Page 19 of Achille's Earth Angel
“You can’t avoid him forever or he’ll come looking for you.”
Ange interrupted. “Honestly, you two sound like a couple of little boys trying to avoid their father’s wrath,” she mocked scornfully. “How old are you again?”
“No matter how old we are, he’s still older,” replied Hercules with a boyish grin.
“And meaner,” Achilles added, his eyes twinkling down at her. He was pleased to hear Ange laugh for the first time in days.
“Just thought I’d let you know he’s on the warpath,” added Hercules just before he disappeared.
“I’ll just be going,” Alex added with a quick glance around. He backed out of the gate. “Let me know if you need anything, Ange.” He scurried off towards the back of the house and his car while Ange stared incredulously after him.
Then she looked back at Achilles. “Are you going to disappear, too?” she asked, choking back laughter.
He had to admit, it was a ridiculous situation. “No, I’ll stay and protect you.”
Ange scoffed. “From the sound of it, it’s not me that needs protecting.”
“And you would be right about that, young lady,” boomed a voice from out of thin air.
Ange gasped when the majestic figure suddenly stood before them, his thunderbolt in his hand, his white beard flowing in the wind. He could only be Zeus, and she had to admit the drawings recorded in history didn’t do him justice. He was magnificent.
Achilles watched in resignation as Zeus proceeded to charm Angel. He’d always had a soft spot for beautiful earth women. However, her obvious admiration did seem to calm his tempestuous temper.
“So, this is where you’ve been, Achilles. Poseidon said there was a young woman involved and now I can see why. It would have been a shame to allow Epaphras to ravage such beauty.” He bowed slightly before Ange, his bold blue eyes gleaming at them both. “But you know you can’t stay here.”
“I intend to stay here, Sir,” Achilles replied, bowing slightly in deference to Zeus’s majesty. “I intend to woo and win Angel for my own. I’ve already declared my intentions to her cousin.”
“I have declared earth’s people off limits for centuries, my son,” replied Zeus with a frosty glare. “You know this. I cannot allow you to set a precedence that would once again put earth’s population at risk. If you do, then it will begin all over again, because others will follow.”
“Wait,” Ange interrupted. “What do you mean you declared your intentions to my cousin?” With her fists planted on her hips, she faced him down. “Alex has no say in what decisions I make,” she sputtered indignantly.
Zeus stroked his beard. “I see you’ve chosen a spirited one,” he said with a chuckle. “Too bad it will come to naught, she is a remarkable beauty.”
“Angel, stay out of this,” ordered Achilles, “I’ll deal with you later.” He shoved her behind him and faced down Zeus. Ten seconds later he was limping on one foot and holding up his left leg. Angel had kicked him again—in his tendon!
“No one makes decisions for me,” she snarled. “You can sleep in the goat pen tonight, or don’t even stay for all I care.” She stormed up the flagstones and slammed the door behind her while both men winced.
Zeus admired her disappearing backside. “She would be worth taming if it were possible. Earth’s young women today are not as they were in your time.”
“I’m not leaving,” Achilles replied through gritted teeth as the feeling began to zing back into his tendon. “She needs protection from Epaphras, he’s already been back even though Poseidon got after him. He won’t leave her alone, and I’ll not see her harmed. I want her, Zeus. Even you can’t keep me from her.”
Zeus rolled his eyes and muttered something about thatdamned destiny dust, and then sighed in defeat. “There are many wonderful women among the Gods yet no one has earned your interest in all these centuries. It is a puzzle. However, I can see you are smitten with this young woman, so I’ll tell you what I can do.”
“I’m listening.” Achilles put his foot down gingerly. She’d pay for that later, he decided.
“I will not interfere as you court her and take your fill of her. Others have done it, even though they don’t know that I know it. I can turn a blind eye with the best of them when necessary. However, if you should marry her, on that very day, your immortality will cease to exist,” he added sadly. “I cannot allow you to flaunt your wishes over my mandates.”
Achilles drew his breath in swiftly, alarmed. “Does that mean I instantly become my real age and turn to dust on the ground?”
Zeus shook his head. “No, but it means you will begin to age normally just as any other earth person. If you wish to spend your remaining days here on earth with this woman, you will have to give up your immortality.”
Achilles frowned, pondering this. “You allowed me to take Briseis with me to the immortal world but you won’t allow it with Angel? That is, if she wanted to come?”
Zeus shook his head. “That would be against my mandates now. But at least here on earth, you would be able to have children again if that is your desire and if your Angel can provide them for you.”
Achilles eyes misted slightly. “That was one thing I always wanted with Briseis, but we were never able to.”
“That’s because I sealed Briseis’ womb.”
