Alecto turned and rode bareback across the meadow, the landscape turning red as she disappeared.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
San Marin
Dan slowly opened his eyes. He'd fallen asleep while in his recliner again. He started to move, which caused a stack of file folders to spill onto the floor. He grunted and made a face as he bent to gather up the spilled paperwork. The room had grown darker, but some dying sunlight was still hitting the living room curtains, giving the room a warm, orange glow.
There was movement in the mottled shadows across the curtains. A figure moved across the porch. Dan grimaced, waiting for the doorbell. Last week at dinner time he'd had three door-to-door evangelicals ring, all within thirty minutes.
Dude was still snoozing on the couch, laying on his back, legs spread like an anatomy display. He snapped awake, rolled over onto his stomach and looked up at the shadow moving on the curtain. He perked up and swiftly leapt to the floor and trotted to the door.
Dan stayed seated, and looked at the cat. "Expecting company?"
After a haughty look at Dan, Dude turned to look at the door. The shadow had stopped moving.
Whoever it was, they weren't ready to knock or ring the doorbell. He decided to make the person wait. He rose from his chair and went into the kitchen, and to the cabinet over the sink. There he opened the tallest cabinet and took down a square bottle of scotch and grabbed a square glass from the dish drainer by the sink. He splashed a bit of scotch into the glass, then recapped the bottle.
Without replacing the bottle in the cabinet, he opened the refrigerator. He opened the small freezer compartment door and reached into a bucket, grabbed a few ice cubes. He dropped the ice into the glass and swirled the translucent golden liquid for a moment, then sipped.
It was then that the doorbell rang.
He saw the outline of someone tall was cast against the frosted glass in the top half of the door. Frowning, he opened the door.
"I don't feel like getting my soul saved right now, thank you," Dan griped, then he was transfixed.
A woman stepped towards the door. Her figure was outlined in a soft golden glow from the setting sun. Her blonde hair a glowing halo of orange. Dan was transfixed as Megaera stepped forward. He blinked.
She stopped to plant a small kiss on his cheek. "I brought dinner."
She continued into the darkened living room, then turned. Dan gently closed the door.
She held up a sizable shopping bag. "Where I can put this?"
Dan just waved towards the kitchen. Megaera headed into the kitchen. Dan followed, leaning against the door jamb between the kitchen and dining room. Megaera placed the bag on the table, then brought out a large package wrapped in white butcher paper.
"Unless you want to go out?" Megaera looked at Dan, her eyes wide.
"Oh no," Dan kept watching. His eyes traveled from her sandaled feet, past some well-shaped calves and her toned thighs that her pale dress really highlighted. It reminded him of a painting he'd seen only a few days ago when he was researching the Furies. He frowned. The resemblance was astonishing, the outfit and sandals.
"What's in the paper bag?"
Megaera smiled as she opened the bag. "Tisiphone brought this back with her from a trip to some swamps somewhere east of here, I think. Said a king gave it to her, and that some Voodoo lady cooked it just for us."
She held up a few bright red crawfish, still steaming.
Megaera began unpacking the remaining items in the cloth bag. She sat out a bottle of wine and some bread. Dan picked up the bottle and looked. It was wrapped in straw, and was sealed with an ancient cork. The bottle was oddly shaped, with two small loops as handles.
"French or Italian?" He asked.
"Greek," Megaera replied. "It goes well with this type of seafood, I'm told."
Dan kept studying the bottle. "This looks quite old, you know."
"I guess. Mother has a lot of those in her basement," Megaera remarked as she looked at the kitchen. "Plates?"
"The cabinet on the right," Dan said, finally putting the bottle down.
Megaera set out dinner for two on the dining room table. She started by moving and stacking up file folders. Finally, Dan walked over and took them from her. "Allow me," he said picking up the folders.
In moments, Megaera had the scene set. Two plates, a steaming bowl of boiled crawfish, a length of bread, the wine was open and breathing. Meg stood back and marveled at her domestication efforts. Dan made an excuse and went into the back of the house. She heard the water running and grinned.
Minutes later, Dan reappeared, having washed up a bit and changed shirts.
He stopped and inspected the crawfish.
"I was in New Orleans once, on business, and that was the last time I had fresh crawfish. Who cooked it?" he asked.
"Marie Laveau," Megaera replied as she sat, and poured Dan a glass of wine.
"The voodoo queen?" Dan questioned, his skepticism showing in his voice.
"I guess." Megaera poured a glass for herself. "Tisiphone was in that area on business."
"It's all still quite fresh. Did she fly it back?" Dan asked.
"In a way, yes," Megaera answered as she started cutting the loaf of bread. Dan watched her a moment, then sipped the wine. He blinked and he took another sip.
"Is the wine okay?" Megaera asked as she finished spooning a pile of crawfish into Dan’s plate.
"Its... incredible." He picked up the bottle again. "Are you sure your mother isn't going to miss this?"
"Ah, she has a whole box of the stuff," Megaera said as she finished with her own plate. She looked down as Dude rubbed her legs. "Has he been fed?"
"Yes, he's just sucking up to you to get a bite."
Megaera got up, and disappeared into the kitchen. She returned with a small plate and started shelling a crawfish for Dude.
"You're going to spoil the little bastard," Dan remarked.
"Oh, like you buying him Beef Lo Mein isn't spoiling him." Megaera had filled the plate with several crawfish tails and placed it on the floor. Dude sat and purred while scarfing the crawfish down.
Dan found himself eating quickly. He paused a moment, and looked at Megaera. "This voodoo queen is a hell of a cook," he managed between swallows.
"It seems like it. I usually eat out myself. No one cooks at our house since we came out here. Tish said we now have a standing invite to her and Madam Jumeaux's little house on the bayou. Tish said it was the King of the Swamp's bayou. He's this huge alligator," Megaera started to dig into the crawfish. "Or is he a crocodile? She didn't say. She might be able to tell the difference."
An hour later, Dan's plate was empty and Megaera was downing another portion of crawfish tails. All Dan could do was watch in amusement as Megaera attacked her food.
"That was fantastic, thank you," Dan sighed.
"I figured you'd need some cheering up, after this afternoon," Megaera said between bites.
"Yeah. You could say it was very depressing day." Dan then quickly added, "You have a healthy appetite."
"I can't gain weight. No matter how much I put away, so why not enjoy it?" Megaera shrugged as she began shelling more crawfish.
"I know several women who'd have serious issues with you about that," Dan offered, smiling. He couldn't help it, she was beginning to grow on him. He watched as she stood, emptied her plate full of crustacean heads and tails into a brown trash sack in the floor, then scooped up another generous amount of crawfish.
"You want another plate?" She asked.
"Oh, no. I'm quite full, thank you," Dan answered. He sat back and watched as Megaera continued to scarf down the tiny white and pink crawfish tails.
"In case you're wondering, I came by to see if I can get to know you better. Then this food was just sitting there, so I figured why not?"
"Hey, sure. Why not?" Dan shrugged.
Megaera stopped eating and narrowed her eyes at Dan. "Now, tell me how you saw me," she demanded, then went b
ack to the crayfish.
"Easy. You were there. How could I miss you? You weren't more than a few feet away from a very dangerous situation."
"No one is supposed to see me."
"Bullshit, kid," Dan stated.
"Nobody else saw me, right?" Megaera pointed out.
Dan opened his mouth to reply, then stopped short. Instead he took a drink of wine.
"See? You were the only one to see me. I need to know how," Megaera insisted.
"They were just distracted by the perpetrator," Dan pointed out. "Not sure how they all missed you, but they did."
"No. There's something different about you, and I need to know. It bothers me," Megaera grumbled.
"I can't help you there. Perhaps a therapist? You appear normal, but there's some delusions going on." Dan smiled. He was sure Megaera was either acting or delusional, so he decided to find out which.
Megaera stopped chewing and stared at Dan. "Really. Delusions? So, explain to me how I know all about your niece's killer, it's the same guy who killed your co-worker."
"The same guy did both, yes, but that's all over the news," Dan pointed out. "I looked up these Furies, you know. A thing called the Internet."
"The what?" Megaera asked, popping another crustacean tail into her mouth.
Dan leaned inward. Eager to engage. "I admit, I'm interested in you, you are the most beautiful woman I've ever seen, but an immortal goddess? That, I doubt."
"Oh, I'm immortal. Take out your gun and shoot me. It won't even touch me." Megaera leaned forward, almost nose to nose with Dan.
"I'm not going to do that," Dan refused, shaking his head.
She leaned back and looked. She spied the carving knife she was using for the bread. She grabbed it and jammed the knife into her left forearm, and dragged the blade across her flesh.
"Jesus! Lady!" Dan stood quickly. "What the hell! Come on, seriously?"
Megaera smiled grimly as she slid the knife out, the wound healing as she pulled the blade away. She licked the blood off the knife's blade. "Well?"
Dan sat back down. He looked at her and narrowed his eyes. "You had this planned, and somehow rigged your arm."
She shoved her left arm into his face. "Look closer."
He rubbed her arm, and then held her hand. "I can't find the trick, but it's a trick. Nice try, though, seriously."
The room suddenly shifted. They were no longer in Dan's dining room. They were on an island. The sun was just beginning to lighten the eastern horizon. He stood frozen. His eyes were wide. Dan looked at Meg, the light just hitting her blonde hair. Behind her, a set of ruins.
"This is the ancient city of Piraeus. Over there you can see what's left of the temple to Artemis Apahia. You should have seen it when it was new," Megaera explained.
Dan stood in silence. He cleared his throat.
"Okay, maybe the wine is drugged," he considered. That, or I'm the one who's delusional, he thought.
Megaera cocked her head at him. Then scene shifted. This time, the sun was high in the sky, a wind was blowing. A huge temple stood in the distance. "See? It is a stunning work of art. The time is about 500 B.C. by your calendar."
People in robes gathered on the temple's steps. A procession was underway. Dan stood still, watching. "What if they see me?"
Megaera shrugged. "If this is an illusion, as you suggest, they'll not care." She tugged on Dan's hand as she led the way to the temple.
They moved alongside the procession, the language unfamiliar to Dan's ears. She led him into the interior.
Dan's mind slipped a cog and he was stunned into silence. The statues lining the main hall were painted in garish colors. Blue eyes started down at the people in the temple. Women in robes milled about, a few stopped to nod at Megaera. Her clothing fit right in, except the women's robes went to the floor. One young woman spoke a few soft words of greeting to Megaera, who replied and the young woman went on her way.
“What did she say?” Dan whispered. “What language is that?”
“A local dialect of Greek. She was just asking if we’re here to ask the oracle a question,” Megaera answered.
"Oh,” Dan whispered, “Hey, this isn't right. The statues are supposed to be all white marble, and these are --"
"No, many of your scholars have no idea the artisans made them as lifelike as possible. Only a few are starting to understand just how colorful the artwork was," Megaera explained. She gently touched his arm again. "Now, hang on."
The scene shifted again. Dan felt dizzy as they landed on a huge marble patio. He looked around the area. A wind blew, and he felt it blow through him. He huddled against the cold air. He stepped to the edge and looked out. He wished he hadn't. Far below was the globe of the Earth, as seen from space, very deep space, the Earth was very small globe. Now he knew he was the one who is delusional. "The wine, it's the wine," he muttered to himself.
"Mount Olympus." Megaera pointed to a huge statue of a man on a throne. "And that's Zeus."
Then the man moved.
"Lord Zeus, say hello to a human who is having a hard time believing who I am," she yelled, her words echoing through the building.
The man stood and strode towards them. He appeared to be a giant at first, but as he got closer, he shrank down to their size. When he arrived he was still quite tall. His well-muscled body was draped in white linen with gold fasteners.
He smiled at Megaera and pulled her into an embrace. "My dear Megaera! How are you? It's been a quite a while."
"I'm fine, living on the surface now. Plenty of petitioners still lining up." They broke the embrace and Zeus looked Dan up and down.
"A nice specimen. He's a non-believer, I see." Zeus' gray beard parted to show dazzling white teeth.
"You're God?" Dan managed to ask.
"One of many, young man. Just only one of many," Zeus continued to smile. "Your people gave me, what do they call it? Oh, yes. A 'Make-Over'. So, I have remained quite powerful. Unlike some of the others."
"So, who did the make-over?"
"Your people did, Dan! They needed a new god, and they used me as the pattern." Zeus pulled Megaera to his side. "Has he seen enough?"
"I'm not sure, but we'll head back and finish our dinner. Thank you, Lord Zeus."
He broke into another huge smile. This time, his beard was no longer gray, but black as coal. "Anytime, my dear, anytime."
The entire room melted and blurred. Dan felt as if he was both falling and being twisted into shapes as the world stretched around him. He squeezed his eyes closed.
Dan opened his eyes. They were back in his living room.
Dan took a deep breath and went to his recliner. He sat and looked around.
"Take it easy for a minute. The first few times doing that can make you dizzy," Megaera explained.
"Whatever you put in that wine is seriously strong. It's the only explanation."
Megaera sat on the couch, as close to Dan as possible, then took his hands an looked him in the eye. "That's the nature of who I am, Dan. I'm an immortal. I can bend space and time to travel anywhere and any when."
"You make it sound like you do this all the time," Dan said softly.
"Oh yes. We can move to any time period, live anywhere, but I prefer this current time, and this area of the world." Megaera stood up and pulled Dan up and into a long, gentle kiss. This one went to his toes, and shot back up, leaving him light headed.
She pulled back and looked to the dining room. "We're gone now, so let's get back to the food, I'm still starving."
"Wait, what?"
"Oh, I got us back a few moments before we'd left, and I didn't want us walking in on us from earlier," she explained. "That might have been embarrassing."
She turned and headed back to the table. He shook his head and followed her into the dining room. He took his seat, and examined the wine. He stuck the cork back in it and looked towards Megaera.
"Mind if I hang onto this? The bottle is quite unique."
"Su
re, I can get you more if you really like it," Megaera offered as she started shelling more crawfish. She suddenly stopped and looked at Dan
He was smelling the wine as he twirled it. She dropped her crawfish and stood. She smiled as she held her hand out to him.
"Another trip bending space and time?" He asked as she pulled him up.
She smiled and drew him close.
"In a way," she murmured as she began kissing him. Then she pushed softly away, and took him by the hand, leading him down the hallway.
"Better not be any damned files littering your bed, pal," Megaera warned as she pulled Dan into the bedroom.
***
Dan walked through the police station bullpen. He was walking slow, and had on the same shirt as yesterday. His hair was barely combed and he needed a shave. He had skipped his shower this morning, having slept past three snoozes on his alarm.
He beamed a bit as he remembered the previous night. Crazy as that woman was, she was definitely magical.
He walked past his office, heading to another area, the "Tech Zone". He stopped at a plain door off a long corridor, with hand-lettered sign that warned him to "Abandon All Hope, Ye Who Enter Here". Tech humor.
He opened the door and entered a long room lined with test stands, DNA testing tables, machinery he could only guess at its function, and in the far corner, Dylan Westchester, also known as "the Kid" due to his youthful appearance and his disdain for combing the unruly mass of black hair. He was glued to his computer monitor, playing a first-person shooter game.
"Be with you in a moment, Dan," Dylan said as he murdered a creature on the screen. It growled loudly and collapsed. He hit pause and spun in his chair to look at Dan.
"What's up?" He asked as he pushed his wire-rim glasses up his nose.
Dan held up a small vial of a dark purple liquid. "I need you to check this out. Test it to see what's in it. You're into wine, I heard."
"Yes, I happen to be very much into wines," Dylan admitted as he took the vial and held it up to the light. He grunted. He shook the liquid. "It does appear to be wine."
"I think it's been spiked with something. I had a glass last night and then some extreme hallucinations followed. I'm talking about suddenly being in a different place than where I was, in an instant."
Angels of Vengeance: The Furies, Book 1 Page 18