by J. N. Colon
“On what?” I had a bad feeling I knew the answer.
“Liquor.”
I scratched my head and looked away, hoping to mask my worry. If I pretended it was no big deal maybe she wouldn’t hound me for the truth. I wasn’t even certain of the truth. “Well, that’s weird.”
“Yep.” A note of suspicion colored her voice. “That’s not supposed to happen Hayden. Do you know why it happened?”
I buried my face in my pillow and shrugged. “It hurts too much to think right now Hartley.” It wasn’t a lie.
She sighed again and I expected her to continue questioning me. Instead her hand rested on my back and began rubbing gentle circles. “I’m supposed to help Callie clean her house, but I can stay if you want.”
Damn that was so tempting especially with her giving me a massage. But I needed to figure out what was happening and I couldn’t do that with Hartley watching me. “No. I’ll be fine. You should help Callie.”
“Sure?”
I nodded into my pillow. “I’ll get up and take you in just a minute.”
“That’s okay.” She leaned forward and pressed her lips to my shoulder. “Reese is supposed to meet me across the river.”
I flashed her a scowl. “Reese? You called him?”
Hartley dropped another kiss on my shoulder. “I didn’t want to make you get up. And he promised Callie he’d help clean too.”
“I bet he did,” I grumbled.
She sucked her teeth. “Hayden, you were fine with Reese following me around the other day when you wanted to avoid me.”
Actually I wasn’t. “I don’t trust him.”
“You don’t trust anyone.”
“I trust you.”
Another kiss landed on my shoulder. “Then trust me to keep Reese in check.” Another kiss.
I swear she was doing it on purpose to lull me into compliance. It was working—and also turning my blood hot for her.
“Hartley, baby, if you keep doing that I’m not going to let you leave. I’ll drag you into the shower with me.”
A giggle tumbled out her mouth before she kissed me again. “Promise?”
“Hartley,” I growled, warning her.
“Okay, okay.” She pulled my head up and kissed my lips. “I’m going.” I watched her slide off the bed. “I’ll see you in a little bit.” She trailed out the room, closing the stone double doors behind her.
I already missed her.
After a shower I shuffled into my enormous kitchen in search of food. Slabs of black and silver quarts sat atop dark almost black stained oak cabinetry. State of the art stainless steel appliances gleamed in the recessed overhead lighting. Polished black marble with silver and pewter veins ran the length of the floor and up the walls into the cavernous ceiling.
I do like my black.
Dark glasses covered my eyes to keep the light—as dim as it was—out. Souls and demigods living or working in my palace passed me on the way, shooting curious glances. I hoped I didn’t do something embarrassing in front of them last night.
I opened the massive stainless steel refrigerator, sticking my head in to soak up the cold as I searched for something to eat.
Eggs, ugh no. Scrambled eggs brought images of brains to mind and fried or sunny side up were just disgusting.
Steak. Blah. I couldn’t eat that now.
Burger. No.
My eyes flitted over to a jar of homemade syrup. Mmm. French toast or pancakes would be good. But did I really feel like going through all that work for food?
Hell no.
Footsteps echoed on the stone floor behind me. I grumbled unwilling to deal with anyone while my head was pounding and stomach rolling. I peeked up from the refrigerator to see Isaak and Hermes strolling in.
“Hey boss man.” Hermes jumped up on a counter, swinging his feet as his gold sandals shimmered into black Chuck Taylors.
Isaak leaned against a wall as far from me as possible, his demeanor wary after our little run in at the door to Elysium.
“Hey,” I mumbled and stuck my head back into the coolness.
“Why are you wearing sunglasses?” Hermes asked, pulling a bag of Cheetos from the cabinet.
I sighed and shut the refrigerator door, leaning against. “Headache.” I rubbed my temples with my fingertips.
Isaak’s brow arched, his amber eyes scrutinizing me. “Um… don’t take this the wrong way or anything man, but you look like shit.”
Hermes snorted on a laugh, blowing a puff of orange powder out his mouth.
“I feel like shit.” I wasn’t even in the mood to feign anger.
“Are you hung over?” Isaak slowly edged closer. “Because that’s what it looks like.”
“Yeah, I guess.”
“Lotus flowers or some of Dionysus’s wine?”
“Something like that.” Dionysus added all sorts of ingredients to his wine to make it potent for gods like lotus flowers and ambrosia. We actually could get hammered on that crap. Just take one look at the god of wine himself. Wino to the fullest.
Hermes hopped off the counter, licking orange dust off his fingers and started rifling through one of the drawers.
“What the hell are you doing?” I asked, wincing at all the noise he was producing.
“You need food,” he answered with his back toward me. “I’m going to order pizza. It’s the best hang over food ever.”
“Uh, Hermes, are you drunk right now? I don’t think we get pizza deliveries in the Underworld.”
He shot an annoyed expression over his shoulder. “No shit king of darkness. I’m going to pick it up.” He finally yanked out a menu then grabbed his phone. “You’re good with pepperoni and bacon?”
I nodded.
“What about anchovies?”
Isaak and I both grimaced.
“Okay. Fine. I’ll be back.” He walked away with his phone to his ear while his shoes shimmered back to gold sandals.
Isaak cleared his throat awkwardly and jammed his hands in his jean pockets. “So… Are we… uh cool?”
I shrugged. “Sure I guess.”
Skepticism played across his face. “I really am sorry about trying to sneak into Elysium. I was kind of drunk.”
I waved a hand in the air, too tired to be angry. “Just don’t do it again.”
“Are you sure you’re okay Hades? Because in the past if you caught me doing something so forbidden I’d be running from your fireballs or forced to sit outside Tartarus and listen to the souls scream. Some form of torture.”
I removed my glasses and rubbed my face as if I could rub away the pain behind my eyes. “Isaak, if I were you I’d be thankful I decided to forgo any punishment instead of wondering why.”
He walked over and pulled out two bottles of water from the fridge, handing me one. “Sure okay.”
I needed to find the reason behind these hiccups in my godly power, especially when Hartley’s life depended on it. I was responsible for her chain to the Underworld and I couldn’t afford to be weak. If anything happened to her because I was incapable of getting her here I would never forgive myself. Something was definitely wrong with me and it was getting worse.
No. I could not afford to be weak.
Hermes returned thirty minutes later with two large pizza’s we devoured and I was feeling much better, well enough to begin my search for information. I decided Si was a good place to start. Maybe the Oracle knew something.
I nodded at the tribunal as I marched down the path toward the stone shore of the Acheron River, the tall pillars along the sides dancing with crimson fire. I hoped they didn’t witness any drunk stupidity from me last night. The last thing I needed was to be thought of as a weak, drunken lout by my employees.
I hated not remembering shit. It reminded me of Hecate’s spell that made me forget Hartley. Those memories always left a foul taste in my mouth.
And that was another thing I wanted to remedy. My brother needed to back the hell off my girlfriend. He should be worried a
bout Ixion raining on his kingly parade instead of schmoozing Hartley.
My feet hit the top of the foggy water, each step kicking up a droplets as I walked across the river with ease. Charon was rowing a boat with a few souls dressed in white toward the shore. He nodded his cloak covered head as I neared.
“Charon.” My gaze passed over the souls and they sank down in the boat with fear in the eyes.
A pang resonated in my chest and I sighed, turning away before they had heart attacks and died again. Cold wetness suddenly seeped up my ankles and I glanced down to see both my feet submerged in water.
My brow furrowed in confusion. Uh. That shouldn’t be happening. I was god of the Underworld. I could walk on the water. My legs sank another two inches as I watched, reaching my caves.
What the…?
My entire body unexpectedly plunged into the river, cold, murky darkness encasing me. Bubbles cascaded out my mouth as I swam for the surface, fighting violently against the heavy current capable of drowning the strongest soul.
When I reached close enough a boney hand gripped my shirt and yanked me up. I sputtered and gasped for air as Charon dragged me into the boat, the souls scurrying to the other side to give me room. Their earlier fear was now mixed with confusion.
“Hades, sir, what happened?” Charon asked, his deep, rumbling voice laced with concern.
I brushed my wet hair from my face, surveying my sopping wet appearance. “I have no fucking idea.”
Chapter 13
Hartley
“Hayden was pretty wasted last night,” Laurie said, grabbing another red plastic cup from the counter and tossing it into the trash bag she was holding.
As I suspected Callie’s house was trashed. We’d already been at it for hours and I could see several more in our future. Cups and bottles littered the downstairs. The furniture was moved around and a few stains blotted the beige carpet in the living room. Decks of cards were flung about and a handful of poker chips were submerged in the fish tank. Luckily the chaos from the party was relegated to the downstairs, leaving the bedrooms clean. Well mostly.
Laurie halted, her dark brows knitting together. “Actually, I’ve never even seen Hayden drunk.”
Leslie smiled. “It was kind of funny.”
“Yeah.” Kathryn nodded, shaking her sleek, shoulder length black hair.
I was glad they found my boyfriend’s odd behavior so entertaining because I didn’t. But I smiled anyways, hoping it wasn’t as strained as it felt.
“Awe Hartley.” Callie dropped her bag and tossed her tiny arm over my shoulders. “Don’t be embarrassed. Jake’s done much worse.”
“So has Will,” Laurie offered.
I guess I should have known Callie could detect my fake smile. She was getting entirely too good at it.
“And that stuff he was rambling wasn’t bad.” Kathryn blew her hair out her face and continued scrubbing the dishes. “It was a little weird, but sweet.”
Leslie stopped wiping the counters and sighed. “He wants you to be his queen.” Her voice had gone high pitched and super girly. “How cool is that?”
A laugh slipped out my mouth. “You guys, I’m not embarrassed by Hayden. I’m just worried about him.” The accidental truth slipped too easily from my lips.
Leslie gasped, dropping the rag with a wet flop and knocking over the bottle of cleaner. “Is he drinking too much? I remember when Todd—you guys remember him—used to down a whole bottle of peppermint schnapps and he thought because of the mint no one could tell…”
“No Leslie,” Callie hissed. “Hayden isn’t an alcoholic.” Her jittery blue eyes shifted toward me for confirmation.
“No. That’s not it.” I couldn’t tell them I was worried because Hayden’s powers were misfiring. “He’s…” I stalled, searching for an answer I knew didn’t exist.
Luckily Reese chose that moment to saunter around the corner, holding pieces to Mrs. LeGrand’s favorite antique vase. “Is this important?”
“OMG,” Callie squealed, a look of pure panic breaking across her face. Her arm slipped away from me and she scurried toward Reese. “My mom’s going to kill me!”
Reese’s dark eyes surveyed Callie, his lips pursed in thought. “I can fix it.”
My brow arched skeptically. “No you can’t.” I highly doubted the god of war had a hidden power of reassembling priceless pottery. It was more likely he would blow it up.
He almost looked offended before giving up with a sigh. “I know a guy who can fix it.”
“Can he fix it by tomorrow?” Callie asked, biting her lip anxiously.
Reese nodded. “Sure thing.”
Callie clasped her hands together, jumping on the balls of her feet. “If you do this for me Reese I will owe a big kiss.”
A crooked grin stretched across his face. “I’ll hold you to that.”
“Hey, what’s this about my girlfriend giving away kisses?” Jake strolled into the kitchen, shaking his brassy hair out his face. His Duke Basketball shirt was wrinkled and dirty.
Laurie smirked and tied up her trash bag. “You better watch out Jake. Reese will be her new hero if he can get some guy to fix that vase by tomorrow.” She pushed the bag into his hands. “Take that out.”
He made a grimace. “What am I? Just the trash man?”
Callie danced toward him and stretched on her toes to kiss his cheek. Of course he still had to bend down to meet her. “Awe, poo bear. You’re not only the trash man. You’re just the trash man right now.” She giggled and slapped his butt. “Now get to the dumpster.”
He groaned and grabbed another couple of bags that were by the back door. Will trudged in looking eager, but Jake pointed to the remaining bags. “Don’t even bother asking bro. Just grab the bags. We’re on trash duty until told otherwise.”
Will shrugged nonplussed about his job and picked up several bundles. He flashed Laurie a grin before turning around to head back outside.
I was so glad Will found someone that could make him happy. I hated seeing him so depressed after our breakup. And then again when I ended things with him in that alternate world where I dated Zeke.
My eyes narrowed simply thinking about the king of gods. I was still so mad at him I could punch him. Of course I’d probably break my hand…
I was imagining the things I could do to him—like dumping purple dye on him or coating him with honey then feathers—when a cough bubbled up my throat. I rubbed my chest, but it only happened again, followed by a familiar pressure that was the Underworld yanking on my chain.
Damn. Not now.
Reese was already scrutinizing me, sensing something was off. He quirked his head to the side, silently asking if it was the Underworld. I nodded.
“Uh… I should really go find my guy now.” Reese found a plastic bag and gingerly dropped the pieces into it. “And Hartley should come with me.”
I nodded to save my breath. My chest was tightening with every passing second.
“What?” Callie spun around to face me. “Why? You’re supposed to help me and then we were going to do a girl’s thing.”
Guilt weighted heavily over me. “I’m sorry Callie. There’s this thing I forgot about.” I looked around for my purse, but Reese already had it. “I’ll be back later.” He grabbed my arm and started towing me toward the door, realizing the pull was getting progressively stronger.
Callie’s quick footsteps followed as she rushed to open the door. “You seem to be running off a lot lately Hartley. Are you sure you’re okay?”
I nodded, feeling sweat beading my forehead. I needed to get out now.
Suspicion glimmered in her blue eyes. “So I’ll see you later?”
“You bet,” Reese answered for me before dragging me out the door. “I’ll have this for you tomorrow Cal.”
“Thanks Reese.”
“Any time.”
A case of déjà vu slammed into me the moment I walked into Hayden’s throne room. Crimson fire blazed in the hearth and ou
tside the windows, reflecting in the polished black marble floors. An array of jewels embedded in the walls spilled rainbows of color across the darkness, lighting thick shadows in the corners. Silver gossamer curtains obscuring the balcony fluttered in the breeze from the fire surrounding the palace. Hayden’s throne of silver and onyx sat high in the center of the cavernous room, impressive and as magnificent as every single detail and object sharing its space.
But it was the man himself that demanded attention. Everything grand paled in comparison to the tall, imposing figure in the center of the room dressed in shades of black and gray. Pitch hair stirred around his face, dancing in a pair of deep crimson eyes and fire trailed down his shoulders. A flame swayed threateningly in his palm, casting contrasting light and shadow across his face.
It was an ominous scene to witness even for me.
Hostility rolled off him in waves, directed at the trembling figure beneath him. He was torturing another soul.
A mixture of anger and confusion coiled through my chest, leaking heat into my bloodstream. “What the hell are you doing?” I stomped toward him, my eyes scrutinizing the soul who was clearly not bound for Tartarus. He appeared to be in his mid-twenties, shaggy dark blonde hair surrounding a pointed chin and hazel, currently wide with fear, eyes. He wore linen pants and a white shirt, possibly a soul from Asphodel Meadows.
Surprise flashed over Hayden’s face at my unexpected early arrival before he quickly washed it away, his features darkening again. “I’m punishing this soul.”
“For what?”
“He tried to sneak into the palace.”
The soul’s body was still free of any bruises or whelps, meaning no physical torture had begun. Although the trembling in his muscles and terror in his eyes told me the mental distress had already occurred.
My gaze narrowed on Hayden, attempting to decipher his sudden cruelty until he bristled under my scrutiny. “Souls sneak into the palace all the time. Why do you care about him?”
Hayden shrugged noncommittally. “I wanted to make an example out of him.”
My lips thinned. “You can’t just torture souls Hayden.”