Part 14 (1/2)

Ignoring the spark of jealousy generated by Ken's protective behavior, Thomas growled. ”Who the f.u.c.k is Lachesis?”

”She's the Fate who spins the length of a life,” Ken replied as he tightened his arms over his ma.s.sive chest, popping biceps with enlarged veins running down them.

He snorted. ”Of course.” Jesus, these people were insane.

Nia shoved Ken from her path and moved toward Thomas, her hand raised, palm out as though entreating him. ”We aren't threatening Hailey. We're trying to protect her.”

Protect, his a.s.s. The dread in the pit of his stomach reminded him of the day he found out his brother, Doug, had died at the hands of terrorists. This situation felt very similar.

Thomas spread his feet wide and crossed his arms over his chest. She didn't shy away from his combative stance, something he admired even as it p.i.s.sed him off. The muscles in his jaw jerked with tension as he spat his words out. ”You seemed so f.u.c.king normal.”

”I'm not crazy, Thomas.” Her voice was barely a whisper but he heard defeat and defiance in it.

Sweeping a disparaging gaze over the delicate features that masked her insanity, he nearly relented. Despite his anger at the moment, his c.o.c.k hardened as he took in her curves and her long legs. His physical reaction to her body pointed to how he'd been deceived.

”Was the s.e.x part of your scheme to dupe me this way?”

”No!” Nia jolted backward, clutching a fist to her breastbone. ”Please don't think that. I didn't sleep with you because of the challenge. I slept with you because I'm falling for you.”

”Right,” he scoffed.

”Whether you believe or not, it doesn't change the truth; I'm a Muse. I've existed for thousands of years.” She jammed her fists onto her hips. ”Here are the facts. One, an ancient deity has challenged my sisters and I. Our lives depend on winning.” She lifted her hands and began ticking the fingers of one hand. ”Two, the coronal burst on the sun knocked the moon out of orbit. With it out of place, the world is out of balance. Three-”

”What are you talking about? The moon isn't out of orbit.” Surely something would have been mentioned in the media.

”Shut up and listen.” The command in her tone was undeniable. Something gripped his shoulders, subduing his words. He looked at Ken and found the son of a b.i.t.c.h scowling at him, his arm raised and fist clenched. b.a.s.t.a.r.d had frozen him again. G.o.ddammit, just another facet in this never-ending nightmare.

Nia continued, ”Three, to win the challenge I must lead a man, you, Thomas, back to believing in magic. There wasn't anything in the rules about sleeping with said man, or falling in love with him.” She stepped back and propped fisted hands on her hips. She nodded to Ken.

The grip on Thomas lessened and he stumbled forward. Nia professed to love him, but he couldn't believe her. Not after so many outrageous statements. Not after the entire surreal experience of this horrible hallucination.

But, G.o.d dammit. She professed her love and f.u.c.k it all, when he'd heard the words his heart jumped like it was on a freaking trampoline. When the h.e.l.l had he fallen in love with her?

Eyes filled with entreaty, Nia stood before him. Her voice rang in his head. Will you help us?

Buying into her fantasy would only make matters worse. She'd continue to believe she was an ancient being. That her father was the Grand Poobah of all the G.o.ds who'd never existed. And it could endanger Hailey's life. His niece was his priority. And would always remain so.

Thomas shook his head. ”No.” Sharp pain sliced a path through his heart as he uttered the single word. Why did it ache so much to deny her?

Nia unfisted her hands and backed a step away from him. And another. Behind Thomas, Gaia gasped and a soft sob filled the air. From the corner of his eye, he noted Ken going to Zeus's side to help him to his feet. The pair moved until they flanked Nia.

She bit her lip and blinked her eyes hard. The single tear trickling from one corner twisted his gut in a wringer. Even though he was in the midst of an awful dream, the anguish in her face crushed him.

He lifted his hand to her arm, but she slid another pace away, avoiding his touch. ”Don't.”

”I'm sorry, but I can't buy into this...this altered reality of yours.”

Nia edged a step in his direction. ”Again, this story is not made up. But, you must believe what you believe.” She twisted her head to look at Zeus over her shoulder. ”Will you call Mnemosyne? He shouldn't retain the memory of this night. Or of me.”

Desolation rode up Thomas's spine at the defeat in Nia's tone. ”What are you talking about? You can't toy with my memories. They're mine.”

She faced him again, hope in her eyes fading. ”You shouldn't have to remember, because any memory you keep of what I've told you will only cause you remorse later on. Guilt can't supplant your need to keep your wits about you. You'll need them to face the dangers and new reality brought about because I've failed at this challenge. Mnemosyne will remove all memory of this night-the trip through the Hollow, the magpies...all of it. She'll also wipe away recollection of the times we shared together.” Her voice hitched on her last words. Over her shoulder, she entreated Zeus. ”Please make sure he doesn't remember anything except the need to keep Hailey safe.”

Zeus nodded, sorrow turning his gaze somber. ”We will take care of it.”

Another tear traced a slow path down Nia's cheek. ”Thank you. I'll be back later to say good bye.”

”Nia, no!” Gaia sobbed. ”Do not give up. We will figure something out.”

”I'm being reasonable, Mother. I suggest everyone else do the same. My fate, and yours,” she spared a teary glance at Thomas, ”and the fate of all mortals is sealed.”

”Daughter...”

Nia held her hand up, stopping Zeus's words. She took a step toward Thomas, and cupped a hand over his cheek. Her eyes darted over his face, as though memorizing the lines and curves of it.

She spoke into his mind. I swear to you, every word is true. None truer than the words of love I uttered. Please get Hailey out of the city. Keep her safe. Nia squinted her eyes and he felt her thoughts burning a path to his subconscious. You will not remember me, or the rest of this night. But you will remember that Hailey's life is in danger. You will take her somewhere safe. Somewhere Pierus cannot find her. Stay safe, my love.

Rising on her toes, Nia pressed her lips to his. He grasped her shoulders and relished the soft satin of her caress, the first peace he'd felt since she'd found him in the front yard. The air around him tightened, thickened. Sky blue light filled his vision as mist grew in the room.

Nia's softly spoken I love you filled his brain as she disappeared from his arms.

Chapter 19.

Nia escaped into the Hollow after her parting words, her last kiss with Thomas. Her starry aura dimmed by sorrow and pain, and blurred by gathering tears. Misery and bitterness were poor traveling companions.

Thomas didn't believe her. She'd failed her task and it was her fault-and no one else's-the world was about to be plunged into a stark new existence.

As she materialized in her living room, she didn't bother to control her descent. Her feet slammed onto the floor in her living room-one on the lush area rug, the other on the hardwood. The physical pain jolted her hips, causing her to groan.

The instant the mist cleared, she fell to her knees. Bending, she pressed her forehead to the ground. Her throat ached from holding back her sobs while in the void. She gave the anguish her voice. Harsh, wracking sobs claimed her body, shaking and shuddering her form as she cowered on the floor.

When had she fallen in love with Thomas? His denial burned a tormented path through her soul. She'd been optimistic about her chances to save the world with his help. And when she won her challenge, Thomas and Hailey would have been a major factor in the rest of this lifetime. And possibly all of her future lifetimes.

Now, that fantasy was nothing more than ashes on her heart.

The clock ticked loudly from the mantel, marking her remaining moments with rhythmic severity, inexorably counting down the moments. It wouldn't be long before her sisters, and Ken, and her parents reached out to her.

Ken might be first, as he'd have to pick up Thomas's car to return it to him. He'd probably take Thomas to his home first, and tuck him into the king-sized bed. The lovely, plush bed she'd shared with him. And tomorrow, Thomas would fix breakfast in his to-die-for kitchen. No memories would plague him. Not of her sitting at his kitchen island. Not of her laughing conversation with Hailey. Not of the pa.s.sionate embrace they'd snuck in when the adorable little urchin had left the room to get a book she thought Nia would enjoy. Sharp pain pierced Nia's heart, widening the cracks already there into fissures with no hope of repair.

Gasping to fill her lungs, Nia slammed the door on her memories. At least as she began her life as a magpie, she'd have her last memory of Thomas's kiss to hold close to her new, avian breast.

Not in the right frame of mind to deal with Ken or her parents, Nia roused from her agony and struggled to her feet. To keep any potential visitors at bay, she faced each of the four corners of her house, and sang a song of protection, barring admittance to any and all visitors. The words were rusty and she struggled to remember the correct order. But they'd keep unwelcome guests from intruding on her pity party. Disgust almost made her undo the spell. Hiding was not her style.

She'd only used this unique ability once before. Eons ago when she'd miscalculated and Stonehenge ended up in the wrong spot. Then embarra.s.sment had ridden her hard. She'd cost the world an extra day every four years to correct her mistake. She'd locked herself away from everyone for years then.