life and everything I'd done wrong, but I also showed her what I had done right, and I poured all of those feelings into it.

  I wasn't sure if it would be permanent. Hell, I wasn't sure she wouldn't show up at my door and try to stab me in the heart in two weeks' time. But I knew I'd given her some serious food for thought. And from the way she stared at me open-mouthed and sorrowful, she knew it too.

  I felt the magic gathering in the room, and I held a hand up.

  "No," I said.

  "She tried to kill all of us! Multiple times!" Hermes said, outraged.

  "We all deserve another chance." I stared him down until he begrudgingly lowered his caduceus.

  Hades and Artie stared at me like I was an alien, but once they realized I wasn't going to budge, they dropped their magic.

  Morgana slowly came to her feet and stared at us warily, well aware we could kill her if we so chose. She was powerful, but she wasn't powerful enough to take all three of us down and she was smart enough to know it.

  "You would...spare me?" she asked, licking her lips, her eyes darting between all of us.

  "Only because Aphrodite has asked us to," Hades said, his gaze never leaving my face.

  I was going to have to answer lots of questions soon, I knew.

  I nodded. "You are free to go."

  "Why?" she whispered.

  "I was warned beforehand that I needed to understand you. But it's difficult to understand someone who constantly reacts by trying to kill you." I smi
led to soften those words. "You feel me? But I was just given a..." I paused, unsure exactly what the Fates had granted me and whether or not it was going to come back to haunt me later. "Unique second chance. I was able to see what would happen if I chose to let go." My gaze met Hades. "And I chose to stay."

  "And if I should try later to murder you?"

  I shrugged. "You can try. But there will be no third chance. Use this opportunity wisely."

  Morgana gave me a long, hard stare, but she nodded. She swallowed once, smiled softly and used her magic to teleport from the room.

  Seconds later all three were giving me the third degree.

  "I just died," I said. "Can a girl get a drink first?"

  Chapter 24

  We left Hermes and Artie at the Tennessee cabin with the promise we’d return in a few days, and Hades and I headed back to Asheville. Once we got home, I went straight into the kitchen.

  Hades leaned against the counter and watched me as I went through the motions of making a cup of joe.

  "Want one?" I asked.

  He shook his head.

  "Would you like to explain what happened back there?" he asked, his silver gaze searching for answers.

  I thought about it but couldn't bring myself to utter the words. There are some things only one person should know. It was very possible he was the man in my vision, but the Fates were a tricky sort and they wouldn't have shown me exactly who it was. That would make it too easy to influence. But I also knew there were a whole lot of gods with dark hair.

  I had a daughter. A beautiful little girl. I didn't know when. I didn't know how. And I didn't know with who. But I was okay with it.

  Because I was going to have a baby.

  I tried to speak and couldn't. I held up a hand, got my emotions under control and finally spoke. "I'd rather not."

  He stood straight and gave me an incredulous look. "Abby! You just came back from the dead and you won’t tell me anything! I saw you die!"

  "Freaky, right?"

  He slammed a hand down onto the counter so hard a portion of it broke off and crumbled onto my floor.