Chapter 9 – Grey
GREY
Ijerk awake. Fucking hell, I must be struggling more than I thought if I fell asleep while on duty. Gargoyles, after all, are the best guards imaginable. It’s probably because I’ve never been this mentally exhausted before.
The fucking harpy is doing all kinds of things to my brain.
And, of course, now I need to take a piss.
Rising, I put another log on the dying fire, then glance at the harpy. There’s no way in hell she’s awake. Her head is lolled to the side, and I swear there’s a little drool in the corner of her mouth.
I smile. She’s cute when she sleeps.
Cute? Oh fuck, this woman is not good for me.
I step around my snoring brothers and head out to find a good tree to relieve myself.
The moon is bright tonight, and the stars seem brighter than I’ve ever seen them before.
Most people might think it’s all kinds of beautiful and peaceful, but not me.
Until I fell asleep, all I could think about as how much this place reminds me of the place my brother, William, was killed.
It makes me feel wound up. Like every muscle in my body is begging me to do some serious harm. So I don’t have a clue how I feel asleep, except that I’m blaming it on our irritating prisoner.
I piss and go to the river to wash my hands.
Running the cold water over my face and hair helps to make me feel more alert.
But when I straighten, my face and hair damp, something feels different in these woods.
The darkness around me seems to have deepened.
I know it’s probably just my imagination, but I’m feeling uneasy.
Rising, I head back toward camp. My protective instincts are alive. In tune to each crush of leaves beneath my feet. The scent of greenery and life. The way the wind moves through the trees in a lazy way that barely stirs the air.
All things I sense on a deeper level, and yet, there’s nothing that should alarm me. Fuck. It probably is just my old memories teasing me. Haunting me.
I need to snap out of this.
Suddenly, a movement catches my eye. At first all I see are shadows in the leaves, and then a shape comes into focus. A black crow rests on a branch, watching me intently.
The hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. I continue moving forward, past it, my pulse racing.
It’s just a bird, and nothing more. Unless the “innocent” Celaeno has sent one of her foul creatures after me. And yet, one bird isn’t exactly a danger to me. So… maybe it’s just a bird.
“Where you going, big boy?”
I whirl around. Where the crow just stood, a woman now sits on a branch. She has dark hair, but it’s cut short above her ears. And her eyes, they’re the same unusual auburn color as Celaeno’s.
Another fucking harpy?
“What do you want?”
She smirks, and there’s something evil in her little smile. “What do you think I want?”
“Celaeno?”
Her nose wrinkles. “Not a chance. You can have that spineless, pathetic creature. The second she abandoned her post in the Underworld, she was dead to me.”
Interesting. “Then what do you want?”
She laughs, but the sound is unpleasant, and she leaps down from the branch in one graceful movement. When she soundlessly rises, she moves until she’s close enough to touch me.
A growl slips from my lips, and this time I do reach for my sword.
Her gaze goes to my weapon, but she looks amused more than frightened. “What I want is to ask why Celaeno’s still alive. Are you gargoyles so bad at your job that you can’t kill one little harpy?”
I scowl at her. “That’s none of your business.”
She giggles and reaches forward to trail a hand along my arm.
“Want to hear something interesting, little stone-man? My mother, the goddess of the clouds herself, forbade us sisters from killing each other when we were just small children at her knee. She even made us promise it, putting her power as a goddess into the promise, and so we’d have no choice but to obey her. Literally.”
“That’s completely normal,” I say, imagining a mother telling her kids they can’t kill each other.
“Among the gods it is,” she says, rolling her eyes. “Haven’t you ever read anything about them? But that’s not my point. My point is that I want her dead. I want to break my promise and kill Hades’s ex and punish her for abandoning him. But as I said, I can’t.”
“How unfortunate,” I say, dryly.
She cocks her head, and her hand comes to rest on my forearm. “There have been so many times that I set the wheel of fortune spinning, hoping to finally bring an end to my dear sister. But each time, she somehow manages to survive.”
I wonder if Celaeno knows this is happening. “Why are you telling me all this?”
“Because, stupid gargoyle, I’m here to discover whether you’re finally going to rid me of her once and for all.”
I stare at her for a long minute in silence. “That’s our business.”
Her smile falters. “Drop the attitude. This is important to me. I’ve fallen out of favor with Hades, and I need my sister’s head as a gift. Will you bring it to me?”
“No,” I answer, without hesitation.
I don’t know if I’ll kill the harpy, but I won’t do it for this creature, no matter what.
Her auburn-colored eyes turn a shade brighter. “Unfortunate choice.”
It’s like a gong rings through my body. I can’t feel my limbs. My vision seems to get both bigger and smaller, fluctuating around me. My heartbeat fills my ears.
Everything’s moving in my vision, like reality is spinning away. I finally come to realize that my arm hurts, but I can’t pull it away. Looking down, I see black veins blossoming beneath the harpy’s touch.
She leans in closer, and I can’t pull away. Her lips brush my ear. “You thought I was like my weak sister. Shifting. Controlling birds. Absolutely useless powers. But the great, sexy god of the Underworld bestowed upon me the ability to take lives, and guess what? I’m taking yours.”
I crumble to my knees. Her face hovers over mine.
My blood pounds louder in my ears, and I feel liquid sliding from my eyes and my mouth. Images flash back to me. Of William dying in woods just like these ones. Of learning that no life is guaranteed.
What a fool I was to think I was any stronger than him.
“Aello!”
The harpy is knocked back, her grip on me disappearing. And then I’m on the ground, breathing hard, my limbs shaking.
Celaeno comes to stand in front of me. Her hands are curled into fists. “Leave him alone!”
Her sister laughs and a wild gust of wind slams through the woods, lifting her from the ground. She floats there, her hair flying around her, and I instantly know Celaeno will be no match for her. I try to shout, to get my brother’s attention, but even my throat won’t work.
Aello’s eyes go brighter, almost glowing. “You’re actually going to protect a gargoyle that kidnapped you?”
Celaeno’s head raises just an inch. “Leave. Now.”
“Come on, I know you. You’re not going to fight me. You’re going to run away with your tail between your legs, just like you always do. Face it, Celaeno, you’re just not the kind of person to really fight for what she wants. And you haven’t been for a very long time.”
Celaeno’s hands remain curled as she stands in front of me, but she says nothing for a long minute. Has she already lost this battle?
“In the Underworld you all made me feel like I was a fool for thinking Hades was unfaithful. My own sisters convinced me that I was insecure and crazy. You broke down my self-esteem day-after-day until I thought I didn’t deserve more than what I had.
” Her tone softens. “I’m not perfect, but I’ve grown since then. I know I deserve better.”
Her sister laughs and the speed of the wind increases. “No, the only thing that you deserve is what we have planned for you. And today I’m going to kill that gargoyle, and you’re not going to stop me.”
Celaeno’s voice is soft, but strong. “You can bring your angry winds, but they mean nothing, dear sister. Because I might be his prisoner, but at least I’m not Hades’ slave. Like you are. Still.”
The harpy points her hands toward Celaeno, thunder in her gaze. But nothing happens. After a minute, she screams in outrage.
“You can’t kill me.” Celaeno walks slowly towards her. “So just stop this nonsense.”
“No!” Aello shouts. “You don’t understand… you don’t—“
Celaeno moves closer to her, closing the space between them. “You’re no longer favored by Hades.” It’s not a question, it’s a statement.
The other harpy’s anger falls away. “Don’t speak of him.”
“I know what it feels like. It’s as if someone has reached inside your chest and ripped out your beating heart, but it’ll get better. I promise. And if you need my help—“
“Your help? You can help me by giving me your head!” her sister shouts, but the words feel forced.
Celaeno shrugs. “I’m here if you need me, but Hades doesn’t care enough about me—one way or another. My death will mean nothing to him.”
Her sister rattles off a string of colorful curses. “This was my last chance!”
“No.” Celaeno reaches out and touches the other woman, and the winds calms. “This was never really a chance. Once you fall out of favor with Hades, there’s no coming back.
And certainly not with the head of someone he doesn’t care about.
He wouldn’t even acknowledge you. So it’s time to just accept a life without him. To make a new life on your own.”
And then, Aello is crying on her sister’s shoulder. Celaeno whispers words I know must be meant to soothe. They remain like that for a time, while I’m lying useless.
At last, Aello pulls back and dries her eyes. “I can’t do this. I’m just not ready yet. I’m going to return to the Underworld and beg Hades to forgive me.”
“Don’t.” And all the gentleness is gone from Celaeno. “You’re strong enough to walk away from him and the Underworld. I promise.”
Aello backs away from her, shaking her head. “I’m sorry. Sorry about what I said before. Sorry about everything. But I’m not as strong as you, Celaeno. I never have been.”
Celaeno reaches out for her sister, but Aello vanishes.