Page 46 of Guided by the Stars
Adriane is silent as she processes all he’s said, but something still bothers me. “If the blood is diluted, I don’t see why Hades and Zeus want them. What do they gain? Powerless humans who can’t protect themselves, their kind, or pass messages for the gods? I don’t understand.” I sense a glare from Adriane, but ignore it.
“The deal, princeling, was to provide information. I did that, but I can’t see into their minds, nor do they confide in me,” he says, shrugging. “Perhaps they just want another pretty toy to add to their collection. Or maybe they hope to breed them and strengthen the gene in hopes of controlling the humans. That is for you to figure out, and that was the deal.”
I flinch at his words. I don’t want to imagine Adriane as a toy for Hades, and I sure as shit wouldn’t allow anyone to breed her. What the fuck kind of sick joke is this?
“Um, hi. Still here,” Adriane says through clenched teeth. “Can I pick door number three? I’m no one’s toy and there’s absolutely no fucking way I’m reproducing with anyone.”
Aegaeon settles his gaze on her, the look in his eyes softening as he does so. “It’s more likely that Hades wants you here just so no one else can have you. The rivalry between gods is extreme, little protector. Remember that.”
Turning to me once more, he continues, “This message is important, you must send for Hermes right away, as agreed. You need to write what I say, word for word, and our trade is complete.”
“Yes, fine,” I say, ready to return to the palace and clean the scent of this place from my body. “What is it?”
“I may have broken the chains, but take heed. The forge no longer sits cold.”
“Got it, cryptic fucking message. I’ll send this to Zeus as soon as Hermes gets here,” I say before turning to Adriane. “Let’s get back.”
She nods to me but takes a step toward Aegaeon, reaching out a hand to him. “Thank you for the information,” she says with a smile. “Don’t take this the wrong way, but I hope we don’t see each other again.”
He laughs and reaches out to grasp her hand in two of his massive ones. “I feel the same, little protector.”
***
It’s easy to rid the stink of Tartarus from the body; a hot bath will wash away the remnants of your visit, but it’s harder to remove from the soul. It lingers inside you, draining and corrupting if left too long without light.
After returning to the palace, Adriane showered while I spoke to Jax about what happened. He promised to take care of requesting Hermes and sending the mysterious note.Neither one of us could decipher it, and we had no choice but to send it anyway.
I jumped in the shower while Adriane ate, and when I finished, I could tell she was restless, on edge. She demanded to get out of my rooms and I agreed without a fight. That place haunts even me, the wailing cries of agony and sickening heat stay with you long after you leave.
We walk along the rows of multi-colored flowers and stone archways in Persephone’s garden. Adriane seems enthralled with our surroundings, pointing out the skull figures hidden within the shrubs. She’s drawn to the skull lanterns, stopping to inspect them each time we pass one, but I bet she doesn’t realize each one has a soul stuck inside. The flickering light isn’t a flame dancing in the breeze, it’s the soul trying to find a way out.
It’s one of the many fucked-up things Persephone enjoys. She finds souls that pissed her off in some miniscule way and traps them as a sentence for a crime they might not have even realized they committed. I once had the bright idea to free them, back when I thought I could be the unsung hero. I released quite a few before she found out and I suffered for each one.
“Kai,” Adriane says from behind me. “What Aegaeon said earlier…Do you think Nora is okay? Can you tell me where she is?”
I should have seen this question coming after the information we just received. The possibility of becoming a possession was the best one we heard today, and even I could admit it wasn’t great. “As far as I’m aware, Nora is in Mount Olympus,” I say, continuing to walk along the row of black roses towards the gazebo. “When your powers emerged, the entire realm of gods felt a shift, but they couldn’t figure out where it camefrom. As soon as you entered sacred temple grounds, that specific god knew, and that’s why you’re here.”
As we enter the gazebo, she puts her hand on my arm to stop me. “Huh, okay. We were caught in this freaky storm on our first night, maybe that’s how our powers emerged? And while that might explain why you were there, someone else took Nora. So who has her? Is she safe?”
I can’t stand the look on her face, so open and hopeful. But I know Zeus and his wife, they take and take until there’s nothing left but pain. I turn to walk further inside when she tugs on my arm again.
“Please, Kai.”
Her voice, so full of anguish and despair, cuts me deeper than any whip could. I step forward, crowding her against the doorframe. She gasps as I reach forward, grabbing her chin and tilting it up to me. “I don’t have all the answers, my Skoteino, but I believe she’s with Zeus. He sent someone to follow me and that’s who took your friend,” I say, moving to cup both of her cheeks. “If I learn anything more, I’ll tell you. That’s the best I can offer.”
She opens her mouth as if to speak, but I stop her with my thumb on her bottom lip. “I love that you’re not afraid of darkness, because that would mean you’re afraid of your own soul, and from what I can see, you’re fearless.”
Our lips meet, moving over each other with more heat than the depths of Tartarus, and I’m lost. Drifting through the deepest sea with no sign of land. I mold my body to hers, pressing her harder into the wooden frame and letting her feel how much I desire her.
When I pull back, her eyes are wide, an intense shade of electric blue that sucks me in and transports me far away from this miserable place. Somewhere warm and bright to battle myinner darkness. I can take her there, to the place I escape to when the darkness inside overwhelms me, when I need that light to balance the dark.
I’ve never wanted to take anyone there before and find myself flooded with the need to share this piece of myself with her. As the plan forms in my mind, I realize just how right this feels. Just how right she feels by my side. Maybe there’s more to life than freedom.
Nora
When Exploring Olympus
Last night was restless. I stayed up, dissecting every detail, thinking about that asshole. I begged. I have no idea why I did. A vibrator has done the job perfectly fine for years. And the one night that he shows me an inkling of comfort, I melt like the stupid ice cream, only to be left naked and alone.
