(Glory St Clair 11) Real Vampires Say Read My Hips (6 page)

“Kill numbers? Kill numbers?” Hera brushed aside a velvet throw and sat up. “If my husband didn’t have plans for you, I swear I would strike you dead where you stand.” She wiped a tear from her cheek.

Achelous bowed his head and didn’t dare say a word. Zeus nodded and moved to stand next to his wife’s chaise.

“I cannot bear the thought that my granddaughter was expected to kill for you. You are a disgrace to Olympus.” She patted the seat next to her. “Come here, child.” She shook her head when my mother moved forward. “Not you, Hebe. I am not happy with you right now. You never should have placed your daughter into that Siren harem. Gloriana, come here.”

I glanced at Zeus but he wasn’t paying any attention to me. He’d stepped forward again and had started in on Achelous who was getting his first dose of lightning. I hurried over to sit next to Hera.

“How could you bear to be a Siren, child?” Hera waved her hand and a handmaiden gave us each a goblet of sweet wine. I didn’t hesitate to take a sip. It tasted wonderful and I took a deeper swallow.

“I don’t remember any of it, Grandmother, if I may call you that.”

“Yes, of course. You don’t remember?” She patted my knee.

I was feeling a nice warmth in my stomach and I figured there was more than just wine in that goblet. “No. Achelous gave me amnesia when he cast me out. I was found wandering the streets of London with no memory and no skills.”

She gasped and clutched my knee. “Zeus! Spare him no mercy! It is a miracle our dear girl survived. Cruel and careless bastard.” She raised a finger and fire shot out. Achelous screamed with pain, his body enveloped in a blue and white flame.

My eyes widened. I’d seen ruthless people before, plenty of them, but the smell of burning flesh, along with Achelous’s agonizing screams turned my stomach.

“Please, Grandmother! I, I didn’t suffer long. I was pretty enough to quickly attract a man to take care of me.” I focused on her and tried to block out the smells and sounds around me.

“Of course you were. Clever girl.” She smiled when I shook my head. “We use what we can to make our way in the world, don’t we?” She glanced at Zeus, her look calculating.

“I would have liked to have done it on my own.” I sipped more wine. “But at first I had to rely on men for help. The world being the way it was back then.” Damn it, I hated to admit that. It was a pattern I’d worked centuries to break.

“Ah, child, don’t feel bad about that. You had something to work with and you used it. Of course you were beautiful. It is a family gift. You are the image of me and your dear mother.” She smiled and my goblet was full again. I didn’t remember draining it.

“It seems this family has many gifts. It took me a while but I finally learned to crave my own power, to not always be dependent on a man.” I glanced at Zeus again but he was busily giving Achelous an Olympus hot foot, setting fire to the god’s sandals.

“I understand completely. Yes, power is important. But here in Olympus, it is still a man’s world. Your grandfather’s, I’m afraid. I struggle constantly to hold my own, but his word is law.” Hera smiled sadly. “Not that I am overly concerned with some of his dictates. A clever woman can do much here. I am proud that you survived as you did. Despite that bastard Achelous’s irresponsibility.” She frowned and sent a dart of fire toward Achelous again, this time with a blink of her brilliant blue eyes. It was a neat trick I wouldn’t mind learning. She smiled at me and nodded.

“I’m glad that I didn’t make a good Siren, Grandmother. That I wasn’t good at killing. But I’ve learned it’s important to be able to defend myself.” I glanced at Achelous again. I didn’t like torture though. They should just go ahead and lock him up. This game of hurting him and making him scream sickened me.

“You obviously have a tender heart. Don’t feel sorry for Achelous.” Grandmother waved a finger and the goblets disappeared. “Now tell me. What are you good at, Gloriana?”

“She has her own business, Mother. The most adorable little shop.” My mother had obviously gotten tired of the “Fry Achelous” show too and stepped closer. 

I must have looked shocked because as far as I knew my mother hated my shop.

“Really? You work? In trade?” Grandmother’s perfectly arched eyebrows couldn’t get any higher.

“She’s into beautiful clothing, Mother. Vintage pieces. Jewels too.” My mother was spinning as fast as she could. She laughed and patted my shoulder. “And has the same love of shoes and handbags we share.”

“Well, I suppose that is acceptable.” Grandmother looked thoughtful. I doubted a goddess ever had to earn a living when she could wave a fingertip and produce a new outfit with a thought. I hadn’t tried it yet but the very idea made my eyes sting. What a gift.

“It was a way to survive on Earth. To gain my independence. I wanted to be a strong independent woman and I’ve made a success of my shop.” This truth made me straighten my shoulders and I felt better when my mother’s hand landed there, support I needed.

“And do you have lovers, Gloriana?” Hera glanced at Zeus. “You will have inherited a lusty nature from your grandfather, all of his children and their children seem to have done so.”

“Yes, I’ve just promised to marry the man who made me vampire all those years ago, Jeremiah Campbell. He is my one true love.” My mother’s hand tightened painfully on my shoulder. Guess she didn’t want me to share that.

“Vampire?” Hera shook her head. “No, that will not do. I’m sure your mother explained things to you. Now that you are here, there will be no more of that vampire nonsense.”

“I told you, Gloriana.” Mother gasped when I jumped up, grabbing the back of the chaise when the room wobbled.

“It’s not nonsense. It’s what I am. Vampire.” I heard Achelous scream again. He was buried in molten lava. I was glad he was hurting, the sadistic bastard, but I didn’t have to stay and watch. “I need to go. I think I’m going to be sick.”

“Gloriana.” My mother stayed by my side, offering her arm. “You cannot leave until Zeus gives his permission.”

“Grandfather. I am unwell. May I go?” I raised my voice so he could hear me over Achelous’s pleas for mercy.

“For now. But you must come back tomorrow. Your mother wants a celebration. To introduce you to the court. I like the idea. Dionysus will arrange a party. He has a talent for such things. We will invite everyone. Except this pitiful excuse for a god and Circe.” Zeus looked away from Achelous long enough to gesture at me and I went to him and got a kiss on the forehead. He smelled like ozone, acrid and hot. I was afraid for a moment that I was going to sneeze.

Mother squeezed my arm. “Thank you, Father. That will be wonderful. Won’t it, Gloriana?”

I managed a nod. “Yes, I, uh, I’m honored.” Can. Not. Sneeze. I stepped back, careful to avoid getting close to Achelous.

“Excellent. The highlight of the evening will be when we tell your father about you. Won’t that be a fine surprise?” Zeus waved us away and went back to his torture. A ring of warriors surrounded Achelous, preparing to throw their spears at him.

I was pretty sure I was going to hurl and almost ran out of the room.

“Calm down, Gloriana. He was almost finished. I wanted to see Achelous’s face when he finds out he’s going to become mortal.” My mother held onto my arm.

“Fine. Stay and watch the show. Just send a handmaiden with me to show me back to my room.” I had had more than enough of the Olympus drama. I wanted to go to bed and sleep for a week. I looked up as soon as the doors closed behind us. Blue sky. No sun but no stars either. No death sleep. I felt strange, not myself. I searched my memory and realized I was… hungry. And not for blood.

“I’ll do that. And, Gloriana, I’ll order you some supper. You didn’t eat your breakfast and then drank Mother’s spiced wine. No wonder you are out of sorts. I will send you something delicious and then you can go to bed afterwards.” Mother patted my arm, obviously eager to get back inside. “I know it’s a bit overwhelming, but this went well, I think.”

“Well?” I glanced back at that enormous door, sure I could still hear Achelous’s agonized screams. “They won’t accept what I am.”

“What you were, you mean. Here you are perfect. Just what they love. A goddess.” Mother touched my cheek. “Now tomorrow is critical, of course, but we will pull it off. Mother has been wonderful, championing you. But don’t go on about your vampire lover. Hera can be pushed too far. I know that. She is happy now but she values wedding vows. Once she thinks on it, the fact that I betrayed Hercules with Mars will make her unhappy. She can take it out on you.”

“No vampire talk. After seeing what Zeus is doing to Achelous, I’m not eager to piss off any of the gods. But don’t think I am over what you did, setting me up on a date with my own father. He kissed me on the lips, Mother. That’s an ick factor I don’t think I’ll ever get over.” I took a breath, relieved that the air was fresh out here.

“Darling. I knew nothing significant would happen between you two. He and I…” she actually flushed and stared down at the stones under our feet, “Well, we have been lovers for thousands of years. He only went on the date with you to tease me. He is in love with me.” When she looked up her eyes were wet. “And I with him.”

“Mother. You can’t ever be together? Isn’t there divorce here?” I actually felt sorry for her.

“No. So we must meet in secret. Hide our true feelings in public. Your existence changes things but we will still have to be discreet.” She sighed. “Gloriana, I will never regret that you came from our love. And Mars will be so thrilled… Please don’t obsess over that one date. If he flirted with you, know that his heart wasn’t in it. He told me later that he truly liked you, but there was no passion between you.”

“Well, I should hope not!” I couldn’t stand here much longer. Between my empty stomach and my reeling mind, I was minutes away from falling to the ground. “Forgetting the entire thing right now.” I sighed. “Now go enjoy seeing Achelous get his punishment. Send the handmaiden and supper. See you later. And, thanks.”

“Thanks?” She stopped as she was turning away.

“Yes. I may not appreciate everything that’s going on up here but you are obviously doing all of this, bringing me to Olympus, showing me off, out of love. And I, um, love you too.” I fell back when she slammed into me, hugging me fiercely.

“Darling. You can’t know what it means to hear you say that. Thank you! My precious daughter.” She dabbed at her eyes. “I will do anything for you, anything.”

I bit back all the things I really wanted her to do. Why spoil the moment? But the time would come when I would test that love. Because I wasn’t staying here. No way in heaven or hell.

#

The great hall was filled with people. The crystal chandeliers had been restored and polished to a high shine and tables piled high with food and drink lined the walls. Either someone had gone to work with air freshener or magic had made any trace of Achelous and his frying punishment disappear. All I could smell were the delicious aromas of roast beef and fresh pastries.

“Welcome to your first bacchanal, niece.” Dionysus stuck a goblet in my hand. He was smiling and looked handsome in a short toga belted at the waist. His sandals were strapped and tied up to his knees. It was a hot look.

“This is quite a turnout.” I sipped the wine. More of that spiced stuff that made my tummy warm and my head light. I had on a beautiful toga again too. This was obviously the uniform for formal events when Zeus was going to be present. Too bad. That closet full of designer clothes had been calling my name and I’d tried on a few of the more exciting looks. Size two? Insane. I had a feeling Jerry would have claimed I looked gaunt. He liked my curves fuller and would have hated that I wasn’t showing cleavage in this rig.

“Command performance. Everyone not in the cells had to be here.” He smiled, his teeth perfect and white. “Not that we needed a command. Who wouldn’t be curious about Hebe’s bastard daughter?” He laughed. “Now don’t look like that. There are more illegitimate children up here than those born in wedlock, myself included.”

I guess I’d recoiled when called a bastard. Not that it really mattered to me but it was just not acceptable to uptight families like the Campbells. Or hadn’t been when Jerry had first taken me home to the Highlands of Scotland to meet his folks back in the sixteen hundreds. Of course times have changed since then. But his immortal parents hadn’t. Jerry’s father liked me, his mother? Didn’t. I had never been good enough for her boy.

I glanced at the golden thrones at the front of the room. Of course now I was a
royal
bastard. Mag Campbell might even be impressed with that. If she believed it. I hardly believed it myself. I caught people staring at me, assessing me and whispering. I guess word had gotten around. Zeus’s granddaughter. These people would be watching closely to see how he treated me. If he accepted me, no one would dare be anything but thrilled to know me.

I wondered if Mars was here yet. I looked for his familiar red plume, the one on top of his helmet. Would he wear his armor to an event like this? Maybe not. The only armor I spied was worn by the warriors standing guard at the doors. I did like Mars, had from the moment we’d met. To think that he was my father… My heart swelled. I’d always wanted a family.

Trumpets blared and a man in a toga with a booming voice announced Zeus and Hera. Everyone bowed low and I followed suit. An aisle had been left down the center of the room and the two walked side by side as they entered from the back of the room. I’d noticed two thrones on the dais tonight. One was noticeably shorter than the other. No surprise that Zeus helped Hera settle herself into the smaller one before he sat in the larger one. You could have heard a laurel leaf drop as the god gazed around the room. Then as one we bowed even lower, practically prostrating ourselves on the floor.

“Please rise, everyone. Hebe, Gloriana, come forward.” Zeus smiled as we raised our heads. He held out his hands and I moved toward him. My mother walked from the other side of the room. When we were directly in front of him, he gestured for us to turn and face the crowd. It was so quiet that I shivered, unnerved. There must have been close to five hundred people in the room and every one of them stared at me, sizing me up.