Tempting Fate [Anthology]

165 Pages·2016·0.77 MB·English

by  Schroeder Melissa

TEMPTING FATE
ananthologyoferotic romanceby
Kara Fey
Rena Marks
Melissa Schroeder
Kally Jo Surbeck
2
FEY,MARKS,SURBECK,SCHROEDER
Phaze
6470AGlenwayAvenue,#109
Cincinnati,OH45211-5222
This is a work of fiction. Names, places, characters and incidents are
eitherthe product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously, and
any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, organizations,
eventsorlocalesisentirelycoincidental.
eBookISBN1-59426-599-2
TemptingFate
ARogueSoul©2006byKaraFey
TheFateofLachesis©2006byRenaMarks
TheAwakening©2006byKallyJoSurbeck
ChasingLuck©2006byMelissaSchroder
All rights reserved under the International and Pan-American Copyright
Conventions. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in
any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including
photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval
system,withoutpermissioninwritingfromthepublisher.
Coverart©2006byKathrynLively
PhazeisanimprintofMundaniaPress,LLC.
www.Phaze.com
3
TEMPTING FATE
Foreword
Fromtimebeforetime,therearemagnificenttalesthathavereached
throughout history, marking our past and illuminating our present. Since
before there was written word, these stories have been lovingly passed
downfromonegenerationtothenext.Thencamethelostages,whenthe
symbols, the phrasings, and many of these stories lost their power. They
fellfromtruthtomythtofable.
Tragic. Yet, the truth of them remains like a haunting refrain from
an old melody with which your mother and her mother's mother cradled
the children to sleep. The fables of yesteryear are the reality of this
universe. The binding agent that is and always will be what holds us
together teaches us the paths we must take. Every myth that has ever
beenutteredhassomegrainoftruthbehinditsinception.
Now, at the culmination of a new age, we come to tell you a truth.
Not all of them, for each man, woman, and child must seek the truth
themselves. We—the bards, the scholars, the mystics—will tell you a
littlesomethingaboutthesistersFates.
TheFatesarereal.
TheFateshavefeelings,too.
Andifyou,ourfriend,arewise,youwillnottemptthesisters,foras
you know it is never advisable to interfere with cornered women on a
mission.
"The threads which the Fates spin are so unchangeable, that, even if
they decreed to someone a kingdom which at the moment belonged to
another, and even if that other slew the man of destiny, to save himself
from ever being deprived by him of his throne, nevertheless the dead
man would come to life again in order to fulfill the decree of the
Fates...He who is destined to become a carpenter, will become one even
if his hands have been cut off: and he who has been destined to carry off
theprizeforrunningintheOlympicgames,willnotfailtowinevenifhe
broke hisleg: anda man towhomthe Fates have decreedthat he shallbe
4
FEY,MARKS,SURBECK,SCHROEDER
an eminent archer, will not miss the mark, even though he lost his
eyesight."
[FlaviusPhilostratus,LifeofApolloniusofTyana8.7]
5
TEMPTING FATE
Prologue
What Really Happened
All the gods were there, great and small, famous and infamous.
They gathered around Zeus' lengthy marble table, laughing gaily at their
own wit and beauty. Artemis, Athena, Ares, and Hermes lounged
together in the bliss of inactivity, watching, judging, and waiting for a
fault to be seen. Ambrosia was had by one and all. First fruits were in
and the wine was sweet, flowing freely from skin to goblet. To many of
thegods,itseemedajoyousoccasion.However,aswithallthingsinlife,
thatwasnotthecaseforall,forZeuswastroubled.
"What do we do about these people?" Hera pouted. Her smile was
slow and beguiling. She gently trailed her hand along her husband's
large, well-muscled thigh. "You are a wise ruler, my love. Of that, there
is no doubt. Here, Olympus, resides in order, but those dreadful
mortals…" Her voice trailed off as she looked into the distance with
disgustmarringherperfectfeatures."Theyneedtobecontrolled."
"Andwhowouldyouhavedothis?Weallhaveourareas."
Fromthecornerofhereye,sheglancedathim. "Notall."
He did not like it when his wife took that tone. It meant she had too
much time on her hands and had found displeasure in one of his own.
"Notall?"
Sheliftedoneshoulderinadaintyshrug. "No."
"Who?" The question slipped from his lips like water from the
melting northern glaciers before he stopped to think about the
ramifications. Hera never instigated a conversation about mortals unless
itwasaschemeofdestruction.
"What of Ares? My precious son lives among them. They pray to
him and he has been good to the people. He would rule them justly,
fairly."
"Noonemancanhaveallthepower,"Zeusbegan.
She bit her bottom lip. Her even, white teeth gently tugged. Zeus'
gaze lingeredthere, watchingeagerlyasshe releasedherlipsthenwetted
6
FEY,MARKS,SURBECK,SCHROEDER
them. "Fine. Not Ares then. Still, he mortals need controlled." She
walked behind him, trailing her fingertips across the bared flesh of his
neck. "You are correct. One person alone would become too powerful.
The mortals are your personal project. One I do not pretend to
comprehend your fascination. You keep them about for your purposes.
That, Ido understand. Yet,there are so manyand theycreate more every
day."
Her beautiful lips frowned and the perfectly smooth skin of her
brow creased. "Their intelligence is lacking, however. In sheer numbers
theycouldbeathreat.AsIsaid,theymustbecontrolled."
"AndasIsaid,wearebusy."
A smile replaced her frown. "Your daughters, the Moirai. How
about them? The four of them would do nicely. Four is a number of
power. One would not have too much control. They are of your blood.
They would seek to do your bidding for the greater good of all
Olympus."
"Hera,"Zeuswarned.Hisblueeyesnarrowed.Whatwasthewoman
upto?
"Of course, they would have to live somewhere else, other than
here. Somewhere they can keep an actual eye on their charges. They
could not be swayed bythegods of Olympus, so theywillhave to be put
fromOlympus."
He surged to his feet and lightning ran across the heavens. "Hera!
Silence!"
"I suppose we could send the Furies." She nodded, weighing the
decision. She spoke as though he had not commanded her silence. "I
believetheywouldtaketotheroleofjudgingmortalsanddecreeing—"
Zeus would not let her finish. He loved the mortals, at times too
much. He would not leave their fate in the hands of the vengeful Furies.
"Mydaughterswilldojustfine."
Herasmiled.
****
"Ithasbeenbroughttomyattention…"
Zeus refused to look at his wife. She had manipulated him. Her
arrogance and pride spoke too soon. He had bound hisdaughters without
thought or consultation. Sadness filled him. Hera might believe she had
gotten the better of him, but he would have the last word in this battle of
wills.
7
TEMPTING FATE
"It has been brought to my attention that discord runs rampant
amongthemortals.Theyneedstructure.Afinitesetofrulesandgoals."
Many of the lesser gods nodded their approval, but Zeus noted his
daughter Atropos' raised brow. She elbowed her sisterLachesis.The two
women seemed to share a sigh. It was as if they knew he had betrayed
them. The unease in his stomach churned. "I have selected who will
masterthischarge."
Murmursdriftedthroughthecrowd.
Zeusspokecalmly,firmly,loathinghimselfforallowinghisprideto
speak. Yet he remained unwilling to stop the chain of events that Hera
had set in motion and he had decreed law."Clothos. Lachesis. Atropos.
Lucky.Myfourdaughters.Rise."
With a flurry of dark hair, Lucky shoved away from the table. She
looked first to Hera, then to her father. She shook her head."Never," she
cried. "You and your pious peers will never control my gifts. Nor will
you dictate whom I bless. Dear Hera, this is your manipulation, do not
doubtweknow.Forthis,nogodwillagainhavemyblessing."Withthat,
shevanished.
Hera rose. She snapped her fingers and the Furies materialized at
herside.
"Let her go, Hera. She has my protection." Zeus raised his voice.
"No one will touch Lucky. Am I clear?" He waited for all to
acknowledgehisdecree."Noonewilltouchanyofmydaughters."
Herainclinedherhead. "Asyouwish."
TheFurieshissed.
"Mydaughters." Zeusturnedtotheremainingthree:allbeautiful,all
defiant, all brilliantly angry. "This means a heavier burden now rests
uponyourshoulders."
"Whatifwetooleave?"Lachesisasked.
"Youareprotectedfromanygodsaveme.Ifyouchoosetorunfrom
thismandate,Iwilldestroyyou," Zeusreplied.
"Andifwestay?"Clothosasked.
"I will give you my decree and be done with it. After I offer you
yourcalling,notevenIcaninterfere."
Atropos was not looking at him, but rather staring straight at Hera.
"And then what, Father? If we accept this decree what will happen to
us?"
"Lucky cannot be touched, but from this day forward she is cursed.
She will never again set foot in these hallowed halls. The only luck she
8
FEY,MARKS,SURBECK,SCHROEDER
will have is that which she can find on Earth living as one among the
mortals.Oneofthem,yetnot."
"Andthewordislaw,"cametheresoundingreplyfromthegods.
"Themortalsneedyou,"Heraintoned.
Zeus locked his hands behind his back. He was angry. Hera was a
jealous woman and wanted his attentions focused on her alone. He knew
that. At times he reveled in that knowledge. She cared not for the
mortals.Atanygiventurn,ifitsuitedherwhim,sheplottedandschemed
against them. Yet, the mortals had found a place in Zeus' heart. His
daughters would protect them, they would watch out for them. His
daughters would see that the mortals lived full lives, however long or
shorttheybe.
"And?" Atropospressed.
"It has been decreed that mortals live out their existences on Earth.
Theretheylove, live, and die.To see thatthis is the guidedroute oftheir
lives, I offer you, my three beloved daughters, as the Fates. You are
renowned in the heavens for your unflinching dedication to loyalty and
justice.Notmine,butbeyondme."
Hisdaughtersnodded.
Oh, how he wished he did not have to do this, but he would protect
his daughters lives with all he had. Once they were free of Olympus,
Hera would do her besttodestroythemand the mortals. He could notlet
thathappen.
"Lachesis, stepforward." She didasshe was told,lookingneitherto
herrightortoherleft."Youhavealwaysshownwisdominbalance.You
willchoosewhichelementswillenterintothemortallives.Youwillpick
the yarn that makes up a life. Good, bad, hostility, even love. You will
pick."
"Andthewordislaw."
"Clothos, step forward." The young woman did as she was bid.
"You are a skillful weaver, the most talented in all the heavens. You see
beauty in all. Where one choice alone may seemso wrong, it is you who
seeswherethatchoicewilllead.Itrustinyoutoweavetheelementsinto
thetapestrythatisthemortallife."
"Andthewordislaw."
"Atropos,stepforward."
She remained where she was, neither with her sisters nor apart. Just
standing,staringstraightahead,andwaiting.
9
TEMPTING FATE
At her defiance, he took a deep breath. "Daughter, you will
determine the lengths of these yarns. It will be your decision how much
of each element is woven into the mortal life. With your shears, you will
either extend or cut short the mortal experience. Individual and life
span."
"Andtheword—"
Clothosinterrupted,"Isourwordfinal,Father?"
"The word is law,"responded Zeus. "Not even I can undo what the
Fatesdecide."
"Andthewordislaw,"cametheresoundingreply.
10