by Kristen Day
“Disaster averted!” I announced. My elation was disrupted by the thought of another potential disaster that now permanently adorned the back of my neck. I nonchalantly made sure my hair was covering the new trace that had traitor written all over it. I didn’t want to talk about it just yet. I needed some time to think, so I deftly diverted the attention back to him. “Speaking of disasters, what happened yesterday?”
“Oh, it was nothing,” he answered vaguely, not convincing me in the least. He pulled me back down onto the bed and threw the covers over our heads; hugging me tightly. “You have enough to worry about right now - you don’t need to worry about my Order along with everything else.”
“You don’t run out without a goodbye and dive into the ocean in perfectly dry clothes when it’s just ‘nothing’,” I implied with a knowing look.
“Someone stole something from us,” he divulged with a steely tone.
“Someone actually stole something from the Sons?” I leaned back in surprise. “Are they out of their minds, or just have a death wish?”
“Maybe both,” he growled through clenched teeth. “Because I’m going to make sure they regret ever crossing the Order of the Sons.”
Chapter 8
Stasia
The quiet surrender of Finn’s chamber echoed in my memory as I acclimated to the brightness of my Spiti. I’d decided that my Council should meet there for several reasons. It was more secure than anywhere else on the island, and the wealth of information displayed on the stone walls could hold valuable information. Plus, I just thought it was beautiful and I liked spending time there. But I kept that reason to myself.
Unlike the Future Spiti, which had a picturesque fountain dominating the majority of the room, the Present Spiti was much more functional, with an atmosphere that mirrored a posh sitting room. A warm coral hue and a cool, crystal blue color made up the beachy décor; punctuated by tables made of driftwood. A white wrought iron chandelier hung above as we took our seats. Amphitrite and Thalia sat on one of the white couches dotted with blue and coral patterned throw pillows, while Phoebe and Carmen sat on the other. Avery plopped down in a chevron patterned coral and white arm chair, and a tired-looking Olivia collapsed onto the light blue love seat beside me.
A substantial square rustic table easily held our drinks of choice in the center. I kicked off my flip flops in order to feel the plush rug at our feet, and Carmen quickly followed suit with a smile. I had no idea how formal Council meetings were supposed to be, but I personally didn’t want the structure of formality stiffening the cozy atmosphere of the Present Spiti. I cleared my throat and smiled widely at the beautiful, strong women surrounding me.
“Let’s get started, shall we?” I began with enthusiasm. “Amphitrite, I believe you have some exciting news to share?”
Across the table from me, Amphitrite’s bright blue eyes sparkled with excitement as she informed the Council that the Atlantean games would be held in a couple of weeks. To her right, Thalia was beaming with a knowing smile; several strands of purple blooms decorating her flowing blonde hair. As the Nereid of the blooming sea, she exuded a constant ethereal glow tinged with the hues of a midsummer’s night. The kaleidoscope of colors that swam in her eyes mesmerized me momentarily before I realized she was speaking to me.
“Do you agree that pre-screening for the Games should begin as soon as possible?” Thalia asked for the second time. The wink of her left eye let me know she could tell I hadn’t been paying attention. Phoebe nodded encouragingly, and Avery watched with large, round blue eyes filled with concentration. I had a feeling she questioned her place on the Council as much as I did. Her posture gave away the uncertainty she felt as her slender fingers threaded a piece of golden hair nervously.
“Oh, uh, yes of course,” I sputtered with embarrassment. First rule of Council: Pay attention. Thalia continued to explain the pre-screening of the Games, and it dawned on me just how significant the Games were to the descendants. According to tradition, every descendant would have the chance to compete in the Games’ trials, which would be held the first three days. Those talented enough to continue would compete in the Finals on the following day for the top prize within their event. The task of pre-screening simply involved dividing the descendants among the specific events depending on their strengths and weaknesses. However, with more than five hundred Tydes at Lorelei, along with numerous other schools around the globe, I had a feeling pre-screening would be anything but simple.
“Which of us would you like to appoint to handle the selection, Stasia?” Amphitrite elicited while jotting down notes on her tablet. According to Carmen’s acute posture and hungry brown eyes, I could tell she was dying to be the one to hold the descendants’ Game fates in her hands.
“Carmen and…” I chewed my lip and glanced around at each member. The only other person with the ability to be completely impartial would most likely be Carmen’s last choice, but maybe it would be good for them. “…Olivia.”
Carmen’s barely audible grown validated what I already knew. It was a long shot to think this would result in anything but them tearing each other’s throats out, but it would be entertaining to watch in the meantime. After signing an official document that would be used to reinforce my pre-screening captains to the Tydes, Carmen’s impatient hand shot into the air next to me. I saw an image of a much younger, mouthier Carmen in elementary school wanting the bathroom pass and suppressed a giggle.
“This isn’t school, Carmen,” I heard Phoebe hiss at her.
“Yes, Carmen?” I acknowledged in my best teacher voice. She sat a little straighter and blinked spastically with worry dragging her smile down.
“Did anybody else grow a new trace overnight?” She swept her dark hair from her neck and pointed to a tiny triskelion that had appeared on her collarbone. I gasped and my eyes widened with disbelief.
“Whoa!” I croaked. Not only did I have random moon traces popping up, but now the people I knew were getting them, too? I rubbed the back of my neck casually and swallowed thickly. This was worse than chicken pox.
“That’s not a new trace, dear,” Amphitrite corrected a clearly distraught Carmen. She leisurely cocked her head to the side and allowed her golden mane to fall across her shoulder; revealing a mini triskelion matching Carmen’s behind her left ear. “That is your mark of Council. It proves you have been appointed.”
Marked. Now I knew what Finn had been eluding to last night. I was relieved it wasn’t the cattle brand I’d been visualizing, but it still felt wrong somehow. As if they now ‘belonged’ to me. They would probably be better off with an airbrushed tattoo that read ‘I love Cletus’ with a heart drawn around it.
“Where’s mine?” Phoebe inquired eagerly. She searched her skin for a moment and finally let out a delighted squeal. “No way! I didn’t even notice it!”
With no consideration of manners whatsoever, she threw her foot on the table to show off the tiny mark that now decorated the ankle of her right foot. I had to admit it was pretty astonishing. The triskelions were a smaller version of my own, and made my heart swell with compassion. They went around the table and showed off their new marks. Avery beamed with pride at the mark on her palm, and Olivia grudgingly showed us the mark on her calf. Her body language said it was no big deal, but the subtle lift of her chin told me she was proud of it. Of all the marks, Thalia’s was the most amazing. It had been woven in with the mass of flowering vines running up her arm; a perfect addition to the dainty blooms.
“I am so sorry, you guys.” I offered my apologies for unknowingly branding their skin permanently.
“Sorry?” Olivia placed a hand on her chest as if I’d offended her. “Sorry for letting the entire free world know I’m more important than them? Apology NOT accepted.”
“This is a dream come true, Stasia,” Avery added genuinely. “I just wish it were a little bigger so you could see it better!”
“Just be careful whose name you call out from now on,” Carmen wh
ispered to me with a smirk. “We may need to check Finn for any marks…” She emphasized her point with air quotes.
“I may need to assign you toilet duty for the rest of your life,” I threatened back with a wiggle of my finger. “Instead of ‘The Chamberlain’, you’ll be appointed ‘The Pisser’.”
“Oh, that reminds me!” A visible thrill ran through Carmen and her eyes lit up with excitement. She addressed the table with a tone dripping with fervor. “I heard a piece of news from a very dependable source within the ranks of the Order of Sons,” she began cryptically. We all knew her ‘dependable source’ was Ricker, but I suppose her word choice sounded more concrete than ‘OMG, my totally hot boyfriend told me…’
She leaned forward for more effect. “I was told that both the Key to Tribeca and the Book of Souls were stolen!” Gasps echoed throughout the dining room at her announcement, mine included. Although I had no idea what either of those items were, Finn’s hesitation earlier this morning told me Carmen’s claim had validity.
“How could that be possible?” Amphitrite piqued with unease evident in her tone. “The Key to Tribeca is tightly guarded.”
“They don’t know,” Carmen expounded. “One second it was there, and the next - poof! - gone.”
“Okay.” Phoebe shook her head in confusion and glanced at Avery, who appeared equally confused. “What’s Tribeca and why is it locked?”
“Tribeca is a Hell within Hell.” Olivia grinned wickedly. “It imprisons the most heinous Gods and Goddesses to ever walk the Earth. I heard there are fire breathing dragons guarding the gates, and the walls are lined with enchanted snakes that have skin made of razors!”
“Seriously?” Carmen snorted and then chuckled darkly. “Fire breathing dragons? Do they also play Quidditch and travel through the walls of train stations in their spare time?”
“Maybe you should go down there and find out for us,” Olivia threatened, with a smile dripping of sarcasm.
“I’m sending you both there if you don’t stop arguing!” I interrupted them, and then moved my attention to Amphitrite. “Can you elaborate for us?”
“Gladly,” she grinned, clearly amused by Olivia and Carmen’s banter. “Tribeca was created by Persephone and Charon when many of the Gods and Goddesses banished to Tartarus kept escaping. They needed a prison they could be sure was impenetrable, as well as inescapable. They then built Tribeca beneath the Underworld. No one has ever escaped.”
“Where was the Key?” Avery asked quietly.
“No one knows,” Amphitrite said. “Which was the point, of course. The less people that knew, the less likely it would be stolen. Or…that was the thought process.”
“So what’s the Book of Souls?” Phoebe questioned her.
“The Book of Souls is just a ledger of all the souls admitted into the Underworld…” she raised an eyebrow, “…including Tribeca.”
“So the fact that they were stolen together means someone is looking for a specific God or Goddess they believe to be in Tribeca?” Avery surmised.
“I believe so,” Amphitrite nodded gravely. “But it is impossible to know which one.”
“How many Gods and Goddesses are imprisoned there?” Phoebe questioned.
“More than you can count,” Amphitrite revealed to her with a pat on the hand. “But I have a feeling the Sons will take care of it. If they need our help, they will ask. Until then, we must stay focused on our own responsibilities.”
------
“I can promise you she’s not mad,” Phoebe pleaded with me behind puppy dog eyes. “Come with us and you’ll see!”
“Alright,” I agreed; guilt nipping away at my heart. I reluctantly settled into the back seat of the sleek black golf cart behind Carmen. “I hope you’re right. I feel so bad about the selection meeting. I really did have every intention of choosing her for Apothecary, but apparently it wasn’t up to me.”
“She’ll understand. I don’t think she’s even capable of holding a grudge.” Carmen brushed off my worries with a wiggle of her eyebrows. “She reserves those for all her boy-toys.”
“You mean all two of ‘em?” Phoebe giggled and peeked back at me with adventure shining in her eyes. “You better hold on!” She slammed her foot on the gas; plastering us against the hot leather of the seats.
“Lay off the gas, Earnhardt - you’re gonna rip the skin off our faces!” Carmen shrieked. She grabbed onto anything nailed down to avoid being tossed onto the same asphalt that flew beneath us at warp speed. I searched for a seatbelt that wasn’t there, and ended up settling for a death grip on the back of Carmen’s seat.
“It‘d be a lot more fun if it did,” I heard Phoebe mutter. The daredevil smile that slithered across her lips had me shaking my head and trying not to smile.
“Where are we going again?” I called over the wind.
“The east beach!” Carmen’s answer trailed off as we took a sharp curve too fast and almost made it up on two wheels. I hooked my toes under the seat, spread my arms out wide, and surrendered to the thrill ride. I was immortal, for goodness sake! If one rogue golf cart trip could kill me, I didn’t deserve to be a Goddess. I closed my eyes and squealed as we drove out of the gates of Lorelei, headed north, and rode up the east side of the island. Thick live oak trees etched out a tunnel surrounding the road, which beautifully cast an enchanting effect with rays of light filtering through the leaves. After several turns and two near head-on collisions, we finally hit a dead end and parked next to two more black Lorelei golf carts.
“We’ll have to hike it from here,” Carmen announced ominously. A scorching wind cropped up around me while the strong smell of sea salt hung in the air like a damp towel. High, rolling dunes lay before us and I realized we’d have to scale them to get to our destination. Something itched at the back of my mind but I brushed it off.
The sun had baked the sand to a sweltering temperature that quickly burned the bottom of my feet. Feverish, stagnant air hovered just above the dunes; making it hard to breathe. If I hadn’t known any better, I would’ve sworn we were in the middle of the Sahara desert. I heard the crashing waves of the ocean, but all I could see around me was sand and more sand.
“Why was Willow meeting Liam way out here?” I asked as we crawled over another dune.
“She said he’s practicing for the games!” Phoebe exclaimed. “He’s competing in the trident throwing competition! He’s going to be-”
Her words were muted by an onslaught of images and I stopped in my tracks. I glanced around at the sand dunes, peeked up at the sand, and it finally dawned on me where I was.
“My vision!” I perked up with excitement. Carmen and Phoebe turned to face me with bewildered faces. I started gesturing wildly with my hands. “I had a vision about this! Liam was throwing a trident at different targets on the beach, and there were some other guys with him, and…. I don’t remember seeing any girls, but I must have just seen it before we got there!”
“You had a vision of Liam practicing?” Carmen asked. “Aren’t your visions usually stuffed full of death and destruction?”
“That’s what I thought.” I shrugged happily. “But I’m definitely not complaining.”
“Did ya’ll hear that? I think I hear Willow.” Phoebe cocked her head to the side and listened intently. She smiled and took off down the dune at full speed. “Willow!”
Carmen and I scrambled up and over the dune after her. Willow was making her way towards Phoebe when we finally caught up to her.
“You guys are right on time!” Willow beamed up at us and gave us all big hugs. “I just got here, too!”
“Hey Willow.” I held her back as Carmen and Phoebe walked on to give us privacy. “Can I talk to you a sec?”
“Sure, what’s up?” She fell in step with me and I suddenly wished I’d prepared what I was going to say beforehand.
“I really wanted you to be my Apothecary,” I blurted out, “but the sea overrode my decision and made me choose Avery. I don’t even kno
w Avery!”
“I completely understand,” she accepted my apology with grace. Her blue eyes gleamed as she continued. “I could tell by the look on your face that something was off, but Avery will be excellent on your Council. I’ve known her for a long time.”
“I didn’t want to hurt your feelings, and I still don’t understand what happened. I just started talking, but I had absolutely no control over what I was saying. It was the weirdest thing.”
“I have a feeling there are things you don’t know about, which is why the sea intervened,” she surmised with a loving grin and a wink. “You have to trust that, as do I. My path will lead me down another road - one that could be just as important. I just don’t know what that is yet.”
“I have a feeling you’re right.” I grinned and felt a weight lift off my shoulders. “You are destined for great things, Willow Brooks.”
“There they are!” Phoebe motioned to us from up ahead and pointed off to her right. As we caught up to them and crested the last dune, a sprawling beach spread out before us. I saw the targets from my vision, but I couldn’t spot Liam or his friends. Willow and Phoebe ran down the dune while Carmen and I took our time. I’d already slid down this thing once, and I wasn’t looking forward to doing it again.
“I’m not going to need to exfoliate my feet for a year,” Carmen groaned. We finally made it to the flat sand of the beach, and she placed a hand on my shoulder for support as she inspected the bottom of her foot.
“Next time bring some shoes, grandma,” I mocked her. She was about to spit out a comeback when Phoebe’s frantic yell interrupted her.
“Willow! STOP!” Phoebe looked up the beach in horror as Willow glanced back at her curiously. In a split moment, time slowed and I pieced several things together. Willow was running amidst the handmade targets on the beach, Phoebe reached her arms out screaming, and Carmen squeezed my shoulder so hard I felt a bruise forming beneath the skin. When time began to move once again, Willow abruptly collapsed onto the sand; a silver trident embedded in her chest.
