Out of Sorts Aphrodite (The Goddess Chronicles Book 2)

by S. E. Babin

  I slipped from the chair and fell to my knees, the imprint of Clotho’s hand singed into my shoulder. The wind in the room abruptly stopped. Clotho replaced her glamour, her eyes a normal warm brown, but I would never be normal again. I blinked, trying to banish those pictures from my mind. My eyes met Keto’s and his widened. He knew I suspected what he was. Artemis rushed over to me, crouching down and taking me by the elbow.

  “Abby, what happened?”

  My throat worked as I tried to say something, anything. My eyes met Clotho’s. The warning in them stopped any of the words I was going to say.

  “The future is yours to change, Fair Aphrodite. I sense the power swirling inside of you. Zeus is aware. Use it wisely. This battle will be your greatest and most tragic. You will lose a piece of yourself when the last blow falls. Your choices could change the tide of the world. You will be the voice for mercy or for destruction. Take care the power simmering inside of you is harnessed and not allowed to wreak havoc upon the world. Eris’ specialty was chaos–yours is love. The merging of those powers has put into motion a chain of events that can be altered only by you.” With those cryptic words, Clotho disappeared in a shower of silver light, leaving me still cowering on the floor.

  Artie helped me up. I held onto her for a second until I was sure I could stand on my own. I felt Keto’s presence behind me, but I couldn’t look at him right now. My sweet, feathered friend was a liar right down to his beady little dove eyes. I wouldn’t discuss my thoughts in front of Artie right now, but as soon as we were alone, Keto and I would be chatting.

  We left the store and drove home, the car silent as a tomb. Once we were safely in the driveway, I hurried out of the car and headed upstairs. Artie looked like she wanted to question me, but I shook my head and left them. Once I was in the room, I looked around seeing signs of Marshall everywhere. A pair of muddy work boots lay haphazardly against my reading chair, even though I had told him to leave them by the front door. A shirt tossed carelessly on the made up bed, dark hairs across the pillow. I crossed my arms around my middle and sat down on the edge of the bed, trying to wrap my head around Clotho’s prophecy. Would Marshall leave me? This thought was always in the back of my mind though I tried to live in the present. The future was always hanging over my head. It was only a matter of time before Olympus came barging back in, and if I were being honest, Marshall didn’t have a place there. He was a mortal living in a world of the gods. At minimum it was dangerous. At its worst, it was deadly. I had no illusion that Marshall could survive in my world. Why I had allowed him to step into it was beyond me. My emotions had once again gotten the best of me.

  And he would leave. Sooner rather than later if Clotho’s pictures meant anything.

  A hesitant knock on the door sometime later startled me. “Come in,” I called softly.

  Keto stepped in, a lock of dark hair falling over one of his eyes. He was dressed casually now, jeans and an old Beatles t-shirt. His feet were tan and bare. Keto always looked young, but standing in front of me now, he barely looked out of his teens. “You have questions for me.”

  I snorted. I wanted to be angry with him, but what I was most concerned with was why he had lied to me for so long. I examined him, the lean and angular features. How could I ever think he was ordinary? “Why?” I finally said.

  Keto sighed and sat down beside me. He grasped one of my hands with his own. “It’s…complicated.” I opened my mouth to speak, but he raised a hand and laughed in self-deprecation. “I know that sounds asinine when confronted with the pictures Clotho showed you.”

  That was an understatement. I should have realized Keto would know what I saw due to our telepathic link, but it was used so little these days I’d almost forgotten about it. “What are you, Keto? A demon? An angel?”

  He ran a hand through his dark hair causing it to stand up in all directions. “Neither,” he said. Keto stood up and tilted my chin up to look at him.

  “I am neither man, nor beast, nor angel, nor demon. I am a daemon, a guardian spirit. Close to the definition of a Christian angel. And I…I am good.” I felt magic pull through the room and Keto’s visage changed slightly. His skin darkened into a deep, dark bronze, sinew forming in his arms and neck. He was lean, finely muscled…and beautiful.

  My breath caught. Keto’s dark hair took on an ebony blue sheen. His normal yellow eyes morphed into pools of tawny gold. His lips became fuller, his cheekbones more defined. The once beaky nose stood proudly against his face, reminiscent of Native American legends. Power burst through the room, power to rival my own.

  Fear pooled through my veins as I stared at this creature I’d allowed to live in my home– this creature who knew most of my secrets. My mind scrambled to reconcile this vision with the Keto who liked to veg on the couch and eat potato chips. I could not comprehend. Was he still my friend? I stared at him in awe. His mouth pulled into a smile, strong white teeth standing out proudly against his face.

  “You have no reason to fear, Aphrodite. I am here as a guardian, your guardian. I am the soul of a good and righteous man reformed into a warrior. Daemons escort the souls of their protected into Hades when it is their time. And you, Aphrodite, you’ve been chosen to have me as your protector. There is a place in history for you. For daemons do not normally guard women, but you, Queen, you are a warrior.” He dropped onto one knee, his head lowered. The power still choked the air, and as I watched, wings–glorious, beautiful wings–began to pour forth from Keto’s back. They were more beautiful here than in Clotho’s prophecy. I longed to touch them. Shiny, silky feathers of deep black and pristine white mixed together. Keto lifted his head. I could only stare at him in awe. I swallowed.

  “Please say something,” he finally said.

  “I hope this still means you’ll cook breakfast when Marshall isn’t here. We both know I’m a lousy cook.”

  Keto’s mouth twitched and the power strangling the air loosened, allowing me to take a deep, shuddering breath.

  I sat back on the bed, a thin sheen of sweat covering my skin. Keto stood, the wings folding back into his skin unseen and the power slowly dissipating. “Does Artie know?”

  Keto shook his head. “It is not my place to tell her.”

  My brow wrinkled. “Whose place is it?”

  Keto smiled. “Yours. I have always been here to protect you, Abby. Artemis just happened to wiggle her way into my heart.”

  “She suspects something is up, you know.”

  He nodded. “She is too smart not to.”

  My thoughts were spinning. How was she going to take this one? “Keto, I don’t know that I should be the one to tell her.”

  The door slammed open. Artie stood outlined by it, fiery anger evident in her eyes. “You’re right,” she said to me, but her eyes were laser focused on Keto. “It isn’t your place to tell me.”

  I slowly edged closer to the door. Artie stepped in, allowing me to skirt around her. I left her standing there with her hands on her hips and Keto silent. If we were lucky, Artie would only destroy my bedroom. I gave them one last look and tiptoed as quietly as I could downstairs.

  Dinner time would be here soon, so I scrounged around in the kitchen looking for something suitable. I was a crock-pot master, but it was too late to toss something in there. We could go out to eat, but I bet Keto and Artie would still be up to their eyeballs in drama. I glanced at the clock, noting the time. Marshall would be home soon. We could sneak out for an impulsive date night. And hope the house was still standing when we got back.

  I stood out of the way of any windows and used a burst of magic to transform myself into something more presentable. Skinny jeans and riding boots replaced my earlier casual wear and a royal blue silk pullover fell past the middle of my thighs. I zapped my hair into a submissive chignon, allowing a few stray curls to fall. Good enough, I thought, when I caught a glimpse of myself in the foyer mirror.

  I grabbed my newest paperback and padded over to the sunroom to read for a bit wh
ile the light was still good enough. Keeping my mind off of everything would do me a world of good. Immersing myself in the world of urban fantasy, I barely registered the door opening until I heard the heavy plod of Marshall’s feet heading my way. I glanced up, heart racing at the sight of him. He lifted my legs up and sat on the couch beside me, resting my legs on his lap.

  “Hey,” he said, stress lines stark against his eyes.

  “Hey ya back,” I said. It didn’t seem like the time to tell him about everything, so I strived for normal. “Want to head into town for dinner?”

  His eyebrow quirked, but I pasted an innocent smile on my face. “All right, darling. Looks like you’re already dressed. Give me a second.” He gave a heavy sigh as he started to stand up, but I put a hand on his arm to stop him. “Allow me,” I said. I rarely used magic on Marshall, mainly because I thought it made him uncomfortable, but tonight he looked worn down enough that I made an exception. A quick burst of silver and gold filled the air and Marshall sat in front of me dressed in his favorite collared shirt, blue jeans, and brown loafers. His eyes widened as he caught a glimpse of his new outfit, but he finally laughed. “You could save me tons of time in the morning,” he said. He patted my legs, stood up, and held his hand out for me. “Ready?” he asked.

  I put my hand in his and allowed myself to be helped up. I savored the feel of his hand in mine, but Clotho’s pictures intruded, the scene of Marshall packing making my breath hitch. I shook it off, mustered up a smile and headed out the door with the man I loved.

  4

  Chapter Four

  After a nice, lengthy dinner Marshall and I opened the front door only to hear a loud crash and the sound of glass breaking. Marshall’s brows pulled together, but I stopped him from running upstairs. “Keto and Artie,” I said. “It’s complicated.”

  Marshall shook his head and tossed his jacket onto the hanger in the hallway. I followed suit and trudged into the living room, wanting to sit down and breathe for a while. I’d told Marshall some of what was going on, leaving out the part about Keto being a freaking angel…or excuse me, a daemon. Same thing if you asked me. The differences were certainly tiny. He’d find out soon enough if the pictures still running through my head were any indication.

  Footsteps on the stairs had me clenching my muscles. I hoped whatever happened between them was all out of their systems by now. I was all for a harmonious home environment. Artie’s chestnut hair swung around the staircase, her face grim. Our eyes met and she walked over to sit beside me on the couch. I slung an arm around her thin shoulders and pulled her close.

  “Is he still alive?” I asked after a couple of moments of silence.

  Artie snorted. “Yes, but I’m not sure he deserves to be.”

  I squeezed her. “Sometimes I think that about all men.”

  Marshall cleared his throat. “Man sitting here,” he said.

  “Besides Marshall,” I clarified. I leaned closer to Artie’s ear. “Most days.”

  Artie smiled, her bottom lip wobbly, and Marshall chuckled and threw up his hands. “I know when I’m beaten. Is it safe to go upstairs?”

  Artie sighed. “If you can get around the size of Keto’s ego taking up the entire area, then yes.”

  Marshall’s eyebrows rose. Ouch. I motioned him to go. “It’s fine,” I mouthed.

  After a dubious look at me, he walked up. I could hear his slow, hesitant footsteps. It made me chuckle. “Want a glass of wine?” Artie moved away from me and sat against the side of the couch cushion, her arms crossed over her chest.

  She nodded so I got up and went to the kitchen. “Spike it with ambrosia,” she shouted.

  Goodness. I had one small bottle hidden inside of one of the cabinets. It was shielded against prying mortal eyes, so I looked around to make sure Marshall was still upstairs and pulled it out. The bottle was clear; the liquid inside shimmering with orange and golden light. I hadn’t had any since that debacle with Eris and even now as it swirled, it seemed to taunt me. I put about a teaspoon into Artie’s glass and mixed it with a sweet Moscato wine. I stayed on the conservative side with my glass, using only half the amount I put into hers.

  I carried both glasses in and saw a big grin spread over Artie’s face. I handed her the shimmering glass. “Booze,” she cooed and took a hefty sip.

  “Careful,” I said. “There’s enough ambrosia in there to take down Zeus.”

  “Good,” she said, and took another sip.

  I hesitated, finally tasting the wine. I sighed in delight. It was like a sweet, juicy peach had exploded on my tongue. I’d forgotten how much I missed ambrosia.

  “So I have to ask. Are you and Keto still a thing?”

  Artie’s eyes flinched. “How can I date a daemon? It was okay when I thought he was a shapeshifter, Abby, but now that I know he’s technically an angel, it’s all kinds of weird.”

  “Technically,” I said. “I’m dating a mortal, Artie. I think if you love him that should be all that matters.”

  Artie lifted her eyes. “I do love him. But do I think it’s forever? I don’t know. And then seeing him with that hussy in the coffee shop the other day, I’m just not sure.”

  Food for thought. “Speaking of that hussy, does she look familiar?”

  Artie took another sip of her wine, a thoughtful expression appearing on her face. “She does. I can’t place her, though. I thought that when I saw her with Keto, but if I know her, I can’t remember where from. But…” she trailed off. “Isn’t it weird that we both think she looks familiar?”

  I nodded. It was weird. “Do you think she’s a minor goddess or maybe a dryad?”

  Artie frowned. “Definitely not a dryad. It’s worth another look. I get a funny feeling from her.

  “Me, too,” I said. “I wonder if she’s under a glamour. I’ve never looked close enough.”

  Artie tossed her hair over one shoulder and laid back. “Maybe next time we go in there, we should see what’s going on with Miss April.”

  I grinned. “Deal. Two goddess against a hapless coffee shop owner? You’re on.”

  Artie snorted. “I have a feeling we shouldn’t underestimate her yet. Let’s see what we’re dealing with first.”

  She was right. Something funny was going on with April. I bet Keto knew what was up. I’d leave him alone for today, but tomorrow I was going to make sure he spilled his guts about April. “Drink up,” I finally said. “This might be the most downtime we get for a while.”

  “It was good while it lasted,” Artie said.

  She had no idea how prophetic those words really were.

  5

  Chapter Five

  The sound of glass shattering startled me out of a sound sleep. My first thought was that Artie and Keto had decided to go for round two, but the entire house was shaking. Since they both lived here, I didn’t think they’d bring the house down around them, but who knew when it came to the tempers of the gods? I dragged myself out of bed, threw on an old robe and tiptoed down the hallway. The door to their room was wide open and no one was there.

  All the noise was coming from downstairs. Another voice filtered upstairs and chilled me to the bone. Shit.

  Athena was here.

  I calmed my trembling hands and walked down the stairs with what I hoped was confidence. The wind was picking up and I could only imagine which of my precious mortal treasures were breaking. When I got to the bottom step, I peeked around and saw Keto, Artie, and Athena standing in a tense circle. A soft white light hovered around Artie’s sister, but it didn’t make her look angelic. It made her look terrifying.

  I’d dealt with her many times in the past, and none of those times were good memories. She was crazy in a cunning and diabolical way. Plus she was the Goddess of Wisdom, something that made her intellect all the scarier. She and Artie might be sisters, but there was no love lost between them. Their fights were bloody and violent, and since Artie was the more reasonable of the two and not as prone to violence as Athena, she o
ften lost. I’d nursed many wounds of hers after some of their more memorable battles.

  So far everyone still looked to be in one piece. Perhaps Athena was lucid today. I said a silent prayer to Zeus as I walked over to them. Athena turned her white-eyed gaze on me, her expression lightening into one of genuine delight.

  I was too paranoid to be happy about that. She resembled Artie only in the heart shape of her face. Any resemblance stopped there. Where Artie was warm, Athena was icy. From her silvery white waist-length hair to the snowy alabaster of her skin, she was cold personified. Her silvery ice blue eyes honed in on me in appraisal, her wide lips spreading in a sly smile.

  “Aphrodite!” She floated over to me and embraced me in a tight hug. “I am so glad to see you! Look at this spread you have! I have to say, darling, it was incredibly difficult to find you. Zeus has this placed shielded within an inch of its life. But you know me,” she grinned, showing off pearly white teeth. “I am persistent.”

  Boy was she ever. I smiled, though it killed something inside of me to be nice to her. “To what do we owe the pleasure of this visit? At two a.m.,” I added sweetly.

  She laughed, a melodic tinkle so at odds with her vicious personality. “Whatever do you mean? I’m here to see Artemis. It’s been a while since we’ve chatted.”

  If chatted meant sending Artie home with a black eye and broken ribs, then I agreed with her. I quickly glanced over to Artie. She stood with her arms crossed, trepidation swirling in her eyes along with a rampant curiosity. That curiosity could be what eventually got her killed. Athena might be over wisdom, but Artemis was one of the most intelligent people I’d ever met. And…they were sisters. I sent her a look to be calm and turned my attention back to Athena.