Mayhem: Goddesses Of Delphi Part 17

Nia closed her eyes and corralled the power she'd harnessed. Picturing an ocean wave, she unleashed the influence and pushed the crowd away. As she forced the energy outward, Aerie, Corie, and Clio laid their hands on Nia's body, funneling additional power into her reserves. Callie slapped her hand on one shoulder blade, while Ken held the other. Zeus gripped Nia's neck, the sting of his superior power tweaking Nia's force.

"Make them slumber, daughter." A malaise Nia couldn't identify undercut Zeus's commanding voice.

But she followed the direction.

"Time to sleep," she commanded the mob. The echoing guttural pitch of her tone surprised her.

Imagining sweet Morpheus riding the wave she pushed over the crush of people surrounding them, she thrust the picture from the center of her chest, bowing back with the effort. Half the crowd dropped in their tracks as the wave breached them. The remaining group continued to advance.

Zeus punched additional power through his grip on her neck, and searing flame roared down her arms. Sparks detonated from her fingertips as she lifted her hands. Curling one hand into a fist, Zeus manifested a glowing kernel of light. The glare intensified, growing to softball size.

With a mighty heave, Zeus hurled the energy ball to the hilltop. When the force caught him square in the chest, Pierus's expensive suit burst into flames. Mayhem swatted the flames with her wings. The stench of burned feathers overpowered the bite of ozone left in the wake of the energy force Zeus had thrown.

Before Nia could raise her hands, Thomas barged in front of her. Recognition and trust filled his gaze. "What can I do?"

"You need to move, Thomas."

"Let me help."

"I don't see how." She tore her gaze from his to find the remaining mob almost on them.

Ken pulled him to the side, but Thomas fought to remain next to Nia. When she lifted her arm, sparks glowed under her skin as her power built. She aimed toward one side of the observation deck, and sucked in a deep breath, trying to center the force growing in her.

Thomas laid his hand on her arm, the blistering heat of his palm overriding the energy within her. She gasped as the voltage in her chest narrowed and focused. Some force within Thomas was actually aiding her quest. Beneath all the energy flowing through her, love swelled for the man helping her.

Laying her free hand over his, a bright blue glow flourished. He was mortal and this joint effort could permanently harm him. Or kill him. Summoning whatever strength he willingly shared, she cautiously siphoned off only what she dared. From the points of contact with Zeus, her sisters, and Ken, she channeled all the burn they offered to her.

Friction sc.r.a.ped along her nerves. Sweeping her arm from right to left, she projected slumber onto the entire crowd. One by one, they dropped in their tracks, succ.u.mbing to the power she harnessed from the sun, from the immortals, and from Thomas. The last one collapsed within two feet of her position.

On the hill, Pierus crashed to his knees, tearing the burned fabric from his body. His moans were audible in Nia's head, and she slammed the virtual door on the noise, refusing to be moved by the maniac's pain. He deserved it for trying to drive a mob to kill an innocent for the sake of the challenge. She spared a glance over her shoulder. Thank the G.o.ddess, Hailey was safe.

"She's safe, Thomas." Nia squeezed his hand and looked into his eyes, projected a thought filled with love.

His sandy hair stood on end, but the energy drain didn't appear to have affected him greatly. He stood tall and strong next to her, tossing a glance toward Gaia and Hailey, before turning back to her. He cupped her cheek, then threaded his fingers through her hair, a moment of peace after the storm they'd weathered together.

Zeus lifted his hand from Nia's neck and collapsed to one knee behind her. As her sisters jerked their hands away from her, a tearing sensation ripped at her soul. Ken and Thomas kept their hands on her as the Muses rushed to aid their father.

Nia dropped her head forward and remained standing only by the force of her will. Gentle healing pulsed into her through Ken's hand, restoring some of her energy. Callie stepped in front of her and jostled Thomas to the side. He didn't release her grip as Callie cupped Nia's cheeks. Warmth and subtle power thrummed from the tips of Callie's fingers, threading through Nia's brain, repairing the psychic damage.

And still, Thomas did not remove his hand from her arm. In fact, he slid it down and laced his fingers through hers, the heat in his palm bleeding into hers. When Nia gently pushed Callie's hands away, she nudged a silent thank you into her sister. A smile tugged the woman's lips up, and Callie nodded curtly before stepping away.

Nia turned to face Thomas, slipping her other hand into his. Behind her, Hailey's crying wound down as Gaia crooned an ancient Grecian lullaby to the child.

"Do you remember?" Nia questioned, her voice whispery soft.

His face was somber. "That you love me?"

"We can start there."

"Was it true?" He released one hand and raised it to wrap gently around the nape of her neck. His fingers were cool against the residual burn from Zeus's energy.

Heart leaping into her throat, she nodded.

Rapid footsteps pounded on the pavement behind them. Hailey squirmed between them, lifting her arms to Thomas.

He picked her up and hugged her close. "Munchkin, I thought I'd lost you."

"But you didn't. Ms. Nia saved us. I told you she was magic."

"She most certainly is." Thomas held Nia's gaze, his crowded with grat.i.tude, love and wonderment. "I do believe in magic."

Air swirled in wild abandon, a sudden gust of wind blowing both hot and cold from the canyon behind them. For an instant, everything felt lighter, almost as if Earth's gravity had eased and even the heaviest of objects could float away. Weightlessness surrounded her, shifting the world, then snapping it into place again.

Into the right place.

Thomas's admission had just sealed her success in the challenge.

Nia sagged against him, grateful for the strong arms he wrapped around her. Not only did he believe, it appeared he possessed some magic himself. The power of love was the strongest, most magical force on the planet. He believed in her love for him. She could only hope his demonstration and a.s.sistance was proof of his love for her. For now, it was enough she no longer faced eternity as a magpie.

Wrapping her arms around the man she loved and the little girl who'd taken up residence in her heart, she held them close. Hailey tangled her fingers in Nia's hair, stroking soothing circles on her scalp. Nia turned her face on Thomas's chest, seeking Pierus. She sent him a nudge to get lost and take his hideous b.i.t.c.h of a daughter with him.

Laughter rumbled under Thomas's ribs. "I heard that."

"I'm glad." Nia joined his chuckle.

Pierus looked like he wanted to resist her nudge, but she increased the magnitude of her prod. He grimaced under the pain of her jolt. Ominous, black mist gathered at his feet and climbed his legs. Beside him, Mayhem screamed, her voice reverting back to strictly a bird, not a hint of humanity left in it. By the time Pierus was completely consumed by the mist and had vanished from the mortal world, Mayhem had changed back to a simple magpie. She fluttered up to the branches of the nearest tree.

Mars jammed his hands together then flung them in the direction of the bird, encasing it in a gilded cage. He levitated the cage and dragged it above the sleeping mob until he held it secure in his grasp.

"Sorry to break you guys apart," Ken spoke loudly as he joined them. "But maybe some damage control might be in order. We've summoned Mnemosyne and she'll be here shortly. Not sure if anyone on the other side of that hill noticed, but just in case someone decided to use their smartphone, we should take care of it."

Nia moved from the circle of Thomas's arms. She rubbed her knuckles over her chest, taking stock of her depleted energy stores. Not quite enough to achieve the kind of miracle they needed.

"Callie, Polly. A little help, please," she called. When the women approached, she explained. "I'm going to have a go at the sun to burn out a little memory on any cellphones in the area. I need some extra energy."

Ken drew Thomas and Hailey to the side. Thomas kept his gaze trained on Nia's face, love giving his visage a glow that warmed her to her core. She sent him a smile and nod before turning to her task.

Flanking her on either side, her sisters lifted their hands to her shoulders. She centered their power in her chest and then balanced the charge building from her center. She directed a bolt of energy toward the sinking sun. In her mind's eye, she saw the jagged shard slam into the surface of the sun, then explode backward, climbing toward the atmosphere. Just enough to create an electro-magnetic surge that would empty phone memories of the last few minutes but not enough to do any other damage.

Her shoulders slumped as she completed the task. The air pressurized around her as the pulse reach the earth.

Lime-colored mist swelled to the left of her as Mnemosyne materialized. She clucked her tongue against her teeth and scolded, "Another mess for me to clean up, I see." She looked at Thomas. "You again. I should have known. The power of love overcame the strength of my spell with you. Are all your memories intact?"

He nodded. "I believe so. I'm also ready to make some new ones with Nia, so I'm going to ask you nicely not to take them away from me again."

Nia's diminutive aunt emitted an infectious laugh. "I'd promise, but this isn't up to me. Zeus will decide when you get back to Olympus."

She turned and focused on the stirring crowd. Lifting her hand and shutting her eyes, she began to chant.

"Daughter." Gaia scurried toward them. "We will meet you in the boardroom. I'm taking Hailey with me."

Nia's heart sank. Likely Zeus would erase the memories from both Thomas and his niece. And where would that leave her? "Is that necessary?"

"Zeus believes so. We risk detection." She turned toward Hailey and laid a hand on the child's shoulder. "Did you do any of the rides today, sweetheart? I have one last treat to take you on. Brace yourself. I do believe you will enjoy this."

A look of wonderment and delight lit Hailey's face as Gaia levitated them. Graceful purple mist swirled surrounded them. In the blink of an eye, they, the rest of the Muses and Zeus vanished from sight.

Thomas ran his warm fingers along the inside of her elbow, turning her to face him. "So Zeus really is your dad?"

"Uh-huh. Are you ready to take another trip through the Hollow? Our presence at the corporate headquarters is required."

In response, Thomas wrapped his arms around her waist, and braced his feet apart. "I'll go anywhere as long as it's with you."

Blinking away happy tears, Nia moved them into the Hollow after her mother.

Chapter 25.

Pressure built in Thomas's head as the sky blue mist consumed them. He squeezed his lips tightly together and pinched his nose to pop his ears. Bright spots of light dotted Nia's void form and pale rose glowed in the center of her body, pulsing calmly. He glanced down his body, glowing with a simple silver with a spot of cobalt light pulsing weakly where his heart would be."

Hailey's charming giggle reached his ears, and he looked around for her. His sense of direction was wonky. A small burst of anxiety jiggled his heart and tensed his shoulders when he couldn't automatically track his niece.

She's just there. Turn your head to your left. See that small silver form in the midst of the large purple one? That's Hailey.

"How do you know for sure?" he asked, his voice curiously muted, as if talking into pillow. He located Hailey, suspended in the midst of a purple haze with a golden center.

Her answer reverberated pleasantly in his head. All mortals glow silver in the Hollow.

The tension left his body as her calm voice soothed him. Nia's mist blanketed him, brushing against his body. Even though, at the moment, her form was basically a cloud, the sensation aroused him. His c.o.c.k hardened and lengthened. Nia's soft voice chuckled through his head.

"You can feel that?"

Yes, and it feels wonderful." Warm, salty mist caressed his lips. "But you'd better tame that reaction. We're almost there and my dad won't want to see you with a hard-on, you know?"

He no longer heard Hailey's giggle and a.s.sumed it meant Gaia had arrived at their destination. The air surrounding Thomas intensified, crystalizing into shapes and forms. In the blink of his eyes, Nia's body transformed, solidifying in his arms. Her lovely face filled his vision, her blue eyes aglow, but pinched with nervousness.

"You okay?" she asked, her voice low.

He tightened his grip around her waist and pressed his mouth to hers. The soft satin of her plump lips under his was a heaven he wanted every day. He lifted his head and met her gaze, hoping she'd see the love in his. "I am now."

Behind him, a throat was loudly cleared. Pink flashed into her cheeks as she closed her eyes, and drew a deep breath. Thomas craned his head around and spied Zeus slouched in a plush, high backed chair, drumming his fingers on the padded arm.

Backing away from him, Nia laid her hands on his wrists and stepped out of the circle of his arms. Her red hair bounced on her shoulders when she turned to face her father. A wave of surrealism washed over Thomas. He'd fallen in love with the daughter of the king of G.o.ds. That he accepted G.o.ds existed as a truth might be the most amazing thing.

Thomas took his first look at the room they'd landed in. Eight women, every one a red-head, he'd seen at the festival sat around a spectacular conference table with a black granite top. Seven of them sent warm smiles at Nia, the eighth scowled at him. He tipped his head toward the angry woman and offered a smile. She rolled her eyes and flipped open the notebook in front of her.

"Ignore Callie." Nia lifted her chin, indicating the glowering woman. "She's the oldest and has always been crabby. It's her fault resting b.i.t.c.h face is a thing."

Thomas couldn't help but feel Callie had judged him and found him not quite good enough. Didn't matter. He wasn't here for her. Nia and Hailey were his priorities.

His ears concussed as Gaia popped into the room. Without Hailey.

Panic arrowed up his torso and speared into his brain. He moved toward Gaia. "Where's my niece? What have you done with her?" After seeing the crowd at the Inst.i.tute descend on them and hold Hailey's tiny body over the edge of the cliff, he wanted her tucked safely against his side.

Gaia laid her hand on his chest, right over his heart. A warm glow invaded his soul, easing his worry. She patted the spot as she spoke. "Hailey is safe. She's with Artemis in the childcare center. We didn't think she should be present for this meeting."

"Artemis?" Thomas searched his brain for who that was. Had he met her but didn't remember? The way he hadn't remembered Nia?

"The G.o.ddess protector of the vulnerable." Nia ran her hand over his face, stroking her thumb over his cheekbone. "All the kids love the childcare center Artemis runs for the company. There's a waiting list to get in."

With her hand between his shoulder blades, she urged him into one of the comfortable chairs surrounding the ma.s.sive table. She took the seat next to his, claimed his hand out of sight, and laced their fingers together.

A door opened in the paneled wall and a man raced into the room, a helmet stashed under his arm. "Sorry I'm late. I was collecting the latest reports." He made his way around the table. Extending his hand to Thomas, he grinned. "I'm Hermes. I'm in charge of communications for Olympus. I've seen the video feeds of the incident. What you did was astounding, but we have a public relations mess on our hands."

Oh lord. Did that helmet have wings on it? This was the messenger G.o.d. Thomas did a covert check of the guy's leg, looking for a matching set of wings. What he saw was expensive Italian loafers and cuffed trousers.

Hermes smirked at him then twitched his pant leg up, revealing a wing-free ankle. "That part is made up."

"Hermes, please take a seat. We do have an agenda to follow. We'll get to your part shortly." Zeus's stentorian tone demanded attention. He turned his stark blue gaze on Thomas. "We must decide what to do about this mortal."

Despair flooded her system at Zeus's words. Nia had already lost Thomas once. The thought of the G.o.ds stealing his memories from him again chipped a c.h.i.n.k of her heart away. It dropped like a rock into her stomach and settled hard and cold.

She tightened her grip on Thomas's warm hand and pleaded with her father. "Zeus, please don't erase his memory. At least not of me. I'm begging you."

"Urania, you must not interfere. Remember, this is a mortal who denied helping."

Thomas fidgeted next to her, his cheeks flushed with ruddy color.

Zeus turned his gaze toward Nia, but frowned as Gaia lowered gracefully to the seat next to hers. Narrowing his eyes, he pointed to Gaia. "Woman, I do not need your prodding. Of course I'm going to do what is right."

"Be sure you do, or you will be sleeping in one of the guest cottages for the foreseeable future," Gaia replied, cold steel underlying her pleasant tone.

"Daughter," Zeus addressed Nia. "Did you do something to restore your mortal's memory?"

Hearing him refer to Thomas as her mortal sounded like heaven. Maybe Zeus would ignore his initial refusal and accept her love for the brave man at her side. "I did not. But know this...if I could have, I would. Today was the first time I've seen him since that night at the Athenian."

Thomas stirred beside her. "You took my memories away, but n.o.body thought about my niece, Hailey. She remembered Nia and reminded me frequently of her." He faced her, his expression relaxed and wondrous. "I smelled your perfume on my pillow. And found your hair in my brush. You were never completely out of my thoughts. Even though I didn't recognize you, I knew you. That by itself is magic."

Tears welled in her eyes. She blinked furiously to keep them from falling. She'd managed to make him believe in the power of magic, but at what cost? The public relations snafu Hermes referred to bloomed in her mind. Thomas had a wide platform of social acceptance thanks to the popularity of his television show. And now, he knew the reality of deities. For thousands of years their true purpose, to watch over and inspire mortals, had remained a closely guarded corporate secret. Thomas could expose them all.

Better that his memories were erased. His and Hailey's.