by A Y Venona
Sara wiped her tears. “I talked with Xander.
Jason immediately turned to her. “How is he? I need to see him.”
Sara bit her bottom lip. “His family is forbidding him to see you.”
Jason felt a rise of rage inside of him, bubbling like a molten lava coursing out of his veins as his vision darkened into a tunnel of red.
Chapter 21
After the tragedy that befell his best friend, Xander never wanted to step in An-Kian castle ever again. But they demanded their presence. It was the funeral of Fenrir and all the gods were in attendance, at least those who were awake or alive. Xander wouldn’t miss Fenrir’s funeral.
“Hey,” Riker called when Xander passed by his side.
Xander glanced to his direction. He did not really know how to act around him anymore. But when Riker smiled, a friendly one, not the sarcastic one that had become his signature look, Xander went to his side to give him a hug. But Riker pulled him closer, leaned to him with his mouth near his ear.
“I’m on your side,” Riker whispered.
Xander pulled back and stared at him. He was about to ask what it meant when Riker shook his head and then glanced toward the center of the gathering. Xander followed where his gaze went and understood what Riker was trying to tell him. Janus was standing over Fenrir’s sarcophagus.
“Xander,” Lawrence called him from the front, gesturing for him to claim his seat.
Xander nodded at Riker first before striding toward his parents. His gaze swept around, taking in the faces of the crowd. But someone was still missing. Xander gazed at the empty chair next to him. He assumed it was reserved for Jason. But something niggled at the back of his mind. So was it Fenrir then that Jason was searching for? Or was it Muzil? He suddenly felt a pang of guilt for not being with Jason when he discovered what happened to his father Fenrir. Xander couldn’t imagine what his mate was going through now that he lost two fathers. If either Lawrence or Hector would… Xander could not even finish his thought as it hurt even thinking about it.
The collective gasp from the crowd jerked Xander back to what was happening in front of him. The gods who were seated all rose as the newly arrived gods came to stand behind Janus. Xander frowned. What was so special about these gods? They all looked familiar. Where did he see them? This question invoked images in his mind of weathered sculptures at the old temples, abandoned altars, the ruins. Xander's eyes widened when he finally realized the identity of these gods. Gone was the youthful look on their faces, and their now wrinkled skin may have been taken as a slight if any artist would capture their likeness with one. Although they now looked aged and weak, there was no mistaken as to who they were—Poseidon, Neptune (they were actually different unlike what the myth said), Thor, Mitra, Set, Saturn, and Zeus who unlike what the myth portrayed was not Apollo's father though Apollo belonged to his house. These were the seventh generation gods, the oldest gods who were still alive. How old were they? Thousands? Millions? Except for Janus, all the gods looked surprised at their arrival.
Xander felt Lawrence’s hand gripping his tightly.
“Brothers, let us all welcome the presence of our dear elders,” Janus said. His voice was clear and confident. The gods responded by bowing their heads. “They are here with us, not just to honor our fallen comrade Fenrir, but to be part of this very special occasion, the day…” Janus paused and then shifted his gaze on me. “The day of our redemption.”
Murmurs of confusion rippled through the crowd.
“Do you mind clarifying what you’re saying?”
At first, Xander believed the speaker was one of the gods behind them, but then later realized it was his father Hector who had dared to ask. Janus grinned and eyed his father like a serpent would to his prey. And just when Janus was about to respond, the siren blared.
Whispered voices rose in the garden.
“Silence!”
The whispered voices halted like a huge rock was dropped in their midst. But it was not Janus' doing. He was not the one who demanded silence. It was Zeus himself. Xander watched as the ancient god's eyes glow brightly. Despite this display, the siren was still wailing.
“I’ll check on it,” Melo said.
"Don't bother," Janus responded. "It will soon fade." And soon enough the siren stopped. "See, the problem's over."
“Don’t you know what it meant?” Melo said, his voice indignant.
“Of course, a breach in the Shield. But tell me, Melo, is there anyone else who is not with us today capable of shutting down your mighty Shield?”
At Melo’s silence, Janus’s mouth twisted into a smile.
“So Janus,” a white-haired god said. He was standing a few seats from Xander’s right. “Aren’t you concerned what the siren was about?”
Janus' attention shifted to this god. "Thoth, it's a part of today's event. The vampires are somewhere in Pershiane to claim their rightful place."
“Pershiane is not their territory,” Hector replied.
"Is this Hades realm, our new home?" Janus said as though he was reciting a poem. "There is nothing here but an infestation of soulless bloodsucking demons. Those words came from one of the surviving translations of the original journal of Ki. This was his impression the first time they landed here. Of course, this secret was only passed on to a few."
"So instead of providing peace between two warring races, you opted to let them kill each other." Xander was not even fully aware that he had voiced his thought. Now, all gazes were fixed on him.
"It all depends on you, Alexander."
“Well, then let me do my job,” Xander said. But when he turned around with an intention to leave, the gods behind him blocked his way.
“Let him go,” Lawrence said. “He is a guardian. It’s his responsibility to defend this place.”
“Oh, is that so?” Janus said. “What about his responsibility to us? What about his responsibility to his own people?”
Lawrence glared at Janus and in a voice filled with anger, he screamed, “You have no right!”
“What about our right, Lawrence? What about our chance for redemption?”
"What are you talking about? All that my son ever did was to be born." Tears poured down on Lawrence's cheeks. "And you are all selfish bastards who are willing to murder my son for what? For an old prophecy that may not even be true?"
Janus took a few steps but Hector came to intercept him.
“Don’t you dare,” Hector said.
Janus narrowed his eyes, "I want to tell this to his face."
“This is as far as you can get.”
Janus huffed and then smiled. "We are beyond asking, Lawrence. Too many lives have been lost for what? For the sin of one person."
"One person? Our own ancestor?
Who was what? A distant relative from seven hundred thousand years ago?"
"But, perhaps, it's time for all of us to know your father Apollo's greatest secret."
Lawrence huffed, “Apollo’s secret? Like him helping Muzil hide Jason from you?”
Janus clenched his jaw and said, "Tell me, Lawrence. Where is your friend Muzil now? Why did he leave Fenrir raising his son alone? Tell me where is this father who had loved his son so much he wanted to hide him from his fate? Where? Answer me?"
Lawrence did not respond. And so Janus continued. "You didn't know? You didn't know that he's dead? You didn't know that your friend Muzil died? And you know who killed him? Your father Apollo. Yes, Lawrence, your father killed your best friend."
“You’re lying,” Lawrence answered. “You’re lying!”
Hector put his arms around his spouse and held him.
Then Janus turned his attention toward Xander.
“He did it to protect you.”
Chapter 22
“So,” Aaron started. “You’re going to abduct Xander.”
“I’ve got permission from the gods.” Jason was eyeing the silky drapes on the window. They were in the living room and he was standing with
his hands on his waist, contemplating about the things he would take with him.
“What kind of world is this where the gods condone abduction?” Hearst asked. He and Aaron were at a corner near the door. Their gazes hot were on his skin following his every movement.
“Apparently this world,” Aaron answered.
Jason glanced toward them, still deep in his thought. He heard their words, but he was too preoccupied to catch the message behind the usage. He again eyed the item hanging by the window. Alright, he had enough of this contemplation, so he took the drapes down and grinned when he found it silky enough for what he was planning to do with it.
“This will do,” he said before he ripped the cloth into strips again and again. And when he was satisfied with its length and width, he called Aaron to him.
“Wait, wait, wait,” Aaron said, his voice alarmed. “Are you going to use that strips on me?”
“I’m going to tie your hands with this to test its strength.”
“Why?” Aaron said, looking scandalous.
“Xander is definitely going to struggle, so I’m going to tie his hands.”
“Why not just use a rope?” Hearst asked.
“Rope is harsher on his skin. This silk is better. Now, Aaron, your hands.”
“Uh, you know that Xander is a guardian, right? A warrior? I think he's a lot stronger than me so the best candidate will be…" He glanced to Hearst’s direction.
“What me? No way.”
“Just give me your hands, Hearst.”
At first, Hearst was looking like he was going to punch Jason, but then later decided against it. With a smirk, he ambled toward him and thrust his hands to Jason’s face.
“Why, oh why we didn’t have this kink when we’re fucking?”
“Hey, too much information?” Aaron said.
Ignoring Hearst's comment, Jason wrapped the strips around his hands. When Hearst could not pull his hands out of it, Jason untangled it.
“Now, I need a blanket.”
His friends raised their brows.
“What for?” Aaron asked.
“It’s going to be cold outside, Xander will need it.”
Their faces wrinkled in confusion.
“Okay, do you need a pillow too?” Hearst asked.
“Nah, he can use my shoulder as a pillow.”
“You know what, Jay, have you ever considered that Xander will not like it and he will fight us and kick our asses?” Aaron said.
“I’ll handle it,” Jason said. Here’s the thing. He could definitely handle Xander, but he also did not want to hurt him. “But you’re right. So, Aaron, bring your sleeping potion with you. I think I’ll try it on him.”
Aaron stared at Jason with an open mouth, and then he turned to Hearst who responded by shaking his head.
“How did you know I have one in the drawer?”
“Well, I saw you using it in your tea a moment ago,” Jason answered.
Aaron’s mouth remained open and this time it was wider. Hearst seemed to think it was cute because now he was mirroring Aaron’s incredulous face. Jason eyed his two friends with suspicion.
“Am I missing something here?”
They both answered, “No!”
✽✽✽
“Oh shit, oh shit, oh shit!” Aaron said when his steps faltered a little. They were carrying Jason’s dead weight, and though he was holding Jason’s legs, the man was just simply made of bricks.
“He’s fucking heavy!” Hearst said, which would make sense since he was holding Jason’s upper body by the shoulders. They could have planned this a little better, but the decision was made instantaneously. Aaron and Hearst rarely agreed on something, so agreeing on this thing—sneaking their alpha out of the island to return him to their island—surely was born out of desperation.
Earlier on their way to the Castle An-Ki where the gods were waiting for them for Marcus’ funeral, Aaron and Hearst were looking for an opportunity to convince Jason to drink the sleep-potioned tea that Aaron was carrying. The two had decided that they had enough. Although Jason turned out to be a god in this world, it gave him nothing but misery. And now that they found Marcus though in a very tragic state, it was time to go back to the island with or without Jason's mate, which obviously did not want to come if Jason would resort to an abduction.
But out of the blue while Aaron was holding the tea mug in one hand and the potion in the other, Jason grabbed the mug and drank its content. A few seconds later, he was down on the ground. Asleep.
“How long is this potion going to last?” Hearst asked.
“Seven to ten hours.”
“How did you know?”
“I tried it.”
“On yourself?”
“Yeah, a couple of times.”
Hearst shifted Jason’s weight on his other shoulder that Aaron was forced to move to the other side. They used the forest to cover their activity. This was actually Jason’s plan. He would buy a ship and dock it at the river connected to the lake. But instead of sailing from the lake to the river and out into the ocean, Jason decided to use the forest so no one would be around seeing him carrying Xander. Now they were using this same plan to escape out of Pershiane; only that instead of Jason carrying Xander, he was the one being carried.
“He’s so going to be mad at us when he wakes up,” Hearst said, gasping.
“He’ll get over it,” Aaron said as he once again wobbled. “Shit.”
“Would you believe it that Jason got Xander, a male of all thing, pregnant? I’m gonna need to check myself. I’ve been vomiting lately too,” Hearst said.
“I think it’s safe to say that you’re not pregnant. You don’t have the compatible godlike genes.”
“That’s just it. We don’t really know what Jason’s sperm can do.”
“Ew, I don’t really want imagine Jason’ sperm.”
Ahead of them, the river came in sight. The trees, however, obstructed their views of the entire riverbank so they could not see where the boat was moored.
Hearst dropped to his knees, still carrying the dead-weight of Jason. Exhausted beyond measure, they decided to take a little break behind a huge tree and a wall of tall bushes.
“Do you even have clean water in your pouch?"
“No,” Aaron answered. “But the boat has supplies. Stay here, I’ll get it.”
“Do you know where it is?”
Aaron got up and stared at the huge tree.
“What are you doing?” Hearst asked.
“Looking for a high ground to see the whole area.”
“And your high ground is on top of a tree? Can you even climb?”
Aaron grinned. “Watch me.”
He hugged the tree trunk and inched his way up, ignoring the roughness rubbing against his skin. It was a slow climb, but he managed to reach a branch that was high enough to have a clear view of the area. With both his arms and legs wrapped around it, he swept his gaze across the river. There was nothing sort of wharf to which a boat could dock. Nor was there any boat moored by the riverbanks. If he were Jason where would he hide his boat? A hissing sound behind him abruptly ended his rumination. His heart thrummed faster. His legs and arms gripped the branch so tight as though his life depended on it.
“Don’t move,” Hearst said from below him.
And just when Aaron thought he would not live to see the day he would set his feet back in his island, he heard a swish sound of a knife thrown into the air and following immediately by a thwack sound of it hitting flesh. It was only when the snake fell on the ground did Aaron get a glimpse of the snake. Holy crown of Hades! It was humongous.
“You’re welcome, by the way,” Hearst hollered.
Sometimes Aaron forgot that Hearst was trained with Jason. Although there were a lot of things that Hearst could not do, he was a skilled fighter in his own right. But if there was something Aaron was good at, it was with this one.
“Hearst, if you’re Jason and you’re planning to elope wi
th the love of your life via water, what kind of boat are you going to buy?”
“Something big and comfortable.”
“But big boat attracts attention so what is he going to do to hide it?”
“Hmmm… good question. I heard the guardians talked about this glamor that can be used for disguise.”
"So if I were to cover the boat with a glamor, it would blend in with its environment and appear as though it was not there."
“You’re right, and I believe every guardian has a necklace to see through this disguise.”
“Oh, that’s what that new necklace is for. Go hand it to me then.”
“On it.”
Hearst took the necklace off Jason and tossed it at Aaron. It took Hearst four attempts before Aaron caught it. The necklace had a metal chain and a ruby stone for a pendant. With excitement coursing through his veins, he put it around his neck. Everything around him became clear. He saw the big boat as big as Argus anchored a few feet from the river bank. But Aaron also saw something else, something that made the hair stand up on the back of his neck. He almost fell off the tree in his rush to climb down.
“What the fuck?” Hearst said, alarmed.
“Shit, there are a lot of boats, a lot of them, not just one.”
Hearst frowned in confusion.
“Let me see it.”
Aaron handed the necklace that Hearst immediately wore around his neck. He crouched down to see the river through the bushes.
‘What are you seeing now?” Aaron asked hunched over behind him.
“A lot of them.”
“Boats right?”
“A lot of hooded creatures with red eyes disembarking from their boats and are now wading their way to the banks.”
“Hood creatures with red eyes? What do you think are they?”
Hearst pulled himself out of the bushes and faced Aaron.
“I think they’re going to ambush the island.”
“What made you say that?”
"Because…yesterday I overheard the guardians were talking about glamor necklace being a hit in the black market. So this must be it…so they can sneak into the island undetected."