by Haley Weir
In the end, she settled on a black dress that brushed the tops of her knees and clung to her body like a second skin. The tight fabric helped to accentuate her curves without making her look like dough bursting out of a can of biscuits. She painted on a vibrant shade of red lipstick and slipped her feet into a pair of stilettos she had permanently borrowed from Rina's wardrobe. Olivia completed the look with the red peacoat she told Walker to look for in the restaurant. With one final glance in the mirror, she headed out the door and away from the safety of the cabin.
Olivia slid into the taxi, feeling a nervous flutter in the pit of her stomach. It had been a long time since she went on a real date. Relationships were never her greatest strength. Olivia was persuasive, a kickass fighter, an excellent therapist, a good dancer, and an amazing lover. She was funny, spontaneous, and considerate. In many ways, she was everything men desired in a woman, but nothing they valued in a partner. Each time she faced rejection, it chipped away at her hope that true love really existed. Men like Balor made her want to believe that even she could find love. But she had yet to find someone willing to fight for her.
The cab slowed to a stop outside of the restaurant. Olivia paid the driver and climbed out of the backseat with her clutch in hand. Heads turned as she walked through the door. Small gasps of interest from a group of gentlemen at a table to her left caused her confidence to soar. Olivia felt a thrill of exquisite power course through her veins. She enjoyed their stares as the concierge showed her to the table. The restaurant buzzed with activity, but Olivia knew she was the center of attention. It was clear to anyone with functioning eyes that she was from out of town. The dress that she had chosen was a perfect mix of sweetness and danger. She crossed her legs beneath the table, causing the hem of her dress to slide higher and higher up her thighs. Her gaze lifted, and Olivia locked eyes with one of the gentlemen at the table near the door. She could practically taste his lust as it tinged the air with a dark, smokey flavor.
"Olivia?"
Her eyes flickered up to the man beside her. He was a tall mountain of muscle wrapped in a finely tailored suit. Olivia smiled beguilingly as she offered her hand. "You must be Walker. Pleasure to meet you."
Walker kissed the back of her hand and sat across from her at the table. "Your profile doesn't do you justice," he replied. "When I saw you across the dining room, there was something so captivating about you…"
Olivia chuckled lightly and took a sip from her water to calm the burning blush on her cheeks. "I'm flattered. After all, I was a little touch-starved and a lot drunk when I made it."
"I'm usually not so forward. I like to keep things a bit old-fashioned."
"Well, I'm glad I inspired you to speak freely," Olivia purred before she caught herself. Seduction had always been second nature to her. But as she looked around the restaurant at the men practically drooling on themselves, Olivia wondered if Balor was right about her.
~*~
Castle Black
Destiney, Alaska
He heard his name shouted from the throne room. Balor flipped through his books at lightning speed. Each tale of Artemis ended the same, but something struck him as odd. Zeus and Apollo seemed to have some sort of hold on Artemis. To Balor, it seemed like more than just the protective behavior of a father and brother. Balor slammed his book shut. The castle was filled with the sounds of footfalls as Madeu gathered fighters to secure Atë. Balor ran out of his sanctuary and dashed up the grand staircase. He slid to a stop in front of Caleb's door. "Caleb!" Balor shouted as he pounded his fist against the wood.
His brother opened the door with a furious growl. "What? It sounds like a fucking stampede of wild animals in this place!"
"When Zeus wants someone killed, he sends Athena or Ares. But if he wants someone found, he sends Artemis. You have her bow, right?"
"It was a gift," Caleb replied sleepily. "I had dedicated most of my hunts to her in the past, and I fought as her champion—”
"No, I don't think that's why." Balor summoned the gospel of Artemis and slapped it against his brother's chest. "The two of you have much more in common than you think. Artemis was in love, remember? She loved Orion."
"But she was tricked into killing him by Apollo."
"So the legend says, but I think it was Zeus who sent Apollo after his sister," Balor supposed. "Our family relives the legends of the gods, Caleb. Samael was responsible for killing the first woman you ever loved. Artemis must have known that it was only Zeus's guilt that inspired him to place Orion in the stars."
"And because I had experienced a similar heartbreak at the hands of my father, she gifted me her bow." Caleb scrubbed a hand over his face and sighed. "But what does this have to do with anything?"
"I think Artemis and Apollo are coming after Atë. If Madeu and I distract Apollo long enough to buy you some time, talk to Artemis. Try to convince her that this war…" Balor's words faded as his eyes glazed over with a cloud of swirling white. "They're here." Pain pulled Balor back to the present. Caleb shook his hand, and Balor realized that his brother had punched him in the face.
"Pay me back for it later. Right now, we have to fight."
Balor nodded as Caleb grabbed his enchanted bow. They headed to the throne room together. Madeu stood like an immovable force at the center of the cavernous room. Draped in heavy armor with solid gold plating, Madeu looked kinglier than ever before. Balor was glad to see his eldest brother's mate at his side and ready to fight. Damien and Hades flanked Rina while Seth and the she-wolf Eliza guarded the door to the dungeons. Balor pointed up at the gallery that overlooked the throne room. "Caleb, go high."
Once his brother was out of sight, Balor whispered a spell, and the chains tattooed into his skin began to warp. They crawled from his flesh and into his hands, glowing with phantom flames. Wickedly curved serrated blades on the end of the chains dragged across the floor as he walked closer to his family. Balor's power spread through the room, slamming the doors shut and casting symbols on the walls. His brothers looked at him with questions in their eyes, for they were still ignorant of the true force of his magic.
A strong surge of energy banged against the large doors in front of Balor. He rolled his shoulders to ease the tension in his muscles. Fire crept along the edges of the wood, and Madeu stiffened beside him. Ash fell to the floor as bits of charred wood scattered in front of them. A blinding light seared their eyes, but the brothers stood firmly in their places. When Balor's sight returned, he curled his lip at Apollo. "You dare look upon a god? Such hubris," Apollo chuckled. "I am one of twelve Olympians, and yet you think you can best me in a fight."
"Olympians are mere whispers in time. History books paint you as myths and legends…hedonistic parasites that toy with mortal lives."
Balor smirked at Madeu's defiant words. His brother was nothing if not honest. He stepped in front of Madeu as Apollo's anger caused his light to brighten. Balor cocked his head curiously when he saw real fear in the eyes of the deity before him. "Forgive us if we seem a little hesitant to trust you, Apollo. I know you are here to take Atë by force. My brother is not much of a diplomat, but I'm sure we can come to an understanding."
"I do not negotiate with mortals. Especially those who hold a goddess hostage!"
Balor gripped his chains tighter as he fought to keep his anger in check. "Atë and Prometheus had the Sword of Zeus. They wielded a celestial weapon against Hades’ daughter and Adonis. Their recent crimes must be punished," he replied with a facade of calm. "If not for Prometheus using his Titan powers, you would never have defeated Hades. What chance do you have now that he isn't here to protect you?"
"I do not need protection!"
Madeu threw his head back and laughed uproariously. The sound was harsh and out of practice but filled with genuine mirth. "I'm going to enjoy wiping that arrogant smile off your face."
Apollo cast his gaze upon Madeu. "And who are you?"
"I am Madeu," his brother snorted. "Champion of Thanatos."
Chapter Six
Destiny Falls, Alaska
“Excuse me for a moment,” Olivia said politely as she hurried from the dining room. Her heels clicked in rapid succession as she tried to exit gracefully. She slipped into the bathroom and locked herself in one of the stalls before dialing Balor’s number. The phone rang several times with no answer. Olivia hung up and tried again. After the fourth attempt to reach him, she called Giddeon. She chewed nervously on her bottom lip as she waited for him to answer. When the phone clicked, Olivia did a little happy dance. “Giddeon! I don’t have long before my date starts getting suspicious. What do you know about succubae? Succubuses? Succubi—whatever! Do you know anything about sex demons?”
“Call Balor. He usually deals with this sort of thing.”
“I would, but he isn’t answering,” she said frantically. “Can you turn off the whole seduction thing?”
“It’s sort of automatic. Wait...what do you mean Balor isn’t answering?”
“I called him four times and he never answered the phone. Maybe he fell asleep or something. Please, Giddeon, I really need your help.” The line went quiet for several seconds before a loud roar blared in Olivia’s ear. “What the hell? What happened?”
“Balor and the others are in trouble. Get somewhere safe! If Artemis and Apollo find out you’re the one with the sword, they’ll come after you.”
“Artemis and Apollo? Giddeon, you’re scaring me. What happened to Balor?” Olivia shouted. She pushed open the lock, kicked off her heels, and ran out of the bathroom. Barefoot and in a hurry seemed to be a common theme for her as of late. Walker looked up at Olivia as she approached in her usual chaotic fashion. She tucked the phone between her ear and shoulder, tossing a handful of money onto the table to pay for their drinks. “I’m sorry, but something came up and I need to go.”
“Do you need a ride?” Walker asked as he stood up from the table.
“No, but can I borrow your car?” Olivia knew half the restaurant stared at her as if she were insane, but she didn’t have time to debate her dwindling sanity with strangers. “I’ll call you when I can.” She kissed him on the cheek and took the car keys before rushing out of the restaurant. The ice on the sidewalk was excruciatingly cold against her feet. Olivia clicked the lock on the car doors and scanned the parking lot for the correct vehicle. She made a mad dash for the green truck beneath a snow-covered tree. Once the truck started, Olivia peeled out of the parking lot. The tires screeched on the frozen pavement as she turned the corner.
“Come on, Giddeon!”
His voice finally came through the phone, and she breathed a sigh of relief. “I’m at the airport. A private jet will get me to Alaska in a few hours. It might be too late by then, so stay safe, Olivia. The fate of the mortal world now depends on you remaining hidden from the gods.”
“What am I supposed to do?”
“They haven’t found you for months, so do whatever it is you’ve been doing and do it fast.” The line went dead. Olivia banged her fists on the steering wheel with a shout of frustration. She pressed the accelerator to the floor and drove along the winding road that led to the cabin. The truck skidded on the ice, nearly flipping several times, but she managed to whip the vehicle around to stay on the road. Olivia slammed on the brakes when she reached the cabin. Her phone rang loudly. She tried to swipe her finger across the screen to accept Rina’s call, but it fell between the seats. Olivia abandoned her cellphone and barreled through the front door before clicking the button to activate the truck’s locks. Her chest heaved.
Dry winter air burned her lungs as she closed the door. Olivia looked down at the unbroken line of Goofer Dust and hoped it worked. She fought to catch her breath, pacing in front of the door until the ache in her chest subsided. It was then that she smelled the scent of oak wood burning in the hearth. The instinct to run kicked into overdrive, but Olivia stayed put. She turned her head towards the fireplace and saw a man with his hands braced against the wall as he stared into the fire. “I thought perhaps the Sage had my sword,” the man said. “But when I came down from Olympus, I sensed that another had taken it.”
“Zeus…” she whispered. His piercing gaze danced over her body with more desire than she had witnessed in the humans. Olivia knew enough stories about Zeus to be wary if he took an interest in her...I would rather choose death, she thought to herself. “How did you get in here? It’s warded against—”
“They ward against evil, and I am not evil, Olivia. Your little spells and tricks might work on a demon, but they will not work on me.” Zeus stepped away from the fireplace and approached her slowly. “I’m impatient. Where is my sword?”
“Lost.”
“Lying will not shield you from my wrath,” he warned.
“Neither will the truth.” Olivia moved back as he continued to draw closer. “You are as cunning and as vile as any demon. I’m not afraid of you.”
“You should be!” Zeus lifted his hand as if to strike her. Instead, he stroked her cheek with the back of his knuckles. His touch burned. Zeus yanked his hand away from her skin, staring down at a blackened mark that formed on his flesh. “Impossible…”
Olivia shoved against his chest, knocking Zeus off balance. She ran back outside and into the cold, dropping the keys to the truck as she tried to flee for her life once more. A curtain of snow fell from the sky. It clung to her red curls and soaked into the fabric of her dress. Olivia was grabbed by the wrist. In a whirlwind of sound and flashing images, the snow disappeared. Gone were the trees and mountains that surrounded the cabin. Olivia dropped to her knees, expecting to feel the frost-covered gravel of the driveway, but she landed on stone so smooth and polished that she was her own reflection. “W-where am I?”
“Welcome to Olympus, Olivia.”
~*~
Castle Black
Destiny Falls, Alaska
Balor pressed his back against the wall of the throne room. Arrows rained down upon them from up high as Artemis kept them trapped inside. Madeu tackled Apollo to the ground, wrapping his hands around the god’s throat with a strength that surprised Balor. He searched for Caleb and Seth in the chaos, but his brothers were nowhere to be found. Damien dove for cover beside Balor, holding his side where an arrow had pierced him. The Alpha wolf gritted his teeth as he pulled the arrow free. It clattered to the floor, leaving behind a trail of blood as it rolled. “We’re losing this fight,” Damien hissed. “What’s the plan?”
“Losing isn’t an option.” Balor leaped into the fray. Apollo’s fighters battled against the palace guards. Bodies littered the ground. He reached the center of the room and filtered his magic into the castle. Balor slammed his eyes shut, listening to the sounds of screams in the back of his mind. A burst of energy slammed Apollo to the ground. Sweat poured down Balor’s face as he used all of his strength to hold the god at bay. Madeu looked at him in awe, but Balor ignored him. “Caleb! You better work fast!”
Apollo fought against his hold.
“Should I summon Plutus?” Rina shouted.
“He wants no part in this.”
Hades spun his bident and severed the heads of Apollo’s servants, but more appeared from the portal of light. The God of Death ripped open the very fabric of the universe. “Let's see how these apparitions hold up against my demons!” Blood-chilling snarls filled the air. Demons crawled out of the rift, clawing their way into the mortal world. Large, fleshy creatures with jagged horns and sharp teeth attacked Apollo’s minions. Balor whipped his chains. He caught a demon around the shoulders and climbed onto its back. Bat-like wings flapped furiously as they lifted Balor off his feet. Madeu shifted into his bear form.
The light of the portal reflected off of his pelt.
“We need to close the portal!” Balor shouted to his brother.
Madeu charged towards the opening as
Balor steered the demon right behind him. Artemis’s arrow struck Madeu in the legs, but the large bear barely flinched. Balor unwrapped his chains from around the demon and jumped from its back. The demon crashed into the portal. A vortex of darkness and light exploded. Apollo called out for his sister, but Caleb kept Artemis busy up in the gallery. A clap of thunder shook the heavens. Hades bellowed towards the ceiling, eyes going black as night. Balor was thrown against the wall with the force of Hades’ rage. Apollo caught Madeu off guard and snapped his neck. Damien called out to his mate as Madeu’s body slumped to the floor in front of Apollo. Artemis vaulted from the gallery railing. She shrank back from Hades and retreated with her brother. Balor rushed to Madeu’s side. The ringing in his ears made it hard to concentrate. He worked quickly as Madeu clung to life. Balor pulled magic from the God of Death and forced Madeu’s soul back into his body.
The spell left him weak. Nausea overwhelmed him, and Balor vomited on the floor beside his brother. Damien worked to heal Madeu as Hades picked Balor up by his throat. “You fed from me, you pathetic little leech!” barked Hades. Balor convulsed in his grasp, fighting for breath even as he begged for death. “What spell did you use?”
“A trade,” Balor croaked. He clawed at Hade’s hands, trying to pry his fingers from around his neck. “Soul for a soul.”
“Owning your soul will do me no favors.” Hades dropped Balor and kicked him aside. “Zeus has Olivia. If he gets the sword back, there will be no hope of defeating him.”
Caleb helped Balor from the floor. “There still might be hope. Artemis isn’t our enemy.”
“They took the prisoner!” Seth argued. “We cannot trust her.”