Dominique rolled her eyes as her axe disappeared. “Whatever, old man. Goldie here said something about having work to do.”
“Yeah. We have a flight to San Francisco in less than an hour.” I took my phone out of my back pocket to check the time. “And I still have to pack a bag. I’m heading home. You two can come along if you want.”
I didn’t give them a chance to respond before I pulled up the number to my attorney’s office. Two rings and a receptionist later, I had my guy on the phone.
“Everything looked alright?” I asked before he could say anything. “Connor didn’t throw anything in there he didn’t mention to me, did he?”
“No.” Brandon Ruiz responded. “It is all pretty standard.”
“And pretty ironclad.” I held my phone between my shoulder and my cheek. “Alright. Send it in to Connor to make my promotion official.”
“Will do.”
I was on the phone for less than two minutes, but that didn’t mean I couldn’t hear Cyrus chiding Dominique behind me. As I spoke with Brandon about my contract, my Keeper hissed at the girl.
“What the hell was that, Breaux? You do not attack those under your protection. Do you understand me?”
“Please.” She snapped back. “In case you weren’t there for the whole thing, Golden Barbie over there broke my nose. It was only right…”
“That you not speak to her in such a manner.” Cyrus had interrupted. “I would have done worse if she hadn’t reacted.”
“No. You would have tried to do worse.”
“Stop.” I hung up the phone as we reached the garage. “I will not be contained in a damned airplane with the two of you bickering. What’s done is done. Let it slide, Stick.”
Cyrus didn’t respond, but I could feel him staring at the back of my head. He wasn’t happy. He didn’t want to let the matter drop. But I gave him no other choice. I had one thing on my mind now. Get to San Francisco. Find Prometheus.
Find a way to stop the world from falling down around my ears.
Chapter Seven
What could I possibly say about San Francisco to do it justice? The town was beautiful. A shining example of the wealth that California had to offer its people. As Cyrus drove us through the Haight-Ashbury neighborhood, I couldn’t help but stare at the brightly colored houses that lined the road.
“Painted ladies.” Cyrus reached over to squeeze my hand. “That’s what these houses are called.”
“Really?” I gave him a small smile. “Cyrus, have I ever told you that you are Wikipedia personified?”
He chuckled as he maneuvered our rental car behind a grey Volvo. I knew from Google Images that we were looking for a blue house with green embellishments. And I vaguely recalled how Zeus had called Prometheus a hipster. But other than that, I had no idea what to expect. I was searching for the house when I heard Joey whistle in the seat behind me.
“Now this is where we need to be investigating.”
I shook my head as Cyrus announced he had found the house we were looking for. It was ornate. Flamboyant. And utterly magnificent.
I took the gray stairs two at a time until I was standing in front of the door, but when I raised my fist to knock, it flew open. A man squinted at me until he noticed the others coming up from behind. I was just as surprised by his appearance as he seemed to be at my presence. His hair fell in dark waves over his shoulders. His beard was the stuff of legends. He wore thick black glasses better left to 1965. Glasses he was now glaring through as he struggled to see me thanks to the late afternoon glare of the sun.
“Sorry. No solicitations.”
He started to shut the door back, but I was quick. I smacked my palm against the wood with a smile.
“Mr. Martin, my name is Eva McRayne. May we speak to you for a minute?”
“Eva who?” He scoffed. “Look, girl, I told you. I’m busy. I don’t care what you’re selling.”
“Titanomachy. Does that word ring a bell with you?”
I dropped my hand when he released the door. He leaned out, glanced up and down both sides of the street, then stepped aside. The god didn’t say another word as he turned to go down the hallway.
“You Greeks sure know how to welcome a girl.” I called after him. When he didn’t respond, I sighed. “Let’s go before he changes his mind.”
I followed him through the thin hallway until we reached a room that was covered with more trash than furniture. I stepped through piles of newspapers and wrinkled my nose at the smell which filled the air.
“What is that?”
“Pot.” Prometheus responded. “I’d give you a hit, but I don’t share with strangers.”
“Yeah, no.” I started to shove a stack of pizza boxes off his couch to have a seat before I thought better of it. “Listen, I need your help.”
“Can’t. I won’t be no help. Not anymore.”
“Why not?” I frowned. “Because you’re baked? Or because you don’t want to?”
“I don’t want to.” He dropped down on what I assumed was a chair. It was hard to tell with the magazines that covered it. “You done? You’re killing my buzz.”
“Sir,” I closed my eyes and tried not to breathe as he picked up a thin cigarette. “The barriers of Tartarus have been weakened. The Council is sending me out to Hoia-Baciu to secure them. But I haven’t the first clue as to what to do.”
“Ah, a hero then.” He smirked at me before he took a drag off of his nasty cigarette. “That is how you recognized me.”
“Sort of.” I frowned. “Can you not do that, please? I need you to have a clear head.”
“Never been clearer.” He blew out a cloud of smoke towards the ceiling. “There’s nothing I can tell you. Sorry. You’ve wasted your time.”
“Aren’t you an expert?” I didn’t bother to hide my actions when I covered my nose with my hand. “Zeus said…”
“Zeus says a lot of things. All of which are lies.” The man sat up to point at me. “Sorry to disappoint you.”
I glanced over to Cyrus, who was glaring at the Titan with the frustration I felt. I was sure the god was lying to me. In fact, I was convinced he knew everything there was to know about Tartarus and the barrier. He was just making this needlessly difficult for me.
Well, two could play at that game.
“My apologies as well.” I sighed. “You know, I thought for a second that you were the god I was looking for. Although for a Titan, I’d imagined you would be taller. Stronger.”
The air in the room shifted in a second. The god threw his cigarette into an ashtray. He stood and stormed back down the hallway to the front door. For the second time in less than five minutes, he held the door open for us. This time though, he was throwing us out. Just before I crossed the threshold, I turned on my heel and stuck out my hand. I was more than a little surprised when he accepted it.
“Thank you in advance, Prometheus.”
I gritted my teeth as his power flowed through my body the second I said his name. Cyrus claimed my ability to steal the knowledge of the gods was based solely on my status as a demi-god. I couldn’t dispute him since I knew next to nothing about the role my bloodline had awarded me. But as I struggled to stay upright when the Titan’s knowledge slammed into my brain, I knew more than I had ever wanted to know.
The thrill of stealing from the gods. The pain of having my body ripped open again and again by a bird’s sharp beak. The drugs Prometheus used to mask the memories he couldn’t forget.
I heard him hit the floor before I realized I was still holding his hand. I dropped it in an instant as Cyrus grabbed my shoulders.
“Eva,” He hissed. “That was not in the plan. You could have seriously been hurt…”
“I had to.” I heard my voice echoing in my ears as I took on the effect of his drug use. “Dammit, Cyrus. Just…get me to the car. I know what we have to do.”
My Keeper turned me around to study my eyes, but I could barely see him. Apparently, Prometheus had partaken
in something far stronger than pot before we had arrived. I watched as my beloved’s face swam right before my eyes. I heard Joey and Dominique asking just what the hell was going on. I released a short, harsh laugh before the drug overtook me. I fell forward into Cyrus’ arms seconds before I passed out.
***
“How do people do this?” I groaned as we walked into my condo. “I can’t even begin to think and I know the drugs are out of my system by now.”
“That’s the point.” Cyrus gave me a dark look. He’d made no secret when I’d come to at the airport that he was unhappy with me. “People who use narcotics do not wish to think. They wish to forget.”
“Come on, Evie. Let’s get you situated.” Joey glanced between me and Cyrus. “You take the day off. Make sure the paperwork is done. I’ll take care of the things we’ll need at Hoia-Baciu.”
“I’m pretty sure you’re going to have to do that anyway, Joey.” I winced as Cyrus lowered me down on the sofa. “My head is killing me. I think I’m going to have to sleep this off.”
“Consider it done.” Joey patted my arm before he gave Cyrus a pleading look. “Go easy on her, Cy. She knows not what she does.”
“Apparently not.” My beloved responded dryly. “Thank you, Joseph.”
I waited until we were alone before I gave Cyrus my best puppy-dog look despite my headache. I knew he was upset with me. But I couldn’t stand it. I had to fix this somehow.
“You can’t be mad at me.”
“Oh?” He sat down on the ottoman across from me and leaned forward. “Pray tell, why is that?”
“Because I found out what I needed to know about the barriers. And I’m hurt. And I’m too pretty for you to be mad at.”
“Did you really just say you were too pretty…” Cyrus’ response trailed off when I raised my chin in defiance. I saw him rub his hand over his eyes when he tried again. “Evie…be serious.”
Cyrus tried – he really tried – to keep his face stoic, but it didn’t last long. He launched upward to wrap me in his arms and press me against his chest. I could hear him muttering against my hair as he stroked it.
“Stupid, Eva. That was stupid and reckless. How can I trust you to go to Hoia-Baciu alone if you do such careless things right in front of me?”
“It wasn’t stupid.” I muttered when I pulled away. “Ok. Maybe it was a little stupid. But really, Cyrus. There was no other way. Prometheus was so drugged out of his mind, he couldn’t have answered me if he wanted to.”
“And what of his memories, dear girl? The ones that now belong to you?”
“I’ll use what I need. File away the rest like I did with Athena and Hera.” I reached up to brush my fingers along the side of his jaw. “Please, don’t be mad. I can’t stand it.”
Cyrus caught my hand to hold it against his cheek. “I am not angry, Little One. I am only worried about you.”
I studied him in silence as I remembered the one thing I had been wanting to avoid since I had heard the news. I shifted forward until I was on my knees in front of him. “When do you leave me for Olympus, Keeper?”
“Tomorrow morning. I will depart before dawn.”
“So I only have you for the night.”
“Eva, I will do all in my power to see you. Believe me when I say…”
I cut him off when I launched forward and kissed him. Cyrus caught me around the waist as he understood at once what I wanted.
Him. This beautiful soul who was just as hell-bent on loving me as I was on loving him. I knew he had to do his duty. I respected the fact that he hadn’t told Apollo to go to hell when he heard the news. So I decided right then and there that our last few hours together would focus on the only thing that mattered.
Us.
***
I woke up just before 4 a.m. the next morning to see Cyrus already putting on his shirt. I stayed silent as he adjusted the cuffs. Buttoned them into place. Tied his tie and straightened his collar. Even in my drowsy state, I felt the pang of sadness when I realized what he was getting ready to do.
Leave me.
I know. I’m selfish. If I were any sort of a hero at all, I would have no problems sending him off to help strengthen the Olympian forces. But I wasn’t a hero. Not when I was still half asleep. Not when I needed him so badly.
Yeah. I had to change tactics. There was no way I was going to get through our little separation if I moped and whined about him being gone. I refused to be clingy. So I leaned up on my elbow and said the first thing that came to mind.
“Looking good, Stick.”
My beloved keeper gave me a grin that made my heart stop. He came over to the bed and climbed in to wrap me up in his arms. I brushed my cheek against his chest as he responded.
“And you, darling girl, are a vision.” He pressed a kiss against the top of my head. “But you shouldn’t be up yet. The dawn has yet to break. Go back to sleep.”
“No. No way.” I pulled away with a yawn to sit up. “The least I can do is see you off, Cyrus. What sort of girl would I be if I let you leave without saying goodbye?”
“A sensible one.” He chuckled. “Since you are refusing listen to my advice, I suppose coffee is in order.”
“Yes. I am going to need it.”
Cyrus got up and helped me to my feet. Once I was standing, I wrapped my arms around his neck to give him a proper kiss. None of this quick-pecking business. When I finally released him, I grinned.
“There. That’s much better.”
“Hmm.” Cyrus trailed his fingertips down my sides until I shivered. “Perhaps coffee isn’t what you need at this particular moment.”
“Tease.” I smirked when I reached over to snag my robe from the chair by the bed. I slipped it on and pulled my hair free from the collar. “Besides, you can’t be late. It’s not in your nature.”
Cyrus snagged my hand, kissed my knuckles, then led me into the kitchen. I dropped down in a kitchen chair as I watched him work the Keurig. While he poured the water in, I leaned up enough to grab Joey’s tablet. He was infamous for leaving his electronic devices out and logged on. I swiped my fingers across the screen until I had my email pulled up.
A confirmation from Connor that my promotion was done. I tried to recall the exhilaration I had felt when he first offered it to me, but nothing could scare away the anxiety growing in my stomach. I didn’t look up until Cyrus placed my mug in front of me. He pressed a kiss against the top of my head as he leaned over my shoulder.
“You haven’t been up for ten minutes, and you’re already working?”
“Gotta keep myself busy.” I grinned at him. “But I can do it later. I got something else in mind right now.”
“Such as?” He raised an eyebrow at me. “Eva, if you wish to speak of Hoia-Baciu…”
“No. No monsters.”
I shook my head. I put the tablet down, grabbed my coffee, and his arm. I pulled him into the living room and picked up the remote for my blinds. As they raised up to expose the stunning lights of the Los Angeles skyline, Cyrus got it. He lowered himself down on the couch and reached for me. I curled up by his side, put my head on his shoulder, then went silent. As I enjoyed the feel of him next to me, I began to pray to my patron god. No, my father. I asked him to see me through this. I asked him to guide me. But most importantly, I asked him to take care of Cyrus. To bring him back to me.
My beloved was the only thing that mattered. Not the monsters. Not the barriers. Not the Council or my promotion. I needed Cyrus safe. I needed him protected.
I needed him where he belonged. Not with Apollo. Not with the soldiers in Olympus.
I needed him with me. By my side. And no matter what he told me, I would never see it any other way.
I refused to.
Chapter Eight
“Jesus, Evie. How long have you been up?”
I glanced up to see Joey pad into my room. He threw himself down on my bed to bury his head in the pillow by my side. I chuckled as I glanced at the clock. It was
just after eight. Cyrus had been gone for exactly forty-five minutes.
I shook my head at the thought. I was starting to sound just like the clingy girlfriend I refused to be. So I patted Joey on the shoulder and went back to my tablet.
He was so quiet, I assumed he had gone back to sleep. But after a few minutes, my roommate mumbled something I couldn’t hear.
“I’m sorry?” I raised an eyebrow at him. “What did you say?”
“What are you doing?” Joey opened one dark eye to look at me. “That better not be work. It’s too damn early. I thought you’d be hungover or something.”
“I don’t think you get hangovers from drug exposure.” I sighed. “And yes, it’s work. I have to keep myself busy, Joe. If I don’t, then I start to think.”
“About what?”
“Cyrus. The Council. Hoia-Baciu.” I shrugged as I went back to tapping my fingers against the screen. “Besides, I need to be prepared.”
“By doing what? Research?”
“No. By contacting a friend of Prometheus. He is stationed in Prague, but for an insane amount of money, he has agreed to meet us in Transylvania to take us to the outskirts of the forest.”
“When you say ‘friend’,” Joey snorted as he shifted his arms under the pillow. “Do you really mean ‘drug dealer’?”
“I don’t think so.” I frowned. “Though it’s a possibility. His name is Arc. Said he will give us a map to the circle.”
“Right.” Joey closed his eyes. “I’ll believe that when I see it.”
“Are you going to be productive today or just keep my bed warm?” I smacked his arm this time. “I thought you were going to go buy the equipment we will need to survive the wilderness.”
“I ordered the equipment online and had it shipped to the hotel last night, Miss. Taskmaster.” He frowned at me. “While you were wrapped up in ol’ Cy, I called Jaclyn. She got our rooms set up. And she told me to tell you there was no way in hell she was going to vampire country.”
The Daughter (The Oracle Series Book 6) Page 6