“Who…what…are you?”
His face had darkened from the blood he had taken from me. His pink eyes had shifted to red. But as he began to wipe my blood away from his mouth, I saw the blisters forming across his mouth. He scrambled to his feet as he doubled over with a shriek of pain.
I felt the enchantment he had over me shatter as smoke began to billow out of his nostrils. His mouth. The monster gave one last scream as he fell in a heap. I watched his hand fall limp with confusion.
“Yeah, well. That’s what you get for taking what isn’t yours.” I pressed my hand against the side of my neck and snagged my sword as I stood up. “Damn vampire.”
I kept my eyes on the corpse until I was back on the path the old woman had pointed out to me. I couldn’t help but wonder if my exposure to the Stigoi was going to turn me into a vampire. But I shook off the thought. Vampires were the least of my worries at the moment. Me turning into one? Even lower on my list.
I focused instead on finding my way through the trees. On keeping the flashlight steady. On not jumping at the sound of every noise that greeted me through the trees. If I could face down the greatest monsters this forest had to offer, I could survive the final trek to the circle.
I’d be damned if I didn’t.
Chapter Fourteen
I knew I was close to the clearing when I was rocked by the sickest feeling I’d ever experienced. It was so strong, I stopped to lean against a tree until the nausea passed. Thanks to Prometheus, I knew what was happening. Those susceptible to the tortures Tartarus had to offer grew ill when they were close to it. That’s why the forests were filled with monsters from other cultures. Those of the Greek persuasion would have been too sick to do any good against nosy tourists or curious bystanders.
I shut my eyes as I swallowed back another round of nausea. I had to get through this. I was too close to let this stop me. So I shoved myself away from the tree and stumbled through the thorn bushes until I could see the circle I’d been after since we’d entered Hoia-Baciu. It was completely free of vegetation. No trees grew in the center. No stones dotted it. It was nothing but a smooth patch of grass.
I leaned forward as I caught sight of movement just to my left. On the outskirts of the circle, two forms appeared to be tied to a tree. When the clouds overhead shifted and the moonlight was exposed, I caught sight of one Dominique Breaux and Joey Lawson.
“Well, isn’t that convenient.” I muttered. “Saves me from having to call in a search team.”
I worked my way back through the thorn bushes. I couldn’t explain my sudden need to be stealthy, but something was telling me not to expose myself just yet. When I reached the back of the tree that held my companions, I realized just who I needed to hide from.
Narcissus stepped out from the wood line across from us. I watched as he ran his palm over a strange carving in the bark. He began to sing as he turned in a slow circle with his arms above his head.
“Soon, my darlings. Soon. You will be free to knock the Olympians from their throne. You will return my beloved to his spot in the heavens.”
Beloved? I rolled my eyes towards the sky. Nice. The demi-god wasn’t just vain. He was a romantic, too.
I waited until he fell to his knees in the center of the circle before I shrugged off my bag. I knew what was about to happen. And I didn’t need the extra weight slowing me down. I pressed my body against the tree until I leaned in to whisper against Dominique’s ear.
“Shut up. Don’t talk. Just listen to me.”
The keeper jerked against her binds. She kept her head down in the position I’d first seen it in and for once, she did what I asked.
She stayed silent.
“Joey is hurt. You’re beat all to hell. But I need you. I’m going to cut you free. Then you are going to grab Joey. Do that neat disappearing act you keepers do and get him the hell out of here. Understood?”
She clinched her fist over my wrist to show me she understood. I kept my eyes on Narcissus as I slipped my blade beneath the rope and pulled. The damn binding snapped. I saw Dominique catch herself before she caught Joey in her arms. I didn’t get the chance to look my friend over. The keeper wrapped her arms around him and the two of them disappeared into nothingness. I was once again alone.
Good. That would make this much, much easier.
“Narcissus!” I called out when I stepped out of the brush. “What a pleasant surprise! You should have traveled with us. It’s been one hell of a ride.”
The demi-god’s head snapped up to watch me as I strolled into the clearing. He scrambled to his feet and even from here, I could see the fury in his expression.
“Don’t call me that! I told you, my name is Arc!”
“Yeah, I don’t think it fits you though.” I stabbed my sword into the ground to lean against it. “Ass hat? Yes. Arc? Not quite.”
“How…”
“Did I make it?” I shrugged. “No clue. I have to admit though. The Strigoi thing was a nice touch. Made me feel right at home here in vampire country. But that doesn’t matter. What I want to know is just how long you and Prometheus have been planning this little scheme of yours.”
“No.” He snapped. “You can’t stop us. You’re too late.”
“Oh, we’ve got time to clear a few things up.” I tilted my head to the side. “If I’m remembering Prometheus correctly, you two started your little fling at Tartarus, right? Bosom buddies to the end. What did he promise you to come here? Power? No. That doesn’t feel right.”
I tapped my finger against my chin. “Ah. There it is. Revenge against the Council. You wished for Zeus and the others to suffer as you were made to do. That’s just sad, Narcissus. I would expect a better reason from you. Something more creative.”
“You have no idea what I went through.” He screamed. “The tortures that lasted day after day. The damned gods will suffer as they have made me suffer! Every ounce of their blood will spill, Sibyl. As will yours.”
“Yeah. I’ve heard it before. Try again. Go for more ‘your soul will be ripped from your body’ instead of ‘I will see you dead’. Makes for better television.”
The demi-god roared as he turned towards the tree with the carving. I watched as he grabbed a knife from his belt and slammed it in the very center of the symbol. I jerked my sword free as the ground around me began to rumble. It would have been an amazing sight if I hadn’t been standing in the very center of it.
And I didn’t know what he had done. I fell back as the ground began to rip open beneath me. I rolled to my feet to see a series of creatures clawing their way to the surface. Some had been human once. Others were obvious creations of a twisted mind. I would have stopped to stare at them if a woman hadn’t charged me at that exact moment.
“Time to play.”
I grinned as I launched myself into the mob. The first few fell easy enough. But it wasn’t long before I was vastly outnumbered. I cursed as I swung. I forced myself to focus on Prometheus’ memories as I slammed the hilt of my sword into one monster after the other. I had to get to Narcissus. I had to get to that carving.
I had to catch the world on fire.
I worked my way back to the edge of the clearing and ducked as a bull-looking thing swung its horns at me. I fumbled for Joey’s bow and the single arrow he had left. I cried out as the creatures began to overwhelm me. Ripping at my skin with their claws. Their teeth. I managed to work the bow onto my shoulder as I grabbed my sword once more. I slashed the blade upward and forced myself to kick out to make room to move. It didn’t take long. The beings so determined to destroy me were weak. Worn down from their exposure to Tartarus.
I shoved my way through the crowd until I had the carving in sight. I heard my sword drop to the ground as I took up the bow.
Blood is the tie which binds the doors to Tartarus.
The old woman’s words came to the forefront of my mind as I flipped through Prometheus’ memories. I felt my blood begin to boil when I slashed my hand open with t
he razor sharp tip of the arrow and covered it the thick red liquid. It didn’t take long for the abilities I had stolen from the Titan rose to the surface. I snapped my fingers over the arrow and gritted my teeth as the flames erupted.
The beings clawing at me and each other seemed a million miles away as I shouldered the bow. I stared down the arrow and pulled the string back as I took the advice Zeus had given me over a week before.
Flip the cards.
Athena’s knowledge flowed through me. It kept my arm steady despite the fight going on around me. I released the bow with a quick prayer to the goddess. She must have heard me. The flaming arrow slammed into the knife Narcissus had stabbed into the wood.
I stared at it with my mouth open before the world began to rumble once more. The creatures began to scream as the ground opened up to suck them back down below. But I wasn’t afraid of falling into Tartarus. I threw down Joey’s bow and took off like a shot as the trees around me erupted. Their branches lined with flames. The wood crackling as it burned. I was so focused on getting to the other side of the clearing, I forgot the one person I should have kept my eyes on the entire time.
I slammed to the ground when an arrow pierced my leg. I rolled onto my back just in time to see Narcissus launch himself on top of me. He slammed his weapon across my throat as he screamed.
“No! You…you’ve ruined everything! Dammit!”
I fought for breath as I brought my sword up to block his next blow. I wrapped my leg around his waist to and forced him over. When I got him down, I slammed the palm of my hand into his nose. I brought my hilt down to finish the job. I heard his jaw snap despite the fire raging around us.
The demi-god attempted to work himself free. He dug his fingers into my thighs. He tried to grab for my throat. But I was too pissed off to notice the pain he had caused me. I lifted up enough to twirl my sword around twice as the fire around us arched overhead.
“The sad thing is, you aren’t all that attractive.” I sighed. “Goodbye, Narcissus.”
I sliced my sword across his throat with ease. His expression was one of pure shock before he vanished.
I fell to my knees as the ground stopped shaking. I started laughing as the forest burned around me. I had done it. I’d restored the barrier. I’d saved both Joey and Dominique from the horrors of Hoia-Baciu. I tumbled over to lay on my side as the need for sleep threatened me. I’d meet back up with them soon. I’d make it out of this damned forest.
I was sure of it.
“Little One? Dammit. Eva.”
I felt Cyrus lift me up from the grass. I rolled over and opened my eyes just enough to see the fear in his eyes.
“What’s the matter, Stick?” I slurred. “There are no monsters here. Turns out they were just shadows.”
He was shaking as he pressed me against him. I could hear him cursing the gods, the Titans, even me as my body gave way to exhaustion and the fire raging around us faded into nothingness.
Chapter Fifteen
It took me a good week to get my strength back from my fight with Narcissus. Not that I’m complaining. I spent that time in bed. Snuggled up next to Cyrus. Drinking wine and watching old movies thanks to the Opera Place’s movie channels. So when it was time to leave, I was understandably upset. I wasn’t ready to face the real world yet. Not so soon after saving it.
I was packing up my bag when Joey peeked his head in the door. My friend gave me a sheepish grin as he slipped inside.
“Hey, Do-Gooder.”
He gave me a quick peck on the cheek before he lowered himself down on my bed. My friend was still bruised up. His arm was in a cast from his shoulder down. But he was alive. And ecstatic from the grin on his face. I raised an eyebrow at him as I folded up a t-shirt and placed it in my luggage.
“What’s up, Joey? You ready to go?”
“Yeah.” He cleared his throat. “Been waiting on you to hurry the hell up for the past two hours.”
I stuck my tongue out at him when he leaned forward. He was so excited that I could practically feel the waves of happiness coming off of him. But he stayed silent. And it was killing me. Finally, I tossed a pair of boots in my suitcase then crossed my arms over my chest.
“Ok, Grizzly. Spill it. Why are you in such a good mood?”
“Oh, my god, I thought you’d never ask.” His entire face brightened up. “Using the body cameras was the best idea ever. I can’t wait for you to see the footage I caught of you. Of us. Every word. Every bit of action. And the fire! It’s going to blow the viewers out of the water, Evie.”
I opened my mouth to speak, but Joey beat me to the punch. He stood up to pace the room.
“It’s too good. All of it. I’m going to ask Connor if we can negotiate a two-hour special out of this one. Emmy. You’re going to get an Emmy. I can feel it.”
“Joey…”
“How’d you figure it all out, Evie? That’s what I don’t understand. And that shot! You hit a freakin’ knife two hundred yards away while fighting off the undead. I’m stunned. Just…it’s like a movie come to life.”
“I didn’t. Not really.” I shrugged. “The pieces fell into place after I saw you and Dominique tied up at the clearing. Narcissus was going to use you as leverage in case I showed up. If not, you would have been food for those who escaped from Tartarus. Who, I might add, weren’t zombies. They were spirits.”
“Whatever.” He dropped down on his knees to grab my hand. He squeezed it against my lap. “I’m proud of you, Evie. Sibyl. You took on the entire Underworld and we’re still standing.”
I returned his squeeze with a soft smile. I didn’t have the heart to tell him that I hadn’t fought the Underworld. The creatures that fell beneath my blade were nothing more than weakened souls doing what they could to be free. It was a feeling I understood all too well.
It’s exactly how I had felt when I first became the Sibyl. But now, I embraced my chains instead of struggled against them. Easier that way.
Joey made me promise to watch the footage during the flight. He wrapped me up in a one armed hug before he dashed out of my room. When he was gone, I went back to folding my clothes in neat piles.
“Hey you.”
I felt Cyrus’ arms wrap around my waist from behind. I twisted just enough to give him a quick kiss before I went back to work.
“Go away. You’re distracting. I’ve got to finish packing.”
My beloved keeper chuckled as he released me. He picked up a pair of jeans and started folding. After a moment, he spoke.
“Eva, I have avoided talking about what happened while you were recovering. But you will have to approach the Council with your report.”
“I know.” I shrugged. “Later. I’m not ready to go back to the U.S. yet.”
“Any particular reason why?”
“Money, mostly.” I glanced up at him. “Connor has such a tight grip on the purse strings. I think I can convince him to let us travel around Europe easier if we’re already here.”
“So where were you thinking of heading next?” Cyrus raised his eyebrows at me. “I believe the pilot will need to know where he is going before he takes off this afternoon.”
“Yeah, I know.” I closed the lid and snapped it into place. “Actually, I was thinking about exploring the Asian market. There is so much history in those lands. And I can’t think of a single paranormal show that has filmed there.”
“Perhaps.” Cyrus nodded as he took me back into his arms. He rested his chin on my head. “London?”
“Overdone. But I would like to go there someday.” I pressed my cheek against him to feel my necklace still hanging around his neck. “Connor did say something about heading to Greece while we were over here. I think it would be nice to see your homeland, Stick.”
I felt my beloved freeze beneath me. He literally froze in place before he pulled back to stare at me.
“No. Not Greece.”
“I thought you would say that. Even I thought it would be a little too close
to the monsters.” I frowned. “But it would be an excellent way to bring attention to the Council.”
“Have you decided on the punishment Dominique will suffer?”
I gave Cyrus a look of confusion at his obvious attempt to change the subject. But I didn’t fight him on it. I started to lift my suitcase up when he reached out to take it from me. I watched him put it by the door before I responded.
“Honestly? I think she has suffered enough. Narcissus wasn’t gentle with her, Cyrus. And it’s not like she was out barhopping across Romania. She got captured. I can’t fault her for that.”
“The keeper should never have left your side.”
“No, but it worked out for the best.” I sighed. “Please. Don’t try to change my mind on this. I feel bad enough as it is.”
“Why? You should be thrilled, Little One.”
“I should, but I don’t.” I wrapped my arms around myself. “I feel used, Cyrus. I felt abandoned in that damned forest. Not by you, but by the gods.”
“Eva…”
“No, I get it. I had to do it on my own. I had to learn that I could be alone. That I could fight alone. But that doesn’t mean I have to like it.”
“If it makes you feel any better, I received my reprieve.” Cyrus’ beautiful face twisted. “I will admit to you that I felt horrible after I’d left you. I should have been there to assist you when you needed it the most.”
“No. You were right where you needed to be. As was I.” I reached up to stroke away the lines around his eyes. “You have your responsibilities. I get that. Will I miss you when you’re gone? Yes. But can I handle things on my own? Absolutely. I don’t need you to rush in and rescue me every time I’m in danger, Cy. I got this.”
Cyrus leaned forward to kiss me. When we broke apart, he rested his chin against the top of my head.
“You are the most damnable…most hardheaded woman I’ve ever met.” He clutched at my arms. “But you are also the most admirable. The strongest. This is why I have faith in you, Eva. It’s not because of who you are by blood. It has nothing to do with whose daughter you are. I cherish you for the very same qualities that make me curse at the sky when I see you rush headlong into danger.”
The Daughter (The Oracle Series Book 6) Page 12