Theta

by Lizzy Ford

  It wasn’t enough. Anything short of complete victory would never be enough to justify everything humanity had lost, and would lose, in the war to come.

  “You’re just full of it,” Kyros said with a laugh. “You hurt?”

  I ignored him.

  He touched my upper arm, and a flicker of warmth shot through me. “Bruises and scrapes are now gone. Along with the bruised ribs.” His hand dropped.

  I released the breath I’d been holding. My body moved more easily after his touch, and I rolled my shoulders back.

  Did you heal all the wounded already?

  “As many as possible. We evacuated according to Plan Pegasus, whatever that is. I don’t know where all the different backup sites are. We wanted to find you first then travel to see the rest of the army.”

  I had a feeling Herakles was regretting his kindness. He stood, bristling. He didn’t look at me but tore the pages from the notebook, crumpled them, and threw them then the pad of paper into the forest. He strode off, towards the woods, and away from me.

  I started forward.

  “Ummmm no.” Kyros caught my arm. “Give him some time to breathe and think.”

  I hated the twisting feeling in my gut but did as he suggested and stayed where I was.

  “What next?” Kyros asked.

  We rebuild. But we do it smarter. Multiple sites instead of one main one, similar to how Dosy set up the insurgency. Turning, I gazed up at him. Dark circles lined his eyes, and he wore a smile.

  “Okay. Leave Herakles a truck, and we’ll start.”

  I lifted my chin.

  “Or …” He sighed. “You can make the decision.”

  I glanced in the direction Herakles had gone. I wanted to go after him, not because I hoped he would remain with my cause, but because I cared about him.

  We’ll give him an hour or two, then do as you suggested, I decided. Where is Menelaus?

  “Sleeping. He didn’t handle the stress of last night as well as you. Claimed he’s too old for this shit.”

  I had a few choice words for the Bloodline member I didn’t know existed, and even more to say to Apollo. As I looked out over the destruction Menelaus and I had caused, I focused on how well prepared and supplied the Supreme Magistrate really was. Adonis had believed we would fail quickly and absolutely if we faced Cleon’s forces directly, and I began to agree with him. They had nearly destroyed us from twenty kilometers away.

  I was spooked. For the first time since leaving DC, I felt like my eyes were open to what I was doing. I had always considered my war with Cleon to be secondary to my true purpose, but how was I going to defeat him and retake his army, when a few missiles had sent my forces into hiding? My supplies were gone, my people scattered, and my staffing down twenty percent.

  What would I do to win? To defeat Cleon? How far would I have to go in order to end his tyranny and restore the government to the people, before I could attack the gods?

  “I know someone willing to help you reclaim the city.” Paeon was back, as displayed by the bright blue eyes peering out of Kyros’ face.

  I pinned Kyros-Paeon with a look. I need help toppling Cleon before I can face the gods, and I need real answers about what’s going on, to include why they’re possessing people.

  “You want to work with us then destroy us.”

  Yes.

  “Oddly enough, I think a few gods might be willing to listen to your proposal. Would you consider a modification to your truce? Namely, will you consent to allow us to return to our home rather than slaughter us?”

  Opening the bridge is outside my control, I replied.

  “For now. But once you take the city, and with your intent to either work with the Oracle or kill her, if she can’t or won’t help you, there might be a window where we can return home.”

  Every cell of my body rebelled at the idea of working with the gods. My jaw clenched, and I was tense enough that I wanted to turn back from this path already.

  Why are you willing to aid me, when you know I might turn on you? I demanded. I hate your kind, and I will not stop until you all are gone from the Earth.

  “Let’s just say there’s more going on than you know yet. We’re trapped her. Did you ever wonder who has the power to trap us, and why?” he asked cautiously.

  I don’t care. I’d see you all murdered in your beds.

  “Then let’s stick to our original deal. You at least try to open the bridge to send us home, or don’t interfere with us if we find a way to return home, and we’ll help you through the wall.”

  I hated, hated the idea of working with the gods.

  These were emotions. The beast side of me. Instincts I couldn’t allow to cloud my judgment. Not when the lives of my army depended upon me to protect them and lead them to victory. Last night had been a wake up call in many ways, to include the stark reality that I was playing in a sandbox while Cleon focused on conquering the entire desert. He had sent sixty men and three missile launching vehicles to take me out, and he’d almost succeeded.

  If I stood any chance of taking the city, I needed the help from beings far more powerful than I was.

  Very well. I said. We will cease hunting your kind, and I will expect you to participate in my war.

  “Done.” Paeon smiled.

  You speak on behalf of Zeus now? I snapped.

  “In this matter, yes. He sent me to broker a peace with you, and I’ve finally succeeded.”

  When your kind leaves, you’ll release Kyros, I added. And any other human you’ve enslaved or possessed.

  “We will.”

  Nothing about this sat right. Even understanding I now had the potential key to victory on my side, I wanted to vomit again from forcing myself to work with those I hated most in the world.

  But my war against the gods didn’t matter, if I couldn’t take the city, usurp Cleon, protect what remained of humanity, and rescue, or destroy, Alessandra.

  We’re done, I said, at my limit with negotiating with the gods. Bring back Kyros.

  Paeon’s eyes turned to brown, and I started to relax when Kyros' smile returned.

  “He is so happy right now,” he reported.

  I’m not.

  My thoughts weren’t as much on the Bloodline as on my unborn twins. Assuming any of us survived the apocalypse, would they still suffer from the curse as my family had for ten thousand years? By choosing to work with the gods, was I sacrificing the fates of my own children?

  Sick to my stomach again, I tossed what remained of my breakfast.

  “For what it’s worth, I think you made the right decision,” Kyros said.

  What does a football player from rural Virginia know of war, curses, and defending humanity? The words were much harsher than I intended, but I was feeling emotionally raw from the rough night and fear for my babies.

  “Not much,” he replied softly, unfazed. He held my gaze. His dark eyes were filled with compassion and warmth, neither of which I deserved. “You’re doing your best.”

  It wasn’t enough. I moved away, unable to understand how he thought the best of me, even now, after I’d sold out my principals and potentially condemned by children.

  From this point, I was able to see the tops of the walls surrounding DC. My goal mocked me. Not only could I not reach the walls without suffering the massacre of my army, but I didn’t know if I’d be able to execute Adonis’ brilliant plan now that my forces were scattered.

  I felt helpless and alone. Tears of frustration pricked my eyes as I thought about the massive undertaking before me in reestablishing my army.

  “I understand why you did what you did.”

  At Herakles’ measured voice, I swiped my tears away hastily and turned to face him. He remained a short distance away, gaze stormy and features flushed.

  “You are still my best hope at rescuing Alessandra,” he continued. “I will stay, as you requested, but only on one condition.”

  I waited.

  “No more lies. About anyth
ing.”

  I nodded.

  “I found help,” he said. “Technically, they found me. I guess they’ve been trying to find me for a couple of weeks.”

  Startled, I was about to have Kyros ask him what that meant, when the slender forms of two dozen young women slid into view from behind trees. A dour priest in brown robes accompanied them.

  “Alessandra had more than me as her protector,” Herakles explained. “Her sisters are nymphs. They possess abilities we might be able to use in your war. They would like your permission to join us.”

  In all my experiences with gods, I had never met a nymph. The women with mythical powers were quiet and still enough to be part of the natural world from which they drew their abilities.

  While I would deny Herakles nothing at this moment, my logical side also understood the value such people could provide. If their powers were anything like what I’d read, it was possible we would never again worry about tainted water, finding food, or being discovered in the forest by our enemies.

  I nodded my agreement. The women moved with otherworldly grace and silence to surround Herakles. One of them giggled, and suddenly, they were all trying to hug him. He managed to smile and hugged the nymphs back, murmuring words I couldn’t make out. That he cared for them was clear, and I couldn’t help feeling a pang of envy. I’d give anything to have Theodocia here to hug me or to feel as if I weren’t so alone in my war, especially after alienating my trusted advisor.

  “Things are looking up,” Kyros said with far too much cheer.

  Maybe, I allowed. I wasn’t so certain the gods were going to follow through with their promise or be of much use if they did.

  Feeling once more as if I were isolated from the rest of the world, I turned my back on the happy reunion before me and went to the vehicle.

  Kyros joined me. “Let’s go find our army!” he said.

  I glared at him. Secretly, buried too deep inside me for me to admit their existence, relief, and gratitude towards Kyros softened my anger.

  “We better go.” His mood darkened. He was gazing out at the forest. “Something is coming.”

  Fetch Herakles. I wasn’t sticking around to discover what Kyros was talking about. His instincts had kept me alive, and I’d trust them again and again. Exhausted, I climbed into the passenger seat of one truck and rested my head back.

  Somehow, we managed to pack all the nymphs into the trucks. We left the scene of my massacre, but I couldn’t shake the heavy feeling sinking into me.

  Last night was just the beginning, and I viewed what was to come with trepidation.

  Chapter Twenty: Alessandra

  “I’m tired of being weak, afraid,” I whispered, distraught by the thick column of smoke rising towards the sky. Pythia and I stood atop the walls surrounding DC, gazing out over Northern Virginia. I assumed the smoke came from the Silent Queen’s compound and could only hope Herakles and the army had evacuated before the attack. Not knowing how he was – this was torture. As with the situation with Adonis, I couldn’t afford to be selfish right now. The fate of the worlds was on my shoulders, and I had to become the Oracle I desperately needed to be. The two of them were safer away from me than in DC, and I had to focus on doing what it took to keep them protected.

  “None of us knew what would happen. The paths I foresaw were too many. They have been narrowed down, and now you must make the best choices you can,” Pythia answered.

  “Did you see what happened after this?”

  “No. I cannot have visions now that I am dead, and what I foresaw has changed. Lantos was always a wild card, but I didn’t foresee him hiding your body from Cecelia.”

  “That could end up being a bad thing, if he hid it somewhere where I can’t find it,” I said, frowning.”

  “You have a chance to forge a new path. And in every circumstance, I saw you have the power to change the course of the Fates. The apocalypse is one option of many, but it will take a great deal of effort to avoid it.”

  “This isn’t a great pep talk,” I said.

  “It’s a new day. Anything is possible. The apocalypse is not inevitable, and sometimes, that’s as good as it gets.”

  “Correction. This is the worst pep talk ever,” I mumbled.

  She smiled.

  I tested my strength again. “I can still use my power, even though my body is missing.”

  “As long as you have a body, you’re grounded to the source of your power, to our Earth.”

  “I can bring the walls down right now.” I funneled energy into my feet and beyond, into the walls. The cement began to shake.

  “Not yet.” Pythia said. She motioned to the forest at the base of the walls. “Zeus built the wall to protect the people inside. Until you have a plan to save humanity, you’ll want to avoid exposing those who remain to the dangers outside the walls.”

  I peered over the edge, not understanding. Movement occurred in the trees hedging the wall. Interested, I strained to get a better view of what it was. Something huge, if its movement caused the trees to bend as they were.

  “Manticore,” I breathed. “Cleon … Cecelia unleashed all the monsters.”

  “And that’s not all.” Pythia pointed.

  Several humans were huddled with what appeared to be rope. A closer look revealed rotting flesh that fell off their bodies, and missing limbs.

  “What in Hades?” I asked, disgusted.

  “Gods and goddesses who have possessed human bodies. They need new bodies to survive, or they need to draw off Zeus’ power, which is centralized in DC.”

  Monsters and zombie-gods outside the walls, and an all-powerful tyrant inside. Which was worse?

  “I have to find my body,” I said with a shudder. “We’re running out of time.”

  “Yeah,” Pythia agreed. “My parole is almost up as well.”

  I studied her, and fear floated through me. I could still here the whispers of the gods and goddesses at the back of my mind. The door Lantos had opened between them and me remained. If Pythia left soon, I hoped to retain some divine guidance. “Then let’s get started. Teach me what I need to know to destroy everyone.”

  She lifted an eyebrow.

  I flushed. “Sorry. That was a Cleon thought,” I said sheepishly.

  “You’re scaring me.”

  “Yeah. Me, too,” I admitted. “Teach me what I need to know to save everyone.”

  With a nod, she turned away and floated to the bottom of the wall, on the protected side. I glanced once more down at the possessed bodies and monsters moving within the forest, and then followed.

  All I had to do was save the world. Once I did, I’d have Herakles and Adonis back, and the death of Lantos and anyone else who didn’t survive this game would be for a purpose.

  Omega Series

  Omega Beginnings Miniseries

  Omega

  Theta Beginnings Miniseries

  Theta

  Alpha Beginnings Miniseries (2017

  Alpha (2017)

  Have you read the Theta Beginnings Miniseries?

  Continue reading to see how the Holy Wars started five years before Omega!

  Silent Queen (#1, Theta Beginnings Miniseries)

  I had waited my entire life for this night. Even if I were able to draw a full breath in the voluminous gown I wore with its tight girdle, I would still be breathless.

  The lights overhead were too bright, and sweat trickled down my legs and gleamed on the faces of the clergy in front of me. None of the dignitaries, politicians, royalty from around the world, acolytes or other honored guests dared complain about the air conditioning going out two hours before the ceremony. Like me, the most powerful and influential people in the world stood in quiet anticipation, prepared to witness an event so very few ever did.

  I suppressed the urge to sneeze. The air was clogged with incense and smoke emanating from burning orbs filled with herbs held by priests. The coronation ceremony was performed in the oldest temple in New York City, the templ
e belonging to Apollo, the patron god of the City. Built around two hundred years ago, it was cozy and showed the signs of being renovated recently: modern, track lighting, pristinely whitewashed walls, and a gold altar whose corners were sharp and unscathed surfaces polished to a shine. The walls, ceilings and floors were all adorned in royal purple, and my personal guard lined the perimeter.

  My hands trembled, and I struggled to stand perfectly still under the weight of my attire and my own agitated excitement. Now fourteen, I was officially of age to assume my duties as the Queen of Greece and following in the footsteps of my mother, grandfather and every other royal member of the Bloodline.

  Someone sneezed, shattering the solemn silence of the ceremonial chamber. The bursts of sound came three more times.

  I didn’t look directly at the offender, but it was hard not to smile.

  Tommy, the son of my confidante the High Priestess of Artemis, Theodocia, was probably too young for the ceremony. All of six and a half years old, he was like a little brother to me. I wouldn’t hear of him missing today. He and his mother were my family. No one dared shush him, not when it was understood I wouldn’t approve of anyone who did.

  Theodocia – my friend, advisor and mother figure since her arrival into my life seven years ago – stood before me flanked by two High Priests, one serving Apollo and one serving none other than Zeus. Behind them were three rows of other high level members of the priesthoods, each one representing a different god or goddess.

  Theodocia was trying hard to maintain the deadpan expression worn by every other attendee, but her brown eyes glowed with pride. Seeing her joy filled me with such warm emotion, I wanted to cry, so I stared at the mark of Artemis on her forehead instead of meeting her gaze.

  One of the two priests jerked and went rigid. His eyes became glassy and his face blank as the god he served possessed his body in order to communicate with us. A flicker of unease worked its way through me when I saw the lightning bolt tattooed on his forehead.

  Zeus himself had possessed the priest. From what I knew of my family’s history, it was a very rare honor for the chief god to oversee the ceremony. I didn’t know what to think of this, not when my own feelings about the honor being bestowed upon me were mixed. To be a member of the Bloodline was to have the ability to harness untold influence over mortals and gods – and coupled with a debilitating curse. All the wealth my predecessors had been hoarding for ten thousand years couldn’t buy our way out of our destinies.