Actually, those who didn’t figure it out before knew it now. Everyone knew.
“Let’s not wait any longer for the final show of strength. A test of will.” Zeus bellowed, impatient as ever. Everyone went silent, waiting to hear what the great god had planned.
Meira’s heartbeat sped up. This would be Sam’s test and Sam’s alone. Would Zeus cover Sam in poisonous spiders and see how long he could last before pleading for release? Or would he lock Sam in a room, dry and parched, and present Sam with several goblets of water telling him most of the cups would kill him if he drank?
“You’ve already proven you have a strong will, but I’ve seen your soul, hero.” Zeus walked to the edge of the platform and hopped down. “If I were to torture you, you wouldn’t give in. Your will to survive is powerful.”
Sam stood in one spot, head turning as he watched the Thunder God walk around him.
“Meira, rise.” Zeus motioned to her as he strolled by.
Meira stood, feeling strong and rested. If Zeus wanted her to suggest some test, she would refuse to do it. It would be like him to try to torture her in that manner.
“You’ve served me faithfully. As a reward, after this challenge, I’ll release you from your contract with me and give you to a god who will have you do something more suiting your kind.”
Meira’s heart skipped a beat. She’d never thought to be released from Zeus’ service, nor did she want to do so. Though being called a hound of Zeus wasn’t at all flattering, she had the life she wanted. Had being the key word there. Another god would unlikely give her anything she wanted.
And what would be more suiting her kind? Harpies were generally warriors. That meant—
No. Her gaze darted to a smug Ares.
It’s what the bastard wanted all along. He already had two of her sisters with his mark and he was shagging a third.
Hera’s smirk matched her son’s. Meira had no doubt it was through Hera’s “encouragement” Zeus was giving up Meira to Ares.
“But until then, you’re still mine.” Zeus stated with vehemence. A tone told Meira he wasn’t entirely pleased with having to give her up. “And you’ll be participating in this test too.”
Meira held her breath and didn’t look anywhere other than Zeus. If he pitted her against Sam, she wouldn’t do it. If it made her disloyal, then she would be the first harpy in history to betray her mark.
A small raised stand appeared fifty feet away from the gods. A platform that, if the wood had been piled for a fire, would be very much like the ones they used for witch burnings. Meira’s flesh pimpled with a chill that wasn’t in the air.
Zeus escorted her to the stand and helped her up. Suave and smooth, he seemed the perfect gentleman. Every Olympian knew better than to believe that.
Meira stood facing the gods, wings folded at her sides. Something settled around her ankles, and when she glanced down, she was chained to the platform. So Zeus didn’t intend to give her up after all. He was going to use her to get to Sam, and she refused to let Sam lose his soul.
Her gaze turned to the man she loved. While he was still standing silently, the conflict in his expression was clear.
“Sam.” When Meira called his name, those gorgeous eyes focused on her alone. “Whatever they do to me, don’t give in. I’m theirs no matter what. They won’t kill me.” At least she was partially certain they wouldn’t since she was promised to Ares. Unless Ares was certain that Sam would give up.
“I won’t let them hurt you.” Sam shook his head.
“A little pain will pass. I can assure you I’ve felt worse pain than whatever they choose to do.” Next to a broken heart, this would be a piece of cake. “Please, for me, don’t give up.”
Sam’s lips thinned with her pleading. The crowd hung on their every word. Zeus said not a thing during their chat, and when Sam was silent for a minute, the Thunder God retrieved something behind his throne. Or rather, someone.
Confused by this move, Meira watched as Zeus led a white robed crone to the edge of the dais. The old woman could barely stand on her own. Zeus crooned a few sweet words to her before hopping down and lifting her to place her on the ground.
“Samuel Wright, may I introduce to you the eldest of my oracles. Georgia has served since she was seven and never had a false vision.” Zeus led the oracle to Sam and let go of her arm. “She’s here to give you some incentive beyond Meira’s pleas to not give up.”
Georgia shuffled closer to Sam and toppled over. Sam darted forward and caught her, helping her to straighten. Or as much as the crone could stand straight.
Sam whispered something, and Meira thought he asked if the old woman was okay. Georgia patted his cheek and croaked something in return. Sam’s eyes widened and put another question to the oracle. Her white hair waved as she shook her head with her answer.
Zeus held up his hands to get the audience’s attention. “For those of you who didn’t hear the oracle’s words, she told our hero that he would survive. He would fall in love with a woman, have a family, and save many more lives. When he asked about our dear Meira, she said she could not see her future as we all know when someone’s life is at a crossroads.”
Georgia gestured to Sam, and he helped her over to where Meira stood. The oracle held onto the edge of the platform and motioned for Sam to step back. When Zeus came closer, Georgia held up a hand for him to stop too. Both Ares and Zeus frowned.
Meira knelt down to the old woman. “Thank you for giving Sam hope.”
“It’s not hope. I only speak as I see. His future is certain unless you change it.” Georgia rasped and coughed once. She crooked a finger at Meira, and she bent closer so the oracle could whisper to her. “Many futures and none are before you. One has made you a wanted woman. From your womb, a child of great influence will be born. War or peace. It will depend on the father. Your daughter could save or destroy the Middle Realm. Or you will have no children at all.”
This was the last thing Meira expected to hear. She realized she was at a crossroads, but either death or servitude was in her future. And if she were a servant, she would refuse to bear a child into such a life. Why would the oracle tell her of such a thing right now?
She only knew one thing for certain. “I will not change Sam’s future. He deserves happiness and I cannot give that to him.”
“What you can and cannot give is infinite.” Georgia’s eyes fluttered as her body shuddered, and she sagged against the platform. Zeus was fast by her side, helping her up away from Meira. If the Thunder God heard what the oracle said, he didn’t comment, nor did he relay it to the crowd.
Meira stood, brows furrowing. Clearly that wasn’t supposed to happen. Hera was on her feet with a frown and Ares leaned forward in his throne with a dark look. It was likely they had all heard, and it surprised them as much as it did Meira.
Why mention a child like that? It was the last thing on Meira’s mind. If she lived through this test at all, she only wanted to avoid the least amount of torment from the gods. She’d be one of Ares’ soldiers and forced to do his will. No choice but to share his bed if he so desired.
A child of peace or war.
War.
By Hades, Ares knew about the prophecy. That’s what he wanted.
Algaea wasn’t being toyed with. It was likely Ares didn’t know which harpy, or even which one of the sisters was the right one, but he had Algaea in his bed and Zenaida and Hespera with his mark. Meira wouldn’t doubt that he’d shagged them at some point or another.
Her eyes darted back and forth between the gods. Zeus helped the oracle up and led her behind the thrones to be handed off to some servant. What Georgia had told Sam hadn’t surprised any of them, but what Georgia had said to Meira had half of them on their feet. A child of great influence affected all the gods, and even Dionysus looked sane as he contemplated the situation.
Thunder rumbled in the distance. Zeus returned and glared at the God of War. If he hadn’t publicly said he was giving up Meira’s mark, Zeus wo
uld not let her free of his service. Ever. She had no doubt that he was already plotting how to regain her.
“Let us begin!” The Thunder God bellowed. Ten cream colored eggs with gray speckles appeared in a circle around Meira’s feet. “All you must do, hero, is stand where you are and do nothing until all the eggs have hatched.”
Meira gritted her teeth. She should know what sort of eggs these were, but she couldn’t place them. Not bird eggs of any sort. They were warm, but not hot. Not dragon eggs.
She glanced at Zeus for any hint, but he had taken his place on his throne and stroked his beard. Dark clouds rolled in from the west.
A couple of the eggs shuddered, and one to her right began to crack. It seemed to take forever for the first one to open with a little gap. Her heartbeat thudded in her ears. She didn’t dare bend over and try to peer into the egg.
A weird little chirping sound came from the broken egg and the others called back. Not like a bird sound. More like a frog? Still, that wasn’t right.
With one last whack from whatever was in the egg, it shattered and a small honey colored lizard shook itself free. Its long tail unfurled as it wobbled on its legs and took a few uncertain steps. It chirped again and blinked its unusual multi-colored eyes. They gleamed as though they were made of crystal.
Meira jerked her gaze away from the lizard. “No.”
Her wings tensed, ready to fly her away. She willed herself to stay still. Even if she could manage not to move, it wouldn’t matter. Standing in a nest of newly hatched basilisks guaranteed a slow and painful death.
Was this what Zeus originally intended? Did he want her dead from the start? Or was this his new plan after learning Ares wanted her for something more than just a soldier?
The first basilisk cheeped and crawled over her foot. Its tail wound around her ankle. Her toes twitched, and she almost cried at the involuntary movement.
It bit her shortest toe. It didn’t matter the basilisk had no fangs, or even if it did, they wouldn’t be able to penetrate the tough flesh of her feet. Its venom soaked through like acid, and she bit her bottom lip to keep from screaming.
What cells were alive were now dead. Turned to stone. Just that one toe. But the baby was hungry, and she was the closest piece of meat. Nine more had yet to hatch.
CHAPTER 13
“Meira?” Sam kept himself in one spot, but one heel lifted off the ground.
Meira shook her head. “No. Don’t move. Don’t do anything.”
The basilisk’s chirping increased, hungry and excited. A second one broke from its shell and fell on its side as it tried to shake off the pieces. It looked up at its noisy brother and crawled to Meira’s foot. It bit at her stone toe and gurgled before moving onto another one, biting it with zeal.
Meira’s cry escaped her before she could hold it in. When the basilisks looked up at her, she diverted her eyes. Babies weren’t supposed to be able to turn you to stone with their gaze, but she wasn’t going to take that chance.
The first one chomped her ankle. Her wings shuddered, but she held herself in place. It was worse than frostbite or burning. The suddenness of death to her limbs was making her instincts scream flee. She couldn’t. Not just because she was chained, but because this was for Sam.
“What’s going on? What are those things and what are they doing?” Sam’s hands were balled into fists.
“They’re just little lizards. Close your eyes. Pay no attention.” Meira surprised herself when her voice didn’t shake.
“They’re hurting you.” Sam protested as a third basilisk busted free of its shell.
How long would it take for them to realize that they weren’t going to get fresh meat by just biting her? A few? A dozen? The eldest of the nest chirped sharply. It was getting angry.
“Of course they’re hurting her.” Hera chuckled. “They’re hungry. Usually their mother is there to feed them but not for these poor little babes. Yet their venom turns their prey into stone. They’ll learn soon, sweet things.”
“This is part of the challenge.” Meira swiftly added. “They want me alive afterward, Sam. Whatever happens, I’ll live. Don’t give in.”
“There’s no reason for you to go through this just for me.” Sam shook his head and turned to the gods. Meira’s other foot was tasted, toes curling as they turned to stone.
“Sam!” Her cry drew his attention back to her before he said something. “You heard what the oracle said. You’ll survive, go home, have a family. You’ll save more lives. Mine is only one. The suffering of a few doesn’t matter when it comes to the greater good.”
“You know I’ve never subscribed to that philosophy,” Sam said.
Of course she did. She’d only hoped that in this moment, he might reconsider. Meira peeked down to see two more basilisks tumbling out of their broken eggs. Such small things and rich with golds and greens on their scales. They might make pretty pets if they were only lizards.
It was strange she thought those things. She was going to die and she was thinking about pets. Did it take her mind off the pain? No. Three biting at the same time drew out a scream.
“Sam, you have to listen to me. You’re a hero. The world needs you.” Meira held her wings out to the sides to keep her balance. Wooziness from the pain threatened to topple her. Then the basilisks would be nipping at parts other than her feet. “I know you didn’t hear what the oracle said to me.”
“She said she couldn’t see your future.” Sam shook his head again as he said it.
“I’m at a crossroads. I have too many futures or none, and that’s why she couldn’t see one future for certain. But what she said to me was far worse. If I live, I’ll have a child and that child will destroy Earth.” It was one of the possibilities, but the one she feared the most. She couldn’t give Sam any hope for her. He needed to win, and she needed to die. Tears streamed down her pale flesh. “I can’t let that happen. You can’t let that happen.”
“But she can’t know that for certain.” He ran his hands over his head as his chest heaved.
“She’s never been wrong.” Meira let out a shriek as one of the babies—she’d lost track of which was which—climbed up her leg and inspected her knee. When it bit her, the poison seared through her body. The thick skin of her feet had slowed their venom, but now they were creeping up to softer flesh.
“Ares!” A great whoosh and Algaea swooped down from the sky, landing to fall on her knees before the God of War. “Please, stop this. I know you can. She’s my sister. If you care for me at all, you’ll save her.”
“Go away.” Ares snarled and gestured with a flick of his hand.
“Please!” Algaea shuffled closer, bending her head to his shins. “She’ll bear your mark. She’ll be one of your warriors. Our whole family will then be yours. You have to save her.”
Ares kicked her from him as Zenaida and Hespera flew down and gathered their youngest sister as she rolled off the dais.
Meira’s vision blurred. Yet her mouth hung open not with pain, but surprise. She’d never been as close to her family as they were to one another. Being the black sheep was a role she happily took up. Her sisters’ actions confused her. She didn’t know whether to be touched or think they were following Ares’ will.
Instead of being pleased, Ares looked like he was ready to kill someone. Anyone.
“We’ve asked you for nothing and gave everything, Lord Ares.” Hespera stood beside Algaea, one wing around her. “Grant us one favor and save our sister. Save what’s yours.”
“She’s mine!” Zeus roared. Thunder shook the coliseum, and the three harpies fell to their knees. “Ares has no say in what happens here.”
“Ares, send your dogs away. They’re distracting us from the real show.” Hera sipped nectar from her goblet. Hebe leaned on the side of her mother’s throne. Her duties as cupbearer forgotten as she stared at Meira with wide eyes.
“Leave now.” Ares commanded the three harpies and the power in his voice made them flinch. Wa
rriors as they were, when a direct command was given, they had to obey.
Algaea was in tears, but she launched herself and flew fast from the stadium. Hespera followed directly behind. Zenaida held her ground for a few seconds longer, glaring at the gods, and turning to Meira one more time. She then bowed to her before she flew away.
A bow to Meira and no respectful gesture to the gods.
Little claws pricked the flesh of Meira’s thigh. The basilisk drew a drop of blood and licked it. It cheeped and dug in its claws farther. Most of the babies had hatched, and hearing their brother’s call, they scrambled up, fighting each other for a position to get meat of their own.
Newly born, the basilisks would likely kill her with their venom before they could eat her, but they were going to get a meal out of her nonetheless. Meira had never wasted time thinking about death before, but this was it. It would’ve been better if Apollo hadn’t healed her after she’d been ruined by the sea mine. At least she hadn’t felt anything there, and she’d been lying in Sam’s arms. What she wouldn’t give to have him hold her one more time.
“Meira, I can’t let them do this. I don’t care what the oracle said. This is wrong.” Sam turned to the gods before she could scream at him not to do so. “Stop this now. I give up. I won’t have you torture and kill her just to test me.”
Meira’s screech was wordless. Meant to be a protest but became one of pain as several sharp nails ripped at her thighs. Sam couldn’t give up. Not for her. There was no saving her now anyway.
“I can do whatever I please with her.” Zeus snapped. “Do you truly forfeit, hero? Did you not hear what the oracle said? Meira’s survival means the destruction of your world. Would you have every mortal die just to save her?”
“I would risk everything to save her.” Sam walked to the dais. He’d moved. Even with the words, he’d lost now.
Meira sagged, but remained propped up on her stone legs. No, this couldn’t be happening. She’d nothing left to bargain with to save Sam’s life.
Wait. Oh, yes. The option she loathed.
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