After Midnight Read online

  I laughed, shaking my head at her. “Go get ‘em, tiger. Who knows; maybe he’s the one.”

  She straightened in her chair, waving, and as I turned to look, he stood, sunlight glinting off his raven-black hair, long, lean frame walking gracefully towards us like he owned the world, and my heart jumped right up into my throat, pounding out a frantic staccato as I mapped out all the possible escape routes.

  Would he try anything here, in such a public place?

  As though he read my thoughts, Gabriel challenged me with his eyes as he came closer. My hands clutched at the arm of the chair, ready to flee.

  “Hello again, Amy.” His voice was as deep and lovely as I remembered, like chocolate dipped strawberries.

  “Again? You know him?”

  Shake his hand…act like you’re not freaking out inside…

  “We met last night,” I said to Sarah. I turned back to Gabriel. “You shouldn’t be here.

  He took my hand in his, fingers stroking my wrist intimately. “I told you that I would win, sweetheart; care to continue playing?”

  “How did you find me? And don’t tell me that you were ‘just wandering past’, because we’re miles from the park.”

  “I had some business in the area and noticed you here. May I join you?”

  “No.”

  “Sure! Here, sit between us,” Sarah said as I glared back at her. “What’s your name?”

  “Gabriel.”

  “I’m Sarah, and you already know Amy. Do you want something to drink…Gabe?”

  “No, thank you. I was actually hoping I could steal your friend for a minute, if that’s possible.”

  “I have a good idea what your ‘business’ was so, tell me, did they deserve it, too?” I asked, arms crossed over my chest as he surveyed me, a slight smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.

  “That depends who wants to know. I’ll vehemently deny any accusation you throw at me, of course, so don’t waste your time. Can I speak to you in private?”

  “Anything you have to say to me, you can say in front of Sarah.”

  “It’s about last night.”

  “Yeah, I figured that out as soon as I saw you, and my answer is still no.”

  “Just go, Amy. I’ll watch your stuff,” Sarah said, prying my hand from the chair, one finger at a time.

  “But, we were talking…catching up…”

  Please don’t make me do this.

  “And we will again, as soon as you get back.” She leaned towards me, cupping her hand around my ear. “Morsel, remember? Now, go.” She pushed me up and I groaned, grabbing my wallet from the table. “Besides, I need another latte, and there’s a line.”

  “There are literally three people standing up there, and I think two of them are waiting for drinks.”

  She smiled at me, teeth clenched. “Humor me, okay?”

  “I’ll bring you back in one piece, I promise,” Gabriel said, steering me away as Sarah nodded, wandering into the coffee shop.

  “I don’t want to talk to you, okay? And, if you’re going to chase me down again, you should know that this coffee shop is a favorite hang-out spot for off-duty police officers.”

  “That’s good to know, but not necessary, Amy.”

  “Why do you think I need your help?” We rounded the corner of the building, and he backed us up until I was flush with the stone wall, trailing an icy fingertip across my collarbone.

  “I don’t think you need anything – I know it. You feel like you’re missing something, don’t you? A piece of information about yourself that you can’t quite place your finger on, and it’s driving you crazy.”

  “Leave me alone.”

  He laughed, snaking a hand up under my hair, cradling my head in his palm. “Not until you answer me.” His touch was like a shot of adrenaline straight into my bloodstream, leaving me weak and breathless as he traced an intricate pattern down one arm and up the other.

  “I don’t remember the question.”

  “There’s something missing from your life. Don’t you want to know what it is?”

  “Let me guess – it has something to do with you?”

  “Maybe.”

  I snorted, shrugging his hand off as I put a little space between us. “In your dreams.”

  “Actually,” he said, leaning against the wall, “that’s not a bad place to start. How many times have you dreamt about the dock?”

  I swallowed hard and looked at him, unblinking. “You’re going to have to be more specific than that if you expect me to follow this -”

  “The dock in the Lake of Souls.”

  That triggered the briefest flash of a memory – there and gone again – of a black sand beach, ocean waves gently lapping the shoreline. Since I was one hundred percent sure that I’d never been to Tahiti before, or Maui, it didn’t make sense. Was I pulling it from pictures? Movies?

  “You know that name.”

  Did I, though? Did it count as ‘knowing’ something if I couldn’t say how I knew it? I shook my head, side to side, as he took one hesitant step towards me.

  “Let me help you.” He reached out, cradling my face between his hands as he brushed his thumb over my cheekbone, tightening his grip on me when I tried to pull away.

  “What are you doing?”

  “Remembering. Now, hush. Let me concentrate.” He closed his eyes, lips moving silently for a moment, before splaying his fingers out across my face, his grip borderline painful. “Close your eyes.”

  “I don’t trust you.”

  “I know you don’t, but right now, that doesn’t matter. Close your eyes.”

  “Alright, but if you try anything funny, you’ll regret it.”

  He smiled. “Of course. Are they closed?”

  “Yes.”

  “Amy…” The warning tone in his voice made me shiver, like a cat who just had its fur rubbed backwards, and my eyelids fluttered shut.

  “Okay, closed.”

  “I’m taking you to the Lake of Souls.”

  “But, we’re not in a car…”

  “That doesn’t matter. Are you ready?”

  “I feel stupid.”

  “You’ll understand in a minute.”

  “Someone is going to notice us, and when they do, they’re going to think we’re high, or crazy, or both. I’m not okay with people thinking I’m crazy, Gabe. I live here.”

  “Amy,” he said as I squeaked my eyes open, flinching from the fury on his face. “For once, in your life, would you please do what I tell you to?”

  “Fine! God, you’re so bossy!”

  “I’ve been called worse.”

  “So, now what?”

  “Now, you remember.” He waited until I closed my eyes, placing his thumb on my forehead and massaging it in small little circles.

  I waited, tensed, but saw nothing but darkness. “Gabriel, nothing’s happening.”

  “You’re fighting it, sweetheart. Let go.”

  “Well, I’m sorry, but this is a bit ridiculous. I don’t know what you expect me to see or – oh.”

  A picture began to form – little bursts of color at first before spreading, like ink on paper. I was standing on a black sand beach, stretching as far as the eye could see in either direction, and at the edge sat two giant wooden docks, which groaned under the weight of hundreds of people moaning in unison, their figures wavering as though a light breeze drifted around them. To my left stood a man, back to me, and long black duster brushing the ground. Another man approached, holding out a scroll, and he paused, bowing low.

  “Milord, the boats will be here soon, but we’re missing one soul – Mary Walters. What should I do?”

  “I refuse to halt the progression of all the other souls for one individual. Inform me if she’s found, otherwise, proceed.”

  Please let me be imagining that horribly familiar voice…

  “Yes, milord. Also, milady wishes for you to come back to the palace. She said it was…urgent.”

  The ‘lord
’ in question laughed, spinning around to face me, and I froze, mouth flopping open.

  Gabriel.

  “It usually is with her. Very well; best not to keep her waiting.” He walked past me to deposit the scroll on a low bookshelf, leaving through an ornate wooden door.

  The scene faded, and I gasped, stumbling until my back hit the wall of the building. Gabriel stepped towards me, but I held up a hand to stop him, mind tilting and whirling crazily.

  “Did you slip something into my drink when I wasn’t looking?”

  “Why would you th -?”

  “Just answer the damn question.”

  “No, of course not.”

  I licked my lips, swearing I could still taste saltwater. “Then why…how…”

  “No matter what I tell you, you’ll think it’s crazy.”

  “Well, I already know you’re crazy, Gabriel, but I still think you owe me an explanation.”

  “You’re not who you think you are.”

  “Then, who am I?” His lips twisted, like he wanted to tell me but was holding back. “Who, Gabriel?”

  “My wife, Persephone.”

  His words smacked into me like a ton of bricks as I stood in place, hands balling into fists. He watched me, eyes narrowed as he assessed my reaction, and I wanted him to say something – anything – that might indicate he was joking, or made it all up, so when that didn’t happen, I felt the blood drain from my face as I spun around, starting to walk towards the café.

  “You judge me, but you know it’s true; you can feel it,” he said, blocking my path.

  “This is a trick…it has to be.”

  “And what about what I just showed you?”

  “I don’t know, alright? But I’m not your wife. I would remember that.”

  I’m Amy of Portland, Oregon. I grew up in Salem, I was in the choir at Sprague High School, and graduated with honors…

  He stepped closer and took both my hands in his, holding fast when I tried to pull away. “Your name is Persephone. Your mother is Demeter, goddess of spring, your father is Zeus, god of -”

  “Stop.”

  “Don’t look away from me when I’m talking to you!” He wrenched my face up to his again, splaying his fingers out across my cheekbone as he stared deep into my eyes. “Two years ago, Prometheus cursed you when you refused to marry him, and because of him, you’re here now – in Oregon.”

  “I don’t believe you,” I said, squeezing my eyes shut.

  Was it tap heels together twice, or three times?

  “At this point, sweetheart, I don’t really care if you believe me. My only concern is breaking the curse and helping you remember who you are, and what we had together.”

  “You’re not going to give up, are you?”

  “We’re both stubborn people, so no. Not until you give in and admit that some of what I’m saying resonates with you.”

  “Why would I do that?”

  “Because you belong with me, and because your family needs you to break this curse and come back to Olympus.”

  “I’m happy where I am right now – with the life I have here. I don’t need someone coming along and smashing that to crazy little pieces.”

  “You have a birthmark in the shape of a strawberry behind your left knee, you bite your fingernails when you’re stressed or hungry – something I’ve tried, to no avail, to get you to stop, and you eat a bowl of fruit with slivered almonds every morning for breakfast, but your favorite is kiwi and apple.”

  “I’m not sure whether I should be extremely creeped out that you’ve obviously been watching me for some time now or impressed that you’ve deduced that much about my life.”

  “You’re an extroverted introvert, you read the newspaper back to front, because you feel like you should check the obituaries, just in case, and you make this noise during sex that sounds a little like a feral ca -”

  “Oh my god, stop!”

  He leaned against the wall, arms crossed over his chest, the hint of a smile lifting his lips. “What does your bag of excuses have to say about all that?”

  “That you know more about me than anyone I’ve ever known, which makes you the perfect serial killer. Stay. Away. From. Me.”

  He stared at me for a long moment before detaching himself, stepping up to me until we were chest to chest, his breath fanning my face. “Why are you so busy with this or that, or good or bad; pay attention to how things blend. Talk about all the known and the unknown; see how the unknown merges into the known.”

  “That’s my favorite poem,” I said, shivering as he stroked a hand over my hair and down my back, before pulling me close.

  “You used to make me read it to you every night before bed; you said it helped you sleep.”

  “I don’t know what you expect me to do now.”

  “Think about what I’ve said, and what you’ve seen, and when you’re ready, come find me.” He handed me a slip of paper, and I took it, his name and address scribbled on the front.

  “What, no phone number?”

  He smiled, stepping around me. “And deprive myself of your delightful company? Never. Visit anytime you’d like; I’m always there. We should return to the café; no doubt your friend has her latte by now and is wondering if I’ve kidnapped you.”

  “I wouldn’t put that past you,” I said, ignoring the hand he held out.

  “Not yet, little one…not yet.”

  “What took you guys so long? I was about to give up and leave!” Sarah said as we rounded the corner, and I sunk into my chair as Gabriel paused behind me, hands on my shoulders. “Amy, you look like you’ve swallowed a cat. Grab another coffee and tell me everything that delicious Gabe said to you – no details spared.”

  My face felt like a tomato as he bent over me, lips to my ear.

  “Spare some. I’ll see you soon, sweetheart.”

  He released me, wandering back towards the parking lot.

  “You are so damn lucky,” Sarah sighed, fanning herself as she stared after him, licking her lips for emphasis.

  “He’s not your type – trust me.”

  “Are you going to see him again?”

  “I don’t know,” I said. “He drives me crazy, and knows how to push all the wrong buttons, but…” I pulled in a shaky breath. “I’m not sure I can stay away.”

  I let her make of that what she wanted to, but as the truth pitched and roiled its way through my gut, it felt an awful lot like inevitability.

  Chapter Three

  Olympus, two thousand years ago

  “He’s watching you again,” Meghan said, tucking a daisy behind her ear. I glanced over at the barn where Hades and Poseidon stood, deep in conversation.

  “I wish you’d stop ogling them like pieces of meat; they’re my uncles for crying out loud.”

  “Very hot uncles, who happen to be single, powerful, and totally into you. You’re blind if you don’t see it.”

  “Even if that were true – which I’m not saying it is – they still think that I’m a child, which is insulting for twenty-three.”

  She snorted delicately, looping her arm through mine as I trailed a hand though the heather. “You’re the most frustrating friend I’ve ever had, and that’s saying something, because I was once best friend with a siren. Lured all my boyfriends to their untimely deaths, when she didn’t think they were good enough for me. She was probably right.”

  I laughed out loud with her, tossing my heavy hair over my shoulders as the sunlight warmed my face. I wanted to lay under it, and roll around in the tall grass until nightfall, or whenever mother sent someone to fetch me. I felt a slight buzz, just under my skin, like trapped bees, as roses, lavender and peony blossoms erupted from the ground, stems twining themselves up my legs, and Meghan backed away, awe evident, as I giggled and encouraged them to climb higher, towards the sky.

  “Hello, ladies.”

  I groaned and whirled around, facing Hades as a rosebud tapped its way up my back. I wanted to revel in the m
agic a little while longer, and from the look on his face, he knew it, too. So, why was he stopping me? “Last time I checked, horses aren’t goats, and therefore won’t digest these very well, to say nothing of the thorns,” he said as he let a flower slide into his palm.

  “I get a little…carried away when the weather is nice. You know this, uncle.”

  He nodded, eyes slowly caressing me. “Regardless, we should return this field to the way it was, before Demetrius notices.” His fist closed around the plant, and it withered, shrinking away from his touch, as I glared at him and thought dark thoughts about where he could shove it. He smiled, just a little bit. “Your anger is legendary, sweetheart, as is mine, but I don’t think it’s wise to test it right now.”

  “I’ll see you later,” I mumbled to Meghan as I started to walk away, shredding bits of grass between my fingers. “What’s so wrong with having a little fun? Mother is off helping the farmers with the re-growth, and I was told to stay at home this year, to hone my gifts. Something which I can’t do if you keep killing my projects,” I said as he fell into step beside me.

  “Have you ever considered that maybe it’s not your destiny to follow in her footsteps?”

  “You’re kidding, right? That’s like asking the sun not to shine, or the moon not to glow.”

  “Except that Demeter will never die, Persephone; she’s immortal. There will never be a time where her duties are at an end.”

  “So, what are you saying? That I’m useless?”

  He laughed, reaching over to cup my chin. “No, you’re not useless just…misguided. The Universe doesn’t need another Mother Nature.”

  “What does it need, then?”

  His eyes sparkled in the sunlight, and I gulped, feeling little tendrils of power caressing my body. “A death goddess.”

  I kept my face a mask of practiced calm, while inside, my emotions roiled crazily, like I was on a ship in the middle of a storm. “Hades, Lord of the Underworld, is ready to settle down. That’s something I never thought I’d hear. Well, good luck finding her; there’s bound to be someone on Olympus who can match your…fire.”

  “Cora -” He moved to grab me, but I spun away, determined to put as much space between us as I could.