Chapter 23 #2
The giant god smiled reassuringly at her. “I have found that, when all else fails, do what your heart tells you. You want to help Bethana break the curse? Listen to your heart.”
Sonah chewed on her lip as she thought on Melanos’s words. She heard the Spartans speaking softly to one another, and she glanced over at Fane, who watched her with intensity; Sonah felt heat climb up her throat, threatening to choke her.
Behind her, Sonah felt Melanos move closer, the heat from his body enveloping her, soothing her, and her shoulders loosened. With a sigh, she lifted her head and asked Bethana, “May I touch you?”
Fane inhaled sharply, and she was certain he was about to object, but Sonah took a step toward Bethana, determined. “I… I must touch you, I think. I—”
“You may,” the serpent hissed.
“Sonah—”
“Let her be,” Melanos said, his tone rife with warning.
Fane bristled, but as Sonah crept closer, she glanced at him with reassurance.
Sonah knew the serpent was big but this close, she was massive. Shuddering, Sonah couldn’t help but think of Croak’s account of how Terena had gotten the fangs for King Altos.
She hoped she wasn’t going to be another victim of Bethana’s rage.
Tentatively, Sonah held out her hand. Pressing it against the serpent’s scales, she willed herself not to shudder at the textured surface. She swallowed, grateful Bethana did not strike her. Stepping closer, she pressed her hand firmly on the scales and closed her eyes.
Nothing happened. Sonah frowned. As the seconds passed, she became frustrated, ready to pull away.
Then she felt it.
Warmth stole over her body, rising from her belly, through her arms and down her hands. She tingled all over, as if ants raced over her skin.
Sonah squeezed her eyes tighter, tilting her head as she braced against the rush of heat threatening to consume her.
Gasps sounded behind her, and she heard Melanos swear softly.
Words she did not know filtered in and out of her thoughts.
Sonah opened her mouth and whispered these words.
This unknown language was as much a part of her as her skin, her hair, her breath.
The words sounded all around her, the air vibrating with energy she could feel pulsing within and without, swirling around her as if seeking to be closer to her.
Sonah’s eyes snapped open, the last of the words echoing in her brain for a long moment after she’d spoken them.
Her heart in her throat, Sonah’s eyes widened as she stared.
“Gods save us,” Fane uttered.
Melanos stood beside her now, his presence large and solid and yet she felt him shaking. Sonah, too, wasn’t sure if what she saw was real.
The most beautiful woman she’d ever seen, with hair like spun gold, almost a foot taller than Sonah, stood before them.
Her iridescent skin gleamed from the water, sparkling as she moved.
She had a figure most men would covet, a thin blue robe clinging to her generous curves.
Watching them through large brown eyes sparkling with gold, she lifted a tremulous hand to her face, her long fingers falling off her pale cheek as her gaze found Melanos.
With a cry, she launched herself at the god, who wrapped her up in his thick arms. Sonah felt tears track down her face.
A hand slipped into hers, tugging her back and she looked up to see Fane, who looked at her with awe in his brown eyes.
“You,” Melanos said, lifting his head, pulling back only enough to turn to Sonah, eyes bright with unshed tears. “You are a wonder.”
Sonah’s chin quivered at the emotion she saw in the god’s expression, and she gave him a watery smile. Bethana had her head buried in Melanos’s neck and Sonah looked up at Fane, motioning with her head to move away and give them some privacy.
The others followed them out, everyone lost in their own thoughts. For Sonah’s part, she marveled she even had the power to do something so… miraculous. She’d never done anything remotely like that, and began to wonder if there were other facets to her powers she could tap into.
As they stepped outside the cave, waiting for Melanos and Bethana to emerge, Sonah became aware of everyone staring at her.
“What?”
Fane shook his head. “What you did, Sonah.” He let out a hysterical chuckle. “It was incredible. Did you know you could do that?”
Scrunching her nose, Sonah lifted a shoulder. “I just did what Melanos told me to do. It felt right. In here.” Sonah tapped her fingers against her chest, over her heart.
“Do you think he’ll come with us now?” Yianni asked, his dark brown eyes thoughtful as he turned to Fane. “Do you think he’ll pledge himself to Sonah now she’s freed Bethana from the curse?”
“I don’t want him to pledge himself to me,” Sonah said firmly, aghast. She shook her head, slashing her arm out as she spoke.
“If he comes with us, it will be of his own accord and not because of a debt. And certainly not because of a pledge. He and Bethana more than earned their freedom. I will not be the one to enslave them again.”
“I am glad to hear you say so,” Melanos said in his booming voice, startling them. He gripped Bethana’s hand in his as they strode closer. “But even I know when a debt is owed, whether you wish it or not. I will join you, little one. Wherever your path takes you.”