Out of Cake Aphrodite (The Goddess Chronicles Book 6) Read online

  The first time I’d visited Hades I’d technically had to die. I was thankful I was now keyed in to be let in without going that far. I hadn’t had the time to explore the Underworld too much, but so far there was no area I’d been barred from, not even the underground area where Hades hid much of his angelic magic.

  I didn’t want to examine that too deeply. I had enough to worry about.

  I trailed my fingers over his old books and smiled. Hades was a mystery wrapped in an enigma wrapped in a tough exterior. But inside he had the heart of a poet.

  “Abby.” His warm dulcet voice rolled over my shoulders.

  I shivered in spite of myself and turned around. Never had he failed to catch my breath. I blinked and whispered a hello to him.

  A half smile formed on his face. “Welcome to my humble abode.”

  “You’ve bought more books,” I said and pointed to the shelf behind me which hadn’t existed last time I’d been here.

  The corner of his eyes crinkled in amusement. “Ah, yes.” His hand crept to his heart. “You’ve found my Kryptonite.”

  Amusement flowed through me. “You watched it!” I exclaimed.

  He chuckled. ‘When a beautiful woman tells you to do something, one should not dally.”

  “Did you enjoy them?”

  Hades shrugged. “For the most part. Although I didn’t understand why no one recognized Clark Kent. All he replaced was his suit and his spectacles.”

  I laughed in spite of myself. “That’s the magic of television. All of those questions and few of the answers.” I reached over and touched one of the books. It was old, I could tell.

  The spine read, “Poems for Lovers.”

  “Your Kryptonite, huh?” I couldn’t help the smile that peeked from the corner of my mouth.

  “You should see the basement,” Hades admitted.

  I turned back to him. “There’s a basement in the Underworld?”

  He spread his hands. “It’s like a luxury resort,” he said with a completely straight face.

  I laughed. “Right. That’s exactly what I think every time I come here.” The Underworld was a notoriously cold and grim place, but Hades’ quarters was no reflection of that. Warmth and comfort surrounded me every time I’d been in his library and in the room I normally stayed in when I visited. Hades was nothing but the consummate host to me. He knew I was wary of his words, especially after his pronouncement over Christmas dinner, so he was careful around me. For the most part.

  I’d yet to bring it up, and so he respected my wishes, except for the occasional loaded joke.

  Hades called for Tilly, his resident ghost/soul or whatever she was. She still creeped me out, but I didn’t say anything to him. It was lonely down here, and I knew that. If she offered him some comfort while Persephone was gone then I could not argue it.

  “Speaking of books,” he said to me, “I’m glad you’re here. A certain book is why I need Persephone’s retrieval.”

  One of my eyebrows rose at that statement.

  He chuckled. “One of the reasons for her retrieval,” he corrected with a rueful smile.

  Hades motioned to Tilly to pour us some tea, and I took the cup she handed me with a grateful nod.

  “Persephone has a book of mine. A book I would like returned. Along with her of course,” he added at my look.

  I tilted my head in curiosity. “Can’t you get another copy?”

  A sad smile crossed his face. “I wish. It is signed by Shakespeare himself. The book is priceless.”

  I grimaced. “Why did she take it?”

  “When Persephone left she was quite angry with me.” The look on his face told me maybe she was way past angry, but I let it go. “She went to my library and took the book I cherished the most.”

  “And I can’t just ask for it back?” That would make things a whole bunch easier.

  “I’m afraid not.” He lifted one shoulder and dropped it. “Although you can be quite convincing, so I’m sure if anyone could convince her it would be you.” He raised his index finger. “But, if you do ask for it back, I fear she will realize how much it means to me and destroy it.”

  I frowned. Persephone sounded like a real jerk. “So what? You want me to steal it?”

  Hades opened his mouth and shut it. “I’d rather my wife and the book be transported back here safely. I will speak to her when she’s home and ask her to relinquish it.”

  Something was fishy here. “Hades,” I started and sighed. I sat back, crossed my arms and stared at him.

  He blinked, the picture of innocence.

  “You are leaving something out.”

  His mouth pressed together, flattening his lips. “Everything I said here was truth.”

  “Maybe,” I admitted. “Probably.” I sipped my tea and eyed him. “But we both know how the immortals like to twist their truth.”

  “I need the book back, Abby. It is important to me.”

  “And your wife?” I asked, becoming irritated.

  “Of course,” he snapped. Hades sipped his tea and set his cup down in an angry motion. He dropped his head in his hand and rubbed his face. When he looked at me, his eyes were rimmed with exhaustion. “Tell me, has anyone visited you about her?”

  I blinked in surprise. “Why would anyone visit me?” Seconds later I almost gasped as I remembered the mysterious man who approached me over Halloween on behalf of Demeter. I needed to ask Artie about that. Stat. I kept my face blank.

  Hades gave me a long look.

  I was the Goddess of Love. If anyone had some tricks up her sleeve it was me because love was the trickiest magic of all. Lots of people could dismiss me, but I could play with the best of them when it was necessary. And it was necessary now. Hades was lying to me about something, and I suspected it was something about the book he wanted back so badly.

  Finally, he shrugged. “Just wondering. Demeter has a stake in her daughter returning back here.”

  My voice was even and cool as I spoke. “Of course she would. You are her daughter’s husband. Persephone’s place is by your side, is it not?”

  A cold look slid over his face. “Of course it is.”

  I set my tea down and stood. “Is there anything else, Hades?”

  Hades stood as well and sighed in annoyance. “Don’t leave angry.”

  My lips pressed together to keep from saying something nasty. “You are keeping something from me. I will bring your wife home, Hades even at my own peril. But this has made me very aware you do not trust me implicitly. And that is fine. But if you do not trust me now when I am walking into what Clotho predicts is certain death, then do not expect me to take further jobs for you. Do you understand?”

  Hades’ look was level, but there was a storm brewing behind his silvery eyes. I thought for a moment he would spill it, but it disappeared seconds after I saw it. “Crystal,” he said, his voice sharp.

  Hurt choked my voice. “Fine. She’s in Franklin, Tennessee.” I held up my fingers to snap away, but Hades placed a warm hand over them to stop me.

  “Wait. I - I have something for you,” he said and rummaged through the pocket of his suit jacket. Seconds later he pulled a long silver chain out. At the end of it twirled a smoke filled stone, the same kind he had in the crown he wore over Christmas.

  He held it out to me and I looked at him like he was crazy. “You want me to walk in wearing jewelry that is obviously from your realm and rescue your wife? Are you trying to get me killed?”

  Hades chuckled, unclasping the necklace, and stepped toward me. I leaned my neck back and he shook his head.

  “Abby, I would never place you in danger. Allow me to place this upon your neck. It will cloak with your skin. The power signature will be hidden within your own once it adjusts to your body. It could protect you.” He paused. “If things go sideways.”

  I gave him a look but allowed him to step behind me. He stood well within my personal space and when he lifted my hair from my neck, gooseflesh broke out over m
y entire body. Hades refrained from saying anything about it. Thankfully. It was bad enough I was fawning over him. In a few minutes, I’d be on the hunt for his wife. I blew out an annoyed breath.

  I felt Hades’ chuckle blow against the nape of my neck. I shivered. His hands moved against me for longer than strictly necessary and when the necklace fell between the hollow of my breasts, he still stood behind me, his hands upon my shoulder.

  “Abby -” he said, his voice ragged.

  I shut my eyes, snapped my fingers and got the hell out of dodge before he did something we would both regret.

  Chapter 2

  Every time I got back from the Underworld I always felt like I’d run a marathon - an emotional and a physical one. I stood in my kitchen, leaning forward against the counter, trying to catch my ragged breath.

  “He will be the death of you,” Clotho said.

  I laughed raggedly. “Literally and figuratively?”

  She frowned. “Death. As in dust to dust. Ash to ash. He will kill you.”

  “Silly me. I thought you were learning more nuances in your conversation skills.”

  “I do not joke about death, Aphrodite,” she said, disapproval dripping in her voice.

  I chuckled again. “Oh, Clotho. I adore you.”

  She harrumphed and padded to the coffee pot, her broom skirts dragging along the floor. “Would you like a mug before you traipse off to your funeral?”

  “Only if you stop talking about my death.”

  I allowed her to fix me a mug of coffee. As I watched, something occurred to me.

  “Do you like living in your shop?” I asked her. It had never dawned on me to ask before now.

  Clotho’s shoulders stiffened and she stopped right in the middle of stirring. Only for a second, but long enough for me to notice.

  “Clotho?”

  “It is just fine,” she said. Her tone was mild but there was something off in her voice.

  “You don’t like it.”

  “I can live anywhere. I could go back to my sisters if I wished to.” She reached over and handed me a mug full of coffee made just the way I liked it.

  “But you don’t wish to.” I didn’t phrase this as a question because I thought I knew Clotho well enough to know the answer.

  “They wish me to,” she admitted.

  I sat up a little bit straighter. “Are you considering it?”

  One slender shoulder lifted. Her face was downcast.

  I took a chance. Artie no longer lived here. She’d found a house farther into town so now it was just me here. It would be weird having a Fate for a roommate, but she practically lived here anyway, and I kind of liked having a lot of people here. Ever since Hermes and I had split and Keto left, my world had fallen apart a little bit. Artie had gone to live on her own and I was here by myself.

  As crazy as Christmas had been, I’d liked everyone staying at my house.

  I set my mug down on the counter. “So,” I began, “I have a proposition for you.”

  Clotho’s gaze narrowed. “You are already in debt to me a couple of times over, Aphrodite. Make no deals you cannot see through.’

  I stuck my tongue out at her. “You’re such a jerk for reminding me about that. Besides, I’m about to die and I thought it would be nice if you moved in here for awhile.”

  Her face went white and shock flooded her face. But it was replaced immediately by suspicion. “Do you feel pity for me, Goddess?”

  My mouth opened in surprise. “What?” But then I grew angry. “Dang it, Clotho! Don’t make me regret doing something nice.”

  She clanked her mug down and raised her hands and waved them around. “Oh, so it’s take pity on Clotho day? Is that it? I’m a Fate. There’s no way I can have friends or heaven forbid a social life. Is that it?” Her voice was rising with each word until her hair floated around her head like a ghost on Supernatural.

  I held my hands up in surrender, my anger dying. “Whoah,” I said. “Just....whoah.” I pinched the space between my eyebrows. “Clotho,” I began.

  She stood there, arms crossed over her chest, her youthful face mutinous.

  My lip twitched.

  “Do not laugh at me!” Her eyes flashed silver.

  I laughed and held my hands out. “Clotho! Damn it! Stop being freaky! I asked you to stay because I want you to. Not because I think you’re lonely or because you have trouble making friends.” I knew both of those things were true, but it wasn’t time to point it out. “I like having you here.”

  Her hair slowly lowered down to rest on her shoulders again. Her expression was wary. “You...wish me to stay?”

  I chuckled, half because I almost peed myself and half because of her reaction. “Of course I do. You’ve practically moved in anyway. Let’s make it a permanent thing.”

  She still looked suspicious. “Truly?”

  I nodded. “Truly.”

  Her eyes went back to their soft human brown. She looked around my enormous house. “Can I redecorate some?”

  I tried not to allow the cringe I felt inside to show on my face. “We can discuss it once I get back.”

  She looked at me like I was a helpless baby. “You won’t come back.”

  I threw back the rest of my coffee and stood. “I know. Once I’m gone you can redecorate the whole house.”

  Her lower lip poked out. “But it won’t be any fun if you aren’t here to hate it.”

  I patted her arm. “Exactly.”

  She snorted in amusement. “I appreciate your offer, and I humbly accept.”

  I hooked an arm around her neck and pulled her in for a hug. “You ancient little crone. I like you, too.”

  “Don’t make me smite you,” she mumbled against my shoulder.

  “It would only show me you cared.”

  She patted me awkwardly and sighed. “I shall miss you when you are dust, child.”

  A strangled laugh escaped me and I pulled her in even tighter. “You and me both, dude.”

  We both sighed and hugged each for a little while longer.

  Chapter 3

  I had no need to pack a suitcase, but it made me feel better to be surrounded with some of the things I loved, so I did it anyway. I tucked in several pairs of fleece leggings and long, warm tunics, several pairs of pajamas, skinny jeans and another pair of warm boots. Some of my favorite things. I tucked in a couple of books I’d snagged from Hades’ library, with his permission, of course, and I looked around my room for what may be the last time.

  Death was hanging over my head like a scythe, but I felt great. Sad, but healthy as I ever had. Not that I could get sick, but still. Since the prophecy, I’d lived like I always had, but the thought of death wiggled around in my brain like a worm. I’d swat at it, and it would go away for a little while only to return when I was staring up at my ceiling each night.

  But this time there was no going back. I was about to head into the lion’s den and face death head-on. Whether it would be caused by Persephone was anyone’s guess. Knowing me, I’d choke on popcorn while I was alone and it would be magical cursed popcorn, and Artie would walk in on my rapidly cooling corpse.

  Speaking of Artie, I looked at the ceiling and called her name. When there was no answer, I put a little spark of magic in it and called her again.

  Seconds later, my best friend stood in my bedroom covered in mud and super annoyed with me. She shoved her glasses up on her nose, leaving a smudge of dirt on her face.

  I bit my lip to keep from smiling.

  “What?” she growled.

  I affected an expression of innocence. “Now is that any way to treat your best friend?”

  Artie glared at me with those spectacular purple eyes. “What?” she asked again, this time with a little less venom.

  I shot a quick burst of magic to clean her up and told her to sit. She stared at me warily, and I raised my hands. “Nothing bad. I just forgot to tell you something that happened a couple of months ago.”

  She groaned.
“Is the world about to end? Did you tweet the nuclear launch codes?”

  I blinked. “Shut up, nerd.”

  She grinned. “Fire away, oh goddess. Pepper me with your questions.” She sat back on my chair with her long booted legs crossed.

  “Remember Cupid?”

  She stared at me like I was challenged in the head. “The one who kidnapped me and did unspeakable things to those women?” She shrugged. “Gosh no. I don’t remember him at all.”

  I glared. “Your sarcasm is heard and noted, but not appreciated.”

  She tsked. “Hurt feelings.” She made a wide circle with her arms. “All over.”

  I rolled my eyes. “Anyway,” I drawled, “when I went to the costume party at Olympus, I ran into a handsome blond gentleman.”

  Artie leaned forward, her eyes sparkling with interest. “Do go on.”

  I shook my head in amusement. “He seemed quite taken with me. Well...you.”

  Confusion flickered over her face. “What?”

  “I had to go in disguised as you to catch Cupid.”

  She waved a hand. “Right. Go on.”

  “He appeared to know you quite well, and I was curious about him because I’d never seen him before.”

  She tried to disguise the look of wariness stealing its way over her face, but I was her best friend. I sat back on my bed and waited. “Sound familiar?”

  She shook her head and tried her best to look innocent. “Can’t say he does. Blond, you say?”

  “Yep.” Liar. Liar.

  “I don’t know too many blonds,” she said.

  I snorted with laughter. “Really.”

  She groaned and flounced back in the chair. “I don’t want to talk about it!”