Peripeteia

  PERIPETEIA

  THE GOD SERIES: BOOK 3

  From peripiptein to fall around, change suddenly

  A Novel By,

  KING ELLIE

  www.afterhourspublications.com

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  Any unauthorized reprint or use of this material is prohibited. 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 without express permission by the publisher.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

  Contains explicit language & adult themes suitable for ages 17+

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  From peripiptein: to fall around, change suddenly

  Prologue

  I should’ve known that my entire life would change the moment I met him and that no matter what I did, nothing would’ve prevented this moment from occurring. There I was, facing Perseus, son of Zeus, and I couldn’t move. I stared at my own reflection in the mirror of the shield and couldn’t even begin to muster the guilt that I felt for what I had become and who I was now. It wasn’t my fault, but because of him, I was like this…

  He didn’t deserve me, and I knew it now. This was why I was hiding from him. I needed to hide here so that he couldn’t find me. This is the last place he would look for me. Tears fell from my eyes as I thought about how much I loved this god, I shouldn’t have loved him as I was a mere mortal woman, but nevertheless, I loved him with all my heart, but he hurt me. He wretched my heart taking it from me and shattering it into a million little pieces that I couldn’t even begin to collect back if I tried.

  These tears flowed so hard that I didn’t think clearly as the sobs echoed in the room, creating such a force of an echo that I heard him the moment he appeared. One part of me wanted to see him again, but another part of me truly didn’t want him to find me.

  “Leave!” I screamed through the tears. I couldn’t look up to face him as I further hid into myself, hiding my crying face into my knees that were close to my chest.

  “Love…” He called to me.

  “I don’t ever want to see you again!”

  It was quiet, and for a good moment, he led me to believe he left, but the moment I unraveled myself from my position, he pounced on me.

  “No!” I screamed, not because I was truly scared of him, but for fear I would give in and let him hurt me further than he already did.

  I refused to let this god break my heart, even if he was god of the sea. Even if he was beautiful with the way, his fiery red-golden hair flowed as he hovered over me with anger in his eyes. Those perfect blazing green eyes were now full of fury, and they were turning black. I knew what that meant. He was angry with me beyond words. He didn’t even bother to speak as he continued to just watch me.

  I blinked and then the waterworks began again,

  “I can’t do this with you. You’ve hurt me. You hurt me so bad, Ler. You don’t love me; you can never love as I have. Just let me go and stop looking for me.”

  He grunted like a wild animal.

  He moved back a little, and I almost sighed in relief, but then his large hand ripped my robe in half.

  “No!” He shouted at me through gritted teeth.

  “No! Stop Ler, I don’t want you!” I screamed out as if he had poured fire on me.

  His lips roughly crashed over mine, silencing me. My hands flew out, gripping at him, scratching him, wanting him to let go of me as I tried my best not to kiss him back, but these lips, lips that I loved to kiss every chance I got enticed me. I tried fighting him through this scorching kiss that I knew only he could give me. I scratched him, punching him the best that I could, yet he knew my body and knew when I gave him.

  We didn’t spare a moment as I felt his throbbing member at my entrance, and before I could say another word, he slipped it inside of me so roughly I broke away from the kiss. I threw my head back because this was him angry and not holding back. He had never been this rough with me before, and I was fearful of what extent his anger could take him. He grunted again as if he was acting like a man of few words. The pain turned into pleasure as he roughly took me. His hand gripped my chin, making me look at him. The tears fogged up my sight, which I was glad for because I didn’t want him to see how much I loved him.

  “I don’t want you,” I spewed vicious words at him, but he didn’t respond. He took it out on my body. “I will never want you, you mean nothing to me. I hope you feel as how I’ve felt. You may be a god, but you are my greatest regret, Ler. Leave me alone!” I screamed out as we both found the release we were craving, except mine was fueled with anger, then he ripped himself from me as though my words hurt me.

  I know my words didn’t hurt him, I just knew they didn’t. As a handsome stranger’s words came into my mind... ‘If he loved you, he would give it all up just to be with you. His kingdom, his godship, his people, and even the women.’

  “You chase me, Ler, away as some mere mortal?” He asked me, but I refused to answer as I laid there on the ground of the temple, looking up at Athena. Someone, anyone take this pain from me. “You will never rid me of you, Medusa. I will follow you until you’re so sick of it, you’ll want to end yourself over my love.”

  “You don’t LOVE me!” I screamed, but he didn’t respond as I felt the temple shaking. The same temple that I, the priestess of Athena, worshipped in every day and night.

  Ler or as he was known to those here in Athens, Poseidon. The Uncle to none other than the goddess I worshiped. I heard thunderstorms and sat up to see Ler, the only god I’ll ever love with my whole heart, as his black wings extended out, and he flew away. I was fascinated for a moment as I knew where the gods derived from. I was the priestess who was given the story of the gods being the original fallen angels. The gods and goddesses came from the heavens, and after the holy war where they disobeyed the most high, they were cast out of that special place and given Mount Olympus, except each had chosen their own path.

  I cried heavily as I knew that he would never find me where I was going again, whether he knew it or not. I prayed out to Athena,

  “Please, take this pain from me.”

  I heard her whispers.

  “Because my uncle has done you wrong by taking advantage of you and raping you against your will, I will change you, so no man ever takes advantage of your beauty.”

  “Wai-!” I screamed, but everything changed in that moment, and I was no longer the beautiful priestess that was called a rare beauty.

  Now, here I was, the Medusa that everyone feared because I could turn men into stone with one look. Yet I turned myself immobile because of Perseus’ shield that mirrored my image. I looked over myself in bitterness, as I once had beautiful skin that resembled the cacao beans that grew form the beautiful earth and my eyes, these eyes were a golden-brown. Eyes that I never once had before turning into this, and the worst part of me was my hair. Once being known for having long black hair that flowed down my back, and now I had snakes for hair. Snakes that prevented anyone from ever loving me again. If only I had never met that handsome stranger who swayed me.

  I saw my death as it happened. Perseus was behind me in mere minutes, and then it ended as I saw his sword swinging for my throat. If I could’ve shut my eyes, I would’ve only to pray to the one goddess that I ran away from after she changed me into this. To tell her that all I ever wanted was to be loved by Poseidon, who only preferred to be called Ler. I loved him with everything in my body, and
all I wanted was for him to reciprocate it. That was all. Now here, both me and his child were suffering the consequences of not being loved.

  Chapter 1

  Mae-Lynn

  I woke up inhaling and exhaling as life for me changed. I don’t know what it was, but from the moment I woke up and got ready for my first day as a freshman in college, I knew something was going to be different. I don’t know if it was the fact that I finally got away from that horrible home, a home that didn’t provide me with the love that I craved.

  When I got the opportunity, I ran from my parents and their toxic ways as fast as I could. Nothing in my life I was certain of, until the moment I stepped foot on the bus and never looked back.

  I inhaled and exhaled once more, as I took the first steps outside of my apartment and made my way to my class.

  I was going to be brave because I didn’t have many friends except for my roommate, who was my best friend as well. My best friend Ruby was the first one to get accepted into UCLA, and when I got my acceptance letter, she offered to convince her dad to pull strings to get us to share an apartment near campus. I smiled at the thought of her and how much I loved her as a sister.

  When I got to my first class, everything seemed to go by relatively quickly, and next thing I knew, it was my last class for the day. It had been a long day of classes, and I was so glad that this was only the first introductory to law. I don’t know why I wanted to become a lawyer, but deep down, there was this fire that burned inside of me that yearned to be one. I have no idea who I saw or what I saw that made me choose this path, but I chose it anyway.

  As I got to class, I avoided eye contact with everyone as I made my way to the back of the hall. It was a huge class, and I was glad because it meant that no one was going to bother trying to get to know each other. There was a subtle shift in the room as something made me turn around, and then the most gorgeous species walked into the lecture hall.

  I gasped at how attractive he was from his fiery red curls with little blonde strands that stopped a bit lower than his shoulders. It was a sin to have hair that perfectly curled. He walked with a presence, and it couldn’t be helped but noticed, whether anyone in the room liked it or not. He was a huge man from what I could tell, with his stature looking to be at least six foot six inches. He towered over even the professor himself, as he walked up to the professor speaking to him. I couldn’t hear anything as I was too far away.

  Was it normal for a college student to look like that? I continued to watch him as I took in the rest of him. He was wearing a long-sleeve black shirt that was tucked into a-, my eyes widened, oh my God! He had his shirt tucked into a black kilt and black boots. I just stared at him with wide eyes, as I traveled back up his body. He was muscular in all the right places, and then when I reached his face, he had turned to look at me. He had eyes that resembled emeralds. They were emerald green, and at first, I was too stuck on them to turn away, but then I turned away so quickly, hoping no one would catch me staring like I was.

  Chapter 2

  Graer

  The moment I saw her, my heart almost gave out. It was her. The one that I had been looking for so long. She didn’t even know that I searched high and low for her, but there she sat, hiding from the entire world. She was so beautiful, even as she tried to hide herself behind her glasses and the hat she had on. I could see her from where I stood, and the moment those almond-shaped brown eyes set theirs on mine, I knew that I hadn’t crossed seas for nothing. I hadn’t left everything behind for nothing. The seas that I crossed, the men that I fought, the years that I’ve lived, and all of it was nothing now compared to this moment. Falling from grace and being known as the god of the sea. Nothing, none of that could bring me to my salvation as she sat there, staring back at me.

  The moment our eyes locked, I knew she felt what I felt. She may not have known what she was going to be to me, nor did she know that she was the queen that I had lost so long ago. My queen that I fell from grace for, and when the war broke out between angel and man, I couldn’t get to her, but I searched and searched…now finally, here she was. My breath of fresh air. I smiled wide when she turned away from looking at me. No matter how long it took, I was going to make her mine. She was to be this god’s queen. A god who ruled over oceans and seas known as many things from Poseidon to Ler, but to her, I was her love. A forbidden love that shouldn’t have happened between angel and mortal woman, but what could I do? When an angel loved, he loved forever. Death would never come for me, but the closest thing I had to peace was her, and finally my peace was here, making my heart beat even faster, yet it was at ease.

  I walked up those stairs, and with each step, I could hear her take a breath. She could feel the shift in the air just as I had. I didn’t even care as I climbed up, ignoring every girl and guy that looked at me. I knew what my attraction did to people, but there was no one else for me. Not before and not now as I finally made it to the top where she sat by herself. I couldn’t stay away after this moment as I sat in the empty seat right next to her, dropping my backpack on the floor. I heard her sharp intake of breath, but she still refused to look my way, but she forgot I knew her inside and out. I knew what would make her look up at me, as I softly said her name.

  “bhanrigh…” I called her by what she was to me, queen, and this time, she turned to face me.

  My breath caught in my throat, as those eyes that I loved to get lost in for hours on end stared back at me. She looked at me perplexedly, not understanding.

  “Excuse me?” She whispered, as the professor began the lecture.

  “A bheil thu a 'tuigsinn na tha mi ag ràdh?” I tested once more.

  “Why are you asking me if I understand you?” Her expression full of confession, but then a moment later, her eyes widened at the realization that I wasn’t speaking English.

  I smiled widely, knowing how much she loved it when I did it. A fallen angel like me who knew nothing, but war, strife, and pain only smiled at her in this way, and it did something to her. She narrowed her eyes at me as if wondering what I was up to, but then I reacted quickly.

  “Graer.” I told her.

  “Sorry?”

  “My name… my name is Graer.” I held my hand out for her to shake.

  She looked from my hand to my face contemplating if this was the right thing to do, but then she concluded placing her soft, delicate small hand in mine.

  “I’m Mae-Lynn, but you can call me Mae.”

  “Mae…Mae.” I said her name once more before I turned towards the professor, needing to put extra efforts into concentrating.

  “Uh… Graer?” She called out my name in that same soft whisper of hers.

  I turned to face her.

  “Yes, Mae?”

  “Can you let go of my hand?” She looked down to where I held her hand for dear life.

  I smiled, knowing that even if I let her hand go now, soon enough, I would never let go again.

  “Sorry.” I let her hand go and faced the professor because this time if I glanced her way once more, I would stop time just to kiss her.

  Chapter 3

  Mae-Lynn

  What the hell was that about? Yes, this dude was sexy as sin, but Jesus Christ! Was he insane or what? Graer Heughan was clearly going to be a problem for me. The first day in class, I tried to brush it off, but now, it was going on two weeks, and this man did the same thing every day. He came into class with his shirts and kilts, sitting next to me as if he warded off everyone else. The worst part was that I was getting used to him sitting next to me and not saying anything besides the occasional hello.

  I looked up just in time as the professor began the lecture, and there was no Graer in the class. I shrugged my shoulders as I opened up my mac so I could begin to take the lecture notes. An IM from my roommate Ruby popped up, and I opened it.

  Ruby: Party tonight and we’re going 

  Me: were we even invited? Who do you even know here?

  Ruby: little girl, I know
almost my entire class, and I’ve been trying to get into the sororities. Wake up and realize we’re in college. Now shut up and get your mind ready for tonight! We are going to Kai’s house.

  Me: Who the hell is Kai?

  Ruby: Kai is one of the brothers in the fraternity. The most popular one here, Jesus! Anyways, I picked your outfit. You’re welcome and wear your contacts tonight smooches.

  Me: Ugh, fine! I need to be paying attention in class.

  Ruby: Is your boyfriend there?

  Why did I tell her about Graer again?

  Me: Bye!

  Ruby: love you xoxo 

  I rolled my eyes as I closed up the IM chat, and a voice almost made me topple my laptop off my desk.

  “You have a boyfriend?” The deep voice that I was so sure wasn’t going to be here escaped Graer’s lips and entered my ear.

  I scoffed, turning towards the voice but when no one was there. I rapidly blinked, looking everywhere, trying to understand if I was finally becoming crazy enough to start hearing voices.

  When I glanced towards the front of the lecture hall, the professor was still going on and on about a paper that we had to do, and no one seemed to even notice my slight panic attack.

  Please tell me I wasn’t hearing voices and out of all voices, Graer’s.

  “You are hearing my voice in your head…This is how it all begins love.” I shut my eyes, wanting to concentrate. Jesus, this must be a dream that I can wake up from.

  This is a dream…This is a dream…This is a dream dammit. I chanted that over and over until class was done, and then I packed up so fast that I didn’t look back when I heard someone shouting my name.

  When I made it back to my apartment, I beelined for the pantry where we kept the Advil. A massive headache was beginning to form, and I didn’t know what to do. After a moment or so, everything seemed to quiet down until Ruby walked into our apartment with her hands full of shopping bags. I looked at my best friend since middle school, and she looked crazy. From her hair, up in a messy bun, her usually tanned skin looked more sunburned than sun-kissed, but that didn’t take away from her beauty. She was taller than me with curves in all the right places that she got from her mother. Ruby was bi-racial, her mother was African-American, and her father was European.