Sunburn (22 page)

Patience swayed, and her eyes felt so heavy. Why wouldn’t all these people stop talking so loudly? What did a girl have to do to get some sleep around here? Without meaning to, she leaned on Nicodemus.

The demon picked her up as deftly as he could, considered they were tethered to each other. “That’s it, princess. Close your eyes. I’ll take you home.” He darted his bulbous eyes at Doris and Angie. “Now, back off you annoying harridans. In my day…” He trailed off, moving his hand in a cutting motion to symbolize the guillotine.

Patience could barely see through her droopy eyelids. She wound her arms around the demon’s neck and laid her head on his shoulder. “Nighty night.”

The demon chortled. “You heard her, girls,” he taunted Angie and Doris. “Nighty night!”

With that, he escaped into the black mist and Patience began her sleepy journey to hell.

Chapter 18

Apollo stood still at the mouth of hell, tense, watching and waiting. Where were they? Had they beat him here? Was Patience already lost to him?

No. He just knew it. He felt it in every bone. She wasn’t here yet.

There was a swishing sound behind him on the River Styx. He turned briefly and spied Charron the hellish ferryman, gliding down the river toward him. Charron offered him a ghastly grin, as if understanding Apollo’s intentions, and doubting his ability to follow through with them.

“Fuck you, you creepy son of a bitch,” he muttered to the ferryman. He turned around. “Your boat’s staying empty tonight.”

For a long time, Apollo stood there, his gaze glued to the unending darkness ahead of him, while Charron stood sentry behind him on the water. Apollo clutched a vial of shimmering liquid, and had to remind himself not to squeeze the bottle so hard it shattered.

Where are you, Patience?

Finally, after what felt like hours, he heard a shuffling sound somewhere in front of him in the pitch landscape. He fingered the vial, running his thumb over the lip of the bottle. Allowing his eyes to glow golden, he let their light shine into the darkness.

Nicodemus was carrying a limp, unconscious Patience. Just the sight of her in another man’s grip, okay, another beast’s grip, made him want to spit blood. She was his, no one else’s, and he would make her his forever. It was what she wanted too.

Maybe she wouldn’t want to be subjected to the ritual, but there was no choice.

What if it doesn’t work? What if it kills her?

He blinked his eyes hard and dismissed the frantic thoughts racing through his brain.

The demon shuffled closer and huffed, spying the vial of liquid. “Seriously, dude? The nectar? After all my trouble? That just stinks.”

“Give her to me. Now.”

Nicodemus let out a great, stinky sigh and handed over his burden with reluctance. “I’d better not get into shit with Hades because of this.”

Apollo spared him a glance as he laid Patience on the cold ground. “Fuck off.” He turned quickly to Charron. “You too.”

The demon boarded Charron’s boat, and the pair of ghouls floated away.

In their place, Hades appeared, standing over Apollo’s and Patience’s forms. He eyed Apollo with something that looked suspiciously like concern. “Have you given her the nectar yet?”

“I’m just doing it now.” He pried open Patience’s closed mouth and grimaced. The smell of death was already clinging to her. Her pallor was ashen. He couldn’t feel a pulse in her throat.

“Hurry,” urged Hades. “I’ve never seen the ritual conducted on one so far gone. I’ve only ever known it done to those who are still, uh, alive and kicking.” He crouched next to Apollo. “This might not work.”

“I know,” Apollo cried. “I know! Just let me do it in peace.” Hands shaking, he tipped the liquid into her mouth and it pooled there. She wasn’t even swallowing, she was so … dead to the world. He massaged her throat, helping the liquid to ease its way down. Some of the nectar dribbled at the corners of her mouth, leaving a sparkling trail around her lips. He wiped it with a finger, and inserted his finger into her mouth so she received the full dose. After a moment, he removed his hand from her face and stared at her.

He and Hades stared for half an hour, even though it felt like a day.

As despair took hold of his being, he finally dared to whisper, “How long does it take?”

He heard Hades swallow. “It’s supposed to take effect immediately.”

Apollo ran a trembling hand through his hair. “Can we do something?”

“Not even Zeus can influence the outcome of the ritual. It either works, Apollo, or it doesn’t.” He laid a hand on his nephew’s shoulder. “I really am sorry. She seemed lovely.”

Apollo felt his head move from side to side. “No. No, this isn’t happening.”

“If you’d like, I can take her away myself.”

He roared, “No!” Apollo stood, and gathered Patience in his arms. “I’m not letting her go!”

Hades stood and sighed. “Look, kid, it’s best not to drag this out. Believe me, I know better than anyone.”

Apollo could barely see for the fury mixing with tears in his eyes. He gulped at air, any air he could snatch in that foul place. “No. She stays with me.”

“Apollo, if the nectar hasn’t transformed her blood into the sacred ichor by now, it isn’t going to happen. What do you plan to do? Bring a corpse to Olympus?”

“Don’t you
dare
call her that! She’s not dead.” Tears ravaged his face, streaking hot rage down his cheeks.

Hades stared. “Fine, do what you will. But whatever you decide, don’t cling to her so long she eventually turns into something you no longer recognize. I don’t mean to sound harsh, but you won’t have much time before she … changes.”

Apollo let out a savage cry and held her tighter. His eyes stinging, he buried his face in her hair and let his grief take him. “My sweet baby.”

They stood there for some time before Hades put a hand on his arm, and Apollo realized, for the first time, he was strangely glad for his uncle’s company.

Hades shook him gently. “Go home, Apollo. There’s nothing for you here.”

He met his uncle’s gaze and a world of understanding passed between them.

And then, still holding onto his dead lover, Apollo took flight and headed to Olympus.

* * * *

He took her to his Olympian home, a bright, airy villa set among tranquil gardens and rivers. As soon as he touched down on the fragrant earth, his flock of white swans honked and rushed to greet him. The beautiful birds took one look at him and at Patience. As if understanding, they retreated with a sad waddle.

He flew with her into his bedroom, a spacious room that overlooked his prized apple orchard. And even though the scent of sweet apples flooded his senses, he could not be cheered.

Apollo laid her on his bed, what should have been
their
bed, and climbed on next to her. He rolled her toward him, gathered her in the softest, yet fiercest, of embraces, and whispered words of undying devotion. He kissed her lips and her closed eyelids, feeling for any flutter of movement.

There was none.

“I will love you forever,” he vowed.

And then Apollo held his woman and didn’t move for a very long time.

Chapter 19

Patience tried to peer through her sticky eyelashes, opening her eyes a crack, but saw only hazy, muddy shapes. And she seemed to be up against a brick wall, because her nose was pressed up against something very hard. Or something very muscular.

She lay there, unmoving, and unable to move. She fluttered her eyelids once or twice, and even that tiny motion set her heart racing. Everything hurt inside, as if each of her muscles and bones had been smashed by a huge anvil. Her body parts felt unglued, unstitched, and she doubted she had a needle big enough to sew her back together again.

She couldn’t even gather her wits enough to let out a crazed breath, and at the same time, didn’t seem to be suffering for lack of breath either.

She just
was
.

It seemed she lay up against the hard surface for decades, confused but also oddly comforted by its weight. And as her blood seemed to pick up speed in her veins, scattered memories dashed through her consciousness.

Each one screaming Apollo’s name.

Apollo. Apollo.

Oh, God, where was he?
Where am I? Is this hell?

She was supposed to be in hell, that much she remembered. Maybe they’d locked her up somewhere. That would explain the heavy weight winding around her body.

Only it felt like a strong arm.

Wait.

Move. Say something. Just breathe, dammit. Anything!

She harnessed all the power in her body, which didn’t feel like much, and tried to press air through her windpipe. The noise that emerged sounded like a soft fart. And as ridiculous as it was, it was enough to get the attention of whatever was holding her down.

It moved. It pulled away, just a little. And then she heard the voice she loved above all others.

“Great stones of Cronus! Oh, fuck me!”

She forced herself to talk, hearing only a faint squeak. “I’d love to, but I can’t move.”

Apollo gathered her, squeezing her as if his life depended on it, and she suspected it might. Just as hers depended on being with him.

Was it possible she’d been given another chance?

He pulled away to look at her, his eyes big and blue, and then embraced her hard again. And then he pulled away once more, clearly not believing his eyes. “The nectar,” he said, sighing. “It worked.”

She struggled to sit, and he helped raise her to a sitting position. With each passing second, her equilibrium returned and she felt normal again. No. Better than normal. “Nectar?”

And then Apollo gazed at her with such sadness and hope and adoration, she couldn’t tell which emotion he felt more keenly. He offered her a crooked smile. Adoration, definitely adoration.

“Patience,” he whispered. “I did something to you.”

Her strength was returning with a vengeance, and she really wanted to smother his fantastic body in kisses. “You bet you did something to me.” She leaned in.

He put his hands on her shoulders. “Wait,
agapi mou
. There’s something you need to know.”

All at once, other memories flooded into her mind. The resort. Hades. A demon who’d really ticked her off.

Oh God, he killed me.

“Am I dead?” she murmured, stunned.

Apollo put his hand on her cheek and allowed his gaze to caress each aspect of her face. “You’re not dead. You’re a goddess.”

“Apollo, this isn’t the time for compliments. What’s happening? Where’s Nicodemus, and what about Hades?”

He stared at her, and then he exploded into uncontrollable laughter. She was astounded as her lover practically rolled around on the bed in mirth.

“What’s so funny?”

He returned his gaze to her, and his eyes crinkled with such warmth. “I wasn’t complimenting you. You’re a goddess, Patience. Officially.” Regret flashed across his features, darkening his gaze. “I had to do it to save you. It was the only way I could keep you from Hades.”

She looked around the room. They weren’t in Helios anymore. Heck, she wasn’t sure they were in Mexico at all. The room they were in seemed to go on for miles. It looked more antique, and yet modern at the same time, with white furnishings that were reminiscent of what you might see in a museum. And she wasn’t sure, but she heard geese honking somewhere outside.

“They’re swans,” Apollo volunteered quietly. “I keep swans here on Olympus.”

She turned to stare at him. “You made me … like you?”

He paused, seeming so worried about her reaction. “Are you angry at me?”

“How did you…?”

“There is a sacred nectar that flows from a spring here on Olympus. Those waters originate from Gaia, the great earth goddess. The nectar from that source is primeval, more powerful than any god, even Zeus. Anyone who drinks the nectar can be made a god. It turns one’s blood to ichor, the substance that runs through my veins. It’s what allows us to live forever; it’s what keeps us young and strong. When you were dying, Hades reminded me you could drink it.”

That was a shocker. “Hades? The one who wanted me dead?”

Apollo frowned. “Yeah, weird, I know. He was different than before.” He shook his head. “Anyway, I didn’t have time to consider options, Patience. To me, there was no option.” His eyes teared up and his voice was reduced to a whisper. “I’m sorry I couldn’t give you the choice, but I couldn’t let you go.”

She stared at him, reeling. Terrified and relieved and so happy at the same time. A tremble rippled through her core, and her own eyes refused to stay dry. “I get to live with you, forever?”

He took her hand and ran his thumb slowly over her palm, sending shivers all through her body. “If you’ll have me.”

And as true joy worked her mouth into a delirious smile, Patience threw herself at Apollo. “Of course I’ll have you! Oh, Apollo, it hurt so much to be separated from you.”

He’d been holding his breath, but he let it out now and broke into a huge, matching grin. She clung to him, as he did to her, and their hands roved over each other’s skin, loosening what was left of their clothes. He pressed his mouth against hers in a kiss that was destined to feed them for all time with its plaintive love. She licked at his tears, sealing out despair and fear, just as he swallowed every ounce of pain in her kisses. Each of Apollo’s moans was met with one of her sighs, and Patience realized she’d wanted this from the first moment. He was her fate, and she would spend eternity letting him know how much she loved him.

He pushed aside her last remaining scrap of clothing and disposed of his own. Their bodies came together in a hungry crush, strong, godlike muscles slamming against similar muscles. Apollo’s eyes glowed with desire, and as he gazed at her, his beautiful eyes widened in surprise.

“What is it?”

“Your eyes,” he murmured, touching her eyebrow. “They look like mine. They’ve turned golden with need.”

She blinked, worried he wouldn’t like the change. “Oh.”

He leaned her down on the bed, moved atop her, and kissed each of her eyelids. “You’re radiant. You always were.”