Blinding Night

by Chantal Gadoury

  “I thought you said it didn’t work like that?”

  The corner of his lips rose into a slight, mischievous smirk. “I lied.”

  His lips caught my unspoken words, as he slowly lowered me onto my blankets. Even in the dim candlelight, I could see everything in his eyes. Everything he couldn’t say. He eased away just for a moment, and returned to me warm and bare-chested. He had removed his shirt. My fingers slowly explored the crevasses of his skin as I trailed my lips just behind them.

  “I want you,” he murmured against my ear and tugged at my hand, bringing my fingers to his lips. His mouth was warm and hot and soft—and I wanted nothing but more. More.

  My hips rose against his as I sought another kiss with my lips. Darce moaned as my hips met his. I could feel him against my thigh. I could feel exactly what I was doing to him.

  He pressed his weight against me and moved my hands to the surface of the bed. Slowly, his fingers interlaced with mine, until I realized his real motivation—to keep me pinned into place. He grinned at me wickedly as his lips moved down between my breasts, down over my stomach.

  “Darce,” I whispered and stared at him with wide eyes. There were no words for what I felt; what he was making me feel. He peeled my jeans away with his hands, leaving me nearly exposed in my underwear.

  “You,” I gasped. “Yours…”

  “My what?” He asked playfully as he pressed a kiss against my hip bone.

  The word pants couldn’t seem to slip past my tongue. Not while his own tongue was tormenting me; swirling around my skin in small, careful circles. My fingers eagerly reached out to him and drew him back up to me.

  But before he did, I watched as he rose and peeled his trousers away, revealing his gorgeously toned body. How was this real? How was he real? I lifted myself up to my elbows and gazed at him wondrously. Nothing had been left to the imagination.

  He raised a brow as he smirked. “Like what you see?”

  But Darce didn’t allow me the chance to respond. It would have been an enthusiastic ‘yes.’ He eased back onto the bed and returned his lips to mine. As soon as he pressed his member against me, I felt my entire body turn to molten fire.

  “Trust me, Summer,” he whispered huskily against my ear as he slipped my bra and panties away.

  I felt his length press against my body again, and a small hiss seethed from his lips.

  “Summer?” he said my name like an unspoken question.

  I found myself nodding against his cheek. His hands slid to my legs, as he eased himself between them. It was fluid and natural; everything between us felt as though a puzzle had been pieced together. It all made sense. We made sense.

  As he filled me, I felt myself come to life for the first time. I squeezed my eyes shut as I clung to him desperately. Even if this was our last moment together before my mother—before Zeus or Hermes came for me—this would be enough.

  He hurried his pace, sending ripples of pleasure throughout my body. I barely knew where I began and he ended. Everything was the same—shared. Tilting my head back, I slid my hand over my mouth as I gasped.

  “Let me hear you,” he said softly against my ear. “Say my name.”

  My toes curled at the sound of his husky whisper and as if on cue, my body responded.

  My cheeks grew warmer, spreading down my neck and curling itself in the pit of my stomach. There was a buzzing sensation beneath my skin, humming against his touch with every thrust. He pressed his chest to mine as he tangled his arms behind my head and dipped his face into my shoulder. The pressure of his body against mine, combined with the growing wildfire in my belly, had me gasping his name.

  “Darce,” I wanted him to hear me, to know it was me he made love to—it was me who loved him. Pleasure began to build... and build... So much so, I was sure I was about to nearly fall off the ledge of something more wondrous than I had ever imagined.

  And then I heard him speak.

  “I love you.” It was as though everything suddenly fell into place. His eyes met mine as he continued to move his body; his eyes reflected his words. And I knew I loved him too.

  “I love you,” he repeated. “Summer.”

  The sound of my name on his lips sent me over the edge, into the rippling oblivion of pleasure. And he was not far behind. Moments later, he was holding me tightly, breathing heavily into my ear as his fingers trailed up and down the length of my spine. There was only he and I. Darce and me. And in that quiet stillness between us, I found myself curl into him and fall asleep.

  I awoke to Darce’s face beside mine. His fingers trailed through my hair as he grinned with a sort of loving pride. Maybe this was a dream. Maybe none of this had truly happened. Perhaps Morpheus had gifted me this dream to keep me in the Underworld—to keep me from giving up. A sharp twist of pain filled my chest as I wondered at the reality of the moment.

  “Am I dreaming?” I asked softly.

  Darce chuckled as his fingers trailed down the length of my spine. The soft pads of his fingers sent thrilling shivers down my back.

  “If you are, I won’t let you awaken.”

  “I don’t want to,” I replied, curling myself into him. Darce loved me. He had told me that he loved me. And it was real. I loved him too. I carefully slid my fingers to his shoulders and held on tightly. I was afraid. I was afraid of losing everything—losing him. Even as I squeezed my eyes shut and tried to count backwards, I couldn’t calm my beating heart. I felt Darce’s lips brush over my forehead as he drew me closer to him.

  “All will be well, Summer,” he whispered.

  As I opened my eyes again, I slowly nodded.

  “Perhaps we could eat, and then...continue our discussion.”

  “Is this what you call discussing?”

  Darce smirked and pressed a kiss against my chin before he sat up. I drew the covers tightly around myself, but watched with eager eyes as Darce stood and began to dress himself again. He was beautiful—glorious even. A god. As he tugged his shirt over his head, he raised a brow as he peered at me.

  “Aren’t you coming?”

  With a sigh, I nodded and rose to my feet. I tried to ignore the feeling of his eyes watching me. I knew he was. As I adjusted my sweater, I felt his warm lips brush a kiss over my neck.

  “Food,” I said, taking a step back. “Then we can talk.”

  Darce chuckled again and nodded.

  “Alright. Food.”

  We came into the dining room together, avoiding the questioning glances coming from Erebos, Arae and Thanatos. Morpheus didn’t bother to glance up from his plate as I sat down beside him. As I stared at the selection of dishes, I felt famished and warm. I knew Darce was staring at me from across the table. I couldn’t stop myself from thinking about him and his glorious lips. My body hummed, sending a fuzzy warmth down to my core.

  “The food seems to be delicious tonight,” Thanatos murmured as he watched me fill my plate with different choices. I was too hungry to deny myself something. Even if I hardly recognized it.

  “Did you finally decide to let yourself eat?” he teased.

  “The human looks warm,” Arae sneered; a small smile gleamed on her lips as she turned her mischievous gaze to Darce. “And so too does my Lord. Are you feverish?”

  “Where is Minthe?” Morpheus asked, slipping his fork onto his plate. “Did she leave?”

  “Don’t worry about it,” Darce replied curtly, drawing his warm gaze away from me, down to his plate.

  “Did you send her away, my Lord?” Arae asked, surprise etched on her face. She did nothing to hide her satisfaction. I was sure that even some part of her was celebrating Minthe’s absence.

  “Summer sent her away,” he corrected. Erebos choked and quickly grabbed his goblet of wine.

  “You sent her away?” Arae asked with a large smile as she turned her attention to me. Her brow rose with surprise as she began to laugh. Morpheus silently slid his gaze from me to Darce.

  “So...we should set another pla
te for Hermes then?” Morpheus asked slowly. “You know he’ll be here soon.”

  “If he comes, he comes,” Darce replied. “It’s nothing we haven’t handled before.”

  “If he comes,” I murmured. “I’ll handle—”

  “Zeus is not a God to be trifled with, Summer,” Morpheus interjected loudly. “If he calls you to Mount Olympus, you must go. You will have no choice in the matter. And there won’t be anything my Lord or I—or any of us would be able to do.”

  “But I’m the Queen—”

  “But you’re not... Not truly,” Thanatos said slowly. “Persephone was a goddess. You’re a mortal. No mortal can rule over our realm. You might be Persephone ...in a form. But, ultimately Zeus will have the final say.”

  My stomach began to twist into tight knots.

  “Which is precisely why Minthe decided to take sides with the gods and goddesses of Mount Olympus. With their favor, she could win the position to rule over the Underworld,” Morpheus replied.

  “Not when the true Queen has returned,” Darce finished. “If they call upon her, they call upon me too.”

  Almost as if on queue, a cough could be heard from behind Darce. All eyes turned to the man in the archway of the dining room. Before us stood a tall, strikingly handsome blond man, wearing a long white tunic, wrapped in a golden cord. On his feet he wore a set of silver sandals with silver wings on the side. He stared at us with his perfect, crystal blue eyes. He must have been Hermes.

  He lifted a hand in greeting and began to walk into the room.

  “You know that awkward moment when you’ve entered a room, and everyone suddenly stops talking?” He asked with a small smile. “It’s very awkward, indeed.”

  His blue gaze met mine as he bowed slightly and grinned.

  “You’re just as lovely as your mother claimed,” Hermes said softly. “It seems the darkness still suits you.”

  I lowered my fork to the table and raised a brow.

  “My mother? You know my mother? You’ve seen her?”

  “Aye,” he said with a laugh. “She resides at Mount Olympus presently. I’ve been sent by Zeus and your mother with an official summons.”

  “I don’t want to go,” I said as I shook my head. “I have nothing to say to my mother.”

  Hermes chuckled nervously as he slid a hand through his hair.

  “She thought you might refuse. She said you would be stubborn.”

  “Get on with it,” Thanatos snapped, sipping wine from his goblet. “What is she going to threaten Summer with if she refuses?”

  “Then Zeus will step down from his almighty mountain and drag you away by force,” Hermes said with dramatic flare. Thanatos snorted, muttering under his breath, mocking the ‘almighty’ Zeus.

  “He would never.” Arae turned her nose up at the notion.

  Somehow, I felt it was a threat worth being afraid of. Zeus never left Mount Olympus. He had the best seat in the house, he was above everyone—including his brothers. I didn’t want to find out what kind of terrible wrath Zeus would unleash on the Underworld.

  If I didn’t go, how would he punish Darce? I didn’t want to consider that option.

  “And if I go?” I asked after a long, quiet pause.

  “You’ll be reunited with your mother. Zeus wishes to meet you, and perhaps work on reinstating you to your Goddess state.”

  “And not murdering me?”

  “Murdering?” Hermes asked, slightly alarmed. “No, my dear girl. No one will be murdering anyone.”

  I wanted to believe him, but his words felt strange to me as he spoke them. It was too forced. I shivered as I darted my gaze to the others around the table. Hermes took another step towards Darce and Morpheus with a cat-like smile.

  “The sooner we go,” he began, “The sooner we can clear this whole mess up.”

  “The only mess is the one Minthe created,” Darce retorted. Morpheus clicked his tongue. No one at the table looked more furious than the God of Dreams.

  “If she goes,” Morpheus interrupted, “If Summer goes, I will go with her.”

  Hermes seemed unphased by this and shrugged. Clearly, he couldn’t care less.

  “Yes, yes, whatever you want, Morpheus,” Hermes said. “Gods knows Zeus hasn’t seen you nearly as much as he wished at Mount Olympus.”

  I remembered the images Morpheus had shared with me; all of the reasons why he hated going there—the drinking, the partying and the gossiping. Would he really face all of that again for my sake?

  “And me,” Darce replied suddenly, calling attention to his declaration.

  “But... my Lord,” Thanatos said, shaking his head.

  Darce lifted a hand to silence Thanatos.

  “It’s only fair,” he explained. “If you want Summer, then I, Hades, will accompany her. She is, after all...my guest.”

  Hermes swallowed and dared a look in my direction. He must have expected me to disagree. I had a good mind to guess that my mother had told him how headstrong and independent I was. But in this case... I would welcome Morpheus and Darce’s presences. I knew I was way over my head without them. I would not be going into a new realm unprepared.

  “I won’t go without Darce or Morpheus. Those are my conditions,” I replied softly.

  Hermes scratched his head and relented.

  “I suppose you can explain this to your brother, Zeus, yourself,” he said to Darce.

  Darce flashed Hermes his very best smile and crossed his arms against his chest. He saw the challenge Hermes presented and from where I was standing, he had been waiting for a chance like this—a chance to defy his brother.

  “It would be my pleasure.”

  Artwork by Aislinn Honeycutt

  Sneak Peek of Gilded Ruins, Book Two

  Arae adjusted a curl around my ear as she placed a golden crown of twisting vines on my head. I knew she was enjoying this. Far more than I was. The soft, blue dress she had chosen for me to wear hung off of my shoulders, pooling onto the ground like a waterfall. Intricate pieces of gold thread weaved through the gown, making it sparkle like a crystal in the sun. It was vastly different from all the jeans and sweaters I had been wearing since my arrival to the Underworld.

  I never thought in a billion years I’d ever say that. Me—in the Underworld.

  “If you’re going to face the Gods of Mount Olympus, you should appear as a Goddess,” Arae said as her fingers trailed along the length of my necklace. It was like wearing a costume piece from the Moulin Rouge, and where I was Satine, the large black diamond sitting on the hollow of my throat was a gift from my own Duke. When I first saw it sitting among the selection of gowns Arae had brought, I thought it was as black as death—if death was a color and black could be any shade darker.

  “But I’m not one,” I muttered under my breath as I gently pushed her prying fingers away from my neck. “Well, not completely.”

  “That may be,” she agreed, breaking the silence. “But you are the one Darce has chosen.”

  Arae wrinkled her nose, irritated. She had been the one to insist I come to her room and try on a gown she had picked out for me. She had been the one advising me on “Goddess” lessons—quizzing me on the different names of those I would likely meet at Mount Olympus. I was tired of the endless cycle of names and fabrics.

  It had only been three days ago when the messenger of the Gods—Hermes—had appeared in the dining hall of Elysian announcing Zeus’s request. I could still see the warm, clever smile on his lips as he gave us the order from the God of all Gods. He, in his golden glory, had come for me, to whisk me back to my mother’s side. Back to the Goddess, Demeter and the nameless other Gods who all had sided with her.

  I could feel the united scoffing and eye-rolling of all my past lives at the thought of my mother—our mother.

  I still hadn’t come into the powers that I had hoped to obtain again—whatever powers Persephone had possessed. I didn’t expect anything as dramatic as Superman’s flying, or Spiderman’s ability to
create webs, but I at least thought I’d feel different after everything that had happened. While I was the one Darce had been searching for-the reincarnation of his long-ago bride—Persephone, I still didn’t feel like a Goddess. In reality, I had only gained the power of knowledge. Persephone had come to the world during various eras, and each time Darce had found her, she had slipped between his fingers. Instead of Spring and growing flowers, I had experienced death four times over and I had watched Darce’s agonizing expression too many times to count now.

  I had been different. After losing both of my parents in a car accident, Darce had brought me down to the Underworld, in hopes of remembering the past.

  “You’ll see for yourself,” Arae’s voice cut into my reverie. “The Gods and Goddesses of Olympus care more about how you dress and carry yourself, than your ranking as a mere mortal.”

  “But you care quite a lot about that detail. . .” I retorted, glaring at her. She returned it with a snark smile and took a step back as she lifted her hand to her chin. She eyed her work curiously, scanning me from head to toe.

  “I don’t,” she replied. I snorted.

  “Yes, you do.”

  She shrugged and crossed her arms. “It’s not my fault you choose to look like a vagabond.”

  “Excuse you,” I muttered under my breath. “It’s casual mortal fashion. Geez.”

  “Shoes?” She asked, pointing to the hem of the long dress and ignoring me entirely. I knew it was coming, too. With a grimace, I lifted the dress just slightly, revealing my Keds. I shouldn’t have been surprised that she would crack down on me, especially after everything she had done to get me in the dress I was wearing.

  “I told you,” she said, clicking her tongue. “It matters on Mount Olympus.”