by Rae Else
Despite how fitting it was, it left her feeling hollow. What she wouldn’t give for Dan to have just talked to her instead. Did he think that giving her a present would make up for how distant he’d been? Well it didn’t. She snapped the lid shut.
- Chapter Ten -
In Our Coils
Soft rays of sun dappled El’s eyelids. Raising herself on her elbows, she blinked in the light. She’d forgotten to draw the blinds. It was only dawn, but her sleepiness fell away as she took in the vista. Pastel yellow and orange crept along the horizon; a glimmer harried the ocean. There was a stillness to everything as if the day had yet to draw its breath.
El threw back the covers and went to the window. Outside, the ocean seemed to stretch infinitely. She recalled the bay that they’d come into last night and felt a rush of excitement to explore. Helena’s warning to keep to the main house and terrace dampened her spirits momentarily. But it was early and El was likely the only one awake. A short walk couldn’t hurt. She could be back before anyone else was up.
Dressed in shorts, a tank top and boots, she was about to sneak out the door when she caught sight of the blue box by her bed. Despite her frustration with Dan, she took out the necklace and put it on. It was a birthday present and it was sweet of him to have remembered.
She crept down the corridor and through the living room. The doors were pushed open revealing a view that was breathtakingly beautiful. The island stretched out below, forming rocky alcoves where coral beaches nestled and the surf played.
She heard splashing. Tearing her eyes away from the panorama, she looked along to the infinity pool. A man was powering through the water, doing the butterfly stroke. Along the terrace there was a patio where Helena was already seated at a wicker table opposite a fair-haired man. So much for being the only one up. Apparently the Carrases were early risers.
‘El,’ Helena greeted, ‘come join us.’
As she took a seat, El spotted someone else coming out onto the terrace. He had the gaze of a dryad and carried a silver tray in his hands. The aroma of tea wafted through the air.
‘Tea, madam?’ The dryad asked El.
‘Please.’
The dryad set ornate tea strainers over cups and began pouring. El chanced a glance at the man sat at the end of the table. His complexion and hair were lighter than Helena’s. Grey peppered his temples: he was likely in his eighties or nineties. His expression was overcast as though he were brooding on something as he sipped his coffee.
El’s gaze fell to the paraphernalia on the table: the teapot, cups and saucers. Her thoughts slipped to Helena again. Her gown was another white lace number. Paired with the tea set, she looked as if she belonged to a previous century.
Given Helena’s extensive age, a hundred and forty, it was highly likely that she had been around in the Edwardian era. Despite the heat of the sun, a chill ran down El’s spine at the thought of how long this woman had lived.
‘Your tonic, madam,’ the dryad said, setting down a red-coloured concoction before Helena.
As she brought the glass to her lips, El detected a peculiar metallic odour. Janos had said that only the heads of line regularly imbibed empousa blood: it prolonged their lives. Helena drained the glass before adding a slice of lemon to her tea with a pair of silver tongs.
El’s heart skipped a beat as she wondered what had happened to Janos.
‘Where’s Janos?’ She asked.
‘I’ve given him lodgings on the north side of the island,’ Helena said.
‘Can I see him?’ El said.
‘I’m afraid that won’t be possible.’
El’s eyes widened. What had Helena done with him? Was he chained in a dungeon? Although El couldn’t imagine how any restraints could hold a graeae.
‘Until proof of Janos’ story is brought here,’ Helena continued, ‘I do not want you going anywhere near him. I have a duty to investigate his allegation against the Order but in the meantime, other than a guard, he will remain in isolation.’
‘I need him to check on my friend’s timeline. I need to know if he and the others are okay,’ El said.
‘I’ll get another graeae to check on them for you,’ Helena offered.
‘They used Janos’ blood so they won’t be detectable to anyone but him.’
‘That is regrettable, my dear, but with regard to you seeing Janos, my answer is still the same. My grandson, Varus, is guarding him presently. I will see to it that he talks to him of your concerns. Should Janos see anything concerning your friends, Varus will tell me.’
Helena seemed colder in the pale morning. El fiddled with her necklace, hoping that Dan would be back soon.
‘Milk?’ Helena asked, gesturing to the jug, which El took.
‘Can I at least see Alex this morning?’ El asked.
‘Of course.’ Helena smiled. ‘I’ve arranged for repairs to be done to your vessel, you can inform him that a crew will arrive this afternoon.’
‘Thanks,’ El replied.
‘Talus will accompany you,’ Helena continued, looking over to the swimming pool at the man doing lengths.
The man stopped as he reached the end of the pool and pulled himself out of the water. He had shoulder-length, black hair and pale skin. His cheekbones were finely moulded and his features flatter than those common in the Carras family. His nose and lips more delicate. El thought that one of his parents were likely of Asian descent.
He picked up a towel and dried his face, shaking his hair a little before wrapping his towel around his waist.
‘Hello.’ Talus’ grey eyes left El dizzy.
‘Hi,’ El said.
‘I’ll take you, but I need coffee first.’ Talus ventured to the door and called, ‘More coffee, Claus.’ He joined them at the table. She noticed that his hands were a little translucent. She found herself surprised at how normal that seemed.
‘Talus will be your protector,’ Helena continued. ‘He is our most powerful graeae and will soon be one of the new Triad.’
El nodded but grimaced inwardly. Protector? More like guard. She found herself wondering how many catastrophes Talus had foreseen. How many deaths had he predicted to win his position?
Helena put down her tea, then gestured to the towel-wrapped man opposite her. ‘Presently, the only arete on the island are Talus,’ she then nodded at the older man, ‘and my son Phaethon and his family. You are quite safe. And as you know, access on and off the island is only given to one with both empousa and Carras blood.’
El looked out at the far-reaching ocean. So one needed Carras and empousa blood to get off the island too. What Helena meant was that El and the others were here to stay … for as long as Helena decided.
Helena continued, ‘Talus will be staying close to you at all times as I’m expecting more company later. I’ve arranged for some of our relations to visit. Some are Order members who, aware of your dealings with the Opposition, may not behave as familially as they should.’
El swallowed. Knowing how unfriendly Order members could be, she decided that having a graeae guard might not be such a bad thing.
Phaethon pushed his chair out and stood up. ‘And will there be games tonight, Mother?’
‘No, not tonight. It wouldn’t be fair after a day of travelling.’ Although Helena’s tone hadn’t changed, the tension with which she gripped her fine-boned china would have silenced El.
Phaethon wasn’t dissuaded and put his hands on the table. ‘This is not the way.’
‘Phaethon, do not test my patience.’
He glared at her, then stormed inside.
‘Forgive my son,’ Helena said. ‘He is … what was your word last night? Volatile.’
El sipped more of her tea, wondering what that had been about. What games was Phaethon talking about? Why were more relatives coming here, some of whom were Order members?
As she fretted, she studied the house’s exterior for the first time. Last night its shape and texture had been unclear. It was more rustic th
an El had expected, more fluid. Its walls were fashioned from the same limestone as the cliffs and blended seamlessly with the rock it sat upon. It reminded El of the giant staircase they’d walked up last night, worn down as if storms themselves had been responsible for carving its shape and the rooms within.
There was also an ornate carving above the door of two serpents entwined, one was sculpted with black veined marble, the other had red veins running through it. Between their flowing lines, directly above the door, were sculpted letters: Moria.
‘What’s Moria?’ El asked.
‘The house, dear. It’s called Moria,’ Helena answered.
A man with curly brown hair and tawny skin came out onto the terrace and collapsed into the seat that Phaethon had recently vacated. ‘I need coffee.’ He groaned. ‘I’m too old for all this.’ He looked up and grinned at Talus. ‘Oh, that’s right, I’m not even half your age.’ He looked at El. ‘So you must be El. How are you liking Yia Yia Land?’
Helena shot him a glare and he shifted uncomfortably in his seat.
‘I’m Theon,’ he continued sheepishly, ‘a cousin once removed, but don’t try to understand the family connections or your head’ll explode.’ His stare made her breath quicken, identifying him as a typhon.
Before El could reply, Claus, the dryad arrived back at the table, the freshly brewed pot of coffee stealing the limelight.
‘Claus, mate, have I ever told you what a legend you are?’ Theon enthused as the dryad poured out drinks for him and Talus.
The serious-faced dryad nodded.
El couldn’t help smiling and thought about how Dan would be salivating at the rich aroma too if he was here. She detected a tinge of amusement in Helena’s expression as she listened to Theon’s stream of chatter.
As Helena got up, she whispered to Talus, ‘Ensure everyone’s back before the first guests arrive,’ leaving El to wonder what this afternoon would bring.
- Chapter Eleven -
Live Fast
El and Luke stood at the water’s edge. She started to take off her top but stopped as she felt Luke’s gaze running down the neckline of her swimsuit.
He flushed. ‘Uh, I thought we’d walk over?’
‘What do you mean? Are you going to freeze the sea?’
Luke laughed. ‘You got skates with you?’
She grinned and pulled her top back down.
‘Follow me.’ Luke’s gaze was on the water but as he stepped into it, his foot stayed on the surface.
El stepped out beside him, sure that at any moment she would sink. As she tottered, Luke laughed and took her hand. They walked out over the water together, Luke’s steady gaze creating a route to the yacht as hard as concrete. Even the surges that rolled in were borne away as he governed the sea.
At first El watched the surface as they walked with a mixture of incredulity and apprehension. If Luke lost focus they’d plummet beneath. But glancing at him, she noticed his gaze never wavered. He concentrated fully on the glimmering road ahead. El thought about how at home he’d looked these last few weeks in the swimming pool, but that was nothing to this feat. He was subduing the sea, bending it to his will.
The aquamarine waters, although beautiful, couldn’t compete with Luke’s lively, emerald eyes. El took the opportunity that his concentration awarded to admire his handsome profile. She remembered what he’d said about most arete having an affinity with their element and she could see what he meant. His surety and litheness as he led the way showed that he really was in his element.
When they reached the yacht, El glanced across the azure waters. The bay seemed to belong to a different world to the one they’d inhabited last night. Talus’ hazy figure wasn’t visible in the bright glare. Although, no doubt, he was still on the shore monitoring them remotely.
Someone leaned over the railings above them. A woman with wavy hair and bronzed skin. Theon landed beside her: he’d flown across.
El accepted a hand up from Theon. Luke followed.
On the deck, Theon introduced them to the woman on board. ‘El, Luke, this is my sister, Eirene.’
She wore a strappy champagne top and a pink pleated skirt, ending mid-calf. El took in her cool gaze: a hydra. With her long locks and pretty figure, she was striking. El imagined her like the goddess Aphrodite, born of the frothing waves.
They joined Alex who was sat up on the sofa, smoking. When he caught sight of El, he leapt up and hugged her. Soon enough, El had caught him up on everything that had happened since they’d parted.
Eirene and Theon disappeared, giving them some privacy, or at least the appearance of it. El tried to explain that, despite Helena’s welcome last night, it was clear that something else was afoot today.
‘Helena said that more relatives are arriving this afternoon. Some of them are Order members. Helena’s son, Phaethon, was at breakfast too. When he heard that more relations were coming, he asked if there’d be games tonight—’
‘And what did she say?’ Luke asked.
‘She said not tonight.’
Alex leaned his elbow on the table, his chin propped thoughtfully on his fist. ‘I don’t like this.’
Luke was frowning too.
‘I don’t like this at all,’ Alex murmured.
El thought about Helena’s interrogation of her. She’d been searching for any signs that indicated she had the full power. Was this how Helena was going to test her? Put her in a match with Order members. El shuddered at the thought. The memories of the Olympia were fresh in her mind, thanks to Helena’s questioning. The glittering warmth around El seemed subdued as she contemplated what could be coming her way.
Theon jumped down the steps and floated lightly onto the deck. ‘I think we can answer some of your questions.’
Eirene joined them, throwing a reproving glance at Theon, then looked agitated. ‘Sorry for eavesdropping but we think we know what’s going on.’
They joined them at the table. Theon looked at Eirene and grasped his sister’s hand. ‘I won’t let anything happen.’
Eirene lowered her gaze. ‘Like we have a choice.’ She looked up at everyone. ‘Fighting isn’t exactly my forte.’
‘So Helena is going to make us fight?’ El said.
‘With your grandma’s passing,’ Eirene answered, ‘Yia Yia’s on the hunt for the next inheritor of the full power.’
El frowned. She’d known that Helena’s happy reception of her seemed too good to be true.
‘I told you earlier not to try to understand the family connections,’ Theon added, ‘well tough shit – for this, you need to.’ He hopped to his feet and reached out to El. ‘I’ve got something to show you. How are you with heights?’
‘Uh, alright, I think.’
‘I’ll catch you guys up here,’ Eirene said, looking at Alex and Luke. ‘But you should go see this now, El, before the other Carrases get here.’
As El got to her feet and nodded, Theon scooped her up. The next moment, they were rocketing skywards.
- Chapter Twelve -
Pathways to Power
As they barrelled through the air, the landscape beneath them passed in a blur. Theon kept El securely in his arms, buffeted by the currents that kept him airborne. They slowed and Theon pointed out a building on the northern side of the island.
‘That’s the northern house, Nomia,’ he explained, close to El’s ear so she could hear over the breeze, ‘that’s where the games are held.’
El could just make out a theatre shape upon the top of the cliff, overlooking the sea. Nomia was where Helena had said she’d housed Janos too.
They came back down to earth next to the main house in a section of garden that El hadn’t seen yet. Entering the building on the ground floor, Theon led the way down corridor after corridor. She soon lost track of the way they’d come or which direction they were facing.
Finally, he pushed back a heavy door into a large room and turned on a few lamps. The room’s rafters and ceiling were a sky blue, with fl
oorboards the colour of driftwood. There were no windows; El guessed they were in the centre of the building. Bookcases were chiselled into two of the walls, giving a permanency to the shelves as if the books had always been there. Theon hadn’t brought her here to read, had he?
He pointed to the other wall, devoid of shelves and books. El stepped over to look at the white limestone. It had cracks running down its surface from the top of the wall, almost to the bottom. Someone should look at this she thought, worrying about the structural integrity of the room.
As she drew closer, she realised they weren’t cracks but writing.
‘It’s part of the Carras family tree,’ Theon said. ‘There’s a long gallery beyond here, detailing further back. But this is fourteen generations of our family. Yia Yia’s mother, Gaia, started this one: she was trying to identify the common traits between those who bore the full power.
‘With the full power, you’ve got to think about all arete as one big family. Yia Yia’s theorised that those arete that have the full power are all related: all descendants from the original arete who possessed it. With me so far?’
El nodded.
‘The eye symbol indicates those serpents who had the full power.’ Theon pointed at a name, with the symbol of an eye next to it. ‘You can see here that, for two generations, Yia Yia’s mother, Gaia, then Iris, her daughter, had it. Skipping a generation, it must have manifested in another serpent line elsewhere in the world.
‘But then it came back the following generation when it manifested in your grandmother, Helena.’
