by Renee Field
Darius watched, mildly amused, as Muroka’s body actually shook in fear. He felt the heavy chain drop, allowing him the dignity to move his tail underneath him to propel his upper body up off the floor.
“Enjoy yourself, freshling,” taunted Muroka, making his way back down the long corridor.
Darius watched until Muroka was completely gone before he made a grab for the figure. “What are you doing here, Rylan?” he demanded, grabbing the kid by the scruff of the neck.
“Rescuing you...you’re…um…choking me, Darius,” said Rylan. Back was the scratchy voice Darius recognized.
Releasing his choke-hold on the kid, he backed up, allowing Rylan to remove his disguise.
“I was visiting with my Uncle, and it was a good thing, too, because he’s got this whole new plan. You should see it...I mean it’s really good, not like the last time, when, you know, he accidentally started that little war,” blathered Rylan, as he finished taking off the cumbersome Titan disguise.
Darius felt his eyes roll back in his head. Why didn’t he magically spell the disguise away? Thinking about that made him realize it was probably safer for him if Rylan didn’t use his powers. Every time he used a spell, something went wrong. Seriously wrong. Case in point, his current predicament.
There had been one moment when he’d felt actual joy at seeing Rylan, and being freed, but that feeling evaporated the minute he had mentioned Zeus’ name. He is a babbling idiot. Darius attempted to sort out from Rylan’s spiel what was important.
“Enough, cut to the chase, Rylan,” he yelled, causing the kid to jump in fright. “But before you do that get this blasted collar off my neck,” he added in a slightly quieter tone.
In a blink, the collar and chain were gone. Ahh, the joys of being a semi-god. Darius eyed the kid warily.
As if there had been no interruption in his monologue, Rylan continued to blather away, “So, anyway, in walks Hera, and well...we all know to leave the palace the minute she’s anywhere in sight, but I hid behind this large pillar and overheard her talking about you. Well, I couldn’t believe my luck, so here I am. What’s our mission?
Darius crossed his arms over his chest and counted to ten. Then he closed his eyes and started to name all of the sea creatures he’d transformed into over the centuries. Finally he opened his eyes and looked at Rylan’s hopeful gaze. What do I do with you? The kid was a freak of nature, but he realized at that precise moment his options for help were limited.
With his hands crossed over his torso, Darius said slowly, hoping Rylan would get the gist of what he had to say the first time. “The only mission you have, Rylan, is to find a way to break that spell. Remember.” His eyes stared directly at Rylan’s shifty gaze.
The semi-god focused his eyes on the seabed. “I haven’t forgotten....in fact...I think I’ve almost found a way to break the spell. Of course there was that little bit about having your body dissolve for all times, but that’s not really a big thing,” rambled the kid, unaware of the fury building in Darius.
He wanted to take Rylan by the shoulders and give him a good shake or pummeling right hook. In fact, decking him was starting to sound really good, as he absorbed what Rylan was saying.
“...so anyway, Hera said she was going to castrate you and...”
“What!” bellowed Darius, his eyes wide in disbelief. “The goddess actually said that to Zeus. She said she was going to...?”Darius couldn’t bring himself to say the word. It was an abomination. His whole body was rigid with shock.
“You know that was the tame part of what she was saying to my Uncle, who I have to tell you was laughing so hard he almost fell over,” answered Rylan, crossing his arms over his chest to mimic Darius.
Zeus falling over. That I’d love to see. Darius swam nervously back in forth in one spot. He needed to get to the High Court of Cabiri, get back to Kassandra, and then he’d find a way to torture Rylan for doing this to him. First thing first, getting to the court.
“So what’s with that woman you were with?”
That stopped Darius cold. “What do you mean?”
“Why did you leave her swimming in the Atlantic? On my way here I saw her latching onto Rajheb,” said Rylan walking ahead of Darius down the long corridor.
No longer in Titan form, Rylan looked like a typical human teenager. Clad in ripped jeans, he wore a simple white shirt and sneakers and a gold necklace. Once again Darius was reminded this wasn’t just any kid he’d gotten saddled with. It was Zeus’ half-nephew, and half of him was a bloody god! The kid could move at will through all the realms, including his undersea kingdom. That knowledge infuriated him.
Taking stock of what Rylan had said, Darius did a double-take. What! His heart clenched in fear. There was no way in Hades’ Kassandra would latch herself onto Rajheb. More likely the rake was trying to latch onto her, wanting to sample a human female for a change.
Every cell in his body went into overdrive. He had to force himself not to turn and swim for all he was worth back to her location. As much as it killed him, he did have a mission to fulfill. Get to the court, talk to them and try to find a way to stop the plague from killing his mardom. But, he vowed silently to himself, if Rajheb touched one hair on Kassandra’s head, he’d kill the Titan with his bare hands.
Ten minutes later task one was accomplished. He’d meet with the thirteen Cabiri members, and now he knew what he had to do. Only find a missing relic called the V’talat, which could be anywhere within the seven seas, would stop the plague.
That’s just great. Nothing could be easier. Just find an old forgotten relic, which none of them could even describe and—guess what, Darius—you’ve got all the time you need - two days! That’s it. Two blasted days! Or that plague that’s killing all your mardom in the north seas will in all likelihood start to consume all the seas.
That had been it. No advice. No wishes for good luck. Simple instructions that could have been delivered by one of their pitiable servants.
Darius saw red. It was an impossible task, and he’d try to tell them so. His words hadn’t mattered. There was no argument, no debate. Just simple instructions and then all thirteen divine beings had vanished back to wherever they came from.
“So what did they say?” asked Rylan for the umpteenth time.
Darius couldn’t speak. He growled a low warning to Rylan, hoping the kid would get the hint: Shut up.
He swam to the entrance – the Main entrance this time – avoiding Miradith’s Great Hall – as the entity shifted in another one of her attempts to block his exit. As the opening loomed in his sight, he gasped. Blinding pain sliced through every cell in his body. His chest constricted as his body started to rapture back into human form.
“No!” he shouted, fighting the rapture that was taking over his body. There was no way in Hades he’d survive in human form this far down under the sea. The pressure would kill him, let alone the water, in which he’d drown as a human. Now if the Fates didn’t think that was ironic they sadly lacked a sense of humor.
“Get your paws off me,” said Kassandra, gritting her teeth, as she tried to calm her breathing.
“Why? What are you going to do about it?” asked the man, pulling her tighter to his chest.
“This,” answered Kassandra, head-butting him for all she was worth. He was so stunned by her move that he let her go, giving her the time she needed to grab the rope to pull her body up out of the water and onto the boat. Her head hurt more than she would have thought possible and her ears rang. Great, if that creep gives me hearing loss he’s going to pay big time. She moved to start the boat, only to realize the key wasn’t in the ignition.
“Going somewhere are we?” taunted the man, hanging onto the rope that, in her stupidity, she’d forgotten to haul back into the boat. “I don’t think so,” he said, rattling the boat keys like they were a toy while his lower body remained submerged in the water.
Not good. This is not a good situation. Quickly Kassandra took in her options. None.
No, that couldn’t be right. Her father said there were always options; it was a matter of how far one would go to make them or find them.
Sighing in frustration she asked, “What do you want?”
“You,” came the man’s husky reply as he made his way up onto the boat’s rail.
“Oh, I don’t think so, Rajheb,” said Darius, giving the rope a good yank causing the man to drop back into the water.
Kassandra stilled herself from doing the happy dance. About time Mr. He-man returned. Smiling, she felt instant relief knowing her Greek warrior was back. Then she frowned. I’m still pissed at you, and I can’t believe you left me in that water, alone, for so long. She had to hug herself to keep from jumping into his arms.
As if he could read her mind, he whispered, “I’m sorry,” as he leaned further over the boat to speak to the man.
It had been a long time since Kassandra had heard Greek spoken, and even longer since she heard ancient Greek spoken. It was obviously his native tongue, she realized, loving the cantor and roll of his accent that reminded her very much of her father’s. She almost laughed. What language did she expect a Greek warrior to speak? She bit her lip to stop herself from gawking at him.
Naked, he was one fine specimen of a man, as her friend Melissa would joke, while her other friend, Sarah, would chime in with some retort about, “size has nothing to do with it.”
Deep down, Kassandra was starting to doubt that. Size seemed to have a lot to do with Darius. The guy was unusually tall, broad in the shoulders, with a six-packed chest that lead to the most marvelous butt she’d ever seen, and his...she couldn’t even say the word as the picture of his erect state still burned brightly in her mind. Quickly, Kassandra looked the other way, her face heating from her own wicked thoughts.
Even though she had turned in the opposite direction she could make out every word Darius was saying. After all, it wasn’t like he was trying to be quiet. He was shouting and growling all at once to the man in the water. And, while it might have been a long time since she heard ancient Greek, her heart speed up when she realized what he was saying.
“...you take one more look at my woman, and you won’t live to see another high tide. Do I make myself, clear.” It wasn’t said as a question. It was a statement. No, a command.
Kassandra couldn’t hear what the man said, but she didn’t care. Her heart was fluttering in excitement. His woman. Did he say what I thought he said? And, why does that make me happy? I don’t even know this guy. He just popped into my life, and ever since then my normal life has evaporated. Why that sounded hollow even to herself gave her pause.
Then she heard one loud splash.
Hopefully, creep-o is gone, and gone for good.
Darius gathered her into his arms. She realized she should have fought him, but his body felt so damn good. His body heat was like a furnace in overdrive.
“Kassandra, I’m sorry. I had no idea it would take me that long. The good news is that we are done and we can be on our merry way. And trust, me that guy won’t bother you ever again,” he said, tilting her head up to look at him.
Kassandra stilled. I am not a weak woman and I certainly don’t need a He-man to look after me. Then why do I feel so good? Why am I so pleased he got rid of that creep? “Where did he go?”
“Don’t worry about him. Kassandra...I,” Darius angled her head, providing her with an out if she wanted it.
Instead she closed her eyes, eager for the feel of his lips on hers. Part of her knew she should shove him away. After all, she was still mad at him. Instead, she gulped as tears from who-knew-where threatened to spill from her eyes. Damn, damn, damn. I am not about to cry because my prince in shining armor just rescued me. She gulped, hoping he’d take command of things. Thankfully he did.
The rough, crushing feel of his lips on hers awoke the simmering passion within her. He cupped her bottom closer to his, wedging her body tight into his muscular thighs. One of his hands grabbed her hair, bunching it tight as he applied more pressure to the kiss, forcing her mouth to open wider.
His tongue dueled with hers as she fought to regain the upper hand. It wasn’t going to happen. She realized that the moment he released her hair and grasped both of her butt cheeks to haul her up to his waist. The rock hard feel of his throbbing erection tantalized her. Since he was as naked as a jay bird, and with her only wearing a thong and the diving flippers on her feet, she knew they looked ridiculous, even as she moved her legs to circle his waist.
When he finally did release her lips, he whispered into her ear, “Ahh, sweetlips, that will never happen again. I would never let anyone harm a hair on your head. It’s okay.”
Okay, she thought. It most certainly was not! Realizing as the cool ocean breeze buffeted her skin what was going on, she immediately chastised herself. “Darius, I…”
That was all she could say before his lips claimed hers again, gently this time. If it had been another rough, forced kiss, she would have fought back. Instead, he tilted her head, and ever so lightly, his lips grazed hers. Then his tongue licked her lips in what had to be the most erotic sensation she’d ever experienced.
She knew in his own way he was asking permission. And she complied. Opening her mouth she suckled his tongue, bringing him in. His arms were still holding her body tight to his. But this time, her nipples were standing at attention, begging for him to move his lips lower for a taste. She felt every ridge of his planed muscles, including his impressive member that throbbed against the vee of her secret garden. A garden that was hoping to get weeded any day now.
His hands roamed in small circles over her bottom. For once she wished she was as nude as him, even though she only wore her thong.
“Hey, where did Rajheb go?” asked a scratchy voice, in ancient Greek, to her left.
Thankful that Darius had turned her so that her back was to the strange voice, she had to tilt her head up over his shoulder to find the source of it. Who is that? And where did he come from? Kassandra eyed the strange-looking teenager.
“Wow!” said the teenager, as he stood on the tips of his feet to get a better look at her.
“Turn around, Rylan. Now!” commanded Darius.
“Okay, okay. Look, it’s not like I haven’t seen a woman before, geesh,” replied the voice, in one of the sulkiest tones she’d ever heard.
“I’m only going to tell you once. Look at my woman again, and I’ll tear out your eyes,” said Darius, again speaking in ancient Greek.
This is too much, really. “That’s enough,” she whispered the words in ancient Greek into Darius’ back.
His entire body went rigid. The look of pure disbelief on his face made her smile.
“You speak ancient Greek?” asked Darius, giving her a penetrating stare.
“Yup.”
“Since when?” A frown creased his forehead.
Eyeing the teenager over his broad shoulder, she replied tartly, “Ever.”
“Not many hu...not many people know how to speak ancient Greek anymore. Who taught you?”
“My father.” Boy, these one word answers are a real treat. Kassandra enjoyed finally being able to give back to him his one-syllable responses to her. She relished toying with him.
“I’m Rylan, by the way, your one and only Greek...”
“Teenager,” Darius cut in, glaring at the gawking teenager.
“Nice to meet you, Rylan. So where did you come from? Oh, let me guess, you just popped here, didn’t you?” Sarcasm laced her question, but the kid seemed not to get it.
“It’s complicated,” replied Darius. “We need to get back to Saad’s and then be on our way. Rylan, go below while Kassandra gets dressed,” commanded Darius, in a tone that invited no argument.
“Below? I think I’ll just...”
“You will do what I say and go below,” growled Darius.
Kassandra knew he wanted to physically usher the teenager down below deck, but that would mean releasing her. For once she was grateful h
is large body was covering hers, protecting her from Rylan’s prying eyes.
The minute the kid was below, she broke free from Darius’ grip. Letting him hold her almost naked body was too much for her frustrated hormones. As it was, they were screaming at her in complete disbelief.
“So why do you speak ancient Greek?” she asked, taking another step away from him.
“Why do you?” he replied, turning his glower on her.
“Because I can,” she replied, tartly, wondering how long this tête-à-tête was going to last.
“Same here.” He walked away from her to pick up the keys creepo had dropped onto the deck and to start the yacht’s engine. Talk about a nice view, she thought, wishing her hormones would shut up for once.
“Come here.” He crooked a finger at her while at the helm.
Oh no, thought Kassandra, shaking her head. She knew if she did that, they’d be back to where they had been, not once but twice...with her getting all hot and bothered for nothing.
Mustering as much courage as she could, she grabbed her tank top, yanked it over her head and shimmied into her shorts. Covered, she tried hard to ignore Darius as she turned to the stern of the boat, hoping the ocean spray would cool her irrational feelings.
Chapter Ten
Saad leaned back in the large indoor salt pool he had built into his bedroom. In Titan form he enjoyed the cool feel of sea water running over his body. He wanted more than anything to feel the full power of the sea fill his essence, but that would have to wait. He’d promised his father, Retan, he would find the sacred text and hand it over to him. The only problem was that Darius either had the book in his hands or he’d hidden it using some type of Titan spell to make it invisible to his eyes.
Lazily, Fiona sauntered in dressed au naturelle. In human form she was beautiful. In siren form she was breathtaking.
“Shall I?” She dipped one of her dainty feet into the pool. Even though it had been a full day without partaking of her pleasure, Saad was not in the mood.
That probably had everything to do with Dr. Lancaster who had dropped in unannounced today. It had been Trevor Lancaster’s famous idea to reprogram the sharks into more controllable, lethal weapons that could be controlled by humans. As if, Saad thought, for the hundredth time.