is my name. And yes, I’ve been with Harmonia in many places throughout the years. But I am here now, to help you. Your mother and Harmonia both wished it so.”
Harmonia was the goddess of peace and contentment. In the not so distant past, she had battled the Fates in order to secure the freedom of the Olympians. During the struggles, the Fates had sent Harmonia’s daughter, Raquel, to the Underworld. I had accidentally come across her and had taken care of her until Harmonia could find us. I knew that she would be forever grateful to me because of that. If her right-hand man was here now, it was because Harmonia wished to help me. Knowing this, I chose to believe Ahmose and nodded.
“Fine. My mother sent you. Is she alright?”
He studied me, his black eyes gleaming. “Your mother is the most powerful witch in the world. She is fine. But it is not safe for you to seek her currently, yet it is not safe for you to linger in the mortal world unprotected, either.”
“I’m not going to Hades,” I cried determinedly. “Can’t you see that we cannot trust him?”
Ahmose held up a calm hand. “Hush now, young one. I was not speaking of going to Hades or even Zeus. Before your curse is lifted, much will come to pass. You must seek out the third brother, Poseidon. You draw strength from water- so what better place for you to seek refuge than an underwater world? Your mother wishes it so and Poseidon is expecting you. You must trade your bracelet for safe refuge in Poseidon’s world. Your mother has arranged it.”
Confusion swirled around me.
“My mother no longer wishes for me to return to the Underworld? Why not? What has happened? What changed her mind? And my bracelet? I cannot! It is enchanted to save my life. She would never ask me to give it away.”
Ahmose shook his head. “There is no time to discuss it. You must leave here. It is only safe to linger here for a few minutes. The despair will overwhelm you otherwise. Your mother had to barter your bracelet- it is a sign to Poseidon that you trust him, a sign of respect. You must give it to him in exchange for safe refuge. I imagine that he will return it to you when you leave his world. Leave here now, Empusa- but don’t remain too long in the mortal world before you go to Poseidon. Your safety depends upon it.”
He waved his hand and I was suddenly waking up, still curled in the safety of Brennan’s strong arms.
My brow was damp from anxious sweat and I impatiently pushed my hair out of my eyes. That was a strange and intriguing experience at the same time. Why had my mother sent a message through Ahmose rather than just coming herself? Something was going on- and I was sure that I wouldn’t like it if I knew what it was.
I glanced at my watch. The luminous hands said that it was just after 3:00 am. Dreamwalking always took up more time than it seemed. Brennan breathed deeply and evenly, his arms still wrapped securely around me even in sleep. I smiled and brushed his hair back with my fingers. He was boyish as he slept and I couldn’t help but stare at him.
His cheekbones were chiseled, his lashes long. He had a very Roman nose, proud and aqualine. It gave just the right amount of character to his face. His lips were soft and pink and I ached to bend and kiss them.
“So, do it then.”
I startled as he read my mind, then laughed. “You faker. I thought you were sleeping.”
He tightened his embrace around me before he answered. “I was. But I’m a very light sleeper. When you woke up, you woke me up. If you want to kiss me, just do it.”
I pulled away from him so that I was able to freely move. Running my hand along his cheek, I bent my head and kissed him lightly on the mouth. He tasted like youth and sunshine. I couldn’t help but moan into the kiss and he grabbed me again, flattening me against his chest.
“I think I’ve been
Harmonia was the goddess of peace and contentment. In the not so distant past, she had battled the Fates in order to secure the freedom of the Olympians. During the struggles, the Fates had sent Harmonia’s daughter, Raquel, to the Underworld. I had accidentally come across her and had taken care of her until Harmonia could find us. I knew that she would be forever grateful to me because of that. If her right-hand man was here now, it was because Harmonia wished to help me. Knowing this, I chose to believe Ahmose and nodded.
“Fine. My mother sent you. Is she alright?”
He studied me, his black eyes gleaming. “Your mother is the most powerful witch in the world. She is fine. But it is not safe for you to seek her currently, yet it is not safe for you to linger in the mortal world unprotected, either.”
“I’m not going to Hades,” I cried determinedly. “Can’t you see that we cannot trust him?”
Ahmose held up a calm hand. “Hush now, young one. I was not speaking of going to Hades or even Zeus. Before your curse is lifted, much will come to pass. You must seek out the third brother, Poseidon. You draw strength from water- so what better place for you to seek refuge than an underwater world? Your mother wishes it so and Poseidon is expecting you. You must trade your bracelet for safe refuge in Poseidon’s world. Your mother has arranged it.”
Confusion swirled around me.
“My mother no longer wishes for me to return to the Underworld? Why not? What has happened? What changed her mind? And my bracelet? I cannot! It is enchanted to save my life. She would never ask me to give it away.”
Ahmose shook his head. “There is no time to discuss it. You must leave here. It is only safe to linger here for a few minutes. The despair will overwhelm you otherwise. Your mother had to barter your bracelet- it is a sign to Poseidon that you trust him, a sign of respect. You must give it to him in exchange for safe refuge. I imagine that he will return it to you when you leave his world. Leave here now, Empusa- but don’t remain too long in the mortal world before you go to Poseidon. Your safety depends upon it.”
He waved his hand and I was suddenly waking up, still curled in the safety of Brennan’s strong arms.
My brow was damp from anxious sweat and I impatiently pushed my hair out of my eyes. That was a strange and intriguing experience at the same time. Why had my mother sent a message through Ahmose rather than just coming herself? Something was going on- and I was sure that I wouldn’t like it if I knew what it was.
I glanced at my watch. The luminous hands said that it was just after 3:00 am. Dreamwalking always took up more time than it seemed. Brennan breathed deeply and evenly, his arms still wrapped securely around me even in sleep. I smiled and brushed his hair back with my fingers. He was boyish as he slept and I couldn’t help but stare at him.
His cheekbones were chiseled, his lashes long. He had a very Roman nose, proud and aqualine. It gave just the right amount of character to his face. His lips were soft and pink and I ached to bend and kiss them.
“So, do it then.”
I startled as he read my mind, then laughed. “You faker. I thought you were sleeping.”
He tightened his embrace around me before he answered. “I was. But I’m a very light sleeper. When you woke up, you woke me up. If you want to kiss me, just do it.”
I pulled away from him so that I was able to freely move. Running my hand along his cheek, I bent my head and kissed him lightly on the mouth. He tasted like youth and sunshine. I couldn’t help but moan into the kiss and he grabbed me again, flattening me against his chest.
“I think I’ve been
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