Page 74 of Beyond the Storm
“Only to admire the beauty,” I said.
He shook his head. “That is not what I see.”
“Tell me, then. What do you see?”
“You were meant to do more with your life,” he answered. “You stare off in the distance because deep inside your heart, you know you belong somewhere else. If the day ever comes when you find that place, seize it.”
Long after he fell back asleep, I lay awake thinking over his words.
As days passed, the mark on my neck faded; however, my feelings for Kallias remained strong. I tried to put him from my mind, to no avail.
After a long day of training, I washed in the stream before walking to the valley of olive trees. And as a gentle breeze ruffled the leaves, creating a soothing chorus reminiscent of the sea kissing a rocky shore, my eyes burned with unshed tears.
“An old friend says hello,” I whispered as I placed my hand on the trunk of one. Then, to the wind, I said, “If you find him on your journey, tell him my soul misses his.”
“We’ll l find each other,”he had said.
Gods. I prayed it was true.
A place I belonged, Nikandros had told me. One look into Kallias’ eyes, and I’d felt like I’d finally found it.
Chapter Five
Kallias
The demon’s jagged teeth sank into the flesh of my thigh. Beneath the smoke, the demons had a thin layer of flesh that smelled revolting. I thrust my sword through its spine, and its smoking body blared bright orange before turning to ash.
Bellamy wielded twin blades and sliced one demon in half. Daman released his wings and lifted into the air as four demons lunged toward him. They crashed into each other like mindless beasts, snarling and biting. His sword was curved at the end and swiftly cut through the air, taking off each of their heads in one swoop.
Four days had passed since Elasus returned to Sparta—since we had said goodbye. My brothers and I had traveled to a small village outside Athens to dispose of the lower-level demons terrorizing the people there. The mission had kept my mind from dwelling on him for too long.
My heart though? It wasn’t as easily swayed.
After the demons were nothing but ash beneath our boots, the eight of us returned to the cave where we’d set up camp. We sometimes stayed in taverns but often chose to stay out of sight of mortals. It was less complicated that way.
“I worry for you, brother,” Raiden said, regarding me with blue eyes that echoed that worry.
“My leg is already healing from the bite,” I told him.
“Not because of your leg.” He withdrew a sliver of dried meat from his satchel and sat outside the cave entrance, sword resting beside him. The stars shone brightly, and he tilted his head to stare up at them. “Your soul is weeping. I feel it. We all do.”
“Because of Melancholy,” I said. “Sadness clings to me wherever I go. Just as Gluttony causes you to feel hunger.”
Alastair stepped from the cave. “That mortal is your destined mate. He is why your soul cries. It is an exasperating distraction that is affecting us all.”
“I apologize.” Once again, my existence brought conflict to those around me. Would it ever be any different? “If I could reach inside my soul and remove the bond, I would, if only to give you all a reprieve from my sorrow.”
Albeit brief, emotion flickered in Alastair’s eyes. As if he regretted his words but was too full of pride to voice that regret.
A flapping of wings came from above us before I saw large white feathers. Lazarus landed in the grass in front of the cave and approached, his hair the same shade as his wings despite him being forever young. “The mission was a success. The area is secured for now.”
“Where is our next location?” Alastair asked.
“Lucifer and Azazel have returned to their castle behind the barrier. Scouts will alert me as soon as they surface. Belphegor’s whereabouts are unknown, but it’s believed he’s currently residing in the underworld.”
“What of my father?” Castor asked, stepping from the cave.
“Caim and your mother were last seen traveling with his army to the north of here. No attacks have been reported at this time.”
