The Wager- BBW Erotic Curvy Paranormal Romance (TOUCH OF THE GODS) (33 page)

             
“Yes, baby girl. Mother is here.”

             
Mother?

             
“But how are you here? You're not dead. Please tell me you haven't died, mama!”

             
“No, Vanessa. After you left and your body turned into the golden shrine that it is, I broke down. Then, it disappeared and we learned it was sent to the temple of Hephaestus. We took a trip to Greece, where I went into Hera's place of worship and begged to bring you home.”

             
“Oh, mama! I don't know what to say.”

             
My mother smiled, moving closer to me and when a gentle breeze tickled through the corn field, her familiar perfume cocooned me, making me all the more aware of my growing vulnerabilities. She was wearing her pink tutu dress, a gift that Willa and I had gotten her for Mother's Day. The memories of home came crashing down like a house of glass. As she continued standing, just a step away, the urge to run to her, feel her crushing me into her matronly body grew stronger by the minute.

             
“Has he been to see you at all?”she asked

             
“Heph? No, but I'm sure he would if he could.”

             
“Dear baby girl, are you sure about that? Look at you. I can't stand here and not feel anger at the state you're in, while he's probably enjoying his immortal life in Olympus. How is that fair?”

             
“I—it's...”

             
“It's not fair, Vanessa. Let me take you home. I made your favorite dishes. Come into my arms, baby girl. Mother's here.”

             
Her voice was so soothing, saying the things I had thought about during my darker days of being stuck in the one spot. My legs tingled to take that one step into her awaiting, open arms, but something held me back. Everything about her screamed mama, but my heart didn't feel the warmth it always did when in my Mom's presence. It was then, the realization that something was amiss came to the fore and I saw beyond the Ginny like pleasant smile. “Who are you?”

             
“Whatever do you mean, baby girl? It's me, your mother.”

             
“My Mom doesn't go by that. She's mama. Now who the fuck are you?”

             
My ‘mama's’ eyes narrowed into thin, angry slits as her body thinned out and stretched to stand a bit over six feet. Her hair was butter yellow, the temples streaked white and she had frown lines around her down turned lips, this feature denoting that she was obviously older than most of the gods. The gown she wore was made of vibrant peacock feathers which cascaded to a modest train. Her ice blue eyes were shocking, dangerous and full of disdain. And they were fixed on me, as though I was the most distasteful thing of all. She made me feel unworthy, like a naughty child who ruined her youth by being born.

Just then I knew...“You're Hephaestus's mother. You're Hera!”

              “Smart and annoying, I can see what he found in you. His first wife was as dense as a dead cow.”

             
“Well, I agree with you there. She didn't know what she lost, as he's a great man. Anyway, I know you have something to give me, that you know I'll just refuse, so let's hear it.”

             
“I take it back, you are dumb. I gave you your offer.”

             
Blinking, I tried to think when she did as she said, but couldn't figure it out. Either way, the fact that I was still standing in my spot, and that she continued to glare at me meant I had declined it. The other two gods, though their punishments were harsh, didn't scare me as much as facing whatever the Queen of the Gods would dish out.

Hera's deadly eyes didn't leave my face, and as she strode up until she looked down at me, a peacock's tail fanned in her pupils. “You have defied me, Queen of the Gods! And for what? My son?”

              “He doesn't look like you at all. His eyes are full of warmth and kindness.”

             
“That bastard Zeus! He took even my own birth away from me.”

             
“He told me you punished him for looking like your husband. But he was a baby, he did nothing wrong.”

             
“Hephaestus did everything wrong. He ruined my life when he trapped me in that chair. He even dared to remain a god when I told him not to.”

             
“You turned him away when he wanted nothing but your love. I can't believe I almost thought you were my mama. You are the epitome of what a failure of a mother truly is and if I could move from this spot, I'd slap you into next week for the pain you've caused him!”

             
Hera reared her hand up as though to hit me and even the snakes flinched, but I wouldn't back down, nor would I take back what I said. The rage in her eyes left my blood cold. She moved her palm toward my face and a silver glow pulsated around it. I closed my eyes waiting for what appeared to be my impending death. Expecting a blow to the cheek, my breath caught in my chest while my entire body was racked with pain and my mind felt as though my world was spinning. Screaming out, I was falling. I knew it as my stomach dipped which made me clench my eyes tighter. I sent curses to Hera, as I came closer to a heat source that could be no other than eternal hell that Hades was sure to be waiting.

Then, my descent was stopped, when I hit something solid, the impact jarring my bones. Too afraid to open my eyes, I curled up into a ball, covering my head with my arms in hopes that whatever demons were near would not see me right away. Unfortunately, a booming, yet very stunned voice let me know I was not so lucky.

              “What the hell is this? Brother Frias! A small woman has landed on my work bench!”

             
“What do you mean a small woman? Have you been drinking on the job again, Jasperion?”

             
“No, I haven't! Come look here for yourself, and tell me I'm crazy.”

             
My eyes remained shut, I shivered as heavy footfalls shook the table, and I wondered if Hera had dropped me in a pit full of angry giants that would crush me or even eat me. Or worse!

             
“I hate when your nonsense wastes my time… dear Gods! It can't be. It's Vanessa! Jas, go get our lord. Now!”

             
The one called Jasperion gave a mumbled yes and I listened as he ran away, most likely to get their lord and master. Dear heavens, who would that be? Before I could guess what was going to happen to me, I felt a poke in my back, followed byt a large, but soft, blunt object rocking me.

             
“It's okay, Vanessa. I won't hurt you. I am Frias, friend of Hephaestus.”

             
Slowly, I uncurled my body, noting that all the snakes were gone, and sitting upon what appeared to a gargantuan slab of metal. The thing that prodded me, repeated and I saw that it was in fact a finger, attached to a large hand. My gaze followed the massive, tattooed arm, until I finally fixed on a smiling, strangely handsome face with one ocean blue eye in the center. My mouth dropped open, though whether it was to scream, I would never know, because before my brain could make heads or tails, I heard the most beautiful sound ever to grace the planet.

             
“Vanessa? You made it! You're here!”

Chapter XXVI

Hephaestus

              “Boss! Hey boss! We need you down here quick!”

             
Working on repairing the massive crack in the side of the mountain I lived under, I almost didn't hear the voice of one of my Cyclopes’ calling from below. It wasn't until a boulder launched past my head, that I looked down to see Jasperion waving towards me. Never before had the shy monster done anything that would get him my attention, especially something so reckless and as I stepped down to confront him, I knew my temper was evident.

Cyclopes’ were not small by any means, but in my god form, I towered over the now trembling man, stopping in front of him with fire in my eyes. “Jasper, you know never to throw rocks when I'm working on the mountain. That's a volcano up there and the slightest mistake could destroy the island of Hawaii!”
             

             
Just the mere mention of the disgruntled mountain caused it to belch out black smoke, followed by a loud gurgle of lava. This particular volcano was the one that often gave me trouble, the fire spirit being as stubborn and as hardheaded as his sire, Zeus. Why the King of the Gods left me in charge of his children, I'll never know and the last thing I needed was one of them creating problems for me in a family that already despised my guts.

Things had only gotten worse for me, most of my time was spent in or around the forge and along with the backed up orders, I barely knew what day it was. I couldn't even think about Vanessa as much as I wanted, since my focus needed to be on my job and at night, once I laid my weary body in bed, my dreams of her were only appetizers to the real thing, which I did not have. When was this trial going to end? I hoped to get word soon, as everyone around me noticed that the longer I was without her, the grumpier I became. No one liked it. No one.

              “I'm sorry, boss. But you gotta come inside really quick! It's important.”

             
“I can't right now, Jaison is not in his better moods, and though I just got him back to sleep, I have to finish fixing the damage he caused earlier. Besides, what could be that important that you'd literally throw a boulder at me?”

             
“Please, boss! Frias said I needed to get you because of the small woman who fell on my work table!”

             
“Small woman? Jasperion, have you been drinking on the job again?”

             
“No! I tell you, a small woman, no bigger than my pinky nail, appeared right on my table! Frias said her name was Vanessa, and that I must come get you.”

             
“Did you say, Vanessa?”

             
“Yes, boss. She's in the forge.”

             
Pushing by my employee, I ran down the spiral dirt path not minding the cuts in my hand from the jagged rocks of the mountain side. My leg burned with my exertion to get back inside and stumbling, I rubbed my knee silently cursing my mother for good measure, before pulling myself back to my feet. As much as I wanted to rush, I knew it wouldn’t do me any good if I injured myself before I made it in, so I limped the remainder of my way until I stood at the large entrance. My heart pounded, hearing Frias, speaking gently to someone which was a first for him.

As if in slow motion, my feet took me into the shadows that were my home. The deeper in I went, the more my nerves ate at me. If it was Vanessa, what would she think of my friends? Of my place? It wasn't Olympus by any means. It was dark, smoky and slightly disorganized. Then, I worried how she'd respond to me, as I looked different as a god than as a man. Rubbing a hand over my jaw, I wished I had shaved, almost considering using my abilities to make the long, Grecian beard disappear, but then, I wouldn't be who I truly am and knowing Vanessa, she would want only honesty from me.

After shaking my head to disperse the negative thoughts, I took a deep breath and marched into the work clearing to see that a small woman was sitting on the metal table, staring up at the giant who was Frias. His brethren had stopped their work as well, crowding round to stare at her with curiosity. From the paleness of her face, I could tell she was about to lose it, so I needed to intervene before she ran and hurt herself in the forge's mess. “Vanessa? You made it! You're here!”

             
The moment she turned at the sound of my voice, my body exploded with emotions I had been keeping bottled up. Tears fell down my cheeks like waterfalls as I reached her and seeing her beaming smile, made me cry harder. Kneeling, I placed my hand on the table and picked her up and she stepped up onto my palm. She was so small that I feared she would slip between my fingers, so I brought her closer until she was able to perch on my nose. My eyes crossed, so that I could see her better and other than the fact that she had lost some weight, she was the most beautiful sight I had seen in the many days without her.

Vanessa's eyes shined with her own tears, and she wrapped her arms around the bridge of my nose to hug me. “I can't believe it's been a hundred days, Heph. I'm finally here!”

              I finally felt at peace. My love was home. “Are you hurt? I'm so sorry I couldn't help you. But I was told it was something you had to do on your own, to prove your worth, but just know that if I could, I would have traded places with you in a heartbeat! Did they harm you?”

             
“No, but they did try to make me fail. I'm just glad it's over. You're so big and your beard!”

             
“Do you not like it? I'll get rid of it, if you don't.”

             
“I love it. It's kind of sexy. How… how will this work now? I mean, you're the size of a mountain.”