5. Sam
5
SAM
H ave you ever had that feeling that you’re a prisoner, even though you know you’re really not? That’s what I was experiencing. They had me terrified for my very life, and my boss was not very happy with me calling out dead for the foreseeable future.
What was in that package on my desk?
If there was a package?
There was… I was sure of it. It was like a spoken truth, and I knew it in my core. Tim wasn’t lying or punking me. He believed it. He believed it so much that I started to believe it, too.
Which was how I found myself going to a whore house. It was the most reputable house of courtesans in the city, but I had never set foot in it before. It had always felt like it would be overwhelming, and sex was not something I had any problem with. I could get laid. I just had never actually been in love before.
My mate had never shown themselves to me, and I had assumed that they never would. Maybe in a different lifetime, I would feel the pull of the cord that connected us. Until then, I would make do with sloppy blowjobs and quick fucks that made us both feel like we were missing something important.
“Remember not to mention Cupid, please? I really don’t have time for Eros throwing a hissy fit, ok?” Apollo huffed. He seemed as stressed out as me.
Apollo drove in style. He had one of the nicest rides I had ever been in. I made great money for someone who came from a small town in Oklahoma, but Apollo’s car was at least a year of my salary. It practically drove itself.
We pulled into the valet. Yes, I said valet. In Valleywood, even the houses where you went to get off had valet parking. I had heard of The House of Eros, of course. It had a reputation that you couldn’t escape. People love their happy hour, even if they weren’t indulging in what happened upstairs. From what I heard, it was the place to come when you needed company and didn’t feel like finding it yourself. It brokered in powerful people, and I was nervous even being seen entering the place.
Which was stupid. I knew it was stupid, but I felt like if I walked through those doors, something major was going to change.
Eros was, apparently, the god of gods. The oldest of all and the most powerful. Tim had told me that Eros made you feel small just by being in his presence, but he didn’t mean for it to be that way. He was just ancient. He was also the reason that humanity had emotions. I mean, come on…
It was daunting.
It had gotten weirder every second, and I was on a slippery slope of losing my shit.
Two beautiful men opened the doors wearing the tightest of white polos, and I entered behind Apollo, who acted like he belonged there. He belonged anywhere he went. He was a star and apparently a god. So… Yeah, my mind was still struggling with all the information, and now I had to stop the world from ending somehow. Your guess was as good as mine. I could barely make coffee. How was I supposed to…
“Uncle!” he shouted happily. My heart throbbed.
The most beautiful and handsome man I had ever seen turned around and grinned at us with the most vibrant smile. His muscular body threatened to rip the shirt from his torso. Apollo was a fool compared to this being. His golden curls and dimples, his bright eyes—they were entrancing.
“Apollo.” He came towards us with his arms outstretched. “To what do I owe the pleasure? Ixnay on the uncle thing, please. You’re confusing the patrons.”
“Sorry, Unc,” he whispered loudly. “This is Sam.”
“Yes. Tim told me to expect you. I'm glad one of you had the sense to actually call before arriving. It’s nice to meet you, Sam.”
His smile made me weak in the knees. It must be a side effect of being in the presence of the god who bestowed human emotion upon us. I was dumbfounded. How was Cupid so fucking hot? No, not Cupid. How could you ever think of this god as a small cherub with a bow and arrow? Even I could feel the importance of being in his presence, and I was by nature a moron with an unwavering need to find out the truth.
“The kid is asleep upstairs with Syke. I’m sure they’d be glad to see you, but I know we have more important business than a family visit, don’t we?”
“Yes. Tim had another… uh… thing.” Apollo winked. God, for an actor, he was bad at subterfuge.
“Come this way?” Eros led us into a small room downstairs that no one else was in, and he shut the very stylish pocket doors closed. “We can talk freely now. Tim had a prophecy? He did already mention that. However, he didn’t tell me what it was.”
“I memorized it. Tim… uh… made me.” I flushed.
“Sam, right? I’m sure this is way too much for you. Please tell it to me.”
I took a deep breath. It was a long passage.
“The stage is set – the lights will dim, but a foe arises from within. If Truth is known then Truth will win – Magic in the world will end. Only one shall keep her power and it grows stronger by the hour. The sights and sounds of the fray can keep no norm away. From heaven fire will rain – from below a sunken terrain. Pacts are shattered – no friends remain – the world will slide to the insane. If vines there be then vines can save and keep the secret safe away. Behind the curtain – the last trick played, upon the trickster to the grave. His mate will call to no avail. The world has fallen, so ends the tale. Unless the mate can save the trick, only then will the veil stay thick.”
“Love… It always comes back to love, doesn’t it?” Eros sighed. “Fuck… It’s all about the same thing, isn’t it? What is The Truth about to do? I should go over there and destroy them all. Put an end to this.”
“You know that’s not the way this works. Once a prophecy is put in place…”
“Yes. I know. It is not mine to fulfill. If I tried, I would usher in all of our doom. I should have destroyed the entire camp earlier when I had the chance.”
“Tim warned you.” Apollo wagged his finger, and Eros rolled his eyes.
“Yes, I know. I listened to the oracle, didn’t I? But if I had acted, we wouldn’t be in this position. I wouldn’t be scared for the life of my mate and child. God, I had no idea love was this complicated.”
“Aren’t you the uh… god of love?” I wished I had kept that question to myself.
Eros smiled, but it held no mirth. “Of all emotions, actually. But I had never been… For the first time, I am as much a victim of true love as anyone else. I had never felt the bonds of finding my mate as I journeyed through life since the dawn of time. I had assumed that there could be no one for me since I was the vessel from which love sprung. How wrong I was. Now, I have learned to live with all the emotions that come with the bond. And don’t even get me started on sleeping through the night. If I hear him wheeze or whine, I am immediately by his bedside.”
“We’re going to need to speak to Loki, Uncle. I wish there was another way, but you heard the prophecy. We need to warn him as soon as we can.” Apollo sounded scared, and that made me want to curl up in a ball and cry.
“Peace, Apollo.” A small cat came and rubbed herself against Eros’ legs. “Ah, there you are. I knew you were curled up in here someplace. I have a job for you, Kitty.”
The cat meowed and within the blink of an eye – shifted. A small, young girl stood in front of us. “I heard. I hate going there. It’s dusty.”
“I know, sweets. But you will. My kitty always does the right thing.” Eros pulled her short hair back behind her ear.
“Yeah, I know. The last time I went, I couldn’t find him. Maybe we should have put a collar on him with a little bell.” She giggled.
“Eros, can you get us to Loki or not? He’s not returning phone calls. But I’m sure he would yours. Loki respects power, and you are the strongest of all. He’ll listen to you.” Apollo sounded desperate.
“You glow as brightly as ever, nephew. They worship you now on a larger scale than they ever did. Don’t flatter me about my power when you're as strong as you.”
“Thank you, Eros.”
“But yes, I can help.” He chuckled and put his arm around Apollo. “Follow me. Let’s go up to my study. I wanted a moment to… hear the truth myself first. I’m tired of living in these prophetic times. It’s like the god wars when a verse dooming us all was spouted every few minutes. I used to miss those days. Sometimes war is easier than life.”
We walked up the stairs, and I trailed behind. The young girl slipped through another door, and the three of us continued alone. We got to the top of the lavish landing – seriously, this place was as opulent as I had ever seen, and Eros opened a heavy door before we stepped inside.”
“I didn’t enjoy waiting that long.” Jesus – it was the mayor of Valleywood sitting in a large leather chair. He sounded as snide as ever. “What doomsday event did the oracle vomit out? Time is money, and I have a lot to do. The city doesn’t run itself.”
“Loki,” Apollo sneered. “Thanks for coming. It’s as unpleasant to see you as ever.”
Loki? I was in shock. I had interviewed the mayor on the red carpet more than once.
“Charming as always.” Loki rolled his eyes.
“Can we please cut the banter and get to the point?” Eros snapped. I just stood in the back and tried to fade into the background. The mayor was Loki? Loki was the mayor? The world had stopped making sense. I stood there dumbly as Apollo stepped forward angrily.
“Why didn’t you return any of my phone calls?”
“You mean the myriad of messages and missives that you left at the office?” Loki waved his fingers in the air.
“Yes.”
“I’m afraid that we are being watched. At least, it appears that way, and it’s making me very mad not to be able to discover who the mole is in my office. The Truth are a sneaky lot. I’m afraid having you come to the office was out of the question. But I’m here, aren’t I?”
Apollo lowered his voice. “It’s about our own spy that I…”
“Yes, I figured. I can get in touch with him, but it can take a little time. I have to wait for him to contact me. He is buried pretty deeply within, and the danger to him has only grown with every piece of news he sends me. It’s getting harder for him to share as everyone is being watched inside the camp. Your witch has proven to be very nasty.” Loki frowned.
“He’s in danger. The verse says- ‘Behind the curtain – the last trick played, upon the trickster to the grave. His mate will call to no avail. The world has fallen, so ends the tale. Unless the mate can save the trick, only then will the veil stay thick.’ It has to be about him.”
“Yet he has no mate. Does he? It doesn’t matter if he did. He can’t leave yet. He’s close to finding out something that could change everything for us. You know what they want, Apollo? They want to destroy us all, and their zealots enough to take down humanity with them all in the name of their cause. We have to understand everything in order for us to have a play. He has to stay in – but he can be warned. Anything else?” He stood up and buttoned his suit jacket. With a nod to Eros, Loki walked out of the room.
“I really hate that man,” Apollo sighed heavily.
“Lucky for you, I have my own ways to Hermes.” Eros put his hand on Apollo’s shoulder. “Go back to your family.” He turned to me and smiled. “I hear you are to be my guest. I have a room arranged for you and will make sure that you are protected while you’re on this property. You can’t leave, I’m afraid. I can’t protect you if you do. Understand?” He looked at me sadly.
I nodded. A prisoner who had just been in a meeting with three gods. Seriously, this day could not get any worse.