As if suspended in time, Ava watched the battle play out. The stones continued to whirl around her, infusing her with power. Enyo remained at her perch, whispering in her ear. She whispered for her to reach out and take—to own—the power she held in her hands.
And still, Ava didn’t move.
She just let the power swirl around her.
“Some prophecy you are!” Enyo screamed in her ear as those blood-tipped fingers clamped over her hands. “You will not take this from me!”
The air swirled around them.
The skirmish raged in front of them.
But the real battle was the one inside of her.
Who do you want to be, Ava Marie? Who do you believe you already are?
And then she saw Brody as he struggled for his own life, fighting for her.
With nothing but his own strength, he fought for her.
For her.
Slowly, she lowered her arms, pressing all her might against Enyo’s superhuman strength.
She was desperate to flush the power from her system. Frantic to prove she was worthy of Brody.
Determined to prove to herself that she was a woman of value.
Ava had nearly lowered the stones entirely when Enyo threw a last burst of strength, pulling up on her arms. Power lasered through the clearing, the colors of the stones coalescing into a streaming rainbow of continuously changing color.
And then Ava took control again, twisting her arms so the power of the stones fed back on the two of them.
She felt the power shoot up her arms and into her heart.
Felt the power of it throw Enyo off her back.
And as the stones flew from her hands, Ava felt herself fly through the air to land at the base of Cleopatra’s Needle.
Chapter Twenty-four
Ava opened her eyes, instantly aware and instantly alert.
“Brody? Is he okay?”
“He’s fine. Vanquished his enemies in another fine show of valor.”
Brody was okay. He’d survived. Ava looked around. “Where am I?”
Smooth, tender fingers brushed the hair off her temples. “Mount Olympus.”
Ava looked up at the sweet woman with the tender face and sad eyes. “Themis?”
“Yes, my sweet child?”
“Why am I here?” Ava heard herself, and her voice sounded all scratchy. “Did I die?”
“In a way.”
“In a way?” Ava struggled to sit up. “What way?”
“Shhh. Conserve your strength. You were very brave today, Ava. You made a great choice.”
“Choices again.” Ava thought she’d said those words inside her head, but Themis’s soft laughter suggested otherwise.
“Yes. Choices. Life is full of them, isn’t it?”
She had a point there. “What great choice are you referring to?”
“You discarded the very essence of power when you discarded the stones.”
“Discarded them? All I remember was throwing them as hard as I could.”
“It was that act—that simple act of denial—that destroyed them. They disintegrated before they even hit the ground.”
“I needed to be worthy of Brody. He doesn’t abuse his power. Had I used the stones, I’d be no better than Enyo; no better than my grandmother.”
“And what about before Brody? You had a good life and you discarded it, living your life in fear. Is that not giving in to a dominating power?”
Shame burned her skin like a sunburn. “Yes. I lived that way.”
“Are you prepared to discard that way, too?”
She wanted to scream a great, big, sobbing yes, but something held her back.
Did she have it in her to give full trust to another?
An image of Brody’s face as he fought Deimos and Phobos for her rose to life in her mind’s eye.
Loving meant trusting.
Loving meant everything.
With firm resolve, she looked at Themis as she made her vow. “No, I don’t want to live that way any longer, either.”
“Then I think this is a most special day, Ava. Today you made a decision that will set the course of the rest of your life.”
“What life? I’m dead, aren’t I?” Ava felt the telltale pricks at the back of her eyes, then felt the tears well up and spill in one great, hot rush.
Good grief, even in death she was a waterworks.
“Come. I want you to look at something with me.”
With barely a thought, Ava went from a bed to a standing position next to Themis, a large viewing screen in front of them.
“Stand before my Mirror of Truth and tell me what you see.”
As the screen came to life, she saw Brody, cradling her body at the base of Cleopatra’s Needle. Tears streamed down his cheeks. His fellow Warriors stood guard around him as his body convulsed in great heaving sobs over her.
“So I did die, then.”
“As I said, in a way. Your mortal body died in that clearing in Central Park.”
“Then how can I be here? How can we be having this conversation?”
“You denied the power in the Summoning Stones. For that, I can give you something equally unselfish. Something of equal measure.”
As Themis turned toward her, the reality of her words crashed into Ava.
There was a way.
Themis had found a way.
“Brody. Only Brody and an immortal life with him.”
“Then go, my sweet Warrior. I give you life with your beloved.”
Brody would not let her go. His brothers and Callie urged him on, to allow her spirit to begin its journey, but still, he held on.
“I can’t leave you, my love.” He squeezed her tighter as he pressed his forehead to hers. Great, heaving sobs wracked his body as hot tears bathed her face. “I can’t leave you.”
“Then don’t, my love. Don’t leave me—ever.”
What?
With frantic movements, he sat back, lifting her body to bring her face close to his. “Ava?”
A small smile hovered about her lips as that gorgeous brown gaze locked with his. “Yes, my love.”
“How?”
“We have someone wonderful on our side.” At his blank stare, Ava smiled up at him. “Themis.”
“How did Themis do this? Her agreement with Zeus. No more Warriors. And then her bad experience with my brother, bringing him back to life.”
“Apparently she found a loophole. I gave up something so selflessly, she could grant me something I wanted with my whole heart.”
“Life.”
She reached up and framed his face with her hand. “You. Only you. Forever.”
Hope whispered under his skin, floating through his veins to fill his heart. “You’re immortal.”
“She called me a Warrior as she sent me on my way.”
“A female Warrior?”
“You got a problem with that?”
His smile rivaled the sun. “Absolutely not.” He shifted her so that she was cradled in his lap, his mouth nuzzling her neck. “But let me get this straight. She made you a Warrior? As in a What’s-your-sign Warrior?”
“Well, we didn’t talk about that part. How about if we’re partners on the hunt for ancient artifacts? Clearly I have a knack for them.”
Brody pulled her close. “Clearly you do.”
“Of course,” Ava added, “I’d like a more romantic job description, too.”
“Name it.”
“I’ll be the moon in your ascendant and we’ll call it a life.”
“When you put it like that.”
Brody knew they’d figure out Themis’s true motives soon enough. For now, it was enough that he had Ava in his arms and a future with the woman he loved.
Epilogue
“Ava, you have to keep your eyes open when you port; otherwise you can’t see the landing.”
She giggled, the light sound filling Brody’s heart with pure, unadulterated joy. “I always forget that part.”
/> He rubbed his lower back as he shot her the gimlet eye. “Which is why I keep landing on my ass.”
She leaned over to make a quick inspection. “And an incredibly fine ass, it is. It’s a good thing I keep landing us in bed.”
“I guess it is.”
They lay there quietly, the only sound their breathing, in sync with each other. Ava spoke first. “I feel like I’m getting used to it.”
Brody couldn’t argue with her there. Ava had embraced her role as a new Warrior of Themis with dedication and devotion. They’d already been to Alexandria to inspect some Greek artifacts said to date from Alexander the Great’s time and on a trip to inspect some ancient Babylonian scrolls.
The scrolls had turned out to be nothing more than ancient grocery lists, but they were heading back to Greece in a few weeks to make sure the Greek government disposed of Alexander’s staff as promised.
“Do you miss your old life?”
“No.” Ava shook her head against his chest.
Brody lifted himself up on an elbow. “Really?”
“Really. I found you. And that’s all I need.”
She rolled toward him and planted her soft lips against his. The fire that raged between them grew and expanded, heated and burned, as the kiss stretched out.
Long. Languorous. Needful.
Shifting, Ava climbed on top of him, a broad smile stretched across her face. “Besides, you’re way more fun than Sunday dinner at Grandmother’s house.”
“That’s no way to speak of the dead, darling.”
Her eyes darkened momentarily. “Yes, well, I haven’t hit the point where I feel very sorry for her.”
“I wouldn’t waste a single second of thought on the matter.”
“I won’t.” She reached down and grabbed fistfuls of his T-shirt. He lifted himself slightly so she could slide it over his head. “My thoughts of late have been filled with other things.”
Brody lifted her blouse, the soft globes of her breasts a welcome treat where they spilled over the lace of her bra. “Well then, why don’t you tell me about it, Mrs. Talbot?”
Ava leaned forward to plant a kiss against his throat. “I’ve got an even better idea, my love. Why don’t I show you?”
GEMINI/LEO STAR CHART
Opposites attract when airy Gemini meets fiery Leo.
Although the Gemini woman might initially chafe at her Leo’s self-assured intensity, the Lion is exceptionally loyal, especially to the woman he chooses as his mate.
Always seeking answers to her questions, the Gemini woman hungers for a man who can keep her constantly interested and engaged. Leo, with his fierce pride and love of action, will ensure her seeking nature always finds something interesting in his flair for the dramatic.
Our brave Leo seeks a woman who can tame the beast. A natural leader, a woman who can be a true partner—a mate worthy of equal respect—will win his heart and his lifelong loyalty.
If Ava and Brody can prove they are worthy of Themis’s respect, the stars promise a long and prosperous life for both of them—and for their descendents. . . .
GLOSSARY
Ages of Man—the stages of human existence, as identified by the Greek writer Hesiod. Most often associated with metals, the ages—Gold, Silver, Bronze, Heroic and Iron—reflect the increasing toil and drudgery humans live in. The world only thinks the ages are myth. . . .
Cardinal—a sign quality, Cardinal signs (Aries, Cancer, Libra, Capricorn) mark the start of each season. Those born under Cardinal signs are considered dynamic and, like each season, forceful in their beginnings. Cardinal Warriors are equally dynamic, forcing change with their impatient natures and independent spirits.
Chimera—With the body and head of a lion, the tail of a snake and the head of a goat extending from the center of its back, the Chimera is one of the eleven monsters of Mount Olympus. It is created by the goddess Echidna, the Mother of all Monsters, whose menagerie is a favorite resource of terror for Deimos and Phobos.
Deimos—The god of dread, Deimos is the son of Ares and Aphrodite, and the brother of Phobos.
Destroyer—a soulless creature created by Enyo from an emotionally damaged human. Destroyers take on the appearance of men, but their bodies are nothing but husks, filled with a superconductive life force. They can be slowed and hurt, but quickly recover. The only way to kill a Destroyer is by removing his head. Each Destroyer Enyo creates takes some of her power, preserving an innate balance agreed to during the creation of the Great Agreement.
Element—Just as all signs are Cardinal, Fixed or Mutable, each sign also possesses an elemental quality of Fire, Earth, Air or Water. Each Warrior has an elemental nature to his sign, allowing for additional powers for those who have learned to develop them. These elemental qualities exist beyond those granted to all Warriors—immortality, the ability to port, rapid healing and above-average strength—and have begun to express themselves as the Warriors have grown more comfortable in their abilities and better understand the full range of their skills.
Enyo—Daughter of Zeus and Hera, Enyo is the goddess of war, equipped with the ability to create anarchy and death wherever she goes. Zeus offered Enyo up to Themis for their Great Agreement. Before Zeus allowed Themis to create the Sons of the Zodiac, she had to agree to a counterbalance to the Warriors’ power. Enyo provides the balance, at constant war with Themis’s Warriors. For each battle Enyo wins, her power grows; for each she loses, her power diminishes.
Equinox—a nightclub owned by Grey Bennett, Aries Warrior. Each Warrior has a role within the whole, and Grey’s is to keep an eye on the underbelly of New York for Enyo’s likely crop of new Destroyers. None of the Warriors knows, however, that Grey carries a secret—one that will lead him to his destiny or to his doom. . . .
Fixed—A sign quality, Fixed signs (Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, Aquarius) mark the middle of each season. Those born under Fixed signs are considered quite stubborn and persistent. Fixed Warriors are equally stubborn and persistent, unwilling to yield to their enemies.
Great Agreement—an agreement entered into during the Iron Age (the Fifth Age of Man) by Zeus and Themis. Fearful that her beloved humans had no protection from the trials of life, Themis entered into an agreement with Zeus that created the Sons of the Zodiac. The Sons of the Zodiac are Warriors modeled after the circular perfection of the heavens, and each Warrior carries the immutable qualities of his sign. Under the Great Agreement, the immortal Warriors will battle Zeus’s daughter Enyo, the goddess of war, for the ultimate protection, quality and survival of humanity.
Hera—wife of Zeus and mother of Enyo.
Iron Age—the Fifth Age of Man, generally thought to be about ten thousand years ago, where humans toil in abject misery. Brothers fight brothers, children turn against their fathers and anarchy is the rule of the land. During this age the gods have forsaken humanity. It is during this time that Themis—desperate to alter the course of human existence—goes to Zeus and enters into the Great Agreement. The Sons of the Zodiac are created during this age.
Mutable—A sign quality, Mutable signs (Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, Pisces) mark the end of each season. Those born under Mutable signs are the most comfortable with change, making them easily adaptable and resourceful. Mutable Warriors are the first to see the big picture, able to adapt and shift their battle plans at a moment’s notice. Their ability to see issues from multiple angles make them strong Warriors and a comfort to have watching one’s back.
Phobos—The god of fear, Phobos is the son of Ares and Aphrodite, and the brother of Deimos.
Port—the shortened form of teleport. Warriors and Destroyers have the ability to move through space and time at will. Porting diminishes power.
Prophecy of Thutmose III—Carved on the walls of Thutmose III’s tomb and not discovered until the early twenty-first century, the prophecy outlines the power of the Summoning Stones of Egypt, for those who are chosen by them.
Sons of the Zodiac—created by Themis, the godde
ss of justice, upon her Great Agreement with Zeus. The Great Agreement stipulates that a race of Warriors—156 in total—will have the traits of their zodiac sign. Tasked with protecting humanity, they are at war with Enyo. A Warrior is immortal, although he may be killed with a death blow to the neck that decapitates him, this being the only way to kill him. His strength may be reduced from extended time in battle, multiple ports and little food, and his strength may be replenished with food, sleep or sexual orgasm. Each Warrior has a tattoo of added protection that lives within his aura.
Summoning Stones of Egypt—The five Summoning Stones of Egypt were crafted during the reign of Thutmose III. For those who are chosen—there is a Chosen One in each age—the stones give the user the power to control the universe. Each of the five stones represents a different element—death, life, love, sexuality and infinity.
Tartarus—a prisonlike pit below the Underworld. Zeus’s father, Cronus, is housed in Tartarus at Zeus’s hand.
Themis—One of the twelve Titans, Themis is the goddess of justice. Disheartened that her beloved humans toiled in misery and abject drudgery, she petitioned Zeus to allow her to intercede. With Zeus she entered into the Great Agreement, which provided for the creation of the Sons of the Zodiac, 156 Warriors embodied with the traits of their signs. Originally she envisioned twelve of twelve, but upon reaching her agreement with Zeus, gained an additional twelve Warriors so Gemini might have his twin. Themis’s Warriors live around the globe, battling Enyo and keeping humanity safe.
Warrior Ascended Page 30
