Eva Pohler - Challenge of Hades

challenge of hades

the underworld saga, book two

Eva Pohler

Copyright 2012 by Eva Pohler.

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Eva Pohler Books

20011 Park Ranch

San Antonio, Texas 78259

www.evapohler.com

Publishers Note: This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are a product of the authors imagination. Locales and public names are sometimes used for atmospheric purposes. Any resemblance to actual people, living or dead, or to businesses, companies, events, institutions, or locales is completely coincidental.

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Book Cover Design by B Rose Designz

Challenge of Hades/ Eva Pohler. -- 1st ed.

Paperback ISBN 979-8610694511

The most common way people give up their power is by believing they dont have any.

ALICE WALKER

Contents

Chapter One

Sleep and Death

T

herese Mills let out a shrill, gleeful scream. Youre back! She practically flew into Thans arms, running across the gravelly drive of her Colorado log cabin, the small pebbles working their way between her bare feet and flip-flops. She kept saying, Youre back! over and over with profound disbelief. The ten months since she had last seen him at Mount Olympus over the dead body of Steve McAdams had seemed an eternity.

You feel so good, Than murmured as his lips caressed her now-moist skin, hot beneath the summer sun and his even hotter body against her. He stopped, ran his fingers through her short, red curls. Nice.

Not too short?

I love it. Makes your adorable dimples stand out more. He kissed her again, his hands moving along her bare waist. On your way for a swim?

She was wearing the same bikini from last summer, the one she wore shortly after she and Than had met at Jens ranch down the road. She smiled now at the memory of their swim in the lake. The lake was actually a reservoir tucked in a small valley between the San Juan Mountains. Only five homes, including hers and Jens, spread apart and wedged in the mountains, shared this spectacular view.

Care to join me?

What about your aunt and uncle?

Theyre inside, working. They wont bother us.

He covered her with more kisses.

They were kissing on her gravelly drive one minute and at the bank the next, holding hands on the jetties, about to jump. A hawk soared over the valley beneath the early morning sun.

Did we just god travel? Therese asked Than.

He gave her what seemed an arrogant smirk that said, Of course.

Before she could ask another question, Than had stripped down to his white boxers and was pulling her into to the frigid water, and she was screaming gleefully again.

Its so cold!

Its awesome, he said. Ive missed you, and all of this, more than you can know.

He held her close, keeping her warm, and was about to kiss her again when they heard the crunch of footsteps along the jetties.

Pete! Therese cried, surprised. He had been her rock since last summer, a shoulder to cry on, a friendmaybe more than a friend since Cupid shot his arrow into Petes heartto keep her from losing her mind. She pulled back from Than and gave Pete an awkward smile. Feel like a swim?

Hey, Than, Pete said with what seemed like a forced grin. Hows it going?

Hey, Pete. Hows your family? Than ran his fingers through his dark wavy hair, maybe in an attempt to appear casual and unaffected by Petes sudden appearance.

Petes blond bowl hair cut from last summer had grown out, and he hadnt bothered to cut it. Therese had told him she liked it long. Just now he had it tied back in a ponytail at the nape of his neck. He wore his blue jeans and boots and a long-sleeved shirt open in front, exposing his tanned chest and abdomen. He looked really good, for a mortal.

The familys okay. Summer is our busy season, you know. Then Pete added, Need a job?

This is a quick visit, Than replied. But thanks anyway. Tell everybody I said hello.

You should do it yourself, Pete said. Theyd be happy to see you.

Petes familythe Holtsran a trail riding business down the road, and last summer, Than had taken a job as a horse handler when their usual hands had to take time off due to a death in the family. Therese later suspected Than had arranged it all so that they could meetin the flesh, that is. They had already met when she was in a coma after her parents were killed by one of McAdamss Taliban spies. She had followed her parents to the Underworld, but had assumed it was a dream, and, as she had always been a lucid dreamer and able to manipulate the events of her dreams, she had been especially bossy and flirtatious with the god of death and with his brother, the god of sleep. She couldnt have known then that it had all been real and that the god of death, unused to receiving affection, would fall in love with her and follow her back to the world of the living.

But she was glad. More than glad. She was absolutely thrilled. And now he had finally come back for her. But what would she tell Pete?

She could see the pain in Petes face.

Are we still on for the movies tonight? Pete asked.

Therese could feel the blood leave her face as Than studied it. Surely he, a god, had been aware of her slightly-more-than-friends relationship with Pete. Umm. Im not sure, Pete. Can I give you a call?

Jen stepped up beside Pete with her arms folded across her chest. Hey, Than. Whats up?

Hey, Jen. Its good to see you.

Jen, who, like all the people in Thereses life, had remained ignorant of Thans true identity, was pretty steamed that Than hadnt called or written for ten months. Therese also knew Jen wouldnt be too happy that Therese would drop Pete for Than.

Its been a while, Jen said. I thought maybe, I dont know, youd fallen off the face of the earth.

Not exactly, Than said.

You might have called, Jen said accusingly.

Its um, complicated.

Yeah, right. They dont have phones down south in Texas.

Jen, Therese said sharply. Give it a rest.

Were still going to the movies tonight, Jen insisted. You and me and Pete and Matthew. I already paid for the tickets online and the movies sold out.

Take Bobby, Therese said.

Pete clenched his jaw. Come on, Jen. Weve got work to do.

Pete walked away, and when he was out of sight, Jen, who stood there with her arms crossed, said between gritted teeth, Dont you dare hurt my brother. Our family has been through enough lately. You should know.

Jen referred to the return of her father after three years of estrangement. Therese didnt know the details, but apparently Mr. Holt had hurt Jen in unmentionable ways while drunk, and after years of therapy and being sober, had returned for a second chance. Therese had loaned Jen her invisibility crown, a gift from Artemis, so she could disappear if her father ever fell off the wagon. But Jen had no idea how the crown worked or how it came to be in Thereses possession.

In fact, it was the existence of the crown from Artemis, the locket from Athena, and the traveling robe and gown from Aphrodite that had assured Therese when she was feeling low that the events of last summer hadnt been imaginary.