Lydon's Exile Read online

  Alexis watched as the still half-asleep Delos, clad only in a pair of blue jeans, hugged his older brother tightly. There was very little similarity between the two men except for their massive musculature, their dark-as-pitch eyes and their obvious glee in seeing each other again. If she'd doubted the late plane flight and long cab drive story before, that disbelief fled in the light of their mutual affection. She swore that by the time the two siblings broke apart, there were traces of tears in their eyes. The love shared was clearly obvious. Having no family left alive, Alexis briefly envied them.

  Lydon took a gasping breath and tried to gain control of his emotions. “It's good to see you again, Delos. I thought I never would after Father..."

  Del quickly cleared his throat and covertly nodded in Alexis’ direction.

  Glancing at the lovely woman now eyeing them with curiosity, Lydon took the hint. “Uh ... Father sends his love.” He glanced down at his own body. “I had to leave the airport without my luggage. The flight was an unexpected necessity, but I find myself here and in very good company."

  Del nodded in understanding when the explanation gushed forth as well as his state of undress and his reason for being present at all. Obvious to him but not Alexis was the fact that the airport Lydon was speaking of was the alternate reality of Olympus. Like him, his older sibling had somehow run afoul of someone and had been sent to the Earthly reality as a means of saving his life. The decision to send Lydon hence must have been made hastily indeed if his brother hadn't even the time to don clothing. He quickly turned to Alexis and offered an apology.

  "Alexis, I have some coffee brewing in the kitchen. There are fresh scones for breakfast. Would you mind helping yourself while I take Lydon inside and find him a room? I'll be with you in a few minutes."

  She grinned and shrugged. “No problem. I have your art proofs in my car. We can get to them whenever you're ready."

  Lydon watched the tall beauty saunter into the villa and let out a long breath of relief after she was gone. “Do all the women in this reality look like that?"

  Del laughed. “Just my Megaira and Alexis.” He put his hand on his older brother's shoulder and pointed the way. “Now, come with me. We have to find you some clothes and I need to hear news from our brothers and sisters. It is so damned good to see you, Lydon."

  "You might not think so once I tell you what put me here."

  Del lifted one shoulder in an unconcerned fashion. “It's obvious that Hera or one of her minions was after you. Zeus did for you what he's done for Meg, Hephenon, Kato and me. He sent you here so you can live out a normal life, albeit a mortal one, without being plagued by Her Bitchiness!"

  Lydon dragged one hand through his hair. “That's true enough, but because of me Hera will likely stalk all our siblings in the Olympic realm with the tact and grace of a hurricane."

  Delos ignored his brother's concern. “That's always been the case, Lydon. She hates us because we remind her of Father's liaisons with other women, and that her own bastards will one day have to fight them for control of Olympus. Father will either send those who want to protection to another reality as he has us or our beloved half-siblings, wherever they roam, will finally get their collective acts together and deal with Hera once and for all.” He put up his hands in a gesture of finality. “Now, enough about Hera. As far as we're concerned, she's history. Come with me, we'll get you settled in a room and you can have your pick of my clothing. We have all the time in the world now to get reacquainted.” He grinned broadly. “When Meg and the others awaken, they'll be overjoyed to find you're here."

  Lydon watched his jovial brother stride into the villa, expecting him to follow. He did so after hesitating for a moment. Del understood, as he did, that most of their siblings simply tried to stay out of Hera's way, not wanting to raise her almighty ire by doing anything but existing through the centuries as acquiescent, immortal demi-gods. He, on the other hand, had struck a very offensive blow in the old hag's direction. He wasn't altogether sure they'd be safe this time. If Hera could find a way to avenge the outrage done her, she would.

  In retrospect, Lydon was now regretting his actions though he'd had help from Hera's own minions committing the deed. His choice had, as Zeus bragged, 'done his other half-brothers and half-sisters proud'. But what if those actions actually got someone hurt this time? Delos had been the first one of his beloved siblings to hastily leave Olympus or see his wife killed, only because Megaira had Harpy blood in her ancestry. But his exile from Olympus was very different from Delos'. Del and Meg hadn't actually struck right to the heart of Hera's overbearing and pretentious pride.

  Lydon took a deep breath and prepared to tell his brother everything. Now, in the cold light of day, he was sure his deeds would come home to roost. It might be better, therefore, if his reunion with Delos and the others was cut short. He searched his mind for a way to recount his whereabouts over the last week. Indeed, Del might not want him there once his little brother knew all the facts. Lydon had to prepare himself that he might be forced to wander in a world devoid of friends or family; alone forever, without his immortality or his powers.

  Be that as it may, he followed his brother into the lovely villa and prepared himself to drop the truth. As his family, he owed Delos and Megaira that honesty.

  Chapter Two

  Lydon took the clothing his brother offered, dressed and listened as Delos described the rest of the lovely villa in which they now stood. Indeed, the Grecian-style building, with its open, airy architecture, tile and classical furnishings was much to his liking. The room that was to be his was larger and more luxurious than anything he'd ever known, given that the Olympian reality was a bit short on amenities, as Zeus willed it. Though he and many of the gods and goddesses had looked through time portals and watched the many realities that co-existed in the known universe, most in Olympus agreed that simple living was best. Sometimes progress bred hostile environments. The peace and tranquillity enjoyed by all in the realm of the gods was wonderful most days. But not when Hera took to spitefully misusing her own people inclusive of those who worshiped in her temples. She was the one bane of everyone's existence. On this, there was never any argument.

  But Lydon knew she would live forever as all immortals in that realm did, aging exceedingly slowly and only capable of death if a blow was delivered by another god as mighty as Zeus. Since no other deity except his father had courage enough to contemplate that deed, it was generally accepted that his step-mother would live forever, plaguing anyone who wasn't one of her own few offspring. Like himself, Del, Megaira ... Meg's father, Hephenon, and their ever faithful servant, Kato, would have all lived until time itself stopped, aging so slowly as to be virtually unnoticeable until millennia went by or until some grievous injury was done to them. The penalty for the crime he'd committed against Hera would warrant such an injury, in her opinion. The hag had meant to take his head off and stake it in front of Zeus’ bedroom door. And that was why he stood here, in the middle of his lovely, oak-panelled room with its marble fireplace and French doors leading onto a splendid veranda filled with flowers. He took a cleansing breath and began his explanation. “Del, you need to know exactly why Father sent me here."

  Delos turned from sorting clothing he was lending his brother. “I don't care, Lydon. Hera wanted Meg killed just because of her lineage. What preposterous reason did the bitch ever need to take one of us out?"

  "How about the fact that I burned down her temple at Paphos after having slept with her priestesses? I even convinced those same priestesses to help me torch the sacred gardens there."

  Momentarily stunned into immobility, Delos dropped a pair of blue jeans he was about to hang in Lydon's closet. He stared at his older brother and brokenly asked, "You d-did what?"

  Del quickly began his version of the story. “I was travelling through the area near Paphos and saw beggars with children on the roads into the city."

  "Beggars? There are no beggars in the entire Olympian
realm,” Del blurted.

  "There are now, thanks to Hera,” Lydon angrily replied, then continued. “Seems she has every man, woman and child servicing her sacred grounds and the temple itself because the increased levels of worship in her honour proportionally augment her powers. And when the populace is working three shifts just to make sure her temple is constantly full of offerings consisting of their grain, livestock and oil, how are they supposed to support themselves? There was nothing left for the citizens to eat, Hera was demanding everything."

  "Where was Father while all this was happening?"

  Lydon snorted. “Off with his women. Hera had been unusually quiet of late, leaving him and his bastard offspring alone, including myself. Father was probably considering himself lucky and took advantage of the peace and quiet.” He heatedly continued. “I think Hera paid off the oracles Zeus uses to keep watch over the kingdom when he's too busy whoring. By whatever means, she managed to do all this behind our old man's back and the people in and around Paphos were suffering for it. When I entered the village, one of them recognised me. I could hardly walk away when they begged for help. All their prayers in Father's direction had gone unheeded because..."

  "He was off in one of his sea-side palaces with a bevy of nubile women,” Del finished.

  Lydon readily nodded, his brother knew the situation as this was often the case where their father was concerned.

  "How in the name of all the gods did you get Hera's priestesses to help you?” Lydon asked in amazement.

  "Seems they'd been denied men for a very long time, by Hera's own edict. The old bitch thinks her powers are further amplified if the women tending her temple are celibate. I ... happened along and made them a sexual deal they couldn't refuse."

  Del tried to suppress his grin, but couldn't.

  "Don't laugh,” Lydon instructed, “I slept with them in return for keeping their mouths closed and giving the grain, flocks and herds back to the villagers. Then, I convinced them they could go to my Father and seek protection if they'd leave Hera's service and help me burn the temple down. It was all done in less than a week's time. By the time Hera realised her powers had considerably diminished and saw the smoke rising from Mount Paphos where the temple was located, it was too late for her minions to salvage anything. The priestesses ran in different directions, Zeus was alerted by some of the Olympian guards who saw them fleeing and heard the villagers cheering. He came to the priestesses’ aid first, then mine. I was still nude from having slept my last round with the former temple leaders and hadn't even had time to grab clothing. I ran only to keep Hera's attention on me while Father secured the villagers’ safety. By then our step-mother was so enraged that the entire ground in the region shook with her fury."

  "I can imagine,” Del said as he let out a sigh of wonder. “But I recall that there were seven priestesses at the temple in Paphos."

  "Yes, there are ... or were,” Lydon admitted.

  "And ... you slept with them all at once?"

  Lydon sheepishly shrugged. “I took a page from Father's book and let them have their way with me."

  "They were that desperate?"

  Lydon was about to answer seriously when he saw the impish smile on his younger brother's face. He picked up a pillow and threw it playfully at his sibling before resuming his serious tone. “I have no doubt that Hera will find a way to get even with me, Del. I might be in a different reality, and Father may be watching my back for now. But sooner or later, he'll need to find another woman to bed, his guard will be down and there won't be a safe place in the universe for me."

  Delos held up his hands in a placating gesture. “Lydon, it's not that bad..."

  "Yes, it is. She's half crazy on a good day. You should have seen her face when she came down out of the clouds, roaring and spewing lava from her nostrils like Vesuvius."

  Del shuddered and silently agreed that Hera would eventually come after Lydon, one way or another. “If she found someone to send into this reality, they'd lose all their powers coming through the portal, but that wouldn't stop their intent against you.” He snapped the fingers of one hand and gleefully announced, “She can't send anyone through without Father's permission, Lydon. They'd die on entry into this reality. She can open a portal and look through, just like the rest of us used to, but she can't actually send anyone into this world. Only Zeus maintains that power."

  Lydon suddenly realised the truth of his brother's words and his fear fell away like leaves from an autumn tree. He stood and smiled, then felt his heart lighten most considerably. “Dammit, Delos! You're right. I didn't remember that."

  "Who'd expect you to after what just happened,” Del gaily maintained and hugged his brother heartily.

  Lydon turned when an unexpected threesome swept into his room with all the force of a summer storm. Megaira, her father Hephenon, and his family's one-time servant, Kato, ploughed simultaneously into him. He was hugged and greeted all over again. Tall, stalwart Hephenon, with his thick brown beard and pelt of brown hair had been a blacksmith all his life. The large man had adopted Meg as a baby and had come with her when Zeus had sent Del and her into this world. Kato was a stoic white-haired philosopher of sorts and vaguely resembled the busts of famous Olympian logicians. But Lydon took a moment to greet them in turn. He was even gladder to see his old friends since he'd just realised Hera couldn't actually touch him after all.

  "Meg, you're a sight to see. Del is lucky to have a woman like you in his life,” he happily declared, and took the opportunity to quickly kiss her cheek as a brother-in-law should. In truth, Del could have done a great deal worse than marry the brown-haired, dulcet creature. Then he turned to the other men in the group who were standing beside Del and grinning at him boyishly. “Hephenon, Kato, how is life here treating the both of you?” He placed one friendly hand on each of their shoulders. “By the gods it's good to be in this world with all of you."

  "Especially since you've settled your worries over cavorting with Hera's priestesses and taking out her temple,” Meg smartly responded with a laugh. At Lydon's look of puzzlement, she announced, “We were out in the hall eavesdropping. All of us got up at about the same time; went to get coffee in the kitchen and Alexis told us you were here. We couldn't wait to see you, but didn't want to just barge in until you, uh, got your clothes on. Alexis said she saw you out on the patio in a rather liberated state.” She winked wickedly at him as everyone around her burst out laughing.

  "I didn't come empty-handed,” Lydon explained. “Father gave me a rather large bundle of gold and jewels to be sold in the appropriate markets. He knew I wouldn't be easy to feed,” he joked. “Unfortunately, I left the booty at the top of the trail which overlooks the back patio. Just in case someone was here who shouldn't see me with that kind of loot, I shoved under a large rock resembling a man's head."

  Hephenon smirked and nodded at Lydon's sound thinking. “I'll wager Zeus sent along enough to pay for eight lifetimes if it matched what he gave to us when we were forced from Olympus. But I know the place of which you speak, young Lydon. I'll retrieve the bag and bring it to your room straight away. We can lock it in the house safe while Kato, Del and Meg all divert Alexis’ attention elsewhere."

  Lydon's joy was complete. So what if he didn't have his strong physical powers any longer or his immortal life? He'd have two things that were much more important—a home and a family. In his extreme contentment, he hugged them each again and followed them toward the kitchen and a hearty breakfast.

  Alexis sat in the breakfast nook, trying to sort her feelings where this entire family was concerned. Lately, she'd finished her freelance work with other clients and spent a great deal more time on Del's projects than anyone else's. Her rational side attributed this to the fact that he was paying her quite well, and she was turning out the very best work she'd ever done on his behalf. That, in turn, was garnering her more attention in the advertising world than ever before. But business had little to do with the friendship she felt
for those at the Olympia Winery. Mixing business with camaraderie was unusual for her. She'd always preferred to maintain her personal distance with clients and their families. For some odd reason, she felt connected to these people in a way that was almost frightening. She actually feared losing her account with Delos and Megaira and a reason to belong in their group on the weekends. These odd feelings were now heightened exponentially since Lydon arrived. She could barely believe that story about his luggage being lost at the airport and yet it happened to people all the time. Okay, they didn't normally shack out on someone's front porch nude, but then she assumed Lydon, like all the others in the household, was from a country where lifestyles might be different.

  But where was that? None of them spoke with an accent indicating their Greek heritage. Indeed, they all seemed as American as the proverbial apple pie. Del and Meg had studiously avoided referencing their past too much, preferring to say that it was all a distant memory and that this was their new life. But where had all the money come from to buy this vast estate which had suddenly come on the market? The abrupt sale announcement, combined with Del's and Meg's ability to pay cash, was confusing neighbouring vineyard owners who'd tried to buy this prime piece of land for decades. However, no bankers or government officials had apparently blinked an eye at the exorbitant amount of money rumoured to have been laid down for the place, though it was worth every penny. Delos and Megaira were living a lifestyle free of worry and encumbrance. Now, Del's devilishly handsome half-brother had sprung up from the same nebulous dark hole, apparently here to stay. Of all of them, Lydon Andrianopolis was the one who really captured her attention.

  For the life of her, Alexis couldn't get him out of her mind. To say she'd been lusting after him since seeing his hard, honed body lying in that hammock was like saying Romeo had a little thing for Juliet or Tristan kind of liked Isolde. And like all the other members of this strange but happy-go-lucky family, she wanted to be in his presence for as much time as possible. Unlike the rest of the family, the time she'd prefer sharing with Lydon had nothing to do with friendly camaraderie. Her thoughts of him were positively obscene. She could almost feel his hands on her body and the way he'd enter her with strength and stamina. She could almost imagine the way his own body would feel when she gripped every hard muscle. Alexis let her mind wander further.