Great question, especially since Ascot and I pretty much planned to kill Kevin and succeeded.
“There wasn’t time!” I blurt out, wringing my hands.
Ascot steps closer, placing a hand on the small of my back. “I called the police,” he calmly lies, omitting everything in between. “And when Kevin got word of it, he fled, crashing head on into a large dumpster.”
Adam’s face clears, his eyes slowly widening. “Jesus, did he get hurt?”
Ascot and I glance to one another before I look back at him and slowly nod. “Unfortunately, yes,” I whisper.
“Holy shit, did he die?” Adam asks and I close my eyes. He takes a few steps to the right, sitting down hard on his chair. “I-I don’t know what to say,” he rubs the side of his face. “I had no idea,” his eyes lock with mine. “Elise, I’m so sorry.”
Gulp, he’s actually sincere.
“Thank you,” I whisper, leaning my head on Ascot’s shoulder.
Adam pulls in a breath and blows it out slowly, keeping his eyes on me. “Is there a way you can stick around until I find someone to replace you?”
I blink, knowing he’s right. It’s not professional to leave him high and dry like this, even if he is a douche. Tammy is the only reason I would stay, she’s the one who’s been a true friend. And, after everything that’s happened, it’s the very least I can do for her.
“I can do that,” I whisper and Adam gives me a relieved smile.
***
“Well, hello,” a tall, dark headed, man with a distinctive angular nose says, smiling coyly at me next to Ascot’s fridge.
Startled, I whip my head at him. He looks familiar, moving over to the window, the morning sun washing over his face like a shroud.
“Elise,” Ascot’s arm slips around my waist. “I’d like you to meet my brother, Eriopis,” he says, his expression surprised and pleased at the same time.
“Oh,” I shake my head. That’s why he looks familiar. I reach out. “It’s nice to meet you.”
His brother takes my hand, warm and firm. “You too, and you can call me Eric,” he says, eyeing Ascot with a “why-is-she-here?” kind of look.
Ascot clears his throat, pulling me closer. “It’s okay, Eric, she knows about us,” he whispers with an unblinking stare.
Eric runs a hand through his deep brown hair, jaw clenched. “What the fuck?”
“You have nothing to worry about,” Ascot says, holding up a hand. “She won’t tell anyone.”
“Jesus,” Eric shakes his head. “What happens when you two break up, little brother?”
Ascot’s face twists. “That’s not gonna happen, I can assure you,” he says, eyes glaring.
Eric smirks. “Oh yeah? Lasting relationships aren’t exactly your forte.”
“Ahem,” I clear my throat and their eyes come to me. “I’m right here, I can actually speak,” I look at Eric, lifting my chin. “If you must know, here’s the short version. Ascot’s aquarium broke and leaked into my apartment. I live below him.”
“Hansel and Gretel?” Eric whispers. “Are they..?”
“They couldn’t be saved,” Ascot cuts in.
“You could have, and you know it,” Eric’s eyes narrow.
“At any rate,” I interrupt, “it was early, and I was in a hurry to stop the water, so I ran up here in a robe, barefoot.”
Eric glances back at me. “Okay, what’s that got to do with…”
“I cut my foot on the way down,” I whisper.
Eric cocks his head with a smirk, as if wanting me to get on with it.
I glance up at Ascot and then back to Eric. “I accidentally stepped on the soaked carpet in my room,” I swallow, “Poseidon’s water.”
“You what?” Eric stiffens, eyes shifting back and forth from me to Ascot. “You, you do you realize what this m…”
I suck in a breath. “Yes, yes, I do,” I whisper, closing my eyes.
“Holy mother of Christ,” Eric says under his breath.
“There’s no reason to scare her,” Ascot whispers. “Elise and I have already had this conversation.”
“Scare her? Are you fucking serious?” Eric moves toward Ascot, the two of them the same six foot plus. “She’s a goddam immortal, Ascot, she will never die,” he glances over to me. “You’re aware of that, right?”
I nod, feeling the blood rushing to my cheeks. Does he think I’m an idiot? Were Ascot’s past girlfriends a bunch of bimbos? It doesn’t matter I’m not going to let him intimidate me any longer.
I pull my shoulders back and move closer, watching Eric raise his brows. “Look, what’s done is done, I don’t really have a choice, now, do I? I’ve come to accept what’s happened and what I’ve become,” I stare into his blue-green eyes. “Now,” I cock my head, “do you always show up unannounced or is there a reason for your visit?”
Eric’s lips curl up and he gives me a slow, broad smile. “I like you,” he nods, glancing over to Ascot as he leans against the kitchen counter. “And if she can cook you should marry her.”
Ascot laughs, shaking his head and then leans down to kiss my cheek. “She can do much more than you can imagine, but I’ll explain later,” he reaches out a hand. “It’s good to see you, brother.”
***
The next few days I settle back into a routine of coming and going from home to work, but with one major exception, Adam has been on his best behavior. I’ll admit it’s been a nice surprise since only giving him a couple weeks’ notice, but I still don’t trust him. I know the kind of man he really is and already feel sorry for whoever he hires as my replacement.
Fortunately, in the midst of Adam’s proper conduct, Tammy returned to work within a couple of days looking years younger, her skin more radiant and eyes practically gleaming. Most likely from getting some much-needed rest, and the relief of mental stress from her abusive ex. I couldn’t be happier for her and the fact that Kevin’s passing ended up being an open and shut case for the police. They found a plethora of drugs in his blood work, which explained his erratic behavior and subsequently, Tammy was awarded the rest of Kevin’s estate. It wasn’t much, he didn’t have life insurance, but the money he did have was enough for Tammy to pay off a few debts and start a small savings account for Camilla’s college.
Meanwhile, I’m spending most nights with Ascot, getting to know Eric, his sarcastic yet extremely entertaining brother. He’s witty, bold, and unafraid to tell people what he thinks, not at all refined like Ascot. But he also has a soft, underbelly side if you can get through all the armor. His walls are up, and rightfully so. You don’t get to be centuries old and not know how to protect yourself and the people you love.
Eventually Eric came clean, fessing up why he showed up unannounced. Apparently, their father, Apollo, is desperate to see Ascot. I suppose actual gods miss their kids too. Eric knew that his showing up would make Ascot nervous. If he knew where to find his brother, so would their father. And the last thing Ascot wants is Apollo inadvertently leading his own father, Zeus, to his location. It’s better to lay low. There’s no reasoning with Greek gods, and their preposterous egos and insatiable rivalries towards one another. I’ve done the research and it’s true. Zeus really does have an irrational jealousy of Ascot and his abilities. Even vowed to destroy him. And for centuries, Ascot has miraculously remained hidden.