Chapter 182 - Falling into darkness (2/2)

Poseidon followed Ry's gaze over to the kitchen. ”This must be the kid standing in the way of that goal now?”

Ry bobbled his head from side to side as he shrugged. ”More or less... probably less now... maybe more... the f.u.c.k if I know...”

Poseidon narrowed his eyes on his son. ”You must explain.” He didn't take his eyes off Ry as he lifted a hand and motioned for Russ to join them.

Ry rubbed his temples as a migraine began to set in. ”If ever there was a time I've regretted my sobriety, it's now.”

Poseidon flicked his wrist producing a full bottle of whiskey and three short glasses. ”Problem solved, now speak.” He said as he poured the rich amber liquid into each of the glasses handing one to Russ then the other out to Ry.

Ry snarled his nose up at the glass. ”I'm not drinking that.”

Poseidon shrugged. ”Suit yourself.” He flicked his wrist again with the full glass in it. As his hand turned back up right the whiskey glass had shifted into a c.o.c.ktail glass with cloudy white liquid in it and a candied cherry floating inside. ”Sherly temple then.”

Ry narrowed his eyes at his father as he took the glass and took a cautious drink. He set forward spraying the liquid across the room. ”That was straight vodka and lemonade! And not even good vodka OR lemonade!” He barked out in aggravation as he slammed the drink down on the table in front of him.

Poseidon sputtered out a laugh as he snapped his fingers and the drink changed again. This time a bottle of water sat on the table in the c.o.c.ktails place. ”There, you p.u.s.s.y, better?” He teased.

Ry glared at his father as he screwed the cap off the water bottle. He took a large gulp emptying nearly half the bottle before he lowered it and spirted the contents of his loaded mouth into Russ's face. ”THAT WAS STRAIGHT F.U.C.K.I.N.G VODKA!!!” He yelled snapping his head back around to his father in growing anger as the large man was now doubled over with tears streaming down his face in laughter.

Russ couldn't help but stare as he spun the glass in his hand. ”You... you're the actual Poseidon? God of the Ocean or sea or whatever... the Greek mythology guy?”

Poseidon arched a brow at Ry as he pointed to Russ. ”He's kidding right? You and your brother hit him a few too many times in the head?”

Ry laughed. ”You could say that. Honestly, I'm kind of surprised Arei didn't straight murder him tonight.”

Poseidon nodded. ”Yes, I felt the power tonight. What happened.”

Ry's smile faded as his face fell into a heavy, remorseful frown. ”She tried to end her life tonight.” He shook his head, ”If something happens to her, he'll be lost to us as well.” Ry said sadly.

Poseidon nodded, ”Even more reason to finish what was started all that time ago before my dear brother interfered.”

The shock of being in an actual Greek Gods presents was finally pushed to the side as the meaning of the conversation finally sank in. ”Wait! you're talking about Jos!” His eyes shot back and forth between Ry and the God. ”What about her? What do you want with her?!”

Poseidon sat forward holding Russ's gaze with cold, serious eyes. ”I want the girl, the kraken if you must, and you are in my way.”

***

Arei forced a smile as aqua eyes met his. He ran the sponge lightly across her bare arm washing away any remaining trace of blood. ”Do you remember the first time you asked me to do this?” He whispered trying to hide the emotion still heavy in his voice.

She nodded as her blurry, unsteady gaze moved wearily along the path of the sponge.

Tears fell freely from his eyes as he let the sponge fall into the water. ”You can't do that ever again, you hear me?” He said resting his forehand against the side of her head.

Shelly whined from the beside him. She nudged the fingers of Jos's dangling hand.

Jos didn't answer, instead, she just turned away from them as she sat in nothing more than a towel on the toilet.

Arei let out a pained sigh. ”Come on, let's get you to bed.” He lifted her into his arms and carried her into the room with the largest bed. Setting her in the center first, he bent and lifted Shelly in next. When Shelly moved to the foot of the bed and nodded toward her damp paw that she held up, Arei shook his head. ”It's my fault your wet so it's my bed that's getting soggy.” He nodded toward the head of the bed. ”Get on up there.”

She rolled her eyes to the side as she shrugged her furry shoulders. Shelly turned toward the head of the bed, her heart sinking when she saw Jos huddled up into a tight ball in the center of the bed. She nudged the blankets over Jos's icy body stopping at the towel. Shelly turned back to Arei and barked.

Arei shut the bedroom door and turned the lock for good measure before turning to see what Shelly was wanting. When she nodded toward the towel, he nodded. He bent and pulled out a cotton tee shirt and a pair of dry pajama bottoms from his luggage that sat open on the floor. He walked over to the bed setting the shirt down. ”Give me a second?” He asked Shelly as he held up the bottoms. The corner of his lip turned upwards as the wolf's eyes widened and a faint blush spread across her cheeks as she turned away. ”Sorry.” He chuckled. ”I sometimes forget you're still just a teenaged girl under all that fluff. He quickly tugged off the wet jeans and pulled on the dry sleepwear.

Once he was finished, he sat on the edge of the bed a stroked a hand over Jos's freezing cold arm. ”I'm going to sit you up and put a dry shirt on you, alright.” He gave the words a few seconds to register before he lifted her upper body from the mattress. He frowned when her sad, heavy eyes wouldn't meet his. He pulled the shirt over her head and helped her get her arms through the sleeves. Once she was fully covered, he carefully pulled the towel loose and tossed it to the floor. He settled her back onto her side on the mattress and crawled under the covers. He held the blankets up high so Shelly could crawl in on the other side of Jos. He waited patiently as the wolf nudged Jos's arm up and slid under it. He then lowered his arm and the blankets over Jos's arm, sliding his other arm under her pillow. He pressed his body against her icy back and rested his head close to hers, stroking his large warm hand over the length of her arm. ”Come back to me, Kitten. I love you.” He whispered against the back of her head. Shelly whined and he corrected. ”WE love you. Come back to us.” He pulled her tighter against him and held her tightly as Shelly nuzzled tighter against her front. ”Come back to us.” He whispered more quietly as the silence of the dark room ingulfed them.