Sacrifice (7 page)

I turned to look at Evan because I could feel him looking at me. His thoughts were wild and each notion was of how much he loved me and wanted to make love to me and spend the rest of his life with me. As the curtain descended, I smiled at him.

“That was wonderful!” I exclaimed. I hoped that the play’s intermission would be quick. I enjoyed the first half of the performance thoroughly, and couldn’t wait to see more.

“I’m so happy that you’re enjoying yourself, darling,” Evan said, and kissed my cheek. “Shall we go into the lobby to stretch our legs?” he asked, putting his arm around my waist and leading me out of our box.

“Yes, I need some air,” I said, beaming from ear to ear. My smile subsided when I caught a mortal pursing her lips at me and rolling her eyes. The woman conferred with another woman, who also gave me a dirty look. I moved toward them, as both women backed away a bit, to listen in on their thoughts. What I heard made my blood boil. They considered Evan and I to be heathens and children of their fictitious devil.

“Did you hear that too?” Evan inclined his head back. His words were muffled by a gruff sound. At first, I thought he meant the two gossiping women, but then I heard it too.

I couldn’t make out the shouting which seemed to originate from somewhere far from the opera house.

“My name?” I looked at Evan quizzically.

“Yes,” he replied.

“Delia! Delia!” The shouting continued and could only be heard by Evan and I.

I recognized Niko’s gruff voice. His words were shaky and that was very unusual for my fearless cousin. He always kept a level head, even in the worst scenarios. Something must be terribly wrong. Something must have happened. The first thought that came to mind was of Christopher and Phoebe. The second was of the warriors.

“What is it Niko?” I asked telepathically.

Evan and I were in the lobby now and he pulled me aside and into a corner where a large potted fern stood. His brows furrowed because he could no longer hear Nikolas since I was communicating with him.

“I’m sorry to… interrupt your evening, but… I knew that… you would want… to know this.” Nikolas stammered. Now I was nervous, hearing him sound so shaken up.

“Know what?” I asked. 

“Victor’s missing.”

I tried to stay calm for two reasons, although I couldn’t help feeling my temperature begin to rise, again. One reason was that Evan and I were in public. We couldn’t just to teleport and disappear into the thin air. The second reason was that Victor considered himself to be a prankster and may just be playing a silly game to ruin my evening out with Evan. On the other hand, maybe it was his way of reminding me of how much he hated having a guardian and being sequestered. Victor could behave like such a child at times.

“He must be somewhere in the house, Niko.” I hoped.

“He’s gone. I’ve searched the entire grounds. I’m so sorry Delia, but I have no idea where he is.”

“Oh for the god’s sake. We’ll be there in a moment,” I said, dismissing Niko. I turned to Evan and his sour expression mirrored how I felt.

“We must go. Victor pulled a disappearing act. I don’t want to blow this out of proportion.”

“He’ll do just about anything to spoil our time together,” Evan said, and I watched his mouth form a thin line across his face.

“This may not be about us. Victor is complicated.”

Evan was about to help me into the carriage as Night Wind held the door open, but stopped abruptly and asked, “Are you excusing his selfish behavior?”

“No, not at all. I’m just saying that Victor doesn’t like to be under anyone’s thumb and he feels that he’s under everyone’s.”

“What a fool,” Evan muttered, shaking his head. “Well, I doubt he’s gotten very far.”

I couldn't blame Evan for being annoyed. We would miss the end of the play and I’m sure the last thing he wanted was to have to search for the person he least liked. Victor's actions also supported Evan’s position to wait on restoring his powers.

The moment we sat in the carriage, I brought my temperature up and the lightning exited my body, teleporting both Evan and I to my house. Night Wind realized that we weren’t inside with the sudden decrease of weight in the carriage. When we arrived at my home, we found Niko waiting in the sumptuous parlor.

“He’s probably having a drink at one of his favorite taverns,” I said to Nikolas as I pulled my gloves off.

“The Bucket O’ Blood, possibly?” Evan asked.

“More than likely, but I hope not. The Lykanos enjoy a good drink as much as Victor and I do, and one of their favorite spots is the Bucket,” Nikolas noted. “There is no doubt in my mind that the pack would be there tonight.”

“If that is where Victor chose to pass his time then not even Matthias can protect Victor from those mutts, even if it is his saloon,” Evan added.

“Could Victor really be that reckless?” I asked, shaking my head as I held it in my hands.

“Yes.” We all said in unison.

“Let’s go, Niko,” Evan said, and vanished.

“Stay in our heads, and we’ll let you know just how much trouble dragon-boy has gotten himself into,” Nikolas said and disappeared.

Victor had under minded my attempt to keep him safe. My knuckles paled as I clenched my fists. Flames ignited in the fireplace and blazed out of control, tumbling into the parlor and climbing all the way up to the ceiling. I hadn’t realized how angry I was until I nearly torched all the furnishings in the room. I closed my eyes and sent the flames back into the fireplace, extinguishing them.

Our empire needed him. Victor’s powers were superior and necessary in the fight against Hades and his Apolluon. Why was he risking the safety of the Ischero by being selfish? I would have gone to search for him myself but I remembered my father’s advice. My strengths must be saved. Evan and Nikolas could handle searching for him. They have to find him… alive. I sat down on my sofa and didn’t bother to fluff out my gown. I held my head in my hands and hoped that the god’s would spare Victor for this reckless act.

I had to keep busy or I’d go mad wondering what was happening, so I checked on Phoebe and Christopher. Surprisingly, they were awake and they were worried about Victor. The depressed and fearful expressions on their innocent faces made me even angrier.

“What’s wrong, Chris?” I asked as I took a seat at the edge of his bed. I smoothed his rumpled hair and waited for him to finish yawning.

“I couldn’t sleep while cousin Niko stomped around, looking for Victor. Niko said Victor was playing Hide-n-seek. I asked if I could play, but he said no and that if I didn’t go to bed, he wouldn’t tell me anymore satyr stories.” Christopher paused to yawn, again and I shook my head at the thought of Nikolas telling my little brother wicked stories.

Christopher was half-asleep, but continued. “Then I heard Niko say that he was going to kill Victor when he finally found him. He sounded very angry. Is Victor alright, and is Niko still mad?”

“Victor took the game outside, and Niko went to look for him. You’ll see them both tomorrow and they’ll be poking fun at each other, as usual,” I said reassuringly, and kissed him on the forehead. “Now sleep tight.”

It wasn’t that easy getting Phoebe to go back to sleep. She required a full explanation on tonight’s excitement
and
a story, not realizing that the tale of Niko and Victor playing Hide-n-seek was indeed a story itself. I was yawning by the time I left her room.

I was halfway down the staircase when Bethany suddenly appeared – beautiful and poised as always – in the main hallway. We stared at each other for a moment. I wondered why she wasn’t with her team. No one had permission to abandon the mission unless a warrior’s strengths were compromised.

First Victor is missing, and now I had to brace myself for whatever Bethany had to report.

“I know that you’re surprised to see me here and now.”

“I'm surprised to see you here at all,” I said. I eyed Bethany suspiciously, but not because she held a grudge against me for not pardoning her parents. I wanted to know why she wasn’t on the mission.

“Look, I wouldn’t have come unless it was important,” she said, and I could feel her emotions ripple through me like the turbulent waves of the ocean. “I know that we are forbidden to leave the mission, but I saw something tonight. It was something that you’d want to act on, immediately.”

“Let's talk in the parlor.”

“Is Victor here?” Bethany asked after I closed the door behind her.

“Why does that matter? He’s a part of our family and I wish you’d get over your aversion to him,” I snapped. Bethany’s face flushed and I knew that I was wrong to snap at her. She had every right to her unfavorable feelings toward Victor after what he had done to her, but just the mention of his name along with the fact that I haven’t heard a word from Evan or Nikolas was making me jumpy.

“I–I’m sorry. No, Beth. He’s not here. He’s missing,” I said as I peered through the curtains as if I expected to see Victor coming through the towering gates and up my porch steps.

“I saw a vision. It was of him,” Bethany said. Besides having the strength of several strong men combined, she had the gift of sight and could see the near future. 

“Just tell me what you saw,” I demanded, lightly.

“I saw flashes of Victor at the Bucket O’ Blood. Then I saw him in the woods. He's going to get hurt. Quite badly. The gashes on his body will spout his blood like a fountain.” I should have known that this was why Bethany had come here. Her gift was always precise.

“When did you see the vision?” I asked, anxiously.

“I teleported as soon as the vision ended.”

Oh no. It must be happening now.

“Did you see anyone else?” The anticipation is killing me.

“The Lykanos were in the woods and shifted.”

“The entire pack?” I ask, shocked. If they all showed up, it must be that they don’t want to underestimate Victor, in case he has power. Those mangy, beastly, stupid cowards.

“Yes.”

“Bethany?” I gulped, almost unable to ask my next question. “Does he die?”

“I don't know. That’s all I saw.”

“Thank you Beth. Thank you for coming here and telling me. I know that you… well, I know how you feel about him. I know how hard it must be to forgive him.”             

“I haven’t forgiven him. I could
never
forgive him. I’m completely devoted to you, our empire, and its safety. His powers are essential. However, what he did to me… will never be forgiven. That’s all.”             

“I understand and I’ll never ask you to. You should get back,” I said. She nodded and disappeared as quickly as she had appeared.

My gut wrenched as I thought of what may happen to Victor if Evan and Nikolas don’t reach him in time. I was about to send them a message explaining what Bethany envisioned when I felt tremors run up and down my back.

Finally, I could feel Victor's aura.

It must be happening now, I thought. Dear Gods, please let him survive, I prayed. My heart ached in a way that I had never felt before. I couldn’t breathe for what seemed like a long time.

Seven - Victor

Paint the Town

I didn’t think it would be that easy, but I guess I have Christopher to thank. That child loved listening to Nikolas tell him stories about Dionysus. If Delia had heard Niko narrating his not so child-friendly, but god-tastic excursions – pertaining to some wild satyrs and maenads, she would’ve whipped out her bolt and torched that mighty centaur, making him a pony.

Luckily, I made it into town without a shadow in tow. The Apolluon vampires were out feeding and couldn’t detect my aura. I was home free. Delia and Evander underestimated me if they thought that I was going to be baby-sat while they were out on the town. Delia loved the opera and Evander pretended to enjoy it in order to spend time with my betrothed. I knew how to have a bit of fun too, and the opera wasn’t what I had in mind.

It had been over a month since I’d been to the saloons and from the looks of things, not much had changed. The Bucket O’ Blood was packed as usual. The old vamp Matthias, stood at the bar, toiling away at keeping his patron’s plastered. I saw many familiar faces and they all looked at me with fear. They feared the old Victor, who wouldn’t have made it through the door without an entourage of make shift disciples. That person no longer existed. Here stood the mortal Victor, but not for long.

I scoped the bar. Several tasty dolls, which I used to bed, were scattered around on bar stools. Although they seemed harmless as they hung over poor drunks, never underestimate these crafty tarts. They waited either for the poor drunk to buy them a drink, or for a chance to lift his wallet. I also looked out for unfriendly meat-eaters – members of the Lykanos pack. Any sight of them, I’d have to get out of here quick. Nevertheless, I didn’t want to dwell on the negative. I just wanted to take in the scenery and enjoy a night out on the town.

Matthias noticed me almost immediately and motioned for me to sit at the bar. I ordered my usual – straight bourbon. The liquid went down smooth and I almost felt like myself. Almost. A shot of bourbon felt best when I was fully powered. Like this, a mere mortal, the kick was lost. I knew how many it took before I had to be carried home when I had my strengths, but as a mortal, I had no idea. I assumed a lot less. Anyway, I eyed Matthias as he poured me another.

“I must admit,” Matthias said, opening another bottle of bourbon. “I wouldn’t have expected to see you here so soon.”

“No?”  I knew how Matthias thought. He only feared one Ischero – the only one who could kill him. Moreover, I hoped that she hadn’t realized I left her house tonight.

“Are you here alone?” Matthias asked, moving a little closer so that the two drunks I sat between didn’t overhear.

“Yep. Any action tonight?” I knew that Matthias understood what I meant.

“Two of the wolves – Jarod and Kalisi, just left, but I don’t think I’ve seen the last of them tonight,” he said, turning his gaze to the saloon doors.

I followed Matthias’ gaze, and quickly turned back around to my drink which rested on the bar. He could feel them. Unfortunately, as a mortal I couldn’t. I turned the collar of my jacket up. I knew there wasn’t anything left to do at this moment. I didn’t have to worry about being too drunk to see my way home because what just walked into the bar would never let me leave here without an escort.