Page 275 of Blood of Hercules
The world wobbled.
“Now,” the officiant said, “you may kiss the bride.”
My heart raced, skin tingling with strange anticipation.Sorry, Carl.
“But wait.” The officiant held up both her hands and chuckled awkwardly. “Let me get out of here with everyone else before you... kiss.”
Why would she need to leave?
I turned around, and my stomach twisted with confusion. Most of the guests were already walking down the aisle out the front door. Only a few men remained seated.
Persephone waved from the front lawn, Lake Como sparkling behind her, then she and Hades disappeared in a cloud of smoke.
Muffled booms echoed as guests disappeared.
Only a few lingered in their seats.
“Everyone, out!” Kharon shouted at them, his raspy voice snapping like a whip. “Now.”
Why?
Some of the remaining men jumped to their feet and left.
Achilles had to drag a fighting Patro away, and Charlie reluctantly followed them.
Only one man stayed. A gold laurel crown sat atop his blond hair, and he kicked his feet up, lounging back.
“Leave,” Kharon demanded as he took a step toward him threateningly, and Augustus held him back.
The blond man grinned cockily. “It’s the laws of Sparta,” he said. “A marriage kiss may be witnessed by a member of the public, if they desire to stay.” He put his hands behind his head. “And I desire to stay.”
Kharon clenched his hands into fists. “Is that so?”
Augustus stepped off the dais and slowly sauntered toward the man.
Then, moving quicker than my eyes could follow, he lunged and grabbed him by the throat.
Augustus’s eyes glowed crimson red, and he stared at him for long tense moments.
A silent battle waged.
The blond man whimpered, and phantom pressure pulsed behind my eyes as I remembered the feeling.
Augustus released him. Standing up straight, he adjusted his togas. A slight flush across his cheeks was the only sign he’d done anything.
In contrast, the blond man staggered to his feet, eyes unfocused, blood gushing profusely from his eyes, nose, and ears. Then, like a zombie, he turned and stumbled down the aisle out the front door.
There was a commotion outside as he collapsed, and a boom echoed as someone took him away.
Augustus smirked up at us, eyes still bloodred. Kharon chuckled darkly.
Two monsters sauntered toward me.
I took a step back, bumping into the stone altar.
Chapter 32
But You Belong to Us
