Chapter 18 Aethra
Aethra
The taste of Seth’s lips lingered on mine as I stared at the dark ceiling of our tiny hideout.
A bundle of cloaks and a worn mat fashioned my royal bed—a queenly comfort after weeks of travel and imprisonment. Eleos sat beside me, flipping through his journal.
Lifting his quill, he looked down at me. “Something wrong?”
“I kissed Seth, and I can’t decide if I regret it,” I said, looking up at him.
“Oh.” Eleos stared at his journal, sighed, and set it aside. “I don’t think you should forgive him, yet.”
“I haven’t.”
“Good.” Shrugging his cloak off, he draped it over me like a blanket and laid down beside me.
“You know,” I said, shifting to face him. “I don’t have to run off with a man, get married, and all that. We could just open a little library together.”
Eleos’ brow furrowed. “Wouldn’t that disappoint you?”
“No. Not if we built it by a lake. Or a river,” I added. “If seeing my face is enough for you, why can’t seeing you be enough for me?”
“Ha. You have me there.” Sitting bolt upright, he grabbed his satchel and pulled something out.
Propping myself up on my elbows, I tried to see between his tightly clenched fingers. “What’s that?”
“I got something for you.” He opened his hand. “To pay you back for the quill.”
A beautiful necklace lay in his palm. Reaching out, I touched the blue gem wrapped in silver threads. Gasping softly, I retracted my hand.
“Do you not like it?” He asked, brows drawing together.
“I just realized I’ve never owned jewelry before,” I said. “Everything I have are cheap mimicries for disguises.”
Unclasping the necklace, he brushed aside my hair and set it around my neck. “I’m pretty sure this is real. You can bite it if you want to check.”
“I think that’s for coins, not gems.” I chuckled, touching the necklace where it hung between my collarbones. Shimmying closer to him, I wrapped him in a hug. “Thank you.”
Eleos squeezed me back and planted a gentle kiss on my head. “Can I hold your hand tonight? I want to try something.”
“What?” I asked, slipping my fingers through his.
“You’ll see,” he muttered, laying back down. “I’ve heard psyches can bond overnight. Let’s see if it’s true.”
Curious what he meant, I drifted off, warm and safe with him beside me.
Our thoughts entwined as we slept. Beneath my dreams, I sensed the glowing core of hope pulsing beneath his breast, but with each breath, it dimmed. He’d found nothing that could save Percy.
It troubled him terribly.
Worry swam in dark waves through his heart. Worry our faith in his father was misplaced, worry he’d lose us all. He’d clung to hope since the day we’d met, but for the first time, I realized how fragile his grasp on it truly was.
A dream manifested before my eyes, but it did not belong to me.
An owl perched on a branch, far above my head.
Its feathers fell from its body, one by one, each falling loose with a trickle of blood.
I could do nothing but watch as the bloody pile formed at my feet, and the beautiful creature above my head died.
When I woke, I was alone.
The cloth hanging in the doorway flung open as Percy stepped through, pulling down his ornamental hood. “Morning,” he said, clearing his throat. “I’ve brought word from the Oracle.”
Scrambling to my feet, I smoothed out the wrinkles in my shirt.
“You slept in,” Percy said. “The boys are arguing outside, and Seraphim insisted we let you sleep.”
“Ugh.” I kicked a loose sheet off my foot. “They’re going to make fun of me.”
“I know. That’s why they don’t ever wake you up.” Percy winked.
Straightening my skirt, I stepped outside. Eleos and Seth stood by the waterside, talking in hushed tones. Both fell silent and turned to me.
“Did I interrupt something?” I asked, combing out my curls.
“No,” Eleos said softly. “Are you alright? Your dreams were troubling.”
“So I didn’t imagine that?”
“No. It only happens when two psyches are comfortable with one another.” Eleos looked down. “I’ve never experienced it before.”
A flash of jealousy lit Seth’s eyes, and his mouth twitched. Looking away, he changed the subject. “Cerys wants us to split up today. Help us convince Seraphim not to.”
“Convince me not to what?” Seraphim asked, joining us. An obscuring tan cloak hung around her shoulders, and her fiery hair was hidden in a taut bun tucked into her hood.
“Trying to be discreet?” I asked.
“Yes. You and I have important work to do today,” Seraphim said. “Did Percy fill you in?”
“Mistress Seraphim,” Eleos started gently.
Seth cut him off. “I’m going with Aethra.”
“We,” Eleos corrected.
Seraphim side-eyed me. “I had a feeling they’d accuse me of not being good enough to protect you.”
“We’re not accusing you,” Eleos said. “Seth’s just overly controlling.”
“And you’re not?” Seth raised an eyebrow.
Percy and Phaedrus emerged from the inn, and the air shifted. Everyone raised their guards and watched the nobleman warily. But he’d kept his word, allowing Eleos to see inside his thoughts. And I, too, could read his emotions, though not very well.
Stillness and silence. Eleos had described Phaedrus’ inner self that way. Something else bristled below—the hope I’d gleaned from his tone and words. His gaze lingered on his son and sister, gladdened to be in their company one last time.
We could save him from the darkness that had dragged him into its depths. I was sure of it.
Raising her chin, Seraphim pointed between us. “Eleos, Percy, Seth. Travel to Brizo’s pyramid and assist the Oracle. Phaedrus, Aethra, and I will handle the other job.”
“Seraphim—” Seth protested.
“Two chthonics are more than enough to protect one little maiden.” Seraphim crossed her arms. “Eleos is injured. He could use a guardian, too.”
“Yes,” I insisted. “Seth, could you keep Eleos safe for me?”
Seth clenched his teeth and released a slight growl with his answer. “I will,” he promised.
Eleos picked up on his envy. A smug little half-smile tugged at his lips, and he met my eye.
Biting my lip, I held back a laugh. Seth glanced between us and grabbed my wrist. “You’re a psyche now. Forge a mental link with me.”
“It would be easier—” Eleos peeled Seth’s hand off me. —for two psyches to connect. You’re asking much of a novice.”
Seth’s eyes narrowed, and he scrutinized Eleos. Realizing the scholar was enjoying his discomfort, he adopted a sullen expression.
“I can try,” I said. “But I might need Eleos’ help.”
Placing his hand on mine, Eleos met my eyes. “Follow my lead. Open your mind to us, and him to you.”
Wincing, I tried to do as he said, seeking invisible passageways into their thoughts.
Eleos’ consciousness pierced mine first, as though taking my hand and guiding me.
Seth still felt foreign, like I hardly knew him, like he was a stranger—but after the night we’d spent in Naunet, I saw the first glimmer of him, tucked deep inside the walls he built around himself.
Releasing my hand, Eleos adjusted his sling. “Don’t bother her for no reason, Seth. This is taxing for us.”
Closing my eyes, I tried to find Seth’s consciousness. “Your thoughts feel grumpy, Seth.”
“I am grumpy,” Seth said aloud.
Percy cooed. “Aw. Does the prince-ling need a treat?”
Before Seth could respond, Seraphim touched my shoulder. “Ready?”
Percy slipped between the two men. “Off we go—can’t keep a lady waiting. The pyramid is incredible, El. You’re going to love it.”
Smiling, I followed Seraphim in the opposite direction, feeling Seth’s gaze on my back until we turned a corner.
“What’s our job?” I asked.
“The perfect task for two con men,” she said, pulling Phaedrus’ hood over his head. He swatted her hand away.
For a moment, I almost believed they were two normal siblings.
Lowering her voice, Seraphim leaned in. “Cerys sent us to one of her allies. We’re to help them, to earn their trust.”
Nodding, I scanned the crowd. People here had much darker skin and dressed in loose clothes to help keep cool while beating away the sand. I tried to imagine Seraphim’s wife, tried to imagine what kind of woman could match Seraphim’s fire.
“Your wife was born here, right?” I asked, turning back to her. “What was she like?”
“Rhea was born with fire in her soul.” Seraphim smiled fondly.
“Her parents had been punished by the Morai, condemned to another cycle. Her mother worked at the palace, cleaning. Her father hauled cargo. She grew up seeing how weary they were. How old. Always missing the families they had been ripped away from—not knowing if they’d been granted death or were still out there somewhere. ”
“Why wouldn’t they try to find them?”
“Anyone who defied the god of life’s gift and strayed from the Morai’s fate,” Seraphim explained, “was sent to the Duat.”
The dread humming beneath this country made more sense by the day. How many people pined for someone they could never see again? Those on their third, fourth cycle must’ve thought like Seth: love was a pointless thing to pursue.
Phaedrus looked around, rubbing his arm with discomfort. “Have you run into a psyche yet, Aethra?”
“Yes,” I said, wincing at the memory. “Do they all go mad here? From that song?”
“I can’t blame them,” he said. “It’s already driving me toward the edge.”
“Hm.” Seraphim raised an eyebrow. “I thought you were already at the edge.”
“It’s a figure of speech, sister.”
Holding up a hand, Seraphim stopped us. “See any guards?”
Wandering to a street corner, I leaned down to pluck a bright pink flower from a prickly bush. Two guards, their backs covered with wing-shaped cloaks, stood at the edge of a channel a few paces away. But they weren’t looking.
Lingering, I envisioned Seth wearing their purple uniforms and winged helms. Back then, he would have been happy, free from the burdens he carried today. Smiling, genuinely.
Rising, I returned to Seraphim. “All clear.”