Enlightened Page 2

  He grinned. “Mathilda was correct, they’re priestesses of Dionysus who was the Greek god of wine...”

  She interrupted him. “I thought that was Bacchus?”

  “That’s his name in Roman mythology. Anyways, over the years it got boiled down to the maenads goal being to get you to drink and reach a greater state of ecstasy.”

  When he looked at her to see if she was satisfied with his answer she raised an eyebrow. “I don’t see what all the fuss is about.”

  “There was stuff about ripping bull’s apart and drinking blood so you could be possessed by Dionysus.”

  She wrinkled her nose and looked slightly alarmed. Maybe his explanation was deeper than it needed to be.

  “Think about it this way, if a party was a dud, bring in some maenads, it won’t be a dud for much longer. They’re kind of like people that amp up the fun level on a party.”

  “So they get people turnt up?”

  Her succinct explanation made him chuckle. “That’s a great way to put it. Now multiple what your idea of that is by like 10,000.”

  She looked over her shoulder at Nyssa and Damaris. “So this banquet is gonna be lit tonight because of those two?” She turned back to him. “I don’t see it.” She snorted in disbelief.

  Parked at the curb were five identical, gray Peugeot 308 hatchbacks. The drivers loaded all of the baggage into one of the cars.

  “Get in. Get in. Let us be off.” Arsenio urged everyone to get into the vehicles.

  He and Willow climbed into the backseat of Arsenio’s car. Phaedra and Max ended up in the car with Nyssa, which made him want to laugh, thinking about how Phaedra would respond to the bubbly maenad. Morgana, Mathilda and Ulrik grabbed the next car and Zoriana and Damaris rode in the last car.

  As they pulled away from the station, Arsenio talked from the passenger seat. Given his large frame, it was impossible for him to turn around and address them so he spoke loudly. “You couldn’t have chosen a better time to come to Delphi. The Pythian Games are starting soon and everyone’s excited to have the Oracle preside over the games. It’s why the maenads accompanied me to pick you up. They wish to throw a banquet tonight in your honor.”

  Eli glanced over at Willow to gauge her reaction to all of this. Her mouth was hanging open like she was waiting to catch some flies.

  “What?” She shook herself. “What?”

  “Maybe you won’t get that Grammy, but it looks like you’ll get to live like a rock star while we’re here.” He smiled at her.

  It was clear she was trying to contain the excitement bubbling up inside of her. She bit her lip and tried to fight back the huge grin that wouldn’t go away. She leaned into him and whispered. “Do you think they’ll let me perform?”

  “You’re the Oracle. I don’t think they’d deny you anything. You saw the way that chick Nyssa was about to faint after catching a glimpse of you.” He chuckled and brushed a few curls out of her face. When he peered at her, it warmed his heart to see worry lines weren’t etched into her forehead and her face was devoid of concern and battle fatigue. It made him happy that she might get to have a bit of fun. Yeah they were here for a purpose, but she deserved a night off from everything. Even though they were celebrating the Oracle, she could pretend they were honoring her as a singer instead. He kissed her forehead. Something flipped in his stomach when he heard her blissful sigh and she snuggled into his side; then she was off with a million questions for Arsenio.

  “What are the Pythian Games?”

  “You have not educated her thoroughly on her history, Eli.”

  “Sorry, it’s been hard finding time to go over ancient Greek history while eluding bloodthirsty vampires.” His voice dripped with sarcasm, which seemed to be lost on Arsenio because he only tsked and proceeded to give her a detailed account of what exactly the Pythian Games were.

  “The Pythian Games are similar to the Olympics, but were held in honor of Apollo. Delphi hosted these athletic events: chariot races, wrestling, boxing, horse races and such, every two years after the Olympics. Initially, it started out with competitions in art: singing, dancing, poetry, before the athletic events were added...” the man continued on. After Arsenio’s speech on the platform about how important the Oracle was, you’d think he would have remembered the guy was a bit of a history buff.

  Every now and then, Willow interrupted him, but he didn’t seem to mind the endless questions that she threw at him. Eli had to admit, he was a little rusty on his Greek history so he rather enjoyed Arsenio’s recap. The man was a master storyteller. He half wished they were sitting around a campfire with some S’mores.

  After a while, his attention was drawn elsewhere. He listened to the two of them prattle on while he enjoyed gazing out the window at the countryside. Among the abundance of pine trees he saw fig and olive trees also dotted the valley. Wherever they were headed must have been on the outskirts of town, because they passed through without stopping. It made sense that the supernaturals would want to avoid attention.

  Thirty minutes later they pulled up to a compound with a security gate. Arsenio waved his hand and repeated some Latin phrase he couldn’t hear and the gate slid open. Their caravan rolled through the gate and drove down a driveway that ran for about half a mile before they arrived at a sprawling estate nestled among pine trees. The white stucco villa was modern in its design. Once the cars parked along the circular driveway, everyone got out.

  “Sweet.” Max was clearly impressed with their Greek accommodations.

  Standing in front of the house were two tall men with the musculature of Hercules. They were identical. The only way to tell they’d seen at least forty plus birthdays was the gray at their temples and the crow’s feet that crinkled at the corners of their eyes. Their skin was deeply tan. It was hard to tell if it was natural or if the men enjoyed lying about in the sun or a tanning bed.

  “Who are they?” Willow asked Arsenio as they climbed from the car.

  Eli’s attention was drawn to them as well. There was something about the insolence and smugness that marred the one man’s face that reminded him of his father. He found himself taking an instant dislike to that one. Of course he chided himself for being childish instead of waiting to reserve judgment. Although, he often found his first instincts were usually right. The other one had a strange look on his face as he stared into the car. Almost like he was looking at a ghost.

  “That’s Lysander and Hadrian. They are twin brother and the heads of our coven.” Before Arsenio could walk them over and introduce them, Lysander said something to Hadrian and walked away, disappearing around the side of the house. Hadrian’s eyes didn’t leave Willow the whole time they approached him. It made Eli uneasy. Not that he deemed Hadrian or Lysander a threat... yet. It’s just the look in Hadrian’s eyes didn’t quite match the smile on his face. He wasn’t sure what to make of it. Right now he would try and relax, for her.

  Tonight they would have a good time and then they needed to get down to the business of finding that book. Hyacinth’s letter said that Killian already knew of the book, which meant that he could already have people on the ground here scavenging for it. His mind went to Ulrik again. He planned to have a conversation with him tonight. Between Ulrik and Damaris, he planned to make sure that neither posed a threat to Willow or their mission to find the book. It was possible he might need to add Hadrian or Lysander to that list. If so, it didn’t matter if there were peace treaties in place, he would raise hell if any harm came to a hair on her head. Consequences be damned.

  CHAPTER 3

  Willow

  The way his eyes never left her made her feel a bit uncomfortable, but not in a sleazy sort of way. It was like they were probing, trying to uncover something hidden. When they finally stood in front of him, he continued to peer at her without blinking. He hadn’t acknowledged Eli’s presence yet.

  “Hadrian, this is...”

  “Eli. Pleased to meet you.” Without waiting for Arsenio to make the introdu
ctions, Eli cut him off by sticking his hand in Hadrian’s face. The man was forced to look at him.

  She exhaled a breath she didn’t realize she’d been holding while under his scrutiny.

  “It was very kind of you to offer us hospitality while we’re here in Greece.”

  She cut her eye at Eli and wondered what he was up to. He didn’t normally make a bunch of small talk and offer pleasantries. If she had to hazard a guess she wondered if he’d been jealous over how Hadrian had been watching her. It’s not like anyone could have missed that his eyes were glued to her. She couldn’t help smirking at the thought of a jealous Eli. Later, she would tease him unmercifully about it.

  Everyone else walked up behind them and Eli told them to introduce themselves. He put his arm around her and pulled her close. The only thing that saved him from being slapped or told off after displaying his need to claim her and mark her as his territory like a piece of cattle was when he looked at her with such a humbling smile. Even though he spoke no words, his expression seemed to tell her that he knew she was the catch and he was lucky to have her. It was hard not to get lost in his dreamy blue eyes. She was glad she wouldn’t have to stuff his toxic masculinity down his throat later.

  Once everyone finished telling Hadrian who they were, he turned his attention back to her, like she was the only guest.

  “Welcome to the Castellanos Villa. I hope you will be very comfortable here. Rooms have been made up. Arsenio will see you settled.” He took his eyes off of her to nod in the giant’s direction like they didn’t know who Arsenio was. Then Hadrian looked around at the group. “I do hope everything is to your liking. We’ve hired extra staff to help you get ready for tonight’s festivities.” His gaze returned to her. “In your room, you’ll find a gift. A dress for tonight.”

  For a minute, his look was so intimate, she was afraid he would lift her hand and kiss it and earn a karate chop to the throat from Eli.

  “Thank you.” She squeaked out.

  “For all of you, we have provided clothing for tonight. We want you to feel most welcome.” His attention returned to the group once more, then he stepped aside so Arsenio could walk them into the house. She didn’t need to turn around to know his eyes watched her. Reflexively, she cuddled closer to Eli.

  Arsenio grabbed a key from his pocket and stepped forward. Once again she noticed the door only had a knocker. Unlike the one on the Walker house, this one was made from gold and in the shape of the Hecate symbol, the goddess of witchcraft. She only knew what that looked like because of reading over Mathilda’s shoulder occasionally on the plane. The minute the door sensed his key a keyhole appeared exactly as it had at the Walker house. He inserted the key and the door opened.

  Inside the open floor plan villa, the décor was a multitude of white with accents of cool earth tones and touches of turquoise. In the living room area the French doors that led to a patio and terrace were thrown wide and a gentle breeze blew. He guided them back outdoors where the terrace turned into an enormous courtyard that seemed to connect some of the other buildings. In the center was a swimming pool. Lounge chairs for sunbathing and umbrellas dotted the area. It felt like a luxury hotel and not a witches’ house. It was a huge contrast to the centuries old clapboard house the Walker coven occupied in Salem.

  “Phaedra and Max, I do believe you’ll be most comfortable in the outdoor bungalow.” He motioned towards the guesthouse.

  No one needed to tell those two twice. Max bounded after Phaedra towards the place where they would be afforded some privacy.

  Mathilda stepped forward. “Will I have my own room?”

  The teenager could have slapped her mother and it wouldn’t have delivered quite the sting her comment had. Arsenio seemed to falter for a moment. A first, since she’d met him. “I’d assumed...” He looked back and forth between mother and daughter, at a loss for words. Eli was angry and about to speak up when Morgana stepped forward.

  “Totally fine. Mathilda and I can share. It will be like one big non-stop slumber party.” Morgana squeezed Zoriana’s shoulder before walking up and standing next to Mathilda. “Just lead the way.”

  Arsenio pointed out a bedroom in another direction that was just off the courtyard.

  She couldn’t bring herself to look at Zoriana’s face as she watched her daughter walk away without a backwards glance.

  That was brutal.

  Thankfully, they didn’t have to endure the awkwardness too long. “Your rooms are just inside, if you would follow me.” They followed him back into the house where he delivered Zoriana to her room first before leading them to a suite. With great flare, like he was opening the door to a palace, Arsenio threw open the double doors that led to their room. The bedroom was vast. Her whole apartment back in Nashville could have fit inside the room. She almost missed the three steps that led down into the room when her eyes landed on four nearly nude men. They looked like they had tanned in the sun and then been oiled down. Muscles bulged here and there, chiseled six-pack abs taunted her and the teeny tiny shorts they sported left nothing to the imagination. They were all well endowed.

  “I apologize. When we set things up we had no idea the two of you were... together. They were here to bathe you and take care of your needs for tonight’s party.”

  It wasn’t everyday someone offered her semi-nude male servants to do her bidding. If she wasn’t already very satisfied and happy with Eli she would have jumped at the opportunity to be the mistress of a harem for the night.

  “I’m more than capable of taking care of her needs.” When she looked at Eli his jaw was clenched and his brows were creased together in an angry scowl.

  “I’ll just see them out. I’m sure some of the other ladies could use some pampering after your trip.”

  Once Arsenio left with the buff male staff in tow, she burst out laughing and fell on the bed.

  “What’s so funny?”

  “You are babe. You know I don’t want any of them right? I mean they’re cute in all, but you’re all the eye candy I need.” She got up from the bed and took his hands in hers.

  “Oh really? Because I could have picked your chin up off the floor and tucked your tongue back in your mouth you were drooling so hard. Maybe I should go ask Arsenio if there were some naked women waiting in the room he had for me.” He teased her and acted like he was going to go after them.

  “Stop.” She giggled and wrapped her arms around his waist. “It’s true. You are the only thing I need.”

  He pulled her closer, while he glanced over her shoulder. “I think I see a rather large bathing pool in the bathroom, maybe we should test it out before tonight?”

  It sounded like a good time, but she couldn’t help stifling a yawn. ‘Yes, let’s do that.”

  He leaned down to kiss her, but she yawned even bigger before his lips could land on hers.

  “Maybe, you should get some rest. We traveled for a long time. You must be exhausted.”

  “I’m sorry. I really want to.” Her hand covered her mouth as she fought off yet another yawn.

  He smiled. “We can try it out tonight.” He dropped a kiss on her forehead. “Lay down and get some rest.”

  She didn’t argue with him and allowed him to lead her to the bed. Many thoughts flitted through her mind in her drowsy state.

  The entire trip felt like a dream. It wasn’t just the dinner they were throwing in her honor, but there was this tug in her spirit from the moment they landed in Athens that became even more amplified the closer they got to Delphi. It ran bone deep... no deeper than that, like it was tethered to the cells that made up her body, her very DNA. There was no other way to express it, other than to say the feeling was like she had finally arrived home. She hadn’t felt that way since her mother passed.

  She didn’t remember hearing him tell her, ‘Sweet dreams,’ before she succumbed to a deep sleep.

  CHAPTER 4

  Eli

  She shooed him out of the suite when three women showed up a
fter her nap to help her get ready. Arsenio had shown him to the room that was meant to be his and he’d showered and changed into the garments Hadrian provided. The beige linen pants and long sleeved, white tunic style shirt weren’t items he would have chosen for himself, but the lightweight fabrics did help him stay cool in the balmy weather.

  He paced the floor as he waited for her. Arsenio had already whisked the rest of the group away to the location where the banquet was to be held. The supernaturals here had really rolled out the red carpet for her. With all this luxury and being pampered and waited on hand and foot it was so easy to want to treat this like some vacation. He wanted her to have her fun, but he didn’t want them to lose sight of why they were here. They had to find that book before Killian did. After tonight he needed to make sure they got back on track.

  Just as he was about to pace the length of the living room once more, she entered, and what an entrance it was. He halted mid-step. His eyes took in the goddess they’d transformed her into. She’d always been beautiful to him, but tonight she looked like she belonged in a classic film about ancient Greece.

  The white, one shoulder, female toga she wore was trimmed in gold. It hugged and accentuated her curves to perfection and was cinched with a skinny, gold belt. The skirt of the toga fell to her ankles, but there were slits up the sides, so when she moved you were treated to a display of her long gorgeous legs. Her feet were clad in gladiator style sandals with thin golden straps that wound themselves around her legs up to her calf muscle. The women had styled her curls in a slightly messy updo and then crowned it with a laurel wreath. Her face appeared to be dusted in gold leaf. At different moments the light reflected her face glittering, depending on the way she turned.

  “Do you like it?” She looked down at herself and smoothed out an invisible wrinkle and fussed over her hair.