Jericho introduced her to an older couple waiting in the doorway. The frail woman looked much older than the man who stood lovingly by her side, holding her hand.
“Thanks for coming, Jericho. That sump pump has gone out again and if it’s not fixed soon, Mary and I will be going skinny dipping.”
“Edward! He’s just joking, Jericho. Go with him and I’ll take care of Cara.” Hesitating, Jericho gave Cara a hard look before he followed Edward out of the room.
“Would you like a cup of coffee?”
“I would love one.” Cara smiled down at the tiny woman and watched as Mary slowly led her into a room. It was beautiful. The flowered couch and chairs were highlighted by a multi-colored braided rug on the wooden floor. The room was obviously an extension of this woman’s unique personality.
“I had Edward fix it before you came. Jericho told him he would be bringing you.”
Mary didn’t ask what her relationship with Jericho was, even though Cara could see the curiosity in her tired, pain-filled eyes. Cara noticed when she went to lift the cup of coffee that her fingers trembled.
“Here let me.” Cara took the cup and thanked her. “You have a beautiful home.”
“Thank you. I know it’s a bit flowery, but Edward puts up with it.”
Cara smiled. “Have you been married for a long time?”
Mary laughed. “Thirty-six years.” Her voice was proud of their accomplishment before it saddened. “We wanted to hit the forty year mark, but I don’t think we’re going to make it.”
“I’m sorry.” No, they weren’t going to make it to their forty-year anniversary. Cara doubted if the woman realized just how close to death she was. She had seen the woman’s soul as soon as she had walked toward her on the front porch. Her beautiful soul was fading away. “And your husband?”
“Edward is as healthy as a horse. Thank goodness he is a young man still.” Mary gave Cara a wicked smile. “Even after thirty-six years of marriage he makes my heart beat faster. Hopefully he’ll find someone new to share his life with. I don’t want him to be alone. They say that men who’ve had a happy marriage tend to remarry. Do you think that is true?”
Cara looked into the woman’s troubled eyes and tried to hold back her tears. Mary did not want or need her tears, she needed reassurance. “I believe so. I’m sure he will find someone when the time is right.” Mary gave her a smile, changing the subject. “Have you known Jericho long?”
“No. Only a couple of days. I’m afraid I am imposing on him. The weather is keeping him from getting rid of me.”
“I doubt your staying with him is much of a hardship for him.” Mary looked at the beautiful young woman. For some reason her presence comforted her, as if her body ached less, and the dread and fear that was much worse than the pain ever could be, eased. She didn’t feel as alone or as afraid. Mary couldn’t explain it, didn’t try, she merely accepted it with thankfulness.
“Jericho has lived on this mountain for ten years, and I’ve never known him to let a woman in his home. He hires Edward to keep it clean for him while he’s away on his jobs. I was surprised he moved up here, but when the Indian council offered him the property, he accepted and built his own cabin.”
“Indian council?”
Mary nodded, leaning forward to pour herself another cup of coffee. “Yes, this mountain, plus twelve thousand surrounding acres and the town are Indian owned. There are provisions that if individuals could prove their Indian heritage, then they were given a select amount of land to build their own home. Everything at one time belonged to one family, but it was turned over to the council with certain provisions, such as the one that gave the land.”
“So Jericho is Native American?”
“Yes, Jericho’s father was a Comanche. It was what led him to this mountain in the first place, trying to find his father.”
“His father was no longer here?”
Mary sadly shook her head. ”No, he had died before Jericho’s birth. It’s a sad story really, and the day is dreary enough, don’t you think?” Cara admired the subtle way Mary changed the subject.
The women heard the men coming. “I guess they’re finished.”
“Can you stay for a cup of coffee, Jericho?” Mary questioned as he entered the room.
“No, thanks. We better get going before the roads get worse.” Cara didn’t see how much worse they could get, but stood up to leave.
She hugged a surprised Mary goodbye. “It was an honor to meet you.” Jericho waited impatiently for her to say her goodbyes, but Cara wasn’t going to be rushed. As she passed Edward, she took his hand. “It was also nice to meet you.”
“It was nice to meet you also. Please come back and visit. Mary could use the company.”
“I would like that.” Cara meant to leave without another word, she really did. After all, she had been trained since birth not to interfere. The consequences were always known, and Cara and her sisters had never once disobeyed. However those consequences no longer applied. She had already lost her powers, she was mortal. Surely, just this once, the rules could be bent, if not broken.
Cara tightened her hand around Edward’s and lowered her voice so Mary, who was gathering the dishes, could not hear. “You must not do what you are planning.”
Startled, Edward tried to pull his hand from her grasp. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Yes you do, and it will not work. You will be separated, never to find each other again. Be patient and she will be returned to you.”
“I can’t lose her.” His tormented words tore at Cara’s heart.
“You won’t if you wait, but if you go through with your plans, you will lose her forever.”
Jericho jerked her arm, forcing her to release Edward’s hand. “I apologize, Edward. I shouldn’t have brought her.” Jericho turned, dragging her from the house.
“Stop it; I’m coming.” Cara tried to get her arm away, but was successful only when Jericho had her in the truck once again, slamming the door.
“How could you do that to that old couple? It was downright cruel, and what were you telling him not to do anyway?”
“He plans to kill himself when Mary dies. He can’t bear the thought of a life without her.”
“And you know this how? Did Mary say something?”
“No, she doesn’t know. He knows it would break her heart. And I am able to see the color of his soul matches Mary’s; it is already preparing to leave. Edward’s should not have been that way, Mary said he was healthy.”
Jericho reversed carefully until they were once again on the dangerous road. He needed his head examined for even taking Cara around his neighbors, especially as sick as Mary was.
Jericho frowned; Edward had seemed to know what Cara was talking about. Jericho had thought that Edward was dealing with Mary’s upcoming death well; his planned suicide would explain his unexpected acceptance of losing a wife of so many years. How had Cara known? Had Mary secretly hinted it to Cara or had the girl just guessed. One thing was for sure, the sooner he got rid of her, the better. When was this damn rain ever going to stop?
Chapter Six
Odin’s court was filled to capacity. Fate stood in the back of the huge hall and watched as the beautiful Goddesses vied for his attention. Their filmy gowns left nothing to the imagination, each hoping to be the one he chose for an evening of pleasure.
Fate’s lip curled in disgust when Venus sat in his lap to hold a goblet to his lips. When a small amount of wine clung to his lips, she slid forward, her tongue licking his lips before giving him a voracious kiss. Fate heard her moans in the back of the crowed hall. The stupid slut’s butt ground harder against Odin’s lap, trying to bring herself to an orgasm.
If the task she was there for was not so important, Fate would have left then. Instead, she slowly moved forward to Odin’s dais. As the other’s realized she was there, they moved back, allowing an unobstructed path. Fate didn’t wonder at their movements, so accust
omed to it. They feared her; afraid she would somehow know their thoughts, actions and feelings. They were right.
Odin watched the woman walk toward him, knew the smile playing on her lips was because she believed everyone feared her. She was wrong. The women were jealous of her beauty and moved away because they didn’t want her to know, and the men skittered away in embarrassment at their body’s arousal. Fate was a stunningly beautiful woman with a body that was every man or God’s idea of perfection.
The only thing that saved her from the Goddesses’ jealousy was her power. None dared to harm the woman. She had gifts and powers unlike any other. If that wasn’t enough, she held the friendship of the couple literally holding the powers of the universe in their hands.
Fate was afraid of no one and feared by all. All except Odin. Of course it helped that Chronas was his father, so therefore, he did not fear retribution as other immortals.
His eyes narrowed as she stopped before him. Her Grecian gown was made of silk and clung to every luscious curve and line on her body. When the arrogant beauty kneeled before him, providing a glimpse of her firm breasts as her head bowed, it took every ounce of control he possessed to keep from grabbing her and taking her on the floor. Only his pride saved him from making an ass of himself and kept his expression an unreadable mask.
“Fate, why am I granted the pleasure of seeing you on your knees before me?”
His sarcasm made Fate want to throw the wine goblet at his head. Instead, she lowered her voice, seductive and full of promises she had no intention of fulfilling. “I beg a favor, your highness.”
Odin laughed at her submissive tone. This woman didn’t have a submissive bone in her body. His body had taken several days to recover from the night he had spent in her bed.
“I wait breathlessly to see just what this favor entails to bring you to your knees. Dare I guess it involves the disappearance of your daughters?”
“May we speak privately?”
“Rise, Fate. As much as I enjoy you on your knees before me, this fake meekness grows tiresome.” As she rose gracefully to her feet, he lifted a hand. “Leave us.”
Venus reluctantly slid off his lap, giving Fate a dirty look. Fate ignored the stupid bitch; she had other more pressing matters than who was next in line for a romp with Odin. She could have him and her look told her so.
Odin’s hand tightened on the arms of his throne, barely restraining himself from crushing it in his anger. He had seen the look she had given Venus and knew she felt nothing other than contempt for the women begging for his favor. He wanted to throttle the woman, right after he fucked her senseless.
When the court was empty, Odin’s voice boomed out in the hollow room, “What is it you want, Fate?”
“Get Thor to grant me an audience.” Odin knew that was why she had come. It had been her only recourse to regaining her daughters. Fate could not enter Thor’s palace without permission; it remained the one and only place that she could not appear without direct invitation.
“You’re going to ask him for help?” Odin leaned back on his throne. “I’m curious, Fate, why you are not asking for my help? I could retrieve them for you, why not beg me?”
“I would not ask you to break your oath to Mother.” Odin had given an oath to Mother never to interfere on Earth again, since the last time he had taken hundreds of lives in anger.
Odin nodded. “And what favor would you grant me for asking my son to listen to you? You know I cannot make him aide you, only to listen to your request.”
“I hope I can convince him to help me.” Fate shrugged. “But I can’t ask for his help unless he sees me. That is why I need your help. Whatever you want in payment, I will pay.”
“Anything, Fate? Be careful if you do not mean your words. Once we strike a bargain, I will not allow you to renege on it because you have achieved your goals.”
Fate stiffened. “I give you my word, and once given, I will stand by it until our bargain is met. What do you want in return for an audience with Thor?”
“You in my bed for as long as I wish,” Odin spoke carefully. When setting a trap, the hunter must never let his prey know their ultimate goal. He knew what her answer would be before she spoke.
“One night,” Fate countered.
Odin shrugged nonchalantly. “It was worth a try. Very well, Fate; one night, but be warned, this time I won’t play the part of Valentine so that you can pretend to yourself that you don’t want me. This time, you will know it’s me from beginning to end.”
“Agreed, but I have one stipulation.”
“And that is?”
“I will not see the bargain met until all three of my daughters are safely home.” Odin admired her. She was a hell of an adversary. She planned to outsmart him; she had no intention of seeing their bargain met. As always, though, Fate underestimated him. He was about to prove her wrong.
“Very well. We’re agreed. I’ll send for Thor.”
Fate breathed a sigh of relief. “Thank you, Odin.” Turning, she started to leave in a hurry to once again check on her daughters’ movements. However Odin stopped her before she could leave.
“What makes you think he will help you? He hates you, Fate.” Fate turned back to the obnoxious God.
“I know this, but as much as he hates me as his mother, he loves his sisters.”
***
Jericho did not speak once they were back at the cabin, showing his anger in silence. Not that he talked to her more than he had to before, yet now he simply disappeared into his room, leaving her by herself. Cara sat on the couch and watched the rain outside the window.
She sighed, not much had changed from her home. Her sisters and mother often left her by herself. Cara had become used to being lonely. She got up and wandered aimlessly around the small room. The lack of color and homey feel was in direct contrast to Mary’s home. There were no photos or personal possessions of any kind sitting around. Not even a comfortable rug just lying around on the wood floors. It was as stark and cold as the man himself.
Cara frowned. She had spoken the truth when she had told him that his soul was black. There was something she had not told him that she had never seen before; a slight shade of gold had flickered within the darkness. Gold souls were the mark of immortals. His was very slight, as to be almost nonexistent. In fact, she would have missed seeing it if not for the amount of time she spent staring at the man. He pretended not to notice her staring, and as much as she tried, Cara couldn’t help herself. She wanted to touch his hard face and see gentleness, see desire in his eyes, which always were void of any emotion.
The Gods and Goddess were well known for their sexual exploits, yet Fate had kept Cara and her sisters away from the excesses. Cara had never been tempted even by the most handsome of the Gods, yet Jericho made her want him with no encouragement. This was hard for a woman to admit when her father was a Saint.
“Are you hungry?” Cara jumped when Jericho spoke from the kitchen. She hadn’t even heard him walk through the room. Blushing, Cara nodded her head.
Jericho gave her a hard look. “Is spaghetti, okay?”
“I’ve never had it before, but I’ve been enjoying trying new things.” Cara walked to the kitchen and watched as he cooked. It was very interesting watching him work around the kitchen because he was unselfconscious about his movements.
She watched as he put long strands of something into a steaming pot while the smell coming from the pan of red sauce he had been working on was appetizing. Her stomach growled. Cara put a hand to her rumbling stomach and laughed.
“You should have told me you were so hungry.” He reached toward the counter and pulled a large piece of bread off the loaf sitting there.
“I did not realize that I was. Everything smells so good.” Cara watched as Jericho moved the sauce to the counter. Thinking to help him, she reached and touched the steaming pot, wanting to move it to the counter. Searing pain in her hands was instantaneous.
“What the hell h
ave you done?” Deftly, he moved the pot away from the stove to the counter and quickly grabbed her hands pulling her towards the sink before turning on the water to run it over her red palms. The cold water soothed the pain, but not for long.
“Dammit, why did you touch it without a towel?”
“I didn’t know,” Cara’s voice trembled. It was everything she could do not to howl in pain. Tears filled her eyes. When she was immortal, she would have been unable to hurt herself. She had to learn caution now that her body had become mortal.
“Haven’t you cooked food before?”
“No, my mother’s servants prepare our meals.”
“Must be nice.” Cara could tell by his look of disgust that he was being sarcastic. Her shoulders drooped. Now he thought that not only was she crazy, but helpless as well.
“Stay still, I’ll be right back.”
Within minutes, he was back. Turning off the water, he dried her hands with a clean towel. Afterwards, he rubbed a soothing lotion on her burning hands. He was gentle and careful not to hurt her stinging hands. When he was done, he wrapped them in gauze.
“Take these,” he instructed, holding two tablets in his hands. Cara looked at them quizzically. “Just aspirin for the pain. I’m sorry, I don’t have anything stronger.” Cara took them with the glass of water he handed her.
“Now sit down while I see if I can save our dinner.” Cara sat at the table, feeling useless as she watched him fix their plates.
It took only a few minutes before he slid the plate of pasta in front of her. Cara could only think of one thing as she dug into her plate of food. Heaven, pure Heaven. It was the most delicious dish she had ever tasted. At first, she had trouble eating the stringy mess, but after watching Jericho twirl it onto his fork, she followed suit. The taste was exquisite. She cleaned her plate using a chunk of bread to sop up the remains of the tangy sauce, imitating Jericho.