“I requested your attendance tonight, not because I want your opinion.” Evan's voice was raised to a low thunder. His shadow moved forward. I was almost compelled to move back a step or two, but the wall wouldn’t permit it. Evan continued, “The consequences have already been weighed, and the decision has already been made. We are here tonight to plan the ambush. Is that understood, my Knights of Ischera?” Evan spoke with an authority well beyond his eighteen years. He quieted everyone into nods of approval which shadowed bobbing heads on the walls.
“It is Lucas that we want. Lucas is the key. He knows where Victor hides. Sacha admitted that much.” Nikolas added.
“As far as we know, Lucas has gone underground.” Another voice spoke up, but younger, definitely not an elder. “Lucas is expected to return on the night before the Masquerade Ball.”
“Julius, has this been confirmed? If so, by whom?” Evan asked, directing the question to the youthful voice, a peer.
“Lucas is a creature of habit. This is his usual break. Victor had ordered him to return on the eve of the ball. They have something planned. It was confirmed by his twin sister.” Julius.
“I will send an alert once we have the location.” Nikolas said. “We expect movement soon. Sacha has informed me that Victor, and his disciples plan to attack and seize Cordelia any night now.”
“This of course may bring some very unwanted attention of the Apolluon. We must be prepared Ischeros.” Evan commanded.
“Will Cordelia attend the Ball?” My ears perked up with the mention of my name spoken by a female voice.
“Yes, Hedea.” Evan answered, confidently. What followed Evan's reply was a sea of voices. Some alarmed, others shocked.
“Sire, this sounds too dangerous. Especially since our trackers have traced Apolluon in Nickel City on two occasions.” A gruff male voice said. “Perhaps it is best to postpone the anointment.”
“I agree, The Empresses’ powers have not been fully restored, Sire.” A young woman noted in a shrilly voice.
“This could end very badly Sire.” Another voice commented.
I believe I heard Evan sigh at the words that echoed and bounced off the walls like handballs being smacked over and over again. If a cave full of powerful demigods were in fear, then how could I not be? My knees began to get weak. I feared them buckling and causing enough noise to alert the entire roster of my presence.
“As long as this mission is executed cautiously, Hades’ disciples will not be alerted. Our position remains the same. Victor's execution is our first and last priority. Cordelia will attend the Ball as planned. ” Evan said, evenly. And with that everyone piped down, and accepted his wishes.
He commanded respect from all of the members of the empire, from the elders down to the younger demigods, and received it. But the Masquerade Ball was only two nights away. I was scared to death of the idea of seeing Victor and his disciples. I would much rather jump off of the highest peak of the Sierras than attend that Ball.
I looked at Winston who appeared to be listening intently as well. I carefully tiptoed passed him.
“Where are you –?” Winston hissed.
“Shh.” I leaned to the right passed another wooden beam. I hoped that they wouldn't see me.
“Whoa…well... I hadn't realized that some of your powers had in fact been restored. You’re invisible.” Winston noted, thoroughly amused. Again I had made myself invisible, and hadn’t realized it.
I figured I might as well take advantage of my power to vanish. I took a couple of more steps deeper into the mine. It must have been the deepest point because the space was wide, dim, and the smell of dampness lingered in the air. I was facing a room of a hundred or so members, all dressed in ivory cloaks that were draped with a sash. Each member donned a sash in one of several shades of either garnet or violet.
The male members wore their sash draped from one shoulder to the other forming a cowl under their necks. The female members wore their sash around the waists – cinched by one knot. They were all facing Evan, whose back was to me. He stood high above them levitating. His sash was bright crimson and edged in gold. Nikolas, whom stood just left of Evan, wore a sash in a deep shade of garnet as did Bethany who stood next to Evan, gazing up admiringly at her brother.
An outer circle of members, older, looking to be in their midforties to early fifties, stood wearing maroon hued sashes. Amongst them were Thaddeus and Alexandria Capius who wore deep crimson sashes. They watched their son, proudly; the highest ranking Ischero, as he governed this all powerful empire. An empire, which would soon disperse and blend right back into the mortal world.
Suddenly everyone started looking around them as if they were sensing something, like a pungent odor. Just then I heard Nikolas’ voice. “There is a powerful presence in this room, and it is not you Sire.” Nikolas thundered, alarmingly as he turned around, and looked directly at me. Everyone's eyes turned blood red, and Evan turned and seemed to look directly at me too.
Oh crap! They know that I’m here.
Winston grabbed my hand, and we flew right through the dirt wall, and magically walked right back into my bedroom.
“Ugh!” I gasped, in shock as I saw a figure in my sitting room.
It was Evan, and he was standing in front of the French doors to the balcony. How did he get here faster than Winston and I? I turned to the right of me, where I expected Winston to be, but he was gone. I had to catch my breath. Winston must have disappeared the second we went through the dirt wall. I looked at Evan whom had followed my gaze as I searched the room for Winston.
“Are you looking for someone?” Evan appraised me, and smiled. He no longer wore the cloak. He was dressed in one of his many impeccably tailored suits.
“No, uh… what are you doing here?”
“May I?” Evan asked if he could come into the bedroom portion of the two rooms, and didn’t answer me.
“Uh… sure.” I tried to act unshaken by his sudden appearance.
“Have you been in this room the entire evening?” Evan asked, as he ambled through the opened French doors that separated my two rooms. We were now standing about two feet apart. Evan started walking around my bed as if he were interested in seeing what was on my bedside table but all the while he was scanning the bottom of my dress. I followed his gaze, and noticed the dirt stains all over the hem of my emerald taffeta dress. I was busted.
I gulped as I was certain that it was obvious to him what the answer was.
“No.” I admitted in a whisper.
“The mines are almost impossible to navigate with the lamps being so dim. I would suppose that if one did not remember the route, then one would need the help of someone, or something in order to make the journey to the depth of the mine possible.” Evan looked at me as if intrigued as to how I would react, or what I might say.
“I suppose one would.” I played along knowing that Evan was on to me. He chuckled.
“How is Winston these days? Still dead?” I didn’t know if I should laugh, or be shocked at Evan's clarity on what I’d been up to. He walked over to where I still stood at the edge of my bed. The goose bumps on my arm were the evidence of my astonishment. They subsided with his warm gaze.
“Yes, he’s still quite dead.” I cleared my throat.
“How did you know about the assemblage of the entire family?” I felt like I was being interrogated by a seasoned detective who was totally trying to trip me up.
“Winston told me.” My admission left a slightly surprised look across Evan's angelic face. He looked at me for a long second then looked downward at his feet, and sort of half chuckled.
“Did you ask Winston to take you?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“What do you mean why? I’m a part of this family, aren’t I? The most important part, so I’ve been led to believe. Shouldn’t I have at least been invited?” I said it all so fast, all in one breath, with real conviction, but Evan didn’t seem taken aback at all. He looked amused.
“That much I heard.” I said, kind of angrily. I was angry. Who did he think he was, coming in here, and asking me all these questions like I answer to him?
“My intention was not to shut you out. I wasn't certain that you were ready. I thought that with your memory not quite restored, that it may be premature, and overwhelming.” Evan said, staring me straight in the eyes. I guess what he said made sense. I fought with myself not to drown in the beautiful oasis of his eyes. I couldn’t allow my growing feelings for him to distract me from my agenda.
“I'm not so... fragile.” I stated under my breath.
“And I don't see you that way.” Evan's eyes were intense. The corners of his mouth looked as if they were about to turn upward into a smile. And then they did. His smile was as mesmerizing as always. I was captivated by the warmth of it. What amazed me was how something as simple as a smile could transform the feelings of the recipient of the smile. A few moments went by as we stared at each other. I knew that he wanted to kiss me. I read his thoughts, unintentionally, again, and it was what I wanted, but I couldn’t allow that to happen yet, if ever. I needed more information from Winston.
Evan was a distraction to any progress of my memory being restored. If what we shared earlier was real and not a dream, incredible as it was, then I felt that we were moving too fast. I just couldn’t catch my breath. It was like being swept away in turbulence. I had to know if it was a dream.
“Earlier today, after we spoke in the parlor, did you spend time with me in here?”
“Yes, and you fell asleep.” He answered. I replayed the moment in my mind, and Evan just stood across from me and watched me intently.
“I love to see you smile, Delia, it’s my favorite moments of each day.” I hadn’t realized that I was smiling as I thought of the time Evan and I spent together today.
The room stayed quiet as neither of us spoke. I couldn’t hear his thoughts, and I really wanted to, and I tried and … nothing. Again it felt like we were the only two people in the world. I had to turn away, so I walked over to the window, and peered out through the lace curtains as I could feel Evan’s eye’s on my back.
The garden was a blur of Demeter’s blossoms, and their continuous rebirth. It was like looking at a kaleidoscope made up of pastel flowers. I relaxed a little as the aroma of the blooming buds wafted in. The lilacs seemed most intoxicating at this particular moment. I pondered Evan’s last remark, and turned around to face him. I then found the nerve to ask him a question that I needed an honest answer too.
“How do you see me?” Evan's eyes changed from sapphire to reveal the clearest boldest sky blue. I was stunned by their dramatic change and waited patiently for his reply. He took a moment before answering.
“When I look at you... I don't only see the most beautiful girl… woman... in the world. I see the strongest in will and heart although, understandably shy.
I see an iron clad devotion to her purpose in this world although, she may still feel unsure to what that is exactly.” Evan's gorgeous face was the same shade as some of the budding roses in the garden – blush pink.
“It's late. We'll talk tomorrow.” As fast as a current of electricity, he was beside me. “Goodnight Cordelia.” Evan whispered in my ear. I felt the warmth of his sweet breath against my cheek. The kiss was so light that I barely felt it.
“Goodnight.” I said, as I watched him walk out of my bedroom doors. I was blown away by Evan's words, and speechless. He thought that I was beautiful beyond compare, inside as well as on the surface. I truly wanted to live up to who he saw, but Evan was right, deep down I still didn't know who that was.
TwentySix
Abduction
I woke with a start, again. It was still dark, and I was restless. If I slumbered at all, it was in brief spurts. I dreamt violently of Victor ripping my heart out as he had done to my parents. I dreamt of the Masquerade Ball, and being surrounded by hideous masquerade masks and, deadly cloaked mavericks without faces, floating in a purple haze. Perhaps the nightmares were a forewarning of the evening to come. I wasn’t looking forward to the Masquerade Ball. I loathed anything that had to do with disguises, including clowns, and mimes. Something about not knowing beforehand whom I was looking at and talking to freaked me out.
I woke up every hour with thoughts that felt like mental obstacles. I thought about Athena’s riddle. I still hadn’t figured out what the goddess – my sister had meant. Her words were forever engraved in my mind, and impossible to decipher.
You have the strength were you lack the aspiration…
Free yourself from what you know.
I knew that I would never fall back to sleep if I kept rattling Athena’s words off in my head, so I allowed my mind to drift. I thought of Winston. I needed to see him again, soon. Hopefully, Winston would try to make contact before the Ball. He hadn’t had the opportunity to divulge much, thanks to Evan’s unexpected appearance. And just like that, my mind was consumed with Evan. I couldn’t help but feel nervous around him.
What I’m feeling had to be based on the memory of what I had felt for Evan before I left. I couldn’t be falling for him in the now knowing him, however little I knew, in only four days. It just wasn’t possible to fall for someone that quickly. There have been several moments since my return that felt so incredibly familiar, like when we were alone together the day before in the parlor and he held me close to him and kissed my cheeks, and while we sat together in my sitting room, just thinking about it made me want to see him right now, and while we sat in the gazebo and he tenderly feathered kisses on the inner part of my wrist and hand. In those infinite moments, I felt like I’d known his touch, the feel of his lips, and the intensity of his gaze for centuries.
At some point I fell asleep again, but it wasn’t a sound sleep. With every toss and turn, in my rumpled sheets, the member’s faces appeared as if they were in my room with me, but they weren’t. They were led by Nikolas and Bethany, and were all shifters of some kind.
Some were divine shifters of the elements and forces of nature. Bethany, was water of course. Olympia of the Leonidas family, whose rust colored hair matched the light sprinkle of freckles on the bridge of her slim nose, which contrasted her milky complexion, was a shifter of air – tornados were her specialty. Bertrand of the Octavius family was burly with skin as olive as the oil from the branches of the Goddess Athena’s tree, was a shifter of fire, the element alone.
The others were shifters of magnificent strength, yet terribly brutal creatures, such as Nikolas, a centaur and Julius and his sister Hedea of the Hepolis family. The Hepolis family were winged creatures of flight. Julius, who had to be at least six and a half feet tall with skin the color and texture of smooth chocolate, was a fire spewing weredragon as his mother. His younger sister, Hedea, had the warm complexion in the shade of honey with eyes that shimmered like iridescent gold. She was a werevulture, an overseer like her father.
Even though they all had different dimensions of strength and capabilities, they were all there to achieve one common goal; the objective was to prevent an abduction; mine. I saw them all standing outside of the grim lone mansion that sat behind Gold Hill. Suddenly everything felt sinister, yet familiar. I knew whose house it was, and I suspected that I was dreaming.
The members of the empire, the warriors, were dressed in their impeccable attire as always, and as expected, invaded the scarcely lit house. Through the gloominess, they seemed to determine where the hallways led as if they lived there. It happened quickly and decisively. The warriors split into two teams. One team led by Nikolas and the other by Bethany. The teams headed in two different quarters of the spacious house. I could see both teams working simultaneously, navigating their way through the darkness until they met their destinations.
Lucas was first. Hedea’s transformation
took an instant. Her razor sharp talons jabbed into Lucas’ linebacker sized neck as he lay slumbering in his bed.
His snores broke instantly into a groggy, yet shocked response to the huge vulture’s beak which was just a few inches from his face. Hedea proceeded to Glamour Lucas, and the thought to shift into a panther was obliterated as if it was never even a thought in Lucas’ mind at all.
Hedea flew upward and away from Lucas, and perched herself on the edge of his huge bed, and transformed back into human form, dressed as she had come in, bustle and all. The four warriors looked at each other awkwardly as Lucas was exposed wearing only his birthday suit. He proceeded to follow Hedea’s strict orders. Lucas had his clothes on in less than a minute, and held his hand out to be shackled with silver cuffs; the antidote to shifting.
All the while, in another room, further down the hall, the smell of stale perfume was as fierce as a smack in the face. With Sacha, the abduction wasn’t as simple as it had been with her twin. The warriors couldn’t be sure that if it had been the severe pinch of Hedea’s talons that woke Lucas, or Sacha’s high pitch scream. She had been sitting at her vanity, brushing her silky tangle of curls, while clad in nothing but a corset and bloomers as she sang a ragtime tune about the joy of squandering some pathetic fool’s gold.
Sacha was startled, as could be expected with four powerful demigods entering her room uninvited. Her recovery was quick and the attempt to shift was complete. The ferocious panther didn’t hesitate to pounce on Bethany who shifted simultaneously into her aquatic form. The panther sliced through the deluge of Bethany’s body, exiting totally drenched as the French doors magically flung open on their own. Olympia spun the night’s soft breeze into a forceful twister which sent the panther clawing and spinning out of control. But the four demigods had their orders, and Victor’s disciples were not to be killed, just seized. Therefore Olympia lowered the feline. The disoriented feline shifted back to her original human form.
Now Sacha was on all fours completely human, completely naked, and still mildly dizzy from the vortex of Olympia’s harsh winds. Julius began to Glamour Sacha while Bethany transformed back into her human form. Sacha was instructed to dress quickly. She behaved as any hypnotized person would, obediently. She almost appeared meek.
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