by M. J. Austin
I drop my gaze to the table and study the swirl patterns of the wood. After a minute, I look up. "OK, what do you want to know?"
"Start from the beginning." He involuntary leans forward.
"OK, I was having dinner with my family and arguing with my mom as usual. My dad got real tense and told me to go hide in the cellar. Once I got in the cellar I, heard a giant crash and then a man was talking about where is the girl. My dad said he was Terentia, and he would not tell him. Then a woman showed up and started calling my dad a guardian and my mom a mortal. The man cut my mom’s face. I saw it afterward. Then I heard them kill my parents. They started looking for me, but when they heard sirens, they left. Once I thought they were gone, I left the cellar and saw they had puncture wounds that had fluid draining and the house smelt awful. Oh and I am pretty sure my dad spoke to me in my head telling me to find you, and here we are. Now please tell me what’s going on before I have a full blown meltdown right here in the middle of the library."
He looks at me for a moment. He starts looking around. The librarian Ms. Thorpe is pecking away at the computer. He leans in even closer to me, and I instinctively pull away. "Where would you like me to start?"
"From the beginning," I say impatiently.
"How much do you know about Greek Mythology?"
I look down at the book he’s reading. "What? I don’t care about the book you are reading. I want to know what’s going on."
"That’s what I am trying to explain. You, Delfia Stryker, are the daughter of Hades and Persephone. Your adoptive father was your guardian." He’s so matter of fact. I think he really believes what he just said.
"OK then. Somebody didn’t take their meds today, so I'm just gonna go, that way, away from here." I’m beginning to think maybe my dad meant a different Alec because this guy is nuts.
He grabs my arm, and the electric shock runs all the way up to my shoulder. I rip it away. "Please don’t go. You need to listen to me, and I do not have time to sugar coat it. Things are going to change, and rather quickly I expect; now that you turned sixteen. They will be able to find you now. If you don’t stay with your guardian."
"Excuse me? They who? What the hell are you talking about?"
"Demons, so to speak. Foul creatures from the Underworld."
Again with the Underworld talk. Really. "Look buddy, I don’t know what you are playing at, but my parents were just murdered, and it isn't a joke to me. So either help me or don’t but, I'm going to find out what happened one way or another."
"I am trying to help you, but I can’t if you don’t accept it. I can’t force you to. If you walk away from me, I can’t protect you, and you will die. You don’t have to trust me or even like me, but your father sent you to me for a reason."
I slap him hard across the face leaving a red mark in its wake. "Don’t you ever talk about my father again. Don’t talk to me, don’t come near me or freakishly stare at me. You’re crazy, and I've had my fill of crazy for the millennium, thank you." I turn and half run to the library door in search of any way to get as far from this lunatic as possible.
I swing the door open, and I’m come face to face with the most one of the beautiful men I’ve ever seen. He is at least six feet tall with olive complexion and spiky black hair. He has his thumbs loops through his belt buckle like he is ready for a photo shoot.
"Where do you think you're going?" The man’s gravelly voice makes me stop. I would know that voice anywhere. It starred in my dreams every night since my parents died.
Chapter
8
"You need to run, now." Alec is by my side in an instant pushing me backwards. "I said run, now!" he booms. The authority in his voice is odd coming from someone his age. It’s like he has transformed into someone who is thousands of years old. His eyes drill into mine and just like with my dad, I hear his voice low in my head. Dell, you need to run. Go to the girl's bathroom on the second floor and wait for me there. Lock the door and don’t let anyone in but me. I can't move. Please.
I turn quickly to take off running for my life, but I trip over an army boot and face plant on the carpet. I can already feel the rug burn on the right side of my face. All of a sudden, I’m being pulled up by the back of my shirt and firmly planted back on my feet.
"I believe my friend asked you a question." The female’s voice is thick with malice as her face is contorted into an unattractive sneer. This says a lot considering she’s breathtakingly gorgeous. She’s definitely model material with her long legs, raven black hair, and piercing blue eyes. She’s wearing a black tank top with black leather pants, and her hair is pulled back into a long braid down the center of her back. She reminds me of Lara Croft from Tomb Raider. I think my vision is failing because a shimmery aura surrounding her entire body.
I stand here with my mouth agape as she keeps her grip on my shirt. I notice the same foul stench that was in my home, and I’m pretty sure it’s coming from her. I try to step back to reach fresher air, but she won't let go.
"Please, what do you want from me?" The panic inside me is reaching a critical level. I look around and notice the library is empty. OK, so no one is going to come to our rescue. I hope Alec has a plan to get us out of this.
My eyes reach Alec, who doesn't look worried or panicked. He looks determined, standing there, tensed and ready; his muscles coiled for attack. Again I’m struck by how odd his actions look in contrast with his age.
"Sorry, no can do little girl. You are coming with us." She’s talking to me like I’m a two-year-old. I bristle at the words ‘little girl’. I’m sixteen, and I’ve had just about enough of people treating me like a child.
"Sorry Cela, but she's mine, and I can guarantee you she is not going anywhere with you." Alec’s calm exterior is astonishing. I look over at him, and suddenly I feel a calmness wash over me. It’s like I know can trust that he will keep me safe.
"Is that so?" She looks at him like he is cow dung on her shoe. I can tell she’s the brains of the duo; that means the guy was the braun.
"Yes."
"And how do you figure two infants like you will get out of this predicament?" Again with the condescending tone. This chick is seriously getting on my nerves. I feel my panic turning into rage. These people killed my parents and while I don't believe Alec's crazy blithering nonsense, part of me felt powerful. I’m not sure if I like this.
"OK. Seriously, we are teenagers. You don't have to talk to us like we are toddlers. I mean, if you are going to kill us like you did my parents, the least you can do is be respectful about it." Where in the hell did that come from? Why do I think murderers will be nice just because I ask? I’m pretty sure I’m starting to lose it because a normal person would be begging for their life.
"Trust me honey, you are a toddler compared to us." The man speaks for the first time since Cela arrived.
"Cerberus is it?" He stiffens at my use of his name as if he didn't know I knew it. "Yes I know your name. I was there you know. When you killed my parents. Just hiding away in the basement while you two chuckleheads were ten feet away."
I’m not sure why I’m provoking them, but everything in my body is pushing me to keep talking. "I mean come on, it’s like a cheesy horror movie. Everyone hides in the basement. It can't be that hard to find someone."
Cerberus literally growls at me and for a second I swear I see dog like features take over his face. Cela slaps me hard across the face, and I feel a trickle of blood down the left side of my chin. Great. Rug burn and now this.
"How dare you speak to us like that? You minuscule little twerp." She rages on, "do you have any idea who you are talking to?"
"Aside from the fact that I know I am talking to two cold-blooded killers? No I don't know who you are, enlighten me." I hope she can't hear the fear in my voice, all sense of courage whooshed out of me with the slap.
She is in my face with her nose touching mine. "Child, we are your worst nightmare." I use all my strength not to gag at the smell exuding fr
om her mouth.
The library door swings open, hitting Cerberus in the back and knocks him over. It’s Ms. Thorpe. In the momentary distraction, Alec swings into action. He kicks Cerberus in the face with enough force that it should’ve snapped his neck. In a millisecond, he is in front of Cela. Crouching down low, he sweeps one foot under hers and her back to slams on the floor with a thud.
He grabs my fist and pulls me towards the back of the library. What the hell just happened and how did he take down to attackers in the blink of an eye? He picks up speed and pulls me along like a rag doll. I get my bearings back and start to sprint faster.
"Where are we going?" I’m huffing with the exertion of talking and running at the same time.
"We are going to my place." He doesn’t sound out of breath at all. "Follow me." He leads me down a narrow set of bookcases toward the back exit of the library. It opens directly out to the parking lot.
We stop at a car, and he throws the door open; prompting me to do the same. I don't even have time to put on my seatbelt before we’re speeding out of the parking lot at about 80 miles an hour.
Chapter
9
We pull up to his house. Inside I start to feel the effects of the day and my head begins to spin. The room tilts at an odd angle, and I feel his hands on my shoulders.
"Woah there." He steers me to one of the kitchen chairs. His face is full of concern. "You are probably going into shock. Here let me make you some tea. Put your head between your knees."
I do as he says, and slowly the world stops spinning and the nausea subsides. I look up as he places the tea on the table. I tentatively take a sip and stare back at him. He looks like he wants to say something but stops.
I fiddle with the hem of my shirt and take another sip of tea. "What was that?" I finally ask. The question comes out in a single breath.
He sighs, "drink your tea. It will help I promise."
I obey and down the whole cup in one gulp. I’ll do anything to feel better.
"OK, I did as you asked. Now tell me what the heck all that was about." I persist.
He looks at me for a moment before speaking. "Well, of course, they were after you and they were the ones to kill your parents. But it's more complicated than that. I'm not ready to go into another debate on my sanity seeing as you wouldn't believe me if I told you."
No way is he getting off that easy. "What if I tried to believe you? Would you tell me then?" I know I’m lying because the stories he told seem too fantastical to be true. Gods and goddesses are myths. How can anyone expect me to live my whole life believing that and then just change with the flip of a switch? It just doesn't work that way.
"Perhaps I will explain it all to you after you sleep."
I have to admit I’m exhausted at that moment. More exhausted than I've ever been actually. My vision starts to blur as the realization hit. "What did you put in my drink?" My words come out slurred; which ruins any attempt at emphasizing the shock in my voice.
"Shh, sleep, you'll feel better."
And the world goes black.
~~~~
A beautiful woman is standing in front of me in a long white flowing dress. She holds her hand out to me, and I instinctively take it. She looks so familiar with brown hair and crystal blue eyes. I can't help but trust her.
She doesn't say anything at first. She just holds my hand and leads me through a pathway lined with white flowers. I can't look away from her face. I’ve seen it before I just can't remember where.
She speaks in a calm voice that sounds like an angel’s. "Hello darling." She smiles at my lack of recognition. "You don't remember me." It’s not a question. "That's understandable. You haven't seen me in sixteen years. I am Persephone." I stand here in the middle of the path, puzzled.
She continues. "I need you to listen to me and remember everything I tell you, Delfia. Your life depends on it, as well as the lives of others." I shake my head surprised that her words aren’t inducing a state of alarm like they should.
"You must not be tempted to give up. You must continue on the path of your destiny if you are to keep unspeakable things from happening."
Something stirs inside me and the beautiful woman starts shimmering in and out of focus. She speaks faster, "you need to heed my words, Alec will protect you. Do not leave his side. Trust him as your guardian." She’s now a translucent figure in front of me like a ghost. "I love you, Delfia Stryker, be safe."
Chapter
10
I wake up and feel like I’ve been asleep for years. My head feels heavy, and my vision is like looking through fog. As my sleepiness wears off, I realize with a start, that I’m in someone else's bed. And I’m not alone. Alec is laying next to me on his back. Half of his body is on the bed, and the other half is hanging off. His mouth is gaping wide open, and I swear I can see his tonsils.
The events of yesterday hit me like a ton of bricks. I reach my hand high above my head and smack him right across the face. He falls off the bed stunned and springs to his feet in one swift movement. He looks wildly around, and his gaze locks on me. "What the hell was that for?!"
"You drugged me."
He stares at me like I’m speaking Urdu. "So you slap me? Are you fricking kidding me right now?"
"What did you expect? You can't just drug a girl and then have her wake up in the same bed as you and expect it to be ok." I focus on the fact that we were in the same bed. "Oh my gosh, did you do anything to me? Is that what you wanted? You drugged me so you could have your way with me?"
The look on his face turns to utter disgust. Apparently the thought of me and him repulses him. With the flip of a switch, he busts out laughing one of those floor shaking laughs. I stare at him incredulously. How can he possibly think this is funny?
"What are you laughing at?" I plant my hands on my hips.
At this point, he’s struggling to take breaths. He’s laughing so hard, and my expression only makes him laugh harder. I’m getting really pissed off. I’m half tempted to slap him again, but his laughter dies down to a slow chuckle.
"What?" I fill my voice with irritation.
"It's just funny that you think I drugged you to have my way with you." He grins. somehow I feel like I’m being rejected, and it stings a bit.
"But you do admit to drugging me?" My eyebrows raise.
"Yes, I drugged you. But it was only melatonin, completely harmless."
"Why?" I’m a little afraid of the answer.
He waits for a minute. "Because it is my job to protect you; which means keeping you safe. I can't do that if you are unhealthy because of sleep deprivation. I knew you weren't going to relax or sleep. You were way too keyed up."
"Oh," I say, letting out a breath.
"Explain to me why you feel it is your job to protect me. I can protect myself you know."
He snorts. "I don't feel it is my job to protect you. I know it is. See…"
"How do you know?" I interrupt.
He glares at me, and I shut my mouth. I press my lips together to clamp down the million questions that are running through my brain.
"See, when a guardian dies, the person they are meant to protect gets reassigned. Typically the Terentia doesn't assign a guardian to a charge until they are much older. However, in your case there are obviously special circumstances."
"Like the fact that you say my father is a kidnapper. And let's not forget, oh yeah, Lord of the Underworld." It sounds silly coming out of my mouth.
"Yep, that pretty much sums it up." He’s nonchalant about it.
"I’m sorry, but how do you expect me to believe that my birth parent are Hades the King of the Underworld and Persephone his captive? It just all sounds so…"
"Mythical?"
"Yeah, pretty much." I sigh and sit on the edge of the bed. This conversation is giving me a headache. I want to not believe him, but something is itching at the back of my brain, and I can't ignore. How can an entire group of people collaborate to concoct a crazy story
to cover up murder. It just doesn't make sense.
"Um, can you stop doing that?"
I look up in surprise. "Doing what?"
There is a crash, and I look to see a potted plant that fell off of the counter.
"That." He points at the pot unnecessarily.
"What do you mean, that? I’m sitting over here with you."
"Be that as it may, my plant didn't just grow three feet and topple to the floor of its own volition, now did it?"
"What the heck are you talking about?"
"OK, do me a favor and just hear me out. Your mother is Persephone, right? That makes your grandmother, Demeter. Both of which had powers pertaining to…"
"Plant life," I interject.
"Yes, very good. Now what were you just thinking about?"
"Strange enough, I was thinking about how it made more sense to believe you, rather than that a whole slew of people were concocting a fairy tale to cover two murders."
He walks over to the plant and picks it up. "First of all, it’s myths, not fairy tales." He pulls a new pot from under the counter and places the plant in its new home. "Second of all, you will believe me after the little experiment I have planned shows you what you are capable of. Now," he sets the plant on the counter, "make it grow."
Seriously? Did he think I was Thumbelina now? "Excuse me? You want me to make it grow?"
He nods.
"And how do you suppose I do that? I pull out my magical pixie dust or do the rain dance?"
He scowls. "Stop it. Those things are made up. You, however, are not. I want you to sit and think about the plant growing. Think about nurturing it."
I sigh and decide, why the hell not? If it would get him off my back and prove I didn’t knock his stupid plant over, fine. I look at the plant and try to imagine it growing. Nothing. I squint my eyes like the witches on TV do. Nothing. Gloatingly, I look at him. "See, I told you I didn’t knock over your plant."