Read 1304 The Harbinger (The 13th Floor) for Free Online Page A
Authors: Christine Rains
them. The pounding of her heart would have to be enough.
Zeus came to his feet behind her and laughed as he clapped. “Yes! Magnificent!”
Sam walked down the hill, sliding a few times, but steadying himself. He glistened with sweat and his chest heaved. In Meira’s eyes, he looked like a god himself as he came to stand before the dais.
“Well done, Samuel Wright. I am impressed. It seems as though I’ll have to up the difficulty with the next part of the challenge.” Zeus’ eyes gleamed with pride. “Until then, you’ve won yourself a moment’s reprieve. Take a nymph or two to serve you. Any of my servants. Enjoy yourself. Eat, drink, and rest.”
Sam bowed. “Thank you. I’ll take Meira then.”
There was a sudden silence in the coliseum. The tension in the air was so sharp Meira didn’t dare breathe.
“No,” Hera said through clenched teeth. Her husband ignored her.
“Any of my servants, yes.” Zeus said the words slowly, drawing them out with a dangerous edge. “Then take her. She’ll see you’re made comfortable in one of the guest suites and have whatever you need. I will send for you when the next part of the challenge is ready.”
Meira didn’t know if it were truly safe or not to rise. She remained motionless until Sam walked nearer and motioned to her. “Lead the way then.”
She didn’t look back at any of the gods. She was afraid she might be struck down if she did. Even as she stood and led Sam out of the arena, her back itched as if awaiting a dagger or lightning bolt.
CHAPTER 7
Meira took Sam to one of the finest and most modern guest suites. Not that it was going to make either of them feel any more comfortable. She stood by the door and let him have a look around the large sitting room and the adjoining bedroom. It was better than any five-star hotel.
“Is there anything I can get for you? There’s fresh water in the pitcher and fruit in the bowl. If you want a shower, there’s a bath connected through the bedroom. If you need anything else, I can fetch it for you.” Her voice didn’t sound like her own. Sam had always made her feel at ease from the moment she’d met him, and now she was squirming.
“No. Please, have a seat and rest. You’re not anyone’s dog.”
She loved him. Oh how she loved him. Meira hadn’t planned on sitting, but her legs felt weak and so she sat on one of the chairs.
Sam poured himself a glass of water and drank it in a few gulps. He then refilled it and poured a second glass as well. He brought it to her and held it out. Frowning a bit, he drew it back to himself. “Do you, uh, need help to drink?”
“No, thank you. I’m fine.” Meira tried to sit and look as elegant as always, but even if she knew how to place her wings in such a way, the ugly bird feet would never cut it. He must be so entirely repulsed by her now.
“You’re not fine. None of this is fine.” Sam’s voice rose, but he caught himself. Breathing deeply, he set her water down and then drank his second glass.
“I’m so sorry.” There would never be enough time or words to convey how really sorry she was all this happened.
“You have nothing to be sorry for.” There was a gritty edge to his voice. “Are you responsible for my death?”
“No.” Meira shook her head. She wanted him to live. She wanted a life with him.
“Are you responsible for bringing me here and putting me to this challenge?”
“Well, I did fetch you—”
“Because you were told to do it. I would’ve come here when I died no matter what?” With a groan, Sam located a towel and dampened it with cool water. He wiped his face and head, then down his neck to his chest. “And where is here exactly?”
Her eyes followed the towel, unable to help herself. “Olympus. Yes, you would’ve been brought here, but it’s my fault you have to do this challenge.”
“Olympus. But I was raised a Christian.” Sam tossed down the towel, and then sighed. He picked it up and laid it
Zeus came to his feet behind her and laughed as he clapped. “Yes! Magnificent!”
Sam walked down the hill, sliding a few times, but steadying himself. He glistened with sweat and his chest heaved. In Meira’s eyes, he looked like a god himself as he came to stand before the dais.
“Well done, Samuel Wright. I am impressed. It seems as though I’ll have to up the difficulty with the next part of the challenge.” Zeus’ eyes gleamed with pride. “Until then, you’ve won yourself a moment’s reprieve. Take a nymph or two to serve you. Any of my servants. Enjoy yourself. Eat, drink, and rest.”
Sam bowed. “Thank you. I’ll take Meira then.”
There was a sudden silence in the coliseum. The tension in the air was so sharp Meira didn’t dare breathe.
“No,” Hera said through clenched teeth. Her husband ignored her.
“Any of my servants, yes.” Zeus said the words slowly, drawing them out with a dangerous edge. “Then take her. She’ll see you’re made comfortable in one of the guest suites and have whatever you need. I will send for you when the next part of the challenge is ready.”
Meira didn’t know if it were truly safe or not to rise. She remained motionless until Sam walked nearer and motioned to her. “Lead the way then.”
She didn’t look back at any of the gods. She was afraid she might be struck down if she did. Even as she stood and led Sam out of the arena, her back itched as if awaiting a dagger or lightning bolt.
CHAPTER 7
Meira took Sam to one of the finest and most modern guest suites. Not that it was going to make either of them feel any more comfortable. She stood by the door and let him have a look around the large sitting room and the adjoining bedroom. It was better than any five-star hotel.
“Is there anything I can get for you? There’s fresh water in the pitcher and fruit in the bowl. If you want a shower, there’s a bath connected through the bedroom. If you need anything else, I can fetch it for you.” Her voice didn’t sound like her own. Sam had always made her feel at ease from the moment she’d met him, and now she was squirming.
“No. Please, have a seat and rest. You’re not anyone’s dog.”
She loved him. Oh how she loved him. Meira hadn’t planned on sitting, but her legs felt weak and so she sat on one of the chairs.
Sam poured himself a glass of water and drank it in a few gulps. He then refilled it and poured a second glass as well. He brought it to her and held it out. Frowning a bit, he drew it back to himself. “Do you, uh, need help to drink?”
“No, thank you. I’m fine.” Meira tried to sit and look as elegant as always, but even if she knew how to place her wings in such a way, the ugly bird feet would never cut it. He must be so entirely repulsed by her now.
“You’re not fine. None of this is fine.” Sam’s voice rose, but he caught himself. Breathing deeply, he set her water down and then drank his second glass.
“I’m so sorry.” There would never be enough time or words to convey how really sorry she was all this happened.
“You have nothing to be sorry for.” There was a gritty edge to his voice. “Are you responsible for my death?”
“No.” Meira shook her head. She wanted him to live. She wanted a life with him.
“Are you responsible for bringing me here and putting me to this challenge?”
“Well, I did fetch you—”
“Because you were told to do it. I would’ve come here when I died no matter what?” With a groan, Sam located a towel and dampened it with cool water. He wiped his face and head, then down his neck to his chest. “And where is here exactly?”
Her eyes followed the towel, unable to help herself. “Olympus. Yes, you would’ve been brought here, but it’s my fault you have to do this challenge.”
“Olympus. But I was raised a Christian.” Sam tossed down the towel, and then sighed. He picked it up and laid it