by Mila McClung
Toby was stunned. “You do have powers! That was wild!”
“Is he much hurt?”
She knelt down, examined him.
“His head has a nasty gash. I’d better get him to the house somehow so I can call a doctor.”
“No, no doctors!” Stephan yelled. “I’ll be fine. Just let me up!”
He strained to stand, began searching for an exit. He swayed suddenly, fell backwards. Dio stopped him from hitting the floor; threw him up into his arms and flung him onto the bed.
“He’s cold. I’ll strip him down while you go up and find some dry clothes and sheets.”
“All right!” Toby climbed the stairs, pausing a moment to collect her thoughts. Why was Stephan in the grotto? What was he planning to do now?
Once they had settled the man into the warm, dry bed, Toby and Dio hurried to his apartment and closed the heavy door.
“He seems okay,” Dio offered, “I don’t think the gash in his head is too deep.”
“Well, that’s something, anyway. I have to say it frightened me senseless to see his hands slice through you like air! I don’t know if I can get used to all this magic.”
“Life is magic, Toby, if you really think about it.”
“It is, yes, but a different kind. Yours is new to me. Do you think I’ll be able to master any spells, really?”
“Of course you will. I’ll help you. Here’s the first one. Let’s go over it a few times then see how it goes.”
She sighed and nodded, willing but unsure.
The night passed; they took a hard-earned break to catch five hours of sleep then started again, practicing over a plate of fried eggs and ham.
“Do you have it now?”
“I think so.”
“You can’t be uncertain. You have to know you can do it!”
“All right … I know I have it!”
“Concentrate as you whisper the words.”
“How will I know it worked?”
“The result will reveal itself to you soon enough. Go ahead now, say the words …”
Toby began to chant the spell in the ancient language. The dark room lit up with sparkles, like in a fireworks show. Toby squealed as she watched it, almost lost her concentration. Dio’s eyes pointed her back on track. She finished the spell; the room lost its aura.
“What now?”
“Just wait. And finish your breakfast!”
They sat still, eating, for ten minutes. Toby was fidgety, glancing around from wall to wall, unable to bear the suspense.
“Toby?” a voice called from the temple.
“Mom?”
She and Dio stepped out into the large chamber. Lauren Styles stood at the entrance, trembling, with Aella and Kosmas by her side.
Toby ran to her, hugged her tight.
“How’d you get here so quickly?”
“I took the earliest flight I could find and managed to catch the fastest one at every stopover. I’m exhausted but very glad to be here. Toby, I have news … your dad’s lawyer called me just now. He said he was going through some papers that had been mislaid and found that Matt had a life insurance policy for a million dollars! He never told me about it.”
“I thought his policy was for five hundred thousand?”
“That was his work policy. But he started this other one the day you were born. It’s all for you!”
“Oh my God! It does work fast!” Toby turned to Dio, he winked.
“What do you mean, Toby?”
“Oh, Mom, I’d like you to meet Dio.”
Lauren’s demeanor changed. “Yes, Aella has been telling me about him. Hello …”
Dio took her hand, shook it gently. Her eyes misted.
“I’m very happy to meet you, Mrs. Styles.”
“Toby, I’m exhausted. I think I’ll go back to the house with Aella and take a long nap.”
“Okay, Mom. I’ll see you at lunch then?”
“Sure.”
She made a quick exit. Kosmas eyed the young couple strangely.
“You two up to something?”
“Why would you ask that?”
“I can see it in your eyes, Dio.”
“Can we tell him, Dio?”
“I guess so.”
Toby was wiggling with excitement, like a child with a new toy.
“Kosmas, I cast a wealth spell, and it worked!”
“I don’t believe it.”
“No, really, I did! I cast it then my mom came in and said I had a million dollar inheritance!”
“But the money was there before you cast a spell.”
“Well, yeah, but I didn’t know about it.”
“You would have when your mother told you, whether you cast a spell or not.”
“Don’t mind him, Toby, he’s always been stubborn.”
“I’m just stating facts, boy. Now, if I were to cast this spell, and received a million dollars … I would believe it because I have been poor and ugly my whole life.”
“You aren’t ugly. And no man is poor if he has love.”
“Only a child who has lived with money her whole life could say that. I am going back to the goats.”
He shrugged, walked out of the temple.
“How long have you known Kosmas, Dio?”
“Only a few months. He came here with Aella when your father asked her to return. Why?”
“I was only wondering. He seems so jolly most of the time but I can feel something else under the surface. I guess he had a hard life.”
“Most laborers do. Come on, I want to finish breakfast. If it isn’t cold.”
Toby fried some more eggs then they sat down to eat.
A knocking interrupted them – it came from the door in the stone floor. Dio raised it carefully, Stephan eased out, his black eyes humble and worn.
“That smells wonderful,” he said, “could you spare a bit?”
“Why should we?” Toby huffed.
Dio shook his head. “Toby, I think maybe this time he’s learned his lesson. Sit down, Stephan, and have some breakfast. It’ll do you good.”
Stephan smiled slightly, pulled up a chair.
“How did you get into the grotto?” Toby asked, watching him stuff his face with eggs.
“I left my boat outside and swam in. I knew there must be some other access to the temple. I’d been searching for it all day yesterday.”
“Why? What do you want here?”
“I’m only curious, Toby. The legend is true, isn’t it?”
“Of course not!”
“Don’t try to lie about it. I sat up last night once my head stopped throbbing. I noticed the tablets on the shelves. I studied language at university … the ancient Greek languages, mostly, so it was easy for me to read the tablets. You must know what you have there. It’s a goldmine of knowledge!”
Toby glanced at Dio, afraid. He returned a sure, unworried gaze.
“I have been studying the tablets for a long time. I consider myself to be their guardian.”
“I see. That explains how my hands magically dissolved through your shoulders as I was falling last night. You are a sorcerer.”
“I wouldn’t call myself that.”
“Well, I would. Don’t you realize the power you have at your disposal? You could rule the Earth if those spells are real!”
“I don’t want to rule the Earth.”
“But you do want to break the spell Hera cast over you, eh?”
Toby and Dio looked at him with blazing eyes.
“What would you know about that?”
“I read the tablets. I spent the entire night pouring over them. I haven’t slept at all. I learned about you and your mother and Zeus. It’s all there. And I think I can help you, for a price.”
“What price?”
“I want wealth. Give me the spell to get it, and I will break the one that binds you to the temple.”
“We can’t trust him, Dio. Don’t listen to him.”
“You can trust m
e. I never would have suggested gutting this temple if I’d known what was here. These tablets are a priceless resource! But the sea air is destroying them. If someone doesn’t do something soon, they will be gone.”
“What would you do with them?”
Stephan leaned closer to Dio. “I would catalog them, and file them on a computer, and maybe store printed copies in a safer place, like a bank vault or a university. They must not be allowed to vanish.”
“Maybe they should be,” Toby argued. “Once Dio is free, we should crumble the tablets. They hold too many secrets that could give bad people the power to ruin lives!”
“Bad people? Is that what you think I am?”
“Aren’t you?”
“No, Toby, I am merely a fool. But I can see the importance of saving the information these tablets have. Can’t you?”
“I can,” Dio nodded. “You say all you want is the wealth spell. It’s a simple spell that many people, good and bad, have used through the centuries. What you do with that wealth once you receive it is your own affair. I say we let him do as he asks, Toby. I will watch him.”
“But what if he uses a spell on you, Dio? You can’t watch him day and night!”
“I have ways. He won’t pull anything over on me.”
“Fine. I can go to my village, have a big boat here by tonight to haul away the tablets.”
“Oh, no, I can’t agree to that!” Dio stood, walked to the open door in the stones. “If you want to catalog the tablets, you will do it here.”
“Yes, and you have to learn the spell to set Dio free first!” She stood, joined Dio. “I told you we couldn’t trust him.”
Stephan thought a moment. “You’re right. It’s better if I stay here. I’ll call my office, to let them know I’m taking some time off, so they won’t come looking for me. My cell phone is on my boat. I’ll have to go down and get it.”
“I’ll get it for you,” Dio said. He put his hands together and concentrated. A white light escaped them, flew out the apartment door. It returned minutes later with a duffel bag. Dio handed it to Stephan.
“Amazing! A man could use these powers for great things, if he had the chance.”
“Sadly, most use them only for selfish reasons.”
“I honestly don’t think I would. Sure, I want money and a nice lifestyle but beyond that I have no interest in politics or power plays. I have realized I am a simple man who still loves the ancient language of my people. If I could spend the rest of my days studying these tablets and cataloging them, I’d be happy.”
“Then that’s what you’ll do! Come on!”
Toby and Stephan followed Dio down into the cavern. The brilliant sunlight was reflected from the grotto, creating mesmerizing patterns of bright and dark on the walls.
Dio came to a chest sitting upon a shelf. He drew a deep sigh, and unlocked it. Inside was a tablet more composed than the others, as if great care had been taken to preserve it. He handed it to Stephan.
“This spell will release me. Please study it carefully, and do not change one syllable of its prose, or it won’t work.”
“I’m honored that you would trust me with this, Dio. I promise I will follow it faithfully.”
“I’ll take that,” a familiar voice said. They swirled round to see Kosmas standing on the stairs. He was holding a rifle.
“Kosmas, are you insane?”
“No, Toby, I have finally come to my senses. After we moved here I began to realize that I have lived a stupid, hard life. At night I would lie awake and wonder about the spells in this place, imagining what a man like me could do if I had power. But I let my devotion to Aella blind me. I thought she might not love me if I stole the tablets, and too, I could not read them. A few times while Dio slept I came down here and tried. But I have been listening to you three. Now that you have someone who can translate the spells I can use him to make my wishes come true!”
“And what do you wish for, Kosmas?” a woman’s voice asked. Aella appeared at the top of the stairs.
He lowered his gaze – but not the rifle – as he stepped carefully to the cavern floor.
“I want my share of the world. I want to give you beautiful things and let you live a life of luxury. You have waited on others for far too long.”
“Did I once complain about being a servant?”
“No, you’re not the kind who would, though deep in your heart I know you despise those who ordered you about.”
“I didn’t. I loved them, like my own family! You don’t know me, Kosmas. After twenty years, you still do not know me.”
Her eyes swelled with tears.
“Kosmas, put down the weapon,” Dio demanded. “You can’t force Stephan to help you.”
“I can. Cristos, give me that tablet!”
“Why?” Toby walked nearer; he raised the rifle, she stopped. “What do you want with that spell?”
“I want to crush the tablet, so Dio will never break free! He has been a wedge between Aella and me since the day we met! She could never love me the way she loves him …” Aella shook her head fiercely but he waved her off. “Don’t deny it! You have denied it for all this time but whenever I see you look at him I know you still love him! I was second best, if that! He should suffer here forever! Hand that tablet to me!”
He lunged for Stephan. Aella screamed. Dio drew up a ball of white fire and slung it towards Kosmas. It enveloped him in a stinging cloud. He began to moan in pain.
“Damn you, boy! Get it off of me!” He dropped the rifle, ran for the grotto.
“No, Dio, please, stop him! Don’t let him jump!”
Aella covered her face with shaking hands. Toby hurried up the stairs to comfort her.
Dio swept his arms up, creating a whirlwind that caught Kosmas and vanquished the cloud. It spiraled toward the edge of the cavern, flew over the glistening waters of the grotto then landed him back firmly on the stone floor. Stephan grabbed the rifle, threw it into the water.
Aella ran to Kosmas, examined him with desperate hands. “Are you all right?”
“Yes, unfortunately,” he grumbled.
“Fool! How could you raise a gun towards these people? What has come over you?”
“This jealousy has simmered for twenty years. I guess it finally broke loose. I’m sorry, Aella, I’d rather die than see the look of disappointment in your eyes.”
“Get up! Apologize to Toby and Stephan then come up to the house.”
“This is a serious offense, Aella,” Stephan said. “Shouldn’t he go to jail?”
“He didn’t mean to harm anyone, I’m sure of that. But we’ll leave today if you think we should, Toby.”
“No, just take him up to the house and check on my mom. We have unfinished business here.”
Aella nodded, helped Kosmas to his feet. She paused, looked softly at Dio.
“Bless you, my dearest. I hope you come safely through the spell. But if not, I’ll meet you in Heaven, eh?”
He smiled, took her hand. Kosmas placed his on theirs. Then they slowly walked up the steps.
Toby breathed deeply; the time had come. Dio was about to be released. But what if it killed him? How could she live knowing she’d never see him again in this lifetime?
Stephan read over the spell silently, he closed his eyes, concentrating. Dio clasped Toby’s hand.
“Wait! Please! Maybe we shouldn’t do this! Dio, I want you to be free but not if it means we can’t be together! I know it’s selfish but I can’t live without you now!”
He kissed her. “Whatever happens, we have shared a love that few others have known. I’m grateful to you for giving me that. Kiss me again?”
She slipped into his pale arms, touched her lips to his. Then they gazed into each other’s eyes, holding tight for dear life. Stephan read the spell, slowly, carefully, pronouncing each word with a revered refrain. Toby clung to Dio, fearful that he would disintegrate in her arms. Seconds passed then minutes – but he did not change, or disappear. Nothing
happened.
“I knew it!” Dio shouted. “It never works! Others have tried but it never works!”
He laid his head upon Toby’s shoulder, dejected. She stroked his hair, trying to calm him.
“Maybe Stephan pronounced something wrong?”
“No, no, it was perfect! I should have known! Hera cursed me forever! I cannot break free!”
Stephan studied over the tablet. “I think the key lies in a passage here. It says the curse can be broken by Hera or her descendents. I am not her descendent, of course.”
Toby gasped. “Gregory was. Did he ever …”
“Yes, he tried to break the spell three times … it didn’t work with him either. I guess I have to give up and accept what I am.”
Stephan puzzled over their words. “Gregory was a descendent of Hera? Impossible!”
“It’s true. Dio found evidence of it here in these tablets.”
Stephan went to the shelves, began to read, and whisper to himself. Dio gently shook loose from Toby’s hug, walked to the cavern’s edge and stared into the grotto.
“At least I am not alone.”
She eased up behind him, took his hand. “You’ll never be alone as long as I’m alive.”
The emerald eyes grazed hers, the sorrow almost unbearable. Toby started to cry.
“Shh! Don’t worry,” he said, lifting her chin up with two fingers. “We’ll have a good life together.”
“But you wanted to be free. And I wanted that for you, too, even if it meant I’d lose you.”
“You know, I had this fantasy that I’d be set free and we’d sail over the Mediterranean in a big white boat. Then we’d go take a look at all those big cities and mountains and oceans that I read about in my books. It was a good dream, but nothing more.”
“Oh, Dio, stop! My heart is breaking for you!”
He swept her into his arms, kissed the tears away.
“Eureka!” Stephan yelled. “I’m sorry … that was so cliché … but I have found the answer! Toby, come here!”
They shrugged at each other, joined Stephan by the shelves.
“What is it?” she asked.
“You must read the spell, Toby! Hera was a manhater, though she managed to fall in love with a great many of them. Still, she spoke of her descendents as females … the males didn’t count for so much in her view. You are her descendent, yes? So you must read the spell!”
