by G. E. White
“Not everyone,” Serene sighed as she sunk back into her seat. “Apollo was also associated with the arts, music in particular.”
“The girl we saw playing the harp,” Quinn replied in understanding. “So not everyone here is being trained as a warrior?”
“On the contrary, that girl was probably just as dangerous as any of those sword wielders. Music performed by a Solar magi can cause a lot of damage… if they want it to. Sometimes it will distort their enemies’ perception, other times the sound can vibrate so violently it can cause aneurisms in the brain, though the worst I’ve seen have the ability to control the actions of their enemy, even make them turn on one another.”
Quinn straightened in his seat. “You mean like mind control?”
“Not in so many words, more like hypnosis. Those under the influence of their song are completely aware of their actions but are unable to stop them.”
He pulled his legs up to his chest and wrapped his arms around them. “If a Solar magi could control someone’s actions and they had contact with a Lunar magi would it be possible for them to force one of them to steal their piece of the star in order to frame them?”
Surina pursed her lips in thought. “The thought crossed my mind, but I’ll admit it’s highly unlikely. An Apollo magi who uses an instrument, has to keep playing to keep control and the target must be able to hear the music, otherwise it has no effect.”
“Still, people here could have staged the whole thing.”
“And I’m not ruling that out,” the dark-haired woman agreed. “But I also have to consider the other temples and their opportunities.”
“Like?” Quinn prodded.
“The Earthen magi of the Temple of Demeter are often not considered warriors, and that’s a mistake. Earthen magi for the most part are chemists, botanists and alchemists, but that doesn’t make them any less dangerous. With their knowledge they can concoct hundreds of powerful potions and poisons.”
“Such as?”
“They’ve got one that turns the user invisible, others can make them fly, or breathe fire – I remember they had this one they called Bull’s Blood – could give a ninety-eight-pound weakling the ability to rip a grown man in half.”
Quinn leaned forward, holding his head in the palm of his hand. “Anything that could help them in a heist?”
She frowned but nodded. “I mean, their invisibility potion would make the most sense, but since the thief was seen I’d have to rule out that one. Plus I think it would be more likely that they would just tamper with the whole temple’s food to put them out of commission as poison is the only thing in their arsenal that is permanent.”
“I see… And the Lunar magi?”
“They are hunters for the most part,” she said. “Archery and other weapon skills are a big part of the training, though both illusionary and protective magics are also taught. Overall the main focus is on tracking and stealth, so the fact that they would blatantly wear their own training uniform during a theft doesn’t make much sense to me… still…”
“You think they are capable of doing this?” Quinn asked.
“People are capable of a lot of things, so as much as I hate to say it, yeah, they could have done it,” Surina admitted.
“I guess we’ll have a better idea when we get there,” he said, lying back on the bed.
Surina stood and crossed to the small divan. “Speaking of which, when we head over, there are a few things you should be aware of.”
“What do you mean?”
“The Lunar magi will obviously treat you as a person befitting your status,” she said, the formal words awkward in her mouth. “But they’ll also see you as a child and will expect certain behavior from you.”
Quinn rolled onto his side to face Surina, “But I’m not a child. Hell, I was charged as an adult.”
“Only because you assaulted a police officer. You’re still under the age of eighteen for a couple more months and therefore fall under Artemis’ protection. That being said, they’ll expect you not to engage in certain behaviors.”
“You said that before, what do mean by that?”
“Do I really need to spell it out?” she groaned. “Fine – sex. Artemis may not be a virgin goddess anymore she still represents the protection of innocence, especially in the young,” she explained. “So try not to make or respond to any come-ons. Purity is to be maintained, at least until you’re eighteen.”
The teen scowled at the older woman. “So what you’re saying is to keep my hands to myself. Geez, Surina, what kind of person do you take me for?”
“I take you for a seventeen-year-old boy,” she deadpanned.
Quinn’s frown remained, though a light blush lit up his cheeks.
“Though to be honest I should probably be more worried about your virtue than any Lunar initiates,” she continued, her demeanor neutral.
His face burned even brighter at the woman’s comments, though he couldn’t come up with anything to say in his defense.
It was at this moment that Jared returned to the room, his arms burdened with platters containing mounds of food.
“Me and my dashing good looks are victorious once again,” he proclaimed, proudly displaying his spoils, before placing the food on the bedside table between the two large beds.
The plates were piled high with small loaves of bread, fresh fruits and cheeses, as well as slices of roasted chicken.
Quinn crawled over to the platter, ripped open one of the loaves and started making a sandwich. His two companions watched with veiled amusement as he began to wolf down the impromptu meal.
“Someone was hungry,” Jared observed.
“Aren’t you?” the teen countered. “We haven’t eaten anything since we left Sebastien’s.”
Surina crossed to the food and grabbed several slices of cheese. “He’s got a point,” she said, popping one of the pieces into her mouth. “I’m starved.”
“I’m just surprised you didn’t lose your lunch,” Jared said with a smirk, bobbing as if on water.
If either of the two men could see past Surina’s sunglasses they knew that the woman would be glaring at the dark-haired man. “That supposed to be a jibe about my sea sickness?” she sniffed.
“Not a jibe, just stating a fact.”
“Seasickness is very common, just like the fear of flying, but then you probably know all about that, right, Jared?” Surina replied waspishly.
Jared returned the glare. Quinn huffed, exasperated – apparently, Jared wasn’t the only one who could be childish.
“If you two are finished flinging mud at one another, I suggest we finish eating and head to bed,” he said with a sigh.
Jared checked his watch; it was getting late; some rest was well in order. “Fine by me,” he agreed before shoving a couple of pieces of apple into his mouth.
Surina nodded as well, snagging a small loaf before lying down on the divan.
“What are you doing,” Quinn asked.
“Getting settled, what does it look like?” she replied.
“You don’t need to do that. I mean, we have two big beds we can easily share.”
She gave a soft chuckle. “That’s a cute offer but you’re a little too young for me.”
If Quinn’s face had been red before, now he was positively scarlet.
“That’s not what I meant,” he protested. “I just meant you could have one and that us guys could share – you know, completely platonic… If that’s all right with you,” he continued, turning to Jared.
“That’s okay with me short stuff, but you better not kick me,” the older man answered.
Quinn smiled and moved to claim the right side of the other bed as Jared began to toe off his shoes. He undressed, leaving only his boxers and undershirt on; Quinn moving to do the same.
Surina was now on the other bed unzipping her boots. She had already shrugged out of her jacket and removed her bra, both of which were now draped across one of the room’s chairs, thoug
h her tank top remained on. She took a plain pair of pajama pants from her bag, switching them for her jeans, completely unconcerned of displaying her bottom clad only in a pair of bikini cut underwear for a moment.
Quinn averted his eyes, but then turned to watch intently as she pulled a long black scarf out of her discarded pants pocket. She leaned against the pillows and removed her ever-present sunglasses.
To Quinn’s disappointed curiosity her eyes remained closed as she replaced the glasses with the dark blindfold. From what he could see there was nothing wrong with her eyes, no scarring or discoloration on the skin surrounding them that he could see. So what exactly was the problem?
“What’s the blindfold for?”
“My eyes are sensitive to light, remember?” she replied simply.
Her tone indicated that there would be no further explanation, and when Quinn turned to Jared for some sort of clue he found the older man was already under the covers with his back to the teen; for all intents and purposes asleep.
By the time he had looked back over at Surina she too had snuggled down in her bed.
Quinn blew out the remaining lantern and crawled underneath the heavy blankets.
He lay awake for quite some time mulling over Surina’s words and actions. Keeping her eyes closed or covered was something she proclaimed was necessary more than once. Maybe not in so many words but the message was clear.
However, as Quinn took in the now darkened room he knew that there was more to her actions than a simple aversion to light, but just what was it?
~ Chapter 19 ~
Surina woke to the sensation of her blindfold shifting across her face. “Do you have a death wish?” she growled. She heard Jared snort as he playfully began to tug at the fabric again, much like a small dog with a toy rope.
“No, I’m just messing with you,” he said with laugh.
She batted his hand away and sat up, pulling the sash from her closed eyes.
“I should have known it was you,” she grumbled, placing her sunglasses back on her face.
“Why’s that?” Jared asked, sitting back on the floor in between the two beds.
“Because Quinn isn’t that stupid.”
Surina guessed it was about nine in the morning, if the light seeping through the windows was any indicator.
“Just so you know I already contacted Leo. He said he’d meet up with us later to drop off the next gate,” the Death God said as he traced the grooves in the wood floor.
“Hopefully it’ll be more accurate than the last one,” she replied.
Looking about the room, it was obvious to her that someone had come in that morning as the platter from the night before was gone and now replaced with one bearing three bowls of porridge. One of which had been scraped clean.
Their teen companion was also suspiciously absent.
“Where’s Quinn?” she asked.
“After finishing his porridge, baby bear high-tailed it into the bathroom to wash up.”
The sound of the teen sloshing around in the bath tub confirmed Jared’s story.
Surina rose from the bed, making sure to stretch her arms as she attempted to work out the kinks in her back. “I don’t think he’d appreciate being called ‘baby bear’.”
“Well, you should have seen the way he just inhaled that porridge. He certainly ate like an animal.”
Surina frowned. During the two months that Quinn had stayed in the Cedar Hills Mental Health Facility, Surina had spent tracking him down and working on the ruse that would grant her access to him. The work had entailed hours of research into Quinn’s case as well as his life in general.
As each new aspect of his life was revealed to her, Surina couldn’t help but feel for the kid. With no memories of his life before, Quinn’s story had been one of abandonment, hardships and disappointment. Not once had the young man been permanently taken in by the countless couples and he came to stay with. It hadn’t mattered how bright he was, or how well behaved, often he was passed over because of his age. No one seemed to want a kid or a teen, they wanted a baby and worse, Quinn didn’t even seem to blame them for that.
The reports continued to concern her as she read about the teen’s half-cocked plan to make it on his own. She was grateful that Quinn was smart enough to know when to come in from the cold.
Things apparently didn’t get much better. Despite his brains and the scholarships he was offered, Quinn had been forced to turn them down as they didn’t even begin to pay for all of his schooling.
When Surina made the journey to Cedar Hills, she had expected to find a jaded and defeated young man. Yes, he was skeptical of the story she told him, but then, who wouldn’t be? Quinn still had a spark of curiosity; it was something that Surina suspected was what kept him going all this time. The fact that if he gave up now he would never find out just what else was out there and what he was capable of.
“Did you know that he was homeless for a time?” Surina asked with an even tone that belied her inter thoughts.
Jared looked up from his bowl of porridge which was almost as empty as Quinn’s.
“Really?” he replied, honest curiosity in his voice.
Surina spooned up her own breakfast as she sat back down on the bed. “Yeah, though only for a few months. He’d been in foster care since he was eight and figured he could make it on his own at fourteen. It’s a good thing he smartened up and went back,” she said between mouthfuls, shaking her head.
Jared stood and placed his empty bowl on one of the bedside tables before crossing over to the window, “And before that?”
“Who knows,” she shrugged. “No last name, no memory of what happened and with no family to claim him, he just ended up in the system. It’s not that uncommon.”
His expression darkened. “And no one has any idea what happened to his parents? Grandparents? Aunts, uncles, anyone?”
“Nothing, and obviously no missing persons’ report matching his description. It’s likely that any family he has is dead.”
She moved to stand in front of the mirror above the small desk provided, smoothing her hair.
“You think so?” Jared prodded, his back still turned to her.
“It’s just a guess, but then you would know better than me. Do you remember them? His parents?”
Jared crossed his arms and shook his head. “I’m not present for everyone’s death; you know that. It’s physically impossible.”
“But you’re aware of them,” she argued.
“To a degree,” he shrugged, strangely nonchalant about the whole thing. “My job is to harvest the grain so to speak. I try not to get involved.”
“You mean after you got into trouble for making deals.”
He rounded on her, his eyes boring into hers. There was no judgment in Surina’s expression, only a thinly veiled curiosity. Jared quelled the urge to defend his actions as the door to the bathroom opened and Quinn stepped out.
He was dressed in casual clothes that were a size too big, but obviously brand new. His hair still damp, he practically preened in his new lightly colored jeans and t-shirt.
“Thanks for the clothes Surina, they’re great!”
“Even if they are a little big… whatever, you’ll grow into them,” she agreed.
“They look good on you,” Jared commented off handedly, brushing past the teen and into the bathroom, slamming the door behind him.
Quinn glanced back at the now closed door. Jared had barely even looked at him before leaving. He had figured if anyone would have something to say about the new clothes it would be the image conscious Death God. “What’s his problem?”
Surina gave a noncommittal shrug. “When you gotta go, you gotta go.” She picked up the small duffle bag and pulled out a pair of pants and a button-up blouse she planned to change into. She paused as something else in her bag caught her eye.
Quinn rubbed roughly at his scalp, towel drying his hair when he noticed Surina pull out a clunky looking bracelet with a large
dial on it.
“What’s with the bracelet?” he asked.
“I found it on the bodies of the danaids,” she said, placing it on the bedside table. “It’s obviously more than just a piece of bling, but until we know what it does I’ve been told not to try activating it. Unfortunately, we know they couldn’t have made it nor could they have gotten into the Second Realm on their own.”
As she spoke Quinn picked up the cuff, looking closely at the dial before flipping it over and inspecting the inside of the band.
“I was going to show it around to the temple leaders, see if they recognized it, but after last night-”
“Wait!” Quinn interrupted. “Do you see that?”
He tilted the band toward her pointing at the inside track just below the dial. Surina’s eyes squinted behind her glasses as she tried to make out what Quinn was gesturing at.
There, lightly etched into the metal, was a small symbol: a hammer crossed over an anvil. If the light hadn’t caught the engraving at just the right angle it was likely the two never would have noticed it.
“That’s Hephaestus’ symbol, isn’t it?” the teen asked, recalling seeing the same symbol on the grill of the Phantasm.
“Yes, but I’ve never heard about him working on anything like this,” Surina replied.
“Is it possible that he kept this to himself? That he gave this to the danaids?”
Surina twisted her features into a scowl. “Anything’s possible. For all we know this might be an experimental device used to bring the danaids under control. The only way we’ll find out for sure is getting answers from Tyrell himself. I’ll take some pictures and send them to him, see if he can explain.” Peering over at the young man she smiled.
“You’ve got a good eye,” she complemented, “Nice work.”
Quinn shrugged as if it were nothing, but on the inside practically glowed under the praise.
For the next little while the two of them sat in comfortable silence as Quinn put his clothes from the day before into the small pack he had brought, while Surina finished her porridge.
The teen turned away respectfully as Surina changed from her sleepwear into a clean top and underwear, though she put on the jeans she had worn the day before.
