by Helen Scott
Pressing her hand against his arm, he wrapped the filaments of the universe around them and moved to the location of her mother’s house. Cin had called ahead and provided him with an image of the location so he could just teleport them directly inside the house.
They landed in the hallway looking into the living room. A woman he assumed was Julie was sitting on the couch and popped up at their entrance. Her hair was short and dark, the wavy locks pinned artistically away from her face. She barely looked older than Aster.
“Mom!” Aster’s squeal of excitement startled Dem as she detached from his arm and ran to give her mother a hug.
It was not the reaction he expected of someone who just found out they were adopted, and judging from her raised eyebrows and overall stunned look, it hadn’t been what Julie expected, either.
“Hi, Sunshine!” she said softly, and after getting over the shock, she squeezed her daughter in a tight hug.
Dem could see how they would pass for being related. They were both petite with wide doe eyes, except where Aster was light, Julie was dark.
“Come in, siren. Please, have a seat. I will go and get some refreshments.”
“Thank you, my lady.” Dem bowed, showing the traditional respect a goddess deserved.
“Enough of that. I am just Julie. I have been for a long time. Juventas never left Mount Olympus.”
“My lady, if that is your wish, then I shall call you Julie from now on.” He inclined his head, unable to rein in the habits that had been drilled into him as a child.
“Be right back,” she said, smiling and shaking her head.
After they had been alone for a moment, Aster whispered, “Mom doesn’t like displaying emotion in front of people she doesn’t know. Sorry about that.”
“I didn’t notice anything.” He wasn’t sure why Aster felt she needed to apologize for her adoptive mother, but before she could explain, Julie came back in carrying a tray laden with snacks and a glass of what appeared to be lemonade for each of them.
“Thank you,” he said, taking the glass she offered him.
“My pleasure.” As she sat, she straightened the cream lace dress she was wearing and sipped her drink, setting it carefully on the nearest coaster when she was done. “Now, what’s going on?”
“Well,” Aster began, but paused to take a deep breath, seeming to steady herself for what was to come. “I need to know who my birth parents were or are.”
Julie froze, becoming as still as a statue. “Cin told you, then?” she asked, her mouth the only thing that moved.
A pulse of anger radiated off the goddess sitting opposite him.
“She did, but only because she felt as though she had to.” Aster seemed to implore her mother.
“Why did she have to?”
Suddenly, Dem understood the dynamic of the family much too clearly. Cin was the eldest but least-favored child, possibly because she had been such a mystery. He had been in a similar situation as he grew up.
No one realized what his talent with water was for years, so he was treated as less than his brothers, who all had much better control over their gifts. It was Thad who finally put it together, explaining to their parents that the freak storms that occurred were part of Dem’s powers. It was something that was hard to see effecting two women he’d come to care about, one who was like a sister and the other who was about as far from a sister as he could get.
“Because of this.” Aster’s voice was quiet as she lifted the hair that had been covering her flawed eye.
Julie gasped. The shock of her daughter’s reveal had her raising her hand to her mouth. “What happened?”
“I’ve been having these strange visions and getting lost in my own memories. The first time it happened, I lost my sight in this eye. The second time, the webby-looking stuff appeared, and I really don’t want to find out what happens a third time, so I need you to help me.”
“Okay, okay, I can do that. I just . . . I need a moment.”
She got up and left the room again.
“You’d think having been cupbearer to Zeus, she wouldn’t have the capacity to be shocked anymore.”
“She was what?” Aster’s head whipped toward him.
“On Mount Olympus, she was the cupbearer to Zeus—well, all the gods, actually—and then married Heracles.”
“She was married to Hercules?” Aster looked astounded.
Dem nodded.
“I would appreciate it if you did not discuss my past life with my daughter, siren,” Julie said as she reentered the room, her sharp eyes reprimanding him.
“I apologize, my lady.”
“You are forgiven. Now, I have something for you, Aster. Come and sit with me.” She sat on the couch and patted the cushion next to her while holding a wooden box that had seen better days. The white paint that covered it was peeling and had been for some time. Now, the pale color of the wood itself was visible.
Aster plopped on the couch next to Julie, her eyes wide with wonder. A part of Dem, the part he constantly fought against, wanted to put that look on her face one day. Shaking the thought out of his head, he watched as the lid of the box opened, preventing him from seeing what was inside. Reaching in, the goddess pulled out a blanket and handed it to Aster.
The hand-crafted fabric almost glowed in the light, its cream color still bright. She began to unfold it but paused when she realized that something was embroidered on at least two of the corners. Dem couldn’t make out what the symbols were from where he sat, but if she wanted to share the information with him, she would. Laying the soft wool across her knees, he could see some kind of animal and a flower on one corner.
“A rabbit?” Aster’s fingers traveled lightly over the stitching, as though she was petting the animal itself.
“A hare,” Julie gently corrected, “sitting next to some crocuses.”
He could see the purple, white, and dark gold threads that made up the flowers, surrounded by greens for the grass and the brown of the hare’s coat. The symbols had to mean something; he just wasn’t sure what yet.
“What’s this?” Aster asked, pointing to a U-shape he hadn’t noticed before.
“I am not sure. However, in regards to the hare and the crocuses, those are traditional symbols of Hermes. Now, I don’t think he’s your father, but I do suspect some kind of relation to him. You should speak with his children, see if any of them can offer you clues as to the meaning of the other symbols.”
“Speak to children of a god?”
Julie raised an eyebrow as she regarded the woman she’d raised into adulthood. “You’re speaking to a goddess right now, unless you’ve already forgotten?”
“Sorry, it just seems surreal.”
“Understandable, but you have a right to know your heritage. You’re just going to have to do some digging to find out what is there. I wish I could help you more, kiddo, but this blanket is all I have. It’s what you were wrapped in when I came for you.”
“Where did you find me?” Aster asked as she played with the edge of the blanket.
“A meeting place I have set up. I have an alert for when anyone goes there. It’s a small property I own. When I get the alert, I go there and meet with whoever is dropping the child off. Usually it’s a third party. You were dropped off by someone I suspect was your biological mother. She hid her face from me and didn’t talk, but I caught a glimpse of blonde hair, like yours.”
Aster’s face was stone still. Dem couldn’t tell if this was upsetting her or not. Part of him wanted to wrap his arms around her and comfort her; the other part wanted to run out of the room and never look back. He was getting too close. The idea of feeling things for Aster made him uncomfortable. He had to stay detached. It was safer for everyone that way.
“Don’t think ill of your mother. There are many reasons she may not have been able to keep you. I can tell you she was upset. Her breathing was labored as though she was trying not to cry.” Julie placed her hand over Aster’s. “I have
always believed that she wanted you, and whatever made her give you up was out of her control.”
“She still did, though.”
“Aster. You are smarter than that. Do not pretend otherwise.” Julie’s words were sharp to Dem’s ears, making his protective side flare to life.
“I am, but that doesn’t mean I have to understand everything immediately,” Aster said, standing up for herself.
Dem had known from the beginning that she was one of the strongest people he’d ever met, and was relieved to see that the strength extended to her family as well. Aster gathered up the blanket and came to sit next to him, her thigh a warm caress through his jeans.
“What to see?” Her eyes flicked up to his and away again before she could see him nod.
She was . . . bashful.
It was something he honestly hadn’t expected to see on her. He knew how brutally honest she could be and never expected something to make her shy. “Yes, very much so.”
She unfurled the cream cloth against the two of them. A baby would be swallowed whole by a blanket this size, but he guessed her biological mother wanted something that would not only protect her but become a keepsake of a kind.
His hands ran over the embroidered hare and flowers on the one corner, his thick, over-sized fingers being as gentle as they could. As Aster spread the blanket out further, he could see a music box on the opposing corner. The box was open, and in the middle was a babe wrapped in a blanket that looked similar to her own.
“This is beautiful.” He awkwardly patted her shoulder, the heat of her scorching his hand.
She turned and smiled up at him, and his soul felt brighter, freer than it had a moment ago. The blanket was moving on his lap, but he couldn’t take his eyes off her. It was only when she reached across him that he was able to pull his gaze away.
The other two corners were embroidered with an elephant and a U-shape he had seen earlier when Aster first began to unfold the material. The shape was made up of two tan, almost bone-like color pieces with ridges going all the way up it, each one narrowing to a point as it reached the top of the arch.
Something about the shape was familiar, but he couldn’t put his finger on it.
“So, how do we talk to Hermes’ children?” Aster’s voice sounded, pulling Dem out of his attempts to figure out what the shape was.
He looked over at Julie, interested to hear her answer.
“Someone will have to take you to Mount Olympus, or you can try summoning each of them and hope they respond.”
He glared at Julie. There was no way he was getting roped into this. Olympus was strictly on his no-fly list.
“The Mount Olympus? Like where your family lives?” That awestruck expression was back on Aster’s face.
An emotion stirred in him, one he hadn’t expected to feel again. Jealousy coursed through his veins, turning his blood to acid. Sure, he’d been jealous of his brothers finding their soulmates and, unlike him, being able to keep them, but that had been so general, he hadn’t thought much of it. This? This was something else.
This was specific toward Aster.
He wanted to be the only one who made her eyes go wide with wonder, who made her want to dance, or laugh until she couldn’t breathe, but he would never be able to do any of those things. If he did, then he would be betraying everything that he and Isa had been, everything she had suffered for him. That was something he could never do.
Once they were back on the island, she would have to persuade one of his brothers to take her to Mount Olympus, as he couldn’t go back there. Plus, that would get her away from him and they would have the break from each other that he needed.
“Yes, the Mount Olympus. Your siren here should be able to take you without too much trouble.”
“Really?” She looked at Dem like a kid opening a birthday present, all hope and excitement.
“We can talk about that when we’re back on the island.” His voice sounded petulant to his own ears, but there was nothing he could do about it now.
“Okay . . .” Aster looked at him quizzically, but he maintained his silence.
Eventually, she huffed in exasperation and stood. “I guess we should go, then. Can I take the blanket with me?”
“Of course. It’s your blanket, but take the box, too, so nothing damages it.” Julie smiled as she held out the box, and he could practically feel the relief flowing off her.
Her daughter hadn’t rejected her after discovering she was adopted. Dem couldn’t imagine being in that kind of situation, and from what he understood, Julie had done this over and over again throughout the centuries. One thing he knew was that he would be relieved if he was faced with the same thing.
A painful memory broke free from his subconscious, and all of a sudden, he was back with Isa. They had just finished making love. Her skin glistened with perspiration in the glow of the evening light as she played with his fingers, sliding her own back and forth through his.
Her mostly green eyes that glowed with happiness turned shy as she broached the subject of kids. Her soft hands landed on his chest as she explained how she’d always wanted to be a mom. So they started talking about having kids.
Dem had never imagined that he would be a father, but when she mentioned it, it seemed right—not only right but perfect. She was meant to be his, meant to be the mother of his children. They had both decided that they wanted to try. Their love being embodied by their future child was a sweetness that was almost overwhelming. He knew their children would have been amazingly beautiful, but it was less than a week later that Zeus began meddling.
“Ready when you are.” Aster’s voice pierced his memory in such a way that he almost recoiled.
“Ready. It was an honor to meet you,” he said, bowing in Julie’s direction.
“Take care of my Sunshine.” The goddess nodded at him.
“Of course,” he said, before placing his hand on Aster’s back and jumping them out.
They arrived in his living room a moment later, the box still clutched to her chest.
Aster immediately turned on him. “So what was that about?” She paused and scowled. When she spoke again, her voice was an octave lower and sounded angry. “We’ll talk about it on the island?” The scowl cleared, and she said, “Don’t you think that was a little rude?”
He didn’t appreciate the impression. “Look”—he sighed—“I can’t take you to Mount Olympus. You’ll have to ask Thad or Hal, or hell, even Alec. One of them will be able to help you, but I’m done.” He walked into the kitchen, resisting the urge to look back to assess the damage his proclamation had just done.
“You’re done?” Her voice was a whisper behind him as he poured a glass of orange juice.
“I’ve helped you as much as I can, so go talk to one of the others.”
He sipped the drink, watching her over the rim of the glass. Storm clouds might as well have appeared on her face. She was furious.
“Fine. You’re done. Thanks for your help today. I’ll try not to bother you again.” She backed away from him before disappearing around the corner.
He was a grade-A asshole, but it had to be done. The fact that he felt like he had to run after her and beg for her forgiveness was exactly why he did it in the first place.
Chapter 6
Aster wanted to punch Dem right in his annoyingly handsome face. He was like a sullen teenager sometimes. She walked away from his house, away from him, and realized that she didn’t really have anywhere to go. Nausea rolled through her at the thought of being in the big house alone.
Why did she even come back to the island? Oh yeah, because if she stayed on the mainland for long, then the likelihood of the Order of Talos tracking her down and abducting her again increased exponentially. Bastards.
She meandered through the woods, following the path to the trap door she had become so fond of, planning on taking her frustration out on Leonard. Only, by the time she got there, the frustration had already fizzled out, an
d the thought of going down there with the precious gift she was holding was repugnant. If there was one aspect of her life that the Order wasn’t going to invade, it was this.
After a few hours milling around, she found herself in front of Thad and Cin’s house. The house where she had expected to be staying, instead of left alone in a house that was as haunted with memories as she was. She knocked, her gut twisting with nausea.
When Cin opened the door, Aster shoved past her. “I’m gonna puke.”
Her sister’s footsteps sounded behind her as she threw herself into the bathroom. She couldn’t even close the door before her stomach began its rebellion against her.
It was over an hour later when she finally was sure she was done. She had to be; there was absolutely nothing left inside her at this point. Cin swapped out the washcloth on the back of her neck for a fresh one, the cool water trickling over her shoulders and down her chest. She was thankful that Cin had put her hair up.
Sitting back, she leaned against the cool tile that covered the wall. The squares were such a pale green that it was easy to miss at first, but the more she studied the wall opposite her, the brighter the green seemed to become.
“How are you feeling?” Cin’s voice was soft, concern drenching every word.
“Better.” She took a tentative breath, assessing her body. “Much better.”
“Good. What was that about?”
Aster shrugged. “I’d been feeling icky most of the day, and then all of a sudden, it wasn’t just a feeling anymore.”
“I wonder if you ate something weird?”
“I don’t know. I don’t think so.” She ran her hands over her face. “Do you have a spare toothbrush?”
Cin nodded and stood. Aster followed, once again clutching the box containing her blanket. When they got to the master bath, she handed the box to Cin. “Check it out. It’s my baby blanket.”
Her sister plopped down on the closed toilet while Aster brushed her teeth. The surprise on her face was a pale comparison to what she’d felt when her mom had given it to her. After she was done, she turned to her sister.