“Thank you.”
I mouthed to my keeper as he put his hand on my lower back to lead me out of the room. When we were out of earshot, I turned to my beloved and folded my hands in front of my face.
“Please tell me that I don’t have to listen to any more lectures. Please tell me tomorrow really is Friday and I can go home. Please tell me this week in hell is almost over.”
“Has it truly been so horrible?” Cyrus raised a single eyebrow at me. “One would think you could use a little time outside the limelight.”
“I could. On the beach somewhere without a single thought about leaves or gods who will sleep with anything that moves.”
Cyrus chuckled as we resumed our walk. “Have no fear, Little One. Tomorrow is indeed Friday. You will appear before the Council to formally accept their offer and we can return home.”
“Thank the heavens.” I breathed. “So I can go pack?”
“Not yet.” Cyrus shook his head. “Medusa has scheduled one last match for you. She was not satisfied with your performance during your last encounter.”
“I only landed on my butt twice.” I held up two fingers. “I thought I did pretty well.”
“Regardless.” He gave my arm a light squeeze. “If you are able to defeat your opponent, she will tell Hecate she is pleased.”
“Wait. My opponent?” I slowed down. “I won’t be fighting Medusa?”
“No.” Cyrus continued forward. “And no, I can’t tell you who you are fighting.”
“So we’re back to you being unhelpful again.” I teased. “Fine. I’ll go change. It won’t take long.”
“No again, dear girl.” Cyrus tucked my hand in the crook of his arm. “You may be forced to fight in any number of outfits. There is no point in changing your clothes.”
“Chalk up another reason not to wear skirts.” I sighed. “When we get home, you are buying me the biggest bottle of wine you can find, Stick. I mean it. I’ve been sober for far too long.”
“Your wish is my command.”
He grinned down at me as we stepped outside. Before we could go any further than the steps, I saw a quick movement out of the corner of my eye. I shoved Cyrus to the side when a massive ball of green flew towards my head.
“Hey!” I shouted. I jumped to my feet to see Dr. Drew Carmichael grinning at me. “Watch it, doc. You might get hurt.”
“Perhaps.” He nodded. “Perhaps not. That decision is yours, Sibyl.”
I ducked when he threw another ball of energy at me. I felt it singe my hair before it dissipated into the air behind me.
“Come on, Medusa.” I called out. I knew she was here somewhere. “This is ridiculous."
The next attack hit me square in the chest. I grunted and fell to my side as a wave of dizziness clouded my mind. I closed my eyes, counted to ten then pushed myself up.
“Alright, Ambassador. You want to play?” I willed my sword into my hand. “Let’s go.”
The man was big, but his size didn’t intimidate me. The green magick he controlled did. So I waited until he threw the next ball in my direction before I struck. I lunged off the steps and rushed him. He grunted when my shoulder connected with his stomach. I dodged his punch and slammed the hilt of my sword against the top of his boot. The witch howled until I locked my foot behind his and hit him with my arm across the chest.
Drew landed hard on his back. I pressed the tip of my blade against his throat with a grin.
“I win.”
I started to help him to his feet when someone grabbed me from behind. No, not someone. Medusa. I would recognize the feel of her rough skin anywhere. I didn’t bother to struggle against her. I let my body grow limp and waited. It didn’t take long. My new opponent loosened her grip on me. The second she did, I cracked my head against her nose. She cried out when I turned on her. Medusa was holding her nose, so I kicked out with a series of strikes that any stunt coordinator would have been proud of. She was gasping by the time she fell to her knees.
I heard movement behind me. I watched as Medusa’s hands began to glow blue. So I stood still until the woman in front of me raised her arms. I waited until the hairs on the back of my neck began to stand up thanks to the electricity she was generating. Just before she unleashed her power at me, I threw myself to the side and rolled.
The result was a mirrored scream as Drew’s spell hit Medusa and her electricity hit the witch in the chest. I watched the two of them stay still in the grass and waited for another attack. Instead, I heard the sound of applause.
I refused to take my eyes off of my opponents until Hecate and Cyrus approached me. I was still leery when the headmistress knelt down to run her hand first over Medusa’s face then tapped Drew between the eyes. My mentor sat up first and glared at me.
“Congratulations, Daughter of Apollo.” Hecate rose to her feet. “You did well against these two.”
“Of course I did.” I scoffed. “I said that I won, didn’t I? I wasn’t going to let Medusa steal my thunder so easily.”
“At any rate,” Hecate smiled. “I can now say that I believe you will be a valid defender against our enemies. I will give my report to the Council tomorrow with pride.”
“I don’t understand.” I watched Cyrus lift Drew to his feet then clap him on the back. “Yeah, I won the fight, but I still don’t know everything. Much less why they want me out of all the people in the world to represent them.”
“You know enough.” Hecate patted my cheek with a gloved hand. “The knowledge you gained at the Academy will serve as a solid foundation for the future. And you are welcome back here at any time.”
“Great Mother,” I crossed my arms over my chest as I faced her. “I appreciate your sentiment. Really, I do. But I am no closer to finding out how Elliot was able to penetrate my dreams. Nor do I know how to stop him from doing it again.”
“Ah, yes. The Skinwalker dilemma.” Hecate nodded. “I had almost forgotten. I do have a bit of information for you, child, if you wish to hear it.”
“Why would I not want to hear it?” I narrowed my eyes at her. “Wait. If you tell me that Elliot is my long lost brother, I’m going to scream.”
“Pasithea.” She leaned in with a smile. “That should lead you down the path you are seeking.”
“Ok. Who is Pasithea?” I waited for her to respond, but the goddess only smiled. She turned on her heel and started towards the main hall when I called out behind her. “You mean that’s all I get? A name?”
“The library is in the basement.” Hecate called over her shoulder. “Have fun.”
I waited until I was alone with Cyrus once more before I spoke. It was safer that way.
“I am really, really looking forward to going home tomorrow.”
“I bet so.” Cyrus grinned. “No cryptic riddles. No random attacks on the lawn.”
“I can ask you to explain things to me so that I don’t have to spend hours doing research.” I dropped my arms to my sides. “Speaking of research, did you ever hear from Leyton?”
“I did.” Cyrus nodded. “But Hecate thought it best to keep your mind on your work at the Academy. She did not want you distracted by the show.”
“Thanks for letting me in on that little decision.” I rolled my eyes towards the door. “You got the folder?”
“I do.” Cyrus wrapped his arm around my waist this time when we returned inside. “It’s in your luggage. I’ll grab it once I have you safely placed in the library.”
“Yay.” I grumbled. “You know, I bet Connor is about to have a heart attack. Elliot’s gone missing. I’ve gone missing. The only people he has to bark orders to are Leyton and Joey.”
“Eva, there is something you should know about Lancaster.” Cyrus stopped at the bottom of the stairs. “I received word this morning that he was detained by the police in Los Angeles on suspicion of murder.”
“So Detective Holston was able to use the video I gave him.”
“Yes.” Cyrus caught my arm when I started to go
past him. “But you know as well as I do that your American judicial system can be bought. Lancaster was released on bond under strict orders not to leave California until the matter could be further investigated.”
“He’s probably on a plane right now.” I sighed. “Has he been able to find more victims?”
“Yes.” Cyrus nodded. “Same method of death. Same glass peacock left at every crime scene. The police are sure that you led them to the right suspect. But Joseph Lancaster’s money has kept his son’s involvement out of the news so far.”
“Good.” I shuddered. “The last thing Grave Messages needs is more bad publicity. The current host is crazy and the former one is a murderer. Could you just imagine the headlines?”
“Eva, this is serious.”
“I know. I’m being serious.” I leaned into him. “So help me. Tell me who Pasithea is.”
“Nice try.” Cyrus tapped his finger against the tip of my nose. “Go. Do your research while I obtain the file. I won’t be gone long.”
“Fine.” I groaned. “Can you at least tell me where to start looking?”
“Try the card catalog.”
He faded into the shadows before I could find a book to throw at him. Not that I would have, but damn, it was tempting. I ignored his suggestion to use the card catalog and decided to browse through the shelves. It wasn’t until I stepped through the arched entrance that I realized just how daunting this task was going to be.
Books of all sizes lined the walls. Some were bound in leather. Others in cheap cardboard. The older ones were so faded, I had to trace the symbols on the spines in an attempt to make them out only to realize they weren’t written in English.
Lucky me.
“Ok, McRayne.” I stopped in front of the final bookshelf that lined the first wall. “You used to do research by yourself all the time. You could always find what you were looking for.”
Yeah. At the state-of-the-art campus library that had access to modern technology. I said a quick prayer of thanks to Apollo for being born during the digital age before I resumed my task. I ditched the shelves and started checking out the tables instead. They, too, were covered in massive volumes that rivaled any book Cyrus had ever given me.
After another ten minutes, I dropped down in the closest chair and laid my head down on the table. I was still in that position when my Keeper appeared a few minutes later.
“Hopeless?” He leaned over my shoulder to toss a folder by my head. “Or did you decide to take a nap first?”
“Hopeless.” I raised up while he pulled a chair up beside me. “I can’t read ancient Greek, Cyrus. Let me see your phone. I’ll just google this and be done with it.”
“Yes, you can.” He gave me a small smile. “And no. Hecate considers the internet a threat. She would have my head if I let you use it.”
“I’ll have your head if you don’t let me use it.” I pouted. “And no, I can’t. Ancient languages weren’t taught in my high school.”
“How do you know what you are looking at is Greek?” His smile widened. “It could be any number of languages invented and discarded through the years.”
“Because everyone and everything that surrounds me is both ancient and Greek?” I asked. “Not that big of a leap to make, Cy.”
“Ok. Come here.” Cyrus pulled my chair against his. He picked up a book, wrapped an arm around my shoulders, and held the stupid volume up so I could see it. “I want you to think, Evie. You have the knowledge of not one but two goddesses who could read our language. Stop telling yourself that you can’t do something. Close your eyes, focus on what you know, and let the barriers fall away.”
“Cyrus…”
“Try it. If you still cannot, then I will tell you the story of Pasithea myself.”
I stared at him for a moment before I sighed and did what I was told. I closed my eyes then imagined that the memories I had absorbed from both Athena and Hera was a deck of cards. The cards flipped until I reached the one labeled with a single symbol on it. Maybe it was my imagination gone wild. Or maybe, I wasn’t expecting Cyrus’ little exercise to work. But I was surprised when I realized the drawing on the card said ‘language’.
I opened my eyes to focus on the book. The scribbles which had seemed so foreign before made sense.
“The Encyclopedia of the Gods.” I read the first line on the page aloud. “Oh, my god. I can actually read ancient Greek.”
“Good.” Cyrus kissed the side of my head closest to him. “Now find the name you are searching for.”
I grinned like a kid at Christmas when I snatched the book out of his grasp. I flipped through the pages until I came across the story I was searching for. It took a bit, but I could still understand the words printed across the page. I sat the book down flat on the table when I saw the name Hecate had challenged me to find.
“Pasithea is the goddess of restful sleep and hallucinations.” I ran a single finger beneath each line to help me keep my place. “One of the younger Charites, she was promised to Hypnos, the god of sleep, by her mother -”
“Keep going.” Cyrus tapped my shoulder when I stopped. “You’re almost finished.”
“Hera, Queen of the Heavens.” I frowned down at the book. “Ok. So she has a connection to Hera and to the god of sleep. Do you think she is using those connections to help Elliot?”
“I am sure of it.” Cyrus sat back in his chair. “Pasithea is a minor goddess, but she is the daughter of your enemy, Little One. If she were able to influence Hypnos then it is completely plausible that he granted the Skinwalker the ability to attack you in your dreams.”
“But Elliot hasn’t been able to reach me since I came to the Academy.”
“No.” Cyrus shook his head. “That much is true. But remember, dear girl, we are not going to be here forever. We must begin preparations to protect you when we leave tomorrow.”
“What do you mean, ‘preparations’?” I frowned. “We are returning to L.A. I’m going to resume work on my show then hop on the next plane to the next location.”
“That is what I want to speak with you about.” Cyrus placed the folder he had brought to me over the book. “I want you to consider going to Rome, North Carolina.”
“There’s a Rome, North Carolina?” I raised my eyebrows. “Never heard of it.”
“Not many have.” Cyrus crossed his arms over his chest. “It is a very small town just outside of Raleigh.”
“Ok. Raleigh I’ve heard of.” I opened the folder to see the standard introduction page typed out by the boys in Research. “What’s the location?”
“The Covington mansion. It was a house built to be a tomb.”
“Ok. Now you’ve got my attention.” I flipped through the pages until I reached the pictures. The house appeared to have been abandoned for decades. Grass tangled with weeds along the front. Yet, I could tell the building hadn’t been made with wood and nails. “Classic Victorian house. But what’s it made of?”
“Granite.” My beloved leaned forward. “Shall I tell you the story behind it?”
I nodded. The tale Cyrus wove was so twisted, so full of madness I knew it would be the perfect location to end our hiatus with. When he finished, I whistled.
“Ok. I like it.” I closed the folder and turned to him. “But you seem far too familiar with the history of that house, Cyrus. What gives?”
“Elliot liked that house too.” My beloved stood. It wasn’t long before he began to pace in the small space between the table and a bookcase. “In fact, he was the one who insisted Leyton put it on the show’s docket.”
“Elliot?” I glanced to the ceiling as if it could give me answers. “Why?”
“I do not know. Not yet. But you are right in a sense, Little One. I am not familiar with the house, but I know the area well.”
“And?”
“And I believe you will be well protected from the Skinwalker there.” Cyrus stopped in front of me and brushed his knuckles across my cheek. “Remember when you aske
d me who the hell Jonathan was?”
I nodded, though it seemed as if years had passed instead of a single week since I had asked that question. When I didn’t respond, Cyrus continued.
“Jonathan is the Protector Guide who watches over that region. He and his students are part of an enhanced group of humans called the 11th Percent.”
“Enhanced group of humans.” I repeated the phrase before I started laughing. “So you want me to go to yet another school that belongs in a comic book?”
“Not as a student, mind you.” He stared down at me. “Jonathan has offered his estate to us if we ever need it. Since I’m sure you will want to film the Covington mansion, I believe it would be a good place for us to stay.”
“I’m sure it would be better than the Red Roof.” I snagged his hand and squeezed it. “Leyton is on board with filming this?”
“Actually, Leyton has asked to be assigned to another Theia Productions project.” Cyrus frowned. “A show called Shadowed Histories. He decided he couldn’t wait for you to return, so he joined up with another ghost hunting program.”
“He’s the new competition then.”
I grinned. I knew I should have been upset. I knew I should have gotten on the phone and demanded that Leyton come back to Grave. But in truth, I was relieved. The Seer and I had butted head from the moment we met. To have him out of my hair was more than a relief.
It was a blessing.
“So that just leaves me, you, and Joey.” I leaned back in my chair. “Small but effective. And if the police are after Elliot, it is only a matter of time before he leaves Theia all together.”
“Eva, I am uneasy about the Covington mansion.” My keeper grew even more serious. “Lancaster could be using it as a trap.”
“He could be.” I nodded. “But even you have to admit, it’s a damn good story. And if your friend doesn’t mind us crashing on his couch for a few days, we won’t have to worry about boarding costs.”
“No.” Cyrus reached for my hand to help me stand. “Jonathan did say he was eager to meet you.”
“Everyone is eager to meet me, Stick.” I let him pull me to my feet before I grinned. “I am famous, after all.”
The Oracle Series: Vols. 4, 5, & Grave Endowments Page 21
