Indignation (29 page)

“I’m sorry.” Her sister whispers.

Alyssa wipes her tears and stands up. She’s making her choice. “I am too.”

Julian’s footsteps are silent on the sand. Yenta and Hans are on each side behind him. They both follow him without a word. They all feel the power radiating off the ruins. This is the dirt where his kingdom once was. He can smell the familiar scent of death that always surrounded his kingdom. He walks to the recently fall temple. He’s sure that’s the temple that Miranda has told him about. The temple where she saw Annalisa took the Dagger of Selene. It’s the first spot he can think of looking. Annalisa might have left a clue that can lead them to Alyssa.

Hans helps him remove the large rock that covers most of the temple’s ruins. Once the rock is removed, Julian scans the writings that cover every inch of the temple that Gabriel has informed him off. To his luck, it’s not Latin or any other language that he may know. He just knows that it’s the language of witches. That would mean that this temple was cursed. Only a witch can read why the curse was placed on such a sacred place.

“It’s witchery.”

Yenta ties her red hair up as the sweat falls down her face. “I spend a lot of my time with witches when in hiding. I can maybe try to read it as much as I can.” She kneels down to get a better view of the piece of the fallen temple that has more writing. “It says that the temple is cursed with stealing energy from immortals as punishment for the unfair hanging of mortals.” She squints her eyes to read the writing that has been already damaged. “It also says that a crying blade would be the only thing that will keep it standing.” Yenta stands up and wipes the sand from her exposed knees.

“A crying blade?” Julian frowns at the mystery.

Hans sighs. “I never liked the descriptions that witches give to objects.”

“Only a weapon would have a blade. Miranda did say that Annalisa had the dagger in her hand. That could mean that Annalisa has taken the dagger from the temple. It’s a logical explanation.”

Hans lowers himself to stare at the writing. “It does seem logically, but why call it a crying blade?”

“That’s a mystery.” Yenta comments. “We won’t find anything here though, Julian. The temple has already fallen. There’s no village around for miles to come to at least question locals about it.”

“You’re right.” Julian runs his fingers through his hair. “Where else can we look? Alyssa and Annalisa can’t be that far.”

“We both know Annalisa.” She says. “If Annalisa is good at anything is being manipulative.”

Hans stands up to join them in a circle. “What are you suggesting?” He asks her.

“That Annalisa will never work alone. She must have someone that she can trust and manipulate.”

“You think that she’s working with someone to keep Alyssa away?” Julian is trying to follow her train of thought.

“Yes. Who is the one person that Annalisa would trust other than Julian? Who was her only friend when she was in the kingdom all those centuries ago?”

Hans answers almost instantly. “She only ever trusted Merlin. He was her only friend. Even when everyone else respected her, admired her, she never trusted anyone.”

Yenta grins like she just won a prize. “Exactly. When I was in hiding I heard the witches talking about how Merlin wanted to meet with the Oracle of Delphi. That’s our best shot right now.”

Yenta and Hans turn to him waiting for his response. He thinks it over. If Merlin is working with Annalisa then Alyssa can be anywhere by now including the Immortal Realm. He shakes his head from his over imaginative thoughts.

“We’re going to see the Oracle of Delphi then.”

It has only been a week since Alyssa has vanished into thin air. Persephone doesn’t know what to do. She’s pacing back and forth in thought. If anything happens to Alyssa, then Julian will take his anger on Hades. She knows him too well to know that will do otherwise. Her wine hair sways with her pacing. The beauty she has is unfathomable. She wants to believe that everything will happen for a better cause but she won’t lie to herself. She knows it won’t be. She observes the room in admiration to calm herself down.

The throne room is covered in vines. It warms her to know that her vines will always suck her negativity. She can feel the warmth of the fireplace. The long, red Persian rugs stretch from the twenty foot double doors to their thrones. Hades’s brick gold throne is covered in flames. He loves the feel of his flames on his skin. She doesn’t mind his twisted tastes. Her gold throne is covered with vines. The thorns are sharp on edge and long. She loves the vines on her throne. It was a gift from her mother Demeter. She admires the vines that come to life when she is threatened.

The flames on Hades’s throne forms into a figure. Slowly Hades appears sitting on his own throne. She greets him with a nod, but she’s too lost in her thoughts to start a conversation.

“Are you alright?” He asks her like the concern husband he has always been.

She walks toward her throne and takes a seat beside him. “I have not heard from Julian.” She simply states. Her eyes lower down, but her head remains high. The Persian rug covers the strip that leads them to their thrones, but the rest of the floor is made of glass. She is able to see all the tortured souls whose burnt hands stretch out for mercy. Once she used to find it cruel, but every one of those souls deserves their fate.

“We will get a message from Dias if the search goes wrong. We also may contact Caillech. She has been left in charge of his rising kingdom. You need to stop your worrying.” He comforts her.

She lets out a sigh. “You are right as always. I cannot help but worry for him.”

“It’s natural for you to worry. Be patient, love.”

She nods. She feels like she needs to help in some shape or form. It’s her duty to. She can’t fail Julian again.

Hades’s hand covers hers. “Everything will be fine Persephone.”

“May fate hear you Hades.” She smiles at him before leaning in to kiss him. She pulls away from his embrace. Her love for him shows plainly in her lime green eyes. “You are a wonderful husband.”

“You are a beautiful wife.” He utters. He pecks her hand, and looks down at the souls who are begging for mercy. The Underworld god and goddess find it amusing.

<><><>

The twenty foot double door of their home creaks open. The open doors give them the view of their hellish realm that looks almost like a horror movie come to life, except worst, much worst. One of their loyal Underworlders comes forth with a small card. Demon is the name of him. “I have a message from Dias.” The child announces in his deep hellish voice. He is no older than seven years old.

The goddess of the underworld waves the child to her. His pale fingers give her the white card. She dismisses him quickly. She waits for the doors to close before she opens the card. Her eyes widen in horror as she reads it. “It can’t be.” She whispers.

“What is it?” Hades asks her.

She looks up at her husband who sits next to her. “The Oracle of Delphi has had a precognition of a war between the Underworld and the Heavens.”

“That cannot be possible. We are in good terms with Dias.”

Her eyes will not allow tears to fall. Her immortality as a goddess forbids it. If she was mortal, then she would breakdown at the validity if this message. “That’s not all.” She takes a deep breath. The vines on her throne go wild with her emotion, but they do not attack Hades. They know it’s not him that has her upset. “In that prediction is the true death of Julian.” She has turned to her husband with a knowing look.

“The time has come.”

Transcript

The search for the Oracle of Delphi is nearly impossible after a week of finding information on her location. Julian wants to pull his hair out from the lack of information that anyone has on the Oracle of Delphi.

“We will find the Oracle.” Yenta comforts him, but he doesn’t need the comfort. He needs answers. He has to find Alyssa. It’s already been more than a week and there’s no sign of her. It’s as if the sand has swallowed her.

Hans’s phone rings loudly through the room. He quickly answers it. Hans just listens to the other end of the line for a few seconds before he clicks the phone shut. The Confidant stares right at Julian with a serious face. “Annalisa and Alyssa have been found, my king. The Loyals have them.”

Annalisa grins at Merlin as Alyssa walks behind them. She has her dear sister exactly where she wants her. It brings her a sense of accomplishment that she has convinced Alyssa of her honesty. Annalisa didn’t lie to her, but she also didn’t tell the entire truth. Once Alyssa is completely out of the way she will get rid of Merlin so then she can finally rule with Julian. They both will destroy Dias together. He will pay for everything she has been through since she has been created; she will make sure of it.

Her feet carefully levels against the rocks. Why couldn’t her mother be simpler on where she hides her secrets? It frustrates her all the work she has done for the past three centuries to find the dagger and the transcript. Merlin helps her, but Alyssa struggles on her own. She doesn’t bother helping her twin out.

The immortal sky covers the sun from the mortal one. “We are here.” She announces. After hours of walking they finally find the hidden cave.

Alyssa stops, almost falling on some of the rocks. “Where?”
    Annalisa points at the huge rock that covers the cave behind it. “There.” She brushes off the grey shavings that blend in with the rock. The symbol of entrance appears. “I’m going to prick your finger with the dagger.” She warns Alyssa. Her twin just nods and extends her hand for her to take. Annalisa lets the blade swipe the blood. She then pricks her own finger and mixes hers with her twin’s. The blood becomes a nice shade of purple that matches their eyes. She swipes the small of blood and places it on the main symbol. “Repeat after me, Alyssa. Lux lucis. Tenebris tenebris. Noster ostium moveri.”

The rock creates a scrap sound when it begins to move. It slowly moves to the side fading into the secret tunnel. Annalisa steps forward into the lightless cave. Alyssa follows right behind her.

“Annalisa.” Merlin calls out to her. She turns around to find him still standing at the entrance like an idiot.

“Come inside.” She clenches her teeth to keep from snapping at him in front of Alyssa.

“I can’t.” He moves forward, but a clear force shield forbids him from entering him.

“It must be Selene’s spell on it. Only those of her bloodline are permitted to enter.”

Alyssa moves in front of her to touch the shield. “We can’t leave him out there.”

“He will be fine. We need to hurry. We don’t know what else lies here.”

“Will you be okay?” Alyssa asks Merlin, ignoring Annalisa completely.

He smiles politely at her. “I will wait here.” He assures her.

“Let’s go.” Annalisa is losing her patience. Alyssa turns to follow her down the dark path. Suddenly the cave lights up with multiple torches on either side of the stone structure walls.

She grabs a torch and leads her weak sister to the end of the cave with cautious steps. So far Selene has not put any traps. She continues to walk until she reaches the end. “It’s a dead end.”

“Not exactly.” Alyssa comments. Her sister kneels on the floor and brushes away the dirt. The dirt covers a hidden door. Annalisa helps her pulls the handle up until it opens completely. She sheds some light on the new opening. A set of curved stone stairs appears.

“Good eye.” She compliments her sister who smiles in accomplishment. 

“I try.” The heir jokes.

Annalisa leads the way down and around the curved staircase. They reach the bottom almost instantly. They have been lead to an enormous room. The walls are stone with a clean carving.

In the middle of the spacious room is a small glass bottle that’s attached to a statute. The statute is that of a woman that wears a long gown. Her hair is silk black as she remembers it. Those purple eyes that matches hers makes the woman seem like a powerful being. Her stance of a witch shows her dark side. It’s her mother.
     Alyssa gasps beside her. “Is that-?”

“Selene. Our mother.” She informs her.
     Annalisa steps towards the statue with caution as Alyssa admires the statue of their dead mother. She takes the glass bottle gently and steps back. Nothing happens. That’s unlike Selene to make anything simple. She smashes the bottle against the stone wall and lets the transcript fall to the floor. She swats to pick it up before it lights up in flames; she wouldn’t be surprised if it does.

Annalisa begins to read the transcript that’s written in her native language. Her eyes widen from all the information it holds. Her curse can’t be removed unless she connects her lifeline with Alyssa’s. She’s been searching for the dagger and transcript for centuries to find that her cruse can’t be removed unless she connects herself to her sister. She will never truly get rid of her if she does that. She still needs Julian for her benefit. Her anger rises, but she continues to read.

She frowns at the small strip of information that stands out. A war is approaching. A war linked to Julian’s true death. How can that be? Julian can only be truly killed by her. A war can’t kill him. She continues to scan the document. She reads the subtitles under that. Her laugh fades.

“What’s wrong?” Alyssa asks beside her.

“I need some of your blood to be connected with mine.”

“Will that lift the curse?”

It will more than lift the curse. It promises the security

Of Julian and her. Annalisa wishes she can drop her act of a caring sister and tell her that with the disgust she has. “Yes.” She simply says instead.

Alyssa picks up one of the small glass shatters as Annalisa draws a binding circle. She places her own blood on one end of the circle as Alyssa places hers on the other end. 

They both kneel on the floor on either side of the circle. Annalisa extends her finger tips to Alyssa so they barely touch. “Repeat after me, Alyssa.” She closes her eyes.