Page 14 of Souls of Steel
My mother cupped my cheek with a gentle hand, and the overwhelming heat subsided. “Maybe you’re right. Forgive me, daughter. I lost my head. Gaia and Tartarus know what’s best and you have your own gifts. You’ll get by.”
I slumped against her, taking comfort in her proximity. Her familiar scent and the feel of her soothing magic settled my nerves and restless power.
But deep inside, I knew it was a temporary respite. I might have my problems with General Rhodes, but he was right about one thing.
I didn’t belong on Earth anymore. The power I’d accepted made me dangerous to myself and to my loved ones. And the only people who could change that would see me as a sexual object because of my gender.
This dream come true was quickly turning into a nightmare, but I’d follow my path to the end.
* * *
My departure from New Washington was rushed and almost anticlimactic. There was no time for me to speak to a lot of people and the whole business with me piloting the chimera seemed to be something General Rhodes wanted to keep under wraps. I ended up saying my goodbyes to Louise through coms. My tearful friend wished me all the good luck in the universe. I forced back my own tears and anxiety, hiding them underneath a fake smile. “If nothing else, it’ll be an adventure. I’ll send you an autograph from Prince Brendan.”
My comment drew a tiny giggle out of my friend. “He is very handsome. I’m jealous you’ll get to spend time with him.”
The prince would most likely see me as beneath him, but I didn’t want to get into that. “I doubt we’ll be that close. I’m sure he has other classes and a schedule that will be different from mine. If I see him on the flight there, I’ll consider myself lucky.”
“I suppose that’s better than nothing,” Louise replied. Her expression sobered and she pressed a hand to her screen. “Take care, all right, Selene? Don’t get blown up by the Sun-Dwellers.”
The Sun-Dwellers hadn’t even occurred to me as a problem. I had to survive my own people first before I could think of facing the alien invaders. “Don’t worry,” I told my friend. “I might be going to Tartarus Base, but Gaia will still be with me.”
At this, Louise was reassured. My father wasn’t so easily convinced. He managed to show up at the tribunal half an hour before I was scheduled to leave. “Oh, Selene,” he said as he hugged me, “I’m so sorry.”
“Don’t be sorry,” I replied. “This is what I’ve always wanted.”
“It isn’t. I should’ve known better than to encourage it.”
My mother had said that too. She couldn’t even look at him now. I wondered if she blamed him for my less than womanly inclinations. Maybe she did. Louise, who didn’t have as much contact with her father as I had, displayed no interest in chimeras. Maybe my father had influenced my love for the mechas in some way.
It didn’t matter anymore. Either way, I was a tamer now and it was what I wanted to be. If I had to go to Chimera Academy and face everyone who deemed me unsuitable for the role, I’d do it. I wouldn’t give up on the Sphinx.
“Precious things always come with toil,” I said. “That’s what Mother always taught me. I might never be able to help heal the earth, but I can protect it, and that is a gift. I won’t reject it out of fear.”
My father nodded, but my mother just seemed more stricken. Looking at her, I suspected she believed this was the last time she’d ever see me.
She hugged me tightly and pressed another kiss to my forehead. “You’re so strong, Selene. Stronger than I ever was. The power of the gods runs through your veins. I believe in you.”
But she didn’t, not really, because if she had, she wouldn’t have been so pale. I didn’t call her out on her lie. I hugged her back and when I broke away, I forced myself to smile. “Thank you, Mother.”
After that, my parents led me to the shuttle. Much to my surprise, Knox Alexander was waiting for me in the hangars. “High Priestess,” he said, greeting my mother with a light, formal bow. “Ms. Renard. Mr. Graves.”
My mother eyed him from head to toe, and I wondered what she knew about him that she’d never mentioned. “Flight Lieutenant Alexander. I take it you’ll accompany my daughter to the ship of His Royal Highness.”
“Indeed. If Ms. Renard is ready to depart, her luggage is already on board.”
He smiled, and there was something dark and dangerous in his eyes. My father clenched his fists, but said nothing.
Men from Earth didn’t have any authority or power against people like Knox Alexander. He might not be Chimera royalty, but he was close enough. He was the pilot of the Cerberus and he’d barreled over the wishes of the general earlier that day, when he’d helped me connect with the Sphinx.
I wondered what would’ve happened if he hadn’t been there, if he hadn’t shown me how to summon her. The Sphinx would’ve probably been taken from me and I wouldn’t have had to go to the academy. Had he realized that when he’d offered me his aid? What was he playing at?
I wasn’t sure, but I did know that I had to be careful around him, around everyone I’d meet from now on.
“I’m ready to go,” I told him, displaying none of the anxiety that bubbled in my heart. “Besides, as long as the Sphinx is here, I don’t need that much.”
“That’s the first time I’ve heard such a comment from a woman,” Knox replied. “But I suppose you’re not like other women I’ve met.”
He seemed to be ignoring the presence of my parents, his predatory aura suffocating me with its intensity. If he thought he could intimidate me, he had another think coming. “Well, then, you must not have met a lot of women. Or you kept company with all the wrong ones.”
