What was with everyone talking to me in riddles? I just wanted one person to give me a straight answer.
I threw up my hands in annoyance. “Can you elaborate, please? A pawn for what?”
Dragos averted his eyes away from me and gazed into the fire. “I’ve said too much. Tobias will reach out. I’m sure of it.”
I let out a cry of frustration and sprang out of my chair. This was insanity. “I need to not be in the same room with you right now.”
He didn’t protest as I bolted out the door in search of The Keeper. I hoped he would have something sensical to say at least.
After searching several rooms, I came upon The Keeper in the Library of Covens. His ageless face was fixated over an ancient scroll he had sprawled out over a mahogany desk. He wore a hooded shirt with the sleeves rolled up, revealing ink-blotted symbols up and down his arms.
I strolled in and took a seat across from him. Not wanting to disturb him in his studies, I sat in silence and waited for him to acknowledge me. I watched his face twist and turn in contemplation.
Without looking up, he pushed the scroll toward me. It was in Latin. I could make out some of the words, but most of it looked like gibberish. I shook my head, puzzled.
His eyes lit up. “It’s a list of sacred locations. Places to draw power from. I am working on translating it for you. It will prove useful in the future.”
He was always one step ahead, and I was grateful for it. I was running out of people to turn to. Without Aldric and Valentina, my list of allies was a short one.
My eyes welled up. “Gabriel, what should I do?”
The Keeper’s head popped up at the sound of his true name. I knew it was an honor that wasn’t bestowed on many. I was touched that he had shared it with me.
His eyes darkened. “You will have to consult with the Fates. If they favor you, then you will be shown the way.”
A lump formed in my throat. The Fates, or the Moirai as is their proper name, could only be called upon by the gods. I was no god, and the location of their temple was unknown. Legend had it that Apollo struck down anyone that knew where they were in order to prevent those who would try to change their fate.
“You and I both know that’s impossible.” My head was pounding.
The Keeper smiled. “Nothing is impossible, my dear. I know where they are.” He had a mischievous twinkle in his eye.
My heart raced. “I don’t understand. Not a living soul could know that.”
His hands began to shake with excitement. “You are correct. That is why Apollo entrusted them to someone who was not.”
The realization hit me like a ton of bricks. Of course. The Keeper was not only an immortal, but also the protector of our kind.
My heart raced. “You know where they are?”
The Keeper raced around the Library in a fit of urgency, gathering scrolls and texts in his arms like a kid in a toy store. His eyes lit up as he laid them out before me.
He laid out a map and pointed to a location. “There, in that cave, the Fates sleep.”
My mouth dropped open. “They’re here?”
His eyes lit up. “We must prepare. You must learn how to summon them the proper way. If not, they could cut your life thread in an instant.”
I jumped to my feet, my stomach in knots. “But I’m not a god. They will know this and strike me dead.”
The Keeper grabbed me by the shoulders. “Gray, you are a Dhampir. A descendant of the gods. Their blood flows through your veins. They will not reject you.”
I shivered as I held the map in my trembling hands. “I guess there’s only one way to find out.”
If he was wrong, the Serpent Bearers would be the least of my problems.
Seven
Dragos burst into my room, which he was no longer using since I had returned. His face was flushed and his eyes were bright red. Beads of sweat dripped down his temples.
His jaw clenched. “Are you insane? Please, Gray, do not do this.”
I sighed. “You should learn to knock first.”
His veins bulged out of the side of his neck. “I know you’re upset about Aldric, but doing this is suicide and I won’t allow it.”
I laughed. “I am touched by your concern, but I don’t need your permission, Dragos.” His attempt to dissuade me with force was not very convincing.
His eyes flickered, wild and unhinged. “You really love him that much? That you would risk your life for him?”
I snapped, “I would do anything for him. No amount of champagne or seduction is going to change that.”
Dragos sank down onto my bed. His eyes pleaded with me and then darkened. “If anything happens to you, I will burn that temple down to the ground.”
I sighed. “Nothing is going to happen. Many have tried and failed, for over four hundred years, to destroy me. I’m still here. Have a little faith.”
I wasn’t sure if I was trying to convince Dragos or myself. But I needed him to believe I could do it. It might be the only thing I had to cling to in there.
His muscles relaxed as he stood and walked over to me. He caressed my cheek with his fingers. I pressed them to my lips. Without warning, he kissed me, soft and slow. I let him.
I gasped for air as we pulled apart, the taste of salt and honey still lingering on my lips. My body trembled.
My jaw tightened. “Please, don’t do that again. This thing between us…it can’t continue.”
He snickered. “Keep telling yourself that, love.”
I didn’t know how I was going to explain any of this to Aldric. He was going to be furious, and Dragos would enjoy every minute of it. I should have never gone back to the cabin that night. I should have left right after the Striga party.
“If anything does happen to me, please tell Aldric I’m sorry. Can you do that for me?”
Dragos hesitated before he nodded. “I’ll be waiting for you outside the cave. You will not be alone.”
His devotion worried me. For the first time ever, I knew his intentions were true. I felt it in my bones. He had no plans to let me go. He didn’t care that I loved Aldric. It was a strange feeling to sit with through the added uncertainty that loomed ahead.
I set out for the cave at sunset with Dragos and my bag of offerings. The Keeper had procured one for each Fate. A ball of yarn for Clotho, woven with gold thread and infused with cedar smoke. For Lachesis, a scroll from Apollo’s temple, covered in soil from Diana’s Forest. And for Atropos, a bronze dagger, doused in Nectunt water from the ceremony room in the Hall of Secrets. Air, earth, water, and with the Narcissus magic, I was the fire.
We carried torches to light our path down the back side of the island that the Hall of Secrets was situated on, a part of the landscape I hadn’t seen before. I didn’t even know it existed. My heart thumped loudly in my chest as the cave came into view.
I spun to face Dragos. “This is as far as you can go. Wish me luck.” I was going to need it.
Dragos shook his head. “I should go with you. This isn’t right.”
I swallowed hard, willing myself to be brave. “You know what will happen if you do. Nothing good can come if we’re both dead.”
He bit his lip, his eyes full of longing. “Gray, I—”
I put my hand up to silence him. “This isn’t goodbye. I’ll see you on the other side.” I couldn’t afford to let my mind wander over possible finalities. I had to stay focused.
I paused at the entrance to the cave and glanced back one more time. I lifted my chin and gave him my bravest smile. He gave me a wink right before I turned around and descended into darkness.
The path inside was an uphill climb, steep and jagged over dirt and rocks. I sucked in a deep breath. The air was damp and tinged with the scent of clove and frankincense, the lingering traces of previous offerings.
The torch I carried was bright, but the cave was pitch black, so it did little to help me navigate. I had to pull from the Narcissus to enhance my senses. Its magic coursed through
my veins at full speed, burning the back of my throat.
The scent of cloves grew more pungent the higher I climbed. A flicker of candlelight created dancing shadows on the cave walls up ahead. I sensed I was getting closer to the altar.
As I reached the top, my stomach was in knots. I let out a gasp as I moved into the center of the altar room. Three magnificent stone statues stood before me, over twenty feet tall. Their faces were frozen and twisted in agony. They seemed to glower down at me. My whole body trembled at the sight of them.
My nerves were stripped raw as I laid the offerings at their feet. So far so good. I’m still breathing. I raised my hands with caution and closed my eyes.
I took a deep and purposeful breath. “Air, earth, water, and I am the fire. Air, earth, water, and I am the fire. Air, earth, water, and I am the fire.”
I waited in the silent altar room, shivering. I waited for a sign. I waited to die. A tingle shot up my spine as a cold breeze fluttered past me. A rumbling sounded in my ears. I grabbed my head as a sharp pain shot through it. They were crushing my skull.
I cried out. “Air, earth, water, and I am the fire.” I repeated it over and over again as the pressure in my brain intensified, bringing me to my knees. You have to focus, Gray.
Aldric’s face flashed in my mind. A memory of the night we linked. The images swept through me like a hurricane. I could see his eyes twinkling and his lips smiling back at me. I could feel him. A defiance rose up in my chest. I will not die today. I gathered my strength and pushed back against the pain.
It was as if I was in my body and out of it at the same time. I could hear my own voice screaming as the pressure threatened to explode my head. I clawed at the ground but kept pushing.
A light flickered from behind my closed eyes. It crackled and sizzled around me. The pain began to lessen. My heart heaved in my chest. I gasped for air as my pulse raced. I opened my eyes and stood up to face the statues.
My voice was hoarse. “Guide me…please.”
Another sharp pain pierced my head. I wrenched forward. New images flashed through my mind. They were not mine. They rushed in like bullets. Like a collage of death and destruction. Blood soaked faces, torn limbs, and endless fields of death.
My palms hit the cold ground as I fell forward. Don’t fight it. The images came faster—towering giants wielding shimmering swords, running through barren wastelands, the sky raining blood. I could feel it on my face. Shadow demons tugged at my sleeves, my hair, and tore at my flesh.
A hand from above lifted me up and wrapped me in his arms. I looked into his eyes—violet lavender with silver flecks. I felt peace. I was surrounded by golden light, winged gods, and fiery chariots. My heart burst and tears streamed down my cheeks. A symphony of trumpets rang in my ears. The darkness dissipated, and everything went still.
I peeled my eyes open and blinked a few times to regain focus. The altar room was quiet. I pulled myself to my feet and gasped as I looked up. The statues, the Fates, they were kneeling now.
The pain in my head was gone and my heartbeat had returned to normal. My offerings were gone, and in their place was a single pomegranate seed. The key to stopping Lamia. The Fates had spoken and given me their blessing. They showed me what I needed to do.
Dragos was pacing back and forth when I exited the cave. His eyes widened at the sight of me, alive and in one piece. Without warning, he pulled me to him and wrapped his arms around me.
His closeness didn’t offend me this time. He stepped back and cupped my face in his hands. He looked me up and down as if he was trying to convince himself that I was real.
I clasped my hands around his. “I’m okay. Everything is going to be okay.”
He nodded, relieved. “Did you get what you needed?”
I felt dazed as I nodded. “And more. I’m trying to piece it all together, but I think I know how to stop Lamia’s followers.”
Dragos let out a sigh, his brow furrowing. “What else did they show you?”
My heart raced. I whispered, “I saw the gods.”
Eight
It took all night to explain to Dragos and The Keeper what I had seen in the visions from the Fates. I still didn’t understand it all myself. I tried to express how I inexplicably knew from the images what was required to defeat Lamia and the Serpent Bearers. There was a joy that filled my heart when I knew I could save Aldric. That I could save us all.
“The Fates allowed me into their memories. I saw the past, present, and future all at once. They showed me a war between the gods and the demons. Between the shadows and the light. A war that began before time existed.”
I took a slow steady sip of my whiskey, savoring the peppery warmth as it slid down my throat. The three of us gathered around the fire in the study as they waited with bated breath for me to continue.
“Everything began with Hera. Humans were not supposed to be harmed by any god. She banished Lamia from Elysium for killing one. The Serpent Bearers worship Lamia and want to destroy humanity in her honor.”
Dragos shook his head, confused. “Why do you care so much about the humans, and what does any of that have to do with Aldric?”
He still didn’t get it. I let out a deep sigh. “If the humans die out, so do we. Think about it. Not all Dhampirs descend from the gods. There must be a balance. Dark and light, blood and magic, humans and immortals. There are creatures that exist that are far more dangerous than us. We must protect these humans from them.”
Dragos shrugged while The Keeper remained fixated on the fire. He had been quiet, listening, yet he did not seem surprised. Perhaps he knew all along. It wouldn’t be the first time he kept something from me so I could discover the answer on my own. Or perhaps he didn’t even realize he knew the answer but needed to hear it out loud. Either way, it didn’t matter now.
The Keeper looked up. “Dragos is right. The Serpent Bearers are using Aldric as bait to lure you. They are trying to draw you out for some reason.”
Dragos’s eyes flashed red. “If they’re looking for a fight, we’ll give them one.”
My head was pounding. I still had no idea where the Serpent Bearers were hiding out. The longer we waited, the more Aldric would lose more of himself. Even if we were able to free him from their spell, I feared he might not ever be the same.
The darkness threatened to creep in, but I shook it off and turned toward The Keeper. “I haven’t even told you the worst part. The only way we’ll have a chance at defeating them is if I ingest the seeds from Hera’s pomegranate.”
The Keeper turned as pale as a ghost. “But—”
I nodded. “Yes, I know. It’s at the bottom of the River Styx.”
It was the main river that ran through the Underworld. Seven’s ship had navigated us through it when we went after the Narcissus flower. With the aid of potions and talismans, we were able to sail through it mostly unscathed, but diving into it would be another story.
Dragos flew out of his chair, his jaw clenched. “That’s ridiculous. The last time you went there, Valentina almost died. You can’t do this.”
I jumped up to look him square in the eye. “But she didn’t die. I have no choice, Dragos. It’s the only way to free Aldric. I can’t just sit back and let them destroy him.”
The veins in his neck flexed and tightened. “You do have a choice. You can choose to let this go. I will fight for you, but I will not watch you die.”
Beads of sweat dripped down my face as my magic surged. “You’re right, I do have a choice. And I choose Aldric. This isn’t up for debate.”
He threw his hands up in frustration and sat back down. The tension was thick as we glared at each other. Shadows from the flames danced over his face, highlighting the red in his eyes. His anger was consuming him. I couldn’t tell if it was out of fear for my life, or his deep-rooted jealousy of Aldric.
The Keeper cleared his throat to break the tension. “It is a savage yet fragile thing to love. It can bring out the best or the worst in us. Some
times both. But it will keep you alive. That is why she cannot die, Dragos. Because you and Aldric won’t let her.”
Dragos and I locked eyes as I shifted nervously in my seat. He was right. I needed him just as much as I needed Aldric. In a different way, but a need all the same.
I leaned in close to him. “Hera’s pomegranate seeds contain her essence. She was the only one who could banish Lamia. The Fates showed me. If I were to ingest the seeds, I would take in a portion of Hera’s power. Enough to give us a fighting chance.”
The Keeper nudged Dragos. “She is right. The Serpent Bearers have harnessed Lamia’s magic. It will only be possible to defeat them with Hera’s.”
Drago’s face was tight and pensive. “Fine, but I’m going with you. Do not try to talk me out of it.”
A flood of relief washed over me. “I was hoping you would say that.”
He looked up, his eyebrows raised. “You were?”
A smirk formed on my lips. “I need you to help me open the veil to the entrance.”
The preparations were almost the same as last time. We would again need gold coins for Charon the Ferryman, the antidote for the banshee’s cry, and a blood offering for the lost souls in the Mourning Fields. The exception this time would be the river itself. Its waters contained an emotional poison, making anyone who touched it vulnerable and weak. Just like the Reflection Siren’s song, there was no antidote for it. I just had to wade through and pray that I made it out.
The sun glinted off my new blades as I sharpened them. They were sacred daggers, blessed by Diana, as my usual weapons would not wield any power in the Underworld. Dragos was not thrilled about it. Dhampirs were accustomed to their own weapons. We got attached to them. Using something new made us uneasy. Like we were missing a limb.
The only good thing to come out of this was I would get to see Seven again. He agreed to take the journey with us and was making his way to us now. No one knew how to navigate the Underworld better than Seven. I wasn’t sure how, or why, but he was not a stranger there. He kept his secrets close to his chest, and I suspected there were many.
Flesh and Bone (Blood and Darkness Book 2) Page 5
