Fallen (Dark God Saga) Read online

  Pushing himself up to his full height, Zeus looked over his shoulder and narrowed his eyes. Leaning down, he murmured something to the human woman, who placed a kiss to the side of his lips, and moved off.

  “Have your years of humanity made you forget common decency?”

  The question was sharp, and a lesser god might have flinched or cowed. Thanatos did neither. He approached instead.

  “I was thinking it would be in bad taste to interrupt—.”

  “Hmm,” Zeus assessed him for long moments and then a smile curved his lips up. “You look good for a god turned human.”

  “Thank you. I wanted to speak with you about that,” Thanatos began, deciding to get right to the point. He’d never been one for pleasantries and he imagined Zeus wasn’t either. “I think that I’ve learned the lesson that Hera wished me to. It has been close to a century.” Although he had no idea what lesson he was supposed to learn, he knew that he’d have to say that he’d learned it. Whatever. When his powers were restored, he could do as he liked, and that was what mattered.

  “Yes, your sentence was harsh, wasn’t it?” Zeus said, stroking his chin as if remembering something else. “She’s always been bloodthirsty, you know.”

  He knew well. Zeus didn’t need to remind him of it.

  “So, you’ll rescind the curse?”

  Zeus seemed to contemplate it for long seconds before he shook his head. “I can’t. Hera cursed you, so as you know, she will have to break it.”

  “Can’t you force her to do so?” Of course he could. He was Zeus. There was little that the god before him couldn’t do. He’d created the humans, had given the power of creation to some of his children to create the non-humans...

  Zeus chuckled, flashing perfect white teeth, before sobering. “I can, but I won’t. She is my wife after all.” The god didn’t seem entirely pleased about that matter. “Good luck, Thanatos. I cannot say you have not been missed. My brother has not your...finesse for matters of death.”

  Chapter Three

  Simone had officially been at the Ball for fifteen minutes, and during that time she’d come to realize a series of things. Like the fact that even though she was wearing a dress that easily cost her magazine thousands of dollars, she still felt underdressed. She’d witnessed someone dressed as Medusa, complete with snakes and all, another as a vampire, with fangs and the white powder to give him a realistic vampire complexion, and of course, she’d caught sight of a few dominatrixes and some bunnies, straight from Hugh Heffner’s ranch. She’d resisted the urge to roll her eyes at them. Could there ever be a Halloween without women dressing like prostitutes? Never. If she’d known that it was actually going to be a “dress-up in Halloween outfits party,” she would have come as a teacher or something.

  Deciding that the best way to find out more about the Ball would be through some of its guests, Simone was searching around for interesting costumes, when there was suddenly a commotion across the room. With her three inches of heels, Simone could make out an angry blond woman in a flowing white gown and a golden belt, and Hypnos—and wasn’t that Thanatos behind him? It seemed as if Hypnos was trying to play the part of mediator between the two, and failing miserably. Even though he was across the crowded room, Simone could almost sense Thanatos’s anger. She focused on the blond once more, wishing she could see the face of the woman who’d riled him so.

  At that moment, another man, this one blond and taller than both Thanatos and his twin, walked up to them and succeeded in removing the blond woman. More like, the blond man gave her a stern look, turned and walked off, and the blond woman, who was extremely beautiful, Simone noted with a little smirk, followed.

  Both Thanatos and Hypnos glared after them before Hypnos touched his brother’s shoulder, murmured something, and the two began cutting their way through the crowd. They looked like giants among men in their pristine dark suits, and slicked back hair. It was then that Simone noticed they were heading toward the huge double doors that would take them outside.

  Were they leaving? Already? How could he leave so soon?

  Before she knew it, she was sidestepping succubae, vampires, and other fake creatures as she tried to get through the crowd to him. Maybe this would appear totally stalkerish, but she wasn’t quite thinking about that now. She hadn’t even danced a segment yet, and hadn’t seen anyone she wished to dance with but him. She imagined that dancing with Thanatos would be an unforgettable experience, as would anything involving the man.

  They’d just approached the door and Simone had halted her steps, after coming to her senses and recognizing that she was running after a man she didn’t know, when Thanatos paused and looked over his shoulder. His eyes caught hers, and although the light was dim, she could see them lighten as they landed on her.

  Simone smiled, feeling her heart thud—from the exertion of chasing him of course. It pleased her that he was happy to see her.

  ***

  Why are you stopping? Hypnos asked, using the mental link he shared with his twin. Though his brother had lost his powers, it still remained, possibly because they were linked being godhood. Hypnos knew Thanatos was no longer trailing him. With Aphrodite and her arrow-happy son at the Ball, it was best for all parties involved if Thanatos left. Eros was a lover, not a fighter, but the ‘cupid’ could be vindictive when it came to his mother, and if he shot Thanatos and something hideous with one of those arrows, all sorts of chaos would be unleashed.

  When Thanatos did not answer, Hypnos turned and noticed his brother heading back into the crowd. Eyes narrowing, he was about to follow when he realized Thanatos’s intent. It was the woman from the hotel. The brown skinned woman Hypnos had been on the verge of charming into his bed before becoming aware of his brother’s interest.

  Hypnos scanned the crowd, noticing that neither Aphrodite, Eros or Zeus seemed to be among the revelers anymore. Hopefully Zeus had ordered both of them back to Mount Olympus. He looked back to his brother, now walking with the woman.

  Deciding Thanatos would be safe for at least another few minutes, Hypnos scanned the crowd for that particularly pretty succubus he’d glimpsed before Aphrodite approached his brother. They might “suck” the souls out of humans, but they sucked on other things as well. Quite marvelously. The things that a succubus could do. His first time with one, centuries ago, was the closest he’d come to blushing. Fond memories.

  Hypnos caught sight of her, busty with a tiny waist and hips that swung in blatant seduction. Feeling his heated stare, as their kind did when lust was involved, she looked over her shoulder and licked at her ruby lips. A smile curved them up and she turned around, swinging her hips even more. She came to a door, and slipped through, leaving it partially open. Hypnos needed no more invitation. He cast one final look around the room, convinced himself that his brother was safe, and followed her.

  ***

  Thanatos only barely resisted the urge to lower his hands from Simone’s lower back and cup what had to be the shapeliest ass he’d ever seen. The violet dress she wore, a thin-strapped piece that seemed to hug her in a way that the red dress hadn’t, gave him thoughts of a dimly lit bedroom, a large, comfortable bed, and him undressing her with hands and teeth.

  How could he have thought her just pretty?

  The woman was beautiful in a way that was completely different from anyone he’d seen before. It was probably why he had not recognized it. Dark chocolate brown eyes, skin so warm and soft that he just wanted to keep touching her, and a body that had no doubt been sculpted by the gods. She stood around five feet seven, and was shapely without being overly curvaceous. If he didn’t know she was human, he would think there was something divine about her.

  His eyes lowered to her lips, and she licked them. Thanatos didn’t know if that was unconscious or not, but he knew well the expression on her face. Need. He didn’t need to have his powers to know she wanted him. Sliding his hands up her sides, he drew her closer. Brown eyes widened, but the hand against his shoulder
only tightened.

  Lowering his head to hers, he caught her lips in an easily breakable kiss. He didn’t want to scare her, and that terrified him. Thanatos was never unsure of himself when it came to women, but Simone made him uncertain.

  When her lips parted, he plunged his tongue inside her mouth, moaning against her. She was sweet. Like ambrosia, the nectar upon which he’d survived when he was a god. Sweeter.

  ***

  Simone felt a light tremor ripple through her body as his clean, minty taste and scent overwhelmed her. She’d kissed guys before, her exes, but it had never felt like this. Never so...right. The Ball and all of its partakers slipped away as his tongue teased and retreated, proving his expertise in the matter of kissing.

  His hands had just cupped her buttocks through the dress when she remembered herself. Here she was, kissing and being felt-up by a stranger, while she was supposed to be getting a good story for work. And that made her remember something else. She was wired! Thank God there was music playing in the background.

  She pulled away, and his lips grazed her temple. Simone moaned. Oh. Dear. God. She didn’t know how much of this she could take. And the man hadn’t even really touched her yet.

  Releasing a deep breath, she tried to calm herself. It was extremely hot in here. She was beginning to long for the chill of the air outside.

  “Are you okay?”

  She jumped, and offered him a shaky smile. The concern on his face only sent more heat through her already overheated body. Simone nodded hastily.

  “Are you sure?”

  “Yes. I-um-I didn’t eat anything before leaving the hotel.” Even though there was a twinge of truth to the statement, she was making excuses for the obvious. His kisses were making her lose her mind. She’d never kissed a man who could make her lose herself with his tongue and lips.

  He stopped moving, and took her hand. “Come with me.”

  Thanatos led her away from the dancers, to a dark and secluded area. It was the perfect little lover’s niche—if a person was looking for a lover, which she wasn’t. She repeated that over and over in her mind, trying to believe it, as he peered into her face.

  “Would you like to leave? We can go back to the hotel and get something to eat.”

  She wasn’t even that hungry and the idea sounded great. Still, she couldn’t. Stupid Traveler. Stupid article. If she didn’t love her work, she’d quit.

  “I can’t.”

  Instead of pressing her on why not, Thanatos only nodded.

  “I’m going to be here for another half-an-hour. If you change your mind, find me.”

  With that, he took her hand, lifted it to his lips and kissed her palm. His eyes never left hers as he did so, and Simone felt as if a trail of fire was burning its way across her body.

  She watched him walk away, for what seemed like the hundredth time, before shaking herself and going in search of her story. The host had proved a good start, when he’d discussed how the Ball had come about, but there had to be other people here who could give her more details. As the fake vampire walked past her, her eyes followed him, tailored suit and all. Okay, then. She’d start with him.

  ***

  The fake vampire obviously thought he was the real deal. His name was Verenus, and he spoke in an accent so cultured Simone couldn’t help but wonder if it was real. It seemed a cross between the Queen’s English and French. And of course, she hadn’t recognized he was accompanied by other fake vampires until she’d tried to approach him, and someone had stepped in front of her. Bodyguard vampires? She’d found that a bit funny. Obviously the man was an important person in his every day, non-vampire life. By the time she was finished with him, she was curious to get to some of the more intriguing guests to see if they were all like him, faking something so well it seemed real.

  She had a wonderful conversation with a strikingly beautiful woman who introduced herself as Persephone, beloved wife of Hades, God of the Underworld, and daughter of Demeter. Simone knew enough of her Greek mythology to play along with the woman’s get-up, and ask after both her husband and mother. Persephone had laughed in a musical way, and had then explained that her husband was somewhere in the vicinity, and so was her mother. The “goddess” seemed to find it humorous that both were at the same Ball, at the same time, and not trying to kill each other.

  After her conversation with the intriguing woman, Simone was hit on by “Cupid,” whose bow and arrow getup seemed too small to shoot anyone, but who looked as she’d never imagined Cupid: hot. She’d always pictured Cupid as a plump, naked child flying around with a bow and arrow and shooting people for the hell of it. Oh no. This Cupid looked like he belonged on an Abercrombie photo shoot. He was tall and lean, blond and blue-eyed. The proverbial boy next door, if one lived next to insanely hot boys.

  Although Cupid had entertained, the most memorable encounter she’d had, sadly, was with the freak who thought himself an incubus-succubus combination. Between his disgusting innuendos, and his lack of any kind of common sense, she’d just wanted to get away from him before she damaged his man parts with the nice heel on her flashy shoes.

  Luckily, Thanatos had appeared, almost like a guardian angel, and easily sent the pretend sex freak off with a glare and a few choice words in another language. Whatever it was, it seemed the succubus spoke it well because after giving Thanatos a series of angry glares, and puffing as if he’d do something, he finally turned and left her alone.

  “Enjoying yourself?”

  A brittle laugh escaped her. If he’d asked that ten minutes ago, before succubus-boy approached, it would have been a definite yes. “I may just have to take you up on that dinner.”

  His lips tilted upward, and he looked to the watch on his wrist. “Breakfast.”

  Jesus, was it already morning? She hadn’t even been aware of the time slipping away as she met the guests, took notes of the layout of the plantation, the musicians, everything. She was quite certain she had enough for a story.

  “I like breakfast,” Simone retorted with a cheeky smile. Her eyes narrowed. “I thought you said you were leaving hours ago?”

  Thanatos nodded, and his arm reached down and lifted her hand to rest on his arm.

  ***

  “I found a reason to stay.”

  He had. He’d found himself watching the human as she flitted from guest to guest. He’d watched as she spoke to Persephone with a bit of trepidation, fearing that the goddess would say something about him that would make Simone curious as to their relationship, which he’d never pursued beyond friendship. He’d found himself smiling as the two placed their heads together and laughed like old friends. Even though Simone didn’t believe much of what Persephone told her, her personality was vibrant enough that she followed the “story,” even chiming in with her own choice words. And when the succubus had approached her, he’d been in the middle of a conversation with Verenus Riddilin, a business associate and long time coven leader of one of the New York vampire clans. Immediately, his hackles rose, and he cut short the conversation with the vampire to go to Simone.

  ***

  Warmth coursed through her body at his low and meaningful words, and at the way that those beautiful eyes seemed to be taking her in. Jeez, she really needed to get a grip on herself or she’d be giving up more than kisses to this man.

  “Shall we?” As if he needed to ask. Simone nodded. He’d had her at dessert. And that was weeks ago.

  “Nice suite,” Simone said appreciatively as she stepped into the spacious hotel room. She’d thought that the Traveler had set her up in style, with her queen sized bed, what she’d thought was an ostentatious bathroom, and a room off to the side of her bedroom that served as her business room, the room where all her recording devices were stashed. But this room was just plain huge. She couldn’t even see the bedroom door, which meant it was around some corner. It was as if she’d stepped into his apartment, and not a hotel. “What is this? The Executive Suite?”

  Thanatos appe
ared to contemplate that as he looked around the room as if it hadn’t occurred to him before. “The Presidential Suite.”

  Eyes narrowing, Simone turned to him, only to find him smiling down at her, a wicked glint in his grey eyes. He was teasing.

  “Okay, Mr. Aeron—.”

  “Thanatos.”

  “Thanatos,” Simone corrected. “I don’t know that much about you and yet here I am in your hotel suite, about to order breakfast.”

  Something told her she should have thought about that before actually coming to his suite. She dismissed that sensible thought. Her instincts had always been great, and her instincts weren’t telling her to flee now. They were telling her to relax, and bask in the presence of this man because it might turn out that he was too good to be true, but until that time, she could act like he was.

  “You know my name,” Thanatos began, leading her over to a plush, burgundy couch. When she was seated, he continued, “I own a successful business, and do well for myself. I’ve lived in New York City for almost ten years now, and understand why some call it the greatest city in the world.”

  Simone smiled at that. She was a practical poster child for the city. While many of her friends had wanted to leave the city, to see something other than New York, she’d done her BA at NYU and then her degree in journalism at Columbia. She only left New York for vacations and work, and always returned.

  “From the appreciation in your eyes, I’m going to guess that you feel the same way.”

  When she nodded, he smiled and asked, “Was there something in particular you wanted to know?”

  Unconsciously, her eyes drifted down to his left hand, searching for a band of any sort or a pale line that indicated the presence of one.

  “I’m not married,” Thanatos said in an amused tone. “I don’t have children either. I do, however, have a twin brother in case you haven’t noticed.”