“My, my, Cadmus,” Hades purred, unaffected by Cadmus’ tone. “Why do you feel so threatened by me? I was simply reminding Harmonia that she does indeed know me. She resided in my palace for several months. There is no need for her to immediately think badly of me or question my motives.”
“On the contrary, dark lord,” Cadmus retorted as he straightened out of his crouch. “That is precisely the reason why she should question you. She knows you and what you are capable of.”
A brief look of annoyance crossed Hades’ face before he masked it, as he too straightened. “I have no motive this time,” he asserted impatiently. “As I have already stated, I simply don’t know which scenario would be best for the Underworld. I will stand aside and allow things to unfold…for now.”
I watched him for a moment, trying to decide what to do. Cadmus had fallen into place next to Harmonia and Brennan held my hand. Hades turned, his dark eyes scorching my own.
“Make the decision, Empusa,” he implored. “Only you can decide. What shall it be? Death and destruction for the mortal world or will you master your abilities and save them all?”
He seemed to almost enjoy the predicament that I was in and all of a sudden, it hit me.
He did.
He was just like the other Olympians. Eons of the sameness had rendered him bored. This was something out of the ordinary and that meant that it was interesting to him. He didn’t truly care which way it ended, with an apocalypse or otherwise. He simply sought the entertainment.
He winked at me. “And I thought Harmonia knew me,” he observed. “Maybe it is you that knows me better.”
“You’re pathetic,” I told him quietly. “How could you not care what happened to them? They haven’t done anything to you. They have lives and families.”
“We all have our burdens to bear,” he answered lightly, moving past my barb with ease. “Empusa, there is so much more at stake here than pitiful mortal families. The entire world could hang in the balance, really.” He sounded excited and hopeful and the way he phrased it caused a light to turn on in my head.
“You’d like an apocalypse,” I said slowly. “You’re not indifferent at all. If every mortal soul was sent here to you, than Zeus would no longer have a kingdom other than the gods in the Spiritlands. And with every mortal soul in the world moved to the Underworld, you think you would be more powerful.”
“Why, of course I would be,” Hades drawled, his face impossibly calm and serene. “But that isn’t my motive, dear one. And it really all hinges on you, anyway. If you can master your own abilities, the world won’t end and all of your precious mortal souls will remain in their world. If you can’t… well, alas, they will be sent to me. Their fates rest on your shoulders, my dear, not mine.”
And I knew he was right. He would benefit if I failed, but it wouldn’t be his fault. If I failed and caused an apocalypse in the mortal world, it would be no one’s fault but my own.
“You have forgotten one important aspect,” I reminded him grimly. “The only reason that the mortal world would be in danger at all is if Brennan and I try to be together. If we stay apart then there is nothing to fear.”
I wanted to double over with my words as my stomach constricted. Brennan’s gaze was desperate as he sought mine, but the brief panic that I saw in Hades’ face was worth it.
It seemed that we had just found leverage against the god of the Underworld.
Chapter Eighteen
The night hung heavily within my bedroom. My balcony doors were open, allowing the fragrant breeze of the Isles of the Blessed to ruffle the sheer drapes that hung on each side of the door. Shadows from the moon slanted across the walls and I watched them morph and change shape at the same time as I tried to absorb the moon’s energy.
I was alone for the first time today. Cadmus had wanted to show Brennan the bath house, but I knew it was simply an excuse for Cadmus to speak with him. I hoped that Cadmus would share some of his wisdom that he had gleaned over the years, both as a king of Thebes and as the husband to a goddess.
Hades had retreated to his own palace in the Erebus region of the Underworld and Harmonia was putting Raquel to bed. The dead did not sleep, but she was supposed to at least rest. I was resting myself, although I wasn’t able to sleep, either. There was simply too much to think about.
“You should rest, sweet one,” a quiet voice said from the doorway.
I glanced up to find Harmonia standing quietly as she watched me struggle with my thoughts. Her face was lovely and serene, awash with the silver light of the moon.
“How do you always stay so calm?” I grumbled curiously. “I feel as though I could run a marathon fueled simply from nervous energy. Yet you are as cool and calm as can be. How do you do that? Tell me your secret.”
Harmonia laughed, a tinkling, light sound that seemed to echo in the quiet room. It was a delicate sound that matched her perfectly.
“Empusa, who are you talking to? I’m the goddess of peace. Of course I reflect that. And usually, I help inspire peace in those around me. But not you, not today. Your spirit is too troubled. But I think I can help.”
She padded quietly to the side of the large bed and perched on the edge, her emerald silk nightgown dragging softly behind her on the smooth stone. Her slim shoulder was warm against mine and she held out her wrist.
“Here,” she suggested. “I know that you must be hungry. You are very pale. You need blood.”
Alarm shot through me, causing my heart to race. “I need mortal blood,” I clarified. “You’re not mortal. And those are the terms of my curse—I must take mortal souls and drink mortal blood.”
“Sweet, sweet Empusa,” Harmonia shook her head slightly as she pushed her wrist directly under my nose. Her skin smelled like honeysuckle and was as smooth as silk. My mouth watered at the thought, a subconscious reaction. I cringed away. “Empusa, surely you have learned by now that all is not what it seems, correct? The gods don’t always tell you everything.”
I stared at her questioningly. “What do you mean?”
She shook her arm toward me once more, throwing the scent of her skin into the air. I inhaled it, closing my eyes.
“I mean, you can drink my blood and not only will you receive more energy than you would if I was mortal, but you will also be infused with my peace. It will help calm you and my goddess powers will combine with yours to make you temporarily stronger.”
My eyes popped open. “Such a thing is possible?” I breathed. I had been alive for a thousand years and I had never come across this bit of knowledge before?
Harmonia nodded. “Of course it is. Anything is possible. It is not something to trifle with, however. As you are aware, our abilities are powerful and difficult to contain at times. You must use caution.”
My eyes met hers and I found her to be as sincere a person as I’d ever met. Her vibrant jade green eyes held warmth, compassion and grace. I nodded slowly. “Thank you for telling me.”
“Now drink,” she instructed. “My arm grows tired waiting.” She laughed again and I felt a slight thrill course through me. Nervous energy once again. The knowledge that I would be stronger if I drank Harmonia’s blood buoyed me. And thrilled me. I couldn’t deny it. It was an intoxicating thought.
“But use caution, young one,” she murmured again as she watched my face and read my mind. “When you and Brennan do this, it will be entirely different. Your powers are conflicting and will be very hard to contain. But this will be good practice for you.”
I grew still as I froze, holding her limp wrist in my hand.
“What do you mean, when Brennan and I do this?”
Harmonia stared at me in surprise. “When you share blood,” she clarified. “How else did you think that you would combine your power?”
I swallowed, feeling foolish. We thought that we’d have to have sex to channel that energy in each other. Harmonia read my mind and smiled.
“Well, that might be more fun, I’ll admit,” she said impishly. “But no. This is the way to do it correctly. And it is very dangerous, which is why I’m letting you practice with me. Drink, young one. My energy is calm and peaceful. It should be easy for you to manage it.”
She was right. I could already feel it in the air. Simply being around Harmonia created an atmosphere of peace. I knew that drinking it in would be even better. Without further hesitation, I drew her hand to my mouth and bit, my teeth sinking quickly into the softness of her skin.
Her blood was warm and fragrant and tasted like sweet peas and honeysuckle, exactly like she smelled. As I drank, I literally felt calm descend upon me like a fog and I sighed happily. Harmonia smiled slightly as she patiently allowed me to drink.
After another minute, she patted my shoulder. “That’s enough, young one. You’ve had plenty for now.”
Reluctantly, I pulled away…something that was surprisingly hard to do. I found that I already craved the serenity that her blood provided. As I moved, though, I recognized a physical difference. I did feel calmer, stronger and more sure of myself. Harmonia recognized it too and nodded.
“You’re stronger,” she observed. “I see it in your eyes and you have color in your cheeks. Focus on that strength. Pull it up from your gut and do something with it. Show me that you can control it.”
I lifted my hands and I felt the strength in my fingertips. They practically buzzed with feather-light electricity.
“Show me,” Harmonia encouraged.
Glancing at her, I rose from the bed and padded softly to the balcony doors. Gazing down onto the courtyard below, I searched for something to do, some way to practice my temporarily enhanced power.
There was a fountain in the center of the gardens, a likeness of Athena swinging a sword. I focused on her smooth marble face and within a minute, she had broken free from the stone pedestal base, straightening from her combative pose and sheathing the sword at her side.
“Impressive,” Harmonia said softly at my side. “But not really impressive enough. You could have done that without my blood. Think bigger.”
She was right. I could easily have redesigned the statue on my own. It wasn’t that difficult. I studied my surroundings again. On the edge of the lawns, a large raven sat, his head cocked slightly as he watched me with glittering crimson eyes.
Brennan and Cadmus emerged on the other side of the courtyard, their hair still wet from the bath house. I glanced at them and an idea came to me.
Quickly, before I could think the better of it, I focused on Cadmus, then on the bird. I pictured their hearts beating, synchronizing. In my mind’s eye, I saw their blood pulsing through their veins. Energy flowed through me, filling my veins and welling in my chest until it felt like it exploded with my effort.
Cadmus stopped still in his tracks, a blank look on his handsome, bronzed face. Brennan gazed at him curiously.
“Are you alright?” he asked Cadmus.
Cadmus looked at him silently, his eyes wide and puzzled. He opened his mouth and nothing came out. He opened it once more… and cawed loudly.
From across the lawns, the raven was walking in a circle, lifting each leg pluckily.
“What the hell?” it asked bluntly in Cadmus’ deep voice.
I stared at them in astonishment. I had managed to switch their souls. Cadmus was inside the raven and he didn’t look happy about it.
“
Now
that’s
impressive,” Harmonia commended me, patting my shoulder. “But you’d better switch them back before Cadmus kills me.”
I knew Cadmus would never in a million years lay a finger on her, but I squinted my eyes and focused on doing what she asked. Within a few seconds, they were back to normal. Cadmus patted his arms and legs as if to make sure and then strode across the courtyard toward me.
“Uh-oh,” I muttered, taking an unconscious step backward. Harmonia laughed.
“Don’t worry,” she assured me. “I’m certain he found it humorous.”
The dark, thunderous look on his face contradicted her statement, however, and I waited for a lecture. He retreated into the palace and I waited for him to reemerge in my bedchambers. It only took him a minute. I stood silently in front of him, my head ducked just slightly.
Cadmus used one finger and lifted my chin, making me look him in the eyes.
“That was interesting, Empusa,” he said with a humoring grin. “But don’t do it again, alright? I hate birds.” He shook his head in disgust, presumably remembering how it felt to be inside of one. I laughed and pushed his arm as Brennan walked up.
“That was really impressive, Em,” he said in appreciation, his hazel eyes warm. “How did you do that?”
“Harmonia,” I explained simply. “Harmonia explained a few things. The way to enhance our powers is through our blood. I tried it with Harmonia. I am strangely at peace right now even though our situation is so tenuous. Her blood infused mine with serenity and I’m twice as strong as I was.”
“And if you would join with Brennan in such a way, your strength would be even greater,” Harmonia interrupted. “Much greater, actually.”
“But I don’t understand,” Brennan asked in confusion. “I thought our energy was going to automatically become out of control if we simply stay together. Why would we need to trigger that with our blood?”
“You’re right,” Harmonia explained patiently. “Your combined energy will become out of control with just being together. The way to harness it is through your blood. That is how you will strengthen you bond and hopefully overcome that problem.”
“Circes said I should never drink from your blood,” Brennan remembered uncertainly. “Remember, Em? She said that your life could depend on it…that we wouldn’t be able to control the power it unleashed.”
“She said that I would risk everything for you,” I corrected. “She didn’t say that my life would be threatened by sharing energy.”
“Wait,” Harmonia broke in. “You’ve already spoken with Circes and she cautioned you against being together?”