Mayhem.

G.o.ddesses of Delphi.

Gemma Brocato.

A freak solar flare plunges Nia Thanos, Muse of Astronomy, into an evil immortal's attempt at a hostile take over of Olympus Enterprises. Her jobs-save the family business while rescuing the world from pandemonium. To eliminate the menace she must convince one mortal man to believe in the magic of what if.

'Doubting Thomas' Wilde hosts a television program aimed at busting myths. But when Nia confesses to being a Muse, it's one myth he can't bust, or believe. His refusal to help leaves Nia to face the challenge on her own.

Riots, looting, and general anarchy are minor problems compared to what's coming if the balance of power shifts on Olympus. Nia's undeniable attraction to Thomas wreaks havoc on her heart and threatens her ability to secure the safety of humankind. Nia finds herself fighting to persuade the one man she can't live without to help save the world.

Dedication & Acknowledgments.

For Stephanie Judice.

Your wisdom and guidance leaves me forever in your debt.

Acknowledgments.

Without help from many quarters, this book might never have happened. My family: Mr. Gemma, and my two children, Erin and Andrew. You support me and cheer me on and remind me of the good that happens when you share a great love.

My editor, Piper Denna, a woman of patience and wit. I can't tell you how great it is to find the funny little notes you string out during the editing cycle.

The Kicka.s.s Chicks, The Writing Warriors, and my Sa.s.sy sisters, you are all strong, inspiring authors. I am thankful every day for you ladies.

And most especially to my readers. Without you, I'd be out of a job.

Author's Note.

I have been intrigued by Greek mythology since I was quite young. Paintings and depictions of G.o.ds and G.o.ddesses have inspired great emotion and interest in me, making me want to learn more. So when I decided to write stories shrouded in mythology, it was natural to pick the Muses.

When I began researching the Muses I was struck by the myth of Pierus, and how he had nine daughters, like Zeus. Daughters, named the Pierides, he believed were superior to the Muses. So he goaded the Muses into a contest. When they won, to punish them for their insolence, Zeus transformed the Pierides into magpies. That legend became the basis for my stories. Nine muses, nine mortal men...nine chances at love to save the world.

The idea that Pierus would enter his offspring in a battle to take over Olympus evolved naturally. Every story must have a villain, right? Although, I frequently want to beat my head on the desk and wonder why I picked magpies? It's hard to find nine creative ways to portray the birds. Which is why I took a little poetic license in the naming of the birds. Should Pierus and crew ever win a challenge, all kinds of evil, which already exists in the world, would increase a thousand-fold.

It hasn't hurt that I love history...all kinds of history. So salting bits and pieces of the Muses backstory in through historical events made me smile. I hope you will find these little tidbits as much fun as I did.

I suppose this is where I have to say that any faults or errors in history are mine alone. Hey, if one of my Muses can face a magpie and win, then I guess I can own making mistakes.

I hope you enjoy this book and will consider leaving a review once you are done. Reviews matter!.

Enjoy!.

Gemma.

Chapter 1.

The hard metal railing of the platform dug into Nia Thanos's hip when she leaned against it. She shifted to a more comfortable spot and adjusted the focuser on the Helios Inst.i.tute's long-range telescope. Putting her eye to the eyepiece, she zeroed in on the satellite jetting across the heavens. The sky was clear enough to make out individual stars. A meteor streaked across the top of the field of vision. Through the powerful scope she could make out the Hinomaru emblazoned on the side of the satellite. j.a.pan's circle of the sun.

Checking the time on the digital readout, Nia smiled when she determined the communications s.p.a.cecraft had lost fifteen seconds on its...o...b..tal timetable. She made a time notation on a clipboard attached to the desk-like platform. Her counterpart at the j.a.panese s.p.a.ce Agency would have to be told one of their thrusters appeared to be failing.

Now, to figure out how to explain to them how she knew exactly what the problem was. It wasn't like she was a rocket scientist. She couldn't even begin to explain to them why an observatory manager would know about the mechanical workings of a foreign piece of s.p.a.ce junk orbiting the earth.

They'd think she'd gone off the deep end if she straight out told them she was a Muse.

Older than time. Smarter than the average scientist. Personally acquainted with the mortal known as Galileo. Yeah, the guy known as the father of observational astronomy.

Nia did a quick review of which American s.p.a.ce Agency scientist to share the information with. It would be easy enough to suggest to someone susceptible to her brand of influence that the hurtling sputnik needed an adjustment.

"Nia?"

She turned to see Bradley ambling into the cavernous observatory room. He halted in the rectangle of mid-afternoon sunlight streaming in through the open portal. The ends of his hair winked with golden highlights in the bright light.

She sent him a smile. "What's up?"

"The Campfire Scouts are here. For their tour."

"Oh, fiddle. Is that today?" How had she forgotten another tour?

"I can show them around them if you want." The offer of a.s.sistance came with a smile. "I have nothing else on my schedule."

Nia moved across the decking on the platform, her footfalls echoing off the girders supporting the rounded ceiling. "Nah, I've got this. The little nippers usually have interesting questions." She climbed down the steps. "You are certainly welcome to join, if you wish. Always nice to have your creative brand of wit along for these things."

Crossing the room, she made her way to the small table by the door. She took a quick slurp from the drink she'd left there when she'd come into the room. The sugary beverage hit her system with a burst of energy and vigor.

She picked up her smartphone and did a quick check of her email. Still nothing from her sister, Callie, regarding the challenge they faced from Pierus. The presumptive demi-G.o.d had surfaced recently and resurrected his daring attempt to free his imprisoned daughters and conquer the world. Starting with her family's corporation, Olympus Enterprises.

Clio, another of her eight sisters had faced the trial last month, and been successful. Now, the first of Pierus's disgusting magpie daughters, Tyranny, was safely locked in the aviary on Olympus. Tension had grown to monumental proportions as they waited to see which of Pierus's daughters would be unleashed next, and which Muse would be chosen to respond.

For now, Nia subscribed to the idea that no news was good news. It was wishful thinking to hope that after his last defeat, Pierus had abandoned his quest to free his daughters from the punishment Zeus had decreed thousands of years ago. Being magpies suited those b.i.t.c.hes. In the meantime, all of the Thanos sisters waited and remained vigilant.

Glancing at the bank of world clocks on the far wall, Nia was shocked to discover she'd been in the observatory for three hours. She always lost track of time when gazing at the cosmos.

"Maybe after the tour, you'd agree to go get that drink we've been talking about for the better part of the month." Hope flourished in Bradley's tone.

More like the drink she'd been avoiding for the better part of the month. He was a nice guy, but she wasn't in the least bit attracted to him. And never would be. Head down, she scanned her email messages while mumbling, "You have an appointment you've forgotten about."

Bradley snapped his fingers. "Wait, I forgot I have a session with my personal trainer tonight."

Success! "Oh, guess that drink will have to wait for some other time." Nia didn't know why she didn't just tell him she wasn't interested. Maybe because she hated any form of rejection herself. Had for the entire millennia. In each lifetime, this type of situation had come up. She used to be better at telling people no.

Through the open door, the high pitch squealing of a gaggle of young girls reached the usually quiet confines of the telescope room.

Bradley looked over his shoulder toward the noise filtering in through the open doorway. "We better get going before they shriek the roof down."

Nia silenced the phone and then slipped it into the back pocket of her jeans. As she walked toward the exit, she double-checked she had her nametag on. She did, but it was upside down. A quick flick of her wrist and she righted it. Bradley dogged her heels as she moved toward the steadily increasing sound of little girls shrieking.

A group of girls dressed in identical navy shorts and white blouses waited in the octagonal lobby. All but one had a red kerchief knotted around their necks. The large central room was one of Nia's favorite at Helios. The ceiling was midnight blue with maps of the constellations depicted in phosph.o.r.escent paint that glowed at night when the lights had been dimmed. In the center of the room, a recessed area held a mammoth replica of the Earth. The globe rotated in the manner of the real planet, making a full circuit each hour. Strategically placed lights shifted from day to night as the globe spun. It was surrounded by limestone railings. Visitors typically cl.u.s.tered around the observation area and checked the position when they first entered.

The good-sized group of uniformed eight-year-olds stood at the rail, pointing and gesturing as the orb spun slowly on its axis. The group leaders cl.u.s.tered to one side, keeping a watchful eye on their young charges.

Nia made her way to the adults. "h.e.l.lo, and welcome to Helios."

"I'm Peggy Dartmoor, group leader. Thank you for hosting us today." A woman in yoga pants and a Spandex top extended her hand, offering Nia a limp handshake.

Nia resisted the urge to adjust her hand in the girly grasp and tighten her grip. Instead, she settled for a toothy smile. "We love to have groups of impressionable kids visit. We never know when we might influence someone to be the next Sally Ride." The astronaut was one of Nia's greater triumphs. The first American woman in s.p.a.ce had started out wanting to be a professional tennis player.

The vacant look on Peggy's face indicated she might not know whom Nia was talking about. The woman's blond ponytail slapped against her shoulder when she jerked her head to the side. "Bridget, you stop that this instant."

Nia followed the woman's sharp glance to discover a little imp attempting to crawl over the railing onto the globe. Same blond hair, same skinny build. Most likely they were mother and daughter.

Clapping her hands together, Nia raised her voice and began the process of herding cats. "Here now. Why don't we step into the cla.s.sroom?" She nodded to Bradley, who led the way across the lobby. The troop followed like giggly lemmings.

The little girl not wearing the kerchief attached herself to Nia's side, instead of hanging out with her friends. The cherub, a halo of glittery golden curls surrounding her face, sent her a shy smile. "My name is Hailey. What's yours?"

"I'm Nia."

"It's very nice to meet you, Ms. Nia."

The child's manners and mature demeanor should have charmed the socks right off Nia. But kids and her didn't mix well. Never had. "Pleasure to meet you as well, Hailey. Have you been to the observatory before?"

The kid snuck her small hand into Nia's. "My uncle brought me here last week to see the Per...Per..." she paused and squinted. "Persnickety shower."

Nia grinned. "The Perseid meteor shower?" The spectacular celestial display occurred every August. The observatory always drew a huge crowd for that. Crowds made her tense, but so did children. Nerves tightened along Nia's shoulders. She attempted to disengage her hand from the child's before she broke out in a sweat. Hailey gripped her tighter.

The long blond curls jiggled when the girl nodded her head vehemently. "That's it! Did you see me?"

"There were a lot of people here that night." Nia tossed a frantic glance around for Bradley, spying him already in the cla.s.sroom ahead. She pointed him out to Hailey as they crossed into the large dimly lit room. "Um, Mr. Bradley can help you find a seat. Why don't you run along and ask him."

The child lifted her eyebrows and made sad eyes at Nia. Sucking her bottom lip between her teeth, she dropped Nia's hand, and tucked hers behind her back. This is what it feels like to have to reach up to scratch a snake's belly. Shame flamed around Nia's chest.

She relented. "Listen, Hailey. Maybe you'd like to sit up front while I'm talking?"

"Can I?" Her voice had lost the notes of excitement it had held earlier.

G.o.ddess, she landed in the soup this time. She'd hurt this little girl's feeling simply because young children made her uncomfortable. Stupid phobia. She was a freaking Muse, meant to inspire others toward greatness. Well, who the Hades was going to inspire her to be more comfortable around children? If her gift worked on kids this age, she'd mentally message Hailey to go attach herself to Bradley, or one of the other Campfire Scouts. But, except in rare occurrences, children under a certain age were not susceptible to suggestion.

Too d.a.m.n bad, as far as Nia was concerned.

"Sure, come on," she told Hailey. "I have rock star seating down in front."

"I have to sit on a rock?" Hailey tipped her head to the side, a quizzical smile on her face.

Note to self-kids take everything literally. Nia touched the child on the shoulder, aiming her toward the front of the small auditorium. Bradley was already pa.s.sing out the age-appropriate take-home packets they'd designed and prepared for visiting school groups.

Nia left her little shadow in the center seat and walked up the two steps to the raised platform reserved for staff and visiting lecturers. She drew a deep breath and addressed the eager little faces a.s.sembled in front of her. "Welcome to the Helios Inst.i.tute, home of Delphi's world-renowned observatory and planetarium. If you've been here before, please raise your hand."

Ten small hands shot into the air, fingers wiggling. The volume of chatter escalated until Peggy shushed everyone, waving her arms wildly at the girls, a ma.s.sive scowl on her face.

Nia wasn't bound by age restrictions as far as Peggy was concerned, so she directed a stare at the woman and muttered under her breath, "You look quite tired. You want to sit down." Satisfaction rippled in her ribcage when Peggy yawned and dropped into a seat right next to her mini-me, Bridget.

Nia continued her talk about the facility, gearing the words and tone to the eight-year-olds, not worrying about whether the parents were bored. There was a lot to discover at Helios, regardless of their age.

Clicking the remote that operated the electronics in the room, Nia dimmed the lights and began the laser show that projected various constellations on the ceiling. The professionally narrated show about how the star groupings were named lasted only a few minutes and the audience applauded when it was all done.

Bringing the house lights back up, Nia couldn't help but notice the chagrined look on Hailey's face.

The child waved her hand in the air. "Ms. Nia?"

"Did you have a question, Hailey?"

"Uncle Thomas said the stories are all made up. Those people the constellations were named for never existed."

"We call them myths, but usually, stories like this are handed down from age to age, and might have some basis in true life." Nia knew most of the tales behind the information accompanying the light show were factual accounts. She'd lived through all of them. "But you can choose to believe or not. It's up to you."

"Thomas says not to believe in anything you can't see or touch."

What the heck kind of uncle turns a kid into a jaded skeptic by the third grade? Nia started to argue, but changed her mind. Getting into it with a kid in front of a bunch of other kids would only end in disaster. "Okay, then. Let's continue our tour."

Bradley herded the youngsters out of the small theater. Several of the Campfire Scouts grouped together, alternately whispering behind their hands and pointing back toward Hailey. Nia was certain the cornerstone philosophy of the Scout organization was to be a decent human being. Someone should give the little stinkers the definition of what kindness entailed.

Hailey hung back, crowding next to Nia, as though afraid to catch up with her troop-mates. Nia let her, but kept her own hands in her pockets to make sure Hailey didn't have the opportunity to cling too closely to her.

The girls giggled and the accompanying moms gossiped instead of paying attention to the details of the tour. Resentment simmered in Nia as the entire group grew more distracted. She had many more important things to do than spending time with disrespectful women who should be setting an example for their daughters.

She never liked unleashing her unique brand of persuasion on people who were focused only on the importance of being them. Individuals like that truly couldn't be inspired to think of bigger pictures. Typically they had no interests beyond the tiny universe where they played the sun and everyone else orbited around them. It would be useless to try to nudge the inattentive chaperones to tune in to what the inst.i.tute was all about. She didn't believe in wasting of her energy.

So rather than send them a mental shut-the-f.u.c.k-up command, she cleared her throat quite loudly. It worked in gaining their attention. "We're about to enter the observatory. Each of you will have a chance to look through the telescope to see the stars."