The Gatekeeper's Promise: Gatekeeper's Saga, Book Six (The Gatekeeper's Saga 6) (5 page)

“So Scylla has Amphitrite and your trident?” Than asked.

“Of course not,” Poseidon said. “I agreed with the Alliance to grant my wife equal authority over the sea, but I never said I would share the trident.”

“Then what happened?” Hades asked.

“I must have a spy among my court,” Poseidon said. “Because when I accompanied my wife to have her revenge on Scylla, we were ambushed.”

A spy? In Poseidon’s castle? Than recalled the many merfolk who dwelled there and mentally checked for motives, but he came up empty.

“By whom?” Hades asked.

“I don’t know.”

“Couldn’t you see your attackers?” Than asked.

Poseidon raised his hands in the air. “All of the monsters of the sea were there—Scylla, Charybdis, and E
chidna—plus the Chimera and Ladon.”

“From Hera’s garden?” Than asked.
He shuddered at the memory of what he had done to that one-hundred-headed serpent.

“That’s the one,” Poseidon replied. “Which is why I came
here instead of Mount Olympus. Ladon is like a puppy to Hera, and he takes his post very seriously.”

“So you think Hera, and by extension Zeus, is
behind the abduction?” Hades asked.

“I don’t know what to think,” Poseidon admitted. “But Phorcys has always favored Zeus over me, and those were his children in the attack.”

“Couldn’t the Old Man of the Sea be operating without Zeus and Hera?” Than asked. “Maybe he wants to regain control of the waters.”

Poseidon shook his head. “Phorcys and Keto and all of their children don’t have enough power combined to overtake me, or they would have done so already.
As it was, Amphitrite and I defeated every one of the monsters in the ambush before a paralyzing wave temporarily stunned us. That’s when my trident was taken. I couldn’t move. Somebody more powerful than Phorcys and Keto is working with them. I’m telling you, it felt like I’d been struck by a lightning bolt. If not Zeus, then who?”

“But what would motivate our brother to betray you?” Hades asked.

“Perhaps he’s bitter about our allegiance to the Athena Alliance, and this is his way of paying us back,” Poseidon said.

“Us?” Hades picked at his beard.

“You may be next.”

Than’s mind raced to Therese and their babies.
Where are you?
He prayed to her.

***

The Muses sang along and the Graces danced to the beautiful music created by Apollo, Hermes, and Therese. It was clear no one—not
even Zeus—wanted the fun to end; but, when they finished the fifth song, Therese put away her flute and said she had to get back to work. Than had been praying for her return. Something was up in the Underworld. Between Than’s prayers and Jen’s, Therese could barely concentrate. She let Than know she would soon be leaving Mount Olympus.

After the objections and then the resigned applause had died down and everyone had gone back to their business, Therese crossed the room to Hera.

“May I speak privately with you for a moment, Lady Hera?” Therese asked.

The co-ruler of the sky
stepped from her throne, clearly happy to have been singled out, and walked with Therese to the dining hall where Hestia was busy laying out a beautiful table spread.

“
Your music was lovely,” the goddess of the hearth said to Therese, before returning to the kitchen.

“Thank you.” Th
erese blushed. She hadn’t spoken much with Hestia since their stand against Zeus, but an opportunity never seemed to present itself.

“What’s on your mind?” Hera asked Therese when they were alone again.

They sat at the end of the long table as Therese told Hera what Pete had said about the twins. “What should I do?” Therese asked when she had finished. “Should I renounce my duties and return to the Upperworld to raise our children? I don’t see any other way.”

“You can’t renounce your duties without going half-mad,” Hera said. “You’ve seen what happens to Demeter each fall and winter, and what has happened to Dionysus.”

Therese wondered if Hera realized her role in Dionysus’s choice to stay away from the other gods. “I guess I could perform my duties at night, while the children sleep.”

Hera frowned. “I know this would be hard for a mother to do, but the best thing for the twins would be to give them up to be raised by mortals.”

The room spun. Therese gripped the edge of the table and broke out in a sweat. “You can’t be serious.”

“But I am.”

“You want me to give up my babies?” She thought she might be sick as she hugged her belly.

“I don’t
want
you to do anything. I’m merely telling you what would be best for the children.”

“Why wouldn’t being with their mother be best for them?”
As Therese stood, she clutched the back of the chair for balance. Maybe she shouldn’t listen to this goddess. What was she thinking in coming to Hera for help?

“Mortals need to live with other mortals. Imagine ho
w confusing it would be for your son and daughter to know they were children of gods—to know that you will live forever and they won’t. As they grow old, you and Thantatos will continue to look young. They would be better off not knowing you. It’s your choice, of course.” Hera also stood. “I’m sorry. I truly am.”

“How long before they’re born?’ Therese asked. “Nine months?”

“No one knows,” Hera said. “Every goddess is different. Some have carried babies for many months. For others, it’s been weeks, sometimes days.”

Therese’s eyes widened. “What? But it won’t be anytime soon will it?”

Hera shrugged. “I wish I knew.”

Hera left Therese alone in the dining room.

As Therese stood clutching the chair and holding back tears, Hestia entered and said, “I didn’t mean to eavesdrop, but I couldn’t help overhearing. I’m so sorry, Therese.”

“Do you agree with Hera?” Therese asked. “Do you think she’s right
about me giving up the babies?”

Hestia took a deep breath and nodded.

Therese stumbled from the room. She needed to rein in her tears so she could visit her mother-in-law. Not to do so would appear rude. She had just entered Demeter’s rooms when Than’s prayer came to her suddenly:
Get out of there now.

Therese god t
ravelled from Demeter’s arms to Than’s side in his father’s chambers.

Persephone and Demete
r’s prayers of concern assailed Therese as she travelled. She would tell them what was going on, as soon as she knew herself.

“What’s wrong?” she asked
Than, surprised to see Poseidon with him and Hades. “Why did you call me from Mount Olympus?”

They filled her in on what had happened to Poseidon, Amphitrit
e, and the trident.

Poseidon said, “Therese needs to return immediately. Do
n’t you see? Maybe she could learn something.”

Therese covered her belly in an automatic, protective gesture.
When it was only her own well-being, she never hesitated to risk it; but things were different now.

“With all due respect,” Than said, “I’d rather not put my wife and children in danger. We can send someone else to spy on Mount Olympus.”

“But they trust her,” Poseidon said.

“What were you doing
there?” Hades asked.

Therese glanced nervously at Than. She hadn’t wanted him to know how badly she struggled with what to do about their twins, but she
couldn’t lie to Hades. “I went to ask Hera and Apollo for their advice.”

Hades frowned. “Concerning?”

Therese stared at the floor. “What to do about the babies, with them being mortal and all.”

“And did you ask them?” Hades prompted.

“I asked Hera.”

“And what did she say?” Hades picked at his beard and waited for her reply.

Tears welled in her eyes as she looked at Than and said, “She thinks we should give them up.”

“What?” Than’s mouth fell open. “No. Never!”

“Hestia agrees,” Therese said as the floodgates opened and tears rushed down her cheeks. She sucked in her lips, trying to hold back the sobs, but they broke through and shook her violently. “They both think it’s best for mortals to be raised by mortals.”

Than put his arms around her.

She completely lost control of herself in his arms as the words tumbled from her lips. “And Hera says that if I renounce my duties as a god to live in the Upperworld, I’ll go half-mad, like Demeter and Dionysus.” She bit her lips, fighting to regain control. “What are we going to do?”

“Clearly she’s in no shape to spy on
Mount Olympus,” Than said, without letting go of her. “Think of another plan.”

“Zeus would never ha
rm the babies,” Hades said.

“He tried to swallow her just a few weeks ago,” Than argued.

“He didn’t know about the twins—or the prophecy.” Hades crossed his arms. “None of us knew.”

“You knew,” Therese said.

“I knew there would be a set of twins, but I never imagined they’d be yours,” Hades said.

That stung, but Therese fought to hide her hurt.

Hades continued, “Now that he knows
your twins
will restore faith in Mount Olympus, why would Zeus want to interfere with that?”

“He’s right,” Poseidon said. “Therese is the best person for this mission. They trust her, and they won’t want to harm the babes. Plus, she was just there. Send her back to ask around. Wanting to spend time with her mother-in-law is a sound motive, too.”

“I did hope to speak with Zeus about Melinoe,” Therese admitted.

“Zeus has no say about my realm!” Hades objected. “Now off with you!”

Than shook his head. “For all we know, Zeus could imprison her and take our babies away from us. He might have plans for them. We don’t know!”

“Do you have any better ideas?” Poseidon shouted.

“Yes,” Than said calmly. “Send me.”

***

As the sun set behind the mountains in Colorado, Jen turned the last of the horses out to pasture and headed indoors to wash up. Her mother had already gone ahead of
her to the kitchen to reheat the leftovers for dinner. Bobby was finishing up in the barn. Jen couldn’t wait to get out of her clothes, into a hot shower, and then go straight to bed. She didn’t even want to eat. She wanted to go to sleep, where she didn’t have to think and feel.

She was aware of how ironic it was that she had once been eager to sleep for the opp
osite reasons, but she refused to think about Hip.
Stop!
she commanded herself.
He’s moved on. You have to do the same.

When she
opened her bedroom door, Jen found Hip’s sister Tizzie sitting on her bed. She was wearing black silk pants and a silver halter top. Emeralds hung around her neck and dangled from her earlobes. Her long, curly black hair fell across her bare shoulders. Jen had forgotten how beautiful she was.

“Therese sent me,” the Fury said. “I’m to take you and your mother to Tartarus for a visit.”

Jen covered her mouth with both hands. This was exactly what she had wanted, but now that it was about to happen, she was scared to death.

She and Tizzie walked downstairs to the kitchen.

“Mom?” Jen called. “You remember Than’s sister, Tizzie, don’t you?”

“My goodness!” Mrs. Holt cried. “When did you arrive, dear?”

“Just a few moments ago,” Tizzie said.

“You look so lovely. I’m sorry we’re not fancier around here. Would you like to have dinner with us? It’s nothing special. Left over steak and potatoes and steamed brussel sprouts.”

Jen glanced at the Fury and doubted she was interested in eating leftovers. “Mom, there’s um, something I need to tell you.”

“It can wait until after dinner,” Tizzie said
with a hint of red in her eyes. “I would love to dine with you. Thank you for the invitation.”

Bobby walked in at that moment but stopped dead in his tracks when he saw their visitor.

“Hey, Tizzie,” he said once the shock had worn off. “How’s Therese and the rest of your family?”

“
Oh, things are a bit hectic right now, especially with Therese and Than’s twins on the way.”

Bobby’s chin nearly hit the floor.

“Therese is pregnant with twins?” Mrs. Holt asked. “When is she due?”

“I don’t know,
” Tizzie’s face turned a shade of red, and Jen could have sworn a snake appeared in her hair. “You didn’t know she was expecting?”

“No,” Mrs. Holt said
, frowning at Jen. “But that’s wonderful news. Carol and Richard must be thrilled.”

“I think it’s a secret,”
Jen explained.

Bobby and Jen washed their hands and face at the kitchen sink while their mother laid the food out on the table. Jen put out plates, napkins, and
silverware, and Bobby made a pitcher of iced tea. Then they all sat down and ate.