5. Dreaming Gods
5
DREAMING GODS
TESSA
T here was a weird energy at dinner tonight, but I was too exhausted to delve into my psychic energy to decipher what’s going on. Idly, I wonder if they’re upset that I’m not in the band anymore. Do they think I’m better than them because I’ve moved on like a solo singer?
Nah. They know I have no control over that.
If I had my choice, I’d be hanging out with them all day. I missed Dante today while I was at work. And I’ve been missing Evan and Kurtis for a while now. They are good friends, and I never really had anyone before now I could truly rely on.
But I have my career path to walk, working for Death. I just hope I don’t have to move out of the karma house at some point and leave them behind.
After saying goodnight to the guys, Dante and I head back to my room.
Once inside, he holds me in his arms. “Is it stupid I couldn’t stop thinking about you today?”
I gaze up into his haunting, ice-blue eyes. “Nah. It’s stalker-sweet.”
He smacks me on the ass. “Stalker, huh?” His lips crash down on mine.
After a few minutes, he breaks away and smirks when he sees I’m properly dizzy with need. “How was your day? For real?”
“Talk about whiplash.” I laugh. “But I’m good. Death seems like he’ll be a decent boss. He reminded me why I was allowed into his ranks because of my innate powers. Then he set me down at a table for me to read all day long. I didn’t even get a lunch break, which sucked because I didn’t even eat breakfast.”
Dante chuckles lightly and brushes his fingers over my cheek. “So that’s why you were wolfing down your food like you were starving?”
I shrug and grab my bathroom caddie so I can brush my teeth and ready myself for bed. “I’m tired. Is it cool if we just crash now?”
“Sure.” He snatches up his caddie and follows me into the bathroom.
When I find the communal space empty, I ask, “Were the guys acting weird tonight or was it just me being tired and overly sensitive?”
“Uh.” Dante avoids my eyes and sticks a loaded toothbrush in his mouth. When I continue to give him an expectant look, he finally spits out the foam and answers me, “They were no weirder than normal. Which isn’t saying much.”
“True.” I’m being paranoid. That mindset used to serve me well. It’s hard to break the habit after living in a constant state of hyper-vigilance my entire life.
Maybe one day I’ll relax and just enjoy the good things that come my way. It’s just that this is the first time I’ve had good things to lose.
I finish brushing my teeth and washing my face. While I apply my moisturizer, I observe Dante. Something seems off.
“Are you sure you’re okay with me working for Death instead of Karma?”
His brows shoot up, and he rushes to my side, cupping my face. “Of course. I’m just happy you’re alive and we’re together. So what if you have a different office to report to? Besides, most couples don’t get to work in the same place.” He places kisses all over my damp face. “And I can send you naughty sexts and pics all day long. Get you worked up for my cock.”
Relief fills me at his reassurance.
“Okay. Not a bad compromise.” I give him a hug, sinking into his warmth, then we head off to bed.
I’m standing in the middle of a cavern. The echoing drops of water surrounding me. Perched on a ledge on a far wall, a giant raven sits, staring at me.
My instincts warn me this is more than a dream.
A tall man steps from the shadows. His skin is pale but shines with an inner power. Everything else about him is pitch black. His entire eyeballs (yes, including his sclera), his long, silky hair, and his clothing. He has large black wings tucked behind broad shoulders. When I search his face, hoping to recognize him, I notice tips of small black wings peeking out from his long dark hair instead of ears. His shirt is loose and breezy looking. His pants are a soft, black leather.
And he’s barefoot, which feels strangely intimate.
“Hello, sweet girl,” he purrs with a voice that sound like it’s designed for coercion.
My own metaphorical feathers are ruffled. I’m no girl . And I’m definitely not sweet. Therefore, when some random dude calls me that, I know it’s not a compliment. I didn’t particularly like it when Death called me a good girl, but he’s older than time and has the power to vaporize me. So I let it slide.
This guy? I don’t know who he is, but I sense power. I bite back my sassy retort. I’m guessing he could destroy me just as easily as Death could.
“Who are you?” I ask.
“Oh, dear.” He places his hand on his chest as if I wounded him. “I thought you’d recognize me.”
“Sorry. I’m guessing you’re some god?” I shrug.
He sighs as if I’m some petulant brat. If he’s a god, then I suppose I am to him. “I go by many names and labels… as most gods do. Tonight, I’m a messenger of sorts.”
“Okay.” I glance around the empty cavern, wondering what is going on here. I can smell something is not as it seems. He’s downplaying his strength, which seems like an odd behavior for a god. “What’s your message? A threat?”
“A threat?” he says in alarm as if he worries I’ll be offended. “My, no. But I have appeared now to ask you whether you feel that life seems like it’s on the right path.”
“Life in general? Or are you asking for a specific area?” I crinkle my brow.
What is this trickster up to?
He gives me a smirk that speaks of a string of broken hearts and probably more broken minds. “I’ve been watching you, Tessa Maat.”
Fuck. I hate it when the gods know my name. Never an auspicious sign.
“And you’ve done something few mortal-born entities can. You helped to kill a god. But you aren’t quite a mortal, are you? You’re practically a demigod. If you were born a few thousand years ago, you would have been included in the myths and legends.”
“I was just trying to survive.” My palms raise in the air as a surrender. “I’m not looking to tangle with other gods.”
“If only it were that simple.” He tsks at me. “I know you aren’t actively seeking power. Not at the moment, at least. Besides, you didn’t just help vanquish Instant Karma for yourself, did you? You did it for your men.”
I scoff. “My men?”
The mysterious god moves closer until he’s towering over me. He must be well over six and a half feet tall, maybe seven feet. I hold my ground and tilt my head back, staring into his dark, bottomless eyes.
The corners of his lips turn up ever so slightly. I suppose my gumption amuses him.
“Dante, Evan, and Kurtis,” he says slowly. “All three are meant for you.”
I bark out a laugh. “I don’t think so. I know you gods are all free love and fuck everything, but that doesn’t work out so well for humans.”
“But none of you are quite human. Not anymore.”
He has a point, but not a big enough one.
“Be that as it may, I can barely handle one guy in my life. Three is a bit much.”
“It’s your karmic destiny, Tessa.” He reaches out and boops me on the nose. “Don’t deny your sacred destiny, or you will soon understand that some forces are even more powerful than the gods.”
“So if I’m not hooking up with all three, the universe is going to punish me?” I ask with complete skepticism.
“I’m glad you understand.” His finger presses against the center of my forehead and everything goes black.
When I wake early in the morning, the strange incident lingers in my memory, and I’m ready to write it off as a dream. I’m working and existing in the realm of the gods. That’s all it is. A god didn’t take time out of their day to tell me to take three lovers. Absurd.
As I get ready for the day, I analyze the whole thing and conclude that I’m just feeling nervous about being in my first healthy relationship. My subconscious is looking for trouble and problems, so I can sabotage what I have with Dante before I get rejected first. That’s all this dream was.
I don’t have to blow up my love life. Even if things don’t work out with Dante, I know we’ll survive no matter how much it might hurt like hell to break up. And if we have open communication, we can still be friends afterward.
The guys are at the breakfast table when I get down to the kitchen.
“Why are you all up so early?” I ask, grabbing a coffee and muffin.
“Consider it sympathy pain.” Kurtis laughs. “We couldn’t let you suffer an early morning roll call alone.”
“Oh.” I bite my lip, wondering if this means something. “That’s… sweet.”
I find it hard to look at them. Why do they look more enticing than ever? And were they always this hot?
Fuck. I need to keep my head on straight.
I can’t be derailed while they all heal with OG Karma as their guide.
“Tessa?” Dante asks, brushing back a lock of my hair. “You okay?”
“Uh, yeah. Weird dreams last night. Must be all the big god energy lately,” I joke.
“Hmm.” Evan frowns, staring into his bowl of oatmeal. “Weird dreams must be going around.”
Kurtis gives him an odd glance. And then so does Dante.
I can’t deal with them today.
Shaking off the strangeness, Kurtis says with a bit of a bounce in his seat, “Greta heard we might start our training with Karma today.”
“That’s awesome. Maybe I can sit in on some of the training. Or you can teach me what you learn.”
“I’d love to!” Kurtis grins from ear to ear.
Wow. When did he become so peppy?
Megan appears next to the breakfast table and smacks her gum. Sparkles dance over all of us, reflecting off her bedazzled outfit. “What’s up, dumbasses?”
“Hello to you too, Sparkle Butt,” I poke back.
The guys all snort and cover their mouths when she gives them an evil eye.
“Let’s get out of here before I curse you all,” Megan threatens. We pop away to Death’s dark, dungeon-like library.
It’s the same place Death had me reading yesterday. Once again, my attention wanders around the vast space that looks like it trails off into infinity. I wonder if it does. As mind-boggling as it might be, I sense this library holds a copy of every word ever written. I’m tempted to explore, but it would be easy to get lost in here. Fortunately, we’re at the same reading table I was using before. It’s near the massive doors that are opened to the corridor leading back to the main common area.
“When do I get the teleportation magic?” I pout.
“What?” Megan grins wickedly. “Don’t like me crashing your little sausage party?”
“It’s not a sausage party!” I grouse. “I’m dating Dante. I’ve done nothing with the other two.”
“That’s not the energy they’re giving off.”
“Whatever,” I dismiss her. “What’s on the agenda today?”
A stack of dusty old books appears on the wooden table.
“More reading!” she says with mock enthusiasm.
I glance at Megan, then at the stack, noting the dust. “When was the last time someone actually read these?”
“Hmm. Death doesn’t recruit often. I think the last person was about thirty years ago.”
I laugh, then stop cold when she doesn’t. “Wait, you can’t be over twenty-five.”
“Physically? No.” She twirls a blonde lock of hair. “If I weren’t working for Death, I’d be fifty-five. I’m the youngest here.”
“Hold up!” I blink in disbelief. “Your aging just stops?”
“Yeah. Our gig isn’t like Instant Karma where she drained you of your life force. Death takes care of his reapers. We live as long as we wish, looking like whatever age we like.”
“Holy shit.”
“Yep, exactly.”
I shake my head, thinking about the repercussions.
What about Dante? Would he continue to age? Would I change my appearance to keep up with him? Will Karma give him the option to live for as long as he wants?
I drop into my chair to read and find myself zoning out. All too often wondering what my future really looks like.