Luna’s gaze tracked over the mess on the floor. “Had a slight problem, have you? You poor dear.” Her mocking tone shook Araminta out of her funk and stiffened her spine.
“What do you want?” Several memories tumbled across her brain. Luna had been there. She suddenly remembered how Luna had encouraged her to ride the lion on the carousel, had been there when everything went strange. Her memories of exactly what had happened were vague, but Luna had been there, of that she was certain. “You’re part of this, aren’t you?”
Luna touched the tip of her nose and laughed. “Smart girl. Took you long enough to figure it out.” She shook her head, her smile slightly cruel and the pity in her gaze more mocking than real. “Why Hades even wants to bother with you, I don’t know. But he does, so that’s that.”
“What do you mean?” Adrenaline pumped through her veins, swallowing the fear that threatened to swamp her. Luna was one of Hades’ minions. She didn’t look evil, but then evil seldom did, which is why it was so effective. She’d do well to remember that.
Luna reached into her deep cleavage and pulled out a rolled document about eight inches wide. It seemed to Araminta that it appeared out of nowhere, because no way had it been there before. Luna’s dress was so tight it wasn’t possible Araminta could have missed the bulge it would have made.
The other woman flicked her wrist and the document unrolled. It appeared to be parchment paper with fancy calligraphy covering it. “Hades has a proposition for you.”
Her knees grew weak at Luna’s pronouncement, and Araminta leaned against the desk. The scene was unfolding exactly like it had in the books she’d written. Hades offered a deal to one or both of the people involved. This situation was totally surreal, but it was also all too real. It was hard for her to wrap her head around it.
Even though she knew what her answer would be, she had to kill time. Leander would be back soon. Or at least she hoped he would. She had no idea what might have happened to him, but she hadn’t expected him to stay outside for so long. Something must have happened to him. Worry ate at her, but she shoved aside her darker emotions and strove for calm.
Struggling for nonchalance she didn’t feel, Araminta put her palms on the desk behind her to support her quivering body and summoned up a strained smile. “Well, I’m waiting.”
Luna smirked, her ruby-red lips curving upward in a smile that was more cruel than friendly. “Look at you, all brave. We’ll see how long that lasts.”
Araminta’s hand inched back toward the rock paperweight. As weapons went, it wasn’t much, but it was something. “I’m waiting.” It might not be smart to taunt Luna, but Araminta was tired of being bullied by the woman or demon or whatever she was.
“Hades, Lord of the Underworld, sends his greetings. He’s offering you fame and fortune beyond your wildest dreams. What have you always wanted?” Luna’s voice deepened and seemed to fade into the background as she continued. The more Luna spoke, the easier Araminta could see the world the other woman described unfolding in front of her. “Best-selling novels, awards, your books being made into movies, crowds of people who love you. It’s all yours. But there’s more.” Luna paused and her words seemed to permeate Araminta’s very soul. “A family. A handsome husband. Someone to love you forever.”
“Yes,” Araminta whispered. She could see it all so easily in her mind’s eye. She was happy and actually skinny in the vision of her new life. Awards lined the shelves of the floor-to-ceiling bookshelves in her new office/library. The room was larger than the home she’d grown up in.
Outside the window was a garden in full bloom. Lilac blossoms scented the air along with the sweet smell of freshly cut grass. It was one of her most favorite smells in the world.
“Hey, beautiful.” She turned away from the window and watched as a tall, handsome man joined her. His hair was dark and fell to his broad shoulders. His eyes were a vivid green. A faint scar bisected his right cheek. He was the spitting image of the hero from the first book she’d ever written.
Araminta frowned. There was something wrong with this picture. Before she could clear the fog from her brain and figure out what was bothering her, the man put his arms around her waist, leaned in and kissed her. This was no first kiss, but one of longtime lovers. His lips were cold against hers, and she had the urge to shove him away and run just as fast as she could.
She put her hands against his broad chest and pushed. He released her and smiled as though he sensed nothing wrong between them.
“You’re looking beautiful as always, my sweet.” He picked up a file from the desk to his right. “Just a small piece of business to take care of today. You need to sign this contract, babe. Nothing is final until you sign.”
Araminta blinked. Her mind was fuzzy and something wasn’t right. “I don’t know.”
“What’s to know?” the man said. “You know you want me. You want all of this. And it can be yours.” He shifted behind her and kissed her neck. A shiver raced down her spine. Her blood ran cold. “We were meant to be together, you and I. Our life will be perfect.” He nibbled on her lobe and whispered in her ear. “All you have to do is sign.”
It suddenly occurred to her that she didn’t know the name of the man kissing her. Nor did she recognize the home she was standing in. Nothing about this place was familiar.
The walls seemed to shiver around her, fading in and out of focus, revealing darkness beyond. She shook her head and pulled away from the man. “No. This isn’t right. You’re not right.” She’d created him for a book. He didn’t truly exist. “None of this is real. You’re not real.”
In the distance, a lion roared. The loud, tortured sound snapped Araminta out of the fog that enveloped her like a thick blanket. She blinked, mentally fighting her way out of the stupor that held her captive. It wasn’t easy. A part of her wanted to stay, wanted to sink into the vision and bask in the attention of the handsome man, to curl up in the corner of that magnificent library, to read the engravings on the awards on the shelves.
Still, a part of her knew it wasn’t real, didn’t really exist anywhere other than in her mind. Leander was real. Hades’ curse was real. She closed the fingers of one hand around something slender and hard, digging her fingernails into her palm. She tightened her other hand around the rock she held. That was reality, not the pretty, cold picture Luna had painted for her.
The man and the beautiful home slowly began to fade, gradually disappearing into the shadows until she was back in her office with Luna standing next to her, contract on the desk in front of them. Araminta had a pen clenched in her right hand. Horror filled her at the thought of what she’d almost done. She threw the pen across the room where it bounced off the wall, cracked and landed on the floor. Ink seeped out onto the carpet.
“No! You can’t trick me like that. I won’t sign.” She felt the rock paperweight beneath her other hand and squeezed it. Her stomach was queasy from whatever Luna had done to her. It had been like being trapped in a waking dream where you knew something was wrong but you couldn’t escape. It was pure evil.
Luna shook her head in obvious disgust. “You stupid females are all the same. You could have everything you’ve ever wanted and you turn it down. And what does that get you.” She shook her finger at Araminta. “I’ll tell you what. Nothing.”
Bosom heaving and nostrils flaring, Luna gestured to the contract still sitting on the desk. “All the warriors have their own agenda, and they don’t care if you have to die in order for them to succeed. Don’t expect Leander to protect you when the chips are down.”