Sacrifice (2 page)

“Not ready. Not yet.”

“The fireball will be fiery enough when needed. Time is of the essence, son.”

“Right,” I said, although I wasn’t completely sure.

“Just a chip off the old block, aren’t you.” Ares said, smiling. “I’m glad to see that you’ve still got some fire and fight in you. It’s all I’m looking for.”

“I just don’t want to piss off my brothers and sisters of the Ischero. They’ve taken me back and I plan to prove to those who are not totally on board how devoted I am.”

“Well, what is it that you are devoted to? Is it the empire of deities or the lovely empress?”

I took a moment to ponder his question and said, “Both.” Ares raised an eyebrow at me. “It’s fifty-fifty,” I added.

“I think it’s a little more like twenty-eighty. I’d guess that the beautiful Empress Cordelia breaks the scale,” Ares said, twisting his mouth to one side.

“Maybe,” I uttered under my breath, looking away. I didn’t want him to think that I was some kind of wuss in love.

Ares sighed. “Haven’t you listened to anything I’ve told you in the last month?”

I blinked up at him. “I heard everything you said.”

“Heard? Have you
listened
? If you have been listening then you had better remember the most important rules. Never let a woman motivate you if she–”

I finished Ares’ sentence. “Has yet to give you her heart.”

“That’s correct, Victor. What will happen if you allow a woman to motivate you if she hasn’t gifted you with her most precious possession?”

“I don’t know. Oh, wait! A woman will prove her right to change her mind.”

“And what does that leave you with?” Ares eyed me skeptically and thumped his fingers rhythmically against the bookshelf.

“An empty palm where her heart should be, right?” I asked because I wasn’t certain that I had it right.

“Yes, and that’ll leave you with nothing to crush into gritty sand, my son.”

“The heart, yes the heart,” I said and nodded. However, I didn’t want to crush Cordelia’s heart.

I wanted to love her out in the open. I wanted her to love me back. I wanted the elders to see and praise our passion, and the gods to sing about our union.

“Ares, tell me what I need to know. I want to win.”

“Of course you do. You are my son, a warrior, and your name alone means that you can conquer anything,” Ares said draping his arm around my shoulder. “We fight to the end. We always get what we want and we always win – at any means necessary. I’ll tell you all that you need to know and you will be victorious in the end.”

Two - Cordelia

Telltale Dreams

Endlessly blooming, ivory roses surrounded me. Demeter’s blessings were evident as each bud opened and reverted to a bud once more. Something fluttered behind me. I turned around and my gaze fell on Persephone. The hem of my white dress floated from the breeze created by the young goddess’ static-like movements. She raised her eyes to my face.

“Empress, these are for you. It appears my mother has saved the very best to bestow upon you,” Persephone said, handing me a bouquet of lush white roses. They behaved as the other roses did and spiraled. She was correct. The bouquet of roses was by far the most beautiful I had ever seen. I made a quiet vow to thank her mother.

“Will she be joining us?” I asked.

“Unfortunately, Mother is unable to make an appearance here.” Persephone stared around her. I regretted the question when I heard her voice drop an octave and noticed that the rose petals began to wilt. I couldn’t have wilted flowers on my wedding day.

“I know that she would be here if she could. You will see her in the spring.” The shimmer was back in her eyes at the mere mention of seeing her mother again. I beamed as the roses became vibrant once more.

It was a very exciting day for me, for us. Finally, we will be united, and it didn’t matter if the gods did not approve. Suddenly, the melodious music broke the silence, and light filled the poorly lit cathedral walls. Something was rather strange. The walls appeared to be vibrating. It looked as if blue flames roared from behind the stained glass windows. I felt something tug at my arm and the light dimmed considerably. I made out a tall figure through the opaque darkness. It had to be Evan.

“Why is it so dark in here?” I asked, but Evan didn’t answer me.

“You may kiss the bride.” I heard a voice thunder from beyond the points of where my sight could reach.

I closed my eyes and parted my lips. I knew the moment our lips touched that something was terribly wrong. I opened my eyes. The white roses bled with crimson blood. I looked into eyes that were as black as coal and belonged to the one being that could spew enough evil to darken an entire universe. My knees buckled as he continued to kiss me and my stomach felt like it was twisting into knots. Suddenly, the luminous lightning bolts flowed out of my mouth, blinding me and surged into his.

He was taking it. He was sucking the power right out of me.

Fear coursed through my body like a toxic potion, weakening me. I was drained and empty inside. The sudden hollowness in my soul was debilitating. The weight in the words I heard next felt like a ton of bricks had been dumped on my head.

“You belong to me now and I will rule the world.”

My body jerked violently as I opened my eyes. I was surrounded by the usual furnishings of my room and the roses were gone. My head swooned. I thought for a moment that I might be plagued with a mild case of Vertigo. My breath spurted in short jutting heaves. I clenched my chest to calm the staccato tempo of my heartbeat, which sounded more like horses trotting as they pulled the carriages through this dusty little town. The haunting feeling of the dream was hindered by the sudden knock on the door.

“Come in.” I sat up and cleared my throat.

“Miss Cordelia, Mr. Evander is here. He is in the parlor. Shall I have him wait?” Sun Paw said entering my bedroom through the adjoining sitting room divided by drawn velvet curtains.

Just the mention of Evan’s name brought a smile to my face. I nodded my answer as Sun Paw smiled too. Her radiant terra cotta skin practically glowed in the morning sunlight. Her bone-straight hair shone like a lake shimmering in the moonlight.

I dressed quickly, choosing an emerald, floor-sweeping day dress, which brought out the jade green of my eyes. I decided not to go with the customary bun, knowing how much Evan loved to run his fingers through my hair. I marveled at the dark brown waves that framed my heart shaped face and tumbled over my shoulders. Wearing my hair down was not an issue as it often was in the spring and summer. The mid-winter frigid breeze blew harshly from the looming Sierras.

I shut my door, whirled around with the joyous thought of seeing Evan and slammed into Victor.

“I’m sorry. I was just coming to see you,” Victor said as he stepped back and held up his hands. His pitch-black hair, which was tucked behind his ears, shone like onyx. His steel gray eyes burrowed into mine. As always, he was impeccably dressed in a tailored, three-piece suit.

“But you decided to knock me out instead,” I said, chuckling lightly. I adjusted the pleating in my dress. “Was there something you wanted? I’m heading downstairs.”

“If you have a second, I would like to talk to you.” Victor’s eyes darted around the hallway as if he thought someone was eavesdropping.

“Well, someone is waiting for me,” I said hesitantly.

“I know. He’s already here,” Victor said thrusting his chin out as his lips formed a thin line across his face.

“Can it wait?” I asked, now slightly annoyed with Victor’s arrogance at my choice of visitors.

“No, I’m afraid it can’t.” Victor’s voice took on a harder edge. “I’ve just spoken with Ares.”

“It’s nice to know that you two are getting along,” I said, looking away from him. I wish I could say the same for Zeus and me. I’m still waiting for some form of contact from him since I’ve regained my memory and powers a month ago. Secretly, because of course I don’t want my disciples to know of my humiliation, I’m annoyed that Zeus hasn’t answered me all the times I’ve tried to reach out to him. 

“Ares confided in me and I must share the information with you,” Victor said.

“Tell me.”

“Well, according to my fath–, uh, Ares, Hermes sent a message to Hades, as instructed by Zeus, not too long ago. In response, Hades said that he was preparing to take you as his bride as payment for the Queen you killed.”

Suddenly, it felt like someone opened a window and allowed the chilly air in. I shivered, remembering my dream. I could almost taste the coal from Hades’ kiss as he stole my lightning bolt.

“What else did Ares say?” I said calmly, not wanting Victor to notice my fear which crept in with the cold.

“I don’t mean to scare you, Delia.” Victor said reaching out to touch my arm. Thankfully, there was fabric between us. At this point, I wasn’t sure what would happen if our skin touched.

“You haven’t. Go on. What else did he say?”

“He said that Hades has already set the plan in motion.”

“What plan?” I asked, trying to remember anything from my dream. I remembered nothing besides the devastating kiss.

“I tried to get it out of him but he said that he didn’t know for sure.”

“Do you believe him?” I asked.

“Yes.” Victor nodded.

I took a moment to think. I wondered just what it was that Hades had under his devilish, black vapor sleeve.

“Thank you Victor,” I said, trying to smile. I wanted him to know that I appreciated the fact that he was trying to help.

“It is my honor, Empress.” Victor winked seductively, and headed back to his room.

I stood in the hallway for a long moment trying to catch my breath. It hadn’t been a dream at all. It was a premonition. Hades was aware of what I had done. Killing his queen Driella, second to his prisoner bride, Persephone, had been an accident. Although the nasty bitch deserved being torched, her king knew and wanted revenge.

I found Evan in the parlor looking magnificently handsome. I fought my frazzled nerves so that he wouldn’t see me shaken.

“Aren’t you the late riser?” he asked, as he widened his stride. He now stood an erasable inch away from me. I didn’t answer. Instead, I leaned into him and kissed him deeply. The moment our lips touched my thoughts of Hades and wilted roses dissipated. Evan kissed me back and washed away any remnants of my dream. “Hmmm… now that’s how I want to begin every morning, my love.”

I moaned into his silky-smooth neck and he found my lips again, and again I felt as if suspended in the air. No one with the extraordinary powers I possessed could have torn me away from his embrace. When we stopped kissing, Evan looked into my face, narrowed his eyes, and the corners of his mouth began to curl upward. He was blocking his thoughts so I couldn’t read them.

“Oh, come on, aren’t you going to let me in on your little secret,” I said, playfully and I leaned so far into him that I was practically in his lap. I wanted him to know that I was well aware of him using his powers against me.

“What secret?” he asked. His eyes brightened and his grin widened.

“The one you’re blocking me from learning!” I said, crossing my arms over my chest and pretending to be upset.

“It’s for me to know and for you to find out,” he said, chuckling and then he did the one thing that he knew would wipe the fake pout off my face.

“Stop! Oh, gods no!” I squealed, uncontrollably. I couldn’t stop giggling in ripples as he ran his fingers up and down the sides of my torso and squeezed my belly with his fingertips. “Stop, Evan…
stop
!”

“Read my thoughts now, mighty empress!” Evan roared with laughter as he tickled me. I rolled around, laughing hysterically.

We rolled about on the sofa. I laughed hysterically and squirmed until I nearly fell off the sofa in order to free myself of him. He laughed so hard and he snorted so loudly that I could have sworn to the gods that there was a piglet loose in the parlor.

“Okay, okay. I’ll tell you what’s on my mind,” he said, recovering from laughing uncontrollably.

I stood up, smoothed my wrinkled dress, and pouted some more, which just made him chuckle, again.

“I dreamt it again.” Evan said, clearing his throat.

“Really?” I sat back down on the sofa beside him and did my best to compose myself.

“It was very similar to the one I had the night before.” Evan said as he faced me. “You know the one where you and I are…” Evan said, as his cheeks turned several shades of pink. I understood why he had given me that sexy stare a few minutes ago.

“Yes, I remember.” I nodded, feeling my face flush too. I remembered his vague description of us making love. Evan was such a gentleman, and I doubted that he would have ever told me about the dream if it hadn’t been for the strange ending.

“This time it was much more intense. Your aura was irresistible, even more than usual. I could never imagine your aura being sweeter or hotter than it is now but it was in the dream. Your face stayed hidden. Oddly, your hair was several shades darker – as dark as a raven’s, your skin was paler, and our love making was terribly consuming, but then you…,” his words trailed off.

“I know,” I sighed. “Burst into flames.”

“Yes,” he said with a deep breath, as the corners of his mouth sagged. “I tried to drown out the flames, but woke up soaked wet.”

It didn’t surprise me that Evan shape shifted into a Tsunami. What did was the fact that he was unable to save me.

“It’s just a dream, my love. Nothing more.” I tried my best to assure him. I raised his hand up to my cheek and brushed it with my lips. Evan sighed and shut his eyes.

“So she’s on fire and
you
can’t save her?” Victor said sarcastically. “What a waste of power.”

Neither Evan nor I had heard him enter the parlor. We should have known we couldn’t have an intimate conversation with Victor having free reign of my house. Although the mansion was huge and designed so that each room offered some privacy, lately Victor seemed to be in every room I was in.