Desperate Housewives of Olympus (13 page)

“No, you don’t understand. I. Am. Sorry. I feel it here,” he said and splayed his hand on his stomach.

“Sorry doesn’t erase the fact you took what she had.”

“Can I give it back?”

Death sighed and frost covered the windows. “Yes, but it will hurt.”

“Nothing could hurt more than this… regret. How do mortals stand it? It’s like food poisoning.” Zeus still looked startled.

“Yes, my King. Regret is a poison.” Death nodded.

Abstinence had stood on her own and moved like a wraith toward Death. She felt so light, as if she floated. When she’d been lost to the pleasure and the sensation, it felt like two forces bearing down on her and lifting her simultaneously. This was simply as if she’d become a part of the air.

“Don’t be frightened, Merry. It doesn’t hurt. There is no sorrow or pain. Only this.”

“As your King, I command you to go and leave this goddess,” Zeus stood, his voice also shaking the temple walls.

“You are the King of Gods, Zeus. But no being has power over Death, but Fate.”

“Then choose. Choose to leave her with me.”

“Why should I, Zeus? What have you done for me or any other being that I should risk the consequences of denying my purpose?”

“Because it’s not her fault. It’s mine. She doesn’t deserve to pay for my actions.”

“My actions were my own,” Abstinence said as she found her voice. “Those who don’t deserve to pay are those who will bear the mantle of Abstinence after I’ve gone.”

“A deal with Death does not come easy,” he warned. “Every day I see love for fellow beings burn in the hearts of those who would trade themselves to spare others and I do not make these bargains. Why should I make yours?”

Zeus looked defeated. “I don’t know.”

Death smiled. “That’s the right answer. I’ll do this for you. This one time, but there are conditions.”

Zeus scowled. “I figured. What are they?”

“You give back what you took.”

“As soon as I figure out how.”

“The same way you took it,” Death explained as if Zeus were a schoolboy asking how to return a piece of candy he’d stolen.

“What are you talking about?” She still wasn’t sure what he’d taken. At first, she thought he’d been talking about the fey idea of her life, but it seemed to be they were talking about something more tangible he’d taken from her; something physical he could put in his hand and walk away with.

“Later, Abi.” He brushed her off as if this conversation had nothing to do with her. “What’s the second?”

“You owe me.”

“I know that too, Thanatos.”

“No, Zeus. You
owe
me. A boon. And when I ask for it, no matter what it is, you must grant it. Swear it on your godhood.” Death looked pleased with himself.

“I don’t swear anything on my godhood. What if it’s something I can’t grant?”

“No, what you mean is, what if it’s something you won’t grant, something you’re not willing to sacrifice. And my answer to that is tough shit.”

Death’s aura of power was thinning—Abstinence could tell he hadn’t lost anything, but he’d pulled his strength back inside of him and while he was still all of the things he’d appeared when she’d first seen him, he wasn’t as horrible. He was a person—more real—than the dark ideal of his office.

She found it funny. Abstinence had thought something was more real than death. It didn’t get much more real or in your face than the end of all things. She giggled.

“I don’t see why you’re laughing.” Zeus’ face was dark as a thundercloud.

Abstinence found this even funnier. He’d been so nonchalant about the whole thing, it was only her existence. He’d wanted to play and laugh and now, he was serious as… well… death. She laughed some more.

“Laugh or cry,” Thanatos shrugged.

“Stop it, Abi. You could have died.”

What did he care? Had someone just miracled him a soul? He’d come to her house with every intention of seducing her, knowing what it would do to her. Then when it happened, he was upset about it. Maybe it was because he’d only gotten a kiss and not the whole enchilada.

“You knew I could have died when you came over and decided to tempt me with wine and chocolate.”

“I said I was sorry.”

“Yeah, sure. You’re sorry. My nieces or my sister would have been doomed to this loveless, pleasureless, misery and you’re sorry.”

“I’d love to leave you two to battle this out, but I need my answer, Zeus. Yes or no. It’s up to you.”

“You don’t need his answer, Death. I’ll go with you. I don’t want anything from him.”

“What about your family?” Thanatos asked.

“Ah, you need something from this too.” Abstinence was disappointed. For a second, she’d thought Death was different.

“I do, but I’m asking because I agreed to make this deal because of your selflessness.”

She sagged, although she was relieved to see her instincts had been correct. “If Abstinence passes to them, I know my sister wouldn’t last a day. Is there a goddess of excess? She’d be prime to fill that role. Living as Abstinence would do her in and she wouldn’t suffer long. Neither would my nieces.”

“So, Zeus. Do I take her?”

“It’s actually not up to him, Death. If Fate says I’m to go, I’ll go,” Abstinence answered for him.

“There are things at work here bigger than any of us. So yes, this does hinge on what the god-king has to say.” His eyes flashed and she fell into a dark future where not just her family suffered, but the whole of the world was draped in misery.

“I don’t understand,” Zeus said.

“You aren’t meant to. Not yet.”
“Then yes.”

“Yes, what, my King?” Thanatos prodded.

“Yes, I will give her back what I took. And yes, damn you, you can have your bloody boon—whatever it is. I promise on my godhood. Are you happy now?”

“No, but I can leave.”

And Death was gone with his cold that chilled her marrow and froze her heart. Abstinence was left alone with duality of her would-be murderer and savior.

“Come here,” he said grimly.

Like hell. “No.”

“Listen, I can’t make good on my promise unless you do.”

“I don’t care. I’m not getting within ten feet of you.”

“Abi,”

“Stop calling me that.”

“Why?” His serious demeanor was gone.

Abstinence could feel her resistance melting away. “What are you doing?”

“Besides fucking myself in the ass?” He took a step toward her.

“What?”

“Look, you’re making me use my power to gain your compliance. Now, I made a promise on my godhood. So I have to do this or lose everything.”

“Hmm, this conversation sounds familiar,” she quipped with a smirk that was supposed to be a scowl.

He was already past her walls and she didn’t stand a chance against him, although she was going to try.

“Abi, I’m not going to hurt you. But the more you make me use my energy compelling you, the more I’ll have to take from someone else.”

“You will have to explain that statement before I agree to anything, your godhood or no.”

He sighed into his hand before he spoke. “I need sex, okay? That’s where my youth comes from. Sexual energy keeps me healthy. Without it, I’d be only immortal, but what’s immortality without youth? I feed off of the energy.”

“Like an incubus?”

“A what?”

“It’s a demon.”

“Whatever. It doesn’t really hurt anyone, but me if I don’t get it.”

“Tell that to my corpse, jackass.” Abstinence backed away another step.

“I didn’t think a kiss would hurt you. It wasn’t sex.”

“It was. For me.”

Zeus looked like she’d just hit him in the mouth with a dog rocket and told him to open wider. “A kiss?”

“Yeah, a kiss. It was the kind of bliss I’ve never known and something I don’t want to live without now that I’ve had it.”

“I’m sorry.” He looked as if he wanted it to all go away, so harried and tortured. Even though she was the one he’d almost killed.

Why did he care anyway? She’d told him what his seduction would do to her and he’d done it anyway—yes, for all of his contrition and “sorry” it came back down to that every time. Zeus was like a child who’d been caught tracking mud on his mother’s white carpet and he’d apologize, he felt badly for it while he was being scolded, but he’d do it again.

“You keep saying that, but what does it mean, really? You’re sorry. So what? It doesn’t change what you did to me.”

“I have to give you back what I took, Abi. One more moment of pleasure? Will it still be so euphoric if it’s not forbidden?”

“I—,” she broke off, at a loss.

“I can promise it will be quick. In a few moments, my youth will fade and wither. My shoulders will shrivel and narrow and my back will bend. Your bliss will wilt under the ugliness of age. If you force me to compel those feelings in you to get close enough, I’ll be nothing but a talking husk.”

It all made sense to her now. Why he threw Hera’s love away, why he was always fucking some other goddess or mortal. He had to. She knew how the world worked and how much easier it was for him to keep his reserves full when he was already young and strong.

“You don’t have to give it back, Zeus. Keep it. A gift. Only never come back to my temple.”

“I can’t, Abi. I have to give it back. It’s part of my oath. Now, please come to me,” he entreated. “I’ve never had to work this hard for a simple kiss. You don’t understand what it’s like.”

Abstinence was moved by the plea on his face and the sincerity in his voice. “Then tell me, Zeus. Help me understand why I should care about your godhood after what you did.”

“Asking for this kiss is like a crack addict asking you to take his hit for him.”

“Sex is your drug?”

“Yes and it’s an addiction I can’t ever be free of. To survive, I have to feed it. I can’t go cold turkey, or take twelve steps, it’s always there. I won’t lie to you, Abi. It feels so good. It’s a rush unlike any other and feeling that youth wash over me, it’s a high I’d kill to have.”

“I know. You almost killed me.”

“But I didn’t want to. I’ve never felt any remorse for anything I’ve done to feed myself. And now… gods, just let me do this and get it over with. Then I can leave and you’ll never have to see me again.”

Abstinence didn’t trust him, but she did trust Death. She had a feeling if Zeus tried to screw this up, there would be a horrible reckoning. Death was a surety, a constant. More so than even taxes. Everything had an end and that was a universal truth, so it stood reason Death himself would be much the same.

Abstinence let him hold her and tilted her face up to meet his kiss. When his lips brushed hers, it wasn’t what she’d expected. She’d thought it would be the passion and fire that burned her before, but it was bitter and cold. She wondered how sick that made her because she wanted more. She desired the chill of his suffering more than the heat.

Suddenly, where his shoulder had been golden and hard was ashen and flaked away like bits of burned paper. It quickly spread to his whole body and as his legs crumbled beneath him, he rasped, “Get my wife.”

PERSEPHONE

Persephone had given up all pretense of hiding the fact she was trying to call Hades. She frankly didn’t care who knew about it: from Zeus, to her mother, to those powers higher than those on Olympus. She didn’t give a feathered damn. Proven by the fact she was sitting outside Pomegranate Pizza where anyone who cared to see what she was doing could.

And he had yet to answer.

She dialed again and expected his voicemail. So when she heard the echo of his voice on the other end of the line, Persephone found her mouth open and no sound coming out. She knew if she didn’t say something he was going to hang up.

“Hades?” Well, no shit, Sherlock. Who the hell else would be answering his phone?

Dead silence answered her. She couldn’t even hear him breathing.

“Hades? It’s Persephone.”

“I know who it is.” His response was cold and empty.

Her first instinct was to throw the phone and bawl until her face hurt and she passed out from lack of ambrosia, but she’d known this wasn’t going to be easy. She still didn’t know what to say. So she was going to be honest. Her pride wouldn’t keep her warm at night.

“I miss you,” she said in a rush.

“Does your mother know you’re talking to me?” This was said evenly, no trace of emotion either way. No anger, no joy, no anything.

“No, but I don’t care. I’ll tell her,” she promised passionately.

“Why would you do that?” Hades asked as if he really had no idea why.

“I want to come home.” Yeah, home. That forbidding castle nestled in the dark places of the universe, it was
home
. Anywhere Hades happened to be was home to her now.

“You are home.” His words had a finality to them that dropped a lead weight on her chest, she couldn’t breathe.

“No, I’m not.” She shook her head as if he could see her. “I need you.”

“I’m not in the hero business, Persephone. Save yourself from whatever mess you’ve landed in.”

“I’m trying to, Hades. I fucked up, okay? And I’m sorry. I’m more sorry than I can say for how I’ve hurt you.”

It doesn’t matter. It’s done.”

“No, it’s not done. Say you forgive me.”

“I forgive you,” he parroted. Persephone knew he didn’t mean it, didn’t feel it. What had she expected? Eros had told her he would be indifferent. He was right though, it cut her more deeply than his rage ever could.

“If you forgive me, then come get me. Right now, I’m ready to be yours in all ways.” She swallowed hard. “I love you.”

He actually laughed and it was hollow and dark, all the things she’d been told to expect from him before he’d held her tenderly. “Then I
am
sorry. Truly.”

“What do you have to be sorry for? I’m the one who didn’t understand this thing between us; I’m the one who was afraid. Why are
you
sorry?” She didn’t comprehend what he was saying.

“Because you’re going to hurt, Persephone. It’s going to feel like someone is taking a razorblade to your beating heart every minute of every day until you find something that numbs the pain, the memory. Something that makes you forget the scent—,” he broke off.