“Gods, man! Where is your head? Answer the damn door!”
I blinked and as realization dawned on me, I felt foolish. If this was the curse that was making me so distracted, a very unusual occurrence for me, a stab from either Eros's arrow or Ares' sword would have been good ideas. Muttering under my breath, I turned while sniffing to make sure it wasn't Vanessa, and swore outwardly when the scent determined who it was instead.
With a calm breath and a sincere hope that my family members would disappear, I opened the door to see a small, but furious Willa.
When her eyes darted behind me, they widened. Her reaction confirmed for me that Karma was indeed a bitch and trust me, I know her personally.
“What did you do? What did you do to Vanessa, you alien bastard?” She stormed passed me, snarling all the way until she reached where Eros stood.
He looked bewildered and I couldn't understand why he was so transfixed by her, knowing that he only had eyes for Psyche. Then again, Vanessa's sister was the type that drew attention her way, rather easily. In my case, it wasn't in a good way. Her eyes stabbed at me like icy daggers, making me feel even crappier.
Ares wasn't as affected as my nephew and I, so he spoke up with ease. “Alien? You, a mere mortal, dare to speak to gods that way? If you didn't come with such a cute, little ass, I'd turn you into a toad.”
“Wait? What? Gods? Like, God?”
“No, sweet cheeks, Gods as in multiple. The big guy who you seem to want to castrate at the moment, is Hephaestus. Mr. Stare-A-Lot there is my son, Eros. I, the obviously handsome one, am Ares. Lover, fighter and I could be yours, if you'd like.”
If I could explain the face Willa made, you'd get why Eros and I burst into laughter.
Ares' responding countenance to our laughter was beyond ridiculous. He balled his fists and like a toddler throwing a tantrum, he stomped his foot. Glaring at us all, he burned away like a supernova on the crazy train.
Eros had backed off, but kept his eyes targeted on her as if she were an interesting experiment.
Willa ignored him and glared at me, still accusing me with her gaze.
Can't say I was surprised that finding out what I was didn't phase her a bit. More than likely, it justified her hatred of me even more.
“So, did you hurt her?”
“Never. I desire her.”
“Then, what’s wrong with her? My sister may not be the most spirited of women, but she's talking crazy. I fear she's going to die.”
It was wrong, but I wanted to lie. The urge to say
yes, I caused Vanessa's pain and torment
, did not want to come out easily. How could it? How could I explain to this woman that my lusty touch was a curse which created a craving so deep, her sister would cease to live without having it on a constant basis. It was impossible, this truth. A very hard pill to swallow. Yet, as I looked into her hazel eyes, with the same color as my beloved neighbor, I knew I had to be brave and honest. “I touched her, Willa.”
“I know, I was there.”
“Wait, what?”Eros's voice was a mere squeak of surprise. Great to know he was still alive and present.
Too bad I couldn't answer him. I was airing my dirty laundry.
“No, not in the backyard, it was later in the evening.”
“That's impossible. She said it was a dream.”
“What happened in the backyard, uncle?” Eros had found his voice.
“It wasn't a dream. Nor, was it a fantasy the second time.”
“So what? You snuck into her room and gave her a good time, which led to her becoming bat shit crazy? Sounds like some bad Mojo!”
I didn't say anything and after several seconds, the silence told her all I didn't.
She turned away from me then, her shoulders shaking, telling me that she was crying.
One woman, lay in her bed in the dark, waiting for me in a deranged stupor while another wept, because I was the cause for the pain. Not a month in this world and I've destroyed two lives.
Through her quiet sobs and my loud guilt, Eros spoke calmly, but with an underlying urgency. “Since no one wishes to discuss the 'backyard' incident. I will say this uncle, you must make a choice. Leave her to perish or make her yours, eternally.”
“But she could still perish!”
“Have faith, Hephaestus. That’s what true love is all about.”
“Eros, you have helped me so long. I know you’re disappointed. What if I fail?”
Though his face was kind, he couldn't answer, he only shrugged.
He still believed in me, even when I didn't trust in myself.
Willa had stopped crying, but kept her back to me, her fingers touching the small bottle resting upon my table.
I had been in the home of Death before and the silence that stretched around us went from tragic to awkward, the only sound being the cars of returning husbands outside. With a deep sigh, I could tell from his flickering body that it was time for Eros to go. “I'm sorry I took you from Psyche, nephew. I will figure this out on my own. Thank you for coming down.”
“Uncle---”
Raising my hand, I cut him off from any emotional speech he was about to give, because I knew it would have broken me.
He flashed and returned once more, as a rumble of thunder rolled through the sky. Zeus was calling for his return.
I’m not sure why I did this spur of the moment kind of thing, but I pulled him close into a hug, ruffling his hair in a loving manner. Eros was a good kid with a pure heart and he tried to bring that joyous spirit to so many. He even fought to fill it in the hearts of his parents.
“You are a great man, nephew. You do so much, and ask for so little. I understand you more now than ever before. Love isn't a right, it's a privilege.” I continued holding him close, making sure he knew he was loved back by someone in the family. He would know, once he left here this night, that no matter what happened, I was grateful for him believing in me.
We stood that way a moment longer, before I finally let him go.
Tears shimmered in his eyes, hovering on the edge of falling down his timeless face. Taking a deep breath, Eros nodded and began dissolving in a whirl of gold dust.
The tears that stung my eyes, did fall when he whispered a parting message that I knew I'd never forget.“Eíste o patéras to pnév̱ma mou. S'agapó̱.”
You are my spirit father. I love you.
A small hand, holding a white tissue appeared by my right side and I took it, wiping my tears. Peering down, I saw that Willa was grinning at me, holding the very thing that I was trying to avoid. “Well, Mr. Hephaestus, ready to get my sister?”
She had the right idea, though. I had to have faith that this decision would work and I'd be with the woman I knew belonged to me, since the first night I passed her house. “Oh, I am, dear Willa. I very much am.”
“Call me, sis!”
For the first time in a lot of miserable nights, I gave a true smile.
Chapter VIII
Vanessa
My world didn't matter anymore, sounds were muffled and any scent seemed disgusting. I didn't want to eat or see anyone, even when they came to check on me. Calvin had only left an hour ago, begging me to seek help, but I knew that the best professional couldn't save me. For all of my life, I was the fat one, the boring girl. My sister stood out like a rose and I was the dandelion, needing to be plucked and thrown away. This pathetic conclusion was the only thing I could figure that had happened to me.
It's hard to say they were dreams or figments of my imagination, because they were so real. So much so, that when I reached out to touch him, I felt the silkiness that was his hair. I could even feel the way his baritone voice vibrated against my thighs.
My vacation had started and each night I waited for him to return. He said his name was Heph, and that I was the most beautiful creature he’d ever laid eyes upon. He called me a Goddess above even the mighty Aphrodite! But he never returned, like he said he would. He promised and he didn't. “He promised me!”
Most of the glass vases in my house had been broken, victims of my endless ranting, so I had nothing left to throw. Somewhere, in the dark recesses of my mind, I remembered being a different woman, I‘d been independent loved by friends and family. Where had that Vanessa gone? My phone rang, but it was all the way across the room, where I had tossed it. It was probably my sister, asking if I had finally left my bedroom. The answer would be no. The small, square sanctuary with the maple brown furniture and blue walls had become my prison.
The colors were picked by Willa to promote peace and tranquility. Now, all they reminded me of was my neighbor's beautiful eyes. Just when I didn't think I could, more tears fell down my face, spilling until they began drenching the collar of my shirt. Reaching, without looking, I felt around my nightstand for tissues, and my hand came upon something I had nearly forgotten about. “They would never forgive me. But, they don't understand what I'm going through. Hell, I don't even get it.”
Wrapping my arm around the rope, I held it, testing its weight. The dark thought forming in my mind as I ran it through my fingers, its roughness was oddly comforting. Maybe, because his hands were the same way, especially as they glided over my body. It was too soon, though, I still had four days before I gave up. I was going to give him time to come back to me, even though it was just in dreams. “We'll plan it out tomorrow, okay?”
“Of course, I know this is the right thing for us,” the rope responded.
At the sound of a voice outside my room's window, I paused with my inspection of thick, braided cord. There was no way! My heart was pounding faster than my feet, but they did move quickly as I crossed the room to stare down at the street. What I saw there, almost made me have stroke, scream obscenities and want to kill all at the same time.
Below, I watched Willa and my neighbor, Heph talking in front of her van. His massive bulk leaned against it, the frame creaking in protest. While my
loving
sister, stood in front of him, her hand resting sweetly on his wide arm. He looked at her with gentle eyes and he was smiling. That was my smile! When they went to embrace one another, I turned away, a sickening knot in my stomach. Focusing on my bed, the rope wanted my answer. Wait or go?
* * * *
“Stay with me, sweetness. Just keep breathing, you're okay.” The voice was gruff, accented and filled with raw sexuality.
My limbs felt cold and numb, my throat sore. Realization came crashing down on me as my vision cleared. Above me, I could see that the beam that I had wrapped the rope around was broken in half, and I blushed in embarrassment. I bet if I had been a skinny bitch, that wouldn't have happened. Lifting my hand, I felt the scraped skin on my neck, where the binding had rubbed in my downward fall and I flinched. Then, it hit me that I failed my attempt to die and I was still stuck in hell.
“It's okay, lovely. You'll be okay now, I have you.”
I almost forgot the man in my room and twisted my head to look at him straight on. What I saw made me wonder if perhaps, I did die and found my way into sexy man heaven! The pinch of the blood pressure cuff on my upper arm revealed that not to be so. Wanting to move, I tried to push myself up, but his quick and sure hand pressed me back to the floor. The strength he possessed was powerful and very alluring.
His head was bent, so all I could see was his buzz cut hair, black as a raven's feathers. He didn't seem to work for the paramedics or police, as he wore no uniform that I recognized. In fact, he seemed more of the biker type, leather clad, and a provocative hunk of guy. However, I made the mistake of lusting over a newbie before and ended up almost dead. Fool me once, as they say.
“Who are you?” My first mistake was forcing my voice to come out above a strained squeak. The inner damage from the rope was possibly worse than the outer. My second was that the question caused him to look at me directly and I practically came on the spot. He was bad, that I knew, but he was the kind of naughty that made good girls like me end up with their backs against a cold brick wall, down a dark alley way.
His eyes were a brown so bright, they looked blood red and his features were strong and firm. The cocky arch of his brows told me he didn't believe in losing, and would fight dirty if he thought he was going to. It was his lips, so full, delectable and in need of my own mouth kissing them.