Soul Kissed

by Courtney Cole

  calm down. The terrifying, scattered images had burned into my head and I couldn’t get them out. Fire, floods, pain and tears. So many images crowded into my head and I struggled to block them out.

  Harmonia stared into my eyes as she read my mind and tried to see what I had already seen. As she saw the images in my head, her vibrant green eyes widened then narrowed as she came to the same conclusion.

  “It does seem like an apocalypse of some sort,” she concurred, her thin shoulders slumping slightly. Cadmus stepped protectively up behind her, as if to guard her from an unseen threat. “But the question is… why?”

  Brennan stared at me, troubled and pensive. “Yes, Em. Why?”

  But I could see on his face that he already knew. He had seen it in my thoughts.

  “My mother was right,” I said simply, my breathing ragged in my throat, each breath more jagged than the last. “Together, Brennan and I are dangerous.”

  Brennan’s forehead wrinkled and he grasped my hand. “Em, I don’t accept that. We’ll figure it out. It will be alright.” But his voice was unsure, his gaze wavering. Like me, he desperately wanted it to be alright. But he had seen what I had.

  “Brennan,” my voice cracked and Harmonia looked away discreetly as a single tear slid hotly down my cheek. “There was so much blood. Oceans of it. People were screaming and crying…there was so much death and ugliness. We can’t jeopardize the entire mortal world just because we want to be together. That would be irresponsible and cold-hearted. Neither of us is that.”

  I beseeched him pleadingly, hoping that he could offer an alternative, anything that would allow us to stay together. And I could see him thinking. I could hear his silent, desperate thoughts. But none of us, not a one, could come up with a viable option. I sighed as my heart constricted. I didn’t want to live without Brennan. Even now, it seemed as though he had always been with me. He was a physical part of my soul. The idea of never seeing his brilliant smile again made me cringe.

  He stroked my hand, his fingers strong. “It’s not going to happen,” he assured me. “We will be together. I’ll think of something.”

  “Your bond is very strong,” Harmonia nodded. “I can feel it. If you could think of some way to harness the positive energy of your bond instead of allowing your conflicting powers to explode around you, it could work, I think.”

  “It’s a possibility,” Cadmus agreed, his glossy black hair glistening in the light as he nodded toward his wife. “But it is something you will have to work at. It certainly won’t be an easy task.”

  “We don’t need easy,” I stated tiredly. “We just need possible.”

  “Well, then, it sounds like we’re golden because it’s possible,” Brennan gently smiled at me. “Emmie, I promise. I’ll do whatever I have to do. I’ll practice my abilities 24 hours a day. I’ll stand on any roller coaster in the country for hours at a time. I’ll do anything you tell me that we need to do. Just say the word.”

  “I don’t know what word to say,” I reminded him softly. “This is just a theory. We might be able to harness our bond to overcome our negative combined energy. Or we might not. It’s just a theory. We have no idea how to put it into practice. That’s a problem. Harmonia, do you have any ideas?”

  “What about Hecate?” Raquel asked innocently, her eyes dewy and wide, standing on the edge of the room clutching a glass of nectar. I hadn’t even heard her come back in. “Hecate helped my mama. Couldn’t she help you, Empusa?”

  I shook my head slightly. “I’m afraid not, Raquel. My mother is already trying to help. She’s talking to Zeus on my behalf. I’m going to have to work this out on my own.” I could hear the dejection in my own voice and that annoyed me. I squared my shoulders.

  “Em,” Harmonia said uncertainly. “What about your mother’s cronies, Circes and Medea? Do you trust them to help? They certainly have proven loyal to your mother over the years.”

  I thought of the ancient hags, of their wrinkled wise faces, and I had to admit that it was a possibility. They knew more about magic than anyone on the planet besides my mother. And since my mother wasn’t available, it was worth a try. If there was an answer to be found and if they were willing, they would be the ones to ask.

  “That’s actually a good idea,” I told her with a smile. “It could work. They might know something.”

  “I’m not sure that you should attempt anything in the mortal world,” Cadmus interrupted wisely. “You might want to contain your magic here in the Underworld. It would provide a buffer to the mortals while you practice.”

  His eyes clouded over as he recalled my visions of destruction… of all that could possibly happen to the mortal world if Brennan and I failed. Cadmus turned to me as he noticed that I was watching him worry.

  “Do not fear,” he assured me. “You can do this. There was a time when Harmonia turned the mortal world black with her sheer will. It was for a noble purpose and she prevailed. I have no qualms that you can do the same, little one. You can prevent harming the mortal world and still have personal happiness. There is a strength in you that few others have. I can see it.”

  “My husband is right,” Harmonia agreed. “You have a backbone of steel, Em. I’ve never seen anything like it. If anyone can do this, you can. But we need to figure out the logistics. We have to protect the mortal world from your energy until you learn to control it. But we still need to get you to Circes and Medea.” Her brow furrowed as she sought a solution.

  “There’s a secret portal,” Raquel suggested in her girlish, songlike voice. We all turned to her in surprise.

  “What secret portal?” Harmonia asked her quickly. “I don’t know what you speak of, sweetling.”

  Raquel sighed patiently. “I found it when I was waiting for you here. There is a portal that the Fates created a long time ago. I think I can remember how to get to it. Anyone can enter from the mortal world but only the true of heart can use it to leave here.” She turned to me. “And that won’t be a problem for you, Em. You have the truest of hearts.”

  She patted my hand with her smaller one, much like a mother patting a child.

  “But I don’t want to leave here,” I reminded her gently. “I want to get Circes and Medea in. I don’t know if their hearts would be pure enough to leave.” I sighed. They were ancient and throughout the ages, they had done some truly atrocious things.

  “I might be persuaded to allow them to leave,” Hades broke in, his voice as smooth as warm caramel. “You’ve piqued my curiosity now with this talk of an apocalypse. I can’t decide… would the end of the mortal world be good or bad for the Underworld? I’m not certain. An apocalypse might ensure that I receive all mortal souls—but it would be at once. I might prefer to keep them straggling in over time as it currently stands. Until I decide, you may proceed with your plan. I will allow the hags to leave.”

  I had actually forgotten that Hades was even here. He had retreated to the outer edge of the room and had remained quiet as he observed us. He watched me now with a dark, unreadable expression on his outrageously handsome face. He was pensively reflective, a mood that disturbed me. It meant that his thoughts were churning which was something that might not bode well for the rest of us.

  “Why would you help us?” I asked him curiously, my words mirroring Brennan’s uncertain thoughts. Brennan’s gaze met mine knowingly. He thought the same as I did, that Hades had an underlying motive.

  “Yes, Hades,” Harmonia added sharply. “What is in it for you? And do not tell me nothing. I know you better than that.”

  Hades’ dark gaze smoldered for a scant second across the room before he blurred into motion toward Harmonia. He reached her before I even drew another breath, standing behind her with his mouth so close to her ear that he was almost touching her.

  “Sweet Harmonia,” he breathed quietly into her ear. “You do know me…better than so many people. Why must you always believe the worst of me?”

  His teeth glinted white against his oliv
e skin and I found myself leaning toward him unconsciously. I caught myself and moved back, just as Cadmus lunged toward him. In one deft move, Cadmus lifted the god of the Underworld and hurled him into the far wall.

  There was a collective gasp as Hades smashed into the wall of priceless vases, sending shattered glass skittered across the gleaming floor. He rolled to his feet and faced Cadmus in a defensive stance.

  “Choose your actions carefully, soldier,” Hades instructed smoothly, seemingly unruffled. His lip was bleeding though, tangible evidence that he had been injured. Everything else about him seemed smooth and undisturbed. “Watch yourself.”

  “Keep your hands off of my wife,” Cadmus growled. “You have no right to touch her. Watch yourself.”

  “My, my, Cadmus,” Hades purred, unaffected by Cadmus’ tone. “Why do you feel so threatened by me? I was simply reminding Harmonia that she does indeed know me. She resided in my palace for several months. There is no need for her to immediately think badly of me or question my motives.”

  “On the contrary, dark lord,” Cadmus retorted as he straightened out of his crouch. “That is precisely the reason why she should question you. She knows you and what you are capable of.”

  A brief look of annoyance crossed Hades’ face before he masked it, as he too straightened. “I have no motive this time,” he asserted impatiently. “As I have already stated, I simply don’t know which scenario would be best for the Underworld. I will stand aside and allow things to unfold…for now.”

  I watched him for a moment, trying to decide what to do. Cadmus had fallen into place next to Harmonia and Brennan held my hand. Hades turned, his dark eyes scorching my own.

  “Make the decision, Empusa,” he implored. “Only you can decide. What shall it be? Death and destruction for the mortal world or will you master your abilities and save them all?”

  He seemed to almost enjoy the predicament that I was in and all of a sudden, it hit me. He did. He was just like the other Olympians. Eons of the sameness had rendered him bored. This was something out of the ordinary and that meant that it was interesting to him. He didn’t truly care which way it ended, with an apocalypse or otherwise. He simply sought the entertainment.

  He winked at me. “And I thought Harmonia knew me,” he observed. “Maybe it is you that knows me better.”

  “You’re pathetic,” I told him quietly. “How could you not care what happened to them? They haven’t done anything to you. They have lives and families.”

  “We all have our burdens to bear,” he answered lightly, moving past my barb with ease. “Empusa, there is so much more at stake here than pitiful mortal families. The entire world could hang in the balance, really.” He sounded excited and hopeful and the way he phrased it caused a light to turn on in my head.

  “You’d like an apocalypse,” I said slowly. “You’re not indifferent at all. If every mortal soul was sent here to you, than Zeus would no longer have a kingdom other than the gods in the Spiritlands. And with every mortal soul in the world moved to the Underworld, you think you would be more powerful.”

  “Why, of course I would be,” Hades drawled, his face impossibly calm and serene. “But that isn’t my motive, dear one. And it really all hinges on you, anyway. If you can master your own abilities, the world won’t end and all of your precious mortal souls will remain in their world. If you can’t… well, alas, they will be sent to me. Their fates rest on your shoulders, my dear, not mine.”

  And I knew he was right. He would benefit if I failed, but it wouldn’t be his fault. If I failed and caused an apocalypse in the mortal world, it would be no one’s fault but my own.

  “You have forgotten one important aspect,” I reminded him grimly. “The only reason that the mortal world would be in danger at all is if Brennan and I try to be together. If we stay apart then there is nothing to fear.”

  I wanted to double over with my words as my stomach constricted. Brennan’s gaze was desperate as he sought mine, but the brief panic that I saw in Hades’ face was worth it.

  It seemed that we had just found leverage against the god of the Underworld.

  Chapter Eighteen

  The night hung heavily within my bedroom. My balcony doors were open, allowing the fragrant breeze of the Isles of the Blessed to ruffle the sheer drapes that hung on each side of the door. Shadows from the moon slanted across the walls and I watched them morph and change shape at the same time as I tried to absorb the moon’s energy.

  I was alone for the first time today. Cadmus had wanted to show Brennan the bath house, but I knew it was simply an excuse for Cadmus to speak with him. I hoped that Cadmus would share some of his wisdom that he had gleaned over the years, both as a king of Thebes and as the husband to a goddess.

  Hades had retreated to his own palace in the Erebus region of the Underworld and Harmonia was putting Raquel to bed. The dead did not sleep, but she was supposed to at least rest. I was resting myself, although I wasn’t able to sleep, either. There was simply too much to think about.

  “You should rest, sweet one,” a quiet voice said from the doorway.

  I glanced up to find Harmonia standing quietly as she watched me struggle with my thoughts. Her face was lovely and serene, awash with the silver light of the moon.

  “How do you always stay so calm?” I grumbled curiously. “I feel as though I could run a marathon fueled simply from nervous energy. Yet you are as cool and calm as can be. How do you do that? Tell me your secret.”

  Harmonia laughed, a tinkling, light sound that seemed to echo in the quiet room. It was a delicate sound that matched her perfectly.

  “Empusa, who are you talking to? I’m the goddess of peace. Of course I reflect that. And usually, I help inspire peace in those around me. But not you, not today. Your spirit is too troubled. But I think I can help.”

  She padded quietly to the side of the large bed and perched on the edge, her emerald silk nightgown dragging softly behind her on the smooth stone. Her slim shoulder was warm against mine and she held out her wrist.

  “Here,” she suggested. “I know that you must be hungry. You are very pale. You need blood.”

  Alarm shot through me, causing my heart to race. “I need mortal blood,” I clarified. “You’re not mortal. And those are the terms of my curse—I must take mortal souls and drink mortal blood.”

  “Sweet, sweet Empusa,” Harmonia shook her head slightly as she pushed her wrist directly under my nose. Her skin smelled like honeysuckle and was as smooth as silk. My mouth watered at the thought, a subconscious reaction. I cringed away. “Empusa, surely you have learned by now that all is not what it seems, correct? The gods don’t always tell you everything.”

  I stared at her questioningly. “What do you mean?”

  She shook her arm toward me once more, throwing the scent of her skin into the air. I inhaled it, closing my eyes.

  “I mean, you can drink my blood and not only will you receive more energy than you would if I was mortal, but you will also be infused with my peace. It will help calm you and my goddess powers will combine with yours to make you temporarily stronger.”

  My eyes popped open. “Such a thing is possible?” I breathed. I had been alive for a thousand years and I had never come across this bit of knowledge before?

  Harmonia nodded. “Of course it is. Anything is possible. It is not something to trifle with, however. As you are aware, our abilities are powerful and difficult to contain at times. You must use caution.”

  My eyes met hers and I found her to be as sincere a person as I’d ever met. Her vibrant jade green eyes held warmth, compassion and grace. I nodded slowly. “Thank you for telling me.”

  “Now drink,” she instructed. “My arm grows tired waiting.” She laughed again and I felt a slight thrill course through me. Nervous energy once again. The knowledge that I would be stronger if I drank Harmonia’s blood buoyed me. And thrilled me. I couldn’t deny it. It was an intoxicating thought.

  “But use cauti
on, young one,” she murmured again as she watched my face and read my mind. “When you and Brennan do this, it will be entirely different. Your powers are conflicting and will be very hard to contain. But this will be good practice for you.”

  I grew still as I froze, holding her limp wrist in my hand.

  “What do you mean, when Brennan and I do this?”

  Harmonia stared at me in surprise. “When you share blood,” she clarified. “How else did you think that you would combine your power?”

  I swallowed, feeling foolish. We thought that we’d have to have sex to channel that energy in each other. Harmonia read my mind and smiled.

  “Well, that might be more fun, I’ll admit,” she said impishly. “But no. This is the way to do it correctly. And it is very dangerous, which is why I’m letting you practice with me. Drink, young one. My energy is calm and peaceful. It should be easy for you to manage it.”

  She was right. I could already feel it in the air. Simply being around Harmonia created an atmosphere of peace. I knew that drinking it in would be even better. Without further hesitation, I drew her hand to my mouth and bit, my teeth sinking quickly into the softness of her skin.

  Her blood was warm and fragrant and tasted like sweet peas and honeysuckle, exactly like she smelled. As I drank, I literally felt calm descend upon me like a fog and I sighed happily. Harmonia smiled slightly as she patiently allowed me to drink.

  After another minute, she patted my shoulder. “That’s enough, young one. You’ve had plenty for now.”

  Reluctantly, I pulled away…something that was surprisingly hard to do. I found that I already craved the serenity that her blood provided. As I moved, though, I recognized a physical difference. I did feel calmer, stronger and more sure of myself. Harmonia recognized it too and nodded.

  “You’re stronger,” she observed. “I see it in your eyes and you have color in your cheeks. Focus on that strength. Pull it up from your gut and do something with it. Show me that you can control it.”

  I lifted my hands and I felt the strength in my fingertips. They practically buzzed with feather-light electricity.

  “Show me,” Harmonia encouraged.

  Glancing at her, I rose from the bed and padded softly to the balcony doors. Gazing down onto the courtyard below, I searched for something to do, some way to practice my temporarily enhanced power.

  There was a fountain in the center of the gardens, a likeness of Athena swinging a sword. I focused on her smooth marble face and within a minute, she had broken free from the stone pedestal base, straightening from her combative pose and sheathing the sword at her side.

  “Impressive,” Harmonia said softly at my side. “But not really impressive enough. You could have done that without my blood. Think bigger.”