Chapter 16 Admitting to Truths
Admitting to Truths
Theo
“Fuck, look at the time; I need to get some sleep!” I feign a yawn, stretching, and a real yawn actually comes on. “Well, night folks, I’ll see you all later.”
“Theo.” Jayce is looking at me with an expression that reminds me of Gramps.
“What, man? I’m tired. I need to sleep.”
“You can sleep later. We need to talk,” Jayce says firmly. “You girls, on the other hand, can get to bed. We can continue this conversation tomorrow.”
“First of all, I don’t think so. You aren’t our division leader, nor are we at school. Not to mention, you are not in charge. So, no, you cannot tell us what to do. We are part of this discussion, and we are going to stay,” Blondie says, pointing between herself and Allie.
I nod. “Yeah, they’re really good at talking, too, so how about you guys fill Jaycey-boy in?” I suggest.
Both cast me a look of contempt. “We will discuss it together, man. Let’s go down to your gross man cave and talk there,” Allie says, leading the way to the front door.
Heaven whispers a spell, and I sense the silence fall over us. Spells are useful; if I had a witch by my side, I’d have all my errands done much faster. I shrug at the thought as Jayce looks at me.
So, are you really not going to tell me what the hell you were doing out there? he asks through the mind-link.
Na, really don’t want to. You know I’m really tired; these two just bullied me all night. That evil one even set wasps on me. I’m terrified of sleeping now. Will you watch over me? I reply, smirking. He simply raises an unimpressed brow.
Theo, be serious. What is going on? he pushes.
I’m trying to think of what to say, and I need to buy myself time because I know I can’t lie to him. That’s how rifts happen, and the entire world can go fuck itself – but my brothers? Well, they’re important to me, even if they are fucking wankers half the time.
Doesn’t it annoy you how these two act like they own this place? Look how they just walked into our man cave, and we made a deal – no girls down here.
Theo. Jayce isn’t taking the bait. Time to switch tactics.
So, you jumped on pretty fast to help bring Sienna back. Miss her? Jayce’s eyes darken, and I smirk at him. Tell me, man, how you holding up? I thought you were done with her?
Perfectly fine, I already told you, I’ll bring her back.
Doesn’t mean there’s anything more to it than that…
I made a mistake by getting into a fucking relationship.
It will never happen again. Once she’s back, my responsibility ends there.
They blamed me, so I’ll bring her back to prove something to them, too. But it all ends there.
My mood sours a tad. Yeah, that shit wasn’t cool. Blaming him? Trust me, these Rossis are nothing but trouble, all of ‘em, I say through the mind-link as I drop onto the sofa the moment we reach the man cave and lie down, yawning again.
“Oh, stop that, you’re not tired,” Heaven states.
I cock a brow. “Oh yeah, and you know that because it’s your body? Try being this big; it takes a lot of energy to carry all this weight around.” I hold up my arms to show her what I mean.
She rolls her eyes, tossing her hair. I legit wonder how that small flick of her head makes all her hair swish back. She must have fucking practised it. It’s annoying as hell. “I know you’re full of excuses.”
“I’m not the one full of shit; I did what I did. Ha- he’ll- we got to wait,” I finish, glancing at Jayce, who’s noticed my fuckup.
“What are you trying to say?” he asks as he leans against the snooker table. “And I really don’t have time to waste, so someone better fill me in.”
“Will you, or shall I?” Blondie asks me haughtily.
“You’re really bloody annoying,” I mutter before looking at Jayce. “I’ll fill him in on what I need to fill him in on after you tell him your plan regarding getting your third musketeer back.”
“Fine, I’ll stop at the point where you needed to help us.” At least she listens a tad.
“Was forced and blackmailed to help – not willingly, I might add,” I counter.
“Aww, I never knew you were so easy to bully,” she replies mockingly.
Allie snickers as I narrow my eyes. Annoying girls.
“Excuse me,” Heaven says as she steps closer to me. I raise an eyebrow, and she motions for me to move over.
“I ain’t moving,” I say, refusing to sit up. “I told you, I’m sleepy.”
She rolls her eyes again; I’m surprised they don’t just get stuck in rolling mode, considering how many times she rolls them. She sits on the armrest of the sofa instead, right beside my head, her scent filling my nose, and I look away.
She’s way too close.
If she thought it would make me get up, she was almost right, but I am not going to give in.
“So, I have been trying to find a solution to get Sienna back, and although the plan is still in the works, the greatest issue is finding a way into the Realm of the Gods,” she begins.
I don’t speak, actually wanting to know how much she has actually planned out or if she is just acting recklessly.
She definitely doesn’t look like the reckless kind.
“Species of that world, well, they can enter with a lot more ease. Right now, the only ones who would be able to cross are Aunty Delsanra, Ahren, and, I think, Uncle Rayhan could most likely survive there, too. I think it’s how he’s back.
Anyway, back to the matter at hand. If a god were to grant us access, we’d be able to enter that realm.
Obviously, there are different methods that can be used. ”
She takes a breath before continuing. “Putting aside the way we get there, the plan is to find Sienna and then bring her back. I know it’s a little blurry, but gods only like deals. I am hoping we can offer Helios some kind of incentive to let her go-”
“Whoa, hold up, so you have no fucking clue as to how you are going to ask Helios to let her leave?” I ask, now looking up at her. She looks down at me, her face upside down in my vision.
“No, idiot. There are certain things gods want, and there is one thing that Helios has always searched for, something that was stolen by another god. My plan is to first retrieve that, deliver it to Helios, and-”
“And anger another god in the process? Do you like poking the tiger?” I question.
She rolls her eyes and looks away, my view blocked by her breasts; I avert my gaze and look at the other two instead. “And you’re ok with this?” I ask Allie.
“Yeah, we can steal whatever this thing is and give it to him.”
“You’re talking about the Tongue of Dawn that was stolen from his realm, with no sign of who took it. What are the chances you’d find it?” Jayce asks.
“Not too slim, I might know things. I will find it,” Blondie says confidently – too confidently.
“I think she can,” Allie adds.
Jayce nods. “But it could take a lot of time, and it means risking the fury of many gods. There is another way… I mean, I didn’t know how we’d get there, but there’s one thing a god can’t refuse… a duel. Victor takes all.”
“You can’t fight a god,” Allie cuts in sharply, realising what Jayce was implying.
“Andronikos did,” Heaven adds.
“The gods are weaker on earth,” Jayce says.
He hesitates before continuing, “The tomes helped a lot. I learned that multiple births are considered one in many ways. I was thinking… if they were willing, my brothers and I together – the five of us could face Helios, and if we win, he vows never to trouble the Deimos line again and frees Sienna.”
“The quints…” Heaven murmurs. “You’re right; even in older grimoires, twins, etc.
, count as one. It’s why Endora herself misunderstood the prophecy about Grandpa Alejandro.
A foolish mistake, but she thought the second birth meant Grandpa Marcel when it was referring to the ‘second birth’ meaning Grandpa Alejandro. ”
Jayce nods, and I close my eyes. Then they fly open suddenly when I process what he just said: if we fought alongside him.
You know I’ll help you regardless. Just say when and where, and I’ll be there. That rhymed. Man, I’m cool, I say through the mind-link. Jayce chuckles, but I can tell my agreement made him feel better.
Thanks, man.
“That makes sense, and I think the five of you could take a god…” Allie muses. “Maybe Theo might die in the process. I’ll make you a shroud.”
“You’re funny,” I reply sarcastically.
“I think they can, too, especially when you have multiple gods on your side,” Heaven says. I open my eyes, looking up at her sceptically, but she’s not even looking my way.
“I can answer for myself.” I frown.
“What do you mean by multiple gods?” Jayce asks.
“I’ll tell you if these two annoying brats leave.”
“We’ll leave. I need to get some sleep anyway.
Update us tomorrow,” Heaven says, her hair brushing my face as she stands.
I glare at her back, but she’s looking at Jayce.
“Your solution and mine will work together perfectly. I think we can do this. We just have to wait for Theo to complete his part.”
“Which involved what you were doing out in that area?” Jayce frowns, trying to piece the puzzle together.
“Yes. I wouldn’t have gone there willingly,” Allie adds icily, and Heaven nods.
“That was all Theo’s choice. Come on, Allie, let’s go.”
“Why is everything always my fault?” I complain, but I’m just ignored.
Brats.
They both leave, and Allie takes her bag with her. There’s another jar in there that looks suspiciously like wolfsbane…
The fuck? Does she think I’m invincible?
Bloody psycho.
Once the door closes, Jayce walks over to the bar. He opens the mini fridge beneath it, and I hear him take two cola cans out. He walks over to me and passes me one.
“So, what exactly am I missing?” he asks.
I push myself up slightly, resting my head on the armrest, and open my can, taking a gulp.
“Well, Blondie wanted me to contact Hades, you know, the god who’s favoured me? Anyway, she’s just so damn-”
“Whoa, hold up, you’re favoured by Hades? Damn.” Jayce whistles.
“Yeah, nothing important, anyway-”
“Why did you never mention it?”
“Hades? It’s not as simple as that,” I say quietly, still smiling, but he gets the hint.
A concerned frown crosses his forehead, and I sigh.
“And because you always worry about everyone else. I’m fine, but yeah, she thinks Hades can help them – meaning us, cause I know I would have had to fucking go as well.
We were getting three souls for Hades earlier when you decided to drop by. ”
He’s quiet for a moment as I drink my ice-cold cola, ignoring the intense stare that he’s channelling my way.
“Intriguing… I get it.”
“Get what?” I ask.
He walks over and drops into the armchair, placing his legs on the table, noticing a dead wasp, and flicks it onto the floor. “Get why you don’t want anyone to know. Dad would panic for one.”
“Oh yeah, Dad’s a saint.” If he knew the shit I do, he’d probably die himself. “Plus, it’s just better… no one needs to know.”
“When did you find out?”
“Around the time you and Sienna began dating, I would have told you, but you had your own stuff going on, so...” I shrug. “Besides, it’s kinda cool, right? You’re touched by Zeus, and I’m favoured by his brother.”
“Intriguing for sure, it makes me think. Is that why you hesitated to enter the temple in Egypt?” he asks.
I chuckle darkly. I wouldn’t have expected any less from him. “Yeah, I wasn’t sure someone favoured by Hades wouldn’t be spat out, but once you guys left, Hades was the one who told me to get on the steps. He’s an asshole, but he needs me alive.”
“Fuck…” Jayce is quiet. I know what’s going through his head. He’s imagining if I hadn’t, knowing that I could have died.
“That’s about it. We now wait for Hades to reach out to me, which he really won’t do unless I’m alone.”
Jayce smiles slightly. “Thanks for trying to help.”
“I’m not sure it’s the smartest decision; nothing is free. And she – Heaven, thinks she can outwit a god.”
“Yeah, seen that before. We won’t rush it, and we’ll make sure no one is harmed.”
“Aww, look at you, a natural leader.”
He stands up. “I’ll let you get some sleep. We’ll figure this out.”
“So, you’ll talk to Ares?” I ask as he climbs the steps.
“Yeah, he’s been quieter, but since what happened to him, he’s not been as angry with me.”
We’re both quiet, but what happened when Ares was attacked – that’s not something I can share with anyone. Not without it complicating so much more… and I’m not ready for that.
“Good, I’m sure he’ll be happy to help.”
“If any of them say no, I won’t hold it against them. It will be risky,” Jayce says.
“Yeah, it fucking will. Your plan is to duel a god,” I remind him.
He scoffs quietly. “And I plan to win.”
“We will, and Blondie might know where that Tongue of something is, as a first choice.”
He looks over his shoulder at me and nods. “Yeah, we’ll find a way.”
Once he leaves, I finish my can, toss it into the waste bin beside the TV and settle down to sleep. Barely a few minutes have passed when I sense the changes around me.
The smell of death fills the room, and something dark takes it over. I smirk, my eyes still shut as I feel the weight that presses down on me.
“Really, even you couldn’t just let me sleep for a bit before showing up?”