Only in Her Dreams (8 page)

Darius and his men were back. He hadn’t expected them so soon, at least a few days for his twin to digest the relationship between Lucessa and Guy, before coming up with a new plan of action. Maxim wasn’t used to being wrong where Darius was concerned.

With a finger to his lips, he moved beyond Lucessa, cautioning her to stay where she was. He moved through the room. A man dressed completely in black searched Lucessa’s desk in the corner. The Melas flung bills and keepsakes to the floor.

Lucessa’s gasp behind him caught the intruder’s attention. Turning sharply in Maxim’s direction, the man came at him. An object clutched in his right hand. Maxim crouched, ready for a fight, thinking only of protecting Lucessa from harm.

“Run!” he shouted.

He advanced around the couch and toward the man coming at him, rage emanated through his body. He didn’t know the man, but from the look on his face the intruder recognized Maxim. He was no doubt sent by his brother. More Melas likely canvassed the house. It wasn’t like his twin to send his men on a mission without Alexander.
What are they looking for?
His search of the house the night before turned up nothing useful.

The man came at him, swinging a cast iron statute at Maxim’s head. The attack was a textbook combat maneuver and Maxim easily ducked under the man’s arm and side stepped his advance. A familiar shape filled the space Maxim’s body had just vacated. Clothed in tight yoga pants, Lucessa wielded a large frying pan, swinging it as the Melas fell forward, off balance after missing Maxim.

The frying pan connected with the Melas’ head. “That paperweight was a gift from my mother, you bastard,” Lucessa yelled.

The man dropped in a heap to the floor. Unmoving.

The frying pan slid from Lucessa’s hands, and Maxim grabbed the cast iron handle before it hit the floor.

Feeling confident the man would be out for a while, Maxim smiled at Lucessa and moved through the living room to the garage beyond. Two men rummaged through Lucessa’s belongings. Neither of these was Alexander, either.

Maxim rushed into the garage. He hit the first with the frying pan, and he heard the resounding crunch of a smashed knee cap. The second man turned to defend his comrade and met the sharp end of a letter opener to the chest.

One guy was crying in agony from a smashed knee cap, and the other was bleeding from the chest, and Maxim sensed that Alexander couldn’t be far away. Darius’ second in command was never far when the Melas Oneiroi were involved. He’d probably taken the opportunity to slip upstairs while all the commotion went on. Quickly surveying the garage, he moved back through the living room, passing Lucessa again as she clutched the paperweight in her hands.

He again signaled for her to be quiet and to stay where she was. Maxim pointed to the upstairs to let her know the fight wasn’t over yet. He moved through the kitchen and slowly up the stairs. As he gained the top landing, Maxim saw Alexander sliding stealthily through Lucessa’s room opening drawers and rifling through clothes. Under his arm he carried what looked like a photograph.

The moment of surprise had almost expired by the time Maxim crept into the room. Grabbing the baseball bat that leaned in the doorway, Maxim swung at Alexander. The man anticipated Maxim’s attacked and dodged the swing, rolling across Lucessa’s bed. With the bed in between them and Maxim blocking the only exit--the door--his eyes darted around the room like a cornered rat, as he looked for an escape.

“Give it up, Alexander. You don’t want to hurt me or the girl. Guy would not appreciate that. The Oneiroi guard would be sent posthaste to dispatch you and Darius,” Maxim reasoned with the Melas. “Hand over what you took. This ends here.”

Alexander continued to look around the room, gauging his options.

Too late, Maxim spied the window. Alexander vaulted through the window. Maxim rushed over in time to see the man slide down and over the ledge of the roof to the ground below. The Melas and his twin would be long gone before he made it downstairs and out the front door. He stared out the broken window as his breathing calmed.

“Who was that?” Lucessa uttered behind Maxim.

“The Melas Oneiroi.”

He turned. Lucessa’s face had turned a chalky white. “What?”

“They came for something else. Look hard, is anything missing from your room?” The object under Alexander’s arm, as he threw himself out the window, was the only clue he had to what Darius and his men were up to.

She looked around the room, focusing on a spot against the far wall. “My wedding picture isn’t on my dresser,” she called. “Why are they interested in my pictures?”

“What do you mean?”

“They took a picture of my dad and me last night, and now my wedding picture. It makes no sense.” She stood with her hands on her hips.

He’d been so preoccupied with figuring out his brother’s plan that he’d neglected to further question her about the break in the night before. He mentally scolded himself.

Her face scrunched together as she concentrated on finding the link between her family photos and the Oneiroi.

Maxim changed the subject, before she pieced the puzzle together and asked the important question. “At least we know they’re not after you. They broke in twice and neither time made an attempt to snatch you.”

The puzzled look remained on her face.
Is she close to piecing things together?
Maxim could only hope not.

Maxim continued, “You should rest now. They have found what they seek.”

“How can you think of bed at a time like this? We need to find out why they’re interested in my family’s pictures.”

“That can wait until morning. You should maybe watch some television and try to fall asleep.” The truth was he needed time alone to think about the connection Darius was trying to make, what his plans were.

“Maxim, why would they take a picture of my
dead
husband?”

Chapter 11

Hera reclined on a cream colored pillow. A strong finger stroked her shoulder and she gazed into the still water before them.

“It has gone too far, my lover.” She made to sit up, but the hand, caressing her a moment before, tightened on her arm. The grasp held her in place.

“I prefer to see how this plays itself out,” Zeus said.

There had been a time when she would have preferred to observe things play out as well.

She turned away from the water bowl and looked into his face which was lit with delight and mischief. His boyish features had drawn her to him, all those centuries ago...but now she sought peace. A calm life with the being she loved.

“You so enjoy havoc and chaos.”

His blue eyes stared in fixation at the scene unfolding before him. “That I do. The order of the gods is forever changing. Alliances are formed and broken right before our eyes.”

“Yes, but why not put an end to their fighting?” She’d often wondered this.

“Without them fighting amongst themselves, they may likely set their sights on Olympus. Would you have them taking all this from us?” Zeus’s arm arced to encompass the garden they lounged in.

He had a point. He always had a point. It frustrated her to see the discord and all the lives affected by the turmoil. She also looked around herself. The roses grew in perfect formation, their hypnotic fragrance covered Olympus. The sun shone brightly over them, so close yet not burning her porcelain skin.
No, I don’t wish to lose this. Ever!

“Sometimes, I think you like besting your brother.” They’d been in competition for as long as she’d known him. The constant bickering and bargaining between Zeus and Hades would never cease.

“There is nothing I delight in more than a little healthy competition between brothers.” Zeus released her arm.

Hera dragged her focus from his handsome face, returning her attention to the bowl in front of her.
I cannot change him.

“But Morpheus’ children? He was your ally, always on your side against Hades.”

“Order will be restored...as soon as my brother fails. He must be put in his place.”

How is he so sure of himself
, she wondered. “But at what cost?”

“Not ours, my love.”

“I do not understand you, Zeus. Guy and Maxim are loyal to you, just as their father before them. They will not let Hades get his hands on Erebos.” She sighed.

“But what will they give up to show their continued loyalty?”

What, indeed!

Chapter 12

Darius leaned against the side of the house just outside the gate his men had entered. His stance remained casual, not wanting to alert any passing car of his nefarious intent. The men were taking longer than expected, but this would likely be their last chance to infiltrate her house.

A crash sounded from above and a storm of glass rained around him. He quickly straightened and shook the shards from his jacket and looked up. Before he could focus his eyes on the roofline, a heavy weight knocked him to the ground.

He pushed the heavy weight off him as the shape also scrambled to get away.

“My apologies, Master,” Alexander whispered.

“Ever heard of a door?” Darius grasped the downspout connected to the house to regain his footing.

“Yes, but I was unable to use it. May I suggest we leave, straight away?”

“Things didn’t go as planned?” Darius asked, traversing through the girl’s front yard in the direction of their vehicle.

“No, Master.”

“Where are the men?”

“While I searched the upstairs, a skirmish broke out below and the men were injured.”

Darius and Alexander slipped into the old Pontiac parked along the curb several houses down. They started it and cruised toward their old abandoned house, not waiting for the others to catch up. They’d find their way back. His men were a resourceful, independent lot.

“By the girl?” He wanted to throw his hands up in surrender.
Fucking useless! The lot of them.

“James was taken out by the girl, but the other two were ambushed by your brother.”

If that’s a smile crossing his face I’ll wring his neck!
Darius thought as he worked to keep his temper under control.

“Guy’s here? He’d never leave the safety of Erebos.”
Fan-fricking-tastic!

“No, your twin was there with the girl.”

“Maxim? Impossible.” His knuckles turned white as his grip on the steering wheel tightened.

“It was him, Master. But I was able to escape.”

“Obvious from your presence here.”

“That is true.” Alexander fished a rectangle object out of his jacket and held it out to Darius. “I believe I found what we seek--the girl’s weakness.”

Relaxing his grip, he accepted the smooth metal frame. With the small amount of light entering the car window, he was able to make out the girl in the picture. She posed in a white dress and a huge smile. Next to her stood a tall, auburn-haired man. The image appeared fairly recent, while the portrait taken the night before had been older. She’d matured nicely.

“I believe it is a wedding picture, Master.”

“Tell me something that’s not completely obvious, you moron.” The wheels spun in Darius’s head. They’d found it, now they needed to find the man in the picture. “Was he in her house?”

“No, there was no other, except the girl and Maxim. I checked each room.”

Maxim--alone with the girl?
Well, isn’t that nice and cozy.

# # #

The glass had been cleaned up, the window boarded, and Lucessa was tucked safely in bed. While he didn’t want to leave her, it was imperative he return to Erebos and update Guy. Maybe he’d be able to sort out what Darius was up to. Maxim returned to the guest room and mentally prepared to give Guy bad news.

He closed his eyes, quashing his need to stay close to Lucessa and thought himself to Erebos. The jump went smoothly, his molecules scrambling and reconnecting with ease. He took form outside his brother’s study, where the door stood slightly ajar.

“Maxim, what news do you have for me? The girl is safe, correct?” His brother’s voice echoed from deep in the room.

Pushing through the door, Maxim entered his brother’s domain. “It is not good news, brother. Darius is desperate. He sent Alexander and a few other Melas into Lucessa’s house again tonight. I think they found what they’d been looking for.”

“That’s the name you are not to speak aloud, Maxim!”

“The secret seems to be out and there’s no need to keep the name hidden any longer.” His use of her given name was a slip he hadn’t realized he’d made. “I know it hurts you not to speak her name. Your pain is not lost on me, brother.”

“My pain, as you call it, is none of your concern.”

Even after all these years, Guy had yet to allow him that intimacy. His eldest brother had not planned to return to Erebos, let alone rule, but he gave up everything to help his youngest brother when he’d been in need.

“My apologies.”

“What did they take?”

“It seems he is only after family pictures. Last night, he took a picture of you and the girl when she was a child and tonight he made away with her wedding photo.”

“Where’s the girl’s husband now? I’d expect he would not relish your presence in their home.”

“He doesn’t seem to mind me being there.”

“That’s interesting. How’d you explain your existence to him?”

“I didn’t need to. He’s six feet under. He died of malaria during his time in Uganda. It was in my report some time ago.”

“He’s dead? I don’t remember reading any of this.”

Maxim was positive he’d included it in his annual report. “Well, yes. He contracted the disease and went fairly quickly, from what I heard. As my report said, I immediately started keeping a closer eye on Lucessa. She didn’t handle his death well and her dreams tortured her for some time, but they mainly focus on her childhood with you and Marie now.”

“And how is she adjusting to your protection?”

“She invited me to stay in her guest room, even changed the sheets for me." At Guy’s raised eyebrow Maxim continued, “Come on Guy, she is a lot like you. She hit a Melas in the head with a frying pan tonight for coming at me with a sentimental paperweight.”