This is what had caused Aetheros’ absence. Imbalance. Loss. Heartache. He’d turned his back when his children had failed their duty. So, he’d not been there when they’d needed him most. And now, he might be too far away to reach.
The gap between god and child was immense.
I watched on as the Nero gathered around Hip and his grandmother, reaching out and seeking comfort in touch. Stroking hands down his arms, running fingers through her bowed head of hair. Patting shoulders. Gripping palms. Until each Nero touched another Nero connecting the entire branch.
Such beauty in their agony. Couldn’t they see? This is what was needed. Solidarity. An Aeras stood in the middle of Nero, and they welcomed him willingly.
A child had come home.
And Hip. What was he thinking? He hadn’t let on to us at all. He’d never once told us his grandmother was Nero. Never once mentioned his family had been torn apart.
What else had he kept secret?
“Are all Athanatos so secretive?” I asked Theo.
“The Aeras have hidden their grief in the atmosphere,” he said softly, heavy tones laden with feeling. “Shed it as if it were a layer of skin. Perhaps Hippolytos’ intentions were not to remain tight-lipped. But simply that it is never spoken of.”
The lengths the Ekmetalleftis had gone to, to survive the separation of branches, was unfathomable. What a freaking mess.
I shifted on my feet, wanting to press home this advantage - for how could the Nero not believe their Thisavros lived now? - but feeling uncomfortable witnessing such an intimate scene.
Finally, Hip emerged from the massive grouping of people and walked to where we were standing.
“Aether,” he said. “They believe.”
I arched my brow. Hip hadn’t been here when I’d been trying to convince the Nero Rigas to open their borders and arms. But being the shaman’s grandson, I really wasn’t all that surprised he’d cottoned onto my most pressing problem.
“Another whisper on the wind?” I asked.
He smiled and rocked on his feet, devilish excitement in his movements. So Hip. I couldn't help but smile back.
“I wish grandfather were here,” he said wistfully.
I wanted to suggest fetching him. But the shaman anywhere near where the Alchemists could find him seemed like a bad idea. And I wasn’t sure yet whether the Nero Rigas would allow his subjects to leave Atlantis. Time to ask. I patted Hip on the arm consolingly and then walked toward where the Rigas was standing with two of his children.
Gemini, I realised, and his Hataera twin, Aquarius. A smile had stretched my lips before they had seen me. And promptly vanished when their words drifted to me on an accommodating wind.
Air the eavesdropper.
“You cannot let her leave,” Gemini was saying. I halted in my tracks. The other Nero were too busy celebrating to notice my closeness to their King. And the Rigas was too involved in the conversation with his sons.
“I have no intention of letting her leave,” the King said. “But this must be played delicately.”
“You almost lost her,” Aquarius pointed out.
“She is too astute to have fallen for a direct approach. She needed to be won over before she was ours.”
“Is she ours?” Gemini demanded.
“I saw into her heart. Her loneliness matches the Nero. Her fear of being alone is too great. She cries for us. Her heart bleeds for our anguish. She is definitely ours.”
“But her Thisavros?” Aquarius offered.
“When the time comes, and the sacrifice must be made, she will choose us.”
Oh, hell no. The sacrifice? Did he know about the sacrifice?
“I am certain.”
“We bow to your superior understanding, Pateras,” both twins said.
“For now, we play things her way.”
I spun on my heel and returned to Theo’s side. The Nero were playing games, then. Well, we’d see about that.
“We need to retreat,” I announced as I came abreast of Theo and Nico.
“Retreat?” Nico queried softly. “But we’ve got them now. Hip’s convinced them their Thisavros live.”
“They’re lying.”
“To Hip?” Theo asked.
I shook my head. “To us.”
Gold flared in Theo’s eyes. “How?”
“They wanted me all along. To choose them for some reason. And the King just said something about the sacrifice, as well. He knows more than he’s letting on, it seems.”
“Bloody hell,” Nico murmured.
“We retreat,” Theo agreed. “But we don’t let them see we’re on to them.”
The politician in attendance. Theo straightened his back, lifted his chin, and took hold of my hand. We walked toward the Rigas making sure he was aware of our approach. Hip slipped in beside Nico at our back. I glanced at him. He met my eye and nodded his head. I wasn’t at all surprised he knew what we were doing.
And had chosen us.
He might have found his grandmother. Opened communications again. But he was the shaman’s right-hand man. And the Aeras shaman understood Aether.
I didn’t trust the old medicine man. I didn’t trust Hip either. I sure as hell didn’t trust the Nero. The list was alarmingly long of who I didn’t trust. But to have allies, you needn’t explicitly trust them. You just needed them to do what had to be done.
And I needed the branches united. The shaman would provide the Aeras. The King in front of me would provide the Nero. I just had to make him believe it was his idea from the beginning.
I squeezed Theo’s hand; a signal to let me do the talking. It was a credit to our Thisavros connection that he simply squeezed back again. Lips shut. Small, friendly smile gracing them.
“Rigas,” I said in greeting.
“Aether,” he reached out his hands for me to clutch. Theo released me immediately, and I took the duplicitous King’s fingers in mine. “We owe you so much.”
I smiled. It was all an act. Would this work if everyone pretended? Or would The Reckoning know I was cheating and any balance I gained be short-lived?
I had to hope that merely getting the branches talking again would be enough. Their natural desire to be with their Thisavros would take over. And bridges would be built.
“My presence here endangers you,” I said. He started shaking his head adamantly. “The Alchemists,” I offered. “They play a dangerously cunning game.” Ironic. So did he.
“You will be safe here, Aether.”
“Oh, I have every intention of returning. I wish to see your Thisavros reunited. Please promise me you’ll reach out to Aeras.”
He hesitated and then smiled genuinely. Thousands of years acting had to count for something.
“Of course. But we have no way of contacting them.”
Hip stepped forward. “Allow me, Your Majesty. My grandfather will ensure lightning is at your disposal.” I flicked a look at Hip, but he ignored me. Sooner or later I had to trust that he wasn’t about to stab me in the back.
The Rigas turned his gaze to me then. “Aether, if we may speak freely and in private.”
“Anything you have to say can be said in front of my Thisavros.”
The Rigas grimaced, and I had a momentary pang of guilt.
“I understand,” he said. “But…” He looked so fragile. So shaken. Moisture glinted in his eyes.
Pisces appeared over his shoulder, thankfully in human form.
“Pateras?” he enquired.
“I’m fine,” his father said, the picture of a grieving husband.
Oh, how I hated these eternal beings and their penchant for theatrics.
There was nothing for it. If I didn’t concede, he’d know I doubted him. I turned to Theo, who met my gaze with an impassive one of his own. Battening down the hatches. Tightly controlled.
“We’ll wait just over there,” he said, indicating a spot not more than a dozen feet away. “In sight,” he added for good measure.
“Thank you,” the Rigas said, his voice cracking ever so slightly.
I forced myself not to fist my hands.
Silence invaded the space between us as we waited for Nico, Theo and Hip to retreat a safe distance. My eyes lifted to the King’s once they’d taken up their positions.
“You have your privacy.”
“The Air has ears.” Oh, for crying out loud!
I waved a hand and a bubble formed around us. Water trapped by Air.
“Happy?” I may have wanted him to believe I was on his side, but I wasn’t going to change my character. I’d fought them tooth and nail whilst in Atlantis.
They wouldn’t have forgotten.
“Impressive,” the Rigas said. “You have such a delicate touch.”
Pisces, who was still included in our conversation, grunted. But his eyes did a slow perusal of my body.
Eck.
“Child, you have come to mean so much,” the King said. I didn’t doubt that. He wanted me to choose Nero. Why? And what did it have to do with the sacrifice? “Will you not consider staying? We could help you learn more of Aether.”
“I have a guide,” I pointed out, looking toward Hip. I almost choked on laughter. Theo was staring daggers at the Nero King, Fire flickering at his fingertips.
I wondered if he could burst my secrecy bubble with his Pyrkagia. But pushed the amusing thought aside for the more challenging.
My eyes returned to the King.
“The Aeras shaman has seen to it that I have all that I need,” I said.
“And rightly so,” the Rigas allowed. “For he has always heard the voice of our god on the wind.”
I was taken aback by the poetry. And the similarity to what Hip had said. But then, the shaman would have at one time visited the Nero. Before they sunk Atlantis and broke his Thisavros’ heart.
“But there is much the shaman will not be privy to,” the King went on.
“We’ve done OK so far.”
“Indeed, and we will forever be grateful that you reminded us of what we used to be. We have a long way to go, of course, before we open our arms to our lost family,” he added. “Much has been created that cannot simply be torn apart.”
The Pallakae and the Hataera. My eyes searched out Aquarius. He was deep in conversation with Gemini, his twin brother.
“But small steps have already been taken,” the King said softly.
My wandering gaze turned next to Hip, where he was surrounded by the Nero, firing questions at him. I was sure progress had indeed been made.
But was it enough? And what else did I have to do to balance things?
“Aether,” the King said, drawing my attention to him again. The salty scent of the sea invaded my nostrils. The clack of crustaceans sounded out on the breeze. I realised the Nero Rigas was powerful enough to breach my bubble and tempt me.
That tantalising taste of Water flooded my senses. I swayed.
“Aether,” the King murmured, reaching out and cupping my jaw, steadying me. “Let us help you. Your heart is meant to dance with Nero. Your soul cries out, just like our siren call.”
Dangerous. This man was dangerous. And Nero truly did call out to me.
I swallowed thickly. He stepped closer.
“Come dance with us, Aether,” he murmured seductively.
I attempted to shake my head, but his fingers were firm at my jaw. Halting me.
“There will come a time when your world will be perched precariously,” he said. Isn’t it already? “To tip the wrong way would surely doom the planet. Nero is the lifeblood of all living things. Nero is what creates harmony. Aether,” he urged, “we can help you prepare for the moment. For it will come. And quickly.”
I smiled at him; part amused at his tactics and part impressed with his cheek. He wanted me to pick Nero; he’d say anything. But what picking Nero actually meant, I still couldn’t fathom.
“Rigas,” I said. “Rest easy.” Stealing from the shaman. “Breathe free. Fear not what you are unable to see.”
He pulled back. Stunned. I took the opportunity to step out of his clutches. Pisces hovered.
“I cannot live in fear of what’s to come. But when it does, I shall be ready,” I said resolutely. I had no idea if I was. I was thinking perhaps not. And there was more to this than the Rigas was telling. Perched precariously. What did that mean? And did it have anything to do with The Reckoning? But I’d been around the shaman enough times to know his riddles sounded all-knowing. So, I strove for an all-knowing tone of voice whilst tangling with the King.
If the Nero Rigas thought I knew more than I did, then he’d have a hard time arguing with my need for Nero to aide me.
“I will return.” I’d have to. To make sure progress had been made with the Aeras. Two Elements down. Two to go. I had this.
Hopefully.
“Is that a promise?” he asked, wavering.
I nodded my head. Then forced myself to touch his arm. “I feel your pain,” I whispered. “I feel your loneliness.” My voice cracked, not entirely an act. “Nero calls to me.”
He smiled. Frost coated the deep blue of his eyes. “Offer me a boon, then, Aether,” he said.
I stilled.
“Your grandfather once received the same, and never regretted it.”
Mark. I let out a sharp breath of air.
“For your protection, of course,” he added. “And for my piece of mind, as well. It is but a small thing, yet would mean so much.”
Oh, I did not like the sound of that.
“To prove your allegiance to Nero,” he finished, reaching out and trapping my hands in his. He squeezed them tightly; almost too tightly. I tried to pull back. “Or have your words no truth to them? Are we but a means to an end?”
The sneaky, conniving bastard. He was backing me into a corner.
“What boon would you have?” I asked, my throat dry.
Satisfaction glinted in his eyes.
“My son,” he announced. Pisces stepped forward. “As a Nero guard.”
I wanted to laugh. I wanted to cry. Oneupmanship at its best. The Aeras had given me a guide. The Nero wanted to ensure I had something of theirs too.
I looked up at Pisces; he loomed over me. Large in his human form as much as he was in his sea monster version.
“I might not be going near any oceans,” I said feebly.
Pisces smiled, showing a row of sharp teeth. “I have hooves as well as fins,” he offered.
All righty. I looked out of the bubble towards Theo, who cocked his head in question when our eyes met. I didn’t trust Hip. But I liked him. I didn’t trust Pisces. He scared me half to death.
But was this the answer? Nero clearly needed a show of faith. And if I brought one of their precious sons with me, would that do it? Would that be enough to bring them back into the fold?
It wouldn’t be easy. I’d have the Nero Rigas watching my every move through Pisces’ eyes. But if I could win Pisces over, the obvious favourite son of the Nero King, then I could win Nero itself.
“Very well,” I said to the Rigas. Theo was gonna spit the dummy big time. “I grant you this boon. Your son is welcome to join me.”
The Rigas smiled a truly beatific smile. Genuine. Welcoming…Tantalising.
I offered a more subdued one in return. He’d won this round. I looked up at Pisces again and felt my stomach lurch unattractively. He cocked his head and smiled slowly at me. Those razor sharp teeth catching the light.
Well, this would be interesting.
Chapter Nineteen
Oh, Sweet, Sweet, Casey
Lightning struck down on the flat, hard surface of Table Mountain. Thunderclouds rolled in, darkening the sky. Rain pelted against our face, obscuring vision. The wind buffeted our former camping site. It was a type of hell on earth, but we’d thought it a safe fallback location.
We stumbled as we regained balance. Our grasp on each other loosening. Sonya made a squeaking sound. About all she’d managed since we’d turn
ed up with Pisces at the Temple. Nico’s soft murmured reassurances were drowned out by the storm raging all around.
It felt foreboding.
“We can’t stay here,” Isadora shouted.
“Worried about your hair, Princess?” Mark enquired.
“Oh, fuck off!” she growled.
Nothing new there, then.
“Make camp,” Theo instructed, turning to shelter me from the worst of the weather.
Everyone hung their heads and moved out to raise the tents, as Hip lifted his hands to the sky and tried to calm the tempest down. The wind quietened slightly, the clouds clearing to let a little bit more light in, but even the Aeras guide was unable to completely control the weather.
I bit my lip and frowned.
“Are you all right, Oraia?” Theo murmured at my side.
A shiver rolled through me, my teeth chattering as the cold invaded my bones.
Theo wrapped his arms around my body and warmed me with his Pyrkagia. The chattering stopped, but the unease didn’t settle.
“We’ll stay the night, plan our next move,” Theo said into my hair. “Then leave here tomorrow.”
“The Reckoning,” I whispered, the words whipped away in the wind.
“From what we know of it, so far,” he said, “it’s a test of some kind. This feels more like Genesis than any trial.”
“I don’t know,” I drawled, “this is testing me quite a bit, right now.”
Theo chuckled, rubbing his hands up and down my back, and pressing my cheek into his chest, keeping me warm. I started to yawn, even before the first tent had been erected. Even in the middle of a storm, with The Reckoning hanging over my head, wrapped in the arms of my Thisavros, I felt relaxed enough to become tired.
“You need sleep, Casey,” Theo growled softly. For more reasons than just one, I thought glumly.
What would Gramps have to say about The Reckoning? About the fact I had Awakened all four Stoicheio now? About Aether? There was so much I wanted to ask him, so many blanks he could fill in. I tried not to think about the pressure on me to fall asleep and dream visit with him.
The Tantalising Taste Of Water (Elemental Awakening, Book 4) Page 18
