Chapter 35
Alexios
Bassari is at my side without my invitation, as I hover behind Lyssa and Epizon.
“You know what the fuck that is?” I ask him silently, casting a glance at the creature in the massive tank.
“Nope.” He trots off to stare at the thing, and I move my attention back to Epizon.
“I—” he starts, then pauses and looks meaningfully at Lyssa. “I know this might sound crazy. But I was back where I grew up. As a child.”
Lyssa blinks, but says nothing, allowing him to continue.
“There was a massive pain in my head, and then I was a child again. And I…” He looks away. “I saw things I haven’t remembered in a long time.”
Lyssa sits back on her heels and lets out a breath. “Me too,” she says quietly. “I saw Hercules, right after”—she shrugs—“you know. How do you know her name?”
“I started yelling stop.” Epizon’s deep voice carries, and Lyssa flinches at his words, before masking the reaction. These two are clearly close, and I can see the pain that his pain is causing her. Len looks away as he speaks, also uncomfortable seeing Epizon vulnerable.
Jealousy flashes through me, taking me by surprise. To have folk who care about you that much…
I push my shoulders back, focusing. This is not the time. In fact, there’s never a time. Not for pity. Not for regret. I’m here, and that’s what matters.
Epizon continues, “And then I was in a room full of columns and she was there.”
“I was in a room full of columns too,” Lyssa says. “But with… him.”
“She was hovering, right there, and I asked who she was, and she said the word Tenebrae.”
Lyssa turns to the satyr. “Len, have you ever heard of telepathic creatures like this before? Do you think it’s connected to exposing her to light?”
Len looks at the creature, who is still staring at Epizon. “No, captain. I’ve never heard of anything like this before. But yes, the light must have triggered this—surely she would have done it earlier if she could have?”
“Done… what? Do you think she’s trying to communicate? Or attack?”
We all move our gaze to the creature in the tank. Bassari, right beneath the thing, swishes his tail and cocks his head.
“And why just you two?” asks Lucas quietly.
Lyssa shakes her head. “I don’t know. She didn’t speak to me,” she says. “Until we know her intentions, I think we should get her below decks again. At least until we know she isn’t dangerous.”
Epizon looks between her and the creature, then nods.
Nobody speaks as we wheel the tank back into the hauler and down to the cargo deck. Epizon announces he is retiring to his cabin early, and Len and Lucas quickly follow suit.
“Look at them,” Lyssa says, watching the hauler take her crew away. “Off to blissful peace and privacy.” There’s venom in her voice.
“I’m sorry about your first mate,” I say.
She turns to me, usual scowl in place. “What?”
“I’m sorry he saw… whatever he saw today.”
She advances on me, quiet anger leaking from her tiny frame.
“You have no right to see him like that, talk about his past, even be on this damn ship,” she snarls.
“You earn the right to his friendship, his loyalty, his vulnerability, and you are a fucking fraud who has stolen access to the air that man breathes. He is so much better than you.”
“I don’t doubt it.” As much I love riling this fierce woman up, this level of anger is intimate, and I like Epizon. A lot. Plus, Lyssa was affected by the power of this Tenebrae too, and lest I forget, my life is bound to hers right now. “We’ll talk to Bassari. See if he knows anything.”
Her hard expression softens a touch. “Fine.” She folds her arms over her chest as Bassari appears between us.
“She’s pretty, and she’s wet,” he says immediately.
“Right. Got anything else? That’s actually helpful?”
“She’s telepathic.”
“I think we got that,” mumbles Lyssa.
“Can you learn anything about her?”
He shakes his tail and blinks up at me. “If you can get me one of her scales, perhaps, but I can’t see that being easy.”
Lyssa frowns. “I can try, if you think it will help?”
“I would also need equipment. Did you bring any of your lab things with you?” He directs the question at me.
“You know I didn’t.”
“Then no, it probably won’t help. Her psychic powers are strong, as her signature still lingers. But it’s not a power I’ve ever come across before, or recognize from any source. Where did she come from?”
Lyssa tells us both about Lady Lamia and the ensuing fight.
I’ve heard of Lady Lamia. If Lyssa’s recounting is true, and she doesn’t strike me as a liar, then this woman has the courage, and moral fortitude, of no other human I’ve ever met. She is truly fascinating.
“You risked your crew’s lives to rescue a non-identifiable being?” I ask her.
“They were willing,” she growls at me.
“I’m sure.”
“And I ended up with Lucas.”
She doesn’t sound upset about this. I think I get a glimpse of a softer side of her, when it comes to the skinny, pale boy.
“High price to pay for a deckhand,” I say, knowing it will annoy her. I want to push her to defend him. See if I’m right.
“What would you know about doing the right thing? With some food and freedom, and some actually decent care, he’ll make a fine crew member,” she snaps.
I grin at her, and she glares at me. “You like him.”
“Yes. He needed rescuing and he’s a good kid. Unlike you.”
“I don’t need rescuing? Or I’m not a good kid?”
She grinds her teeth, her green eyes flashing with fire. Satisfaction churns with excitement at her reaction. What is it about her that makes me want to push through all the flaming barbs and see what’s underneath?
Refusing to answer me, she looks to Bassari. “What do you think we should do with Tenebrae?”
“Keep her out of the light, until you learn how to talk to her.”
She nods. “Learn how to talk to her. Right.” She looks unsettled, and I don’t blame her. The thing’s eyes are beyond unsettling, and I wasn’t just knocked out by it.
“Speaking of talking,” Bassari says, and swishes his tail, “do you know how much of your conversation could be heard in the flame dishes?”
Lyssa’s attention snaps to me. “Shit, I forgot. I’ll ask him now.” She falls quiet, then her brows rise, then knit. “He says he’s watching it right now. No sound is shared, just visuals.”
“That’s good.”
“How are they capturing the images?”
“Iris,” I say.
“What?”
“Iris. The rainbow goddess. Also a messenger goddess. If there’s any water nearby, she can make prisms that are capable of capturing light. Which is how all living things see.”
Lyssa tries not to look interested. “Water? How much water?”
“Even a drop is enough to store images, for her.”
“You speak like you know her.”
“I do. Rather well, in fact.” I give her a deliberately inflammatory grin.
“You’re a—”
I cut off whatever insult she’s about to fling. “Well-connected young demigod who is going to make your life significantly easier,” I finish for her.
Her hands tense into fists, and for the love of Aphrodite, my cock twitches.
“If nobody can hear us, only see us, then I can say whatever the fuck I like to you,” she grinds out.
“As long as you say it with a smile on your face, and eyes full of puppy-dog love.”
“Alexios, let me make you a promise,” she says, then plasters a large, fake smile on her face. “If we survive this month, and rid Olympus of that murderous monster, I will make it my new life’s mission to ensure that you never smile again.”
I believe every word.