Chaos (Tessa Avery Book 1)

by Lucy Roy

  “If you are going to insist on being here, it’s in your best interest to keep quiet. I’ve had enough of your bullshit,” he growled.

  Apollo pushed back, sending Nate stumbling to the center of the hall. I jumped out of the way just in time to avoid being knocked over.

  Apollo stormed toward him and pushed his chest, causing Nate to fall back a few more steps, then jabbed a finger in his face. “It isn’t my fault you’ve chosen to keep things from her! You’ve made your choices, Nathaniel, or have you forgotten? You’re the one who chose your path, not me.”

  “Not you?” Nate laughed, slapping Apollo’s hand away from his face. “Don’t act as though you’re better than me, you sanctimonious bastard.”

  Apollo let out a wicked laugh. “No, I don’t think so. You don’t get to call me names, brother.”

  I sucked in a breath.

  Apollo’s eyes slid to mine. “Tell me Tessa, has he told you what he saw in your mind the day of your transformation? Or has he kept that from you, as well?”

  Nate’s eyes darted to me. His mouth opened, but no words came out. He looked back to Apollo, fury clear on his face.

  Stone-faced, Apollo glared back.

  Silence hung over us.

  “Brother?” I frowned at Nate.

  “Half-brother, technically,” Apollo answered, smirking.

  Suddenly, the doors burst open, nearly knocking the three of us over, and a voice, loud as thunder, roared through the hallway.

  “What is going on out here?”

  Zeus had just joined us, and he looked furious.

  He glared expectantly at both men.

  Apollo adjusted his white coat and stood up straight, while Nate schooled the angry expression off his face.

  “Why do I hear the two of you out here fighting like children?” Zeus’ deep voice was down to a normal level but still held a menacing rumble. Up close, he looked larger than life.

  He cast a cursory glance in my direction, before looking back at both men. “In front of company, no less?”

  “Zeus is your father?” I hissed, forgetting for a moment where I was.

  The ruler in question looked down at me, his blue eyes flashing with curiosity.

  Frantically, I tried to figure out how to shore up my mental walls. I felt a little click and saw Nate’s jaw clench. I frowned, and he gave me a small nod.

  I crossed my fingers that meant they were secure.

  He folded his arms and turned back to Nate and Apollo.

  “Well? Will one of you please explain what all of this is about? What are you doing here, Nathaniel?”

  Apollo was his brother.

  I rubbed a hand on my forehead, suddenly feeling a bit lightheaded.

  Nate was an original Ischyra, and that meant one of his parents had been an Elder. So this shouldn’t come as that much of a surprise. There were only so many options, really, and everyone knew Zeus got around.

  I mean, it would’ve been nice if he’d told me his father was the ruler of Olympus, but we had only known each other for two weeks. I suppose I could see the logic in keeping that to himself, at least at first.

  “Nathaniel?” A clear, lovely voice drifted through the open doors of the room Zeus had just emerged from. “Sweetheart, is that you?”

  Nate rubbed a hand over his eyes, looking defeated.

  “Yes,” Zeus responded, as a woman stepped into the hall. “And he’s brought a guest.”

  Hera, beautiful with her smooth tanned skin, perfect smile, and flowing lavender gown, had come to join us. Her black hair tumbled down her back in soft waves, ending just above her waist.

  “I guess there were a few other things he failed to mention, hmm?” Apollo murmured as he leaned against the wall and crossed his ankles. “Like who makes up the other fifty percent of his parentage.”

  Nate lunged toward him, but Zeus put his massive form between them, shoving him back several feet. “That’s enough! Explain yourselves!”

  I pressed my fingers over my eyes, not wanting to believe what was slowly becoming clear.

  “What is going on?” Hera spoke again, her voice holding an edge of impatience. “Nathaniel? Who is this girl? Why have you brought a recruit into the palace?”

  I dragged my hands from my eyes, my fingers coming to rest on my lips, and looked at the goddess who stood before me.

  She stared at me, her midnight blue eyes dripping with curiosity, then looked up at Nate, her expression soft, almost…

  Motherly.

  No. No way.

  Slowly, I took a step toward Nate, and he eyed me hesitantly.

  He’d lied to me. He’d pursued me and he knew that I cared for him yet neglected to tell me one of the most important things about himself. And, if Apollo was to be trusted, he’d kept information about me to himself.

  Steeling myself, I let my fist fly, letting it connect hard with his face.

  Startled, he fell back, knocking a gold cushioned chair several feet down the hall.

  “A god?” Ignoring the sting in my fist, I pushed him against the far wall. “You’re a fucking god, Nate?”

  “Apollo, stop her!” Hera’s voice was loaded with concern.

  For her son.

  “Tessa—"

  I shoved him again, and he did nothing to stop my attack.

  “You didn’t think that was something I should know?”

  “Tessa, wait, I wanted to—”

  “No, fuck you!” I felt tears streaming down my face as I lunged toward him again. A pair of strong, white coated arms wrapped around me, preventing another assault.

  “Get off of her!” Nate pushed himself off the wall and stormed toward his brother, his face contorted in outrage.

  Hera went after him, pushing him back toward the wall. “Steady, Nathaniel,” she murmured.

  Slowly, Zeus came to stand between us.

  Apollo still had my arms pinned to my sides, and my breath started to come in short gasps as I realized the enormity of the situation. I tried struggling out of his grip, but he was far too strong.

  “Easy, girl,” Apollo whispered. “You’ve just attacked a god. You may want to settle yourself.”

  Despite his coldness, a warm feeling began to spread through me, and I felt my body relax against him.

  I repeated his words to myself, You’ve just attacked a god.

  The son of Zeus and Hera, no less.

  I was lucky I hadn’t been struck down by lighting already.

  The five of us were silent. I stared at the wall as a mixture of shame, terror, and fury coursed through me.

  Zeus folded his thick arms across his chest and glared at all of us in turn.

  “I’d say it’s time we had a family meeting.”

  36

  Nathaniel

  Everything was going to shit.

  I’d only just found Tessa and now, I was losing her.

  Tessa avoided looking at me as we walked into the main living room of my parents’ palace. My venomous brother kept a firm grip on her arm, and based on her stoic expression, he was using his healing powers to keep her calm.

  ‘Stop glaring at me, Nathaniel. She’s calm and not projecting. I won’t let him get into her mind.’

  I clenched my jaw and gave a small nod.

  At least he was good for something.

  I rubbed the spot where her fist had connected with jaw. If circumstances hadn’t been so dire, I would’ve commended her for her right hook.

  “Sit,” Zeus commanded. With a snap, a bit of blue lighting shot from his fingers to the kindling in the hearth, setting it ablaze.

  Hera took a seat on one of the blue Victorian sofas that sat in front of the fireplace and pulled me down to sit beside her.

  Tessa’s eyes met mine as Apollo led her to the sofa across from us, nudging her to sit down. She was trembling. Whether it was due to fury or fear, I didn’t know, but I wanted to do was go to her. Comfort her.

  ‘Her mind is fighting you off, Apollo. You nee
d to maintain physical contact.’

  As Apollo sat down beside her, it took all my strength not to strike him again as he kept his arm and leg pressed against hers.

  He was helping her. I needed to let him help her.

  Zeus took a seat in a chair facing the fireplace. “Now. What is this all about?”

  For a moment, my oldest brother and I both sat silent, glaring at each other. Finally, he heaved a sigh, then spoke to our father.

  “The girl is a Mimic. We should’ve told you sooner. I’ve warned Nathaniel away from developing a relationship with her because I think it will distract from her training.” He flicked a gaze toward me then back at Zeus. “I’m sure you will agree that her training will be of the utmost importance.”

  I narrowed my eyes as I heard the lie flow from his mouth.

  “That’s shit and you know it,” I spat.

  He shrugged.

  Zeus turned his eyes on me.

  “A Mimic? Nathaniel, you knew about this?”

  I rubbed a hand across my face, suddenly hesitant. This was part of the reason I’d brought Tessa here, after all. I wanted her to know the truth, but I also needed my father to know as well. I needed him to help us figure out what was going on with her.

  “Chiron and I have our suspicions about her abilities.” I sent a scathing look at Apollo. “But we hadn’t yet determined that she is, in fact, a Mimic. Clearly, my brother was already aware of her true affinity and has neglected to inform anyone, despite observing her difficulties at training for the past week.”

  Zeus closed his eyes and rubbed his temples, then turned to Tessa. “Is this true, girl?”

  Tessa’s eyes widened when Zeus addressed her.

  “I—I don’t really know.” She pressed her lips together and swallowed nervously, finally looking at me with something other than anger. I nodded in encouragement.

  “A week or so ago, I accidentally manipulated water and fire.”

  “Accidentally?” Hera asked, arching a brow. “How do you accidentally manipulate the elements?”

  “I was there, Mother.” I jerked a chin toward Apollo. “As was he. It wasn’t intentional, it was instinctual. Now let her finish.”

  “Okay.” Tessa blew out a breath. “Chiron and Nate—Nathaniel—got suspicious, so they asked me to try a few other things. They said they were going to do some more research because Mimics pretty much don’t exist, so we haven’t really done much since then.”

  “What ‘things’?” Zeus crossed one leg over the other and rested a finger on his chin, his brow slightly furrowed.

  “I shifted a water current and created a breeze.”

  His eyes widened in a rare show of surprise, then his expression turned furious as he looked between me and Apollo.

  “Neither of you saw fit to inform me of this?”

  “It’s one of the reasons I came here.” I jerked my chin toward Apollo. “I’ve got no clue as to why your second in command didn’t tell you.”

  Zeus shook his head and raised his eyes to the ceiling. “Three thousand years,” he groaned. “Three thousand years of childish bickering and this is where you finally find common ground? Keeping information from your leader—your father—that could be catastrophic in the wrong hands?”

  “To be clear, we didn’t find common ground,” Apollo clarified. “We both simply felt it was best no one knew until the girl herself was fully aware of her abilities. There was no collaboration involved.”

  “Apollo, ‘the girl’ is sitting right next to you,” Hera said calmly. “Stop treating her as though she’s not.”

  Apollo clenched his jaw and glared into the roaring fire.

  I pursed my lips to keep from smiling. My mother tolerated Apollo for Zeus’ sake but never missed an opportunity to rebuke him in front of others.

  “Be that as it may,” my father snapped, “you both kept this from me. It’s upsetting.”

  He rested his chin in his hand and stared silently into the fire, and I thought I actually saw a flicker of hurt in his eyes.

  As the moments ticked by, I became increasingly nervous as to what was simmering in his mind in regard to Tessa. The pensive look on his face almost always indicated he was plotting.

  Finally, he dropped his hand and leaned forward, resting his arms on his knees and meeting Tessa’s eyes.

  “It’s Tessa, correct?”

  She nodded.

  “Tessa, do you understand why this is so significant?”

  She cleared her throat. “To be honest, I don’t.”

  He laughed, then shook his head incredulously. “You know we are on the cusp of war, correct?”

  “Yes, of course.”

  “I know that my past may indicate otherwise, but much has changed over the years. I want you to know that I am not cruel, and I do not forcibly use others to my own end. That said, with your abilities, you have the potential to be the deadliest weapon in Olympus’ arsenal.”

  She choked back a nervous laugh. “I’m sorry, what? All I can do is mimic other affinities! How is that any more deadly than a Mindlinker or Coercer?”

  Zeus’ eyebrows shot up as he looked over at me. “Nathaniel? Have you and Chiron taught her nothing?”

  I sighed, then leaned forward, mirroring my father’s pose. “Because you would have the ability to turn an enemy’s power against them.” I glanced at my brother before speaking, then back to Tessa. “Much like you did to me on your first day of training.”

  She tilted her head and frowned. “But I—"

  “Nathaniel, what are you talking about?” Hera glared at Tessa. “She used her power on you?”

  “No, it wasn’t like that. She was having difficulty working with another recruit. I entered her mind to try to find a reason why she was having so much trouble, and her mind fought against me with such force it exhausted us both.”

  Zeus sat up straight. “She used your own powers against you on her first day of training?” He turned to glare at Tessa. “How—”

  She held up her hands. “I didn’t mean to, I swear.”

  My father stared at her, eyes wide with incredulity. “Nathaniel, is there anything else you’ve neglected to tell me?”

  For the first time in almost three millennia, I reached out to my brother for guidance.

  He stared back at me, impassive. ‘Careful what you say, brother. This is far bigger than you or me.’

  ‘What would you suggest?’

  ‘Avoid discussing her dreams just yet.’

  “Nathaniel?” Zeus’ voice was impatient.

  I snapped my gaze back to his. “Her power seems very protective of her, almost sentient. Is that typical of a Mimic?”

  Zeus frowned, then absently rubbed his forehead. “I can’t say I’ve had much experience. I can’t even recall the last time one existed.”

  “Chiron could only find record of one, and that was a passing mention. Do you know if that was in your lifetime?”

  His eyes met mine, and he frowned. “I’m not sure, actually.”

  Hera reached over and put a hand on his knee. “Darling, are you alright?”

  He looked at her, a dazed look in his eyes. I exchanged a confused glance with Tessa.

  “Yes, I just—” He shook his head as though trying to clear his mind.

  Apollo leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. He wore a perplexed expression.

  “Father, do you recall any Mimics in the past?”

  “I’m not sure. I thought the Fates had always reserved that power for gods, which is why it’s so strange that a girl who was so recently human possesses it.”

  He eyed Tessa curiously.

  “A god had this power?” I asked sharply.

  He cocked his head to the side, that frown still marring his forehead. “I don’t remember. Hera?”

  My mother opened her mouth to speak, then stopped. “No, I can’t recall. Are you sure Chiron’s information is accurate? Just because the power exists in theory, doesn’t mean the Fat
es have given it to anyone.”

  “Yes, yes, someone had it. I’m just having trouble remembering,” Zeus said, waving a hand dismissively.

  ‘They can’t remember, either.’ Tessa’s thought was a whisper.

  ‘You should take her home.’ Apollo’s voice quickly followed hers, and she gave a small jump, as though she’d heard him, too.

  “I think it’s time we let Tessa go back to her room.” Apollo eyed her. “It doesn’t appear she’s got anything else to offer at present.”

  Zeus nodded, still frowning. “I’m sure you’re correct.” He pursed his lips, then looked between the three of us. “Although, I would like to see a demonstration of her abilities.”

  Tessa’s eyes darted from Zeus to me and back again.

  “She’s only just discovered her powers,” I pointed out. “You can’t possibly expect her to do a demonstration now.”

  “No, no, of course not.” He drummed his fingers on the arm of his chair. “I’ll give her three weeks.”

  Apollo cleared his throat. “Father, if I may. I think we should allow her more time to perfect her powers, don’t you?”

  I arched a brow, surprised at his concerned tone.

  Zeus glared at him. “No, I do not. We’re on the verge of war. I want to know how powerful of an asset she’ll be.”

  He turned his gaze to Tessa.

  “Three weeks. I do not expect perfection in such a short time, of course, but I want to get an idea of your potential. Weapons and hand-to-hand, as well.”

  “Zeus—” Hera spoke up, placing a hand on his arm.

  He snatched his arm away. “That is my final word on the matter!”

  Hera stared at him, furious. “Fine,” she snapped, standing. “Tessa, I will escort you home.”

  Tessa’s eyes widened and I jumped to my feet.

  “Mother, I can—”

  “Sit down, Nathaniel.” She pushed my shoulder, causing me to fall back onto the sofa, then inclined her head toward Tessa. “Look at her. She may be calmer now, but she’s still full of fury. She would have torn you to pieces out there if she could.”

  She stepped toward Tessa, a small smile curving her lips, then reached down and pulled her off the sofa.

  “No, what she needs right now is some girl talk.”