Lyre (21 page)

‘The press will be on their way,’ he warned.

She bent over and gave him a kiss on the cheek.  ‘Then I’d better be quick.’

*

In the end, Yuri escaped out of a side entrance, just in case there were already reporters hanging around at the front.  She hummed happily to herself, unable to keep the smile off her face.  Yesterday she hadn’t known whether she was coming or going and today her whole life had changed.  She didn’t know whether Oz and her really could make a go of things – the truth was that neither of them did – but the thought of letting him go again was too painful to even consider.  She’d do whatever she could to keep them together.  Even, she decided, give up the possibility of a serious future at
Yell
and beyond.

She jumped on the train, foregoing a seat to instead stand upright and work through exactly what she was going to say to Sibyl.  She’d meant what she’d said to Oz.  It simply didn’t make any sense that her best friend would conspire to keep her away from him.  Sibyl knew exactly how much pain the split had caused.  Until Yuri looked in her eyes and saw the truth for herself, she was prepared to give her friend the benefit of the doubt.  Anything else was too hurtful to contemplate.

After disembarking at the closest station, she veered off to cut through a nearby park.  It would cut her walking time down considerably and she realised she was keen to get back to Oz as quickly as possible.  She picked up speed, hastening her steps as she passed the now darkened swings and climbing frame.  The night air was cool but not unpleasant, and the stars twinkled down at her.  It was really as if Oz had been right when he’d said that perhaps the gods were finally on her side.  She smiled even more broadly, giving a little skip of joy.  She wasn’t sure what she’d done to deserve such good luck but she was going to fully embrace it.

Yuri was just passing the final copse of trees before reaching her street when she heard it.  It was an odd huffing noise that caused her to frown and glance to her right.  At first she thought she was hearing things but when the deep voice suddenly sounded, her stomach dropped in terror.

‘It’s taken me a while to get back to you,’ Antaeus boomed.  ‘I had to recover.  But I’m ready now.  And I really, really want your skull.’

Yuri didn’t even think.  She simply dropped her bag and ran, sprinting for the safety of the street lamps and civilisation.  She could hear the monstrous man behind her, his feet pounding into earth, causing it to reverberate.  There weren’t any damn cliffs to fling him off this time.  The only thing she could manage would be to get away.  If she could reach Sibyl then she might have a chance.

There was a whishing noise and she felt her head being yanked sharply backwards as Antaeus grabbed a hank of her hair.  It felt like her scalp was being ripped out.  She kicked and screamed, aiming for his groin.  He bellowed in pain, momentarily dropping her for long enough that she could scramble to her feet and run again.  Without looking behind, Yuri gave it everything she had.  There were only twenty five metres to safety.  She could do this.  Antaeus roared behind her.  She pumped her muscles as fast and hard as she could, making for the open gate that led from the part to avoid having to vault over the fence.  The wind whipped past her face and she realised she was going to make it.  There were several cars driving past.  Even if they didn’t see Antaeus for what he was, if she jumped out in front of one of them, they’d stop.  She’d damn well make them.  Focusing on nothing but what was ahead, the terror that had overtaken her was being replaced by something else.  Poseidon’s son wasn’t going to get her.  Not now. 

Unfortunately, it was that narrow eyed focus that was her undoing.  Yuri was so intent on the cars and the people ahead – and the fact she had barely three strides to go until she left the dark shadows of the park – that she didn’t notice the tree root in her path.  Her toe hit it at exactly the wrong point and she went flying down to the ground, dirt spraying up around her.  It was enough for Antaeus to reach her and curl one steel like hand round her ankle.  She screamed again, writhing around to free herself but he ignored her cries and lifted her up, dangling her upside down from her feet.

‘I want your skull!’ he yelled. 

Then, swinging her to the right towards the very tree whose root had been her undoing, he bashed her head against the rough bark.  All Yuri knew was one moment of searing, blinding pain.  And suddenly everything was all over.

PART TWO

I implore you by these abodes full of terror, these realms of silence and uncreated things, unite again the thread of Eurydice’s life.

Orpheus and Eurydice by Thomas Bulfinch.

Oz adjusted the cushions on his sofa for the umpteenth time.  He walked to the fridge, took out the champagne and frowned, before moving it to the coffee table beside two long stemmed glasses.  Then he changed his mind and returned it back to the fridge again.  He checked his watch and nibbled anxiously on the inside of his cheek.  She still wasn’t back yet.  He knew it might take Yuri some time to get home, pack her stuff and confront Sibyl - but it had been several hours.  No matter how hard he tried, his mind kept returning to the cold hours he’d spent on the cliffs at Torquay, waiting for her to show up.  He’d promised to trust her – and he found it almost impossible to believe that she’d been lying in order to exact her final revenge on him for treating her so appallingly all those years ago.  Not after the glorious day they’d had together in the hotel.  But he couldn’t prevent the knot of anxiety from growing. 

He picked up his phone, wondering whether to send a car for her.  Would that make it seem like he was coming on too strong though?  What if she was getting cold feet and didn’t want to come away with him after all?  What if Sibyl…?  He quashed down the thought.  If she changed her mind, then he’d simply make sure she changed it back again.  He’d done it once when they were teenagers.  He could do it again.  Nothing was more important than this.

Oz was standing at the window, staring out over the glittering rooftops of London when the buzzer finally sounded.  Galvanised into sudden action, he bolted for it.

‘Tell her to come straight up,’ he told Baz, the security guard, without even waiting for him to speak.

‘Sure thing, Mr. O’Connor.’

He checked his reflection in the mirror, running a hand through his hair.  He felt almost as giddy and nervous as a schoolboy; it was an unusual experience.  At least Yuri was finally here, however.  Oz nipped to the fridge, popping the cork on the champagne and pouring a glass, then took it out with him to the lift so he could hand it to her the moment she stepped out.  He was aware it was a cheesy move but he couldn’t help himself.  His eyes tracked the numbers as the lift ascended until, with a ping, the doors smoothly glided open.  Oz held out the champagne and grinned.  But his happy smile faltered when he registered there were two women in the lift – and neither of them was the one he wanted.

‘Sibyl,’ he said with a growling snarl.  He flicked a glance at her older companion, noting the nest of green snakes hanging listlessly around her head but refusing to be intimidated by them.  ‘And I suppose you’re Medusa.  Where the hell is Yuri?’ 

The pair of them were pale.  Sibyl looked down at her shoes, unable to meet his eyes.

‘What have you done?’  He bunched up his fists, the first stirrings of pure, unadulterated fury firing up his veins.  ‘What did you say to her?  If you’ve done anything to make her…’

‘Ozzy,’ Medusa said, her voice calm but her eyes troubled, ‘you should probably sit down.’

‘I don’t want to sit down.  Tell me what you’ve done.  Why isn’t my fiancée here?’

At his words, Sibyl jerked her head up and stared at him.  ‘You’re engaged?’

‘We will be as long as you don’t involve yourself.’  Oz took a step forward.  ‘If you’ve done anything to change her mind, I’ll destroy you.  I’ll…’

‘Sibyl wouldn’t be able to change Yuri’s mind,’ Medusa interrupted.  ‘She’s in love with you.  She always was, in fact.  We got lucky the first time around.  Yuri only caved because of you and what you said.’

Oz’s heart drummed against his ribcage.  ‘So you admit it.  You got Pan to go after her and made sure I’d see it.  You split us up and now you’re trying to do it again.  Where is she?’

‘We had good reason,’ Sibyl protested. 

He ignored her.  ‘Where is Yuri?’

‘Please, Ozzy.’

He swung angry eyes towards her.  ‘Don’t call me that.  Don’t ever call me that.  Where the fuck is she?’

Medusa moved forward until her toes were almost touching his.  She looked at him directly, every single one of her snakes matching the action.  A few forked tongues darted out towards him.  ‘Yuri’s dead.’

‘I’m sorry.’  Sibyl hung her head.  ‘She was attacked on her way home.’

The world seemed to stop spinning.  Oz shook his head.  ‘No.  You’re lying.’

‘It’s true.’

‘I don’t believe you,’ he whispered.

‘Do you remember Brittani?  The same creature responsible for her death went after Yuri.  We thought we could stop him.  The future written for her said that if she wasn’t with you then he wouldn’t get the opportunity to kill her.  That’s why we split you up before.  Without you in tow, she would have been safe.’

‘She’s really dead?’  He cocked his head in stunned disbelief.  ‘And you’re saying it’s my fault?’

‘No!’ Sibyl was alarmed.  ‘It wasn’t your fault.  It was a quirk of fate.  I knew she’d be vulnerable if she was with you.  And,’ she drew in a deep breath, ‘she was with you, wasn’t she?’

Oz nodded imperceptibly, scanning her face in desperation as if to ascertain what was really happening.

‘But it wasn’t anything you did,’ she insisted.  ‘It wasn’t anything anyone did.’

‘Apart from Antaeus,’ Medusa spat.

‘No.’ All of a sudden, Oz was adamant.  ‘I only saw her a few hours ago.  I don’t know why you’re doing this but you’re lying.’

Medusa and Sibyl exchanged a look.  There was a defeated slant to both their bodies.  ‘We can take you to her,’ Medusa said finally.  ‘But it’s not pretty.’

Oz stared from one of them to the other.  They couldn’t be telling the truth.  It wasn’t possible.  ‘Do it,’ he snarled.

*

It was worse than he’d thought.  The entire way here, Oz had been running scenarios in his head.  They’d made a mistake and it was someone else who’d died.  Or it was just a weird joke.  Or he was in the midst of some terrible nightmare and any moment he’d wake up and find himself with him arms wrapped Yuri’s petite frame.

Unfortunately none of those were true.

They’d brought her inside and laid her body on the sofa, covering it with a sheet.  When Medusa gently lifted up the corner, showing him Yuri’s face, he backed away for a moment in horror.

‘She looks better than she might have.  He wanted to take her skull but Sibyl heard the commotion and managed to scare him off.’

‘Better?’ He turned to her with rage filled eyes.  ‘Better? How can this be better?  She’s dead.’ His voice was rising to an inarticulate howl but he didn’t care.

Sibyl, her own cheeks wet with tears, reached out for him before changing her mind and dropping her hand.  Oz swallowed down bile and crouched down beside the mess of what was once Yuri’s beautiful face.  He smoothed away her blood matted hair and caressed her cheek.  Behind one ear, the daisy was still miraculously in place, although its petals were smeared in red now and it was as crumpled and broken as Yuri herself.  Oz bent over, his forehead touching her cool one.  He tightly closed his eyes and reached down to clasp her stiff, unmoving fingers.

When Oz finally stood back up again, he seemed a changed person.  There was a haunted aspect to his expression and a sallow pallor to his skin.

‘We need to call the police,’ he said quietly.  ‘And an ambulance.’

Sibyl shot a nervous look at her great-aunt.  Medusa, for her part, straightened her spine.  ‘We can’t do that.’

‘Why not?’  His tone was dull rather than angry but his thoughts were still apparent.  ‘If nothing else we need to inform her mother.’

‘We can’t tell anyone.’

‘If you’re protecting this Antaeus bastard then think again. Once Yuri is taken care of, I’m going to go after him and kill him.’

‘I will worry about Antaeus,’ Medusa answered.  ‘I’m the only one with the ability to manage it.  That’s not why we can’t tell anyone.’

‘Then what?  You’re just going to keep her body here?  For the rest of bloody time?’

‘Merely for the time being.’

‘What my great-aunt is saying,’ Sibyl interrupted, ‘is that there may be a way out of all this.’

‘A way out of what?’ he scoffed.  ‘Look at her!  She’s dead!’ His voice caught on the last word but he continued on regardless.  ‘There’s no way out of anything!’

‘There is.  You can petition Hades.’

‘Who?’

‘The god of the Underworld.  Lots of people try it.’

‘Underworld?  You mean…?’

Sibyl nodded.  ‘No-one’s ever succeeded before.  But Yuri died because of the gods.  And your love … it might help sway him.’

Confused, Oz stared at her.  ‘He’ll bring her back to life?’

She didn’t quite meet his eyes.  ‘Maybe,’ she mumbled.

He reached out and grabbed her shoulders.  ‘Will he bring her back to life?’ he snarled.

‘If you persuade him, he might!  People have tried before.’

‘And no-one’s managed it?’

‘No, but you might just have a shot.  Olympus knows of you.  They know of Yuri.  The fact that you’re engaged will help as well.’

It was Oz’s turn to look away.  ‘We’re not quite engaged.  Not yet.’

Medusa’s face tightened.  ‘Regardless, it might still work.’

He took a deep breath.  ‘What are my odds?’

‘You have a better chance of being struck by lightning while holding a winning lottery ticket,’ she answered truthfully.

Oz glanced down at Yuri’s corpse.  ‘So tell me what I have to do.’

She opened her mouth to answer but there was a sudden sharp knock at the door.  Each of them froze.  Medusa’s snakes rose up in halo of anxiety, spitting and hissing.

‘I’ll answer it,’ she said grimly.

‘No,’ Sibyl asserted, ‘it’ll be more natural if I do.’  Holding her body ramrod straight, she marched out.

‘Why can’t we tell anyone?’ Oz asked.

‘If no-one knows, then Hades will be more likely to grant permission to bring her back,’ Medusa told him in a hushed undertone while returning the sheet to cover Yuri’s body.  ‘If the world already thinks she’s dead, then we have no chance.  Now be quiet.’

They both listened as Sibyl opened the door.  There were some muffled words, then she came back into the room.  Behind her trailed a white-faced Terpsichore.

‘This is not good,’ the Muse said.  ‘Not good at all.  Hi Meds.  Long time no see.’

Medusa raised her hand in a faint gesture of greeting.

‘So,’ continued Terpsichore, suddenly all business-like, ‘this is what we need to do.’  She pointed at Oz.  ‘He’s in love with her.  I presume she felt the same?’  They all nodded in assent.  ‘Good.  Then he needs to go to Hades and get him…’

‘We’re way ahead of you,’ Medusa said drily.

‘Oh,’  Terpsichore said, surprised.

‘I might be out of the game, but I’ve not lost all of my wits.’ She fixed her with a hard glance.  ‘Do you think it’ll work?’

Terpsichore shrugged.  ‘No.  But it’s better than nothing, right?’

The three women turned to Oz.  Things were happening incredibly fast and a vast amount seemed to be beyond his comprehension.  What choice did he have though? He blinked in assent.  ‘I’m not going to lose her.  Not again.’

‘Then,’ Medusa said, her hands on her hips, ‘let’s get moving.  The gods are keen on independent, strong-willed humans.  It’s imperative it seems as if you’re doing this without any help or suggestion to back you up.’

‘Fine.  How do I get to Hades?  Snap my fingers?  Say there’s no place like the Underworld?’

‘Are you being facetious?’

‘I just want to get Yuri back.’

For a moment, Medusa’s face softened.  ‘We all want to get Yuri back.  But you can’t go to Hades straightaway.’

Terpsichore agreed.  ‘First you need to visit Olympus to be granted access to the Underworld.’

‘Zeus?’  Sibyl asked.

Her mouth pursed.  ‘No.  He won’t care.  There’s someone far, far better.’