“This is important, Audrey,” she said sternly, rising to follow me.
“That sucks for you,” I replied walking outside.
Thankfully, it appeared she’d only taken over the office—all was at it should be outside. I hurried to my car, repeatedly looking over my shoulder to make sure she wasn’t following me. Only when I was buckled in and driving away did I breathe easy again.
I joined the traffic on the main road and turned the radio on, hoping to lose myself in a good song for a few minutes. The disk jockey was giving away tickets to something, asking listeners to call in and answer a question about a movie. The first caller got it right and he had to spend the next minute telling people they were too late.
“Well, that was entertaining.”
I looked in my review mirror and yelped, Athena suddenly appearing in my back seat.
“Leave me alone!” I yelled, swerving off the road and into a gas station parking lot.
“Come with me,” she sighed, reaching out and touching my shoulder.
With a bright flash of light, I was once again in a place I’d not consented to go.
“Great. Where are we now?”
“You’re on Mount Olympus, Audrey.”
I recognized Karly’s voice and spun around. She was standing next to a grand throne, wearing a white gown fit for the Queen of the Gods.
“We’ve run into a problem,” she explained. “I’m so sorry to have to disrupt your life, again. I hope you can forgive us for our rudeness.”
“What problem could you have that possibly involves me in any way?”
“It appears that Poseidon has given you his powers,” Athena piped up.
“That’s not possible,” I argued, looking back and forth from each of them in shock.
“I’m afraid it is,” Karly confirmed apologetically.
“But I can’t do anything with water,” I pointed out. “I don’t feel any different.”
“You wouldn’t,” Athena said. “You don’t know how to use them. They aren’t bonded to you yet either.”
“Fine,” I said, frustrated. “How do I give them to one of you?”
“You can’t,” Karly explained. “The only time a God can transfer power is if they are about to die.”
“The only time other than that is if a God has died without passing on their powers. Then the powers are given to someone else by Zeus,” Athena added.
“Where is he then so I can give the powers to him?”
“I don’t think you understand,” Karly said, walking to me, her dress swishing across the marble. “He can’t give them to someone else because a God already has them.” She laid an arm over my shoulders and hugged me to her.
“I’m . . . I’m not a God.” I was starting to get a headache trying to wrap my mind around what they were saying.
“That’s what we’re trying to tell you,” Karly explained with an understanding smile. “You are the new Goddess of the land and sea.”
“But I don’t want to be!” I pushed away from her, shaking my head. “I don’t ever want to be around the water ever again.”
“That’s a bit impractical since you’re the Goddess of it,” Athena said. “You wouldn’t want someone trying to take it over like Amphitrite did, would you?”
I stared at her, wondering how she could be so smart and so stupid at the same time.
“I understand it’s a lot to take in at once,” Karly said.
“A lot to take in?!” I gasped in disbelief. “A lot to take in! No! This is a whole different level! First, my husband is a reincarnation of an ancient Greek hero. Then, Poseidon, who murders him in vendetta that has lasted thousands of years, is also apparently my soul mate. Then, I get forced into Hell to talk to my dead husband, only to be rushed to an island where I get to watch my soul mate die. Oh, and he gave me all of his God powers, so now I have a higher calling that I must attend to, no matter how I feel about it!”
“Audrey, please, I know it’s hard—”
“No, you don’t Karly! You got to marry the God you were in love with. You didn’t go through anything like what you’re trying to force on me now!”
“Enough!” Her voice cracked through the oval throne room, authority saturated in every syllable, freezing me instantly. “I am not forcing anything on you. I’m trying to help you understand what has happened so you can move forward in peace. I’m sorry that Poseidon has done this to you, but I cannot change it. The main point I needed you to know is that you cannot continue to live as a mortal with these powers. You will need to swear an oath on the River Styx in order for your position to be complete. Every God must. If not, you will die. Two powers can’t live in one body.”
“So I have to pick between doing this and dying?” I began to pace back and forth, nervousness and nausea about to overwhelm me.
“It is a regrettable decision you have been challenged with,” Athena added softly.
“We would love you as our own,” Karly offered. “Our family never dies unless extreme measures are taken.”
I stopped in my path and thought about what she was saying. Surely life as a Goddess would be better than dying now?
“What about my mom?” I asked, taking a deep shaky breath as I waited for the answer.
“You could see her whenever you wanted,” Karly affirmed. “I still see my own parents often.”
“This isn’t a curse,” Athena said.
“Where would I stay?” I asked with a dry mouth. “If Amphitrite gained power because Sy was away from the water I obviously can’t stay in Arizona.”
“The island you were on is where Poseidon spent most of his time. If you wanted, I’m sure it could be restored to its original state,” Karly said.
I bit my lip, thinking it over again. I would live forever by myself, but I would have the reminders I’d wished for.
“I have to do it?” I asked with a trembling voice.
“It does seem the most logical choice,” Athena said.
I looked at both of them again and then at the room around me. The magnificent blue sky shimmered above me, a painting set to match what conditions were outside. Beautiful marble pillars lined the oval area, matching the floor. As I looked back at Karly, I admired the throne behind her, flowing seamlessly from the tiles beneath it and forming several lightning bolts. I was literally in the place of myths, speaking to those who shouldn’t even be real. And they were insisting that I was one of them!
Would it be so bad, living on that island for the rest of forever? I could still visit Mom. I would have family here as well. As time went by, I could make new friends to spend time with. The powers would give me something to master as well.
John appeared in my mind. If I were to die, wouldn’t I end up where he was? It wouldn’t be the same though. He’d told me himself that he was with his soul mate, Penelope. If I died, I would be just as alone there as I would be here. I’d lose my memories in the Underworld though.
Ideas of what I could do for the world began to form in my head. Sailors could be saved. Earthquakes would be avoided at all costs. I would do my very best to ensure that natural disasters were put to an end. Life would be much easier for all of mankind if I was there to regulate the environment the best I could.
“If I agreed to do it—and I’m not saying I am—what would happen next?”
“You would take part in a ceremony at the River Styx, in Hades,” Karly explained. “Once that was over, you would be a full-fledged Goddess.”
“Amphitrite said she only needed to kill Sy to get that,” I said.
“She didn’t know about the rule,” Athena spoke up. “It was put in place after our battle two years ago.”
“Kronos tried to take ultimate power,” Karly explained. “Several laws were put into place after that to try and dissuade any others from following suit.”
“So just the ceremony and that’s it?”
“Of course someone would have to help teach you how to use your powers,” Karly said. �
��That would be figured out once you decide what to do.”
I sighed, turning away from them again and ran my hands through my hair.
“All right,” I said, facing them again. “I’ll do it.”
Chapter Nineteen
I stared at myself in the mirror, practicing my deep breathing.
After I’d decided to take what Sy had given me, I went home. A strange sense of calm had followed me ever since then, my own confirmation I was doing the right thing.
It only took a few days to get my things in order. October break was days away so I informed the school I wouldn’t be coming back after it was over. They were very gracious about it, as I’d suspected they’d be. I’d felt like I was leaving a family I hadn’t realized I had.
Mom believed me when I told her I’d gotten a job in Florida, working with children. I told her I wouldn’t be able to visit often, which she took a lot better than I’d expected.
I boxed everything I owned up and somehow, with the help of a few burly Gods, got it to the island. True to Karly’s word, it looked as it had before the tsunami—a fantastic, tropical paradise. Further into the jungle was the entrance to the house, which sat under the earth and could also be reached by a water tunnel.
When I first walked in, Talley at my side, I cried. Sy’s few things were still there, arranged perfectly and accenting his own style. I decided to leave them all there in his honor. My heart felt a little lighter with the pieces of him as well.
Tonight I would swear my vow on the River Styx and be fully realized as a Goddess. Karly and Athena had both warned me that it might be an emotional night since I would officially be tied to the sea and my emotions would be dictated by it. I didn’t even know how to prepare myself for something like that. It already felt like my life was ordered after the waves.
As I looked in the mirror at my shimmering, blue dress, anxiousness was eating at me. Even here, on Mount Olympus, as I readied to end my life as I knew it, I couldn’t stop thinking about why Sy would have given me, of all people, his powers. Was it because he loved and trusted me? Or was it because I was there and he didn’t want Amphitrite to get them?
“Stop,” I grumbled to myself, biting a fingernail.
“You look beautiful.”
I turned and saw Karly in the door, wearing a beautiful dress of her own.
“Thank you,” I said, turning back to my reflection.
“How are you feeling?”
“Honestly? I’m scared.”
“I know how that feels,” she laughed. “At least you weren’t getting married the same day! I had my wedding and reception at home, plus the celebration here, and then I had the whole oath ceremony.”
“Yeah,” I conceded weakly, only half listening.
“I know how you feel,” she reminded me, coming up behind me. “It’s hard to know if you’re doing the right thing, taking all those powers. Anything could happen really. Your life will never go back to how it was.
“It’s okay to be scared though. People like Zeus were born into this. They didn’t get to decide what they wanted; they just had to accept it. They don’t really understand how hard it is to give up a real, normal life. They see what they have as the ultimate existence. We see it as the ultimate sacrifice for those we love and the world we live in.”
She placed a hand on my shoulder, smiling at me through the mirror. I placed my own over hers and squeezed it thankfully, sharing my own grin.
“It’s nice to know there’s at least one person who understands most of what I’m going through.”
“You’re my sister now,” she said, backing towards the door. “Anything you need, I’ll be there.”
“Thanks,” I said weakly.
“I’ll wait for you in the hall, okay?”
“Yeah. I’ll be out in a minute.”
She turned and left, the door softly clicking closed behind her.
I took another deep breath and glanced over my reflection once more. I looked like a Goddess, thanks to the help of a few of them. Now it was time to become one.
The Underworld glittered with fairy lights, giving it a happy feeling completely opposite from the last time I’d been there. There were Gods milling around, making it seem like we were at a reception more than anything else. As Karly and I walked through the threshold, they all stopped what they were doing and bowed—all of them except for one man.
He was wearing a cape over his golden tunic, a lightning bolt buckle at his waist. His hair was styled perfectly, finishing off the entire authoritative look he possessed.
“Audrey! I’m very happy to meet you.” The man—who couldn’t have been anyone other than Zeus—walked forward and grasped my hand, pulling me into a bone-crunching hug. “My wife tells me you are quite the woman.”
“She’s too kind,” I said, blushing.
“I believe her,” he brushed aside my modesty. “Especially if you were lucky enough to hold my brother’s heart.” He looked down at the ground then, sadness overtaking his features. “I am happy to welcome you to our family,” he said quietly. “But I am saddened by the circumstances that brought us here tonight.”
“Me too,” I whispered.
“You’ll be great,” he encouraged, clearing his throat and grinning again. “Knock ‘em—er—dead.”
“Zeus,” Karly scolded.
“Bad joke,” he said apologetically. “Hey, Hades!”
“I’m sorry,” Karly apologized as he walked away. “He thinks he’s a comic genius. I think he has terrible timing. It’s also his way of coping.”
“It’s fine,” I said with a weak smile.
We greeted a few more Gods, most of whom I recognized from their stories. I felt inadequate, being included in with all of the pillars of history. Even my name didn’t match in with theirs. Karly stayed by me the whole time, more than aware of what I was going through. I couldn’t express to her how much it meant to me.
Eventually, I found myself kneeling at the river’s edge, the Fates standing around me as they read off the vow. I repeated what they said, staring straight ahead, waiting to feel different somehow.
As we neared the end of the ceremony and I was done spouting out words, I felt a weird tugging at the back of my head, like someone had grabbed one strand of hair and was pulling it over and over again. I lost my focus, eyes clouding over while a prickling sensation covered my entire body. When it vanished, I could suddenly feel where everyone was standing on the ground.
It was like the Earth had a heartbeat, pulsing images into my mind. Everywhere something that wasn’t from nature touched the ground, I saw a void in the shape of that item or person. It was so strong that I could even see every soul on the far away landmass behind Hades castle.
My eyes finally cleared and I looked forward, getting caught up in the water. I could see every piece of it—currents, particulates, everything. The emotions I’d been warned about kicked right in when I realized I could see Sy in every part of the water, spread out just like when he’d dissolved in my arms.
I cried the worst tears I’d ever experienced in my life.
“Audrey, what’s wrong?” Karly asked, coming to my side.
“You didn’t tell me that I would see him in the water,” I cried. “What kind of joke is this, to convince me into taking these powers knowing I would have to see the man I loved, dead every day?” I exclaimed through my tears.
“What are you talking about?” Karly asked, shock covering her face.
“You can see Poseidon in the water?” Hades asked, coming forward.
“Of course I can!” I yelled. “Don’t all of you act so innocent!”
“When a God dies, it ceases to exist,” Zeus said slowly, joining us at the front.
“There isn’t anything left,” Hades added.
“Audrey, walk out into the water where you see him,” Zeus ordered.
“Why?” I hiccupped, my emotions tipping in another direction.
“Just do it and I’ll explain,”
he urged.
“Fine,” I grumbled, pushing up to my feet.
I didn’t bother picking up my dress and waded out into the water. Everything prickled against my skin and I had the sudden sensation of falling. As I looked down, I noticed myself dissolving in the same manner I’d seen before.
“What’s happening?” I said, panicked. “I don’t know how to stop!”
“Audrey!” Karly called, stepping out into the water. “Concentrate! Will yourself to stay the way you want.”
I couldn’t do it though. I watched as I slowly became part of the water, wishing I could stay that way and be with Sy without suffering. Within moments, I was all liquid, part of the river as it washed along the bank. I found I could still control where I went though, so I swam to Sy.
He was simply floating, letting the water dictate his direction. He didn’t even look like himself—all I could see was a different tint of color in one area, but I knew it was him. My powers told me it wasn’t anything natural. I could also feel his personality oozing from the spot. I’d noticed that on land as well, feeling the tendencies of each God as they stood around me. It felt a bit like reading auras.
Finally, I was with what remained of my soul mate. My newly tied emotions felt a rainbow of things—joy, hate, and despair, among others. I was so stupid to not realize he was part of nature! Of course he would be here. I would probably see part of him in everything. Why hadn’t I thought of that before? I’d condemned myself to a life of misery. There would never be a time that he wouldn’t be with me.
Calm settled over me as I thought about it. John could never be with me again, but Sy would always be with me. I would still be alone, but parts of him would stay by my side. I could like that if I let myself.
I gave the equivalent of a sigh and concentrated on becoming a human form again, all the while wishing I could bring Sy with me.
Slowly, but surely, I became myself again, standing waist deep in the river, my dress shimmering out around me.
“Audrey!” Karly cried out in shock, frozen in place knee deep into the water.
“I’m fine,” I sighed, taking a step further.
Poseidon (The God Chronicles) Page 15