“Did you bring her back to life, Empress Cordelia?” Delilah asked, incredulously.
“No, Evangelia never died just as Victor had not.” I explained, and watched as the other members gawked at her.
“I kept my sister hidden and safe all these years. Naturally, I had to keep her vitality a secret. I’m sure you can all understand why with the agenda I once had.” Victor explained. “My sister finally knows the truth about the demise of our parents.”
I smiled at Victor as my heart did a tiny somersault. For the very first time, I felt truly grateful to the Fates for not clipping his thread of life when his parents had perished.
“Welcome back.” I said, taking Evangelia’s face in my hands and placing a kiss on both sides. She leaned in and whispered into my ear, “We must talk.”
I nodded as I watched a smile creep across her face. It seemed genuine but I couldn’t be sure. She may not have mastered all of her power but she was effective at blocking her thoughts.
Christos walked toward Evangelia and said, “Welcome back, lost daughter of Iptian.” Then he took her hand and kissed the back of it.
Evangelia trembled slightly. It was expected, since she barely had any contact with anyone other than her brother. I was impressed with how she handled herself. She held her head high and made eye contact with every member –sisters and brothers making her acquaintance.
One by one, the members lined up to greet Evangelia and I couldn’t help remembering how they had done the same for me when I had returned from the future with no recollection of any of them. I glanced at Evan who stood across from me. His eyes were downcast at first, but when he looked up, she caught his eye. She held his gaze for a moment. In that moment, I forgot how to breathe. Suddenly, a heat rose through me, and my muscles relaxed and my breathing resumed. I looked down at my hand and realized that Victor was holding it. I didn’t let go as abruptly as I would have in the past. I allowed the sensation of his warmth to linger, although I wouldn’t turn my head to look at him.
I noticed a few of the elders observing us, each one smiling inwardly to themselves with thoughts of satisfaction, which they sent to the gods. I finally let go of Victor’s hand.
Of course Victor couldn’t careless who was watching. He leaned over and whispered into my ear, “I felt you, your hastened pulse and how it calmed once I shared my warmth with you. It can always feel that way, you know.”
Just as I turned away from Victor, I caught Evan’s stare. Oh now you want to see me, I thought. Besides the wrinkled brow, I couldn’t read his expression and couldn’t get into his mind. I didn’t want to guess what he must have been thinking and I couldn’t be at fault for any of this – the four of us intertwined.
The last of the members greeted Evangelia, who looked as relieved as I felt. I wanted to get this meeting back on track and not have to stand here feeling like a statue made of mush as Evan eyed me in that accusing way. If he could see how he looked at her – the way he used to look at me. He hasn’t looked at me that way since she reappeared in our lives. I fought the tears that suddenly reached the threshold of my eyes and willed them to stay put. I focused on the meeting and all that needed to be discussed.
“My disciples, I’ve done as I’d promised and empowered our brother Victor to his rightful position – second in command. His strength fortifies our empire and the void of his absence has been filled. His capabilities will bring us that much closer to extinguishing any and all entities as we see fit.”
Everyone nodded and bowed to Victor, who took a deep breath and stared at me for a moment and then gazed out at his disciples. He didn’t waiver. I hadn’t expected him too. His stature demanded respect and he exuded confidence. If only his parents were among the elders to see their son finally take his place in their empire. I suppose it’s as the Fates have seen fit.
“If you want me to govern alongside my betrothed,” Victor said as every pair of eyes widened, shooting surprised glances at both Evan and I. “Then I shall not disappoint you, yet I would much rather we all work alongside each other in making our empire the strongest it can be.”
I looked Victor squarely in the eyes and he knew that I didn’t agree with his implication of a union between him and me. I also chose to stare at him since I couldn’t find the courage to look at Evan. Evan’s piercing glare was clearly recognized by Victor and he held his subordinates gaze, steadily. The statement needed to be amended immediately, but I wasn’t quick enough.
“Pardon me, Empress Cordelia,” Delilah said, smiling triumphantly. “I speak on behalf of the council when I say that the gods will finally bless us all for the union between you and Lord Victor. We need their blessings. We must continue to pray to them and love them for all that they have bestowed upon us.”
I snuck a peek at Evan as Delilah rambled and his face hardened and reddened with anger. He was very much like his godly father and the turbulent waters were beginning to rage. Evan glared at me and waited to see what I planned to do to mend the situation. His thoughts were clear. He was waiting to see if I indeed saw that it needed to be remedied. As if Delilah’s speech wasn’t bad enough, the elders topped it with bowing to Victor and me. I had to do something and killing Victor wasn’t an option.
“Yes we will move forward together as an empire, a tightly woven empire. We will leave ill feelings, betrayals, and things of the past like betrothment where they belong – behind us. We will take this empire into the next millennium, which brings me to our next order of discussion.”
Delilah gave a fleeting look at both Lucien and Christos. The highest-ranking elders stared at each other in despair. They knew that it was a one-way will – Victor’s will and not mine. This would prove to be an obstacle for them because they believed that as demigods – children of the gods, that we were to honor our creators every wish. This belief was evident in how the elders bullied their own offspring at times, trying to maintain control over them, and demanding in uncertain terms that their children obey and honor their every wish. I ignored them and proceeded with what was more important than who would end up with whom.
“It is indeed the will of the gods that I share my plans with you because these plans will affect each and every one of you.” My voice echoed. “I believe the time has come to leave Nickel City.”
The murmuring rose and fell. A hundred or so pairs of eyes bore into my face as if they were carving a new one. I caught both Evan’s and Victor’s gaze and they were both surprised by my announcement. Both Bethany and Nikolas beamed. Nikolas took a swig from a wine bottle that he’d kept hidden, up until now, under his robe. The rest of my warrior team nodded with approval as my remaining disciples looked on in shock.
I expected my statement would be astonishing. I anticipated a lot of questions, speculation, and doubt. Nevertheless, what I got was the exact opposite.
“Praise our Gods!” The members exclaimed in delight and cheered. My jaw dropped.
“I had no idea that you all would agree… so quickly.” I said, with surprise.
“The Apolluon know we’re here. It’s only a matter of time before they whittle our membership to nothing, leaving only you – the only Ischero who can defend herself from them.” Bethany said, nodding at me.
“We can’t expect you to be everywhere the Apolluon shows up in order to protect us, can we? We need to leave Nickel City as soon as possible.” Julius agreed.
“The threat has grown and they attacked Cordelia this afternoon.” Victor informed to a sea of widened eyes and a chorus of gasps.
It was obvious that Victor didn’t think before he spoke. I hadn’t intended to reveal that bit of information to the members. I didn’t want them thinking that I couldn’t protect them from the shadows or that I was in danger of them. It was the wrong message to send.
“I agree,” Delilah said, nodding. “We must relocate.”
“As do I,” Lucien said with a sparkle in his eye. He was finally getting what he wanted.
“Where shall we go
?” asked Sebastian Octavius, Bertrand’s younger brother and second son of Hephaestus – the God of fire and metals. Finally, the question I’ve been waiting for.
“Our new home will be New York.” I answered with a gulp and waited.
The hush swirling around the mine was deafening. The excitement died down and turned into a fearsome stillness. I waited for a response and of course, Lucien was the spokesperson. I hoped he wouldn’t be combative, but knew better after reading his thoughts.
“The council was thinking more along the borders of Europe and out of the States. The states have proven to be a bit uncivilized. I’m not sure of what to make of the eastern coast.” Lucien said, looking me squarely in the eyes.
Lucien was always the opposing party in every discussion. I was quite exhausted with him by now, but I couldn’t show it. I don’t know how his daughters, Ophelia and Felicity, dealt with him on a daily basis. The two beyond gorgeous descendants of Aphrodite had my sympathy.
“Lucien, New York is the richest state and has the most advanced development. We can blend in, easily.” I explained.
“If New York is where you feel we should make a fresh start then I think we should go there as soon as possible.” Christos said.
“New York sounds somewhat promising but you must understand my concerns. Here we have the business of the mines – the silver. It is our profession, and has always provided a suitable explanation for our wealth. How will that work in New York? Where will we live? Why New York?”
Lucien figured he would plant enough doubt in the other member’s minds, creating division. He assaulted me with borage of questions, thinking I wouldn’t have any answers. My intention wasn’t to gather everyone for this discussion and not be prepared.
“We are the wealthiest mining barons of the west and that’s what New York City’s residents will know.” I explained.
“Where will we live?” Lucien asked, again.
“We’ll live amongst the city’s aristocracy and in several luxurious high-rise buildings that will be built in the year 1926.”
“My apologies Empress, but I don’t follow,” Lucien said as everyone looked to me for an explanation. “I was under the impression that we would be leaving immediately.”
“We will, and when we arrive it will be the year 1926.” I answered.
Their eyes widened as the idea finally registered. I didn’t say another word. Instead, I listened to their thoughts of fear, which finally subsided to hope.
I was about to continue speaking but stopped when I noticed that the shadows on the mine’s walls were shifting uncharacteristically to our movements. Everyone started noticing the movements. In the blink of an eye, the dark shadows jumped off the walls, shifting into opaque, black swirls of fog. The shadows spiraled around the members, stalking them as they all tried to teleport – a very simple task for the younger members but not for the elders.
The heat surged within me just as the dense smoke snatched Lucien, Christos, Delilah and the rest of the council elders, the only powerless Ischeros. The lightning bolts finally ignited and sprung out at the Apolluon, diminishing some of the smoky mist. What remained seemed to grow larger in mass and moved even faster than the shadows I torched. The Apolluon created snake-like funnels, encasing the members of the council. The elders screamed as their children – some transforming into their God-given shapes in order to battle the shadows effectively.
“No!” I yelled. “Stand back! Don’t go near your parents!”
I rose a few feet into the air, above the shadows and above the remaining Ischero. The lightning sprung further out and hung over the shadows like an umbrella. The bolts crackled and cut through the shadows but not my elders. The Apolluon jumped upward at me, meeting brutally with my dominating bolts. Instantaneously, the black fog dissipated to a black wispy mist, but to my surprise and horror, they didn’t disappear as they have in the past.
I sensed that these shadows were different, stronger, and invincible to my bolt. As every elder tried to reach out in hopes of being saved, I continued thrusting my bolts into the shadows. The lightning flooded the mine, forcing the other members to blend into the walls. They observed how ineffective I was in horror. My elders were being smothered one by one, vanishing somewhere deep in the Apolluon and I couldn’t save them.
“No!’ I screamed over, and over again.
“Father, grab my hand!” Ophelia screamed through tears, reaching out to Lucien.
The sacrifice was honorable and exactly what I would have expected – a child fighting to save their parent, practically giving her life. Lucien tried as hard as he could to stick his arm out of the fog. Sadly, he was swallowed up right before our eyes.
The last mass of the shadows disappeared through what seemed like invisible holes in the ground, dragging every elder to the deepest depths of the Underworld.
Fifteen - Cordelia
Heavy Heart
The shadows swept my eldest disciples away and I knew the toll was devastating – never to be forgotten. It was one of the worst days in Ischero history – the day the Apolluon succeeded in extinguishing eighteen Ischero, all at once. Those miserable Fates – three sisters predating the gods – had the fortunate power of weaving our destinies and controlling our lives. Today they had spoken loud and clear.
The offspring of the elders looked around them as if expecting their parents to reappear. Their chests heaved as they glared at me with raging, crimson, fueled irises. As their thoughts murmured in my ears, I couldn’t hold how they felt – shocked, devastated, and furious – against them. Their emotions were raw as a fresh wound and directed at our malicious uncle for the most part, but they were also directed at me.
I couldn’t understand what happened. Everything had gone completely wrong. I used my power to its full potential and still the Apolluon were able to succeed. I knew now more than ever that my anointment from Zeus was pertinent if we were ever to be free from evil entities, especially from his brother’s brood.
Everyone stared at me, waiting for me to do something or say something. Evan stepped forward but stopped when I pleaded with him, telepathically, to say nothing. Victor just stared at me, his eyes revealing a magnitude of sorrow. None of us could have predicted something this dreadful taking place in the mine – a place where we’d always been safe from the shadows.
Olympia spun past me, wilder than the wind she had the power to spin. The vein in her neck vibrated violently, as if it was about to burst out of her skin. I trained my eyes on her and anticipated her words before they left her mouth. The wind shifter’s jaw tightened like a vice as she tried to speak.
“Empress, I want to go to the Underworld.” Olympia trembled as if she were a leaf caught in her own blustery breeze.
Sebastian, Olympia’s betrothed, touched her arm and she spun away from him as if he had cut her with his metal fingertips. Olympia did a complete spin around the entire membership in the blink of an eye, ending up right back in front of me. Sebastian’s face fell and it was obvious that he didn’t know of any way to soothe her. I knew what Olympia, as well as all the others who had just lost the leaders of their family, was feeling – devastation – first hand.
However, I felt much worse.
It was my fault. I couldn’t save their parents and because of this fact, I was the reason that they were orphaned.
“No.” I answered, trying to keep my voice from quivering.
“I have to go!” Olympia screamed through tears.
“You’re not thinking rationally,” Sebastian said stepping in between Olympia and me. “I know what you’re feeling darling, I lost my mother and father too, but you’ll never make it to Hades. Cerberus will have you for breakfast.”
“I have to go. I’ll go alone… if I have to.” Olympia declared, and then dropped her head into her boyfriend’s chest like a falling rock and cried.
Sebastian wrapped her in his arms and held her close as her sobs filled the otherwise quiet mine, besides the low rumble of
the mule trains. Everyone had tears in their eyes, even if they hadn’t just lost their parents, because we were all orphans now. Every one of us had lost our parents through tragedy.
I looked into the eyes of what remained of my empire – the youngest disciples, and wanted to make this grave situation right, but there was no way to remedy this. It wasn’t as if the elders had been slain and their bodies were stashed somewhere with their hearts still intact. If that were the scenario, we could arrange another search but their bodies had been withered away into dust, leaving their souls to be scorched in the pits of Hades’ ice blue flames.
“We will all meet tonight at my house. Bring nothing with you. Everything will be provided later,” I said, as they all started chattering in unison. “Please don’t ask any questions now. Save your inquiries for our arrival.” My disciples looked overwhelmed. There had been too much change in so little time. Their faith in me was slipping away.
“If you trust me with your lives as you have before, do as I say. I promise that I will seek vengeance for your pain.” I looked into the eyes of each of them. “Please leave the mine now.”
One by one, they disappeared, and then I left.
I stood in my bedroom and stared at my reflection in the vanity mirror, but I couldn’t focus. Evan grabbed a hold of me, catching me as I was about to faint. He was always a second or two behind, but always on time.
“It’s not your fault. You tried to save them.”
“And I failed.” I said, breaking free of Evan’s hold. He stepped back, but held my gaze.
“Delia, I’m here.” Victor said, appearing beside me. He glared at Evan. “I don’t remember you being invited”. Victor scowled at Evan.
“I don’t need an invitation to be with my fiancé.” Evan said as the right corner of his mouth twisted with anger. “Delia, we need to talk.” Evan said as I stared at the both of them.
Did they have to do this now? I wondered how they could both be so selfish right now with all that has happened in the last few minutes.
Sacrifice (The Descendants #2) Page 11
