1304 The Harbinger (The 13th Floor) (8 page)

Coughing a bit more, Meira took in several big lungfuls of air. The taste of salt lingered in her mouth. Her feathers were soaked and would be no good for flying until they were cleaned and dried, but her light bones assured she stayed afloat.

“Can you hear me?” Sam called. His voice was clearer now even though it sounded as though he were in a tin can.

“Yes.” Meira was hoarse and suddenly very thirsty. Her blurry vision was slowly clearing. She turned her head in each direction until she found the fuzzy shape of Sam crouched on the ground. “Are you all right?”

“Yes. I fell, but the sand is soft. I didn’t hit any mines,” Sam informed her. “Are you okay? What happened?”

The water lapped gently at her. Nothing tried to grab at her from underneath. Her leather stuck to her like a second skin. What happened? Something hit her. Or rather, she hit something. It hurt her head to knock against it, but then it blasted her backward.

Shit. Land mines below. Sea mines above. The fact she was almost out of the water when it went off saved her from being decapitated.

“There are mines in the water too.”

From below, Sam muttered something. Did he curse? Meira couldn’t remember any time hearing him swear. The thought amused her even in this dire circumstance.

“How deep are the mines? Can you tell?”

“I don’t know.” Meira wasn’t about to feel around to tell. “Not deep. Pretty close to the surface, but I couldn’t see them.”

“Do you think you could swim and not touch any of them?” Sam questioned.

“I don’t know.” She frowned. “But I’m not leaving you. I need to get down, and we’ll try this again.”

“No, there’s a different way if you can do it.” Sam stood and motioned to the ground. “When the water splashed, it revealed where the land mines are. I can walk if you can keep splashing water along the path, but only if you’re certain you’re not going to hit any mines.”

Blinking her eyes a few more times, Meira’s vision returned to almost full clarity. The explosion had spread water about thirty feet along the path. There was plenty of room for Sam to walk safely around the mines. He could do it if she could supply him with water to clear the way. She wasn’t wild about swimming, especially in this river, but it was a good plan. The best plan at the moment.

“I’m floating. I can’t do any fancy swim strokes, but I think I can get along and not dip any deeper below the surface.” Meira kicked her feet with a wee motion that propelled her slowly forward. She could do this. She had to do this.

“Take it slow and easy. No need to rush.” Wounds on Sam’s shoulders bled in lazy streams. She’d torn his flesh again with her talons. At least the down bandage on his chest held even if it didn’t look pretty.

A little speed was necessary. He needed to be healed before he fell over.

When Meira was over the next dry spot on the path, she pressed her wings less than an inch below the water. Then she flapped them forward, spraying water on the sand. It worked perfectly except her body dipped a little lower into the river than she expected.

The second time, she didn’t use as much force with her wings. A little less water, but it still did the trick. Meira was shivering. She couldn’t feel her feet and the ends of her wings.

“Come on. You can do this.” Sam tiptoed around the mines below.

Ten feet and then another. Kick, flap, and splash. Repeat.

Meira wasn’t sure how long it took, but she was starting to feel sleepy. The coldness was gone, and that couldn’t be a good thing.

“One last time and then we’re there.” Sam’s voice was warm and clear. It was the only thing that propelled her forward.

Flap and splash. Not a big one, but it was enough. Meira twisted her head to watch Sam walk by the last few mines and stand in the exit. He grinned and motioned to her with both hands.

“Float a little farther down and drop to the ground. I’ll catch you.”

Floating she could do. Meira could hear the din of the crowd in the distance. Sam had made it. Oh how Zeus and Hera must be fuming. Smiling, she kicked her numb legs and swooshed along with her wings open.

They were numb too. Soaked feathers caught on something, and the roar filling her ears was no longer from the coliseum.

It was from an exploding sea mine.

CHAPTER 12

Meira fluttered in and out of consciousness. Water rippled above her. Was she drowning? She couldn’t breathe.

Sam’s handsome face hovered over her own. His lips were moving. She could only hear the thump of her heart.

 She struggled, needing to get air into her lungs. Brown and white feathers covered the ground and stuck to stone walls. Her wings. No. Her mouth opened to scream. She didn’t hear anything. Didn’t you need air to make a sound?

There was no pain. Why couldn’t she feel anything if her wings were blown apart?

Sam held her tight through her flailing. His head moved closer to hers, still talking. A rush of cool air filled her lungs. She gasped for another and another.

Her ears popped and sounded like water still sloshed in them. Yet Sam’s voice broke through.

“You’ll be okay. Stop fighting it and breathe.” Sam held her chin when she turned her head to one side and forced her to keep her gaze locked on him. “Just keep looking at me. Concentrate on my voice. I have you. I won’t let you die.”

Meira wanted to laugh. It was his life in jeopardy, not hers. She was his weapon. The one supposed to keep him safe.

“You can’t die. Do you hear me? I need you, Meira. I need you more than I ever thought.”

A drop of water splattered on her cheek. Not from the river, but a tear. Sam’s jaw trembled as he attempted to hold back the rest of his tears.

She coughed and a wave of pain surged through her. Meira teetered on the edge of consciousness again. Nausea threatened to make the situation even worse. Her body was a weird mix of numbness and brutal pain.

Sam was crying because she was dying.

Meira shushed him, the sound an odd buzz in her ears. Her mouth moved as she attempted to speak. Salt and bitter blood coated her tongue.

“Rest. Don’t hurt yourself. I have you now.” Sam’s tears were hot on her forehead. “I have you.”

“I love you.” There. She’d gotten out the words. Meira didn’t expect to hear them back. She’d lied to him and brought him here to this horrible fate. If she hadn’t met him, he wouldn’t have been at the restaurant when the imps attacked the people in the street. He wouldn’t have died.

No. She didn’t need to hear the words, but she needed to say them. She’d been the happiest she’d ever been with Sam. Olympians cheered him on as a great hero today, but he was the hero of her heart.

The light got brighter and brighter. Here it was. So death was like being consumed by light. No tunnel or guy in black robes. Just the light. A horrible burning light.

Meira screamed and arched her back. She kicked and leapt to her feet, needing to get away from that light. It was everywhere. It was everything.

Then it was gone.

She was standing on the sand by the exit of the labyrinth. Apollo smiled and bowed to her. He was beautiful and blond, an angelic surfer dude. Her wings fluttered as she bowed to him in return.

Her wings! They were whole. She laughed as she realized the God of Light had healed her. She stretched and flexed her wings, spinning in the sand to show Sam.

Oh. Damn. She’d told him that she loved him.

Apollo had healed Sam too. Why? Zeus likely wanted his hero to start fresh for the final challenge. There were no scratches, cuts, or puncture wounds marring Sam’s glorious body. He stood unmoving, arms at his sides.

Sam smiled, but it was reserved. Not the full joyous one that Meira had seen so often. The awkwardness made her wish she had died.

With a blink of an eye, she and Sam were in the stadium in front of the gods once more. The crowd cheered, and Meira swiftly fell to one knee. Apollo wouldn’t have acted on his own. If Zeus wanted her dead, he would’ve let her die in Sam’s arms.

“Marvelous show, hero.” The Thunder God stood and clapped. “You’ve greatly impressed us with your strength and wits. You’ve proven you’re truly of the blood of Great King Jason.”

Hoots and stomping. Olympians loved their heroes and had loved them for a long time. Men like Jason and Heracles were still worshiped as much as the gods. So few came along these days and when tested, even fewer survived. Sam made it through the first two parts of the challenge. Bards were likely already singing songs and writing epic tales about him.

The crowd was in a frenzy, but the gods had varying reactions. Hera scowled at everyone, especially those gods who were applauding. Ares appeared bored, but the glint in his eyes said more than his fake yawn. And Aphrodite smiled at Meira. Soft and knowing.

Still kneeling, Meira shifted most uncomfortably under the Goddess of Love’s gaze. How Aphrodite must’ve beamed when Meira told Sam she loved him. Meira didn’t blame the goddess for how she felt, but having someone know what was deep in her heart was intimidating.

Actually, those who didn’t figure it out before knew it now. Everyone knew.

“Let’s not wait any longer for the final show of strength. A test of will.” Zeus bellowed, impatient as ever. Everyone went silent, waiting to hear what the great god had planned.

Meira’s heartbeat sped up. This would be Sam’s test and Sam’s alone. Would Zeus cover Sam in poisonous spiders and see how long he could last before pleading for release? Or would he lock Sam in a room, dry and parched, and present Sam with several goblets of water telling him most of the cups would kill him if he drank?

“You’ve already proven you have a strong will, but I’ve seen your soul, hero.” Zeus walked to the edge of the platform and hopped down. “If I were to torture you, you wouldn’t give in. Your will to survive is powerful.”

Sam stood in one spot, head turning as he watched the Thunder God walk around him.

“Meira, rise.” Zeus motioned to her as he strolled by.

Meira stood, feeling strong and rested. If Zeus wanted her to suggest some test, she would refuse to do it. It would be like him to try to torture her in that manner.

“You’ve served me faithfully. As a reward, after this challenge, I’ll release you from your contract with me and give you to a god who will have you do something more suiting your kind.”

Meira’s heart skipped a beat. She’d never thought to be released from Zeus’ service, nor did she want to do so. Though being called a hound of Zeus wasn’t at all flattering, she had the life she wanted.
Had
being the key word there. Another god would unlikely give her anything she wanted.

And what would be more suiting her kind? Harpies were generally warriors. That meant—

No. Her gaze darted to a smug Ares.

It’s what the bastard wanted all along. He already had two of her sisters with his mark and he was shagging a third.

Hera’s smirk matched her son’s. Meira had no doubt it was through Hera’s “encouragement” Zeus was giving up Meira to Ares.

“But until then, you’re still mine.” Zeus stated with vehemence. A tone told Meira he wasn’t entirely pleased with having to give her up. “And you’ll be participating in this test too.”

Meira held her breath and didn’t look anywhere other than Zeus. If he pitted her against Sam, she wouldn’t do it. If it made her disloyal, then she would be the first harpy in history to betray her mark.

A small raised stand appeared fifty feet away from the gods. A platform that, if the wood had been piled for a fire, would be very much like the ones they used for witch burnings. Meira’s flesh pimpled with a chill that wasn’t in the air.

Zeus escorted her to the stand and helped her up. Suave and smooth, he seemed the perfect gentleman. Every Olympian knew better than to believe that.

Meira stood facing the gods, wings folded at her sides. Something settled around her ankles, and when she glanced down, she was chained to the platform. So Zeus didn’t intend to give her up after all. He was going to use her to get to Sam, and she refused to let Sam lose his soul.

Her gaze turned to the man she loved. While he was still standing silently, the conflict in his expression was clear.

“Sam.” When Meira called his name, those gorgeous eyes focused on her alone. “Whatever they do to me, don’t give in. I’m theirs no matter what. They won’t kill me.” At least she was partially certain they wouldn’t since she was promised to Ares. Unless Ares was certain that Sam would give up.

“I won’t let them hurt you.” Sam shook his head.

“A little pain will pass. I can assure you I’ve felt worse pain than whatever they choose to do.” Next to a broken heart, this would be a piece of cake. “Please, for me, don’t give up.”

Sam’s lips thinned with her pleading. The crowd hung on their every word. Zeus said not a thing during their chat, and when Sam was silent for a minute, the Thunder God retrieved something behind his throne. Or rather, someone.

Confused by this move, Meira watched as Zeus led a white robed crone to the edge of the dais. The old woman could barely stand on her own. Zeus crooned a few sweet words to her before hopping down and lifting her to place her on the ground.

“Samuel Wright, may I introduce to you the eldest of my oracles. Georgia has served since she was seven and never had a false vision.” Zeus led the oracle to Sam and let go of her arm. “She’s here to give you some incentive beyond Meira’s pleas to not give up.”

Georgia shuffled closer to Sam and toppled over. Sam darted forward and caught her, helping her to straighten. Or as much as the crone could stand straight.

Sam whispered something, and Meira thought he asked if the old woman was okay. Georgia patted his cheek and croaked something in return. Sam’s eyes widened and put another question to the oracle. Her white hair waved as she shook her head with her answer.

Zeus held up his hands to get the audience’s attention. “For those of you who didn’t hear the oracle’s words, she told our hero that he would survive. He would fall in love with a woman, have a family, and save many more lives. When he asked about our dear Meira, she said she could not see her future as we all know when someone’s life is at a crossroads.”