The Triple Goddess

by Stephanie Hudson

  “You like?” Pip asked in a funny accent that sounded very camp and I laughed. She walked over to a hole in the wall and when her whole wrist disappeared a click sounded. I then turned to the sound of running water splashing in a little pool that had been cut out of the rock and then smoothed down. It was the same as every space in here. The walls, the counters, even a little stool in one corner alcove, everything was carved from the rock and curved until not one edge remained.

  “Time to get in, Chickadee.” Pip said and when I didn’t move she folded her arms and tapped a foot that was part of her baby grow.

  “What are you even wearing Pip?” I said as I made my way over to the little pool that was on floor level and took up all of one corner.

  “It’s a onesie, what…you don’t think it’s cute?” She said putting her hands in the pockets at the sides and spreading out the hips to pivot round.

  “I think I remember my mum saying something about buying one for Libby for Christmas or something…” My voice trailed off at the end of that sentence as I felt the deep pang hit me in the chest. My sister and Frank…My mum, dad, gran and gramps…all there waiting for me, but would I ever show up? Wait!

  “Pip what date is it?” I asked in a bit of a panic.

  “Umm…wait…let me think about this…how many lashes did I have yesterday…” Lashes? Oh god I really didn’t want to ask.

  “Ah, I had eighteen, so today is the nineteenth…yeah that’s right ‘cause tonight I get roses and the paddle.” Paddle? Ok so now I really was burning to know but so didn’t at the same time…Paddle…really? I really don’t think I was going to be able to look at Adam again, like…ever!

  At least I had found out the date and that it hadn’t yet been Christmas. Would I ever even make it back before the year was out?

  “You’re still standing there Keira, and now you’re looking at me like I have grown an extra head and ripped it off for you to use as a float.” I shook my head at her and she giggled.

  “What…too much?”

  “A little, yeah.” I responded. I looked down at the pool and was surprised to see steam coming from its clear waters.

  “It’s a natural spring but it gets filtered into the other pools, so it isn’t as hot. Go on, you will love it, the minerals make your skin as though you’re wearing a giant Chinchilla, although I never would, cause they’re cute and roll in sand and even cuter than rats. I have to count out my lashes so that’s how I remembered the date…although Adam never likes to call his numbers when I whip him, he just shouts and groans a lot and…”

  “LALALALA!” I said holding my ears and shaking my head. I knew I didn’t want to know. I felt Pip come up behind me and before I could stop her she whipped Lucius’ t-shirt off me and with a quick tug and snap of my knickers, I was stood naked as a jaybird.

  “Ah!” I shouted but she just gave me a little nudge with her elbow and I gave up trying to hide my modesty in front of this crazy little Imp. I stepped down into the water and it was so hot I pulled my foot from the water and felt it starting to itch.

  “Oh go on, you big baby.” I rolled my eyes and this time got two feet in and waited until I could adjust to the temperature. It seemed like this night was like an extreme lesson in battling the elements and the first course had definitely been a cold one.

  I finally let myself take the plunge and dipped all the way, pulling the air through gritted teeth. However once in, the heat started to work wonders on my tight muscles and even the slices in my body, that had been Layla’s parting gift, didn’t hurt. I made a humming sound as the water lapped my neck, which felt heavenly and Pip made a clicking sound, making me turn to look at her.

  She had plonked herself down with folded legs right by the edge of the pool and was tapping the side with her long pointed nails. I looked up to see Pip had turned serious and with her thin eyebrows pulled together, it wasn’t a look I was used to seeing.

  “What’s wrong Pip?” I asked and she raised her head giving me view of watery wide green eyes that were shining like emeralds. Man with a look like that I was surprised if Adam was ever able to say no to this exotic beauty.

  “I thought I’d lost you.” Her emotional confession brought a lump to my throat. This tiny little bit of an Imp had the courage of a warrior and a heart of a puppy dog. When a tear rolled down her cheek and travelled in down the crease of her nose, I felt my own tears spring up from the sight.

  “It’s ok Pip…I’m ..ok.” I nearly choked with trying to keep my own emotions in check but when she flung herself at me I had to catch her in the pool. She clung to my neck like a child about to say goodbye to her mother and I found myself rubbing her bare back like any mother would.

  “It’s alright Pip,” I whispered and even though I was naked, sat in a pool of water and holding a sobbing Imp in a onesie, I didn’t feel one ounce of awkwardness at all.

  That was until her husband ran in, in a panic, followed swiftly by…oh no, not again…

  Lucius.

  Chapter 37

  Friendships that ‘Tipped’ the Balance

  “Pipper!” Adam’s panic stricken voice brought Pip out of her sobs and she turned her head to look at her concerned husband. I don’t know what this must have looked like but seeing his wife, crying on top of a naked woman in a bath, really must have been quite a mind twister. Meanwhile I was just thankful Pip was still in the position that she was, as it was the only barrier I had from two men and the sight of my nakedness. I ask you, what was it with this bloody place and me being naked?!

  “Oh my dear wife, what is it that has you so upset?” I was surprised to see that at no point did Adam look at me as if I had been the one to cause his wife’s tears. The faith he had in me was a beautiful thing, one I am sure was mirrored in his wife’s eyes.

  “She could have died!” She said in nothing short of a wail.

  “Pip, I am fine…please don’t get upset.” I said and I saw Adam nod to me in thanks when Pip turned back round to face me. My gaze went to the other person in the room and Lucius gave me a look that I hadn’t seen on him before. It was an emotion I couldn’t even place but the only thing I was certain of, was the exact moment it turned into heated lust. One enough to put colour on my cheeks that had nothing to do with the temperature of the water.

  “Come on little squeak, I have something to put a smile on your face.” On hearing this she rubbed her nose and wiped her eyes like a child before asking,

  “What is it?” I had never heard her voice sound so innocent before and I had to hold back the urge to rock her like a child in my arms. To anyone else this situation would have seemed far too surreal but that very fact spoke volumes when something like this was becoming an everyday occurrence in my weird world.

  “Come here and I will tell you.” Adam’s voice was so soothing it became a hypnotic hum of comfort, one so intense that I almost went to him. Pip turned to me and kissed me on my cheek before flinging herself backwards out of the water in a move that would have put a gymnast to shame. All the front of her was wet but this didn’t seem to faze her in the slightest, unlike myself with the uninterrupted view she had just created to a very wet, naked me. I quickly shifted to the side of the pool and thankfully it was deep enough that now only my head was on show over the side. Of course Lucius’ eyes spoke differently.

  Pip danced over to Adam doing a little spin before getting to his open arms.

  “Now tell me.” She demanded.

  “We have been given our assignment my sweetness.” The smile she sent him was enough to weaken any man to his knees and Adam’s audible groan was evidence that even the mighty beast, Abaddon wasn’t immune to this adorable little Imp.

  “Is it as I hoped?” She clapped her hands, when he nodded and then he spun her in the direction of the exit but before they left, I heard his parting comment which made me shiver,

  “Time to go hunting, my love.” I heard Pip’s excited squeal from behind the rock. Meanwhile Lucius stood there like one
of his great statue warriors…fierce and imposing.

  I cleared my throat in trying to prompt an action from him but he remained frozen and his gaze on my body was unyielding.

  “Umm…Lucius?” His intense stare flickered and then his eyes raked their way up to my eyes, which was when I realised that he could still see a portion of me in the clear waters.

  “Yes little dove?” He said with a smirk thick on his full lips. And was that one fang I could see showing? …Ok, so not going there!

  “No offense but could you…like…bugger off?” He gave me a wicked smile and then gave me a deep nod in respect.

  “As you wish.” I released the breath I had been holding when he turned and left the room.

  “But remember, I will be waiting for you my pet!” I shot up, making the water slosh over the floor with my movements as his voice echoed in the room as though he had been right next to me. At hearing my little scream in shock, I could, in return, hear his laughter from behind the rock.

  “Cocky Bastard!” I shouted back at him, which in return just got me more laughter. I groaned and went back to the task at hand.

  I washed my skin with some products that I found in a little hollow in the side and I was amazed at the feel of how smooth the bare stone was on my skin as I lay there. The pool had filled from a hole in the rock with a little ledge under it that still created a miniature waterfall, as the water never stopped. I didn’t know how it didn’t overflow onto the floor but considering the pool was about four times as big as a normal bathtub, there could have easily been a reason I couldn’t see.

  I tried to concentrate on washing my hair but images of the endless night I was living, kept attacking my brain like Layla was at the controls of its projection. It was like being trapped in some creep theatre and being made to watch my death over and over. I felt exhausted and drained but not just physically but more mentally. My head had been bombarded with emotion after emotion and all being more intense than the last. I thought about the man that had saved my life out there waiting for me and my mind didn’t know which feelings to pick through to fully describe the turbulence.

  I did the only thing I could do and that was to painfully compare any feeling I had to ones of Draven. Even his very name had me breaking out in goosebumps. It wasn’t a great surprise that thoughts of him caused this reaction, for I knew with certainty they always would. But where was he? What was he doing now? Was he with her!?

  That very thought had me yanking too hard on my hair and I moved over to the waterfall to rinse the soap from it before I ended up with bald patches. I still couldn’t get the image of them together from my mind, like it had been burned to my retinas and I found myself squeezing my eyes so tightly together they could have haemorrhaged. Even after all that had happened to me tonight here I was worrying about the one man I had ever loved. That spoke volumes in my book.

  I finished getting myself sorted in the bath and felt like shouting up a ‘Hail Mary’ when I found a fluffy soft robe waiting for me to slip into. I didn’t want to think how it got there when it wasn’t there before and if anything, spending time here was just making me more adaptable to turning a blind eye. Hell I was getting a pro at it!

  After running my fingers through my hair and trying to pry the many knots apart I gave up, twisted it and I was thankful that it was long enough to put in a big knot at the base of my neck. The white towelling robe would catch all the drips that fell from it but at least it wouldn’t be in my way.

  I found Lucius sat in the centre of the couch back in the living space and even my bare feet weren’t quiet enough for him not to hear me approaching…rather that or he felt my presence.

  “I want everything ready for us to leave at nightfall.” He said and at first I was at a loss as to what he meant but as I rounded the corner I could see a phone in his other hand. I wondered how the hell he even got reception down here? I tightened my robe closer together and when he motioned with two fingers for me to sit I walked further round to do as I was told. I flopped down like a balloon clown losing air and his frown when looking at me, had me mouthing,

  “What have I done now?” He shook his head briefly before continuing on the phone, speaking a name that spiked more than just my interest.

  “Things have now changed, inform Draven and if he has a problem with the way I deal with things, then he can discuss the matter with me himself!” Lucius snapped down the phone and without hearing the other end, I was in the dark as to what impact Lucius’ words had. What was happening now?

  “I don’t give a flying fuck if he is King! I have his woman and if he ever wants to see her again, then he WILL COMPLY!” Lucius’ demonic voice boomed around the cave and I nearly jumped out of my damp skin when some of the stalagmites crumbled under the force. It was incredible to think that from just a single, temper fuelled moment in time, something that took thousands of years to create was destroyed thanks to a simple phone call.

  I replayed his words and was close to shaking in anger by the time he slammed the phone down on the seat next to him. It bounced four times before it stopped closer to my side. I looked down at it and thought what I wouldn’t have given for a phone to be in such close contact a week ago.

  “Don’t start with me Keira!” Lucius growled at me before I could expel my rant on him full force.

  “You know what…?” He raised an eyebrow and bringing his face forward he said a threatening,

  “What!?”

  “Fuck you!” I said and got up to leave, not really knowing where I would go but I didn’t need to get that far with worrying about it. Lucius had got up from his seat and snagged me around the waist and brought me crashing down back on the sofa.

  “Get off me!” I shouted, but I felt the rumbling of his laughter before I heard it. I was sideways on the seat with him pinning me in place. My hair came loose and covered the side of my face and one side of my robe was gapping open, exposing half of my chest.

  “Calm down. Now!” He said sternly.

  “Piss off! The only thing you are ever going to give two shits about is power! Well you wanna know something Lucius…power will never love you back!” I struggled and kicked out, catching him off guard. I heard an ‘ummf’ and rolled when I felt his grasp loosen. I fell on the hard floor, making my own ‘ummf’ and got up quickly. The first thing I did when I stood was close my robe and push my hair back.

  “You know nothing about me Keira, or of what I love!” He might as well have been spitting the words at me for there was that much venom in his voice. I shot him a look and scowled until my face was taut.

  “I know enough to have faith that the only reason you saved my life tonight wasn’t just down to getting what you want from Draven!”

  “Then you’re a fool!” It was my turn to laugh this time only there was zero humour involved.

  “The only one trying to be fooled is you! Tell me Lucius, were you this bitter when you were human or has it just increased over the mounting years you were scorned?” In my head this was exactly the right thing to say but as soon as I saw the rage grow red in his eyes I quickly realised my mistake. He growled at me and then before I could turn and run, I was jumped on. I was picked up and flung over his massive shoulder like some white fluffy sack and thanks to my wet hair sticking to my face, I couldn’t see where he was taking me. For all I knew he was walking us back to the stone bridge to dump my dumb ass carcass over the side.

  “Lucius…I…”

  “SILENCE!” He roared at me and for once, I did the smart thing and zipped up. His movements were swift and efficient, considering he had a wet lump on one side but I could feel the steady strides and graceful jumps. I didn’t know where he was taking me but I could only pray it wasn’t to some bottomless pit where he disposed of all his dead bodies.

  Suddenly I was flung off him and yelled out as I waited for impact. I landed on something soft and it took me a moment to realise it was a bed.

  “What is it about you Keira, that has a man wan
ting to fuck you senseless into submission one minute and strangle the breath from your body the next?” Was he really expecting me to answer that question? Well, all he got was my mouth hanging down making a perfect O shape. I was about to speak when I got a swift spank to my exposed thigh.

  “Ow!”

  “Your time for words has ended. Now it is time to show you the extent of my feelings!” He said and I gulped at what he meant to do to me. I tried to move and he grabbed my wrists with both hands and shackled them in strong flesh. He pinned them out stretched above me and I tried to twist underneath him but I quickly learnt that I was going nowhere.

  “Fine, go ahead and just prove me right!” I expected his rage to grow and his body to act but he shocked me by calming his gaze to one of understanding.

  “In a way I feel sorry for Dom and the stubborn Chosen One the Gods picked for him! I have no intention of forcing myself on you Keira, but my feelings will be known before this sunrise.” He sounded hard and his hands tensed around a pair of wrists his large hands dwarfed but his eyes spoke volumes.

  “What I said got to you…didn’t it?” I said pushing once again. He snarled like a wild animal at me making me flinch back.

  “Would that make you a happy little human?!” His hard exterior was cracking with every syllable he said that was dripping in emotion.

  “No, I said it because I was pissed off at hearing how I quickly became a tool for you to use again. It hurt me and I wanted to hurt you back…which I obviously did, but I am not cruel Lucius, I don’t get pleasure from hurting people!” At hearing this his demeanour softened and he closed his eyes before letting my wrists go. He backed away and I sat up to face him. It was the first time I got a good look at the room I was in and I couldn’t stop my pulse from quickening when I saw that I was in his bedroom.

  The bed was the highest point in the room and four stone columns stood around each corner like bedposts. Only when the bed swayed did I realise why. I followed the four chains up, that were each thicker than my arm, until I reached the top. Each chain was attached and bolted to the top of the pillars with massive metal hooks that were engraved in gold script. The same script spiralled down the stone lengths of each pillar and was also brushed with gold paint that was bronzed with time.