The Gatekeeper's Sons (The Gatekeeper's Trilogy) (25 page)

She closed her eyes and sighed. When she opened them, he was gone.

In the next moment,
her aunt was knocking at the door. “Therese? You awake?”

Therese pulled off the robe and gingerly laid it on her bed. “Yeah. I was just coming downstairs.”

She and Clifford followed Carol down the stairs to the living room where Richard sat watching the late news.

“Did you have a good time with your friends?” Carol asked as she sat on the sofa next to Richard.

Therese and Clifford curled up together on a chair beside the empty fireplace. “Yes. Todd’s truck is so awesome. I was a little scared at first, up so high, but once I got used to it, it was really cool.” Then she asked, “Did you guys have fun dancing?”

Carol and Richard exchanged smiles. “A blast,” Carol said. “I can’t believe we’ve gone dancing twice in one week!” She patted Richard’s thigh.

Richard laughed. “Yeah, hopefully I’m paid up for a while.”

Carol punched him in the shoulder. “You hush!”

Therese smiled. “Thanks for driving. Did Jen get my text? She never replied.”

Carol nodded. “She and her boyfriend seemed not to mind. Pete, seemed disappointed. They left before we did.”

Therese wondered again over what Jen had said in the restroom of the Wildhorse Saloon, but before she could think much about it, something on the television caught her attention.

“Late breaking news,” the anchor person said from the television. “A La Pla
ta County inmate known as Kaveh Grahib was strangled and killed tonight behind bars by an unknown perpetrator. Grahib was arraigned several weeks ago as a suspect for the murder of a Durango couple, Linda and Gerald Mills, which took place near Fort Lewis College five weeks ago. Investigators have no leads but are looking into this case.”

“Oh my God
,” Therese said gaping.

“I’m calling the lieutenant.” Carol stood from the couch.

Richard took her hand. “It’s after midnight.”

“I don’t care. This concerns us.” Carol crossed the room to the phone at the kitchen bar, took up the business card lying next to it, and dialed the lieutenant’s number. “Lieutenant Hobson, this is Carol Stuart. Would you please call me as soon as possible? We just heard about what happened to
Kaveh Grahib, and we’re concerned. Thanks.”

As soon as she hung up the phone, it rang.

“Hello?” Carol said. “Uh-huh. Is that good or bad?” Carol paused. “Okay, thanks.” Carol hung up the phone and looked across the kitchen at Therese. “The lieutenant said he’s sending out another officer to guard the house and that we should play it safe for a while. So, Therese, no more walking, even with Than. Got it?”

Therese nodded.

Carol sat back down on the couch beside Richard, who wrapped his arm around her and kissed her cheek.

“Don’t worry,” Richa
rd said. “I’ll stick around until the police know you’re absolutely safe.”

Therese was grateful that Richard could offer her aunt some peace of mind. She knew that gods were watching over her aunt and him, and although that didn’t erase the fear looming over her, it diminished it and made it bearable.

“I’m going to bed,” Therese said to them. “See you in the morning.”

“Are you working again tomorrow?” Carol asked.

“Through Sunday,” Therese replied. “Sunday is my last day, I think.”

“Good night,” Richard said. “Just call us or come down if you need anything.”

“Thanks,” Therese said, and then she and Clifford went upstairs to her room.

As promised, Than was waiting for them, stretched out on her bed with his eyes closed. She wanted to cross over the room and climb on top of his perfect body. She was studying him when he opened his eyes and gave her his brilliant smile.

“Sleepy?” she asked.

“A little.”

“Did you hear what’s happened?” She climbed on the bed next to him.

He sighed. “My sisters just returned from the
Underworld. Grahib’s in Tartarus now. McAdams had him killed for talking. He found out about tonight’s failed attack.”

“I’m scared,” Therese said, and though it was true to some extent, she knew she should be a lot more frightened than she was. It was hard to be frightene
d when she felt so safe with Than.

He
took her hand and kissed the inside of her palm. “I won’t let anything happen to you. Now let’s get your mind off of this. Are you ready to travel with me?”

“Yes.” She got up and put on the silver silk robe. “What do I do?”

“Just hold my hand. This will feel a little weird.” He stood beside her and took her hand. “Ready?”

“Ready.”

Everything around her was bright—so bright she closed her eyes. Her body felt as if she were wrapped in tight plastic wrap. She couldn’t move and could barely breathe, and the air seemed thick and impenetrable around her. She wasn’t hot or cold, but the pressure was great, as it is when ascending in an airplane, and her ears popped. All of this happened within a few seconds. Then she felt the cool plastic wrap disintegrate, and she could breathe. She opened her eyes to find herself in the living room of the Melner cabin, and sitting on the cozy furniture were Than’s two sisters and someone else—a glowing man with golden winged shoes on his feet. He looked up at Therese with astonishment.

“You shouldn’t have brought her here,” he said to Than
.

Chap
ter Twenty-Five: Hermes, the Messenger

Than stepped forward. “I didn’t know you were here, Cousin Hermes.” Hermes stood and took Than’s hand. “What has caused you to grace our presence?”

Therese noticed that
Hermes was older looking and not as tall as Than, though his hair was the same dark brown, but curly rather than wavy, in tight knots around his head. His beard looked much the same as his hair. His pale red robes hung to his knees, and a wide gold belt secured the robes at his waist. The belt matched the golden shoes and the helmet lying beside him on the arm of the chair. He wouldn’t blend with humans as well as the others without changing his wardrobe. “I bring grave news from Mount Olympus.”

“How grave?” Than asked.

Meg frowned. “You may as well sit down, Than.” She pointed to a chair, her diamond bracelets jangling. Her usual black go-go boots had been replaced by brown sandals, and her white silk pantsuit gave her a less intimidating look.

“First return the girl,” Hermes suggested.

“This concerns her, too,” Tizzie, in green silk and her emerald set, offered. “She should stay.”

Therese could not imagine how any news from Mount Olympus, grave or otherwise, would have anything to do with her.

“Very well,” Hermes replied. “Please come have a seat. Tonight will be long and grave for us all.”

Before sitting down, Therese asked, “Shall I make us a pot of coffee?” She offered because she needed a cup herself, and she suspected the
Melner cabin was well stocked.

Than squeezed her hand. “That sounds nice. Thank you.”

So he’d heard of coffee, but not tea, Therese noted. Or maybe he just didn’t want to bother with asking what coffee was. Hermes seemed anxious to talk.

Than
and Hermes sat down while Therese crossed over to the kitchen, which was open to the living room, so she could still hear Hermes speaking as she rummaged through cabinets looking for coffee and filters.

“Zeus sent me to warn you that Ares is supporting this man, McAdams.”

Therese froze like a statue.

Hermes continued, “He hopes to protect the potency of the biological weapon McAdams has already sold to numerous foreign coups. Ares’s ultimate goal is to build a strong power in the Middle East to enable a third world war. He wants to see the U.S. fall.”

Therese shuddered as she scooped the coffee grains into the filter. So they had been after her mother.

Than groaned. “No wonder.”

“That’s not all, brother,” Meg said sardonically. “Listen.”

Hermes said, “In an effort to keep you from winnin
g over the girl, who might someday be a threat to him if made a goddess, Ares went to Cupid and convinced him to shoot his arrow into a mortal man who had a chance of wooing the girl away from you. The man has been struck, and his love is growing more and more devout every day.”

Than
shifted on the couch. “What’s the mortal’s name?”

Hermes replied, “Peter Holt.”

Therese dropped the spoon on the kitchen floor, splattering coffee grains everywhere. She looked for a broom as Hermes continued.

“Aphrodite is sick over this, and so is Cupid now that he knows about Ares’s intentions, but there’s nothing they can do to prevent the mortal from loving the girl. However, both have sworn allegiance to you
against Ares, and as we speak, Aphrodite is securing the support of Apollo. You know how Ares feels about Aphrodite. Angry isn’t strong enough to describe how he’s feeling now.”

Tizzie
said, “Even so, Shining Apollo will be a useful ally.”

“You speak as though there’s a war,” Than
said.

“You haven’t yet heard all, brother,” Meg warned.

“In response to this move of Aphrodite’s,” Hermes said, “Ares went to Poseidon to seek his aid.”

Therese finished cleaning up the coffee grounds, fitted the filter in the coffee maker, and added the pot of water. When she returned to the living room to take her spot beside Than
on the couch, she noticed the worry in his face.

“Poseidon has agreed to stand by Ares,” Hermes said. “Fortunately for you, Artemis has already pledged her allegiance to the girl.”

“Her name is Therese,” Than said. “So Artemis sides with Aphrodite? That’s highly unusual. Those sisters of yours are typically at odds.”

“Yes,” Hermes agreed. “But Artemis is pleased with Therese’s love for the animals and the forest. It makes no difference to her what Aphrodite chooses; Artemis wants to help the girl.”

Therese’s mouth dropped open. She couldn’t believe she had attracted the attention of so many gods. She felt afraid and excited at once.

“Hades stands with us, of course,”
Tizzie added.

“At least for now,” Hermes interjected. “He’s miffed about his son making a choice that offends Ares. He wishes you would reconsider, but he will stand by his promise.”

Than grimaced. “I will not reconsider. Only Therese’s choice to remain a mortal can keep her from becoming my bride.”

Therese felt faint.
Than’s love inflamed her, but the whole god and marriage situation was overwhelming.

Tizzie
said, “But even with Hades on our side, Ares has a formidable threat against us. Along with Poseidon, Ares has his three daughters—the Amazons—and his wife, Enyo, and their children.”

“Not to mention McAdams and his
other men,” Meg said.

“What about your father?” Than asked Hermes.

“Zeus and the others are still undecided. Hera will likely align herself against Aphrodite, but that is merely speculation.” Then Hermes added, “This is the biggest rift between the gods since the Vietnam War. I can only imagine how it will end.”

“What do you recommend, Hermes?” Than asked in a husky voice.

Hermes shook his head. “For now, I do not know. I wish to discuss some possibilities tonight. Ares is an evil, blood-lusting ass of a war-god, and I and my father despise him, but I fear for all who oppose him.”

Therese got up to check on the coffee, and although the pot was only half full, she poured the four gods and herself a cup. Recalling Than and his sisters’ love of sugar, she added generous, heaping te
aspoons to each of the cups except her own. She put all five cups on a tray and served them. “It’s hot,” she said. “Be careful.”

“
Mmm,” Meg purred. “Delicious. You can add coffee to your new list of bribes for me. Coffee and chocolate will get you what you want from me.”

Tizzie
added, “Don’t forget a concert to boot.”

“Thank you for the coffee,” Hermes said to Therese. “And what is this I hear about a concert? Do you play a musical instrument?”

Therese blushed. “The flute.” She hoped she wouldn’t now be asked to perform. She had just learned an evil god helped to kill her parents and was behind tonight’s attempt to kill her—not to mention the fact that Cupid unwittingly locked Pete’s heart on hers, which started a chain reaction among the gods, the largest rift since the Vietnam War!

“The flute! That will please Athena. She invented it, you know
, though some folks credit me with it. Perhaps some music would calm us after all this talk of strife and discord,” Hermes said. “If you will play your flute, I will harmonize upon my pipe.”

Therese was about to point out that her flute had been left behind when it dawned on her how easily that problem could be remedied now that she had her traveling robe. The last thing she wanted to do was disappoint a god, especially one who could easily change his allegiance. Maybe if she played with him, and played well, she would win his heart. She looked at Than, “Shall we pop back over to my place to get my flute?”