Acropolis (25 page)

"Thank you," I say genuinely.

Lyre nods as she stands and melds back into
the group. Conor's eyes open.

"Talk about using a guy's past against him,"
Conor complains, and I laugh as I touch his cheek briefly. His
humor is a good sign, and I feel something akin to hope in my
chest.

"Not against you," I whisper. "Never
against."

Our eyes meet briefly, and I search his gaze.
I see the pain hidden there. He pushes it down, but emotion is one
thing he can't hide from me. I want to tell him I'm sorry, but the
words don't come. They are not words I think he will
appreciate.

"Chin up," Conor says lightly.

I smile, my eyes moving to Will. Marion has
him sitting up now, his legs stretched out in front of him. He
still looks weak but better. He sees me looking and grins.

"Conor took the worse beating."

Conor throws him a haughty look just as Grace
calls out loudly. She has a young blond-haired man with her. He is
tall and wears blue jeans with a navy Aeropostale long sleeve
shirt. He stands out in a sea of solid tees.

"Ethan," Conor says wearily, and the man
rushes to his side.

There are others behind him on the lawn, and
I know these are members of the S.O.S.. Conor rises slowly, taking
my hand in his even as he uses Ethan's arm for support.

"Man, you look like you've seen better days,"
Ethan says bluntly. "What? You leave three weeks ago with the need
to run yourself into the ground? And the hair? The need for a
haircut would be underestimating it just a bit."

Conor limps slightly as he regains his
footing before looking at Ethan.

"Done there, Jacobs? Keep going, and I might
find a way to beat your ass enough to join me."

Ethan grins.

"You wouldn't do it," he says
confidently.

Conor raises a brow.

"And why not?"

"Cause then you'd have to deal with my
sister."

Conor snorts.

"Good point."

Ethan looks at me.

"Who's this?" he asks before looking around
the group curiously. His eyes land on the drex, and he tenses.

"He won't harm anyone," I say meekly.

An elderly woman, an olive skinned man with
black hair, and a brown-haired woman are all on the hill now, and
the elderly woman moves toward me slowly. She is wearing a burgundy
house dress, and she has a cane in her right hand. She wears a
rosary prominently around her neck, and her hair is pulled tightly
to the back of her head. I think it was black once, but the strands
hanging down now are white.

"A Demonio," the woman says quietly as she
steps in front of me.

My hand is still in Conor's, and his fingers
tighten around mine.

"A hybrid," Conor corrects.

The woman lifts a brow, her curious gaze
moving between the two of us.

"Ahhh, I see. A hybrid then. All of them,"
she says as she looks back at the dark-haired man.

He is handsome, middle-aged with features
lined by the elements. He is rugged with sharp, intense eyes, and
his gaze cuts through me as he steps forward.

"Emma Chase," he says with a nod.

Everyone freezes. I stare at him, my eyes
gazing into his.

"Do I know you?" I whisper.

He shakes his head, his smile gentle.

"No, Sweet One, but I know your mother. I'm
Alessandro Mancini."

"Enepsigos," I correct although I'm beginning
to feel foolish for correcting everyone.

The elderly woman snorts, her laughter loud
and cheerful.

"We seem to attract the ones with family
issues," she says with a grin. She's missing a few front teeth, but
she doesn't seem bothered by it. "I'm Maria, Demonio."

I smile at her warily, and she winks at
me.

"If you know Enepsigos, then you know why
we're here?" Conor asks suddenly.

Alessandro looks at him, his eyes
serious.

"I have an idea. Gibson and I have had some
disagreements when it comes to the Acropolis. I'm assuming these
hybrids come from there?" Alessandro asks.

Conor nods. Alessandro's gaze moves over the
hybrids standing behind us. They have been quiet until now, and I
can feel their apprehension.

"Welcome," Alessandro says quietly. "You are
welcome here."

The fear in the hybrids turns quickly into
relief, and I hear Hesther and Gwenyth laughing nervously. Fiona is
grinning, and Bruno and Gray give each other an inconspicuous high
five they think no one sees. Even Lyre seems more at ease. Deidra
is at my back again, peering around the corner of my jeans.

Maria sees her and leans over. Deidra leans
forward, and the old woman snaps the few teeth she has together
sharply. Deidra squeals and hides again. Maria laughs.

"Do we start over here?" Grace asks
cautiously.

She and Marion move next to Will. The hybrids
may be safe, but the gargoyles are left now without a home. Without
a purpose. Alessandro places a hand on Grace's shoulder.

"I helped develop the Acropolis with the
purpose of rehabilitating hybrids. At some point, I handed the
reins over to the gargoyles. It was a mistake."

Conor, Marion, Will, and Grace look sharply
at Alessandro. He grimaces.

"Don't mistake me. The gargoyles are an
honorable race. They have more honor than most of us have in our
entire body, but they have been fighting a war with Demons much
longer than the rest of us. Much, much longer. This has bred a
prejudice that will take time to break. I was wrong to walk away
from the project. It'll be a meager start, but your training can
continue here."

Grace nods sadly while Marion, Conor, and
Will all breathe a sigh of relief.

"And I'll talk to Gibson about the gargoyles
present. I won't make any promises, but I don't see any reason why
you can't return to service despite bringing the hybrids here."

Conor and Will look at each other, their
gazes full of pain.

"Will and I can't return," Conor says
quietly.

Alessandro looks at the cousins but neither
one of them elaborates. He nods.

"Then you are welcome here as well. If you
claim asylum, then you will be absorbed into the Swords of Solomon,
and we will protect you like we do our own."

Will looks up.

"We claim asylum."

Alessandro smiles sadly.

"Then so be it."

Alessandro gestures at the manor below, and
the group moves toward it eagerly. There is freedom in the air. The
hybrids are calm, excited, and I know this is the new Acropolis.
The building isn't here, but the students are, and it's a new
future for us.

Conor releases my hand halfway down the hill,
and I lag behind, the drex slinking behind me. Alessandro has not
forbidden its presence, and he follows me obediently.

"Your power is great, Demonio," Maria says
suddenly from in front of me, and I jump. Maria laughs. "Jumpy
creatures, you hybrids. I am a seer. I can tell the difference
between mortals, Demons, and Angels. Your body is surrounded by a
red haze as dark as a ruby but brighter. Amazing really."

I turn to look at her.

"I don't really know how to use my power," I
say quietly.

Maria raises her brows.

"I can tell that, Demonio. Very easy to tell.
Tell me, have you ever met your father?"

I shake my head.

"No, he's dead."

Maria's eyes widen.

"Is he? Oh . . ."

I look at her, my heart beating wildly.

"Why do you ask?"

Maria grins.

"I think, My Dear, that you have come to the
right place."

And with that, she leaves me. Ace comes up
beside me, bumping my hand with his head, and I pet him gently. His
leathery skin is rough but soothing. The manor's white stone is
like a beacon, and I can only hope Maria is right. I have come to
the right place.

Chapter 37

Conor

Alessandro's office is small, hidden behind a
staircase inside the manor. There's a small scarred desk, a filing
cabinet, and two small wooden chairs. It isn't a cushy office
mainly because Alessandro isn't a cushy man. There's a thermostat
on the wall behind the desk, and my eyes land on it as Alessandro
paces the room. It's a small thermostat, and it seems unusual.

"How do you feel about being a part of the
S.O.S?" Alessandro asks suddenly, and I turn to him.

"My choices are kind of limited at the
moment," I answer.

Alessandro's eyes meet mine.

"How many of them did you kill?" he asks
softly, and I know he sees the turmoil in my gaze. I flinch.

"I'm not sure," I answer honestly.

Alessandro nods.

"I have news about your friend, Dayton,"
Alessandro says, and I freeze.

"Is she okay?" I ask.

Alessandro's smile is reassuring.

"She is fine. I'm still not sure how I feel
about Marcas, but he seems to be protecting her. I have been
contacted by an Angel who has been working with the S.O.S. We are
rendezvousing with them in a few days."

My heart is suddenly beating way too
fast.

"I'm coming with you," I say loudly.

Alessandro waves a hand.

"I figured you'd say as much. Monroe has
volunteered to go as well."

Monroe and Dayton have been my best friends
since we were in preschool. I owe them anything I can do to
help.

"When?" I ask.

Alessandro's eyes meet mine.

"We leave in three days,"

I nod.

"And the hybrids?"

"They will be safe until we return. I'd like
to put you in charge of helping with their training if you are
interested."

I don't hesitate.

"I'm interested."

"Good," Alessandro says. "Why don't you rest?
You've done well, Conor."

I walk to the door quickly, my heart sinking.
Not everyone would agree with Alessandro. I could have done
better.

"And Conor?" Alessandro calls out.

I turn just outside the door. My eyes meet
his.

"I don't know what's going on between you and
the hybrid, Emma, but be careful. She has a big future ahead, and
she's special. I . . . I don't want her hurt."

The older man looks away, and I lean against
the door.

"Is there something you're not telling me?" I
ask.

Alessandro looks up, his face serious.

"She's my daughter."

It isn't what I expected, and I find myself
staring, my eyes wide.

"Your daughter?" I choke out.

Alessandro stands, moving toward me slowly.
He stops a few inches away, his eyes trained on mine.

"Yes. She's my daughter, and this journey
you've been on, the decisions you've had to make . . . this is just
the beginning.

And with that, he closes the door in my
face.

This is just the
beginning
.

About the Author

R. K. Ryals is a scatterbrained mother
of three whose passion is reading whatever she can get her hands
on. She makes her home in Mississippi with her husband, three
daughters, a Shitzsu named Tinkerbell, and a coffeepot she
couldn't
live without. Visit her at
http://rkryals.blogspot.com

Other works available:

Redemption: The Redemption Series Book
One

Ransom: The Redemption Series Book Two

Coming Soon:

Retribution: The Redemption Series Book
Three

Book Two in the Acropolis Series (Currently
Untitled)