"Atropos worries me. You said she cut my father's line the moment you were to be together."
"You are wise to be concerned about her. She sees no importance in life. Sometimes it is merciful when she ends a life. Other times, she snips roots on a whim. I must leave." Her silver glimmer faded.
His sister fluttered up into the air. Her pink hair floated as if on water. "I am so happy for you, Thall."
"Xyno?" He rubbed his upper lip. "You are the older and therefore the wiser sister."
Giggling, she circled him then settled on the grass. "What is it you wish to know?"
"There are things I have heard of. Dark things, spoken only in whispers."
A shadow crossed Xyno's brow. "Come with me."
Thall followed his sister across rivers, prairies, oceans and mountains. She set down on the small rocks at the entrance of a cave.
"What is this place?" Thall peered into the gloom.
"Follow me." She signaled to him.
The glow of her mist lit the poorly defined path through rubble and along a slope. Icy dampness chilled Thall. Blackness engulfed him. He did not fear the darkness. It could not hurt him. Curiosity filled him as they walked further into the depths of the cavern.
Xyno squeezed through a small slit in the rocks. Thall followed and stepped into a vast grotto. A pool of water was a few paces from where he stood. The smell of moist air hung heavily around him.
"This is my hiding place. I have never brought another here. When I am tired, I retreat here and rest. We may speak. No one will hear us." Xyno sat on the nearest boulder.
Thall glanced around at the damp rock walls. "When I was younger, our cousin, Botta described something to me. I thought he was trying to scare me. When I told Lachesis, she looked afraid."
"Afraid? Fates fear nothing."
"Botta said," Thall glanced at his hands then raised his gaze to his sister's. "Xyno, is it possible to kill a Fate?"
Chapter Twenty-Three
Capri stood next to the bright red, rental car and watched the time draw seconds closer to 5:00. "Ten, nine, eight, seve—"
"Six, five, four, three, two, one." Thall slurred the numbers as he breathed across her ear. "I'm deeply crushed that you thought I'd be late after having waited a small eternity for this moment."
A tingle danced in her belly. She turned and snuggled into his arms. "I'll make it up to you this evening."
"Pinky swear?" He kissed the tip of her nose.
Capri tightened her grip, squeezing their bodies together. She ground her hips against his. "Pinky swear."
He glanced around the rental agency parking lot. "So, this is Michigan?"
"No, this is a parking lot at the airport. Get in the car. I'll show you Michigan." Capri slammed her car door shut and turned the key in the ignition.
"How was the flight?" Thall locked his restraint.
"How every flight I've ever flown on has been. Horrible." Capri drove to the airport exits and merged into the traffic. "How was your time at home?"
"Interesting."
"That's it? One word. Interesting."
"Because of us, the Fates had a bitch fight."
Capri glanced at Thall with raised eyebrows then refocused on her driving.
"It seems Atropos and Clotho aren't happy about you being human."
"Well excuse-fucking-me."
"Anyway, there's a test and if we pass, we can be together."
Capri gripped the steering wheel. "They don't have the right to decide if we can be together or not. I'm an adult and you're six thousand years old. I'd say we're both capable of making that decision on our own.
"No Bill of Rights when ruled by a Fate. And as far as I can figure there's no overthrowing the monarchy."
Taking a few calming breaths, Capri tempered her tone. "What kind of a test?"
"I can't tell you."
"What the fuck!"
"Still a little edgy from the flight?"
"Ya think? We hit turbulence over Lake Erie. I hate turbulence. It makes planes shake and fall down." She shuddered.
Thall watched the green fields of hay and corn pass by the car window. "So where are we going?"
Capri straightened her back and smiled. "Fox Ridge Lake. My parents' vineyard is twenty minutes away from the lake. Mom knew she wouldn't get dad far from the winery, so she settled for a cottage nearby. There's a big fireplace and a rope swing."
"Have you told your parents about us? Meaning mostly me."
"I told them I was bringing a friend."
Thall chuckled. "A hot, sexy stud friend?"
Capri tossed a sideways glance at him. "When I wasn't thinking about throwing up or dying during the flight, I figured out what to tell them about how we met."
"Uh, is this where I should mention Fates are not very good at lying?"
"It's not a lie. It's just not the total truth. We met at a convention. My parents'll assume it's some work related thing and move on. Suggestion, if the conversation lags, my dad loves to talk about the winery, boats and fishing."
"Winery. Boats. Fishing. Got it. Tell me something about the winery so I don’t sound stupid."
Capri hit the turn signal, moved to the turn lane and left the main highway for a country road. "Wine making 101. Grow grapes. Harvest grapes. Mash grapes. Ferment. Voilà, wine."
"Grow. Harvest. Mash. I'm getting quite an education."
She turned to face him. "I'm really happy you're here. I've just noticed how much I missed you for the six hours we were apart."
"I'm happy that you're happy. And to me, it was, in your terms, months." Thall leaned back on his seat. "Ready for more wine learning. What else you got?"
"Ahem. In my best tour guide voice." She smiled. "Little Fox Winery was founded in 1928 by Harold P. Gray. You know, I never knew what the P stood for."
"Is that part of the tour speech?"
Capri rolled her eyes. "Anyway, they make a great Cabernet and a Zinfandel. Ooh and a really nice dry Riesling. But my favorite is the Chardonnay. It's blended with our grapes and the ones from the vineyard across the river, Walnut Tree."
"I think I'm going to enjoy this. Lots and lots of wine to sample."
"As kids I think we drank more wine than soda. If dad could figure out a vintage that would work in coffee, he'd pour it into his morning cuppa joe." She checked for traffic and slowed the car at the top of a knoll. The view before them was acres of grapevines strung up in parallel rows.
She pointed to the right. "That's Little Fox there and you can just see the river. On the other side is Walnut Tree. We'll be at the cottage soon."
Pressing the gas, she inhaled and released a deep breath. "Okay, I'm calmer now. Let's talk about this test you can't tell me about."
"Short version. Lachesis, Clotho and Atropos had a discussion. Bitch fight would be more accurate. Atropos stormed off in a snit. Clotho laid out the rules. Rule actually, I'm not allowed to tell you what the test is. If you…no, make that when you pass then there's a second part."
"Yeah, loving the concept. Let's see if I have this right, if I pass both, we can remain together? A lot of pressure on me."
"Hey." Thall waved his hand. "I'm about to meet your parents. You want to know how many Fates, in all of time, have had to meet the parents?"
As they crested another small hill, a lake appeared in the clearing. Capri sighed. "Fox Lake. We're here."
"Glad I'm not human. I think I'd be nervous."
"They're going to be so happy to meet you."
"Hope you're right."
Capri turned off the road onto a smaller dirt lane. The car jostled on the uneven pavement. She pulled into the driveway of a two-story white cottage, parked the car and honked.
The cabin door swung open at the same time as Capri's car door. She hopped out and raced over to greet her parents, Thall lagged behind at a slower pace.
Capri reached back, grabbed Thall's hand and pulled him beside her. "Mom. Dad. This is Thall."
"Hall?"
Her mother raised an eyebrow.
"No, ma'am. Thhhhal. It's an ancient name. My parents were into really old things."
"Nice to meet you, Thhhhal. I'm Donald Gray, but everyone calls me Bud." He held out his hand.
Thall grasped and shook it. "Bud? Like in…no that's a beer. Never mind."
Bud tossed back his head, laughed, pulled Thall closer and slapped him on the back. "Speaking of beer. Want a tall cold one?"
"Please. Long drive. Throat's parched."
"I'm Tiffany. And I'm a hugger." She squeezed Thall in a tight embrace then turned to her daughter. "I so want to hear everything about this new friend. Come inside, both of you. Bud, get the poor man a drink."
"I'll just get the bags. Be right back." Thall turned and hurried to the car.
Capri's mother leaned close. "He's gorgeous. When Zoe and Elana catch sight of him…stand back."
"Are my charming sisters-in-law going to be dropping by?"
"Haven't had a chance to call anyone. Thought we might just make you a surprise."
The cabin door banged as Thall entered. Tiffany looked up. "You're room is ready, hon. Show Thall around and meet us in the living room."
Capri moved toward the stairs. "Follow me. I want to change into a tank, some shorts and flip-flops."
~ * * ~
When they entered the living room, Bud handed Thall a cold beer. He chugged several mouthfuls. "Thank you. What a spectacular cottage you have. When Capri suggested coming up here, I envisioned a one-room cabin, outhouse and a rowboat. I wasn't expecting a satellite dish, hot tub and a Lake Cruiser 250D parked out by the dock."
Bud raised his eyebrows and grinned. "You like boats?"
Thall nodded. "What is it? Thirty? Thirty five feet?"
"Forty. Twin GM Detroit Diesel Inboard Engines. Come on down. Have a looksee."
"Now Bud." Tiffany shook her finger at him. "They just got here."
"The man flew half way across the country. Then drove here with Capri. He could use some man chatter."
"Let them go, Mom. We can make supper. I'm kind of hungry. Didn't eat much on the plane."
"Turbulence?"
Capri nodded and followed her mother into the kitchen.
As Thall finished his second piece of lemon meringue pie, he moaned something about it being heaven on earth. Tiffany and Capri cleared the table and returned with a steaming pot of tea. Capri's mother filled three teacups. She handed one to her husband and one to Capri. "You sure you don't want any tea, Thall?"
He shook his head. "Not a tea drinker. But I am willing to finish off the last of this Zinfandel. Excellent vintage."
Bud grinned as he poured the last of the wine into Thall's' empty glass. "We keep the extra special wines for family."
Tiffany sipped her tea and settled back on her chair. "So, how did you two meet?"
Capri glanced at Thall. "At a convention."
"To be more precise." Thall swallowed a mouthful of wine. "A sex toy convention. Capri's friend, Kat, dragged her to the show."
Capri eased the grip on her teacup before she snapped the handle off.
"And what were you doing there?" Her mother raised one eyebrow and smiled at Thall.
"Checking out the latest gadget's. Got to keep up to date. Fifty shades of interesting and all that."
Bud placed his cup on the table. "Did you purchase anything?"
Thall shook his head. "I didn't. But she did." He tilted his head toward Capri. "Almost maxed out her credit card."
Capri reached over, grabbed his glass and gulped the last of Thall's wine.
Her mother tapped her arm. "Good for you, dear. Keep the excitement alive. Now why don't you two go for a stroll along the beach? Bud and I can clean this up. Go, get some fresh air and stretch your legs after traveling all day."
Thall scooted back his chair, stood and held out his hand. Capri grabbed it, rose, then led him out of the cabin and to the water's edge. She kicked her sandals off and placed them on the edge of the dock. Thall took off his shoes and socks and rolled up his pants.
Capri reached out her hand. He intertwined his fingers in hers as he fell in step beside her. Their feet crunched through the sand as they made their way across the beach to the edge of the lake. The sun had started its slow descent and cast fading rays on the lake's surface. The sunset's colors bobbed as the waves jostled the light.
He wadded in to ankle deep. "How can you stand being here, if you are so afraid of the water?"
She kicked at the sand. "Water is not really the problem. It's boats. I'm not in control when I'm on a boat and that scares me which makes me sick. Same with flying."
He stepped out of the water and drew her close. "So how do you get on a plane?"
"I lie." She snuggled in, feeling the warmth of his body pressed against her side. "I tell myself it's a limousine or a train. And I don't look out the window after takeoff."
Thall opened his mouth to speak, but stopped and started again. "I don't know which thought to start with." Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed a log on the sand and led her to it. When they settled on the log, he picked up her hand and stroked the back of it. "So, you're saying that when I put the plane down on that little runway in Indonesia you were pretty much—"
"Panicked. Freaking out. Hysterical." She squeezed his hand. "But only on the inside. A corporate VP can't be seen losing her cool. Or decorum, as I should say."
A fish jumped and splashed back into the water. A boat jostled against the dock.
Capri leaned her head on his shoulder. "When you told me to go back and lock everything down, I was fine. I had something to focus on. But when I seat belted myself in, I almost threw up. It hit me then what was happening and there was nothing I could do about it. I hate not being in control."
He released her hand, moved, placed his arm around her and pulled her close. "I'm so sorry."
"For what? You couldn't have known the storm would get that bad. I pressured you into flying."
Thall threw back his head and laughed.
"Hey, Mr. Chuckles." She poked her finger into the center of his thigh. "I can be a mean corporate bitch when I have to."
"First off, have you figured out yet that I can't fly? I'm not a pilot."
Capri's hand flew to her mouth. "Oh, fuck!"
"Next, and this is what I'm sorry for. Lachesis made the plane go down. It was her intent to get us trapped together."
She blinked. "I'd respond to that, but I'm still stuck on you aren't a pilot."
"Corporate Capri is, how shall I say this, a bit focused on work."
"Corporate Capri?"
"You in a business suit." He shooed at a flying bug. It landed on Capri's thigh. He brushed it away. His hand lingered on her bare skin.
"I had to work hard to get to the position I'm in."
He squeezed her shoulder. "Not judging, just stating facts. Lachesis knew if I was going to break through your defensive wall, we would have to be in an unfamiliar, non-work related environment."
"And it worked." Capri leaned closer and pressed her lips on his cheek.
"Yea, it did." Thall placed his hand under her chin and lifted her face to his. He kissed her cheek, the tip of her nose and moved closer to her parted red lips. With the slightest of pressure, he grazed his mouth across her top lip and then gave the same tender attention to her bottom lip. Capri wrapped her fingers around the back of his head and shifted so her mouth was firmly planted on Thall's. He caressed her mouth with his, drawing out the length of the kiss, not wanting it to end.
Ring Ring.
Both ignored the sound and pulled closer to deepen the passion of the moment.
Ring. Ring.
Capri shifted back, but Thall held her and refused to break off their kiss.
Ring. Ring.
"Oh, answer the damn thing." He leaned back on the log and crossed his arms. "It had better be an emergency."
Capri lifted her smartphone out of her back pocket. The glow from the screen ill
uminated her face and chest. "It's from Kat. She wants to know what I'm doing."
"Tell her she interrupted a great kiss."
She keyed in Thall's response and hit send. A moment later, she giggled. "Kat says she's sorry and we should continue."
Thall glanced sideways at her. "Is she going to ask for hourly updates?" He slapped his hand at a moth.
"I'll check." Capri focused on her text. The moth flitted around her head. She waved her hand over her hair then pressed send.
Ring. Ring.
"Kat promises that—Ahhhhh!" With the speed of a ninja, Capri threw the cellphone into the air and reached into her tank-top to pull out the invading moth, which fluttered deeper into her top. "Get it off! Get it off!"
Thall grabbed the bottom of her top and pulled it up and over her head. The moth flew away.
"Did you see the size of that thing?" Capri placed her hand on her chest.
Thall's gaze moved from her eyes to her bra covered breasts. "Maybe we should remove the bra. You know, just to be sure there are no monsters inside."
"Uh, no. We have to find my cell."
"Oh hell no." He reached for her shoulder strap.
"My cell is my lifeline to the world. Cut it and I go into withdrawal. If you don't want to meet corporate bitch Capri, I suggest we find it." She glanced around the sand, but couldn't distinguish anything in the fading light.
"You're kidding?"
She raised one eyebrow.
"Fine. I'll find the damn cell." Thall crawled on his hands and knees in the general direction that she threw it. He waved his hand above the sand, hitting rocks and sticks, but no luck in finding a cell. He rolled onto his back and stared up at the star filled sky. "Kat, text Capri. Please."
The only sounds were the gentle lap of the water on the shore, a loon's call from out in the lake and the soft snickering of Capri. "Kat! Come on. I've got a hot chick on a secluded beach. Cut me some slack. Text Capri."
"I don't think she can hear you no matter how loud you yell."
The last of the summer daylight faded. Clouds scooted across the sky and the day birds quieted for their evening sleep. Thall rubbed his forehead. "I hate cell phones. I hate modern technology. What was wrong with carrier pigeons?"
Ring. Ring.
Thall reached up next to his left ear and picked the cellphone out of the sand. "I found it."
Capri's Fate Page 18