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“How have you spent so much time with Elyse and not fallen for her?” I wondered.
Heracles was my nephew, but I knew so little about him, and I regretted that now. There were many things I could have spent my time doing other than being the mediator between my two brothers. But it wasn’t too late to rectify my past mistakes.
“I only have one love, Uncle,” he replied. “Megara was my person. And after her, I just don’t want anyone else.”
Heracles and Megara had been in love a long, long time ago. After the death of his children and wife, he chose to remain on Earth without them instead of living on Mount Olympus. And I pitied him for living alone this long.
“I never knew I could be this drawn to someone until I met Elyse, so never say never.” That was a human saying I’d heard on television, and it seemed appropriate here. “You can’t be alone forever either.”
Elyse made me feel so real and raw. I had no clue how to voice the words to her, but the promise I’d make her echoed in my heart. A promise to be hers.
When I thought about my emotions for Elyse, I understood how Heracles had devoted himself to Megara. I never understood it before, but Elyse was the type of woman I’d sacrifice eternity for just so we’d have a few years more together. And Heracles had lost his wife, so living in Mount Olympus would just remind him of what he’d lost.
“Thank you,” I finally said, after asking one or two more questions about human dating customs.
“Any time,” Heracles reassured with cheer in his voice, and I couldn’t remember the last time he’d sounded so pleased to chat with me. “I mean it.”
I nodded, even though he couldn’t see me, because I didn’t know what else to say. Then I hung up the phone.
A date? Maybe it wasn’t so bizarre. The more I thought about it, the more I couldn’t wait to try it out.
* * *
When I picked Elyse up later that evening, I carried red roses with me. She opened the door, and her eyes widened at the flowers then she smiled in a way I rarely saw. Pride tickled a spot deep in my heart I hadn’t known existed.
“These are beautiful.” She accepted the roses and smelled them, her eyes closing as she did. If I could make time stand still, I’d do it in that moment where she seemed at ease. Her mouth curled upward, and she breathed easier. “I’ll be right back.”
She disappeared into the kitchen. A moment later, she appeared with a water filled vase, and she arranged the flowers inside.
“Thank you,” she beamed, turning to me with a smile. “I can’t remember the last time anyone bought me flowers.”
She wore a little black dress with a scooping neckline, along with black high heels, and her hair was loose for a change. It hung to her hips, and I wanted to run my fingers through it, grab handfuls of the stuff.
“Where are we going?” she asked. “You look sexy.”
“Thanks.” I’d found a black suit with a sky-blue shirt and a blue tie—the lady who’d sold it to me had told me the outfit matched my eyes.
I teleported us near the classy restaurant where I’d booked a reservation. I led Elyse to a table near the back, and we drank champagne and ate food that was meant to be art, not eaten. Slowly, I watched Elyse relax, and for the first time that night, I sat back, breathing easy, seeing she’d let down her guard to enjoy herself.
“This is such a great idea.” She scooped a spoonful of lychee ice cream into her mouth, then glanced around the restaurant. The place was full. Nearby sat an old couple, eating side by side, one glass of wine each, and bent over their meals. Near the large mullioned window that overlooked the street, a group of young women giggled loudly while businessmen at the bar kept glancing over in their direction. A musician sat in front of a grand piano, filling the room with a soft tune. Close to him was a small lounge area with embroidered pillows on couches.
“It’s not something the gods do very often, I’m guessing.” Elyse’s voice drew my attention back to her.
Had she noticed how many times I shifted in my seat and fixed my collar?
“No,” I admitted. “I feel lost, in all honesty.”
Elyse laughed, the sound like a caress over my skin. “Well, you’re doing a great job.” She finished her dessert, and I adored the way she licked the spoon, how her tongue flicked out to catch a drop over her lower lip. If we were anywhere else, I would’ve leaned closer and licked it from her mouth. Instead, I drank my whiskey and smiled.
“How are you?” I probed.
She shrugged, pushing a piece of fruit around in her bowl. “I guess I’m coping. I can’t decide if I’m sure she’s dead or if I’m upset we haven’t found her yet.”
I reached across the table and took her hand in mine. Her hand seemed fragile and so soft. The complete opposite of the fierce warrior inside her. I eyed the black tendrils on her skin from where X had bitten her, and she didn’t flinch as if in pain. The mark sure took a while to heal.
“She’s not dead,” I stated. “X wouldn’t take her just to kill her somewhere else. He wants to put on a show.”
Elyse pursed her lips. “Then why can’t we find her? If he’s so set on me coming after him, if this is some kind of trap, we should have been able to find her by now, right? She’s nowhere, Poseidon. Why is X keeping her?”
