Once a Myth

The water was so clear, the reef around the island danced and refracted, one moment glowing in sunshine and anemones, the next dressed in shadow from a passing shoal of fish.

It was hard to focus on the underwater universe. Hazy and hidden beneath the surface, it was so different to ours, governed by totally foreign laws where even gravity wasn’t welcome. Yet just because we weren’t adapted to live there didn’t mean others didn’t find their purpose and place within the towers of coral and carpets of sand.

Maybe there was wisdom in that.

Wisdom to know that while I didn’t feel as if I could survive on this island—that I was totally a fish out of water—somehow others flourished and found solitude.

Jess sighed, shielding her eyes from the intensity of the sunshine. “It truly is magical. But it’s not just the island that makes me want to stay. It’s not just the ability of learning to grow your own food or the simplicity of living in the tropics…I want to stay because—”

I looked at her, doing my best not to seem overly eager. “Because…?”

I wanted to know.

I wanted to know why she’d stopped.

She caught my gaze and smiled lopsidedly. “I can tell you…can’t I?” Her eyes narrowed, searching mine as if rifling through my soul for answers. Answers she approved of before she nodded. “I want to stay because Sullivan isn’t what you think. He’s a workaholic. He’s a genius for what he’s created. Yet…instead of enjoying his own creations, he just keeps working.” Her voice quietened to a whisper. “He needs someone who isn’t after his drugs, his body, or his legacy. For a while now…that was me. All I ask of him is that I can stay. I’ll clean the villas or cook in the restaurant if he doesn’t want me as a goddess anymore. I’ll take any job he needs me to do. But most of all…I want to stay, because eventually, he’s going to break, and someone he can trust should be there to pick up the pieces.”

“Break?”

She nodded. “He’s been on a path that isn’t sustainable ever since I met him…and it’s getting worse.” She sighed, turning to face the sea again. “Before, he used to laugh. Now, he barely ever smiles. Before, he seemed human. Now…I’m not so sure.”

Giving me a quick nudge, she sighed again, “I guess I just don’t want him to crash and burn, that’s all. We all have limits.”

“And why do you think he’s reaching his?”

“Oh, I don’t know.” She ran fingers through her hair, cupping her curls so muggy air could lick away the glistening sweat on her nape. “Just a feeling.” Dropping her hair, she turned to me. “Anyway, that’s a dark topic for another day. Let’s talk about you. Anything you want to know? Anything you want help with?”

I wanted to talk more about Sully, but I refused to come across as those other girls—fascinated and fanciful, hanging onto every word about him. My concerns about Sully stemmed entirely from self-preservation.

Glancing down the beach, left and right, I stiffened as two men appeared from the pathway. Dark sunglasses shielded their eyes while one wore a baseball hat over salt and pepper hair and the other let his floppy blond mess stick to his heat-damp forehead.

“Oh, no.” Jealousy grabbed my hand, linking her fingers with mine. “Guests.”

“Are they not allowed to see us?” My stomach churned as the men waved and started toward us. One shorter than the other, both wearing board-shorts and t-shirts ready to be peeled off for a swim. Perhaps they would be more interested in water sports than two stranded goddesses.

“They are. Some nights we have mingles and mixers. But usually, Sullivan likes to keep us away, purely to ramp up the anticipation of Euphoria…for both parties.”

“What is Euphoria?” I asked quickly, aware our time of privacy was quickly depleting with each of the men’s flip-flopped steps. “I’ve heard about it so often but still have no idea.”

Jess smiled, a knowing almost patronizing gleam in her gaze. “Euphoria is…euphoria.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“It means it’s a place created entirely by Sullivan. I told you he was a genius. He can take a fantasy and turn it into a reality. Everything you think you know…is gone. Everything you think is impossible is suddenly the only thing that makes sense.” She let my hand go after a tight squeeze. “Honestly, the only way to know is to try it.”

“And if I don’t want to?”

She gave me an understanding look. “You don’t have a choice.”

“Do you really have sex with four men a month?” The guests were drawing closer, making me rush.

“Yes.” She nodded with no shame or hardship. “Once a week in Euphoria is more than enough. Sullivan looks after us in that respect.”

“Looks after you?” My eyebrows soared into my hair. “He forces you to sleep with—”

“Elixir makes it anything but forced, Jinx.” She smiled a secret smile. “You’ll know what I mean when you try it. Nothing about your time with a guest will be anything but sheer, insurmountable bliss.”

I chewed on my tongue, unwilling to tell her Sully had already fed me the nasty, noxious drug. That I’d found it an invasion of everything I stood for. That it was perverse and putrid and every other foul word I could use to describe something that shouldn’t exist.

“If it’s so good, why aren’t you expected to serve more than once a week?”

My question dripped with accusation, but Jess just smiled her contented smile and said, “Because you need the week to recover. Your body is unbelievably sore. Your immune system depleted. Your energy levels non-existent. You live more vibrantly and more freely in the hours you’re in Euphoria than you do in a year of your life outside.” She wrapped an arm around me, hugging me quickly. “You just have to trust. Trust that it won’t be terrible.”

Letting me go, she slipped from honest confidant into sensual madam, welcoming the guests as they arrived in the shallows where we stood. “Hello, Mr. Grammer. Hello, Mr. Wordworth. I hope you’re enjoying your stay so far.”

One man grinned, carefree and handsome, making me wonder why he’d pay for sex when he’d receive it willingly from most. His salt and pepper hair made him distinguished while his trim body kept him attractive. “Hello, goddesses. How are you two beautiful creatures on this stunning day?” His face split into a broad smile as if he had a secret he couldn’t wait to spill.

My hackles shot up. All I wanted to do was run in the opposite direction.

Jess bowed her head politely, smiling with invitation. “We’re fine. How are you?”

“Never been better.”

The man with the floppy blond hair couldn’t take his eyes off me. He stripped me bare with his gaze. He pinned me to the sand with intensity.

I immediately disliked him.

Instantly disgusted that he thought he had any right to look at me like I was some highly expensive dessert to a main course he’d already devoured.

“Hello, Jinx.” He smiled with smug satisfaction. “Pleasure to see you’re looking well recovered.”