“Wait! I … I … ” I reached out a hand after Jeremy’s retreating back. The door slipped shut.
Shar still held the fleece in front of me, moving her head to block my view and meet my eyes.
“It’s okay,” she soothed. “We’ll fix it later.”
I leaned my head around Shar to look at the boy formally known as Paulina. “Who are you?”
He finished unbuttoning his shirt, shrugged it off, and handed it to me. His chest was the same golden tone as his skin, his torso solid, muscular, and rippling.
“I’m sorry, Meg. I didn’t picture things happening like this.”
Crouching behind the outstretched fleece, I slid P’s shirt on. It smelled of wild herbs and figs, something you’d catch a whiff of on top of a mountain looking over a span of azure sea. What was I thinking, reveling in the scent of his shirt, still warm from being next to him? He just ruined my life. I buttoned up the shirt; it fell almost to my knees, which made me feel slightly better. Or at least slightly less self-conscious. Underwear would help, but that wasn’t forthcoming.
“I’m Pollux,” he said. “This is—”
Daggers of realization stabbed me all over. “Let me guess. Castor, your twin.” The baggy clothes, the getting up before the garbage men to be dressed, using the bathroom alone, the scarves over the Adam’s apple, the lean, hard body, the big feet, the insatiable appetite. All of it screamed Male! Male! Male! And moron—that was for me.
“Call me Caz.” The blond guy bobbed his head, then turned to Shar. “She knows her mythology.”
“You have no idea,” she said, linking her arm through his.
“I guess this is what you were doing in Tartarus?” I asked.
She flushed. “I didn’t get this dirty and messy dancing at a ball,” she quipped.
“I’m sure.” I stared at the door, wondering if I should go after Jeremy. Pollux moved closer and handed me his jacket. I put it on and said to him. “There was no deal with Hades, was there? He just wanted you.”
He nodded.
“We’d make a nice bargaining chip for him,” agreed Caz. “If he had both of us down there he’d be able to squeeze something out of Zeus.”
“But I knew you wouldn’t send me there,” said Pollux, flashing the lopsided smile. “From the moment when I first saw you. Look,” he said, almost shyly, but reaching for me at the same time, “I wanted to talk to you, but … in a better setting than this,” He looked around, and was about to continue when I held up a hand and shook my head. I had a queasy feeling that I knew what he was about to say.
“Look, Paul—I mean, Pollux—this is … just … ” I glanced away for a moment, then looked up at him again, at a loss. “Awkward. That’s what it is.”
He took my hand in his and squeezed it, tenderly. I felt overwhelmed, but I didn’t pull away. Part of me wanted to hear what he had to say; the other thought of Jeremy.
Let’s go over the thousand things that are wrong with this; he hid his identity from me, he killed my relationship with Jeremy, he lived with me. He saw me naked!
“I understand,” he said. “And I’m hoping you can see from the situation why I didn’t … ” He paused, then held me with his gaze. “Why I didn’t just tell you everything right away.”
There were several times when I felt the same way. I knew there was more to things than Hades revealed. And there was something else, too. A part of me … connected to Pollux in some way, a tie that went beyond boy, girl, friend … I shrugged the feeling away; it was too close. Unbearably, uncomfortably, exquisitely close.
I felt everyone’s eyes on me, as if they were waiting for me to do or say something.
“So now what?” I looked around. “Is it over?”
There was a rumbling from the full-length mirror at the end of the bathroom. Caz and Pollux looked at each other and nodded. The lights flickered and I thought I heard thunder.
They vanished.
Shar gasped and spun around and around. “I can’t believe they left us!”
“And just in time for you-know-who,” I scowled, pointing to the mirror, which enlarged to the size of a doorway with stairs leading down. The whole room shuddered and dropped like it was a giant elevator, and then Hades stepped out dressed in a rumpled tuxedo, his shirt unbuttoned, the ends of his bow tie hanging on either side of his lipstick-stained collar. He stopped in front of us, arms over his chest, one hip thrust out, shaking his head in disapproval.
“Mission not accomplished.” He frowned. “And Sharisse, you naughty thing, sneaking out like that. How did you manage it?” His voice was quietly menacing. Shar stared at him, mutely defiant. “Very well. I’ll have an eternity to persuade it out of you. I have my ways. I suspect my sire had a hand in this. Tsk tsk, Sharisse. You’ll let that … thing kiss you, but not me?”
I turned to Shar, horror-stricken. “What the hell were you doing down there?”
Hades leaned closer and in a soft, ominous tone, said, “Kisses from Kronos are not so easily erased, and they carry a doom. And look, you were kind enough to share it with Margaret. You’ll regret this,” he promised.
Shar turned her frosty eyes on Hades. “I don’t think so,” she said through clenched teeth. “I did what I had to do to escape.”
“Then I hope you enjoyed your short visit.” Hades made a sweeping motion toward the gaping doorway. Tendrils of smoke rippled along the floor. “It’s time for all of us to travel down under,” he said, grinning. “Ladies first.”
Shar
I’ll Be Back
“At least tell me why you wanted them both,” I said, standing with my fists jammed on my hips, foolish obstinacy holding the terror at bay.
“My little sweetmeat, I will be happy to explain things once we’re safely snuggled in our little love nest.”
Insert evil grin and lecherous hand-rubbing here, I thought.
“Oh, can’t you ever just give it up?” demanded Meg. “You won, okay? We’re slaves to you and your dog for eternity. Just tell us why you wanted Castor and Pollux.” Her eyes were spitting ice-blue fire. Hades gave her that maddeningly sexy I’ve-got-dark-promises-to-keep look. After the barest of moments, he threw up his hands.
“I guess I can be a magnanimous winner. As always. Castor and Pollux separated cannot negate the powers of my minions—the Furies, the Harpies, and of course, you two Sirens. Although you might have noticed that when you were in Pollux’s presence, Margaret, you weren’t quite as … alluring.”
Meg narrowed her eyes at him and I made a rolling motion with my hand. “So I’ve heard.”
Hades brushed back a stray lock. “While Zeus isn’t the greatest of fathers, he seems to take exception when someone steps on his parental toes. By holding both Castor and Pollux, I could do a little collective bargaining.”
“For what?” I didn’t think Hades could possibly get more time with Persephone, because (a) Demeter would bring on another ice age and Zeus wouldn’t allow that, (b) I didn’t think he was that lonely; he found playmates like me to amuse him even if he had to use bribery, blackmail, and bullying, and (c) if you’re going to take on the top guy, you might as well ask for something big, like maybe your birthright to rule Olympus. I guessed there could be tons more explanations, but who knew Hades’ mind?
He exhaled and, forming a triangle with his fingers, looked coolly first at me, then at Meg.
“What I want from Zeus, I’ll keep to myself. One never knows when another opportunity may present itself.”
“Wouldn’t it have been easier just to tell me who Pollux was?” Meg demanded. “Oh, wait—you had no deal with him, so that makes this an illegal take down.”
Hades gave her a withering glare. “My methods for this transaction could be considered by some to be … unorthodox. But I’ll be glad to explain it all once we’re back
at my place. Shall we go?”
As he gallantly swept his arm toward the portal, we all heard a rumbling sound. Like thunder. Hades spun around and I think he swore in Greek.
“Hurry! Get in now !” He went to shove us in, but Meg did a fancy move I didn’t know she could do and twirled out of his way while shoving me aside, out of his reach. Like the explosion of a silent bomb, a brilliant white light erupted, blinding me. I had to turn aside and cover my eyes. When I could sense the light had died, I opened them again. There stood Pollux, Caz, and a man who was Hades’ equal in stunning looks, but golden to Hades’ dark. He wore a white silk shirt, white pants, and gold sandals. On his head was a laurel wreath.
I could feel the power radiating off him. I gulped, looked over at Meg, and mouthed “Zeus!” She jerked her head once, her eyes large with dread.
Hades scowled. “Hello, bro-ther,” he said, then looked at the twins. “Ran home to Daddy, did you?”
“Careful, Hades. I’m not happy to be here.” Zeus looked around in disgust. “Do you get off on dragging people to skanky places? I can only imagine what Tartarus looks like.”
“Oh, it’s beautiful!” I interrupted, then slapped a hand over my ill-mannered mouth.
Zeus scowled at me. “Mortal, speak. How do you know?”
As Hades stepped forward, he gave me a shut-up-or-I’ll-deal-with-you-later glare. “She’s been my guest, and a difficult one at that. Cerberus hasn’t been the same since she’s cared for him. She’ll have to return to rectify the situation.”
“I didn’t do anything to that slobbering—”
“You called him a good goggy,” Hades said in disgust. “And now all he wants to do is cuddle! Who’s going to guard my borders?”
Ignoring Hades’ complaint, Zeus turned to me. “Is this true, a guest?”
“A former Siren who had no choice!” blurted Meg. Hades should have included her in his quelling look. I sent her a grateful glance. She winked.
“This is a story I must hear.” Zeus snapped his fingers. We were suddenly lounging in white caftans on soft white cushions on a white boat. At least the sea was blue. Another god with a serious color phobia.
“Are we in Olympus?” I asked.
“Only gods and demi-gods are permitted on Olympus. We are currently in the Aegean Sea. Neutral territory, courtesy of Poseidon. Should anything befall me”—and he sent a distrustful glance in Hades’ direction—“Poseidon is witness for the pantheon.” Hades didn’t even blink.
Servants in traditional white Greek chitons walked around, offering gold plates laden with fruits and some type of drink. Zeus plucked a fat ripe strawberry, tapped the beautiful maid on her tush, and turned to us.
“Begin.”
Hades’ mouth started to open, but Zeus, without so much as looking in his direction, wagged a finger.
“You”—he pointed at Meg—“start. Your name?”
“I’m Meg, and Shar’s my friend.”
“And you’re Sirens?”
“Yes, but we were forced—”
He snorted. “I hear that all the time. You humans really need to come up with a better excuse when you make a bad deal.” He popped a green grape into his mouth. “Continue.”
Meg gave a quick rundown of her last assignment, up to the moment she was in the bathroom. Zeus nodded, Hades fumed, and I listened.
“But you didn’t force the fleece on Pollux or order him to put it on,” he mused.
Meg blushed. “I … couldn’t. And I didn’t know that Pollux was male, or a demi-god.” She stared at her toes. “I could have ordered him to do it if I had known, and honestly, I might have.” Then she raised her head and said defensively, “To save Shar from Hades, I was going to put the fleece on myself and go to Tartarus, but I got lucky—she escaped in time to stop me.”
It was my turn to wink at her.
“Nice try, Hades, but this will not go undealt with.” Zeus sucked on a juicy pear, his eyes boring into Hades’ before he turned to me. “And what do you have to add to this tale?”
Then I shared what happened in my little corner of the Underworld, minus the little heart-to-heart Hades and I had during the ball. I didn’t think that almost-kiss-and-tell was a need-to-know. His eyes unreadable, Hades simply stared at me.
“Hmmm.” Zeus selected a fig. Didn’t he eat before he left home? “For restoring my sons, your honesty to me, your loyalty to each other, and the wisdom you exhibited, I will grant each of you a boon. Speak.”
“Can we confer?” I asked. No sense wasting divinely granted requests on the same thing.
He tipped his head once. “You may.”
I rushed over to Meg, sat beside her, and whispered in her ear, “What do you want?”
“I want us to be done with Hades!” she hissed.
I wiped the spit from my ear. “If you ask for that, then I can ask for Eurydice, Orpheus, and Splendor to have Zeus’ protection. Hades will want to get even with them for helping me.”
“It’s a deal.” We shook on it.
“I want—” I began.
“Done!” said Zeus.
“But how did you—”
He cocked an eyebrow.
“Oh, right, omniscient,” I said meekly.
Hades gave a disgruntled snort. “No, you two whisper loud enough for Poseidon to hear it under the sea.”
Zeus rose, and at his pointed glare, we jumped up too.
“You are freed from your contract with Hades. Eurydice will stay reunited with Orpheus, but they must remain in the Elysian Fields.”
“What happened to them?” I interrupted.
Hades tossed an olive over the side of the boat. “It was ridiculous for them to think they could make it to the mortal plane.” He swallowed distastefully. “They’re dead—they can never leave. However, they are reunited for all eternity, so I’ve kept my side of the bargain.” He nodded in smug satisfaction over this small win.
“After three thousand years,” I argued.
Zeus held out his hands. “It’s Hades’ realm, and that cannot be changed. Now, once Charon resumes his post, Aglaia will return to Olympus with the status of Favored Muse. Until that time she will be unmolested by you, brother.”
Hades sighed and nodded grimly.
As I cleared my throat, Meg’s mouth dropped open and she gave a barely perceptible shake of her head, begging me not to say anything apocalyptic. But I rushed on. “Sir, Aglaia has some people on Olympus who aren’t fans of hers, and she’s worried about, uh, upsetting the serenity of the pantheon.”
Zeus roared with laughter. “Nicely put, Sharisse, but Aglaia will be under my protection and need not fear Hera. Serenity of the pantheon! Ha ha! That’s a new one. You mortals are so amusing when you aren’t a pain in the ouo.” He chuckled a few more times before turning with a stern regard to Hades. “And you know the rules. You cannot approach them claiming the contract is unfulfilled or with tainted gifts. We clear?”
With a killing look, Hades did a stiff little bow.
“And keep Persephone on a short leash when she’s back with you. I don’t want her chasing these delightful girls. I need to have a little chat with Demeter on their behalf, and with Hera before Splendor returns to Olympus.”
Before I could say thank you, Zeus was gone and we were back in the girls’ bathroom in our own clothes. Zeus had thoughtfully provided Meg with jeans. Nice ones, too! He was a class act, even if intimidating.
“Shar, can I talk to you for a moment?” asked Caz. With an apprehensive glance at Hades, who seemed to be sulking in a corner, I put my hand in his outstretched one and we walked into the gym, onto the middle of the dance floor.
“I never got to ask you to dance.” He gathered me close and breathed in my ear, sending chills down my spine as we swayed to the mu
sic. I snuggled closer, ignoring the gaping mouths and pointed fingers of Alana and posse.
“This is nice,” I murmured, thinking, I have a date for the Spring Fling! I’m at the Spring Fling!
We danced for a few minutes, enjoying the closeness, before he spoke again.
“I have to leave.”
Sadly, I knew that, although I’d hoped for at least an hour of mortal time with him. “I know,” I mumbled into his neck. He rubbed my back, his strong hands gentle and soothing.
“Can I come back to see you?”
I pulled back to look at him. “Would you? I mean, do you want to?”
He smiled that roguish smile and my legs just wanted to give out, so I held on tighter.
“Yes. How about next week, your time? I’m going to lie low for a little bit while Hera and Zeus scream at each other. I suspect that Demeter, Persephone, Hermes, and who-knows-which gods will jump into the fight.”
“Kind of like ‘Celebrity Deathmatch,’ ” I giggled.
“You got it. But as soon as it’s clear, I’ll be back.”
I nodded, a tear threatening to make a run for it. When it rolled, he wiped it gently with his thumb.
“It won’t be that long.” He bent his head to mine and kissed me, slow and sweet and deep.
I lost all track of time and space and everything else. There was only Caz and me. When my head was swimming, he pulled back.
“Gotta go.” He frowned. “Be careful of Hades. He’s a poor loser. And he wants you. You’re the one that—”
“Says no.” I laughed shortly.
He shook his head. “No, you’re the one who got away; from him, from Tartarus, from your obligation to him. He’ll be gunning for you especially, but Meg’s in just as much danger.”
I sniffed. With a brief kiss, he walked out the door into the night beyond, and was gone. I trudged back to the ladies’ room.
Meg jumped. “You just left—” And then she nodded sagely. Been there, done that.
Pollux stepped between us, ushering Meg to the side.
“I hope I can see you again.” His stormy gray eyes, identical to his brother’s, pleaded with Meg, who held up her hands and backed away, shaking her head.
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