by Linsey Hall
I was now nearly bursting with the dark energy from the trees, but damned if this wasn’t working.
When the last of the bark crumbled away, turning to dust, the figure of Lotus was revealed. The golden magic swirled around her, just like it had with Daphne, and within moments, another beautiful woman stood before me. She, too, was so gorgeous it was almost hard to look at her.
"Daphne!” Lotus threw her arms around Daphne, and the two hugged tightly. When they finally stepped apart, Lotus turned to me and threw her arms around me as well. "Thank you. Thank you so much."
"Yeah, any time." I might have conflicting feelings about my power, and about the gods who'd given them to me, but there was no denying that they were handy. And I enjoyed using them to help people. The warm glow that filled me was just icing on the cake.
Daphne turned her bright green eyes toward me. "Why are you in this miserable forest?"
"We’re looking for Tiresias. We have a serious problem, and we hope he can help us."
"He can," Daphne said. “He's the best seer in all of Greek history. And I believe he has returned to this forest."
"He passed by here only a few days ago." Lotus turned to look toward the sound of crashing waves. We had to be close now. "There's a small island right off the shore, and he likes to go there. About once every one hundred years, he passes right by our trees, headed that way.”
"Do you have any advice for how to reach him?" Maximus asked.
I already knew that we could trust them more than the Panes.
"The water is full of ghosts.” Lotus’s blue eyes glinted with fear. "Do not dwell on the past as you cross. It can devour you."
I shared a glance with Maximus. If the water was enchanted to show us our pasts—the pasts that we should not dwell upon—then we were both in trouble. Between the two of us, we had plenty of ghosts and terrible memories.
"Thank you.” I smiled at them. “I’m going to call the Protectorate, the place where I live and work. They will send someone here to help you." I knew that I could speak for them without asking. This was literally in the definition of their mission statement. To help those who needed help, and two women who had been trapped in trees for thousands of years definitely qualified.
Relief relaxed the features of the two women, and they reached out to clasp hands.
I pressed my fingertips to the comms charm at my throat, and the magic flared to life. "Ana? Bree? Can you talk?"
"Yeah, I just finished my shift at the portal to Tartarus." Ana’s voice drifted out of the comms charm.
Daphne and Lotus gasped, their eyes going wide. "Tartarus?" they whispered in unison.
I nodded. "I'll explain later."
"What do you need?" Ana asked.
"I'm in the forest near the Black Sea, and I have two women here who need help from the Protectorate. Can you come pick them up? Or send someone?”
“Yes, right away. I’ll follow the tracking charm that you have. I just have to get the transportation charms, and I’ll be there soon.”
"Thanks, Ana." The connection cut, and I turned to Daphne and Lotus.
Daphne leaned toward me, her face pale. “Tell us more about the Titans. They’re evil.”
“We need Tiresias's help because two witches, the Stryx, have released three of the Titans from Tartarus. We need to find them and put them back before the world falls into chaos.”
Lotus nodded, expression grave. “Their dark magic is polluting the world, isn’t it?”
“Exactly,” Maximus said. “And it’s working quickly.”
“It would.” Lotus shook her head, her face now as pale as Daphne’s. “The gods imprisoned the Titans in Tartarus for several reasons, but that was the biggest one. Their magic was just too dark for the earth. It caused death and misery and chaos.”
“That’s what we’re trying to stop,” Maximus said.
“And the gates to Tartarus?” Daphne asked. “Are they closed?"
"They’re closed. Don’t worry."
"And your sister is one of those guards." Lotus nodded. "I hope she's strong."
"Amazingly strong."
While we waited for Ana to show up, I answered some of their questions about the modern world. When Ana finally arrived, Daphne’s and Lotus’s eyes were as wide as the full moon.
Ana stepped forward, holding out her hand. “Hey, I'm Ana. I hear you need some help."
"Just a bit," Lotus said.
Daphne stepped toward Ana. "Let's leave quickly. I never want to see this forest again."
Ana saluted, then turned to me. "Do you need anything?"
"No, we've got it." I hugged her tightly, then stepped back. “Any developments back at the Protectorate?"
"No, we're still hunting for them, but none of our leads panned out."
"Be careful."
We said goodbye, and Ana took the nymphs back to the Protectorate.
I turned to Maximus. "Ready to do this thing?"
“Let's face the past." Maximus reached for my hand and squeezed.
Suddenly, the idea of facing my demons didn't sound so bad.
We made our way through the forest on silent feet, and I kept my hearing alert for any more whispering from the trees. Fortunately, we heard nothing. When we arrived at the shore of the lake, the waves were crashing gently. Moonlight glittered on the water, and it looked so peaceful. So beautiful. Could this water really be full of the ghosts of my past?
It had to be an exaggeration, right?
I pointed toward an island about half a mile from the shore. Small trees covered it, and a wisp of smoke seemed to float up from them. "That's got to be it."
I dug into my pocket and withdrew the tiny dragon scale that Ladon had given me. I laid it on the ground and stepped back, watching as the magic swirled around the little scale, and it replicated itself until it formed a beautiful boat.
I grinned and looked Maximus. "It never gets old."
He nodded and raised his hand, his magic swelling on the air. The scent of cedar and the sound of a crashing waterfall swept over me. A moment later, two oars appeared next to the boat.
I grinned at him. “Perfect. I really need to see about stashing two oars in the ether."
I’d meant to do it, but hadn't had a chance. It was expensive to buy the spell that stored something in the ether, and Bree had to ask her contact to do the work. We’d both been so busy with the Protectorate that it just hadn't happened.
The boat floated right at the edge of the beach, the waves rocking it back and forth. I used my power over the water to calm the waves, and we both climbed in. I grabbed an oar, and Maximus did the same. We used them to push the boat off the shore. The water welcomed us, rocking our little boat gently.
Maximus held out his hand for my oar, and I handed it over. Though the boat did not come with the oars, it had two handy little indents where you could prop them. Maximus began to row, his strength pulling the boat along quickly. The air was chilly here, the breeze stronger. I avoided looking down into the water, but it called to me.
I resisted, using every ounce of strength I had to look away. Instead, I looked toward Maximus.
He kept his gaze high on the horizon, his jaw tight.
Neither of us wanted to look into our pasts.
We were halfway to the island when I heard it. The sound started as whispers, sending shivers over my skin that felt like spiders crawling.
Maximus’s brow tightened. He heard it, too.
What were the whispers saying?
I couldn’t tell. I strained my ears, using the animal senses that Artemis had given me. Soon, it became obvious that they were calling to me. Commanding that I look at the water.
I resisted at first, my will strong. But it was almost as if the whispers were imbued with magic. The pull was magnetic. Impossible to resist. Though I fought it with every ounce of strength, my muscles burning, I couldn’t avoid it forever. My gaze was forced downward, like I'd lost all control of my neck.
&nbs
p; In the depths of the water, an image shimmered. The Rebel Gods. There was the ancient horned one, the woman covered in blood, and the one made of gold. I had been in such a magically induced stupor during my captivity with them that I’d hardly known them. They’d tried damned hard to ruin my life, though, using me for their evil plots.
Fear surged through me, along with the memory of helplessness. Anger followed quick on their heels, surging through me like molten lava.
Though my memories of that time were hazy, the feelings were not.
It was the helplessness that was the worst. It made me feel like I was drowning. Like the Black Sea was reaching up to capture me.
I gasped for breath, trying to get control of myself.
You are strong. You're not alone.
The voice whispered through me, and I swore it was my magic, speaking to me.
You are strong. You're not alone.
There it was again.
And it was right, gods damn it. I was strong. I had the magic of the gods now, and I would never be a victim again. Not only that, but even without the magic of the gods, I had been successful. I’d become a potions expert, harnessing what little magic I had to make it possible. And I’d dealt with my demons.
I was no longer that scared, trapped girl. I never would be again.
I dragged my gaze away and looked at Maximus. He stared down into the water as he rowed, his face pale, his jaw tight. The tendons stood out at his neck. Whatever he saw in the water, it was bad. Given the years that he'd spent in the Colosseum, forced to kill, his memories were probably worse than mine.
He could remember them, after all.
I had my fuzzy memories of fear and helplessness. But graphic memories would be far worse.
I reached out, and gripped his knee. My touch seemed to anchor him. He shook his head and turned his blue gaze to me. Our eyes locked. His jaw relaxed, and so did his neck. The haunted expression in his eyes faded.
Something connected us, something almost tangible. I could feel my link to him. Like a rope bound us together. I clung to it, focusing on him instead of the past, and he did the same.
It had never been so apparent that we were stronger together than apart.
Our magical skills complemented each other. We fought well together. But it was this…this ability to be an anchor in the storm for the other… That was the true strength of our relationship. We might have known each other only a short time, but it was so obvious. So obvious that it scared me.
He was the one for me. Forever. Like Cade for Bree, and Lachlan for Ana. Maximus was my one.
Did that mean I loved him?
I blinked.
It probably did. I’d never loved a guy before. I had no idea what it felt like. But I liked how this felt.
Now wasn’t the time to say it, though.
We were nearly to the island, and we had a lot in front of us before there would be any time for a real date, much less expressions of love or questions about the future.
I shivered at the idea and thrust the thought away.
I kept my gaze glued on the shore, focusing on the task ahead. “We're almost there."
Maximus turned to look behind him as he rowed. He steered us toward a flat part of the beach that was nestled between two large rocks. When the boat beached itself on the shore, he jumped out and dragged the thing onto the sand. Once it stopped, I climbed out. As soon as I departed, the boat folded in on itself until it was a tiny dragon scale once more. I picked it up and put it in my pocket.
I turned, tilting my head to catch the rustle of the trees. Unlike the forest we had just left, these trees had leaves. They looked alive, and there were animals in these woods. I could sense them, could hear their heartbeats and the pad of their paws on the ground.
"Let's go." I started away from the beach, headed toward the forest.
We made our way quickly between the trees. None of the animals bothered us, but a few of them stopped to look, peeking little heads out of their dens and peering around tree trunks.
As I walked, I shifted uncomfortably. The energy from the prison trees was still bursting inside me, and I didn’t love it.
When we came upon the clearing, I spotted the little house immediately. It was a cottage, something hand-built hundreds of years ago. Two thin wisps of smoke escaped from the chimney, but not enough to be from a full fire.
“Twenty bucks he's in there," Maximus said.
"I hope you're right." Because it looked pretty empty to me. Not a single light in the window, and the nearly dead fire weren’t good signs.
We approached the door and stopped on the doorstep.
An intensely strong scent of rotten something wafted toward me. I wrinkled my nose, looking down at the ground, toward where the scent seemed to come from. A fluffy bush sat at the doorstep, reeking profusely.
"Ugh, Wither Wort.” I pinched my nose. "It always reeks so badly, but it’s so useful in potions."
Maximus’s jaw was tight as he knocked on the door. We waited. My heart began to pound as the silence went on.
"There was a fire in the hearth. Do you think he's gone?" Maximus asked.
I tilted my head, listening. “No. I feel like I can hear his heartbeat." I strained my ears, using my new power. Yes, that was definitely a heartbeat. "He's in there."
Maximus reached for the door handle and slowly twisted. He pushed the door open, and stale air rushed out. It carried the faint scent of the fire, but mostly dust and neglect.
I darted in front of Maximus, stepping into the darkened space. Fiery red embers sat in the hearth, recently extinguished. The room was small and dimly lit by the fire with a little kitchen on one side. It wasn't much more than a table and some bowls. On the other side was a ratty old dining set. A bed lined the back wall. A figure lay on top of it.
A very still figure.
He looked like he wasn’t even breathing, but I’d heard a heartbeat.
I crept toward the bed, silent as a mouse. As I neared the man, I realized that he looked so old, he might as well be a mummy. There was no fat on him, no muscle. He was made of papery skin and bones, and he lay so still that it looked like he'd been entombed here.
I couldn’t even see his chest move.
My heart thundered. Oh fates, had our lead just died?
Chapter Four
Maximus looked at me. "Something's wrong.”
I bent over the body of the too-still man and pressed my fingertips to Tiresias’s slender neck. I waited, breathless.
Finally, I heard the faintest heartbeat. Even weaker than before, since I had to get this close to hear it. I looked up "He's alive. Barely."
I laid my hand upon the man's bony chest. He lay beneath a very thin blanket. Was he ill? Had someone been caring for him and left? Because he looked so bad, I would've sworn he was dead.
I focused on the life force that I felt within him, using my most useful and most hated tool. It was faint, so faint that I didn't think he'd be able to rouse himself.
What he needed was more energy.
Jackpot.
I had so much energy from the trees I'd killed to save Daphne and Lotus that I was desperate to get rid of. It swelled within me, still straining at my insides, seeming to make my skin feel tight.
"I'm going to try something." I began to push my magic into the man, giving him the energy that I’d taken. At first nothing happened, but then I felt it. The energy was draining from me and going into him. A grin stretched across my face. I couldn't help it.
Now this was cool. I was like a vessel for the magical energy, able to pass it from one thing to the other if I didn’t want to use it for myself.
"Are you doing what I think you’re doing?" Maximus leaned closer.
"I think I am, and it's awesome." This was a rare magical skill, and I couldn't believe that I now had it. It seemed that the power of Hades was developing within me, just like Artemis’s power. In a sense, I was able to give life.
Beneath my hand, t
he man's chest began to swell. It felt like muscles and fat were developing on top of his bones. The signs of life that had disappeared from his body were coming back.
Color returned to his face, and his cheeks filled out. His hair started to look fuller. It gleamed in the very dim light of the fire’s embers.
I was definitely bringing this guy back to life.
Heck yeah.
Once I'd given him all the magic I’d taken the trees, he looked like he was just sleeping. No longer dead, just resting.
I shook him gently. "Hey, Tiresias. Wake up."
He didn't move. I shook him again.
Nothing.
I looked at Maximus. "Can you go get some of that smelly plant from outside? I think he needs something to really rouse him."
Maximus nodded. "On it."
He only needed a minute to retrieve the plant, and I took the rustic version of smelling salts from him. I waved the leaves beneath Tiresias's nose. At first, nothing happened. Then he gasped coughed, and sputtered. He sat upright, eyes wide and unseeing.
"Who's there?" he demanded.
"I'm Rowan. Can't you see me?"
"No. I'm blind, you daft fool.”
"Oh, is that…normal?"
"Normal ever since that bastard Zeus took my sight.” His blind eyes searched the room. "Someone else is here. Who is it?"
“I’m Maximus. We’re here to ask you some questions."
"Of course you’re here to ask me questions. I’m the world-famous seer, aren't I?”
"Does that mean you’ll answer our questions?" I asked hopefully.
"Depends on what you give me."
"I brought you back to life tonight."
"I wasn't dead. I was just resting."
"It looked like a very deep sleep," Maximus said.
"Well, I'm 3000 years old. Of course it was a deep sleep."
There was something weird about the way this guy slept, if he started to look dead every time he did it. But that wasn't the question I wanted to ask him. I wasn't going to waste them. These seers could be tricky, and I didn't want to lose any of my chances.
"What do you want?"
Tiresias frowned. "I don't know. I have everything I want."