Finding Paradise (The Gods of Oakleigh Book 1)

by Juanita Kees

  Jax closed his eyes and waited for the final blow to fall as Arian withdrew her hands. He kept his head down, his heart aching as he relived the humiliation of his demise, knowing he’d do it again if he lost her. A gentle hand stroked his hair and hope flared once more. He moved ever so slightly and placed his head on her lap, where she continued to soothe him, saying nothing. He heard the thoughts tumbling over in her mind. The ache in her heart echoed his as she seesawed between disbelief and the need to trust him, to give him a chance.

  He ignored Zeus’ instructions not to read her mind. If his punishment for that was death, so be it. This was no longer a battle for his soul, for without Arian there was no reason to live. When had it come to that? She was so much more than the one who could rescue him from eternity at Hades’ feet, so he listened to the turmoil and prayed.

  Minutes ticked by until Penny broke the silence. “Phwoar. That’s … jeez … I’m not sure I know what it is. Radical? Messed up? I think we need a drink. This confession calls for something stronger than a Semillon.” She stood, retrieved her prized bottle of ouzo from the top shelf of the pantry and poured a hefty shot into four clean wine glasses.

  Odys cleared his throat, took a slug of ouzo and said, “Zeus would like an audience with both of you, Arian and Penny. We are to take you to the house in Oakleigh, if you are willing to come.”

  Arian raised her head to meet Odys’ pleading look, and Jax’s heart skipped a beat as he heard the conclusion of her thoughts. She hooked a finger under Jax’s chin and forced him to look at her. “I want to trust you, to believe this is real — with all my heart — but how do I know the truth? How do I know for sure you’re not the crazy con artist Craig thinks you are? What sane man tells a twenty-first century woman he’s a real Greek god when even the myths are not proven to be anything more than the drunken ramblings of ancient storytellers? I’ve been taken for a fool before, Jax. I never want to be taken for one again.”

  “You are no fool, my love, only unawakened to who you really are, who I am, and what wonders lie beyond Earth’s boundaries. Come with me, agape mou. Let me show you the truth. Trust me, one more time.”

  ***

  Penny eyed the twin monsters as they hovered above the balcony later that night. “Holy crappy noodles, what the hell are those? Birds? People?”

  “Harpies — spirits of the wind — also known as the hounds of Zeus. The myths painted them as thieving beings dispatched by the gods to snatch away people and things from the earth.” Odys lowered his voice as he said the words, and chuckled when Penny shivered. “Don’t worry, Penny, they’re simply our means of transportation today so we don’t get hounded by the press at street level.”

  “I hope to God you’re right because if kidnap is on the agenda, you’d better be prepared for a fight. They look a little worse for the wear. Can they manage our weight?”

  Odys grinned. “The journey to Earth took its toll, hence the missing feathers, but they’re tougher than they look.”

  “They’re so soft. I expected them to look a little more … Greek?” Penny rubbed a patch of feathers where they glittered in the moonlight on the closest harpy’s side.

  “Ah, yes. They’re going through a manga phase at the moment … teenagers, you know. They’ve watched a little too much Earth television and become hooked on Sailor Moon. Come on, hop on.” He called the harpy closer and helped Penny onto its back. “Hold on tight, like you’re going for a piggy back ride.”

  “I’m not sure your manga harpy would appreciate the reference to a cartoon animal. How safe is this thing anyway?” Penny squealed loudly as the harpy dipped suddenly. It went into a spiral dive, before swooping back up with Penny clinging to its neck, her face buried against the harpy’s shoulder and her legs clenched around its waist.

  “Behave, Aello,” Odys ordered. “Safer than driving in Melbourne and dodging the trams. Don’t worry, I’ll be right beside you on Celaeno. I won’t let you fall far.”

  “Very bloody funny, Odys. You’re such a charming hero.” Penny squealed again as the harpies took off into the dark, moonlight breaking through the clouds to glisten on their wings.

  Arian smiled up at Jax and gripped his arm with both hands. “This is surreal. I keep pinching myself to see if I’m awake. I’m off to meet Zeus.” She stilled and cuddled closer for a moment. “What if Craig finds out about this? He’ll ridicule you publicly, make the press think you’re insane.” For a moment, panic seized her and she stiffened at his side. If the papers got hold of the story, they’d have a field day with the impossible truth, make fun of them all.

  Jax hugged her and kissed her temple. “Zeus has taken precautions by opening a small portal for us to travel through.”

  Arian nodded and raised her face to the skies as Jax whistled. Of course he had. He’d probably waived his aegis and sent the unsuspecting world to sleep so the harpies could steal away women who would be reported as missing persons the next day.

  “The real world carries on below us, none the wiser. Are you ready?”

  “I’m not sure about this ...” Once again, apprehension flowed through her, until she caught sight of the bird-woman sailing the air currents as gracefully as a swan.

  The harpy that swooped down was larger, older and very definitely proud mythical Greek. Dark brown feathered wings were highlighted by gold streaks that caught the moon’s rays. Her naked body was coated in shades of gold and cinnamon. She bowed before Jax and then spread her wings wide, angling towards the balcony much like a ship docks against the wharf.

  “This is Electra, the twins’ mother.” Jax helped Arian onto her back and slipped on behind her, holding her tightly against him as he picked up the reigns. “Go gently, wise Electra. It is my queen’s first time.”

  The harpy dipped her head and flew towards Oakleigh, riding the air currents gracefully with gentle turns and low swoops. The wind rushed through Arian’s hair, and she raised her face to it … freedom. The cobwebs of uncertainty fled as she looked around her. In the distance, lightning flashed from gathering storm clouds edged with silver, and the moon’s rays danced with the stars — an impossible picture painted on the canvas of the night sky.

  Arian looked down. The landscape was bathed in shadows. She caught glimpses of movement below, head and tail lights on the Monash Freeway, the gas brigade outside the Crown Casino spouting flames skywards and lighting up the Yarra River. Years of flying across the land in the Cessna could not compare with Melbourne’s magic at night from the saddle of a mythical bird.

  “Tell me I’m not dreaming, Jax,” she whispered.

  His arms tightened around her, the reins he held loosely in his hands resting against her thighs. “It’s real, Arian. Can you feel the magic? You have it in you, my lovely. All it needs is awakening.”

  She pressed back into his chest, the strength of it offering reassurance, and closed her eyes. The wind whistled past her ears and in it she heard laughter, light and happy, tinkles and giggles that made her think of fairies. Jax’s fingers entwined with hers and squeezed gently, as his face touched hers, cheek to cheek. His thoughts nudged hers towards Paradise where he showed her a Faerie Queen, dressed in flowing silk robes of aqua, a crown of wildflowers in her hair.

  “That’s you, my Queen of the Faeries, in your queendom in Paradise. That’s who you really are.”

  Questions tumbled through her mind, things she should ask, visions she should deny, but up here above the hustle and bustle of Melbourne there was only magic and a peace she wanted to enjoy for as long as it lasted.

  Almost too soon, they landed gently in the garden in Oakleigh, while around them the suburb slept, cloaked by magic and the night. Penny hooked her arm through Arian’s as soon as they were off the harpies’ backs and on the ground. “Oh. My. God. I could get used to that. Like riding a Harley, only better.”

  Odys snorted. “You haven’t ridden a Harley with me yet. Let me know when you’ve plucked up the courage and I’ll show you how it’s don
e,” he said.

  Penny ignored him and walked towards the house, taking Arian along with her. “Are you scared?”

  “Petrified. If this is really happening, we’re about to meet Zeus, god of all gods,” Arian answered.

  “I Googled him, but all the pictures of the statues are so damn ugly. I can’t believe he’s that gross, not when Jax, Odys and Helen are so damn beautiful.”

  Arian didn’t respond, still wrapped up in the wonder of the flight, Jax’s warmth on her back and the vision she’d seen of herself. All this, so far removed from reality. She’d pinched herself to make sure she was awake as soon as Jax had helped her down off the harpy. She rubbed the reddened skin. Craig’s words taunted her, drugs, con artists. Had they slipped LSD into the wine? Tainted the baklava with marijuana or some other hallucinogen? What had they to gain by drugging and abducting them, though? And why do it in such a magical way? If they meant her and Penny any harm, surely tying them up, knocking them out and dumping them in a white panel van would have been a much quicker and more acceptable way.

  “I read that Zeus can produce storms and intense darkness by simply shaking his aegis. Thunder rolls, lightning flashes, and clouds pour rain at his command. Maybe that explains all the weird storms we’ve been having lately.” Penny sighed.

  Arian stopped walking and clutched Penny’s arm. She looked back to see Odys and Jax leading the harpies towards the garage. “Myths also tell of how the gods drugged and abducted women, and kept them as virtual slaves.”

  Penny pulled her into a hug. “Think about it, love. If they wanted to hurt us, they had loads of opportunity to do it on Paradise Beach where no-one knew who we were. They wouldn’t have waited until we got home to do it. Besides, I see how Jax looks at you, Arian, and there’s no doubt in my mind he’s fallen faster and harder than Troy for you.” She held Arian away and dropped her hands to her side. “I wish Odys looked at me the way Jax looks at you. Instead, he thinks I’m a pain in the arse.” Penny smiled as if that thought gave her more pleasure than any romantic attention ever could.

  Arian laughed. “I can’t believe you’re taking all this in your stride. I’m convinced I’m having hallucinations. This is surreal. It’s so wrong yet in my heart I know it’s right. Have I lost my mind, Penny? Is this a dream I’m going to wake up from?”

  Penny shrugged. “If it is, then I’m crazy too. I mean … what on earth does Zeus want from me? You were raised on Welsh folklore and there was definitely something special about your gran, so there’s a chance that there’s a little magic in you … but me? I’m definitely all mortal. The only magic I know is how to make balloon animals to hand out at kids’ birthday parties.”

  Arian laughed. “Yes, but ...” She dropped her voice to a whisper. “You’re in love with Odys. That makes you Zeus’ business.”

  Penny froze. “I so am not.”

  “Not what?” Odys almost ran her over as he and Jax caught up with them. She looked at him, mouth agape with words that wouldn’t come, so he patted her on the bum and said, “Move on. We can’t keep the boss waiting.”

  Jax caught up with Arian as she walked on, leaving Penny to work it out.

  “Everything okay?”

  She nodded and slipped an arm around his waist. “Perfect.”

  The back door opened and Helen waited to receive them on the threshold. “Welcome, Arian, Penny. Come, I have tea ready. Zeus has indulged a little too much in his brew, I’m afraid. Anyone would think he is nervous about this meeting.”

  “I can hear you, Helen.” Zeus’ deep voice reached for them from the depths of the house.

  Helen ignored him and winked. “He’s discovered Twitter.”

  Jax and Odys groaned.

  “Please tell me you’re monitoring his tweets?”

  “What’s he tweeting?”

  She looked at her friends and grinned. “First let’s take care of business. Come.”

  Helen led the way through the kitchen into the lounge room where Zeus sat feet up, leaning back in a recliner.

  “I’m tweeting up a storm,” he said. “Ermioni showed me how.”

  “Ermioni did? Isn’t she a little young for that?” Odys frowned.

  “Only in Earth years.”

  “What have you tweeted about?” Jax wasn’t sure he wanted to know the answer.

  “About the game on Saturday. How you are going to kick some Demon Dodgers’ arse. Ah, the girls are here. Come here, let me look at you.” He pushed the footrest of the recliner back in and tilted the chair into the upright position. “There are some Earth things I do like and this chair is definitely going home to Olympus.” He studied Penny first. “Mmm … yep, perfect.”

  His gaze slid to Arian and she squirmed a little under it. His eyes bored into her soul, leaving her exhausted mentally and physically as he rummaged around in her memories and brought the important ones to the fore.

  “Your grandmother would be proud of you, girl. You’ve done well at keeping her secret. I met her a few times in the magic realm. Quite an exotic beauty she was. Sadly more mortal than she deserved, it appears, since she has gone from this world.”

  “What secret?” Arian’s thoughts whirled. Gran hadn’t told her anything she didn’t share with others, nor had she said anything about keeping secrets. How could this man possibly have met her gran? In the magic realm?

  Even as the thoughts formed, she remembered the nights after Gran had put her to bed as a child when she’d creep out to watch as Gran took down the big leather-bound book from the shelf and wrote in it. She’d light a candle and whisper in Welsh. When she’d asked Gran about it, she’d said she was saying her prayers, and then she’d taught Arian the words that had scared off the monster in the sea on Paradise Beach.

  How could she have forgotten about that? Those fierce red eyes, the smell of sulphur and the scream of pain before the thing had disappeared, the fear and evil she’d felt in its presence … could it be that all those stories Gran had told about dragons, fairies and beasties were true? That she really had lived in another world, apart from the one she’d retreated to when Alzheimer’s had struck?

  “Ahh, my child. Your gran never had Alzheimer’s at all. That’s a little trick we use to wipe memories so the soul can be reincarnated. Sometimes we leave a little behind and call it deja vu, so the soul can recognise its humble beginnings.” He leaned forward and patted her hand. “Now, you may call me Zeus. No need to stand on ceremony down here. I bid you welcome, your highness.” He eased out of his chair, stood and bowed to her.

  Her curtsey came as a surprise to her, the movement natural and graceful as if she was born to do it.

  “Thank you … Zeus.” Arian clasped her hands in front of her as she straightened, grateful for the steadying comfort of Jax’s hand under her elbow. Zeus’ presence alone packed an energy-draining punch, never mind that he’d foraged in her deepest memories. Believe the unbelievable, Gran's words echoed in her mind. Every story Gran had ever told her, she’d ended with those words.

  He nodded. “Sit, my children. We have much to plan and discuss. Helen, we’ll take that tea now, thank you. I need a clear head. The Earth’s atmosphere has me a little light-headed.”

  “Of course, it has nothing to do with the two goblets of brew you threw back while you waited for Jax and Odys to return, does it?” Helen teased.

  “I might have added a few extra fermented grapes,” Zeus confessed. “Arian, come and sit here with me, child. You too, Penny … on the other side.” He waved at the two armchairs next to him, set at an angle. “Now, Arian, I have a little gift for you.” He reached over and lifted a heavy tome from the table beside him. “Do you recognise this, my dear?”

  “Gran’s book.” She took it from him as he handed it over, clutching it to her chest and breathing in the comforting smell of Gran and old leather. “How did you get this? I searched for it everywhere when I packed up the house after Gran died. I couldn’t find it.”

  Tears stung her eyes. S
he’d thought perhaps it was a diary she could read, a link she’d have to the stories of Gran’s past, but when she searched for it amongst the things she’d kept, it was gone.

  “Arianrhod gave it to me for safekeeping when I visited her in the respite home just before she passed over. She asked me to safeguard it for you until you were ready. Of course, she forgot to tell me you didn’t know the truth.”

  Arian lowered the book to her lap and stroked the flat of her palm over the smooth cover. Warmth spread up through her hand and enveloped her like one of Gran’s big warm hugs. She caught the scent of lavender and jasmine in the air as peace flowed through her body and into her heart. “The truth about what?”

  “Do you believe in magic, Arian?”

  She shrugged. Fairytales were one thing, but when they came to life they tended to be a little confronting. Harpies, Greek gods, Zeus … they surrounded her … in the flesh. Balanced on her knees was a book that vibrated with power and spread warmth and peace through her. “I work with facts, the sciences of land survey. I know about precious metals and conductors, and the solid, touchable matter that makes up our soil here on Earth.” She opened the heavy cover of the book to cast her eye over Gran’s elegant, flowy, old-fashioned writing, caught sight of an ancient map and sketches of beautiful beings. “This could just be a story book and what I’m feeling mere emotion.”

  Zeus smiled, leaned over and placed his hand on hers. “Between those pages lies the truth of your existence, your inheritance and your future. It’s a lot to take in. We’re here to help you, to guide you. The bottom line, my dear, is that you are the Queen of Paradise — a faerie queendom just outside Earth’s realm — and your people are under threat from Hades.”

  Hearing it said didn’t make it true, she thought as her logical mind warred against acceptance. Yet deep in her heart she knew … she’d always known … there was something different about her life, some greater force she carried with her and had never understood. If this was all true and not some drug-induced hallucination, somewhere out there was a world where she truly belonged and people who needed her. How could she fight an enemy she couldn’t see or didn’t believe in?