Dark Goddess (6 page)

Hartley

I tied black and gold ribbons around my ponytail in a neat little bow and smoothed the black tank top with
Lions
written across.  Although cheerleading was over—thankfully—my duties as a senior and captain were not finished.  Lastly Callie and I had to run tryouts for the following year while the other seniors taught the routines and mentored. 

My eyes followed Darby’s reflection who was lounging on a bench in the locker room, twirling her bubblegum around her finger while she giggled into her phone.

She’s going to be a stellar mentor.  Not.

I absolutely did not want to be here.  I wanted to be in the Underworld, finding out what was wrong with Hayden.  I couldn’t believe that jerk disappeared on me.  I had half a mind to call Hermes to take me to the Underworld—or Zeke.  That would really piss him off.

The corners of my lips twitched, threatening a smile.  It would serve him right.

My smile faded, picturing the blood covering his face.  Maybe I would do it if I wasn’t so worried about him.  That was a sight I never wanted to see again.  He always seemed so invincible.  The few times I’d seen him physically hurt were when he fought gods—once with Persephone and Hercules and once with Zeke—but this was a human teenager. 

Something was not right with him.

Leslie and Kathryn skipped by, their arms linked.  Leslie waved, tripping on her left foot and almost bringing Kathryn down.  That girl could not walk and chew gum at the same time.  Literally.

Darby snorted and mumbled something in her phone that sounded a lot like
dumbass
. 

My eyes narrowed on the bleached blonde before coming to Leslie’s aid, gripping her arm.  “You okay?”

She nodded, her cheeks flushing red.  “Yeah.”  She shrugged.  “You know me.”  She hugged Kathryn, almost putting the petite girl’s face right in her boobs.  “At least I have my bestie to break my fall.”

Kathryn giggled, pushing her away.  “Yeah, but I might break bones in the process you giant.”

I smiled at them, shaking my head.  “I’ll see you guys out there.”

“Idiots,” Darby mumbled under her breath as they left.

She’d been super bitchy these past few months.  It already took a lot being nice to her considering she had her tongue down Hayden’s throat a few months ago.  Of course she didn’t remember, but I sure as hell did.  Her nasty attitude didn’t help.

“Darby,” I started, crossing my arms against my chest.

Callie skipped into the locker room, her blonde ponytail swinging and blue eyes sparkling.  “There you guys are.  We’re about ready to start.”

“Yeah.  I’ll be out in a sec,” Darby said with a roll of her eyes as she turned back to her cellphone.

Callie glanced at me with a questioning expression.  I urged her on with a small nod.

She cleared her throat and stood tall—well as tall as her tiny frame would allow.  “Let’s go Darby.  We’re all waiting on you.”

“I said I’ll be out in a sec.”  She made a face and pointed at me.  “Aren’t you all waiting on her anyways?  As usual…”

Anger slowly coiled in my chest, annoyed she was talking down to Callie.  I opened my mouth to say as much, but Callie thrust her delicate hand up, halting me.

“I-If you don’t want to participate in this then don’t.”  Callie planted her fists on her hips. 

“Fine.  I won’t.”

Callie’s mouth opened in shock before she quickly recovered.  “Then you won’t participate in the celebration party either.”

Darby scoffed.  “You can’t do that.”

“One.” Callie held a finger in the air.  “I’m co-captain and two…”  She held another one up.  “It’s at my house and I can invite or uninvited whoever I want.”

A stunned expression crossed Darby’s face as she glared dumbly at the usually demure and too sweet for her own good Callie. 

I on the other hand was radiating pride for my best friend who was finally beginning to find her inner bitch. 

After silently considering her options Darby finally sighed and popped her gum obnoxiously.  “Uh fine.  Whatever.”  She peeled herself off the bench and marched out the door.

“Good job.”  I squeezed Callie in a tight embrace.

Her cheeks were flushed and she was grinning ear to ear.  “Thanks.  She’s been a real pain these past few weeks.”

I linked my arm with hers.  “Tell me about it.  I thought I was the only one who noticed.”

Several girls from eighth grade to juniors were on the gym floor, stretching and chattering excitedly.  The senior varsity cheerleaders were doing the same, all easily spotted by the black
Lions
tank top and shorts.  The spotlights hanging from the tall rafters beamed down, glinting off the glossy wood floor.  Black and yellow mats were pulled out and stacked in one corner, a precaution for stunt training.  I cringed just thinking about the eighth graders’ wobbly arms and legs attempting to do elevators, extensions, and pop cradles. 

A whiff of gunpowder and spicy cologne caught my attention and my eyes instantly sought him out, my brows slamming together.  Damn Reese!  He’d been stuck to my side the entire day after Hayden left.

A groan slipped out my mouth.

Callie’s eyes followed my line of vision to the god of war.  “What’s Hayden’s cousin doing here?”

I shrugged.

“Is Hayden okay?” she asked, a hint of worry creeping into her tone.  “He left school after that fight.  Is his nose broken?”

I swallowed hard.  Lying to Callie was never easy.  “He’s fine.”  Lie.  “He just wanted to get it checked out and decided not to come back to school.”  Another lie.

Callie nodded quietly, but I had a sinking suspicion she wasn’t buying it. 

Reese stalked toward us, his obsidian eyes shining mischievously.  “Hello ladies.”

Callie waved as she walked away.  “I’m going to stretch.”

I nodded.

Reese reached out and flicked the hem of my shorts.  “These are nice.”  He licked his lips suggestively.

I slapped his hand away and narrowed my eyes.  “Knock it off Reese.  Or I’ll throw a flame at you.”

His lips curled in a half-smile one side hitching up.  “I know for a fact you can’t do that outside of the Underworld.”

My cheeks reddened and I sucked my teeth.  “Damn it.  Who told you that?”

A deep laugh tumbled out his mouth.  “A little birdy.”

I crossed my arms against my chest with a huff.  “Yeah well maybe today is the day I figure out how to.”

Reese flicked my ponytail playfully.  “Naughty, naughty.  You can’t use your powers in front of humans.”  He tilted his head, motioning to the group of girls watching us.

My jaw flexed tight.  “Just go sit down.”  I gripped his thick bicep and tugged him toward the bleachers.  “If you insist on being stuck to my side stay out of my way and keep your trap shut.”

He sat down and saluted me.  “Yes ma’am.  I like a girl who knows what she wants.”

I shook my head and turned heel, striding toward the group of cheerleader hopefuls.

The girls broke into groups to practice the routines we taught.  Each senior was responsible for one while I walked around and monitored.  I ambled passed a small collection of freshmen, a tall one with auburn hair and big brown eyes catching my attention.  She waved shyly at me.  An image of her with unnatural pitch eyes and a gaping maw of black mist flowing out slammed into my consciousness.

Her name was Ashley.  She was the nervous freshmen contestant in the Miss Northwood pageant months ago that had been possessed by a dark soul.  She attacked me in the parking lot where Hayden saved me, demonstrating his awesome power for the first time.

A pang resonated in my chest thinking about my dark god and knowing he was hiding something.  Thanks to him she was looking a lot less evil and had no memory of the event.

I smiled and waved back.  She was a sweet girl.  I hoped she made the team.

“Hey Hartley!”

My gaze shifted, landing on a few more freshmen, all of them waving excitedly at me.  I didn’t know them personally, but I distinctly remembered them being possessed by a sin spirit.  They had been controlled by envy and followed me around like freaky stalkers.  They cornered me in the bathroom and were practically salivating over me.

Thanks again
Reese
.  The bleachers were suddenly empty, the god not where I left him.

My eyes narrowed as I sought him out, finding him with a group of juniors.  His hands were on a girl’s arms, moving them as if he was instructing her on the dance.  I stomped toward him and planted my hands on my hips.

“Okay,” he told her.  “Make sure you straighten those elbows on that one move and then drop your left arm.”

She bit her lip and demonstrated for him.”

“Yep.  Just like that.”

I cleared my throat to get his attention without success.

“And then your other arm forward.”

I cleared it again, my jaw flexing with annoyance.  “What are you doing?” I hissed.

Reese whirled around, a wide smile stretching across his face.  “I’m helping.”

My brows slammed together.  “I told you to stay on the bleachers.”

The girls shared worried glances with each other.

“I was helping.”  He motioned toward the girl he’d been instructing.  “I can’t help it.  Competition is in my nature.  She was doing it wrong.  I’m just trying to give her a fighting chance.”

“He really was helping.”  Stephanie said.  “Our senior teacher is kind of MIA at the moment.”

My eyes glanced around.  “Who’s your senior?”  I didn’t need to ask.  I was pretty sure I knew who it was.

“Darby.”

Why wasn’t I surprised?

“Yeah.  That little stuck up blonde one disappeared so I thought I’d help since I’m already here and all…”  Reese trailed off, shrugging his wide, muscled shoulders.

One of the girls put her hands together and bit her bottom lip.  “Please Hartley.  Can he stay?”

Several other girls began a chorus of pleases.

Reese was flashing his pearly whites again, batting his dark lashes too thick to be human.  “Please Hartley.”

“Ugh fine.”  At least he’d be out of
my
hair for a while.

The girls jumped up and down.  “Thank you.”

I waved as I walked away.  I can’t believe the god of war is teaching cheerleaders how to be cheerleaders.

How is this the same guy who let loose sin spirits and tried to kill me?

“You can seriously stop following me now.”  I tried to slam my front door on Reese’s face, but being a god he caught it easily and strolled inside.

“No, no.  I’d rather stay with you in case you need me to pop you into the Underworld.”

I rolled my eyes.  “I can call Hermes.”  I dropped my books on the breakfast bar with a loud thud.  “Does Hayden even know you’re my shadow?”

Reese shrugged noncommittally while a crooked smile played on his lips.  “Probably not, but I’m sure he’ll appreciate my efforts to keep you safe.” 

“I doubt that.”

Without warning Reese gripped my hips and hoisted me up on a barstool, a yelp slipping out my mouth.  He caged me in with his thick arms and leaned close, his cologne mixed with gunpowder wafting between us.  “This seems familiar, doesn’t it?”  His dark eyes glittered seductively.

My gaze narrowed.  The first time I met him he had me in Blake’s basement just like this after saving me from the two jerks that Hayden fought earlier in the hall and their psychotic, skeevy older friend Cal.  I crossed my arms in front of my chest, attempting to put a barrier between us.  “I do recall you hitting on me after I almost got raped because of your stupid sin spirits.”

His jaw flexed and a deep seated anger flashed through those charcoal eyes.  “I told you I was sorry Hartley.  I’d never want that to happen to anyone.”

I tried to keep the curiosity from my face.  It seemed as though Reese had personal experience in the matter—maybe someone he knew.  It still didn’t excuse his behavior or any of the other crappy things he’d done.  “You also sicked a bunch of demigods on Hermes to beat him up.”  He opened his mouth, but I held my hand up, halting him.  “You hurt my friends, you almost killed me, and you tried to take the Underworld from Hayden.”

The corners of his mouth twitched.  “Once I became the god of the Underworld I also intended to steal you from Hayden.”

I grimaced and shoved him, the planes of his hard chest like iron beneath my palm.  Of course he didn’t move.  “You’re a creep, you know that?”

Reese sucked his teeth.  “Come on.  I said I was sorry.  I’ve already been punished by your mother…”

“Don’t even bring her up,” I hissed.

He held one hand in the air in surrender.  “Okay.  But my punishment was terrible and it lasted for months.”

Curiosity got the better of me.  “What was it?”