At the top of her aria, her voice cut out. She lost a few notes, but not enough to end the enthrallment of the crowd. To preserve her vocal cords for as long as possible, she lowered her range. A siren with no voice. How ironic, I’m morphing into a Disney character.
Time passed. How long has it been, hours? Can’t keep on more than a few more minutes.
From the depths of her soul, Athenia poured every form of love into a haunting chorale.
Philia, the deep connection between comrades in arms, who are loyal and willing to sacrifice for each other. Though this was partly what I felt for Thorne, I realize now I care so much more for him.
Ludus, playful love or affection. Not as serious as Philia, but important to help us remember we’re not alone in our mortal condition, and we can make connections with many people, including those different from us. Like when Bathin helped me.
Philautia, or love of self. Through all this, I discovered I’m not a horrible person. Of course, I was misguided to think I needed to protect myself from everyone, even Thorne. Yet, though I did some awful things, I’m not bad. I care about myself and want to live, but it’s too late now. At least, I figured this out before the end.
Eros, or sexual passion. What I felt for Thorne all along, what I thought was the most important kind of love, but it’s not. Romance is wonderful when combined with friendship and affection, and when both lovers care about themselves, but sex isn’t everything and is empty without the other dimensions.
Pragma, or longstanding love. The pain of loss in her chest increased. This is the type of love I’ll never experience with Thorne.
Agape, the selfless love, which encompasses all people. This is what I offer you today. She sent agape to every creature assembled, even Gelion. He’s still part of the universe and needs whatever caring anyone can spare for him. Odd, to pity someone so powerful, but I do now. In these final moments, I understand so much more than I ever did before.
The rasp in her voice became huskiness. Then a whisper. Finally, she stopped. I’m done. There’s nothing left to do or say, no way to fight the inevitable any longer. Strangely at peace, she bowed her head.
Through the silent throng, Gelion marched toward her. None made a move. All of Hell’s occupants sat as if turned to stone.
ΨΨΨ
As Gelion stalked to her side and reached for her, Thorne appeared at the entrance, alone. He still wore Styx’s garment, but the covering had changed back into an apparently mundane cloak draped from his shoulders.
Terror for Thorne shredded her acceptance of moments before. Why didn’t he take off when he had the chance? Grief, and a little anger at Thorne for being so stubborn, threatened to overwhelm her. Solace mixed with her other jumbled emotions. He cared too much to abandon me.
Thorne marched toward them. “Stop. Don’t dare touch her.”
Gelion stared at him. “What are you doing here? How did you get back, and where are my servants?”
“Listen, I said I wouldn’t go without Athenia, and I’m not.” Thorne closed the distance between him and Athenia and Gelion.
The devil bared his teeth. “How did you get away and find the path back here?” When Thorne just glared at him, he shrugged. “Stay if you want. I can always use another minion, and knowing you’re watching me claim her will make my triumph all the sweeter.”
Oh, no. No. Not in front of Thorne. Panic stopped her heart for a second. Goddess help me, I can’t take this.
Folding his arms across his chest, Thorne glowered. “I’m not your subject and neither is Athenia. We’re leaving now.”
Gelion roared with laughter. “Go ahead and try. You’ll never make it past my legions.”
Thorne took Athenia’s hand. “Are you ready, sweetheart?”
The endearment thrilled her, but tears flowed down her cheeks. “We can’t fight him. He’s too strong, and my voice is gone. Nothing but this hoarse whisper. Why didn’t you escape when you could? Now, we’re both lost.”
His eyes glittered with emotion. “I’ll never desert you,” he said, his voice roughened.
Even as her heart soared, it broke. “I made a deal to stay, and I can’t break my word.”
Thorne caressed her cheek. “The promise you made was to the devil who’s done everything possible to trick you. Why should you treat him with respect when he hasn’t been honorable with you?”
“Not for him. I’m doing this for me, because I’m no longer the kind of person who reneges.” She swallowed a sizable lump in her throat. “This is my last chance to live my life as the person I want to be, and my last chance to tell you how I feel.” She drew a deep breath. “I love you, and I’m willing to sacrifice everything for you, even my soul. So, please go, if Gelion will still let you. Let me finish this.”
At her words, Thorne’s expression hardened, and he turned to Gelion. “Release her from her vow.”
Gelion sneered. “And if I don’t? You and what army will make me?”
Thorne tugged on Athenia’s arm. “Let’s get out of here.”
Gelion sighed. “All right, if you insist, we can do this the hard way.” Amplifying his voice, he infused his tone with uncanny command. He swept an arm toward the assembled creatures. “Take these two below.”
The demons moved forward.
Cerberus jumped to his feet, ears flat against his heads, drool dripping from his open jaws and eating holes into the rocks.
As she rose above the crowd, the harpy flapped her wings.
The mob surged, and Gelion tittered.
In a sudden move, the lead demons grabbed Gelion as the others surrounded him.
Cerberus snarled and snapped at his master.
While the harpy screeched in Gelion’s ear, she blasted him with her noxious breath.
“What are you doing?” Gelion shouted at his minions. “I told you to take them, not me, you morons.”
Ignoring his imprecations, they held him fast.
Shades positioned themselves between Thorne and Athenia, creating a buffer between them and the struggling devil.
Despite her confusion, Athenia enjoyed the sensation of the goodwill radiating from the unsubstantial spirits pressed around her. Mmm, this feels like being wrapped in soft cotton.
As Gelion struggled and swore, Bathin appeared. He smiled at Athenia and nodded to Thorne. His eyes twinkled with what she guessed was amusement. Then he turned to Gelion. “Master, things would be better for all concerned if you release Athenia from the agreement.”
Gelion fought against the demons holding him. “Why would I do that?”
“First of all, through her sacrifices, Athenia redeemed all the stains on her soul and no longer belongs here. Also, the denizens of the deep felt her love and acceptance, something far stronger than your magic. They’ve all defected to her side. If you force her to stay, they’ll rebel against you and make her queen of Hell.”
Gelion’s face reddened. “They can’t do that. I’m the ruler here, the most powerful of all.”
Bathin gestured to the demons holding Gelion. “Not more than all united against you. Look around. No one supports you.”
Gelion addressed the crowd. “Is this true?”
They muttered and moved toward him. A demoness loomed over him. “Let her go and all will be normal. Keep her here, and she will rule.”
Gelion scowled at Athenia, but then straightened his shoulders and lifted his chin. “Well played. The little witch won today.” He raised a hand, all he could move while in the demon’s grasp. “I hereby release the Nerei from her agreement. She and the mage may depart from this demesne without risk or reprisal while they travel.”
As the crowd roared approval, those holding Gelion dropped their claws away from him.
He smoothed the abraded skin of his arms where their talons had dug into him until the harsh red marks disappeared. Then, he glowered at Athenia. “Begone Siren. Take the mage with you. Don’t ever let me catch you in my territory again.”
Athenia
grinned. “Now that’s a condition I can keep.”
Bathin knelt in front of Athenia. “Mistress, though I promised to return you to your domain, I should stay here and make sure Gelion doesn’t change his mind. He doesn’t handle failure well.”
Athenia pulled Bathin to his feet, then she swept him into a hug. “You more than fulfilled the bargain. When it’s safe, please come visit me. I’ll have your wine glasses waiting for you.”
“It will be my pleasure. Also, in the future, I’ll be watching over you in your dimension.”
She embraced her new friend again. “I’ll always be grateful for your help. Come and see me soon.”
He bowed to her, then turned back to Gelion. “Master, may I escort you to your dwelling?”
When Gelion marched away, Bathin followed. He gazed back over his shoulder at Athenia and grinned.
Athenia took Thorne’s hand. “Let’s go while we can.”
Thorne kissed her forehead. He squeezed her hand and stepped toward the path. “You don’t need to ask me twice.”
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Climbing higher on the rock face, they passed through several caves. After hours of trudging, they reached a wide, black river.
As they paused, Athenia considered how best to cross. “What should we do? I can make it in Nerei form, but what about you? I’m not sure which one this is, Styx or Lethe. Both are dangerous. Styx may freeze you to solid ice before we reach the other side, even if the cloak covers you again and protects you, though I’m not sure it will. That magic garment has a mind of its own and doesn’t always do as I ask. Still, if this is Styx, I think we should take the risk. Our situation is worse if this is Lethe. If we swallow one sip, the water will make us forget each other and our lives.”
When she shivered, he wrapped an arm around her. “Thanks, but I’m not trembling from cold. I’m afraid for you. Let’s rest while we think about this.”
On the ground, Thorne sat behind her with his arms around her and pulled her back, so she rested against him. She relaxed. “Mmm, that feels good. I’m so tired.”
He massaged her shoulders. “Did you have a chance to rejuvenate at all?”
While he rubbed her neck and accessed the spaces between her spine with his thumbs, she let her head droop on her chest. “Thank you. Yes, Gelion gave me a concoction that worked as well as immersion in water. Wish I could give some to the other Nerei. The potion is exactly what we’ve always wanted. Now, though, it’s wearing off. All my energy burned up with my last song. In fact, I’m surprised I can speak at all.”
“As hoarse as you are, you must have strained your voice. When we return to our world, we’ll get you back in the Gulf right away to heal it. The sound is kind of sexy though. Deep and raspy, what I always think of as a ‘whiskey voice’.”
“Why do you call it that?”
“Because of the rich, syrupy quality. Like fine whiskey laced with molten honey or liquid gold.”
“What a poetic way to describe laryngitis.” She grinned. “I like it.”
He turned her around. His eyes darkened, and he drew her to him. “Did I tell you how happy I am you’re with me again?”
As he lowered his mouth to hers and seared her with a passionate kiss, she froze.
When her body lit with desire, she melded her lips to his. This is heavenly. Then queasiness ruined the moment. But Gelion forced a similar response against my will. Now, I feel dirty. Not good enough for Thorne.
She pulled away. “Sorry, I’m not quite ready for this. Please understand.”
Pressing his forehead against hers, he smiled. “After what you went through? Though I don’t comprehend all of it, I get that he invaded you in ways which will take time for you to overcome. Don’t worry, we don’t need to rush anything.”
Relief allowed her to relax. “Besides, we’re not back in our own world yet. There’s still another barrier to cross.”
Thorne stood and stepped to the edge. After he dipped a finger in the water, he jumped back with a curse. “God above, that’s cold.” He held the digit up for her to see. The tip was white and shriveled. “I think I have frostbite.”
Athenia examined it. “Let’s hope you don’t lose the end.”
“Not going to be an issue if we can’t cross here. There’s no way I can swim in this.”
She groaned. “Well, at least I recognize this now. I drank a sip of the Styx, and my insides almost froze into a popsicle, so we know which river this is.”
“Isn’t the goddess your ancestor? Can you call on her to help us?”
“Worth a try.” Athenia knelt and bowed her head. “Mighty Styx, mother of the Nerei, I implore you to assist me one more time. Please give us a way for Thorne to safely cross.”
They waited.
The cloak slid to the ground, rustled, and shifted. When Athenia picked it up, the fabric flowed along her arms like a cat rubbing against her, then floated and slithered over to Thorne.
As the magical talisman slipped over his arms and down his back, it blurred and turned into a heavy-duty wetsuit. His entire body was covered, including his face. A respirator sprouted from his mouth.
He took out the breathing apparatus. “This must be our answer. Since I’m covered and have a way to breathe, I’ll be protected. Will you be okay?”
“Yes, when I fell into this river, the water was the coldest thing I ever felt, but I didn’t have any permanent damage.”
Athenia bowed her head again. “Thank you, goddess. I promise, neither of us will ever reveal anything we saw or experienced while in the underworld. We’ll keep the secrets of the afterlife.”
Thorne said, “That goes for me, too.”
A shape flowed upward. Beautiful Styx stood atop the water surrounded by light. “Daughter, I trust you’ll keep your vow because you’ve proved yourself worthy. Blessings to you and your mate.”
Athenia’s face burned. Oh no, how do I explain our relationship to her? “Though I appreciate your confidence in me, Thorne isn’t my mate. Please know his honor is impeccable, and you can trust him, too.” She extended her arms. “I owe you an offering. When I return to my own world, I’ll plant a garden in your name.”
The goddess laughed. “How sweet of you to remember me with flowers. Thank you. Now, to our business. While you struggled to escape from Gelion, I watched and observed your mate’s commitment to you. I’m not concerned about him keeping his word. Go in peace with my blessing.” As her merry chuckles echoed in strange contrast to the sterile atmosphere, she flowed back down into the water.
Athenia rose. “I’m sorry, Thorne, she has her own ideas about things. I never meant to imply we were more than mentor and apprentice.”
He stroked her cheek. “Surely more than that. Friends, at the very least.”
With the suit covering his face, she couldn’t read his expression, but his voice held an odd lilt.
“Are you teasing me?” She pointed a finger at him “Now is not the time.”
“True, we can discuss our relationship later. Ready?” He took her hand.
She gripped his, hard. “Don’t let go. We can easily get lost underwater, so we must stay together.”
Hands tightly clasped, they jumped into frigid blackness.
ΨΨΨ
As soon as she hit the water, Athenia shifted. The cold shocked her at first, causing her heart to stutter. Then, her gills took over, filtering oxygen to her body, and her heartbeat leveled out.
Stroking up and down with her tail flukes, she propelled them through stygian water as black as octopus ink. Since even her enhanced Nerei vision couldn’t pierce it, she relied on her internal sense of location to keep them moving in the right direction. Poor Thorne, I hope the suit protects him from this. Otherwise, he’ll never survive. Guess I need to trust that the help Styx provided will be enough. So far, she hasn’t let me down.
Swimming awkwardly with one arm while he kicked his feet, Thorne clutched her hand. Good, he’s moving, so he’s surviving the cold
. We can’t stay down here too long though. Eventually, the cold will kill us both.
Though she put on all possible speed, thrusting through the icy liquid was difficult. She was drained, about to collapse from all the challenges of the underworld, including her last siren song, and she wasn’t rejuvenating quickly enough. Keep going.
The cold creeped into her bones, and she lost momentum. She pushed hard, but it felt like trying to move through gelatin. The viscosity of the water increased, dragging her downward and contributing to her weakness. I’m so tired. With a little rest, I’d be able to focus better.
She steeled herself. No, stopping means death. If I go to sleep, I’ll never wake up. That will mean the end for Thorne, too. I can’t let him down.
She renewed her efforts, but her sense of location deserted her. Did I get turned around? I’m not sure. She paused, peering desperately around, but couldn’t make out anything. Which way is it to the other side?
When Thorne tugged her hand, she peered toward him, but she was blinded by the ebony water, and she was sure he couldn’t see her either. She squeezed his hand to reassure him and swam on, just to move forward. This is so confusing. We might be heading back where we started. Tendrils of fear coiled like water snakes through her gut.
She took deep breaths to calm her pounding heart. As the frantic beating in her ears subsided, a sound came to her.
“Athenia.”
Someone’s calling me. Hope energized her. The voice is coming from over there. Changing direction, she followed the shouts.
Again, someone yelled her name.
The summons became louder as she neared the source. After what seemed like hours, she scraped bottom and raised her head above water.
Sunshine illuminated a wooded area a few feet away. Although blackness surrounded her, light flared in a sharp line where rock met soft earth.
Dragging herself from the water, Athenia pulled Thorne out with her.
He shoved the apparatus off his mouth. “We’re back. You did it, and we’re safe.” He squeezed her hand.
Siren Descending Page 19