Zeus part one, p.1
Zeus Part One, page 1
ZEUS
Part
One
Barbra E. Ross
Copyright © 2022 by Barbra E Ross
Smashwords Edition.
All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under the copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in, or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without prior written permission.
For permission requests, please contact: author@barbraeross.com
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
OTHER TITLES IN THIS SERIES
BY BARBRA E. ROSS
A MORTAL INDISCRETION
MARZIO’S REVENGE
Available at your favorite retailer.
Dedications
For my Father and Mother
You may be gone from this world, but you live on in me every day
.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PROLOGUE
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SEVEN
CHAPTER EIGHT
CHAPTER NINE
CHAPTER TEN
CHAPTER ELEVEN
CHAPTER TWELVE
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
AFTERTHOUGHTS
Prologue
30 years from now
In a flash, he disappeared. Instantly gone right before my eyes. It was such a shitty thing for him to do. I didn’t even get my last words in. I was still shaking from the angry words that we said. I was bewildered too. How could it be so hard to understand that I wanted to be like them? I know she never wanted to be one. But he had told me that he begged her to turn him. It was the cause of many of their arguments, all because he wanted to be with her forever. I turned away from the air that had once been him and started walking back home. The streets were damp from the rain. I shuffled along slowly, avoiding the stares of others. I knew I looked like bad. That was quite a conflict we had.
“Dammit! Why,” I blurted as I walked. “You would not be killing me.” I fought back disappointed tears as I approached our house. I couldn’t let them see me this way. ‘Keep a stiff upper lip’ as my uncle would say. It took a few moments to regain my composure.
I opened the door, seeing my family on the couch, watching a movie. They had no idea, and I wanted to keep it that way.
“Are you hungry? How was work?” My wife asked, as I hung up my coat. I took a deep breath and let it out slowly.
“No, I’m good. Work was work. It’s good to be home,” I lied. I had left work hours ago. Had an appointment to go to.
“Dad! I made the swimming team at school. I got the 2nd fastest time…”
I looked at him, smiling so proudly. “That is awesome. I knew you could do it,” I said as I headed up the stairs. “Honey, I am gonna go lie down. It’s been a long day. Go ahead and finish your movie.”
“Zeus? Are you okay?”
I nodded and kept walking. “Sure, just bushed.”
“Ok. I will be up in a little while. Gotta put the swimming star to bed after the movie.”
I shut the bedroom door and removed my suitcoat. I emptied the pockets of the keys and gum. Then I found the paperwork. I clenched my teeth as I read the results again. Stage 2 inoperable brain cancer. I had done a damn good job hiding that thought from him. I sure as hell didn’t want him to do it out of pity. I may be only human, but I had a few tricks up my sleeve too. Sure, I couldn’t fly, couldn’t disappear into thin air. I certainly couldn’t live on forever and ever. But I could fool him. I did fool him and found out that maybe he didn’t love me as much as he claimed. Because if he did, he would have done it just because I asked. Right now, at this moment I was so pissed at him.
CHAPTER 1
It was time for a change.
We were sitting in the smooth sand, watching the sunrise. It was a new morning ritual we have started. Justin turned to me, smiling that smile. The one that always brought such feelings about, and I wondered? How was he allowed such a smile? Such an expression of pure emotion. I was lost in the splendor of it, and he asked me if I had even heard him speak. I smirked and asked him to repeat what he had said.
“Ambra, I miss the change of seasons. I miss seeing the snow.”
“Well, why don’t we just go visit a cold and snowy place?”
“I was thinking more along the lines of living somewhere and experiencing the changes. You know… slowly, as they happen.”
“If that is how you are feeling husband, then why didn’t you just say so?”
“Because I know how much you love it here in Mexico...this is our home.”
“Then you also know that anywhere is home to me, as long as you are there.”
He grinned and then kissed my cheek. I was so caught up in the magnificence of his face this morning, the way the sun made it glow.
“I love you baby,” he whispered to me, soft lips nibbling on my cheek. His words brought a warm flush to my face.
“So, where do you want to go husband?”
“Where do you want to go?”
“I have always been fond of your America.”
“America? Are you sure? You wouldn’t want to go someplace in Europe? I mean, England is your home.” Oh, his eyes. The most decadent shade of brown.
“Believe me Justin. I have had my fill of jolly old England. I am perfectly at ease being away from there.”
“Ok, then let’s move to New York,” he told me as his eyes shifted to watch large pelicans swoop down and gather fish from the sea.
“New York,” I repeated, pondering.
“Is that okay?”
“It is a great idea. The best.”
I looked back towards our little house. No matter where we went, this place would always be our home. We stood and headed back inside. I glanced up to the loft where Wolf slept. Then, I looked back towards Justin.
“You know husband. We must tell Wolf what we are planning.”
“Oh baby, don’t I know it. He is probably gonna be pissed off that we even came up with the idea without him.”
“Well, we can put it off until we are done packing or wake him now.”
“Fuck it. Let’s wake him now.”
I rolled my eyes.
It was always a challenge with Wolf. He is special. That is the only way I know how to describe him. Short tempered and brash. He does not accept any type of change willingly. He can be downright exasperating. But beneath his hard and callus exterior is the soul of scared child. He never fully matured even after 200 plus years. His heart has grown in capacity, and he has even risked his own existence to assist me when I had lost Justin to Marzio. A shiver ran through me just remembering that time in our lives. We lived through it, but there is still some baggage in the darkest corners of my mind. It manifests in moments of insecurity for me, that utter fear of loss and helplessness. Justin has helped me work through the feelings, but every once in a while, it stabs me out of the blue.
“Here it goes,” Justin spoke breaking my train of thought.
I shook my head, and he took my hand. We floated up to the balcony that led to his room. His snoring echoed in the rafters. We landed and had to step over the mess on his floor. I went over to his bed and sat beside him, sweeping the long hair out of his eyes.
“Wolf,” I said carefully. “Wake up, please.” Not any movement from him. Just a gruntled snore. “Wolfram,” I said, a little louder.
He opened his eyes. “What! Is something wrong?”
“No. Wolf everything is alright. We need to tell you something.”
“You have to tell me something? Bloody hell Ambra. I need me beauty rest. Can’t it wait until later?”
“We have decided we want to move to New York. We are leaving today, and you may join us later…”
“Move? Leave? Now wait a goddamn second. Who said anything about moving? Was I included in this conversation?”
“We thought you would love to go to New York… I thought…” I stumbled.
“Yeah Wolf. I thought New York was your favorite city,” Justin started, and he cut us both off. He sat up, sweeping his hair back.
“I do! But look, I like it here. I don’t want to leave. You could have bloody well asked me first yah know. I should have some say in where we go, what we do.”
Justin looked at me wide eyed. I felt guilty suddenly.
“Wolf, I’m sorry. We really thought you would like the idea…” I started. He rubbed his eyes and then, glanced up at me. I sensed a change in him. A difference. “Wolf?”
“Ambra,” he said in a softer tone. “I want to stay here. I feel safe here. I think I am ready to be on my own for a spell. I am tired of feeling like a third wheel. I will come visit. I would just like to give it a go on me own here.”
I glanced back at Justin, seeing the concern in his eyes. We both knew how irrational and impulsive he was. Trouble seemed to follow Wolf.
“Wolf, you would have to promise to be responsible.”
“I would! I swear. And I won’t get into trouble. I learned my lesson. We all learned a lesson the last time I fucked up. I am better now. That bigfoot gave me more strength, and better insight. I swear…”
“Wolf! He is not a bigfoot!” Justin snapped. Wolf laughed and looked up at him, devilishly.
“Well, pardon me! The Guardian….”
“Real nice Wolf. This is exactly why I don’t fucking trust you to be on your own. No respect for our father…” Justin snapped.
“Oh sorry, old chap. Did I hurt your feelings about your father?” He said sarcastically.
I watched Justin’s face change. He was getting angry.
“Wolfram…” I said in a warning tone.
“Cæruleus is your father too. And without our father, we would all be dead. If you recall, he saved my ass, your ass and Ambra from being a zombie. So, watch your mouth, you are starting to piss me off…” Justin growled.
“Look at him Ambra. Eyes glowing and all that shit. He is so sensitive about that topic. I must have hit a nerve.”
“Wolf…” I tried, but Justin’s fire was already lit.
“I am gonna kick your ass. One more word and you will be going to New York whether you like it or not. Don’t fuck with me Wolf. I was this close to agreeing to let you stay, this close!” He said, putting up his hand with the thumb and first finger close together.
Wolf’s face softened quickly. “You were going to agree to let me be on me own?” He asked, voice rising.
“Yeah! I was! Until you opened your fucking mouth!”
He glanced to me now, pleading eyes. “Ambra? Could I? Would you agree to such foolishness?”
“Yes Wolf. I would agree if you did what you promised. And stop calling Cæruleus names. What if he can hear you? What if you need his assistance one day? Would you want to help someone who called you names?”
He shook his head and tears lined his eyes. “No, I would have never helped a fool like me in the first place. I know what others think of me, what you both must think of old Wolf. I am a vile and wretched creature.”
I let out a long slow breath. Classic Wolf. From sarcasm to self-pity in a split second.
“Wolfram. I am not going to feed into this behavior. We are too old to behave that way. Please have it your way and stay on your own here. Take care of our home. When you are ready, call to us. But I will not sit here and listen to you test Justin’s loyalty. He has gone above and beyond when it concerns you. We both have.”
Wolf nodded fast, quickly drying his tears. “As always, my lady. You know what is best. I apologize Justin. And I do love you both, tremendously. I will be on me best behavior.”
Justin grumbled. “I don’t like it. I don’t like it one fucking bit.”
I let out a deep sigh. “Let him stay here Justin.”
He looked at me with furled brows. “Are you serious baby? You trust Wolf to just be here all alone? Don’t you remember what happened the last time we agreed to let him go on his own? Because I sure do. I remember it like yesterday. I lost my memory…I lost you! For over 10 years I lived in that…”
“I know Justin. I remember it vividly.”
“Stop it! I bloody well know I fucked up! I won’t do anything without consulting the two of you.”
Justin turned to face Wolf. It was an intense glaring stare. “I swear Wolf.”
“Say no more. I get the point. And just for the sake of the argument here, if I do something that you do not agree with…you have my permission to let me suffer the consequences. No heroics. No anything.”
“I don’t need your permission, Wolf. You fuck it up and you are on your own.”
Wolf swallowed loudly, nodding his head. “Yes, you are correct. You do not need any permission…” His voice paled in comparison to his bravado just moments ago.
“Damn straight,” Justin growled. Then he stood and went over the balcony without saying another word.
I turned back to Wolf. “Well, that was pleasant Wolfram.”
“I’m sorry Ambra. I truly am. I didn’t think he would become so irate.”
“What do you expect? After all he has been through, you expect him to just throw caution to the wind?”
“No. Of course not…but I just woke from a deep slumber and me mind was a bit fuzzy…”
“Oh no. Don’t you dare try to make up an excuse. Own up to your mockery.”
He nodded, looking down, not making eye contact. “Thank you for giving me this chance my lady.”
“Thank Justin. Alright, I am going to pack. Behave yourself Wolf.”
I stood and turned to the balcony.
“Where in New York will you go?”
I glanced back at him. “Manhattan. I will notify you when we have settled in.”
“Yes, my lady. Good luck and safe travels.”
“I do not need luck Wolfram. I have Justin, and that is enough.”
Justin was sitting on the bed when I entered our bedroom. I paused briefly, not knowing what his state of mind was at the moment.
“Justin,” I began, but he raised his hand.
“No need to tread lightly baby. I’m sorry about the way I reacted. He just gets under my skin. God! He really knows how to push my buttons, little shit.”
“That my darling, is Wolf’s greatest talent. Working every last nerve…”
Justin threw his head back and laughed.
“Yep. No truer words ever spoken.”
I had to laugh too. “Even though that encounter did not go well, I still feel very good about our decision. You are positively correct that we need a change. Even I am becoming complacent to the never-ending tranquil weather.”
He lifted his head to look at me. “You aren’t just saying that are you? You really mean it?”
“Read my thoughts lover man. I would never say anything I did not mean.”
He smirked. “I thought we agreed to never intrude on each other’s thoughts unless in the case of an emergency.”
“Yes, well I believe this qualifies as one of those emergencies. When you do not trust your own ears…”
“Oh, I trust you baby. I just think you would agree with me, because you love me. As much as I love you.”
“Read my mind husband. I will allow my thoughts to flow freely and clearly, as the beautiful crystal ocean right outside our door.”
I closed my eyes and took in a cleansing breath, ready for his deep probing of my mind. I felt it begin, little pressure points in my temples began to throb. He ventured further inside my thoughts and feelings. I steadied myself and sat on the bed.
“Now you see? Nothing to worry about in there, is there?”
“Oh, I see it. Clear as day.”
“Good. And what else do you see husband?”
He became still and quiet. His presence in my mind continued.
“Baby…I can see your love for me. I can feel it.”
“Yes, it is a powerful emotion, isn’t it?”
“Very.”
I closed my eyes again. I felt him move closer to me. The scent of his body filled my nose causing a spark inside me. His strong hands took a hold of my shoulders and brought me against his body. Then, I felt his firm, yet gentle bite. That was all it took. I melted. He took a long pull from my neck and made all those sounds that I adored. He had complete control and yet, I never felt safer than in his hold, under his spell.
That was all it took. I vaguely remember hearing the door close on its own, or anything else for that matter. He came over top of me while laying me down. He released his bite, and I opened my eyes, seeing him in all his glory above me. There was no finer creature on this planet than he. Perfectly defined bone structure. Eyes dark and wanting. Glorious black hair, soft as silk framing that handsome face of his. A body that surely broke the mold. No other looked as he did, and I dare say no one else ever will. Although his appearance first brought him to my attention, it was the man he was that made me stay. His spark for life burned brightly. His faith in our ability to stand the test of time. His passion was a constant flowing river, sometimes calm and smooth as glass. Other times a raging current that was unstoppable. Then there was that fiery Italian temper. All of it combined to make him who he was which was one remarkable being. Even when he was bad, he was brilliant at being bad.
