Fallen (Dark God Saga) by Violette Dubrinsky, Renee Flowers Page B

were. I am not proud of what I’ve done—.”
              “You bitch!” Simone wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. “You heartless bitch!”
              Thanatos was already moving, thinking Hera would surely kill Simone for that, but the goddess didn’t. She surprised him by hanging her head. It was the closest he’d ever seen any goddess come to shame.
              “Yes, I was heartless, Simone, and I am sorry. But I’ve always watched over you as she would have wanted. I sent Samantha to care for you when your mother passed, and I made sure you wanted for nothing.”
              “Samantha is my aunt. Of course she took care of me.” But doubt entered her mind. Hyacinth had not mentioned her younger sister until the cancer had become terminal. And even then, she’d seemed reluctant.
              “No, dear one, Samantha is descended of Astrid, and is another of my handmaidens.” Hera snapped her fingers, and Simone watched in horror as Aunt Sammie appeared, dressed in a flowing cream gown, and bowed before Hera.
              “Aunt Sammie?”
              Samantha lifted her dark, curly head and offered her a little smile. Simone had not seen her in almost four years, but Samantha looked the same as she did when she’d met her at sixteen. She’d thought her aunt the most beautiful woman outside of her mother. She still was. Not a blemish or wrinkle in sight. She’d always thought her aunt a god-send. It irritated her how appropriate that seemed now.
              “That will be all, Samantha.”
              The smile faded, and then Samantha bowed her head and disappeared.
              Simone shook her head. No. Sinking down into the bed until she lay curled in a slight ball, she closed her eyes. No. She shook her head again. No. Kept her eyes closed. Go away. Everyone. Go. Away.
              She felt a light brush against her forehead but kept her eyes closed. A nightmare. She was going to wake up soon. It was a nightmare.
              “Simone?” It was Thanatos, and even though it was so hard to keep her eyes closed, to not open them, and cry her heart out to him, he was just like them. Something different. Gods. Killers. It was not real.
              “Go away. Please. Leave me alone. I just want to be left alone...” She chanted it over and over, rolled herself into the bed, and kept her eyes closed. If she kept them closed, they’d all go away.
    ***
              Thanatos ached for her. She was like a lost child, moaning in her sleep as she tried to stave off the chill of what had just happened. So, Simone was a handmaiden, and apparently Hera’s ward. He ran a hand over his face. Hera wanted his blood, but he wasn’t going to let her have it without a fight. His family wasn’t having it as well, so the Olympians had a dilemma.
              Simone moaned again, and twisted in the comforter. He saw tears on her cheek, and got under the covers with her. Using the edge of the pillowcase, he wiped her tears away, and pulled her close to him. Using his powers, he projected safety, warmth, and love to her. Her movements stilled, and she clutched at him.
    Thanatos buried his face in her thick mass of hair. How was he going to let her go?
    ***
              When Simone awoke, she was very alone. She might have thought it all a dream except for the soreness between her legs, and love bites all over her skin, and the innate knowledge that everything she remembered last night had been true. Thanatos, Hera, Aunt Sammie—everyone! And of course, her mother. Her poor mother. A vivid image of her beautiful mother lying in a coffin, her face serene but not relaxed, brought Simone to her knees. How could one person—goddess or not—be so cruel?
              She took a long shower, resting her head against the smooth tile as she tried to convince herself it was all a dream. She