Crossing the distance between the group and the altar, I carefully laid Katrina across the black slab, placing her hands at her sides and pushing the hair out of her face. Breathing deeply, I glanced up at the sky, the dark clouds rolling ominously overhead.
“Cristos, give the book I asked you to carry to Circe, carefully.”
Looking at our party, I watched as my nephew did as he was asked, passing the tome over to the witch. Her eyes widened as she grasped it, her fingers softly caressing the cover.
“Where did you get this?” she asked in awe, opening the pages with all the care in the world.
“It was in my library and I happened to come across it,” I replied, not really wanting to get into that conversation right now. “I have the page we need marked for you.”
“Do you know what this is?” Persisting with her own thoughts, Circe stared at me with wide eyes. “It’s a grimoire—probably one of the first ones to ever exist. This thing is older than you.”
“Cristos, you’re going to be on the right, Arsenio at the end. I’ll be at the head and Circe, you’ll be on the left.”
The witch wasn’t paying attention though, her gaze locked in the spell I had marked out for her to read. There was awe on her face, but fear mingled in her eyes as well. “Hades,” she said, hesitating. “This will bring that girl back, but . . . she isn’t going to be the same. This will make her darker, dangerous even. She will have power like no one has ever seen before. There’s no telling if you’ll be able to control her or convince her to do the right thing with it. Are you sure you want to risk that?”
Gazing around at the group, I sighed heavily before looking down at my true love’s face. “I would destroy entire planets for her, if that’s what it took. Yes, I am sure.”
“Okay.” Circe swallowed hard and took her spot beside the altar. “Do you have the essence we need?”
Carefully, I pulled Erebos’ scythe out of the scabbard at my waist, presenting it to her. Nodding, she took the blade, placing it beside Katrina on the table.
“I need to mix a few herbs to start with. The book has it all here, just let me get it done real quick.” Going back to the manual, she began pulling various items from her pockets again, reading and mixing with ease. Once she had the concoctions together, she sprinkled them over the Lost One, taking care to mark her wrists, neck and forehead.
“Let’s begin,” she finally said.
The wind picked up then, almost blowing us all over. Muttering under her breath, Circe sprinkled more herbs, moving her hands in a pattern I didn’t recognize, but knew was required for the ritual. Focused on the task at hand, she didn’t seem to notice how her dress whipped against her face or snapped in the air.
Palms itching, I did my best to hold still, waiting for my part in it all. Nothing was going to mess this up, not even my own anticipation.
Finally, Circe turned to Cristos, breathing deeply. “Shock her,” she said, simply. “Don’t stop until I say so.”
Looking to me for assurance, he raised his hands above his head, looking up to the sky, and breathed deeply. Suddenly, a torrent of lightning shot from the clouds into him, the never-ending light channeling right into his outstretched hands. Then, he aimed his palms toward Katrina, letting the energy flow through him and straight into her. Her body didn’t move, thanks to the potion we’d given her before hand, but I still flinched at the sight of her being struck so.
“Water now, Arsenio!” Circe ordered.
Drawing water from the stream across the way, Arsenio didn’t even hesitate, funneling the liquid into Katrina through her nose and mouth, the amount enough to drown any normal person.
Feeling Circe’s gaze on me, I pushed aside my awe and fear and did what was required of me—I lit my Hurricane on fire.
“Lightning for the mind, water for the body, fire for the soul,” Circe said in a chant like tone, pulling the scythe I’d given her off the table. “Let what was done now be undone, hold this spirit no more!”
Raising the blade high, Circe cried out, slamming it down through Katrina’s chest. The world around us seemed to explode, a strange ringing in my ears as I was knocked off my feet. Dazed, I looked toward the table, seeing everyone else had been blown back as well. Rising, I stepped forward, silence pressing down around me, everything suddenly still.
Grasping Katrina’s hand, I examined her, not really noticing anything different about the soul that had seconds ago been awash with light and power. Her fingers twitched in mine and I held my breath, waiting for some sign of life returning to her.
Slowly, her eyes opened, staring at me, completely black, as Erebos’ had been. A deep breath filled her chest and slowly went out, a single word hissing through her lips.
“Hades.”
Threading my fingers into her hair, I laughed slightly, not even wanting to believe that this was happening. “Katrina. How are you feeling?”
Blinking once, she slowly pulled her hand from mine. Carefully sitting, she surveyed the site. The dark smoke that Erebos had always commanded was gathering around her, wrapping around her body tightly, solidifying into a new, leather-like outfit. When the air cleared, she looked like some kind of battle ready deity, the scythe that had killed her and brought her back secured at her waist.
“I know this place.” Her words were slow and confused, her expression puzzled as her gaze finally returned to my face. “It’s important, isn’t it?”
My heart shuddered to a stop at her words. I’d never expected that she wouldn’t remember everything between us. All I’d wanted was for us to be together. There was never any planning for if she’d lost more than just her mortal life all that time ago.
“This is our place,” I replied thickly. “Where we made vows to each other and stayed together. You don’t remember?”
Seeming to consider this for a moment, she slowly nodded. “There was a trail of flowers and candles.”
“Yes.” Anxious, I took her hand in mine again, squeezing it tightly. All I wanted to do was kiss her and take her away from here, to hold her and have her be mine again, finally. I would wait as long as it took her to remember everything, though. As long as she was by my side again, I was more than happy to take it slow and help her find our romance again.
“I loved you?” This question was quiet, meant only for me as she leaned in. Her dark eyes were so much like the monster that had killed her it was disconcerting to see them placed within her beautiful face.
“Yes,” I breathed, tilting my head toward her until our foreheads touched. “And I love you more than anything in this world or any other.” Brushing my fingers through her hair again, I smiled, suddenly feeling as if every single bad thing that had ever happened to me had been worth it, just to have her with me again.
“This is my home.” The statement was strong and sure, more like an affirmation than a query. Smiling, she stared at me, squeezing my hand in return. “I’m finally home.”
Chapter Twenty-One
Cristos
Glancing around the room I’d been given in the palace, I felt a sort of helplessness wash over me. My deal with Hades was finally complete and I was free to go, but I had nothing to take with me. Freed from Tartarus, I would no longer be a captive Prince of Olympus, but I would still be an unwelcome one—there had been no word from my father, regarding Katrina and Hades, or myself. He knew what had transpired, of that I was certain, but whether he cared enough to comment or not was doubtful in my mind.
“You’re leaving already?”
Turning, I spied Arsenio in the doorway, propped up with a pair of crutches. Circe’s herbs had healed him a great deal and made him able to participate in the ritual, but his knee still pained him. Until it was fully healed, he would have to stay off it, or risk permanently destroying the tissue the sea witch had worked so hard to mend.
“I have to go after Avalon,” I replied roughly, shoving the one small blanket I’d managed to find into an old saddlebag. If anything, I’d at leas
t have it to keep from freezing to death.
“Why? You can’t kill Phoenix and she’s never going to relinquish power over her body. Avalon is as good as dead.”
Whipping back around to face him, I pushed away the anger he’d instantly ignited in me. His expression didn’t do anything to help, the smug look of stubbornness seeming stamped into his skin. Above that, he seemed to know I thought he was right, which made his straightforwardness even more infuriating.
“You know I’m only being honest with you,” he continued, callously. Pushing himself further into the room, he closed the door, leaning against it and frowning. “What resolution can you expect, really? Either you’ll kill her, or she’ll kill you. No matter what happens, you’re never going to be with Avalon again.”
“That’s what everyone said about Hades and Katrina,” I replied, not regretting the ice that crept into my voice as I spoke. “And look at them now. Every single person he knew told him they would never be together again, and they’ll be sleeping in the same bed tonight.”
“Yes, look at them! That thing we helped create is not the woman Hades fell in love with. Even he knows that. I could see it in his eyes as soon as he looked at her. She is something dark and twisted and shouldn’t be trusted.” Growling slightly, he put his weight back on the crutches, taking another step toward me. “You are my brother and are grasping at straws. I don’t want to hear you’ve been killed because your heart made decisions over your brain.”
“What happened to you insisting I go and talk to her?” I demanded. “If I remember correctly, you said I was the only person who would be able to reason with her. Now you think I can’t even beat her in a fight?” Shaking my head, I turned back to the bag and the small bed it sat on. There was nothing else to pack, but I didn’t want to see him in this moment.
“I don’t think you can’t beat her. I think you won’t. The two of you have spoken, like I thought would help, and it did absolutely nothing to further our cause. If you go after her now, you’re going to end up fighting her again. I know you, Cristos. You won’t kill Phoenix, because you can’t bring yourself to sacrifice Avalon. However, I don’t believe Phoenix would think twice about killing you.”
Grinding my teeth together, I refrained from answering. He was saying most of what I’d been thinking all evening. Logic demanded that I not go out and try to find the demi-Titan again. However, love insisted that I try at least one more time, maybe even a thousand more times, until I found something that would work.
Hades had done it, after all.
Katrina wasn’t all darkness, like Arsenio suggested, though. True, she was different enough that I had noticed Hades’ hesitation as well, but underneath it all, she was still the love of his life. After having gone through what she had, I wouldn’t be surprised to find that she had dark elements twisted inside her soul now. That didn’t mean she wasn’t herself, though. Her memories returned more and more as we’d made our way back to the castle, the darkness of her eyes finally fading away and revealing their true color. Hades had relaxed more and more the longer she spoke with him, his hand never leaving hers. The moment we’d arrived back at his home, he had whisked her off somewhere, to reconnect in private, I assumed.
“You’re probably right,” I finally said to Arsenio, pushing the memories of the two lovers to the side. “I have more of a chance of dying than anything else. But I have to go. There is no other choice for me. You understand that, don’t you?” Glancing over my shoulder, I saw his stony expression fall, a sad one replacing it.
“I do.” Quietly, he took a breath, closing his eyes. “I loved her, too, you know. Not in the way you loved her, of course, but still. Avalon was my friend. That’s why I went after Phoenix in the beginning. I couldn’t stand knowing there was a monster out there, responsible for the death of my friend. I was ashamed I hadn’t done anything to try and stop Zeus, like you did. I wish I’d been in a cell here with you, from the start.”
Opening his eyes, he smiled weakly. “But, I didn’t do anything to stop him. I wouldn’t have been able to kill Phoenix either, though. I was never the hero of this story, Cristos—that title always belonged to you.”
“You’re as much a hero as I am,” I replied, feeling touched by his words. “I couldn’t have done most of it without you.”
“Well, you’re going to have to go without me this time,” he replied, somewhat bitterly. “My knee will only slow you down.”
“I’m afraid I agree with you on that.”
Frowning, he looked at my satchel, falling silent as many unknown thoughts passed through his mind. Then, he nodded to himself, adjusting his position once more, standing taller. “You need more than that blanket. I may not be able to go with you, but I’m still the master packer. Let me help you get your stuff together. At least then I’ll know you’re not starving to death.”
“That would be a great help,” I confessed, looking down at my one badly packed supply. Suddenly, it felt as if we were parting ways for good. The dangers of where I was going and the war that was raining down on all sides made it more likely that one of us would die before we would see each other again.
How did one say such things to his brother? Was it possible to confess the love you felt without saying the wrong thing? Would it mean anything to have the words spoken out loud? Would I die knowing Arsenio had heard me say I loved him like my own flesh and blood, my best friend, and my brother at arms? I trusted him more than anyone else in the world, even Avalon. There would never be another bond like ours for me.
“Arsenio,” I started, clearing my throat roughly.
“No,” he interrupted me, holding a hand up. “I know what you’re going to say. You can tell me fifty years from now.” Smiling tightly, he turned around, opening the door and letting himself out. “I’ll be back in a bit,” he called from down the hall, the sound of his crutches echoing off the stone walls.
The stables were blessedly quiet, after the racket Arsenio had raised all night to find me everything he thought I might need. He was always good at that, figuring out what exactly would come in handy. There were many times he’d packed something that seemed completely ludicrous, but it turned out to be exactly what we needed in a certain situation. With my bag fully loaded and his stamp of approval on each item, I felt a sense of comfort and confidence settle over me. Whether or not that confidence would do anything for me remained to be seen, though.
Sighing, I set the parcel on the ground, glancing around the circular space. Four entryways sat on each side, with the one I’d entered in behind me, and the exit in front of me. To the right, Hades’ chariot would be hidden and the door on the left was the only way into the armory. I didn’t think anyone had been in there in quite some time, given the fact that most every guard had been dismissed by Hades years ago. My footsteps echoed in the large space as I looked at the line of stalls and the equipment hanging on the wall. It smelled strongly of horse and hay here, like it should, but it seemed too clean for some reason.
“Hello, Cristos.”
Turning, I paused, surprised to see Katrina standing in one of the stalls. Her hair was pulled back in a plain ponytail, her black outfit that had formed around her the night before had been abandoned for a dress of the same color. She seemed very Greek in the style she’d chosen, her bare shoulders shrugging slightly as she smiled at me. Behind her, Hades stood, horse brush in hand.
Looking as if he were a thousand years younger, his smile beamed out at me, his face clean-shaven, and his eyes shone for the first time since I’d met him. There was laughter in his expression and love so abundantly clear that I felt embarrassed for having walked in on them.
Clearing my throat roughly, I averted my eyes, catching Hades’ hand resting on the small of her back as I looked away. “I was just looking for a horse to ride out on, if there’s any you can spare. I didn’t realize you two were in here or I would have waited for you to leave.”
“Don’t be so shy,” Hades responded, chuckling
. “Kat wanted to see Hero again.”
“I remembered him last night,” she explained, flashing a stunningly white smile. “He was such a good horse. When Hades said he was still here, I knew I needed to come give him some love.” Pausing, she studied me for a second, her expression curious. “You were the baby,” she finally said, understanding washing over her. “Karly was pregnant with you when I met her. It was at Poseidon and Audrey’s engagement party. Right? Or do you have siblings?”
“It was me,” I confirmed, grinning tightly. “I’m Karly’s only child.”
“Zeus definitely has more—he didn’t really keep it in his pants there for a while.”
“Hades!” Scolding him for the muttered statement, her cheeks flushed, and she sent an apologetic glance my way. “I really liked your mother. She is a beautiful woman. I can’t imagine what it’s been like for her.”
“Thank you.”
Awkwardness filled the space between the three of us, and I was unsure how to act around the strange woman. It appeared that Hades was more than comfortable and there was no sign of the darkness that had hung around her the night before, but something still felt off about her.
“Uh, how are you feeling?” I finally asked, watching as she went back to brushing the horse in the stall with them.
“Very well, thank you. My memories are still kind of shoddy. The longer I’m awake, the more I’m able to recall, though. Hades has helped a lot, too.” Smiling, she leaned over and kissed him briefly, their lips lingering together a second longer than I was comfortable with.
It was one thing to watch my uncle fight and pine for the woman he loved. It was another to stand there and watch him practically devour her with his tongue.
“I’m going to get going,” I announced loudly, uncomfortable in the love nest I’d accidently tumbled into.
Exoria (The God Chronicles #5) Page 15