Chapter Sixteen
Ididn’t think I’d end up in the headmaster’s chambers this way—hauled inside by rotting corpses while I shouted explanations that fell on uninterested ears. Another time, I could’ve admired the room’s opulence. The stretching stone walls, hanging tapestries of divine battles past, stacks beside stacks of bookshelves, and the long, grim shadows stretching over them all under a single lit candle’s losing fight against the gloom. Another time, it could’ve impressed me. But not that time.
Not that day.
I sat in the chair before his desk, sweating under the collar. My lips parted.
“Please,” Drakos sliced in, raising his hand. “Be patient. Our discussion will commence soon.”
I fell back, quieting. I wasn’t sure what we were waiting on. We’d been sitting there for hours, merely staring at each other. Or more like, Drakos steadily stared at me with nary a blink while I looked everywhere but directly in his eyes.
Was it a son-of-Hades thing to be this creepy and unsettling? Why were his chambers so dark? Thick, heavy curtains smothered any scant light that tried to peek through the windows. Every item of furniture was black or blacker, and the caskets...
I shivered, fighting to swallow the lump in my throat when I flicked to the caskets. Half a dozen of them lined the back wall with two thrown open. Two. As in the two dead men standing guard over me at that moment.
“You have a pretty cool power, sir,” I blurted. “Controlling dead monsters and their abilities like puppets at the end of your string. Amazing. With power like that, no one dead or alive can stand against you.”
His brow climbed his forehead. “Is that what impresses you, Miss Vanda? Limitless power? Fear? No one able to stand against you?”
“No, sir,” I mumbled, shrinking. Gods, help me. Why do I always have to open my mouth? “I’m just thankful you were there, is all.”
“I see. Was my presence a necessary part of your plan?”
“No! I mean, yes— No,” I cried. “I didn’t have a plan. None of this was supposed to—”
A knock sounded at the door, bringing my babbling to a blessed end.
“Come,” Drakos ordered.
Madame Remis strolled inside. She wasn’t alone.
A tall, imposing man with a salt-and-pepper beard and cutting green eyes followed behind her. He fell on me and stopped.
“Miss Aella Vanda. We meet again.”
I blinked. “Do I know you?”
His brow furrowed. “Not as well as you should. While I know you far more than I’d like.”
I couldn’t for the life of me puzzle that out.
“Councilman Damien,” Drakos said, rising. “I see word of last night’s events has reached you.”
“Reached me by way of seven dozen frantic messages to the palace, declaring that the wards of Deucalion Academy have fallen and monsters were on the attack. I came immediately, as did half the council, but it seems we were not needed. The battle is over?” he questioned. “So easily? So quickly?”
“It was not quick nor easy,” Drakos corrected, “but it was won efficiently and effectively with no loss of life thanks to our highly trained students and staff.”
Councilman Damien inclined his head. “Quite. All twelve imperial heirs are in attendance at the academy. Victory was assured by their presence alone. Victory led by my son.”
“He is a credit to you, Councilman.”
“That he is, that he is,” the newcomer replied, almost absentmindedly. He walked behind me, making for the window, while I made myself as small as possible.
They seemed to have forgotten I was in the room. That was fine by me.
“Tell me, Drakos, what of these statues?” Damien peered through the curtain. “Are these not the statues that once stood in the now destroyed atrium? Why are they posted around the perimeter? Are the reports that they fought with you in battle truth or fantasy?”
“It is truth.”
Drakos looked to Madame Remis. It was then I noticed she was holding a small, brown sack that she handed over to him.
Remis left as quickly and silently as she came.
“Those statues are a part of an ancient defense system,” Drakos continued. “They defend this area viciously and without mercy against threats. A threat such as the wards falling and monsters attacking. It is why the academy was built around them. Now, they will remain posted around the perimeter until the wards are rebuilt and the school is once again safe.”
Daimen leaned back, frowning. “The academy was built with the knowledge of this defense system? Why am I just now hearing of this? The council was not informed of their ability to fight and kill to protect the school.”
Drakos lifted his chin. “That is because this knowledge has been passed down from headmaster to headmistress, to headmaster. It was decided by those older and wiser than me the knowledge must remain secret, I did not see fit to go against the grain,” he replied. “As we can see, keeping that secret was wisdom itself. The monsters weren’t expecting the statues, nor we were expecting that they have been waiting and lurking around in such large numbers—anticipating their chance to strike.
“The statues were the only thing they couldn’t account for. They were unable to rally in time, which led to our victory.”
Damien’s frown only deepened the more he spoke. “Unacceptable. There is no possible excuse for keeping secrets from the council, I do not care the reason. Do not get above yourself, Drakos,” he hissed. “Current law may grant you autonomy to run this place as you see fit, but laws change every day.”
It was impossible to make out Drakos’s expression through the shadows. “Of course, Councilman.”
“What other secrets are you going to make me aware of?” Damien asked— No, demanded. “Now.”
“Just one. The reason why those replicas of the gods defend this place so ruthlessly”—he slowly turned toward me—“although, I suspect Miss Vanda may have more to say on that matter than I do.”
My mouth was sandpaper. I tried swallowing and only managed to wheeze out a croak. “No, s-sir. I don’t.”
Drakos tsked. “Now, now. We’re all past that. Over the many years and decades this castle has stood, there have been disappearances. Unfortunately, we have to lay the responsibility for most of them at the feet of demigods, but, then, what about the others?” He snapped his fingers and one of his dead minions took the sack from him. “Two years ago, I stumbled over something very strange.
“A gaping hole in the middle of my atrium.”
Nostrils flaring, my lips pressed tight. Mom.
“It was quite curious,” he continued. “While it answered the question of what those statues were put here to protect, as well as why I could sense the bodies of three of my missing charges, but I could not summon them. It also brought a host of new questions.
“Why was there Lethe water at the bottom? Why had those two students and one staff member gone into that hole only to become trapped forever? Why was it open now?” I tracked his movements around the desk.
“I sent a few companions of mine down to investigate,” he said, gesturing to the caskets. “I even sent down a dead gorgon. They were all destroyed so utterly, I couldn’t so much as recall their bone shards. Whatever was down there was better off left alone. As such, I requested Healer Helena place a barrier to put an end to the threat.” His eyes sharpened. “How did you remove that barrier?”
“I—”
“Ah. Before you answer.”
The skeletons converged on me. They emptied the contents of the bag, forcing it into my hand, on my lap, and pressing them to my face. I almost didn’t need to look to know what they were.
Verity stones.
I thought fast. Lying simply wasn’t an option. I was not tough enough to withstand the torture of one verity stone. All of these pressed to my skin would burn me alive.
What do I do? Why isn’t Selene saying something? I have no way out of this!
“Speak,” Damien barked, making me jump.
“A curse,” I blurted. “I used a cursed charm to destroy the barrier, but I had no idea it would bring down all the barriers,” I rushed out. “I never wanted that to happen, I swear.”
Drakos studied me, but I was obviously telling the truth. My not screaming in pain was a good clue. “Where is this cursed charm?”
“In my hand.”
A slight nod and one of the skeletons took it from me.
“Why did you want into that chamber, Miss Vanda?” Drakos continued. “What do you know of what’s down there?”
“Tread carefully, girl,” Selene said as my lips parted. “Your mother’s usefulness ends the moment you become more trouble than you’re worth.”
My grip tightened on the stones. “I know what’s down there,” I rasped, shaking. “My mother.”
“Excuse me?” It was Damien who spoke. He moved into my line of sight, staring me down. “Did you say your mother?”
I nodded. “Two years ago, when you discovered the entrance, it was opened to let my mother and her abductors in. I came here and brought down the barrier to rescue her.”
Drakos and Damien exchanged a look.
“Why would your mother be inside an ancient chamber defended by the likeness of the gods?” Damien asked. “Who told you such nonsense?”
“It’s not nonsense. She was snatched from our home by monsters and brought here. I don’t know what their true purpose is, or what I’ll find down there, but I don’t care. I have to get her back.”
Drakos gave me a long, measuring look. “Who is your mother?”
“Her name is Irida Vanda.”
“I know of no Irida Vanda.”
I shrugged. “That’s not strange. You don’t know everyone in Olympia.”
Technically the truth. The verity stones let it slip.
“How old is she?” he asked.
“Why?”
“Answer,” he barked.
I hesitated. “She’s... forty-two now.”
“Then, I very well should know this woman. We would have attended the academy at the same time. I say again, I know of no Irida Vanda.” His eyes narrowed to slits. “You are either a clever liar, a filthy traitor, or a deluded little fool. You are rapidly running out of time to convince me of either.”
“I’m not lying,” I cried. “My mom is down there. I have to save her!”
“Whoever you think is your mother does not exist.”
I choked on a gasp. I’m not crazy. I AM NOT CRAZY!
“Someone has clearly toyed with your mind, little Sisyphean, so that you would break into that chamber. Did that someone give you that curse?”
“I’m not crazy,” I screamed, blowing both their brows up. “My mother is Irida Vanda. Maiden name Baker. She was married to my father, Crisanto Vanda, and on October twenty-third, two years ago, she was taken by a cerberus and an echidna, and brought to Deucalion Academy where two students and an instructor sacrificed themselves to shove my mother into the bowels of a trap that not even a Titan-level son of Hades can get into.
“That’s what happened. That’s the truth. And if one more fucking person calls me crazy or delusional, I’m going to kick their balls up their throat!” My glare burned them where they stood. “My mom needs me. So are you going to help me get her back, or are you going to stand in my way, because they’ve been trying to do that for two years, but I’m here. I may be a little Sisyphean, but I don’t give up.
“I never give up.”
Drakos was inscrutable during my outburst. He moved then, rounding the desk. “That was a very rousing speech. Quite moving. A tale of a loving, loyal daughter willing to sacrifice everything—including the lives of her comrades and an entire generation of demigods.”
“I didn’t mean for that to—”
“But you slipped up and lied, proving that somehow, verity stones don’t work on you.”
“What?” I whipped between confused and relieved when the skeletons removed the stones and stood back. “What lie?”
Drakos rolled up his sleeves. “I’m afraid we’ll have to result to harsher means to question you.”
“No!” I cried, jumping up and running behind my chair. “They work! I swear they work, and I didn’t lie.”
“You have lied. Irida Vanda is no one, but I did once know Crisanto Vanda. He was a friend. A comrade. A brother-in-arms,” Drakos said, “and he had no wife or child.”
I bit my lip, eyes darting to the door. How far would I get if I tried to run?
Damien blocked my path.
Not far at all.
“It’s not a lie,” I rasped. “My dad did have a wife and child... in the mundane dominion.”
Drakos stilled. “Excuse me?”
I snatched a verity stone from his dead guard. “My mom isn’t a demigod. She’s a mortal, born in the mortal world, and lived there every day until monsters stole her and brought her into this world. I am their daughter, half demigod, born in New York City, and I didn’t know anything about this place, or any of the dominions until I crossed the border to find her. Also...”
I gripped the stone. “My hair is blue. I love pickles. The sky is cheese and— Ahhh!” I flung the burning thing away, snapping my hand to my chest. “There,” I hissed, eyes watering. “Do you believe me now?”
“You’re half mundane?” Damien repeated.
“Yes. My mom—”
“Disgusting.”
I blinked, shocked by the loathing etched in his grimace.
“You dirty, filthy abomination,” he hissed, advancing on me.
I tripped throwing myself back. Crashing on the floor, true fear strangled my throat as this strange man towered over me.
“Toovian spy!”
Drakos was suddenly between us. “Cease, Damien. There is no need for—”
“There is every need! Do you know what that thing has done? She’s disgraced my son. Seduced him. Dirtied him! A half-mundane piece of Sisyphean filth has shamed the House of Damien!”
Thunder ripped and crackled inside.
I smothered a shriek as my hair rose up, reaching for the sky as if I stuck my finger in a socket. “But I didn’t! I didn’t seduce anyone. I don’t even know your son.”
“Out of the way.” Damien shoved Drakos aside, and snatched me up by the collar. “This pointless questioning ends now. Her sentence is named—execution.”
My vision went white. What did he say?
“That is not a sentence, it’s murder!” Skeletal hands grabbed me, igniting the tug-of-war. “She has the right to plead her case before the entire council. You cannot hand down death sentences based on prejudice.”
“Prejudice?” Damien’s eyes darkened. “Possession of a cursed object—mandatory life sentence. Sabotaging a lawfully erected barrier—death sentence. Aiding and abetting a monster attack—death sentence. Turning traitor against your comrades—death sentence. Treason against the imperial heir by way of seducing and destroying his marriage, resulting in a schism between the House of Damien and the House of Cirillo—death sentence.
“Don’t speak to me of prejudice, Hades son,” he growled. “Prejudice did not stop me from allowing the likes of you to become headmaster of this academy, while we both know it’s your bias that makes you speak out in defense of your former lover’s bastard.”
Former lover? My dad and Drakos?
“This thing will receive the justice she is due.” He shook me, rattling my head on my neck. “And she’ll thank me for making it quick.”
“Unhand her!”
Dead men in various states of decay burst from their caskets, running to us. To me.
Daimen’s hand sliced the air and blinding light ripped through the shadowed room.
Crack!
Headmaster Drakos flew across the room, crashing into and toppling two caskets. I didn’t have to wonder if he was dead. The gaping hole through his chest answered that.
I screamed. “Help! Someone, help me!”
“Silence!”
Terror trapped my pleas in my throat.
“Take heed, bastard, after enough reflection in the Asphodel Meadows, you will thank me for the merciful end. As it was, you would’ve gone down in demigod history as the abomination who betrayed her father’s legacy and attempted to slaughter our nation’s hope, all to save some worthless mundane woman.
“As it is, I must protect my son’s reputation and the reputation of my position and my family. The world will be told that you were nothing but a clever tenebrae demon, working from the inside to orchestrate this monster attack. When Drakos revealed the truth, you killed him.”
Tears soaked my face. I kicked and punched him, internally screaming at the Fates to help me. “No one is going to believe that! You think people don’t know a lightning strike when they see one? You’re a murderer. You’re a monster!”
He snapped me to his chest, his hate-filled eyes filling my vision. “I am no monster. Everything I do is for the good and the advancement of Olympia. I will protect her from all threats. I lay down my soul to her service.”
“But my mom—”
“You needn’t worry about your mother. As soon as I’m finished with you, the combined might of the gods’ chosen council will flood that chamber with power—eradicating everything inside, living or dead.”
My jaw cracked, frozen in a horrified cry.
“And then I believe I’ll help myself to those statues,” he remarked, mostly to himself. “They belong stationed at the imperial palace, protecting the worthy and the new location of the training academy. This place can be left to the useless, and good riddance to it. With any luck, the monsters will attack the slop left over and make damn sure.”
“What’s wrong with you?” I whispered. “How could anyone be so evil?”
His gaze hardened. “I am the son of Zeus. His chosen. His favored. What’s evil to a peasant is mercy from a god.
“Goodbye, bastard child of filth.” He raised his hand. “And may Hades have mercy on you for dirtying the pure essence of my gods.”
Damien dropped his hand. Lightning crackled and split the ceiling, exploding the rafters in its rushing greed. Untouchable force slammed into my chest, throwing me clean from his grip.
Darkness swallowed me before I hit the ground.