Lyre
Page 23
‘They really did. Apparently as long as we were together, your life was in danger. They did it for the right reasons.’ Oz spoke flatly, as if he didn’t really believe what he was saying.
Yuri lapsed into silence. Aware of how painful it must be to be betrayed so ignominiously by your own best friends, Oz kept his mouth shut to give Yuri time to absorb the news. The only sound was his own footsteps. Until the moment Yuri stepped away from the Underworld boundaries, she would remain incorporeal. He had no choice but to trust that she remained behind him.
The tunnel was just starting to widen out – and become steeper – when Yuri found her voice again. ‘Survivor’s guilt,’ she said. ‘I didn’t feel it with my father although there was a fair amount after Brittani passed away. Now it’s suddenly overwhelming.’
‘It’s my guilt to bear. I’m the one that came here. I’m the one taking you out. It’s not because of you.’
‘Are we doing the right thing?’
‘Yes.’ He fought the urge to turn and look her in the eyes and let her see how much he meant what he was saying. ‘We deserve a chance. I’d do anything for you, Yuri. I’d face Hades a million times over if I thought it would mean we could be together.’
‘I love you.’
Oz closed his eyes, his heart squeezing with emotion. ‘I love you too.’
They continued to walk. ‘What was it like for you?’ Oz asked. ‘Dying, I mean.’
‘There was a lot of fear,’ Yuri admitted. ‘And pain. Neither lasted long, however. Afterwards everything seemed dim and cloudy. I was waiting for a long, long time and I wasn’t sure what I was waiting for. I just knew that was what I had to do. And then I was being pulled out and brought to Hades. That’s all there was.’ She gave a short laugh. ‘It’s not much of a story.’
Oz smiled faintly. ‘I’ve had enough of stories. The two of us should find a quiet corner, untouched by anything or anyone from Olympus and settle down. The only story that needs to exist from now on is the one between you and me.’
‘What about Orpheus?’
‘The boys will understand.’
‘And Odyssey?’
‘They’re just a business. They’ll get over it.’ Sudden anxiety struck him. ‘But if you want to stick with Yell…’
‘I did,’ she interrupted. ‘I really did. Now, I’m not so sure. I don’t want the rest of my life to be just about a job.’ She paused. ‘Yes.’
‘Yes what?’
‘Yes, I’ll marry you.’
A huge uncontrollable grin spread across Oz’s face. He needed to say this, however. ‘You don’t have to be beholden to me. If you decide you don’t want to be with me, then you don’t have to. It’s enough for me to know you’re still in the world.’
‘Really? You’d be happy with that?’
‘Well, no, not really. But I can learn to feel like that.’
‘As if I’d want to be with anyone else,’ she scoffed lightly.
Oz’s smile broadened even further. ‘My parents will be made up. They were gutted when we split up. Virtually every time I see them these days, they still mention you.’
As Yuri laughed, Oz half stumbled. There was something up ahead. ‘There’s light,’ he said with dawning excitement. ‘Yuri, we’re almost there.’
‘Oh my goodness.’ She whispered the words but her feelings were obvious. ‘I can’t believe it.’
Oz started moving faster. ‘I can’t wait to hold you. I’m never going to let you go again.’
‘I’m right behind you,’ she assured him.
‘Can you run?’
‘Like my life depends on it.’
‘Then let’s do it, baby.’ Heart racing, Oz took a deep breath and began to sprint. A slight breeze rippling in from above ruffled his hair and involuntary tears sprang to his eyes. Although he would have whatever was necessary to bring Yuri back, he hadn’t been sure he’d manage it. All the signs and all the advice were against him. But now it was really happening while, behind him, Yuri followed, matching him step for step.
The light grew brighter. ‘Are you with me?’
‘I’m with you!’
Oz lengthened his stride, the real world – his world – almost within his grasp. Yuri mimicked his movements but, focused as she was on him, she didn’t notice the ancient gnarled tree root in her path. In a manner oddly similar to when she’d fallen at the feet of Antaeus, she went sprawling down to the ground. She opened her mouth to call out to him but a huge hand clamped round her face and she was able to make nothing more than a tiny squeak.
Oblivious to what was happening, Oz burst out of the tunnel and into brilliant, dazzling sunshine. The warmth on his skin and the glow in his heart couldn’t be surpassed. He sucked clean air into his lungs and turned just as Hades released his grip on Yuri three feet away in the darkness of the tunnel.
‘I did warn you,’ the god said.
Oz gaped. ‘But…’
‘You were told not to look back.’
‘I’m out! We made it out! We…’
‘No. You made it out.’ He pointed a long white finger at Yuri. ‘She did not. The decision is made.’
Abject horror filled him. He shook his head and sprang forward, arms outstretched towards Yuri’s pale face. There was a line, however, where sunlight met darkness and Oz was unable to pass it. He threw himself towards it with as much force as he could muster, but the invisible barrier simply bounced him back.
‘No,’ he whispered.
Tears welled up in Yuri’s eyes, as much for the pain on his face as for anything else. ‘We were selfish,’ she said. ‘We shouldn’t be allowed to cheat death when the rest of the world must abide by its rules.’ She touched her fingers to her lips, then held them out towards him. ‘Don’t look back, Oz. I’ll always love you but if I ever meant anything to you, don’t look back.’ Already her form was starting to flicker and fade.
‘Yuri!’ Oz yelled, a hoarse cry that filled that air and sent a cluster of birds on his side fleeing up into the sky.
‘Farewell,’ she whispered.
‘You heard the girl,’ Hades said. ‘Don’t look back.’ He gave the broken man one swift wink then, with Yuri in tow, vanished completely until all that remained were dark shadows. There was an odd rumbling sound and then even those disappeared until only a smooth grass covered hillside could be seen.
Oz collapsed to his knees and howled.
EPILOGUE
TORQUAY, DEVON 2015
The air was brisk, with the sea sending a shiver of cold across the cliff tops despite the blue skies and sunny weather. The waves far below were high and the pair of surfers expertly manipulated their long boards along them. Oz tracked them with a vaguely wistful expression, holding his breath for a moment when one lost their balance and fell underneath the water. A second later, however, he reappeared, head bobbing above the waves and a smile only just discernible on his distant face.
Oz crouched down, plucking a daisy and examining its delicate petals with care. He stroked the edges, holding it up to the light, then tucked it behind his ear. Standing back up again, he took a step towards the cliff edge and leaned over, looking down. It was a long way to the beach. Oz gazed down, musingly. It would probably hurt a lot.
‘You’re not thinking of doing anything rash, are you?’
He turned his head, spotting Medusa. Despite her light tone, her eyes were sober and concerned.
‘No.’
She moved up beside him. ‘She liked it here.’
‘Yes.’
Several of the snakes around her head hissed and lifted their heads in Oz’s direction. She reached up to give them a caress of reassurance and they subsided.
‘They wouldn’t let you into Olympus?’
‘No.’
‘They’d barred the way.’
Oz gazed out over the glittering ocean. ‘Yes.’
‘You couldn’t find the Underworld entrance again?’
‘No.’
‘And the
band? Orpheus?’
He shrugged. ‘We’re finished. Most bands these days have a shelf life anyway.’
A flicker of relief crossed Medusa’s face although it had nothing to do with the demise of Orpheus. ‘Thank goodness. I was starting to wonder whether you were capable of saying anything more than yes or no.’
A ghost of a smile traced his lips. ‘Don’t worry about me.’
‘Yuri would want…’
‘I know what Yuri would want,’ he interrupted. ‘You don’t need to tell me.’ He looked back down to the bottom of the cliff.
‘Oz…’
‘Actually, I think I prefer Ozzy after all.’
Medusa blinked. ‘Okay.’
He sighed. ‘I’m fine.’ He reached inside his jacket pocket and pulled out a crumpled letter. ‘Here.’
She took it from him, scanning the words written there. ‘Medical school? Really?’
‘Just because I’m a musician doesn’t mean I don’t have a brain. I used to get pretty good grades in school.’
‘I didn’t mean … I just …’
‘It doesn’t matter.’ Oz shoved his hands in his pockets. ‘I’m not too old to start learning again.’
‘You’re never too old for that.’
‘No,’ he sighed, ‘I suppose not. Anyway, after a lot of study and a lot of years, I’m going to become a doctor. Not just your average run of the mill GP. I’m aiming for surgeon. Or the emergency room. Anywhere I can help people to…’
‘Cheat death,’ Medusa finished.
He nodded. ‘Indeed. I can’t beat Olympus or Zeus or Hades. But perhaps I can twist the future just a little bit to be a thorn in their sides. And it’ll be on my terms. Not theirs. I know it’ll be a hard slog but I’m prepared to put in the hours.’ His shoulders drooped for half a beat before he seemed to remember himself and straightened his back again. ‘It’s not as if I have to worry about anyone or anything else. Not anymore.’
‘She’d be proud of you. I’m proud of you.’
Oz reached up, his fingers brushing against the daisy behind his ear. ‘I’m glad I knew her,’ he said simply.
Medusa took his hand and squeezed it. Then both of them turned and stared out over the blue horizon.
Other titles by Helen Harper
The Blood Destiny series
Bloodfire
Bloodmagic
Bloodrage
Blood Politics
Bloodlust
The Corrigan series
Corrigan Fire
The Olympiana series
Eros
The Bo Blackman series
Dire Straits
New Order
High Stakes