Mayhem: Goddesses Of Delphi Read online

  If he believed in magic. Which he did not.

  Around them, couples laughed together, and families raced and shrieked. Just a typical Saturday at a fair. But the sounds didn’t ring true for him. It was as if he heard the noises through a closed door. Beside him, Hailey remained silent as they strolled down the path to the vendor booths.

  He tightened his grip on her hand. “You okay, munchkin?”

  She answered in a petulant tone. “I told you we knew her. But she didn’t know us. Why, Uncle Thomas?”

  Thomas glanced over his shoulder. His heart weighed heavier as he discovered the beautiful woman had moved away. He tugged Hailey to the side, off the path. Crouching in front of her, he ran his hands down her thin arms. “I’m sure she meets a lot of people. She works here, right? Maybe she meets too many people to remember all of them.”

  “But she should remember us.”

  Should she? Thomas couldn’t shake the feeling that they had met, and spent time together. Quality, intimate time. “What do you say we just forget about all of this and just have fun?”

  Hailey’s nod launched the smile he loved to see on her small features.

  “Okay?”

  She nodded more vigorously.

  “Let’s go.” He stood and offered her his hand.

  The gravel path crunched under their sneakers as they resumed walking toward the festival. An elusive memory tickled his consciousness. Someone had entreated him to keep Hailey safe. “Stay close, munchkin. There are a lot of people here. I wouldn’t want to lose you.”

  As they wandered among the attractions and booths, Thomas couldn’t shake the disquiet that had gripped him when they moved away from Nia. As they passed other patrons, many stopped to stare. Typically, it wouldn’t bother him. He was accustomed to being recognized. Oftentimes, people approached him, asked for an autograph, and either wanted to discuss their favorite episode or offer him suggestions for a myth to bust.

  Today was different. People stared and pointed, but not at him. Their attention seemed focused on Hailey. He gripped her small hand tighter, a cold sweat breaking out on his torso.

  “Ow!” Hailey exclaimed and tugged her hand from him. “You were squeezing too hard, Uncle Thomas.”

  “Sorry.” A couple passed them, silent and staring. They stopped just beyond Thomas’s reach and turned to stare. “Hailey, I think we should go home now. It’s getting late.”

  “Not yet. We need to look through the telescopes to say hello to Daddy and Mommy.”

  “We can do that from our backyard.”

  “Please? They’ll be closer here. Not as close as with the big telescope, but better.” Hailey gestured toward the rust red observatory dome. She drew her brows together and pursed her lips. “Please can we stay a little longer?”

  The other couple had moved on, lessening the odd sense of menace tripping up his spine. Thomas nodded, reclaimed Hailey’s hand and led her toward the observation deck. Dusk was falling and the evening stars would be visible from the bank of telescopes situated on the edge of the cliff.

  Several other families occupied the deck, but Thomas located a free scope. He lifted Hailey onto the small concrete pad at the base, and helped her adjust the viewer until she claimed it was in focus.

  Conversation around them died, leaving heavy silence in its wake. Thomas turned slowly and immediately tensed. A semicircle of people had formed around them—every face ominously blank. Two burly men moved toward him, their steps awkward, as though they had no control over their bodies.

  “Stay back,” Thomas ordered as he shoved Hailey behind him. Spying a break in the circle, he firmed his grip on her arm and dodged to his left. The men moved with him, lunging to grab him. They restrained him, separating him from Hailey. One of the mothers from the crowd leaped forward and snatched Hailey from behind him, covering the girl’s mouth to stifle her sudden scream.

  Chapter 24

  Nia spied Pierus in the shadow of the performance stage. His business attire caused him to stand out like a sore thumb among the casually dressed crowds.

  “You’d think he’d try to blend in,” Ken scoffed as he stood next to her. “Cocky son of a bitch, ain’t he?”

  “He hasn’t won yet,” Mars growled, glaring daggers at said son of a bitch.

  Terri, who’d hired the bands for the events, edged closer to Nia and whispered, “He’s up to something.”

  “Ya think?” Nia asked dryly. She lifted her chin toward the stage and pinned her stare on Pierus. Reaching out to him mentally, she taunted I have my eyes on you.

  Pierus shrugged, his face a mask of arrogance as he brushed at a speck of lint on his black jacket. His smartass voice filled her head. I’m not who you should be watching.

  Nia crossed her arms over her waist, trying to quell the nerves fluttering in her belly.

  “This crowd is quieter than is warranted.” Ken twisted at the waist, surveying the area around them. “I don’t like it.”

  Nia didn’t like it either. Across from her, Pierus lifted the corners of his mouth in a smirk as he leaned a shoulder against the bandstand.

  A scream rent the air. It sounded panicked and terrified.

  “Let’s go.” Ken grabbed her hand and dragged her in the direction of the noise. Mars and Terri followed closely behind. Heart pounding heavily against her ribcage, Nia and the rest raced up the path to the observation deck. The screams grew louder and were joined by yelling. Her blood iced as they crested the hill and took in the tableau by the decorative concrete fence bordering the steep cliff.

  In the midst of a silent mob, Thomas fought to free himself from the grip of two men while a third held a screaming Hailey over the precipice.

  Oh, dear goddess. Hailey was the innocent foretold by Pierus. And the mob had her in their unaware clutches. Only Thomas seemed immune to the influence that had spread over the crowd. The horror and determination etched into his face mobilized Nia.

  Concentrating her energy, she covered the twenty feet to the observation deck in the blink of an eye, too short a span for her aura or sparkling lights to appear. She swept in next to the man holding Hailey and seized the girl around the waist. Ken was right behind her and knocked the man to the side. Then he turned the force of his gaze on the semicircle and spread his hands wide, holding them at bay.

  Hailey flung her arms around Nia’s neck, screaming in fear. Running her hand along the child’s spine, Nia infused her fingers with calming vibes, and urged them into Hailey’s chest. Her fingers sparked gently as she sent her influence through Hailey. The girl’s screams dissipated, and Hailey buried her face against Nia’s neck, sobbing quietly.

  “Nia, we need your influence here.” Ken nodded to the hillside above them. More people moved toward their position, everyone walking stiffly, as though in a trance. “This has Pierus all over it. How the fuck is he doing this with Cratus in custody?”

  “Hailey!” Thomas yelled, still tussling with the brutes holding him.

  Mars materialized behind the two men and crashed their heads together. Zeus, Gaia and all of Nia’s sisters blinked through the Hollow. Without a word, all the immortals formed a protective flank around Nia and Hailey. Mars grasped Thomas’s arm and jerked him toward the center.

  “Gaia, take her,” Nia commanded, without turning to face her mother.

  Gaia stepped forward and removed Hailey from Nia’s arms. She nestled the child close to her chest, stepping backward. Mel, Terri, Thalia, and Polly formed a protective ring around their mother and the child. Thomas surged toward them, but stopped short as he encountered the energy field surrounding the small group.

  “Leave them,” Mars commanded as he gripped Thomas’s shoulder. “They’ll protect her.”

  “She’s okay,” Gaia shouted. “We’ve got her.

  Thomas reeled toward Nia. “What’s going on?”

  Busy gathering energy from the heavens, Nia couldn’t spare him any attention. She jabbed a fast thought into his brain. “I’m sorry.”<
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  Power palpated in her chest, pulsing heavily, like a second life form inside her skin trying to escape. The crowd edged forward, murmuring loudly. Menace and determination replaced the blank stares. The mob wanted Hailey and they weren’t going to give up.

  “Nia, up on the hill.” Zeus’s voice was strained as he indicated the crest.

  Pierus and his half-formed offspring crowned the top of the rise. Mayhem had sprouted human legs, but hadn’t lost her wings or beak. Raven black hair streamed from her head, snarled and tangled but wafting in a supernatural breeze. Nia repressed a shudder and refocused her attention on the task.

  Picturing a lasso in her mind, Nia flung the imaginary rope heavenward, wrapping it around the descending sun. Hot electrical current spiraled downward along the invisible tether. Nia arched involuntarily as blazing heat surged into her. Her skin glowed as the power took possession of her body. The top of her head burned as though ready to burst into flames.

  The crowd continued to approach, urged on as Pierus raised his arms, palms out. His fingertips glowed as he twisted his wrists and brought his hands together. Energy, red tinged and angry, gathered between his palms. He slammed his hands toward the ground and the mob surged forward in response.

  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 scraped 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, succumbing 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 goddess, 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 gratitude, 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 assistance 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 bitch of a daughter with h
im.

  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.