Zeus (Book One of The God Chronicles) Read online

  I was on cloud nine for the first time since I’d arrived in the city. So far, I really liked my roommates—despite the weird, mind reading they always seemed to do. The apartment was cute, I was going out for my first real club experience, and I’d gotten the work-study job. Everything I’d hoped for was happening.

  Jessie knocked on the door and let herself in after I’d given the okay. She’d gotten ready before me, and her dress was a dark, midnight-blue with matching pumps. Her makeup, as well as the pendant on her necklace, matched the color too. She opted to wear her hair up in a chic ponytail this time, making her appear even more amazing than usual.

  “Wow! You look fantastic, Karly!” she exclaimed. “I love the glitter in your hair. It’s perfect. The boys are going to be fighting over you all night.”

  “Right!” I rolled my eyes. “They won’t even see me next to you. I’m sure Jenny and Julie look amazing as well, and I’ll be pretty much invisible.”

  “No, seriously, Karly. You look great. Don’t let anyone tell you any different, not even yourself!” She smiled at me and turned to fix her lip gloss.

  There was another knock at the door, accompanied by some light laughter.

  “Are you guys ready to go?” Julie’s muffled voice asked.

  “Sure, be right out,” I called.

  “Did you call a cab yet?” Jessie asked them.

  “Yeah, it’ll be here any minute,” Jenny answered.

  “Oh, we could’ve taken my car,” I said, feeling stupid I hadn’t offered it before.

  “Actually, I thought it would be safer here,” Jessie smiled softly “We would have had to park it at the opposite end of the Strip from where STYX is. I thought you might be more comfortable leaving it.”

  “I hadn’t thought of that. Thank you,” I smiled appreciatively.

  “Shall we?” she said, holding the door open for me.

  “We shall,” I said in my most enthusiastic voice. We laughed as we left the bathroom and joined the other girls in the living room.

  They were both stunning as usual, wearing blue and green dresses with matching shoes. Jenny had her hair in a French twist and Julie had left hers straight.

  “Well, won’t we be knocking socks off tonight!” We all chuckled at Julie’s comment as a car horn sounded outside.

  “That’s our ride,” Jessie gave me a look of excitement as she spoke. “You ready?”

  I nodded, trying to calm the butterflies in my stomach. “Let’s do this!”

  The drive was uneventful, unless you counted the cabbie trying to hit on all of us. He seemed nice enough, but lost points for trying to get us all at the same time.

  “So, do you want to walk the whole way, or do you want to start in the middle? There’s not a lot of shows at the first couple of places.” Julie had taken charge of deciding where to tell the driver to drop us off.

  “I wouldn’t mind seeing everything. Is it a long walk, though?” I worried my feet wouldn’t be able to handle a long walk and then all night at the club in my shoes.

  “It’s like two or three miles long,” Jessie said. “I think we should start in the middle, at The Bellagio fountain show. Sound good?” The rest of us agreed wholeheartedly—I think we were all trying to be kind to our feet.

  We finally reached the Strip, and I stared in wonder as we passed Mandalay Bay. “It’s huge!” I looked at the girls in disbelief.

  “Wait till you see the inside of Paris or The Venetian,” Jenny laughed. “They go all out here. The inside of Tartarus resembles Greece, complete with a Mount Olympus in the middle of the casino. It’s quite fantastic, if you ask us.”

  “It blows my mind,” I said. “I can’t even imagine how much it must cost to build something like that.”

  “Well, this is Sin City,” Jessie laughed. “There’s probably been enough money lost here to build a whole second world.”

  “Crazy.”

  Lighted signs flashed from every direction, advertising shows and buffets. I craned my neck trying to see everything as it zipped by us. Some of the cars were even advertising escort services, much to my dismay. I blushed deeply at the pictures they displayed, but not as badly as when I saw three girls on the sidewalk wearing nothing but fishnets and vests which read “booty police.” It suddenly occurred to me how sheltered my life had been before. No wonder my parents hadn’t wanted me to come.

  The cab slowly made its way down the street, battling other crazy drivers and pedestrians who went wherever they wanted, whenever they wanted. There might as well have not been any signals telling them when to walk, for all the attention they paid them. We witnessed five near accidents before we reached our destination. I said a silent prayer I wouldn’t have to drive through all of that craziness.

  We pulled into The Bellagio and Julie paid the cabbie, giving him a good tip even though he’d hit on us. There were lots of people there, some getting out of cars like us, others getting in. I saw a bride who was completely drunk out of her mind and couldn’t walk straight. I didn’t know whether to laugh or feel sorry for her.

  “Hey, Karly, this way!” Jenny waved for me to follow them as they headed back towards the main road.

  “What show do they do here again?” I asked as we pushed through the throng.

  “It’s a big water fountain show, choreographed to music,” Julie answered.

  “Oh, yeah! I’ve seen some of it on TV before, duh. I’ve always wanted to see it in person, though.” I couldn’t help the grin that spread over my face. I was incredibly excited to finally see everything the Strip had to offer.

  “Hopefully we can squeeze in somewhere around the center,” Jessie added. “We’ll be able to see it from wherever, but it’s nice not to deal with people walking in front of you, or some guy standing in the way the whole time.”

  We walked down to the main sidewalk and into the mass of people heading every which way. A man ran up to me, flicking something like trading cards, and put one in my hand. I dropped it like a hot coal as soon as I saw what was on it.

  “That guy handed me porn!” I was mortified, feeling like I needed hand sanitizer.

  “Sorry, I forgot to tell you!” Julie grimaced. “They’re on every corner. You have to ignore them, or they’ll hand you stuff like that. It’s not only guys; there are girls out doing it too. Don’t look at the ground if you can help it, people take the cards and then drop them.”

  “That’s horrible,” I said in disgust. “Do I look like someone who’d want something like that?”

  “They don’t care,” Jessie said simply. “They’re basically trying to make money by getting people to come to the show.”

  “It weirds me out,” I said uncomfortably. “I’ve never seen anything like it before.”

  “Try not to think about it,” Jenny said softly. “Let’s have fun instead.”

  “Okay,” I agreed, trying to put the image out of my head. “I think what people do in private should be that—private. I’m not one to judge, but I don’t want to know.” I laughed nervously. “Whatever, let’s forget it and have a good time!”

  I put the card out of my mind. There was no sense in letting it ruin my night. It hadn’t been too bad really, mostly shocking. I smiled to myself as I pictured my dad’s reaction to being handed the same thing. The mirthful image drove my own worries from my mind.

  We were fortunate enough to get a center spot for the fountain show. Water spurted into the air as Frank Sinatra sang Luck Be A Lady, shooting so high at points that I almost fell over gazing up at it. When the show finished, there was thunderous applause and screaming, followed by an announcement that the next show would start in fifteen minutes.

  “That was amazing!” I said in awe as we headed towards the next resort. “They do this every night?”

  “Yes,” Julie laughed.

  “Like we said, no expense spared.” Jenny smiled. “We have to hurry if we’re going to make the next show—it’s only every thirty minutes and it’s a bit of a walk to get
there.”

  We stopped at Caesar’s Place, The Mirage, and Treasure Island for shows. Each one was stunning. I could easily see how some called Vegas the entertainment capital of the world.

  As we walked away from Treasure Island, I could see our destination rising before us. A huge, glittering sign welcomed everyone to Tartarus, a resort unlike any other I’d seen so far. I hadn’t noticed it until we were close because of the dark color it was painted. The only parts that sparkled were the glowing sign, the pillars holding them up, and the arches in between the pillars. As I peered closer, I could see the pillars were actually groupings of giant hands. There must have been at least fifty hands a pillar. Behind the pillars were several statues of giant Cyclopes, at least ten stories high, their arms reaching out and connecting into the pillars.

  “It’s all symbolic,” said Jessie, who had been watching me. “In Greek mythology, Tartarus was a prison, thus the dark colors. The original King of the Gods, Kronos, banished the Cyclopes, Giants, and Hundred Handers there. That’s why the statues are giants, have one eye, and one hundred hands.”

  I nodded as the pieces fell into place, amazed at the research that had been put into one building project.

  “It’s beautiful, even though it doesn’t stand out a lot like the others.” I couldn’t tear my eyes away from the façade; it held my attention so fiercely.

  “Wait until you see the inside,” Julie giggled.

  We joined the crowd entering Tartarus, and I continued to stare in awe at the statues until we were inside. I gasped as I looked around, not able to absorb the sights and sounds jostling for my attention from every direction. The casino was surrounded by a mural, which covered each wall and the ceiling. It depicted an ancient Greek marketplace. The carpet was even the color of the ground in the painting. In the middle of the room, at least three stories high, was a recreation of Mount Olympus. It could be a perfect re-creation of the real thing, right up to the snow on its peak. The dome it reached into was painted with storm clouds and lightning. I’d never seen anything more amazing.

  We walked through the casino and got on an escalator to the second floor. It was a little mind boggling to think their second floor was four stories up, to make room for the mountain. When we stepped onto solid ground, I could see an ad for their pool off to one side. They had made it to resemble the coast of Greece, with the ocean spread out across the room. The art on the wall gave the illusion that the water went on forever. Glancing the other way, I recognized several modern stores behind the facades of ancient temples. My breath caught at the beauty. I wished we had time to visit all of the shops, but I could guess from the beat pounding out around us that we were next to the club. It seemed to call out to everyone like a siren, urging them to join the dance. I glanced up and saw the glittering sign confirming my thoughts.

  Excited, I headed to the door with the girls, showed my I.D. and stepped inside.

  Chapter Four

  The music was excruciatingly loud—the beat pulsing through the floor—but it only added to my excitement. Everywhere I looked there were people grouped together—some along the wall seated at black tables with purple chairs, others crowded around the bar in the opposite corner. The majority were smashed together on a huge sunken dance floor in the middle of the rectangular room. It took a moment for my eyes to adjust to the dim lights that highlighted every other table as well as the purple splotches on the black carpet. We pushed our way through the crowd away from the entrance towards the center of the extraordinary room.

  “Do you want to start with a drink?” Jessie yelled over the noise.

  “Like what?” I yelled back, moving closer so I could hear better.

  “What . . . like?” I heard her yell back.

  “I don’t know I haven’t really had anything before, just wine at weddings and stuff.”

  “What?” I could tell she was itching to dance as her hips swayed with the music.

  “Never mind,” I yelled again. “Let’s go dance!”

  She did hear that and smiled, nodding her head. As soon as we hit the floor, we were enveloped by the pulsing crowd. Soon we were lost in the music. My heartbeat matched the thrumming of the bass, and a burst of adrenaline flowed through my veins. I closed my eyes and surrendered myself to the sounds around me. After a few moments, I opened my eyes to find myself dancing with a man I didn’t know, but I didn’t care. I wrapped my arms around his neck and let the beat lead us where it wanted. The girls had been right—STYX was definitely the place to be.

  The music ended and everyone cheered while someone stood to announce that night’s DJ. Jessie pushed her way back to me and suggested we at least get some water since we had walked so far.

  “That sounds like a good idea,” I confessed. My mouth and throat were so dry it felt as if they were filled with cotton. “To be honest, my feet could use a break.” I loved wearing heels, but they were hard on my toes.

  We headed to the bar as the next song started. Once we had our water, we took a seat at one of the recently vacated tables. We laughed as we watched Jenny and Julie flirting with a pair of twins. They were hitting it off, but one of the guys looked like he was going to pass out because they were talking to him. I kicked my shoes off and enjoyed the refreshing feeling the cool water gave me as it ran down my esophagus. After two more songs, I was ready to go back in.

  “You go ahead,” Jessie said. “Julie might be heading over here. I’ll sit with her for a while.”

  I squished myself back onto the floor and was immediately asked to dance by a very cute young man. I agreed and was soon lost in the music again. The night continued on in a swirl of music and partners and I hardly noticed when my friends either left or entered the dance floor. I was having the time of my life.

  When my throat screamed for the dry fire to be put out, I made my way back to the bar, squeezing through the ever-growing number of people in the room. My savior, the waiter, flashed me a dazzling smile as he handed it over and I smiled back. I’d missed having guys my own age to flirt with.

  “Let me guess, designated driver?” The deep, smooth voice soared through the din and my knees went weak. I didn’t see the man who had spoken to me, but if his voice was any indicator, he was smoking hot.

  “No,” I said as I turned around. His image stopped my thoughts dead in their tracks, and I stood there with my mouth gaping like a fish out of water.

  He was gorgeous. I felt like I was looking at a statue of a Greek God. Medium length, black hair—perfectly styled—hung slightly across his perfect, golden brown eyes. The facial hair covering his slightly pale but flawless skin was rugged, without making him resemble a mountain man. It was the perfect addition to his chiseled jaw line. Butterflies erupted inside me as my eyes travelled down his form fitting, black suit, my jaw still flapping in the wind. It didn’t help that he was wearing the suit, perfectly tailored to him. I was a sucker for a handsome man in a suit. Realizing that I appeared to be staring at his crotch, I quickly tore my gaze back to his face.

  He was staring right into my eyes and I couldn’t look away. He seemed amused as I fell silent, like it was an everyday occurrence. It probably was with his body.

  “No . . . ?” He questioned, a small smile gracing his face. I felt my knees start to shake a little.

  “Uh,” I stammered. “Sorry,” I said, shaking my head and covering my eyes. When I finally felt composed enough, I lowered my hand

  . “I just like water.”

  I couldn’t believe how stupid I sounded. I could feel the heat burning in my face and my eyes widen in horror. I waited for a weird look and his departure, but he started laughing instead.

  “You’re cute. I like that.” He took a sip of a drink the bartender had brought him.

  “Only cute,” I joked back. “I guess I’ll head out then, no reason for a simply cute girl to be here.” I tried to keep a straight face as long as possible as I made a show of turning to leave, and he laughed some more. It was a deep sound, but
effortless. I liked it a lot, especially because it brought his perfect smile back to his perfect lips.

  “What’s your name?” He grabbed my water before I could and started heading to a table. It seemed a little bold, but I was feeling brave and followed him.

  “Karly,” I said as we sat down on opposite sides. “Yours?”

  “Zeus,” he replied while surveying the dance floor. I couldn’t help it—I snorted into the drink in my hand and started laughing.

  “Wow, your parents must have hated you!”

  “Actually,” he replied, turning back to me. “My parents are Greek. It is a great honor to be named after their God.” All humor was gone from his face as he watched at me. I felt the blush coming back again.

  “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to offend you,” I apologized.

  “It’s no big deal, it happens a lot actually. The joke about the name—not the offending,” he added as a side thought. He turned his attention back to the dancing, slouching in his seat and drumming his fingers on the table. I sat there awkwardly, wondering if I should excuse myself. All my successful flirtations from earlier in the night were sorely missed. I was goofing up big time with this guy.

  “Do you want to dance now?” he asked out of the blue.

  “Uh, yeah. Sure.”

  I stood and started back to the floor, a wave of shock flowing through me when he came up beside me and wrapped his arm around my waist. When we reached the floor, he released me and grabbed my hand instead, pulling me to the middle of the crowd. We finally stopped and he turned to face me, pulling my body up against his. His golden brown eyes met mine once more, a small, seductive smile flickering across his face as he placed my hands on his hips. My knees started to tremble again as I felt his abs and “V” shape cut. He was definitely hot, too hot for me, but I wasn’t complaining.