Page 15 of Guided by the Stars
He’s in position, his squinted eyes tracking my every move and, just like his friend, he looks ready to strike if I go too fast. Still, he doesn’t make me as nervous. He seems softer than the hulking beast on the opposite side. Maybe even a little younger. Kind eyes. A golden Californian tan. He reminds me of the boys my brother used to play basketball with. A leaner body to match the big boys on the team. Trim and in perfect shape, at least judging by the muscle in his arms.
“Zeus would sense you. He’s not dead and waiting for your kiss to wake him up,” he chuckles to himself, but it dies down when he picks up that I’m not playing his game. “Okay, once you two separated, we—” he starts, tilting his head towards his friend. “Well, we went in to protect you.”
A manic laugh escapes me and my voice grows shrill, “I was on Earth, and you brought me to Olympus. The veryplace the god, who you say is after me, lives. You call this protection?” Is this some sick joke? A dream? There is no way I won’t wake up from this, laughing, with Adriane.
“I know it’s a lot,” he says with a gentle, yet smokey voice as he pushes himself off the wall, taking a few steps forward. Despite that the words coming out of his mouth are ridiculous, I’m grateful that he at least seems sympathetic. He’s careful, gauging my reaction as he inches closer. “Like we said, we weren’t the only one’s following you. You’re safer here.”
“Why didn’t you help her?” I snap, jerking my head towards the beast at the door. My blood is boiling with enough voracity to rip his head off. “Where is she?” I demand with venom in my voice, imitating the asshole as he crosses his arms. Screw him and his smugness.
A warm hand lands on my shoulder. A sense of ease washes over me, softening my nerves while my skin prickles under his touch. “Baby Girl, she was taken by—”
“By another god. She was too close and we couldn’t grab her,” the Beast’s deep voice cuts him off, and my eyes grow wide as the freak lowers his arms to his side. He clenches his hands into fists. His brow creases, tightening his face, and he takes a small step forward.
“No, you stay there!” I yell. The tatted guy is smart, listening to my warning and retreating further away towards the wall. His friend though, something tells me he is made to demand others to cower. I won’t. Instead, I square my shoulders and remain standing strong, daring him to continue.
He stands, rubbing his long fingers over the short hair on his chin. The small stubble goes from one side of his tight jaw toward the other and circles around his mouth. It’s alluring, grabbing your attention and distracting you from the real threat behind his fierce eyes.
“Well,” he pauses, darting his tongue out to lick his lips, and my eyes betray me. They follow the movement like a hawk as he moistens his lips before he continues, “I had to do something.” He lifts a corner of his mouth upwards, forming it into a sinister smirk and stalks straight towards me.
I attempt to move, but it’s no use. He’s quick, invading my space. “One little step and your world would have turned into things nightmares are made of.” His breath hits my face as his voice deepens with each word, making a shiver run down my spine. His proximity is heating my skin, threatening me, and I keep backing up as he follows, until my lower leg collides with the coffee table, trapping me yet again. Not happening. I reach down in a swift move, pull a mug up from the table and thrust it into the air. Sticky yellow liquid splashes all over us and I don’t care, I’m ready to strike.
The vein in his throat pulses; anger boiling deep in those stormy blue eyes. “Be my guest woman, throw shit at me. If a knife couldn’t stop me, do you think that will?” His eyebrow lifts, almost challenging me. He’s making a huge mistake thinking I’ll back down without a fight.
I’m ready to crash the cup against his head, but the other guy’s voice brings me to a halt. “Alexius. Come on. It’s been a long day,” he urges, standing in front of the rocking chair where he had faded into the background of the room.
Alexius nods, listening to him, and takes two steps back, holding his hands up in surrender. “I kept Zeus away. So give us both a break and sit your ass down.”
He’s dead serious. Zeus, gods, all of this. Both of them are. I can’t help the desperate laugh bubbling out of me. “Alright, let’s say I believe you. Why would he want us? We’re just two girls, scraping by,” I attempt to ask with a straight face.
Tired and exhausted, I find myself actually listening to this asshole, planting myself down onto the coffee table.
“I haven’t figured it out. My senses aren’t detecting anything special about you so far. Daemyn here assures me the two of you carry an ancient gene. An important one. But over time, your blood has become diluted—” he pauses, looking my body up and down, and heat rushes into my cheeks under the scrutiny of his stare. “You can’t be pure,” he finishes giving me a wink.
My mouth opens and closes a few times as I twist the mug around in my lap. I’m speechless and offended.What the hell does that mean? Not pure?
I catch Daemyn moving from the corner of my eye. He makes his way around to stand in front of me, kneeling in slow motion. “I know this is hard to believe. We won’t hurt you, and we will figure this out,” he declares, turning his head back towards Alexius, who at least nods in agreement.
I’m startled as his hand comes down over mine and the sincerity in his gaze reminds me of Adriane. It’s in the eyes. Two mirrors into our soul. His are golden brown and lacking any sign of deceit. No smoke and mirrors, not even a flash of hostility. There is a sincerity in them, easy to get lost into. A depth so strong it’s compelling my instincts to want to trust him. They’ve never failed me before, I hope they aren’t now.
“Did you hear me?” Alexius’ booming voice interrupts my thoughts and my attention shifts to him. “Daemyn said we’ll figure this out. In the meantime, stay put, mind your business, and so will we. We’ll work on figuring out about your friend and how to get you far away from us.”
Why would he want to wait? We came here easily enough, traveling through thin air. One minute I’m screaming, watching as this beast carries me further away from Adriane, thenthe next I feel my skin tingle and a splash of cold hitting me from all sides before dropping me into this place. I’ll gladly go through that ten times right now if it gets me Adriane back.
“Can we go and search right now?” I plead with desperation lining my voice.
Alexius sighs, and for a split second his eyes soften, the storm behind them easing a fraction, shining bright blue like the ocean reflecting the sun. “Here in this house, we can keep you hidden. Step out of those doors and wander too far, and you’ll have Zeus on your sweet ass within seconds, make no mistake about that. But it’s your choice.” The softness fades as he spits the words out and gestures with his arm towards the door. “If I portal again, he’ll know right away to follow our movement. The Mortal World is off limits till I figure out how to hide you.”
“What the hell does that mean?”
Alexius ignores me, turning towards Daemyn. “I need to check in with Aetos Dios, deal with her,” he orders and walks out of the front door he was blocking moments ago, leaving me with more questions than answers.What the hell is an Aetos Dios?
“He’ll be okay,” Daemyn states, pulling the cup out of my hand before taking the seat next to me, the old table creaking under the extra weight.
“By the looks of it, you two need convincing. Not me. I’m still trying to figure out if I should believe you.” I force out a laugh in disbelief, despite feeling the small tinge of fear in my gut. These assholes do not deserve my pity. Still, the worry that was etched onto both of their faces is trying to creep under my skin.
Daemyn chuckles, lightening the situation. For the first time a grin crosses my face, brought out by the sweetness ofhis laugh. It doesn’t last long as guilt washes over me like a cold shower, sobering me up. “I’m not understanding half the shit you guys are rambling about. Just answer me this, is Adriane safe?”
“You two set things into motion.” Uneasiness shifts in him as his words taper off with his eyes fading towards the door Alexius exited. It lasts only a brief second before he shrugs off whatever hesitation he had. “My mother was powerful, and passed down her gift of sight. When you swam in the Aegean Waters, something changed. You felt it and so did the gods. I have long ago seen it. Fate has to be on our side, Baby Girl,” he finishes, and my eyes snap to his once more. Whether instinct or insanity, the nonsense of his words has me intrigued. It’s asinine to believe in thoughts of visions, but so is everything about this situation.
