The Wager- BBW Erotic Curvy Paranormal Romance (TOUCH OF THE GODS)

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The Wager- BBW Erotic Curvy Paranormal Romance (TOUCH OF THE GODS) Page 11

by Luc, D. X.


  While I felt the urge to stay with Ares, I fought against it and ran after them, but by the time I made it out, they had gotten in their car and left me alone and ashamed.

  The world moved around me while I stood frozen in a nightmare. A cold set in and I felt as though I would never break free of it. A firm hand curled around my shoulder and I was flashed back to my home, but without Ares.

  He’d gotten what he wanted for that night.

  In the darkness of my room, I undressed and slid under the cool covers. Tears fell down my cheeks, soaking my pillow in the sorrow that replaced the lingering remnants of desire that the War God had left there. I needed help, but didn't know where to start, so I did the only thing I could think of. Something I hadn't tried since childhood—I prayed. “Please, if anyone or anything out there hears me, I can't do this anymore. I'm so lost. Help me.” My sobs continued until I could cry no more.

  Exhaustion from the night's events and the spilling of my pain took over, but I could swear, as my eyes drifted closed and my mind floated into the land of dreams, I felt the barest brush of lips against mine.

  The soft caress of a whisper spoke to me in a language I shouldn't have understood. Érchomai, agápi̱ mou. I am coming, my love. The voice was deep, familiar and comforting.

  Chapter XIV

  Hephaestus

  I sat with my legs crossed and my body posed in the Lotus position. I relaxed my mind while anger simmered just below the surface, lingering since the day before when Calvin called and told me what had happened to Vanessa at the restaurant. She hadn't left her home since the incident, nor had I seen any sign of my douche brother, but I felt him. His presence surrounded her house like a cloak of evil and though I wanted to rip his fucking heart out, I had to stick with the plan.

  Even if I didn't like it, it was too perfect to fail. At least, that's what I hoped as I inhaled deeply and centered myself one last time before standing in preparation. My eyes fixed upon the weapon of Ares' demise and I couldn't help but grin wickedly, touching along the golden blade. The air behind me swirled with a sweet wind and I didn't have to turn around to know the second half of the scheme had finally come.

  “Are you ready, uncle?”

  My jaw dropped when I saw him for the first time, taking on the form of his twin brother and even I had to admit, though they were not identical, Eros looked close enough. With gentle hands, I wrapped the sword in a cloth and moved around to place it in my nephew's grasp.

  He had to grow his hair to match the longer, dark length of Himeros, and kept his eyes flashing in their various colors, so as not to give away his secret identity. Other than those two changes, he was good to go.

  I felt the anticipation of what was about to occur coiling low in my belly.

  Just as his long fingers curled around the cloth covered weapon, I heard the distant roar of my brother's cycle. Before he came to me, it was Eros's job to call Ares and have him come to Vanessa's, making him think that he, as Himeros, was going to claim her away.

  Certainly, the War God could have flashed his way there, ruining everything, but he chose to be a casual dick about most things in life, so he showed up on his motorcycle. Just as we expected him to do.

  “Let's get this done. Are you scared, Eros?”

  “Me, scared? Please! It's just Ares who we're tricking, you know? The God of War and blood lust.”

  I chuckled at my nephew's sarcastic remark, until I heard the booming voice of my brother looking for Himeros and Vanessa's scared, soft one explaining that there was no other person in the house.

  My anger snapped and if Eros hadn't been there to stop me, I would have teleported over to the bastard and punched his teeth down his throat.

  “Remember what Athena said, Hephaestus. Anger will only cause us to fail, and we'll never save her. Calm your fire.”

  As the God of Volcanoes, I felt the force of my rage bubbling into my chest, expanding until I was sure I would explode. Just then, warmth spread through my body, finally settling like a hug around my heart and I no longer wanted to kill Ares. Instead, love and all that came with it was what I needed to bring to the woman next door.

  He meant nothing, she was my everything. Breathing out, the lava of fury resumed its stagnant place inside and I was focused once more. With a sheepish grin, I nodded my thanks to Eros.

  He smiled back, patting me on my arm in return and clutched the sword to his chest. Mumbling a prayer to Zeus, he shimmered away and melding his mind with mine, I was able to watch the events unfold, while waiting for my cue to show up for the final phase of our plot.

  Once ‘Himeros’ appeared between Ares and Vanessa, I was sure he was dead on the spot. In fact, if the young god hadn't flashed her and himself out of the way, they would have both been goners, as his father blasted a god bolt from his hand. The spot in which they had stood was singed black with smoke spiraling from the center. My brother growled low in his throat, slowly stalking closer to my nephew like the dangerous predator he was. So far, our strategy was not working out well.

  “How dare you show your face here, boy. You have a death wish or something?”

  “Uh, father, I know you have declared that you would kill me on sight, but I swear I come in peace.”

  “Peace? Peace? Ha! I know nothing of the word. Do I look like your sister, Harmonia?”

  Since I was connected with Eros, I could feel every tremor of fear that coursed through him and suddenly, I felt like a coward for letting him confront the War God in the guise of his brother.

  It was known throughout Olympus that Ares declared war on his own son Himeros, who was caught in bed, by the older god with a nymph Ares fancied himself in love with. The humiliation of not being picked over his son drove him mad and he turned the young girl into a wild, ugly boar, while placing the sentence of annihilation on the God of Desire.

  Now, because my brother was not the smartest jack in the box, he couldn't see the difference between the boys and was about to kill the wrong one. His hand was raised, pulsating with the beginnings of another bolt and I decided enough was enough. Closing my eyes, I prepared to flash myself to the group, but realized when they opened that I couldn't.

  Damn it, Eros! The little shit blocked me from going, making it so the only way would mean detaching from his mind and leaving us both vulnerable.

  Easing up, I watched as my nephew dropped to his knees and bent his head in a position of peace. He extended out his arms, holding my wrapped sword, and I held my breath to see what Ares' next move would be.

  Vanessa was still standing behind Eros, too stunned to speak, but I knew she watched— Perfect.

  “Father, please take this gift as my apology for the wrong I made.”

  “A gift? Is this a joke?”

  “Never. I had it made custom for you. Hephaestus created it. Please, take it.”

  Still Ares made no move, his red eyes narrowed in suspicion and using his telekinetic powers, he pushed the cloth away to reveal the gold, black and red weapon. Like in an intense scene of a movie, no one made a sound while even the birds from outside stopped their songs, as though curious to see how the god would react.

  Silently, I tried pushing my will upon him, begging he'd take the damn thing. When he finally stepped forward, holding out his hand to have the sword fly to it, the breath I didn't know I was holding spewed out of me like a deflating balloon.

  Ares shifted it, tossing it from one hand to the other to test its weight and balance. Though he still scowled, I knew he was hooked, the bait was taken. “You say my brother made this for me?”

  “Yes. Specifically.”

  “It's perfect, but I'd expect nothing less from the cripple. How can I be sure that you haven't cursed it?”

  “I haven't. I've not touched it to even do such a thing.”

  I watched the scene and held my breath again. Come on, Ares. Call me. You know you want to.

  The intricate hilt was decorated with blood red thorns spattered along a gold and
black vine. My brother held it tightly, the indecision showed on his face as he contemplated whether to should trust his son or not. Our hopes were that he was as paranoid as Zeus. “Hephaestus? Get your limp ass down here!”

  With a grim smile, I straightened my clothes, pulled out of Eros's mind, and flickered myself over to the backyard, where they waited.

  I saw that Eros remained kneeling.

  Vanessa inhaled sharply and I could hear her heart rate increase speed.

  It did much to my ego to know that despite being under Ares' spell, she would always be mine. Crossing my arms, I shifted my weight from my bum leg, making my posture look as nonchalant as possible.

  My brother studied the sword one last time, before raking me with a repugnant stare. “Himeros here says you made this for me, as a gift from him. Is this true?”

  “Of course. He is most sorry for the pain he caused you.”

  Ares nodded, but I could still see him mulling over whether or not he could trust his son. If only he knew it wasn't his offspring he needed to worry about. Standing still, I watched my brother swing the sword around, practicing his battle moves.

  A soft sigh come from Vanessa.

  I knew he was showing off for her, pulling her back into his grasp.

  I wanted to laugh for what was to come, but I kept my cool. This needed to be done at the proper moment.

  Ares spun around, narrowly missing Eros and stopped, his chest puffing out like a rooster.

  Vanessa clapped her hands at the display.

  I even had to admit it was a pretty darn good move.

  “You see, brother? War always wins and this is yet another wager. One that my son Eros, will lose to me and I can’t wait to rub it in his pretty, little face!”

  “Yes, Ares, you are truly supreme. Nothing gets past you.”

  With a brilliant smile, he nodded and glanced down at the kneeling, fake Himeros.

  Almost time.

  “Alright, boy. I accept this gift and will think about rescinding your death sentence. Come to me, woman. Be with the stronger of the brothers!”

  Before she could take a step, Eros jumped into action, his hair and clothing changing back to their normal looks as he grabbed Vanessa to hold her back.

  Ares roared with anger at the trick. He started forward with the sword drawn and pointed directly at his son's chest.

  The young god managed to wrap himself with his metal wings, just in time of his father lunging the blade and it was deflected with a loud clang. Unfortunately, the force of the hit knocked both my nephew and Vanessa to the ground, and the loud thud I heard was that of Eros's head striking a stone in the grass.

  With him knocked out, she was caught under his massive weight.

  From the rage in Ares' eyes, I knew he didn't care whether she was there or not. He raised his sword once more and was about to deliver a blow that would kill them both.

  Between the sound of her scream, the smell of my nephew's blood spilling and my anger at my brother's lack of caring that he was about to execute a mortal, I lost my control. Flashing before him, I knocked him back with my own power, so hard that his body bent his cycle in half. It would have been nice if it I had hurt him, but when he stood, his knuckles were white from the tight hold he had on his sword, I knew I only pissed him off more. His body glowed with barely leashed control as he ran toward me, his battle cry loud enough to rock the earth to its core.

  “Hephaestus! Watch out!” Vanessa's voice was laced with fear and her concern for me.

  It touched my heart, while I knew I wouldn't die this day, I sure as hell wouldn't let him near her ever again. Gathering all my strength, I counted down as he drew nearer. Three, two, one...

  “Energopoií̱sete!”

  At my command, the hilt melted into the eight limb body of a black scorpion with red spiky legs, while the blade shifted into a golden tail adorned with a deadly, sharp stinger. The creature wound itself around his hand and forearm, hissing and wiggling in a grotesque manner.

  Ares froze in his stampede and turned several shades of pale. This was the one creature he truly feared. He screamed in horror at the monster arachnid, the sound a combination of a shrieking harpy and a cat whose tail was caught under a car tire.

  In fact, it was so loud, Eros was jolted awake as both he and Vanessa stared, unblinking at my brother's theatrics.

  He danced around, yelling and pointing at his arm, shaking it to dislodge the animatronics, but it wouldn't budge. It actually moved as though to strike him, but only in pretense and yet, he shrilled even higher than what any goddess could manage. “Get it off of me! Oh gods, help? Someone help!”

  Ares ran in circles, tears flowing down his face as he tried in vain to free himself.

  I couldn't help but chuckle out loud at his display.

  Slowly, Eros joined me, then Vanessa and as our mirth grew, my insides began to ache from laughing so hard.

  The scorpion wriggled up his arm until it firmly wrapped itself around his neck and shoulders, causing the War God to give up fighting and fall to the ground in a heap of sobs. Whimpering, he begged weakly for anyone to aid him and while our laughter still came in waves, I almost felt sorry for the guy—almost.

  However, it was best that I finished this besting of my War God brother. I walked over until I stood above him, arms crossed and stance wide. “You want my help, Ares?”

  “Yes, please? I'll do anything!”

  Stroking my chin, several days worth of beard growth making it rough and scratchy, I stretched out my decision, just to see him squirm a bit more. Call it wrong, but I had been waiting for this moment since the dawn of fucking civilization! I certainly wasn't going to let it go to waste. If I had a mirror, I knew my eyes would be ablaze with the small flames of my godhood.

  Ares stared up at me, his eyes puffy from his girlish crying.

  I knew I had him beneath my heel. “Anything you say? Well then, I shall make this simple. Stay away from Vanessa. You are not to speak in her mind or dreams. You are not to come from Olympus to this place or any place she frequents. If you want me to free you of my contraption? You will have to release her from your spell.”

  “You think you can own me? Never! I will not lose!”

  Snapping my fingers, the scorpion moved its tail until the shiny point dug into the soft underside of his chin, and my grin broadened when his bottom lip quivered.

  “Alright, dammit! I'll do it. I'll leave her be, I swear!”

  “On the River Styx.”

  “Yes, whatever! I swear to do all that you said on the River Styx! Now get this blasted thing off of me!”

  Leaning forward, I pressed down on a hidden button between the creatures ruby red eyes, turning it back into the normal looking sword. Next, I seized my brother by his hair. Pulling him back, I made him look me straight on and sneered low, so only he could hear. “You leave here now, Ares. And if you ever come back, there will be no gods to save you from what I will do. Understood?”

  The Adam's apple in his throat bobbed as he struggled to swallow, but he nodded, and without even a glance toward Vanessa or Eros, he vanished in a puff of smoke.

  Standing, I quickly went to my nephew's side, his head wound had already healed. I hugged him close. We stood then, and I helped Vanessa up, flashing us both inside her home. We did it. We beat Ares and now I could go forward with getting her back into my life without interruption.

  “Well, kids, that was fun!” Eros cheered.

  Shaking my head, it was nice to see that my nephew was okay, and back to his normal self.

  Of course, awkwardness filled the room, as three was becoming a crowd. Thankfully, the Love God knew when it was time to call quits and let Vanessa and I talk. “I'm going to go but first, I'll do a bit of mind erasing. You know, just in case any neighbors witnessed the crazy gods brawl? You two behave. Or not!”

  With that, Eros was gone, leaving behind him a scented trail of strawberries and cream. Leave it to him to try and set a mood that w
asn't quite there.

  Once alone, I stared down into the hazel eyes of the woman I loved enough to fight a family member and realized how tired she appeared. It was obvious to me, that when Ares left with the promise to let her go, he pulled all of his power from her.

  Before I could blink, Vanessa started to droop to the floor. I wrapped my arms around her before she could collapse, and sweeping her into my clutch, I faded up to her bedroom and laid her upon the bed.

  Her skin had turned almost grayish and her body trembled uncontrollably. There was a word for this in the immortal world, but the easiest explanation was withdrawal.

  Kneeling beside her, I manifested a cool, damp cloth and pressed it against her forehead, wishing I could take her pain away. Unfortunately, my abilities did not extend to this particular ailment, and it would last several days, being worse at the peak. Or now, was my thought when I had to dodge and grab her wastebasket in time to catch her hurling over the side of the bed. Vanessa coughed and gagged, while I held her hair back, waiting for her to finish and wishing I could help her.

  Finally, she fell back, weakened even more than before and never had I seen her look so frail, her heavy-lidded eyes gazing at me sadly. “This sucks, huh? Sorry, that you had to watch that.”

  “It's alright. I should be the one apologizing, Vanessa. I am the cause of this.”

  “Yeah, you kind of are. I guess though, I'll forgive you. I mean, you did hold my hair back.”

  Chuckling, I admired her spirit during such a dismal time and it was one of the reasons I loved her. On my haunches, I decided that I would be staying until she got better, whether she wanted me to or not. For I was pretty sure, a normally independent woman such as she, would rather handle something even this serious on her own.

 

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