"Hey, I can be respectful when I need to be." I sighed as I took out my earpiece. "Ok. Tell me what I need to do. I can tell you're just itching to have this conversation."
"What can I say?" Cyrus shrugged. "You are about to meet a goddess for the first time. The mere thought of it makes me anxious."
"Anxious?" I chuckled. "That's not a word I would use to describe you, Cyrus."
"More like creepy?" He turned his head just enough to look down at me as he brought up our old joke. "I remember all too well how I used to scare you, Eva."
"You still do." I gave him a light punch on the arm. "Sneaking in and out of the shadows doing God knows what."
I fell silent as he began to give me a history of Athena that I didn't need. I mean, come on. Even little kids were familiar with her back story. Athena was the daughter of Zeus and labeled as the goddess of warfare, mathematics, strength, and civilization. She was celebrated by soldiers and senators alike for her abilities to aid them in matters of strategy and reason. So much so, the Parthenon was founded in her patron city to honor her. Cyrus started to go into the myths where she played a role before I held up a hand to stop him.
"I don't think I need every little detail, Cyrus." I shifted in my seat. "You said she is also the goddess of reason and heroic endeavors? If so, then surely she will want to help me. I'm pretty reasonable."
"She is. But remember Eva, the determination of who is the hero and who is the villain depends on which side of the battle you are on. The Erinyes do not see themselves as evil. They consider their actions just and fair. Other gods would have sent you straight to Tartarus without another thought."
"See, there in lies the problem. I'm no hero, Cyrus. I'm selfish and mean. I worry more about what's coming on television than the fate of others." I tucked my phone back into my purse. "So if that's the case, then why are we going to all this trouble? It would be so much easier if I showed up in Chicago, gave Allison the mirror, and Elliot would be free."
"It would be easier." Cyrus nodded as he agreed with me. "Yet, you know all too well the consequences of such an action. The Erinyes will gain power through their followers. Their twisted sense of judgment will befall anyone who comes to their attention. Besides, I don't think you would give up until you absolutely had to."
"I'm a coward, Cyrus."
"No, you're not. You're stronger than you believe, Eva." Cyrus wrapped his arm around me and pulled my head down to rest against his shoulder. After a moment of silence, he whispered against my hair. "Did you know that Achilles was afraid of spiders?"
I laughed despite myself. "He was not."
"He was, I swear it. When his men wanted to humble him, they would put the biggest spider they could find in his bed. They say his screams were legendary."
I chuckled as he told me more stories about famous Greek heroes and their phobias. For the first time since I'd first encountered the Erinyes, I found myself relaxing. Cyrus was right. I was letting my fears about Elliot get the best of me. I could face Athena. I could defeat the Erinyes.
I could be the hero.
Chapter Ten
We landed in Phoenix before noon. It took me another forty-five minutes to get us a rental car, and another twenty to find it in the parking lot. I switched on the GPS in the dashboard as Cyrus settled down in the driver's seat.
"Ok. So where are we going?"
"Downtown." Cyrus hit the turn signal as he stopped at a red light. "She runs a clothing boutique called Glaux."
"I'm sure that has some deep philosophical meaning, but how on earth do you spell it?"
"Glaux is the Greek word for 'little owl', which has long been considered Athena's animal of choice."
Cyrus turned the steering wheel as he spelled out the word. I typed it into my GPS and had the directions in seconds.
"Turn left at the next light." I muttered as I fell into my role as navigator. "Cyrus, wasn't Athena your patron goddess once? When you were a soldier?"
"Yes." Cyrus followed my directions, never seeming to mind when I gestured with my hands instead of telling him where to go. "She was the patron goddess to all soldiers. We wore her crest for luck beneath our armor. We used to give her credit for our victories. If we failed, we would sacrifice a goat in her name with the hopes she would not forget about our dedication to her."
"Poor goat." I gestured again for him to keep going straight. "Do you think she'll remember you?"
"I should hope not, Little One." Cyrus gave me a sad smile. "When I was forced into Apollo's service, I had to relinquish my dedication to Athena and swear an oath to my new god. She didn't take the rejection well."
Before I could ask him what he meant, my GPS dinged. I started reading out storefronts until I saw the one we were looking for.
"There it is."
I turned off my phone and took a deep breath. Athena was my only hope in finding the loophole that would free both me and Elliot from a certain fate. When Cyrus parked the car and I climbed out, I found I was trembling. My keeper took my hand, squeezed it, and led the way up the sidewalk. I wanted to be relieved by his presence, but a part of me wondered if having him with me was such a good idea. If Athena was mad at him, would she turn that anger towards me? Would I be guilty by association?
I shook my thoughts away. I needed Cyrus. I needed the strength he gave me. So I focused on how his hand felt in my own as we approached the storefront. It felt right. Natural. I looked down at our intertwined fingers as the confusion which had gripped my heart after our kiss returned. Could Cyrus be right? Could I be happy with him instead of Elliot?
It didn't matter. Not now. I would worry about my heart later when we were safe. I turned my attentions to the stores we were walking past as if I didn't have a care in the world, but Cyrus noticed the change in me. He tightened his grip as we approached Glaux. It was in the bottom of a high rise decked out with silver paint and a chrome sign that gleamed despite the shade trees lining the sidewalk.
"Athena, the goddess of war, runs a kid's store?" I whistled as we took in the window display of designer kid's clothes. "If I didn't know better, I would say Apollo was wrong."
"Athena adores children. She considers them to be the most pure form of innocence since souls are corrupted by decisions made throughout a lifetime." Cyrus released my hand to hold the door open. "This is why she turned the Erinyes into little girls when she made them her justices."
I ignored him as we stepped inside. Despite the sleek exterior, the inside was all wood and soft lighting. Something classical was playing over the loud speakers to help set the atmosphere of high priced shopping. There were no shiny silver racks dotting the plush carpets or gaudy signs announcing discounts or sales. Instead, the merchandise was folded up into tiny stacks on the shelves lining the walls mixed with matching shoes and hats. I was taking it all in when an elderly woman dressed in gray slacks and a black button down popped up from the back counter.
"Good afternoon." She grinned as she set aside a stack of tiny sweaters to join us on the sales floor. "What can I do for you today?"
"I'm not sure." I let my words come out slowly as I approached her. "Are you the owner of this place?"
"Yes. Is something the matter?" Her gray eyes widen with concern. "We have a wonderful exchange policy, but I can't imagine why you would need it."
"I'm here about the Erinyes." I interrupted her. "It's a long story, but you have got to help me. They were called forth by a crazy chick in California who sacrificed herself so she could seek revenge against the Sibyl. That's me. Now I have to go to Chicago in less than a week to attend their mock trial or a dear friend of mine will be lost forever."
Athena's face went white as she listened to my ramblings. She was silent as my voice trailed off. The great goddess responded by giving me a smile reserved for people she didn't want to deal with. I recognized it immediately since I used it myself whenever Connor threw me in front of a press conference.
"You must be mistaken, child. I don't know any
thing about these Erinyes you speak of. Is that some sort of cult? I can't imagine them being out here in Phoenix, but California? I'm not surprised. It is truly the land of fruits and nuts." Athena rubbed her hands together as if she needed to warm them. "Now, if you will excuse me, I have work to attend to. Feel free to browse the shelves. If you don't find anything in the store, I have next season's catalogues under the counter. You can place your order here or on the internet."
Just like that, Athena dismissed me. She turned away from me to focus on the pile of folded sweaters she had abandoned when we came in. I was surprised by the sudden flash of anger that rushed through me. Cyrus and I had just flown to Phoenix to see her. Maybe it was my dashed hopes. Or maybe it was because I was braver than I could ever imagine, but I reacted without thinking about the consequences.
I grabbed her wrist.
"I did not just fly all the way to Phoenix to be ignored, dammit."
"Eva!" Cyrus hissed at me while tugging on my arm. "Let her go. You can't just grab a goddess."
"Impertinent girl!" Athena whirled around with her other hand raised as if to smack me. "Sibyl or no, I can have your head for this."
Suddenly, the world around me shifted into a blur of mahogany and gold. I could hear them talking, but I couldn't understand what Cyrus or Athena were saying as a rush of images flashed through my mind. Memories of the past mixed with knowledge on how to fight. I felt the power she held when her followers gave their lives in her name as well as the sadness she felt over their deaths. With a single touch, everything she knew assaulted my head. Battles and celebrations flickered behind my eyes as their voices faded into speeches made to encourage reason over violence.
I dropped her wrist as the old woman staggered across the carpet to get away from me.
"You're wrong. You've helped me more than you could ever imagine." I took out my sunglasses as I turned back towards the door. "I apologize for disturbing you."
"Eva. Eva, wait." Cyrus ran up to me as I exited the store before Athena came to her senses and struck me down in her fury. I slipped on my sunglasses as he pulled me to a stop. "What the hell just happened?"
"You are all wrong. You can't get a goddess' knowledge just by recognizing her." I tugged my sunglasses down to show Cyrus my eyes. "Apparently, you have to touch her. That's why they don't interact with humans if they can help it. We're too touchy-feely."
"Eva, your eyes have changed." Cyrus took my sunglasses away from my face. "They are no longer the gold associated with the Sibyl. They have shifted to gray."
"I know. It's only temporary."
"How could you know that?" Cyrus frowned. "I don't understand."
"Because she knew that." I pointed towards the door we just exited. "More importantly, I know how to put a stop to this whole trial. I can save Elliot, Cyrus. She showed me how to do it."
"Do you care to explain or are you going to leave me in the dark?" Cyrus twirled my glasses in his hand. "What did you learn?"
"Everything. I saw her past. I understood her desire to mingle amongst humans. I learned more about the pantheon in one second than I could ever wish to know. Most of your books are wrong, by the way. The stories were exaggerated by their writers to make better sales."
"Ok." Cyrus breathed out as he listened to me. "So how do we stop the Erinyes?"
"We can't, but I can." I linked my arm into his and as we headed back towards the car. "I'm not ready to talk about it yet."
"Because you don't understand what you've learned or because you know I will try to stop you?"
"Both." I stepped around a concrete flower bed before I continued. "You were wrong about Athena, though. She remembered you with sadness, not anger. She saw you as a great general who was lost to her."
I outlined the memories Athena had unwillingly showed me as we walked. Cyrus didn't interrupt me with questions or quick remarks. Then again, there wasn't anything he could say. I had stolen the knowledge of one of the most powerful goddesses in human history and I had been changed by the experience in more ways than one. I was more confident now than I'd ever been before. I could fight and I could win.
There was no doubt about it.
Chapter Eleven
Despite the fact that I spent the weekend at the hospital with Elliot, the days flew by faster than I thought possible. I'm convinced I was hypnotized the entire time by CNN, which Cyrus watched with a fascination I found completely unwarranted. I mean, weren't our lives exciting enough? Why would he need the tragedy brought on by the news to add to it? It was one of the many things I would never understand about him.
By the time Monday morning rolled around, I was itching to get this over with. I said my goodbyes to my silent companion before running back to the condo to start packing for the three days we were scheduled to be in Illinois.
Connor had worked his magic, of course. Joseph had personally delivered three tickets and an itinerary for the entire production crew to me on Saturday with a look of concern. He didn't ask me any questions nor did he give me any grief about the cost such changes had been to Theia Productions. Somehow, Joseph knew there was more than I was willing to share. And I was perfectly happy keeping him in the dark about what was about to happen in Chicago.
The last thing I needed to pack wasn't hidden in the mass of clothes strewn out across my bedroom. I toted my messenger bag into Cyrus' room. I saw what I was looking for the instant I opened the door. Apollo's ancient mirror gleamed in the morning sunlight on the dresser. I dropped my bag, heading to the relic which had changed me in so many ways with a sense of determination. I picked it up, tracing the sharp carvings as a strange sadness came over me.
I wasn't the only one who had been affected by the mirror. Kathy Carter had given up her power to me. Elliot lost the mother he never knew, and if I wasn't successful tomorrow, he would lose his life over my mistakes. And then there was Cyrus, who had been passed from one silly girl to another without any say in the matter. It seemed cruel that he lived each day not knowing if his newest master would choose whether to live or die. He could have no future; make no plans for himself with the revolving door associated with the Sibyls.
I tried to remember who I had been when my own life had been so much simpler. I'd spent my entire time in college worried about my assignments and Elliot. I had been so afraid that he would leave me behind when we graduated. As fate would have it, Elliot had been afraid that I would be the one saying goodbye. Perhaps, I was. Not to him or to our friendship, but to the girl I had been. He was right. I had changed. But not in the way he thought. I had finally found myself. I knew who I was and what I wanted to do with the rest of my future.
I could only hope he would understand.
***
"Joey, you are an absolute godsend."
I surveyed the crew arriving in a series of black SUVs as we stepped out of our own rental car. My cameraman had taken it upon himself to ensure the entire crew was prepped and ready to shoot our next episode. Joey did not disappoint me. Makeup and wardrobe arrived first, followed by lighting and the technical guys who were quick to blame me whenever I had trouble with their inventions. While I had been mourning away my weekend by Elliot's sickbed, Joey had been doing everything he could to make sure we were ready to go.
"Hey," I grabbed Joey's hand as he moved to help unload the mountain of black cases that held his precious cameras. "Thanks. I owe you one."
"Damned right you do, McRayne." He grinned as he gave me a mock salute. "My price is the best steak dinner you can afford."
"McDonalds it is then." I teased as I released his hand. Cyrus appeared next to me to watch the madness as it unfolded before us. We settled into a comfortable silence before I spoke up. "This is going to work, Stick. I can feel it."
"Perhaps, but what if you are wrong?" Cyrus shifted against the cold winds blowing against us. "What if the price for Elliot's soul is your own? Are you willing to take that chance?"
"I am." I nodded. "You have nothing to worry about. I won'
t stick you with Allison for eternity. That just seems too cruel. Even for me."
"Come on. Let's get you inside before you catch a cold in this wind." Cyrus wrapped his arm around my shoulders to turn me towards the hotel I would call home for the next few days. "You don't heal fast enough for my taste. I don't want to risk it."
"What are you going to do tomorrow when we get to Bachelor's Grove? Wrap me in bubble wrap?" I let him lead me inside the hotel. "I don't think wardrobe will appreciate that."
"No, not bubble wrap." Cyrus held the door open for me. "I was thinking more like body armor with a matching helmet."
"Just as long as I have a matching helmet." I cut my eyes over at him as we entered into the hotel. "I'm glad to see you are focusing on what's really important."
Cyrus chuckled as he followed me inside the Ritz-Carlton, but he almost ran into my back when I stopped just inside the door. Plush white wingback chairs lined the large glass entrance. White floors inlaid with contrasting designs led up to a fountain topped with silver cranes meant to impress. I leaned over, whispering to Cyrus as the rest of the crew filed in around me.
"Are you sure we're in the right place? This isn't exactly the Red Roof."
"Yeah." Cyrus tapped my chin and I got the hint. I pressed my lips together to keep my jaw from dropping again as he continued. "Joseph wanted to thank you the only way he knew how. By spending money. I told him the truth, Eva. I told him what you were risking for Elliot."
I snagged Cyrus' arm to pull him aside. "You talked to Joseph about me? Just how close are you two?"
"I've known Joseph for a very long time." Cyrus tilted his head down to study me. "How much do you know about his relationship with Kathy?"
"I know that Elliot is a product of it." I frowned. "And I know that look. You're about to say something I don't want to hear. So if you're about to tell me that Joseph Lancaster is some fallen god who fell in love with the Sibyl or that Elliot has magic powers thanks to his lineage, you can save it. I've had enough of your stories to last a lifetime."
The Oracle Series: Volumes 1-3 Page 22