39. In Which Day One Leads to One Day
Chapter 39
In Which Day One Leads to One Day
S oft morning light unfurled itself into every corner of the bedchamber. The mattress sunk as he rose, causing her to reach across, searching for him in her half-awake state. His lips brushed her knuckles as soft, whispered words floated down. They stayed on the fringes of Ellie’s mind as she drifted back to sleep. Now fully awake with sunlight bathing the room in golden light, she reached for her coffee from the tray Evander delivered while she slept. Even though she was furious with the men for deciding what was best without her input, she at least knew the man wouldn’t let her starve. Nibbling on fruit as she dressed, she marveled at the sharp contrast in the men she had shared beds with. One was full of disdain for everything she was, restricted her food consumption, and monitored her movements with obsession. And Evander, who left her trays laden with food, was gentle, even when he was upset with her, and held her as the world she thought she knew was swept out from under her.
Venturing through the hallways, she found herself in the kitchen. Maximus’ house was enormous, almost like a palace. It had so many rooms and corridors she was confident she could get lost in for days and never find her way back. She contemplated grabbing some bread to leave a trail of crumbs when she caught sight of a vision standing in the stone archway leading into the kitchen.
“What on earth are you wearing?” Picking up the teapot on the stove, she twisted her lips to keep from grinning. Syren looked down at herself and snorted. She had on a chiton that stopped at the tops of her knees. Leather straps crisscrossed her chest, leather skirting belted around her waist, and greaves covered her shins. She looked ready to battle any Greek army that might happen upon them. Her long, dark hair was braided and slung over one shoulder.
“You don’t like it?”
“You look like an Amazon come to life.”
Hot water splashed over the side of the spout, causing Ellie to yelp. She shook the offending finger and put it to her lips. One of the kitchen maids said something to her and waved her hands. Taking her teapot and cup, she moved to a large wooden island that occupied most of the area in the center of the room.
“Where did you find it?”
Syren looked down again and smoothed a hand over the leather. “In a trunk in my room. You should look and see if you have one.” She winked, and Ellie snorted a laugh.
“I should. I’m down to my last pair of panties. They didn’t exactly give us enough warning when they kidnapped us, did they?”
“No, they did not,” Syren said as she grabbed a teacup and poured. Tossing in a scoop of sugar, she stirred it, clinking the sides with her spoon. Resting her hip on the copper sink, she stood framed by a large picture window overlooking a meadow.
“I wonder why Maximus has women’s clothes if he lives here alone? Well, relatively alone.” Ellie cut up lemons to put in her hot water.
“Maybe our uptight bachelor likes to entertain, and these are his trophies.” She twisted her skirt; the leather swished side to side.
“Maybe.”
Two slices of lemon plopped into her water, and she added honey from a silver tray. Kitchen maids bustled around them in an organized flurry of activity.
Syren’s eyes gleamed. “Maybe the men like to play dress up and sing show tunes while no one is looking?”
Ellie laughed loudly, making the few kitchen maids jump at the sound. “That has to be it. They just like to feel pretty.”
“Don’t we all.”
Ellie sipped her hot lemon water and sighed, curling her fingers around the warm cup. Her room had been freezing this morning. She hadn’t felt cold, with Evander curled around her all night, rubbing her back, his deep timbre rumbling through her as he whispered in the dark. Once he left early this morning, she had felt the loss of his warmth almost immediately. One of the kitchen maids scuttled around them. She shewed Syren from her spot at the window, forcing her to move to the island where Ellie stood.
“In all seriousness, how are you? Really?” Her expression was soft. The last two days, Syren had acted like a big sister caring for her younger sibling. Ellie was torn between feeling flattered and annoyed.
“I’m fine, Syren, all things considered. And you?”
“I’ve had several days to adjust, but I’m not thrilled.”
Ellie nodded. “How much longer do you think they’ll hold me hostage? Wait, hold us hostage? Are we hostages?” She rubbed her face; the stress of the last few days catching up with her. “How are you not pissed? They stole you, too.”
Syren shrugged and lowered her gaze. “Who says I’m not? I didn’t ask to be here. Didn’t want to be, but I am.”
The massive kitchen around them buzzed with life from the army of staff Maximus employed. Pots and pans hung above them on copper hooks. Two fireplaces roared with life as pots swung over the flames. Stone floors, walls, and arches covered the room. The smells of baked bread and cooked meats hung in the air. A thin layer of flour dust covered the island. Ellie moved two fingers along the wood and turned them over to inspect her flour-covered fingertips. One of the kitchen maids glared at her and motioned for both women to move.
“Let’s take this upstairs,” Syren said, sipping her tea. The sunlight from overhead sparkled off her jeweled cuffs, but something else caught Ellie’s eye.
“That’s pretty,” she said, reaching for Syren’s hand. “I never noticed it before.” She ran her thumb across the ring, sapphires catching the sunlight. A smile passed over Syren’s lips as she turned her hand this way and that.
“Mmm, it was my mother’s,” she said with a far-off look. She curled her fingers around Ellie’s hand. “Let’s go see what trouble the men got up to.”
Ellie followed her up the stone staircase that wound around a central column. Max’s home fit him in many ways. It was a mix of old and new, ancient and modern. Italian art hung in the hallways, while handcrafted plush woven rugs lined the floors. They moved through the hallway with ease. The late morning sun poured in through windows that stood at attention like floor-to-ceiling centurions. The shadows from the panes of glass made crisscross patterns on the red rug as they wove through the corridor and down another hallway, side by side.
“I just don’t understand how you are so calm with all that’s happened in the last few days,” Ellie said after a few minutes of silence.
“I don’t know. I’m trying to make sense of it. I guess weird stuff doesn’t bother me.”
Ellie tossed her a side-eye. “Right.”
Syren cocked a halfway smile. “Well.” She lifted her eyebrow knowingly, her lips breaking into a wide grin. “I do like the feathers.”
“Oh, god. Yeah, well, when you’re already sleeping with him, finding out he has wings ain’t that bad.”
“I mean, you should try.” She winked at Ellie before she let a giggle erupt.
“No, Syren.”
“Why not? It’s definitely . . . interesting. They’re very soft.”
Ellie looked up to the ceiling in mock annoyance. Even on the ship, she had teased about sleeping with Evander. Although Ellie had come close that night in her bed, now, the circumstances were different. She knew too much and not enough. The fact remained Evander had made a vow, one she intended he keep. He was already in enough trouble; based on the little bits she had pieced together, she didn’t want to add to it. Besides, she had to be practical. What kind of future did she really have? Hidden on Olympus, a human with weird powers and weirder blood, who wasn’t a warrior or strong or anything.
Last night, he was the comfort she needed, even if he caused the situation. She could still feel his arm around her, cradling her like she was precious. A powerful arm that made her feel safe.
“I’m just saying you might as well.” Syren broke into her thoughts. “You’re a prisoner anyway; might as well reap the perks.”
Ellie barked a laugh. “Absolutely not. We are just”—she paused, trying to come up with a term to define their strange relationship—“friends.”
“Sure. Friends ,” Syren said, using air quotes to emphasize the word.
They both erupted into giggles, and she linked her arm through Ellie’s. Things at the moment might be uncertain, but she was incredibly grateful for the friendship budding between them. It was a comfort. They walked into an expansive dining room and descended stone steps. A large wooden table sat in the center, with room for eight to sit comfortably around its circumference. The smooth stone floor was dark and worn but polished. Two expansive arches of stacked stone were at the entrance the women came through. The opposite side held a plaster wall with stone masonry half up along the width of the wall. Above them were centuries-old wooden beams, worn and dark. One rectangular wood-and-iron chandelier hung from a center beam over the table.
The men were seated already, their rough, deep voices filling the air and bouncing off the stone, creating a din of camaraderie. Ellie caught a whiff of raspberry pastries and apple tarts. She took in a breath, letting the smell fill her nostrils. This part of being held against her will might not be so bad. She rounded the table and came to an open seat next to Liam. Syren took the one in between Liam and Evander. Reaching for her hand, Liam guided Syren to her chair and, leaning in close, whispered something that made her blush. Ellie smiled at the two of them and reached for one of the raspberry pastries. As they entered, Camulos’ face brightened.
“Ah, Ellie, just the person we wanted to see.” He moved from one of the sideboard tables that lined the wall opposite the windows and sat beside her.
“What is it my captors want?” She eyed all four and placed a pastry on her plate.
Camulos sighed. “You aren’t a hostage, Ellie. You’re here for your protection,” he said, exasperated.
“So, I can leave?”
He shot a look at Maximus and Evander and refused to reply.
“Thought so.”
“Ellie.”
His smooth, aristocratic tone caught her attention. She looked over at Evander and blinked.
“I believe we may have come up with a solution.”
“A solution?” she repeated slowly. “To kidnapping?”
He pursed his lips together, and a muscle on one side of his jaw ticked. “You’re right.”
Ellie took in a quick little breath.
“You weren’t given a choice. We made the choice for you, to keep you here for your protection. That wasn’t fair to you. If you want, you can go home—”
“Okay, that’s what I want,” she interjected.
Evander rolled his eyes and raised an annoyed eyebrow. “You can choose to go home,” he repeated, “but I will go with you.”
The lines in the sand now drawn, she challenged him. “I don’t need a bodyguard.”
“You do,” Maximus interrupted.
She shook her head as Evander thinned his mouth into a firm line.
“We have a proposition for you,” Evander continued, clearly becoming more annoyed with each interruption. “If you choose to stay here, we will train you. You can learn to control your magic so that it does not overwhelm you. Learn to work with your powers.”
“How long?”
“Pardon?”
“How long do you want me to stay?”
“Give us a fortnight,” Maximus said, leveling his gaze at her. “I think that should be sufficient time to help you gain control over yourself and teach you to use magic to protect yourself, should you return to the human realm.”
“And if I refuse?”
“I will escort you and stay until Camulos can devise an alternative solution.” Evander took a bite of a strip of bacon.
“Ellie.” Syren’s expression was soft and pleading. “If you can learn to control your powers, staying might be worth it.”
“What about her?”
Liam glanced at Syren as Ellie pointed.
“You kidnapped us both. Then you offer a solution for us both.”
Maximus scratched his chin thoughtfully. “Would that be sufficient for you as well, Syren?”
“I do not have magic I need to learn to control.” Her words measured, something in her eyes flashed, and she lowered her chin at Maximus.
“True, but we are offering you to stay here for the same amount of time as Ellie and then you may go home.”
“Or she may go now.” Ellie piped up and Camulos frowned, considering.
“Would you like to go home now, Syren?” Camulos asked.
The woman in question shook her head slowly. “No. I’ll stay with Ellie.” Her eyes flashed.
Ellie glanced from her to Liam and around the table at each of their faces. “And if I want to leave after a few days?”
“I’ll take you back myself.”
“And you’ll stay as my bodyguard?”
Evander let out an exasperated breath of air. “Yes.”
She tapped her finger against her chin. “So, in both scenarios, if I choose home, I still have to have a bodyguard.”
“Ellie,” Evander said softly, his gaze piercing, “you were right. You need to have a say in what happens to you. But your magic isn’t a burden; it’s a gift, and a powerful one at that. You have hidden what you can do for so long. Your parents didn’t know how to help you; Penn feared you and as such, controlled you. We are all willing to work with you to train you to control your magic instead of it controlling you. Because, like it or not, Athena will find out that you aren’t dead, that we lied, and when she does, she will come after all of us. You could stand against her should it come to that, but as it is now, your magic is too chaotic.”
“Give you two weeks?”
They nodded.
“The Chthonian that you killed has a legion, and they will come looking for retribution. Right now, you can’t funnel your magic to protect yourself. If one of them catches you off guard or outnumbers us, they will kill you. And if the prophecy is to be believed, your death will unlock the Titans,” Maximus replied.
“And we wouldn’t want you to die, love.” Liam chimed in as he stabbed a fork full of meat. “Who would Evander have wet dreams about?”
If that particular warrior could funnel wind and throw lightning like Ellie, she was sure the look he shot Liam would have contained a substantial voltage. Camulos cleared his throat.
“It’s your choice, dear.”
Ellie sat for a moment, contemplating what they were offering her. She could go home today, this very minute if she asked, and she knew Evander would keep his word. If Ellie chose home, he would see her home. He would protect her when and if she needed, but ultimately, she would be at the mercy of whoever came to call. The men could easily shift from human to what they were, and so could any of Athena’s men. A warrior could be anyone, and that thought frightened her.
On the other hand, if she stayed, Camulos, Max, and the others would ensure she knew how to defend herself. Better yet, she could learn to control her magic so she could return home knowing she could keep herself safe. She glanced at Evander, who kept his eyes on her as she mulled over their offer.
“Okay.” Her voice sounded far away and unsure.
“Okay?” he repeated. Ellie nodded. Relief flooded his expression, as if he were bracing himself for a different answer.
“Okay. I choose to stay for two weeks. That’s it.” She nodded her head as she spoke. “I’ll stay and learn to harness my power. To use it to protect me, so I won’t have to rely on y’all. But I have one condition.”
“That is?” Max folded his hands under his chin.
“I learn ancient Greek.”
Max snorted. “You can’t learn ancient Greek in two weeks, Ellie.”
“Fine, then one of y’all read the book and tell me what it says.” She folded her hands under her chin, mimicking Max. “I need to know why my parents were killed.”
“I will, then.” Camulos said. “I’ll read through it, find the spell we need to reverse the curse. I don’t know if we’ll find what you are looking for, Ellie, but I will read through it all the same.”
She studied him for a moment before nodding.
Camulos clapped his hands together in one loud crack. “Good. Now that that’s settled, we will meet in the training room after breakfast.” He smiled as he piled strips of bacon on his plate.
Ellie shook her head at them. “Didn’t y’all eat breakfast already?”
Camulos frowned at his plate and looked at the table, deciding what else he wanted to add to his overflowing pile of food. “That wasn’t breakfast; that was simply a snack.”
She laughed despite herself. “Y’all are nothing but Hobbits. Eating constantly and never full.”
Liam grinned, the grease from the bacon making his lips shiny. “We have to eat, or we’ll starve.”
She snorted at that, and the six of them fell into comfortable chatter as they ravaged the silver trays of food.
Later, as the meal had concluded and everyone dispersed, heading towards the training room, Evander pulled Camulos aside. Waiting until everyone had left the dining hall, he turned to Cam, his expression grim.
“Do you find Syren odd?”
Camulos frowned. “I suppose not any more than any of us. Why do you ask?”
“Liam seems completely infatuated with her.”
“True. Liam isn’t one to settle down, but what does that have to do with anything?”
“She burst through the door first.”
Camulos raised an eyebrow.
“In Ellie’s room. Liam didn’t come in first, it was Syren. It was as if she had to, like she had no choice. Almost like she was summoned or tethered. The look on her face was pure concern.”
“I’d be concerned too if I had never seen someone wield gaia power before.”
“No, you aren’t hearing me. I didn’t call for Liam; I didn’t have a chance to. I was about to when she burst into the room. The only ones summoned were you and Max. And by Liam. How did she know where we were?”
Camulos’ frown deepened.
“Do you think she’s human?”
Camulos pinched his eyebrows together. “Of course. What makes you ask such a thing?”
“Something about Syren feels off to me. Ellie has been showing the appropriate response to being thrust into our world. Resentment, anger, confusion, and blame are proper given what she’s faced so far.”
“So?”
“Syren doesn’t flinch. When Ellie hurt me, Syren didn’t duck or scream; she stepped closer. She put herself between Liam and out-of-control magic. Now that we’re here, she’s put herself in charge over Ellie.”
“True.”
“If she’s human, why did she step closer? Ellie had a swirling, wild wind of fire and lightning around us. Syren wasn’t thrown by seeing any of us in our warrior forms. In fact, she didn’t react at all. She hasn’t acted upset or confused about being here. She didn’t even ask where she was when we first arrived. Days and not one question; she’s only cared about Ellie’s well-being. She went from being just a girl Liam was shagging to being suddenly thrown into our world. Despite the circumstances, she has remained level-headed, even joking when she should be just as confused and angry as Ellie. In fact, this morning, she encouraged Ellie to stay here. Even choosing to stay. Shouldn’t she want to go home, too?”
“Maybe she feels safe with Liam?”
Evander scratched his chin. “Maybe. But why hasn’t she asked to go home? Doesn’t she have people who will be worried about her? I can’t shake the feeling something more is going on with her.”
“Like what?” Camulos was genuinely curious now. Evander knew he was jumping to conclusions, but it didn’t add up. She wasn’t reacting to his world the way Ellie was—the way a human would.
Evander shook his head. “I don’t know.”
“Maybe you need sleep. I would know if Syren were something other than human. She may do well under stress, and taking care of Ellie makes her feel like she’s doing her part.” Camulos shrugged. “Evander, trust me, if she were anything other than human, I’d know. But just in case, I’ll cover our position in a shroud. I’ll feel it if anyone enters or leaves.”
Evander dragged a hand down his face. “Maybe you’re right. Last night was my first restful night’s sleep since we came home. And I got my ass handed to me by Liam this morning.” He turned to go, but Camulos stopped him.
“If you’re right, Evander, we need to watch her.”
He nodded and headed upstairs to the training room.