by D. S. Murphy
Sitri frowned and ran a hand through his hair.
“If I don’t, I’m putting you in needless danger. You’re too important to be out here on your own.”
“Then stay with me,” I said. “Help me get the shears, then we’ll go back to together. All of us.”
“I can’t protect you,” he said, hanging his head like he was ashamed of himself. “Maybe from a handful of hunters, or a leech if I’m properly armed. But the world is full of powerful creatures. If we meet an immortal, or get cornered by Zeus’s army, I won’t be able to help. Mist, Dion, Sam—the whole family is stronger than me. You’d be safer with them.”
“But they aren’t here. You are.” I put one gloved hand on his arm. My heart raced as I felt his powerful bicep flex under my touch. He gave me a grim smile, before finally nodding, and I knew I’d convinced him.
His lips were rounder and fuller than Puriel’s—a brooding pout. I yearned to run my fingertips over them. When I kissed Puriel earlier, I hadn’t had one of my terrifying visions. Did that mean I could kiss others? Maybe my gift was restricted to my hands, and my lips were blissfully free from prophetic visions. But I couldn’t risk it. If Sitri was heading towards a bloody death, I didn’t want to know about it. The guilt of Matt’s death was already eating me up inside, I couldn’t handle being responsible for someone else. Especially not Sitri. I leaned away from him just as Jessie approached us.
“Are you guys done sorting out your issues?” she asked.
“Yeah, I guess so,” I said.
“Good, because they’re back with the minokawa. And I know where Kos is.”
8
Jessie found a map of Europe in the glove compartment and discovered that Kos was the name of a Greek island off the coast of Turkey. It was the only clue we had, and we couldn’t stay in Florence, so we boarded the minokawa and took flight. I dozed off during the trip, and when I opened my eyes again I saw palm trees, and pretty white buildings with blue domes jutting up from the desolate black rocks. Dark blue waves crashed against the island’s treacherous looking cliffs.
We found a place for the minokawa to land, just outside of a small village that was perched on the edge of the water. Its crisp white houses were accented with blue trim.
“Where should we start?” I asked.
“Breakfast,” Jessie said. “And after that, I’d love a swim. Look at that water!”
“Seriously?” I asked. “When we’re this close to finding the Fates?”
“She’s right,” Sitri said. “We all need to eat. We don’t know when we’ll get another chance. And walking around here together,” Sitri said, looking at Puriel’s ash blonde hair, “probably isn’t a good idea. We stand out enough as it is.”
“Are we splitting up?” Madeline said, linking her arm with Sitri. “If so, I’ll take this one.”
“Is that a good idea?” Max asked. “Shouldn’t we stick together? Plus, I missed all the action in Florence. I’m not staying behind with the birds again.”
“Oh yeah, we had a great time,” Jessie teased. “Fighting monsters, getting chased by cops… you missed out for sure.”
“The minokawa will probably be fine here on their own. Florence was crowded, but it’ll be easy for them to hide here and forage on their own.”
“They’ll wait for us?” I asked.
“I’ll let them know we’re coming back with food,” Maddie said, putting her forehead against the creature’s long curved beak. He did a little dance and shook his tail.
“What did you promise them?” Sarah asked.
“Fresh fish—it should be easy to pick up from the market here.”
“Alright,” Sitri said. “We eat first, then we pick up some treats for the buzzards.”
We walked into town and found a restaurant with patio tables and a view of the sea. Breakfast was an elaborate affair. The strong Turkish coffees had grains of coffee and sugar at the bottom. The waitress brought trays full of cheese, honey, soft-boiled eggs, dates, bread and slices of ham, cucumber and tomatoes, and a bowl of fruit. Apart from a pair of old men playing backgammon on a table near us, we were the only ones there.
“Not exactly tourist season,” I said.
“I’m never leaving,” Jessie said. “This place is amazing.”
The sun was higher now and the dark waters were turning aquamarine blue.
“An island… it’s the literal opposite of a desert,” I said, pulling out the painting. “Strudwick changed Zetico’s painting to hide the real location of the Fates.”
“But what’s the connection?” Jessie asked. “Why would the Fates be here?”
“Hunters are afraid of water,” Sitri smirked.
“What?” I asked, looking at Puriel.
“Not afraid, exactly,” Puriel said. “Justifiably cautious around the ocean. We try to stay away from it.”
“But why?” I asked.
“You know the story of Icarus right? Wings melted when he flew too close to the sun? The real fear isn’t the falling. It’s falling into the sea that terrifies us. Hunters aren’t easy to kill, but we need air. And there are plenty of creatures in the sea that are still loyal to Poseidon.”
“Whom Zeus betrayed and murdered,” I said.
“Right,” Puriel nodded. “Hunters have been picking off magical creatures for thousands of years, but our reach is limited. When Poseidon died, the oceans became wild. Any hunter who flies too close to the sea is likely to be seized and drowned. We’ve learned to keep our distance.”
“Islands have always been beacons of revolution, though,” Sitri cut in. “Asteria, for example, ran from Zeus when he pursued her and dove into the sea. As punishment, he turned her into an island. Later, when Zeus got her sister Leto pregnant, Hera chased her all around the world, refusing to let her give birth in peace. Everyone was too afraid of Hera to offer her shelter.”
“But Asteria called to her from the isle of Delos, and Leto bore the twins, Apollo and Artemis, on rocky soil where only seals had given birth before. The twins were powerful and talented. Zeus was delighted with him, which made Hera hate them even more. Eventually Hera poisoned her husband against Apollo and talked him into his coup against his family.”
“Wait, I thought Zeus just wanted more power, more control. It was Hera’s idea?”
“Zeus’s infidelities made Hera a jealous and bitter wife. Nobody knows for certain, but it’s likely Hera was just securing her position. Getting rid of all of Zeus’s bastard children, and his other lovers. Making herself queen of heaven.”
“What about Athena?” I asked. “Isn’t she with them also?”
“She’s not a threat to Hera,” Sitri said. “And she wasn’t born from a mistress, like most of Zeus’s other children. Zeus lusted after Metis, and changed forms to match hers as she ran from him. After he’d conquered her, an oracle told Zeus that Metis’ first child would be a girl, and her second child would be a boy that would overthrow him, like Zeus did to his father. So he swallowed Metis whole, along with her unborn child.”
“A while later, Zeus developed an unbearable headache. He screamed so loud it could be heard throughout the earth. Hermes realized what needed to be done and directed Hephaestus to take a wedge and split open Zeus’s skull. Out sprang Athena, fully grown and in a full set of armour.”
“But that’s mythology, right? It couldn’t have really happen that way.” Jessie said.
“It was before my time,” Puriel said.
“Mine too,” Sitri nodded. “But I like the story. Athena is all brain, no heart. She’s crafty and ruthless. Always a thousand moves ahead. Just pray we don’t run into her.”
When the waitress came with the bill I showed her the painting.
“Do you know where this is?” I asked, pointing at the small scene in the background. She leaned over and squinted at the small sketch of the temple on the rock.
“It looks like the rock on the other side of the island,” she shrugged. “But there’s no temple up ther
e. Not like this.”
I fended off disappointment as Sitri paid the tab, counting out bills from a fat stack of euros he pulled from his jacket pocket. Maybe the woman was wrong. What did she know, anyway?
After breakfast we continued through the town until we found a market. Maddie picked out three large fish with pink scales and pouty mouths. While we were waiting for them to be wrapped, I had the sensation of being watched. I turned and saw a girl learning against a building. Her nearly white hair and skin stood out from the local population. Her face was in shadow, but I could still see eyes. They were light blue, like a frozen lake. She looked Nordic, like a viking. When she saw me looking at her, she pulled up her hood and disappeared around a corner.
We passed through the market, and continued down the town’s main road through the crowds. Probably half the island was here buying fresh produce. Besides the strong odor of fish, I could also smell the large chunks of fresh goat cheese. I wondered if they even had a grocery store here. I was examining a cooler full of multi-colored lobsters when someone pushed past me, bumping my shoulder. I stumbled and Sitri caught my elbow, helping me balance. I caught a glimpse of blonde hair and blue eyes before she was lost in the crowd. I stood on my toes, trying to see where she went.
“What’s up?” Puriel asked, his hand on the hilt of his sword.
“It’s nothing. I could have sworn I passed that girl earlier. Or maybe her twin sister.”
“What girl?” Puriel asked.
“Nevermind,” I said. “Let’s get out of this crowd, it’s making me anxious.”
We followed the road until we hit the sea again on the other side of the town. A small peninsula of land formed a sandy harbor. Across the bay, past a scattering of sailboats, a near vertical shaft of rock jutted up into the sky. It was so steep it was almost defiant.
“Is that it?” Jessie asked.
“It looks a lot like the one in the painting,” I said. “But I can’t see the temple from here.”
“How do we even get over there?” Madeline asked. I nodded down the beach to a long pier. A white ferry was docked at the end, loading up with tourists taking pictures with iPads and smart phones.
“This goes out to the island?” I asked the woman checking tickets.
“Yes, but this one is sold out,” she said. “The next ferry is in three hours.”
I was about to tell the others the bad news when a figure blocked my path. His clothes were soiled and he smelled like fish. His face was tanned with deep lines, but somehow kept a youthful appearance.
“You want to see the ruins, yes?” he said. “Private tour guide, I can tell you everything about the history. I speak English very well.”
“On the island, right. But the ferry is sold out.”
He smiled, flashing his uneven teeth.
“Private boat, I can take you right now, no need to wait,” he said. I gestured to the others and we followed him down the beach to another pier, where the man started untying a small wooden rowboat. It wobbled dangerously as he stepped inside and held out a hand to me.
“We can’t all fit in that,” Madeline said, raising an eyebrow.
“We don’t all need to go,” I said. “I can go check it out, the rest of you can get on the next ferry, or bring the minokawa over later.”
“I’m coming,” Sitri said, climbing into the boat and sitting down. Puriel watched the boat rocking back and forth, and looked like he was going to be sick.
“Shouldn’t we all wait for the next ferry?” he asked.
“It’s okay,” I said. “We’ll be fine. We should be pretty safe up there. Like you said, hunters don’t like water.”
“I don’t want you to go alone,” Puriel said. “But that boat looks… unsound.”
“It’s better if you stay here, anyway.” I said. “To protect Jessie and Sarah.”
“Maybe they can teach you how to swim,” Sitri said with a smirk.
“I’ll come,” Madeline said. Sitri took her hand and helped her into the boat.
“How about you?” I asked, nodding at Max. “I thought you wanted to see some action?”
“Someone’s got to bring the fish back to the minokawa,” he said, lifting his bag. “Plus, seeing Jessie in a bikini is enough action for me.”
Jessie smiled and punched him on the shoulder. I raised an eyebrow at her and she shrugged. Then she stepped closer and crouched next to the boat.
“You really think the shears are up there?” she asked.
“I won’t know until I check it out,” I said. “But there has to be something. All the signs point here.”
“Are you sure you don’t need me to come with? I don’t like you going off on your own like this.”
“It’s only for a few hours,” I said. “Sitri can protect me. Besides, you were right, before. What you said at the house. We may not be on a vacation, but we can at least pretend to be having fun. Sarah deserves it. After everything she’s been through in the last few days, a day at the beach sounds perfect. Besides, whatever is up there, it’s meant for me. There’s no reason to put Sarah or you in danger needlessly. I’ll take Sitri and Madeline. Puriel and Max will stay with you and keep you safe.”
“Fine, but any sign of danger, at all, you come back and get us. Deal? Don’t do anything stupid.”
I nodded, and settled into the small boat. The man pushed off with his oars.
“Take care of her,” Puriel called out after us.
“I will,” Sitri replied.
The bay was mostly smooth, but the boat still rocked with the rolling waves of the tide. When we were halfway there, something shiny swirled in the water beneath us. I thought I saw the end of a tail that looked way bigger than a fish. I held my breath, holding tightly to the edges of the boat. By the time we reached the island my stomach was queasy from the motion.
The dark rock loomed above us, blocking out the sun. From close up it looked like a skyscraper. A single set of steps had been carved into the rock, zig-zagging up to the top. At the bottom near the base was a gift shop and a cafe.
“834 steps,” Madeline said, reading the sign. “Piece of cake.”
“For you maybe,” I said.
“No, I mean, you guys go ahead. I’m going to stay here and eat a piece of cake. I’ll wait here for you to get back.” She grinned when I rolled my eyes at her.
I was panting and clutching the handrail when we finally reached the top. I could see the whole island from here, and even make out mainland Turkey on the horizon.
“It’s beautiful,” I said.
Then I saw the ruins, and my heart fell with disappointment. They didn’t look anything like the painting. Only the walls remained of what looked like a gothic cathedral. Vines crept over the walls and the large stone archways. The roof was missing completely, opening up to the clear blue sky.
“It’s not here,” I said. “The painting shows a temple with pillars, not a church.”
Sitri paused to read the sign on display near the front entrance.
“This says the abbey and monastery were built over the ruins of an older temple, one of the most famous temples of Asclepius.”
“Alice’s father, right? God of healing.”
“Right. Hippocrates was born here, and studied medicine here. His oath is still taken by contemporary doctors. It’s based around one core principle—‘first, do no harm’. They can’t use their knowledge to end life, even if wished by the patient. People would come here in droves to be healed.”
“So maybe when Oreste Zetico was here, there were still the ruins he painted.”
Sitri nodded, and we headed towards the ruins. They were larger than I thought at first, and went on and on. After we’d gone explored every chamber and path through the many structures, we walked around the outskirts. We climbed over the piles of statues, discarded stones and walls, and shattered pillars—all half eaten by the dry yellow grass. I paused at a portion of wall retaining a frescoed portrait.
“Someone painte
d that,” I said. “Thousands of years ago, by hand. And now it’s just lying here. Shouldn’t it be in a museum or something?”
“In this part of the world, stuff like this is so common they couldn’t fit it all in a museum,” Sitri said.
“I don’t even know what we’re looking for up here,” I said finally. We’d been walking for almost an hour and I hadn’t seen anything interesting. The painting said to look beneath, but we couldn’t find any entrance that would take us deeper. Just the ruins of the abbey, fragments sticking up into the sky like a giant hand.
I walked close to the edge of the plateau and leaned out over the cliff. The wind tugged at my hair and clothes. Hundreds of feet below, the blue water crashed against the rocks. Looking farther, I could see Jessie and Sarah playing on the beach across the bay. Max splashed them and I smiled, imagining Sarah’s laughter.
I felt someone behind me and turned to say something to Sitri, but before I could get a word out, someone pushed me roughly off the cliff. I turned and caught a flash of blonde hair as I plummeted downwards. I hit the water so hard the air was knocked out of me. I scrambled towards the light and took a deep breath as my head broke the surface. Then I felt hands around my ankles, dragging me underwater.
9
My eyes burned from the salt water as my captives dragged me towards a dark shape in the rock cliff—a tunnel under the water. My limbs scratched against the rough walls as we tore through it. For a moment it was pitch black, and I had the disturbing sensation of moving quickly without having any frame or reference. Just when my lungs felt like they were going to explode, I saw a light up ahead.
We emerged in a pool at the bottom of a wide cavern. I coughed up water, blinking at the sudden brightness. Lit torches cast flickering shadows, and illuminated dozens of faces peering down at me. No, not faces… one face, multiplied dozens of times. I thought I recognized the girl from the market, but they all looked so similar it was hard to tell. As I pulled myself out of the pool, they shrank back, like a multi-headed monster. They were beautiful, with large blue eyes and porcelain skin. Some of them looked like they’d never seen the sun, their skin so pale it was almost tranclucent.
