by Rae Else
Last night came back to her: the mysterious woman awakening, stumbling out onto the deck and grabbing her hand, and the peculiar burning sensation running across her palm. Then the name that the woman had uttered: Circe. El had been too unnerved to go to bed afterwards and spent the night talking with Talus.
‘You didn’t come back to the boat last night?’ El said, trying not to sound jealous. She wondered what he and Robin had got up to.
‘I wanted to give you and Dan some space. How did it go?’
El shrugged. ‘Okay, I guess, I just wish he’d stop being so distant. We kind of argued about it, but the woman did her freaky burn thing and that put an end to the conversation.’
‘They told me. But you’re okay.’
He took her hand in his, stroking her palm, the pressure deepening as he massaged it. Her skin tingled with pleasure and she relaxed a little beneath his soothing touch.
‘I’m glad Dan knows,’ he added. ‘I don’t think I could have kept us a secret much longer. You’re way too kissable.’ He trailed kisses down her neck, making her smile. ‘Although, sneaking around with you last time was fun.’
She forced herself to get up and walked over to the chair, where she’d left her clothes. ‘From what I remember, privacy is hard to come by on Carras Island so there’ll likely be more sneaking involved.’
Luke’s cool gaze tingled down her body as she pulled her top on. ‘Can’t wait.’
She smiled, pulling on her shorts. ‘What did you guys get up to last night?’
‘Mostly watching Jim make an ass of himself. He’s a sore loser. I had to break it to Natasha too that we were together—’
‘Had to?’
Luke got up and pulled her to him. ‘It was nothing, just a peck.’
El glowered. ‘That snake!’
Luke suppressed a smile. ‘You’re still the only arete I’ve seen in her underwear … and the only one I want to.’
El grinned and kissed him happily.
‘She still Barbied me,’ El complained.
‘That was my fault – your nickname for her slipped out when I saw her in Kea. She was quick to figure out who’d coined it.’
El sighed. ‘I guess I started it. Anyway, if I’m Yoga Barbie that makes you Ken.’ She planted a teasing kiss on his lips before running out the door.
Luke caught her halfway up the stairs and kissed her. They were so caught up in one another that when they stumbled out on deck it took them a moment to register the contrary mood around them.
The familiar bay of Carras Island was full of vessels of all shapes and sizes, belonging to the Carrases who had arrived for the tournaments. They couldn’t get back to their mooring, so they had to tie their yacht onto another. Talus, Dan, Alex, and Eirene were already in the small boat, ready to go.
‘Where’s the other yacht?’ El asked, grabbing her boots from under the table at the back of the boat and yanking them on. Luke climbed down into the RIB.
‘It’s moored outside the island,’ Talus said. ‘Yia Yia’s got guards on the cliffs with orders to attack any unknown vessels that accompany us.’
El grimaced. So Yia Yia was in a good mood. She remembered the watery wolves that had attacked their pursuers when they first arrived on the island. The others mooring outside was definitely a wise decision.
‘Let’s not keep Yia Yia waiting,’ Talus said as El hovered at the back of the yacht, finally clambering into the RIB with Luke’s help.
Alex steered them to the northern shore. When they arrived in the bay, they all said their goodbyes before he headed back to the yacht alone.
Despite the balmy afternoon air, a chill prickled down El’s spine as she thought about Yia Yia. How would she treat them after they’d run away? As they walked along the beach, one yacht stood out from the others, alone in the northern bay. El wondered if yet more relatives had arrived during their absence.
They entered Nomia and rode the lift to the top floor, exiting out onto a roof terrace. To the right of them, a semi-circular theatre was built into the cliff, the marble walls polished to a high sheen. This arena wasn’t like the other buildings on the island, subtly formed from the rock. This structure was a statement.
Rows of tiered seating led down to a central stage that faced out into the bay, ending abruptly at the cliff edge. The stage wasn’t just one flat surface but was broken up into a series of plinths of different heights, separated by dark crevices filled with water.
The sea far below pounded on the rocks, reminding El of the applause in the Olympia. Her stomach turned as she tried to banish the thought of combatants plummeting over the cliff edge or into the depths between the plinths.
The theatre was empty except for Yia Yia who stood on the stage, flanked by two arete. She had on her usual lace; in front of the dramatic panorama of sky and sea, she looked positively regal.
As they drew down the steps towards the stage, El recognised the arete either side of Yia Yia. One was Christoph, the haughty hydra who she had sat next to at dinner. The other golden-haired arete was Cora.
As El and the others arrived at the first tier, someone else, sat opposite, drew their attention. It was Theon. El examined him. One of his eyes had been removed: his concaved eyelid hid the hollow, which still secreted blood. The extraction must have been recent. A shiver ran down El’s spine as she remembered Talus’ words on the yacht. It’s always been tit for tat with Yia Yia. El steeled herself. Talus had warned her that there’d be consequences for her when she returned too.
‘You have tears for your family now?’ Yia Yia said, watching Eirene.
‘Yia Yia—’ Eirene choked.
‘Silence! You dare open your mouth!’ Yia Yia’s lips compressed into a thin line. ‘You fled! You were too weak to challenge yourself. You might have attained glory, but instead you chose disgrace.’ She pointed at Theon. ‘You did that. You could not find the courage to bear your own trials so your brother must.’
Yia Yia’s gaze swung to El. Her voice dropped to its usual pitch. ‘And you. I showed you favour. Gave you sanctuary. You reward me with disobedience.’
‘Perhaps,’ Dan said, stepping forwards, ‘you would allow me to explain?’
Yia Yia cast her gaze on him, seeming to take his measure. ‘As I cannot abide my own family at present, perhaps that would be best.’
‘My name is Daniel Pinton. My adoptive mother was Anna Devereux, a lost relation of the Carras line, daughter of Helena Carras. Although I have no claim by blood to Anna, I lay claim to being her son.
‘El and the others left your island to secure proof of the Waseem’s misconduct. A task that Janos gave to me but that El sensed was in jeopardy—’
‘How could you know such a thing?’ Yia Yia said to El.
El opened her mouth to speak but was interrupted by Talus, ‘El’s connection with Janos afforded her a vision of the future, which I examined. It proved accurate. We left to ensure that that future was diverted.’
El noticed Talus’ voice was washed out of expression. It sounded like he was somewhat phased out of the present. But she knew that wasn’t possible because he’d consumed empousa blood again to enter Carras Island. Right enough, he was entirely solid in the bright sunshine. Although his tone feigned calm, his face was flushed with colour. El realised with surprise that he was struggling to keep his cool. Then it dawned on her that, unlike everyone else who couldn’t help looking at Theon’s gory face, Talus wasn’t. He focused staunchly on Yia Yia alone.
Dan stepped forwards, carrying his camera. ‘Here is the evidence we would have the Arete Council see.’
Yia Yia beckoned for him to come up to the dais and she started to examine the photos. El knew when she’d reached the ones containing the empousa: her face blanched. She looked as stunned as Talus had. She glanced up, her gaze winding over Dan, then Talus and finally, El. She nodded to Dan, retaining possession of the camera.
‘The photos show that the Waseem are storing vast amounts of empousa blood,’ D
an said. ‘Talus has a vial from the overstocked fridges that you see in the pictures. It will confirm that their contents are empousa blood.’ He said nothing of the actual empousa.
Yia Yia secured the band of the camera around her wrist next to the lace purse that hung there. ‘These do confirm the Waseem’s treachery. They have broken the most sacred duty of the Order. I will gladly present this evidence to the heads of line at the summit.’
‘Thank you,’ Dan said. ‘What of Janos’ eyes. Will you restore them?’
Yia Yia frowned. ‘That is not a decision for me to make alone. He will be taken to the summit where the Council will decide on his fate.’
She walked along the stage, her hands clasped before her. ‘Now that Theon has atoned for your crimes, Eirene, you will not be foolish enough to shirk your responsibility again, I trust? You will stand and fight to the best of your abilities in the games, yes?’ She looked at Theon. ‘I would hate to have to make my point again.’
Eirene nodded, her eyes watering as she looked at her brother.
Yia Yia’s lips compressed. ‘Very well.’
‘There is another matter,’ Talus said, stepping forward.
‘Indeed, there is,’ she replied. She nodded to Cora and Christoph, who jogged down from the stage. Cora took hold of El’s arm. Dan and Luke attempted to intercede, but Christoph’s broad frame pushed them back. Cora brought El up onto the dais to stand before Yia Yia.
El heard scuffling still going on between Christoph and the others, but Talus murmured something to them and silence reigned.
‘Kneel,’ Yia Yia commanded.
El knelt on the marble, hot beneath her bare knees from the fierce sun. She looked up at Yia Yia but was very aware of Cora’s presence behind her.
‘When you went to see Janos, you disobeyed me,’ Yia Yia said. ‘Like Eirene, you must learn that breaking one’s word to your head of line will not be tolerated. Like any tree the branches of this family must be shaped.’ El met her chilling gaze. ‘I have found it best to start early, to prune the wild shoots until they grow in the direction I desire.’ She nodded to Cora.
El heard the rustle of clothing from behind her. Cora stepped closer, gripping a blade. El’s heart pounded. She gritted her teeth. She could feel both the cool prickle of Luke’s and the heat of Dan’s gaze on her face.
A flash of her grandma’s face with its hollow sockets crossed her mind. Was history about to repeat itself? El wondered if it had been Yia Yia herself who had mutilated her grandma. Then El silenced her thoughts, thinking of Talus’ fuzzy form. She had to be like him. Even now, unable to phase out, he subdued his emotions. She forced herself to breathe evenly and deeply. She had to prepare herself. She would do her best to remove herself from the pain that was about to come.
‘Wait.’ Talus announced calmly. ‘This is not the matter I was referring to.’
Yia Yia glared at him. ‘You are not one of the Triad yet, Talus. Do not presume to give orders here.’
‘I only want to give you all the information I have to enable you to make the best decision. There is more I would tell you before you decide whether to carry out your justice upon El. If once you have heard, you still decide that this is the best course of action, I will blind her myself.’
El baulked, wondering whether it was best to have her eyes stabbed out by Cora or Talus, or whether it made any difference.
Yia Yia silently deliberated. ‘Very well. Cora, for the meantime, your services are no longer required.’
Cora’s forceful steps marched away, receding as she left the theatre.
‘And Daniel,’ Yia Yia said, ‘due to your tie with my family, I believe there is another service you can render me. One that will secure yet more proof of the Waseem’s corruption.’
‘I’d be happy to.’
She smiled obligingly. ‘I summoned Louisa Carras to answer for her crimes against the Order, but she has failed to materialise. I would have you track her down so that her testimony can be heard at the summit. It will give yet more weight to our evidence. Furthermore, in light of your connection with Anna Devereux, perhaps bringing Louisa to justice would award you some personal satisfaction.’
‘It would,’ Dan answered.
‘Excellent. Deino has seen where Louisa is. She should give you the upper hand in your pursuit. I’m not sending my most trusted graeae away with you,’ her eyes flicked proudly to Talus, despite their recent disagreement, ‘but Deino should be fit for the task. Christoph will escort you aboard the Lady Helen in the bay. From there, I suppose your vessel will accompany you which, I believe, is moored outside of the island.’ Yia Yia smiled, enjoying the demonstration of her ability to know everything that happened on her island.
‘Eirene, Luke, perhaps it would be best if you took Theon downstairs to one of the chambers to rest?’
They knew it wasn’t a request and everyone, except for Talus, Yia Yia and El, vacated the theatre. El felt Luke’s gaze cast her way but didn’t dare turn her eyes from Yia Yia.
When the last echo of footsteps died and the others descended in the lift, Yia Yia spoke, ‘What pray, Talus, is worth the wait, and the expulsion of everyone?’
‘It is unlike anything I have seen before,’ Talus announced, coming up onto the stage.
Uttered in his neutral tone, his curious words sounded strange but, nevertheless, piqued Yia Yia’s interest.
‘We discovered a woman in the Waseem Villa. At first we thought she was veiled: she appeared to be a statue. It was only when El’s blood revealed her, that she became flesh. We took the woman with us when we left the Waseem’s—’
‘I didn’t see this,’ Yia Yia said. ‘When I asked Deino and Stheno where you were, what you were doing, they didn’t tell me this.’
‘Even I didn’t foresee this woman’s power. And although I cannot phase out yet, I suspect I will not sense her power even when I can. The closest thing I have to compare it to is it’s like trying to detect a graeae or an empousa.’
‘Where is she?’ Yia Yia demanded.
‘On board the yacht with Alex. He’s tended her and kept her stable. I believe that enough empousa blood will restore her to full health.
‘There’s something else,’ Talus continued. ‘The garment that she wore looks truly ancient in style, a peplos, which is partly what has led us to believe—’
‘That she’s ancient,’ El interjected.
Yia Yia looked disdainfully at El, still kneeling before her. ‘Get up.’
Feeling as small as an insect beneath Yia Yia’s withering look, she got to her feet.
‘What else makes you think this?’ Yia Yia asked, continuing to look at El.
‘Her appearance as a statue made me think of a passage I read in A Brief History of Serpents by Tessa Carras. In it, there’s an ancient eyewitness account of an arete being turned to stone by the full power—’
‘I’m quite familiar with the text,’ Yia Yia snapped, ‘being the one who allowed it to be compiled.’
‘When the woman regained consciousness briefly last night,’ Talus said, ‘she spoke one word: the name, Circe.’
El swore there was a flash of recognition in Yia Yia’s eyes, but she turned her back on them as if taking counsel from the sea.
When she looked at them again, her expression was impassive.
‘At the time she uttered the name,’ Talus added, ‘she grabbed El’s hand and—’
‘It burned.’ El held out her right palm as if still expecting to see an effect from what she’d felt.
She experienced the cold sting of Yia Yia’s stare instead. She noticed the eager expression.
‘Talus, I’d like you to stay here in Nomia,’ Yia Yia said. ‘Make sure that Eirene and Luke say nothing about our mystery guest to anyone else. I’m going to go and see her now.’ Looking at El she added, ‘El, my dear, go directly up to Moria. I shall meet you there soon.’
Apprehension swelled through El as she registered Yia Yia’s endearment. Clearly she was
back to being a valuable possession which meant she wasn’t going to have her eyes plucked out. Not today anyway. It begged the question though, why? What did Yia Yia know about their mystery woman that they didn’t?
Yia Yia threw her gaze down towards the sea. Within seconds ripples of seawater had risen and embraced her. Without another word, she descended over the edge of the cliff and disappeared.
- Chapter Twenty-One -
The Laws of Hospitality
When El reached the house she found it eerily deserted. She wondered where all the relatives were. The only sounds that she could detect throughout the house came from the kitchen: chopping and sizzling. Claus was the only one here.
The doors into the living room were thrown wide open and El took a seat on the sofa, staring out past the terrace at the wide-sweeping panorama of the ocean. She didn’t have to wait long before Yia Yia returned from her visit to the boat. Once more she used a mass of liquid spirals to carry her up. The waters rippled like satin around her, setting her down on the terrace before breaking apart and rushing like a waterfall down the cliff. Yia Yia had brought the mysterious woman with her. She cradled her in her arms: still unconscious and wearing a bathrobe.
‘Get up,’ Yia Yia barked at El.
El leapt up. Yia Yia placed the woman on the sofa. She swept out of the room, only to issue back in wheeling a metal stand and carrying other equipment. She started to set up an IV drip similar to the one that Alex had fashioned on the boat. El watched her deft movements, her fingers finding a vein and inserting a needle into the woman’s arm.
‘Have you had medical training?’ El asked curiously.
‘When you get to be as old as I am, you’ll find that you become well-versed in many things. I’m giving her pure empousa blood this time. Hopefully, this will allow her to regain consciousness fully.’
At Yia Yia’s request, a table was moved along the terrace so that they might take lunch while keeping an eye on the patient. El felt disoriented as Claus served them: only an hour ago she had been kneeling before Yia Yia about to have her eyes stabbed out. Now she was being wined and dined. It didn’t feel right. The fleshy aroma of seared scallops wafted from Yia Yia’s plate and El barely managed to swallow any of the food put before her. Instead she stared out, contemplating the breadth of sea and sky, her expression preoccupied.