Ares stood dumbfounded as Nicole stepped out of the kitchen. He turned the knobs on the stove to off and ran water into the scorched pan. She truly looked upset, stunned, confused, and… ill? Nicole had not been sick a day in her long life, yet she did not look well. Could he have caused it somehow? He’d been so careful choosing this location, choosing the people they’d replace. He’d altered memories thousands of times without a problem.
Still, there was a flaw. Nicole’s fragile state and expression of illness tonight made it obvious. It must be the fact her power was now intact. Without her siphon, she was unpredictable.
The big question now was who removed her siphon? It took the power of a god to do such a thing… or perhaps a demigod. Maybe Nicole’s child was not so weak after all. Ares was led to believe that because Nicole conceived and gave birth with no god powers, that her child would have none. That she would be essentially as human as the man who fathered her. But perhaps he was wrong. He might have to look for this child of Nicole’s and find out for certain. He couldn’t have an unknown element foil his plan.
***
Nicole lay in bed. Thoughts swirled in her head, making her dizzy. Her stomach lurched.
“Sara?” she whispered.
I’m here, Mom.
“What’s wrong with me?”
Your transplanted memories are warring with the real memories I’ve stirred in your mind. Until they’re completely restored, you probably won’t feel too good.
“Transplanted? Do you mean nothing I remember is real?”
Nicole could feel Sara sigh. No, they’re real. But they’re the memories of another.
“Who?”
I don’t think you’re ready for that answer yet. I’ve got more to show you. This may be a long night for you. The memories with the most negative emotion are the best ones to help you remember. Are you up for it?
“Is this the only way to bring my memories back?”
I’m afraid so. This time, I’m going to show you something recent. Brace yourself. This memory is not pretty.
“The last one you showed wasn’t pretty either.”
Yes, but the last one was emotionally difficult. This one is physically painful.
“How painful?”
You’ll see soon enough. At those words, Nicole found herself in a rocky tunnel.
***
Triton stood over Sara. She looked as if she were sleeping. But she wasn’t—she was visiting her mother. Xanthus wiped the sweat from Sara’s forehead with a damp rag as she moaned. She looked to be having a disturbing dream.
Triton desperately wanted to awaken her. How did it work? With Pele, she’d been swept up in a vision that was completely out of her control. She experienced all that Pele did and suffered tremendously because of it. This time, Sara traveled deliberately. Apparently, her powers continued to grow—along with the knowledge and control needed to use them. Triton couldn’t pretend to understand, but he felt he needed to trust his daughter.
Still, he was honest enough to admit to himself that this whole thing terrified him. Was Sara experiencing all that Nicole was? Or was she merely a spectator? She certainly didn’t look like a spectator. She looked to be actively participating in whatever was going on.
Triton wanted desperately to follow her, find Nicole, and bring her back. But Sara insisted she must do this alone. The conviction in her voice told him she had no doubts to her course of action. This had to be a manifestation of her growing god powers. With her birthday just two days away, her powers were expanding daily. She could see and communicate with others at great distances. She could also see the past, as well as the present, and had the ability to show others what she saw. None of those were uncommon among the gods, but the other power she’d manifested was very rare. She seemed to have glimpses of the future.
Sara cried out. Her face contorted in pain.
“We have to stop her. We need to bring her back to us,” Xanthus shouted in desperation.
“We can’t. She told us under no circumstance were we to try to bring her back. She will come back when she’s ready.”
“Listen, I couldn’t care less about her mother. Sara is in pain—”
“Which may increase if we interfere,” Triton interrupted. “The power she’s wielding is beyond me. This is a power similar to the Moirai.”
“The goddesses of fate?”
“Yes. What Sara is doing goes a step beyond what the Moirai do. They never actively participate in shaping one’s fate. They simply declare it.”
“But I thought the Moirai were more powerful than Zeus.”
“They’re not really more powerful—they are out of his scope. They answer to no one but fate. They see all—the past, present, and future of all, including Zeus. But they have no power to control fate.”
“Do they not try to control fate because they can’t, or because it would be a dangerous thing to do?”
Triton pressed his lips into a fine line as his mind reasoned. “I don’t know,” he finally answered. This was one of a few times in his life when he was uncertain about his decision. Should he try to pull Sara out of this? She knew more than he did about what was happening. And she was adamant when telling them not to interfere.
No. He would trust her to save her mother and herself. Although Xanthus couldn’t care less about Nicole, Triton cared deeply. Her fate was now wrapped around his. If he lost her again…? He shook his head, unwilling to contemplate the answer to that question. “We need to trust Sara,” he said.
Xanthus frowned, but he nodded his head. He curled up alongside his wife on the bed, pressed his lips against the top of her head, and whispered. “Sara, I’m here, and I love you more than life. Don’t take unnecessary risks, my love. I would not be able to survive losing you.”
Xanthus’ words were obviously not meant for Triton’s ears. But he heard them regardless. They were personal enough that he should probably leave them alone. Still, he didn’t move. He wasn’t about to leave his daughter in a situation this precarious. If she needed him, he would be right there.
Sara kept her eyes closed as she reached out and grabbed onto Xanthus’ arm draped across her chest, pulling it tighter against her. She seemed to take comfort in the fact that her husband was there.
Their union was a good match. Triton had every confidence in Xanthus’ noble intentions. This Dagonian had a virtue and courage that was unmatched. When Triton had realized Xanthus loved his daughter and she loved him in return, he was eager to tie Xanthus to Sara in marriage. Xanthus would always put Sara’s needs before his own, even at the expense of his own life. She couldn’t be safer with any other being—god or demigod.
Sara gasped as her arms flew out and pressed against the mattress. Her eyes opened and she looked around, startled at her surroundings. As soon as she could see where she was and who she was with, she relaxed. “It’s done; her memories are her own now. But…”
“What is it?” Xanthus asked.
“I don’t feel so good.” Her skin glowed, and her eyes closed.
Triton decided to remain in the room. If her dream traveling was damaging her, he wanted to know sooner rather than later. The illumination markedly increased. She was growing brighter. Triton could feel power coming off her, building in strength.
“Dad,” she said, curling up into a ball. “What’s happening to me?”
“Oh, gods, it’s happening,” Triton said, yanking Xanthus off the bed. “Get behind me!”
Xanthus hesitated for a moment before following his direction. “What’s happening?” he asked.
“Her birthday is not for another two days, but it’s happening.”
“Now?”
“Yes, by gods. Now!”
“What will—?” Xanthus’ voice cut out when an explosion of light radiated from Sara like a supernova. Xanthus raised his hands to cover his eyes as Triton threw out a shield to protect the Dagonian. Without the added protection, Xanthus would have burned to dust at the incredible power coming off her. Even Triton had to squint against the radiance. He’d never witnessed such a brilliant transformation.
Seconds later, the light dimmed, and Sara lay motionless on the bed. Her hair fanned out as it draped off the bed, longer than it had been a moment before. But that wasn’t the most striking thing about it. Her hair, once black, was now as white as newly fallen snow.
Sara moaned and lifted her hand to her face.
“Sara?” Xanthus said, hesitant to approach her. He turned to Triton.
“It’s safe,” Triton said.
Xanthus sank onto the bed and reached to brush Sara’s hair away from her face. “Moro mou, gods,” he breathed. “Please tell me you’re okay.”
She moaned and opened her eyes. “I… I think so.”
“Your eyes…” Xanthus said.
Triton could see immediately what the Dagonian was talking about. Her eyes, once blue, were now the most striking emerald green.
Sara sat up with a start. “What’s wrong with my eyes?” She turned her head and froze at her reflection in the dresser mirror. “What happened to my hair?”
No one answered.
“Dad?” she turned to Triton.
“You’re fine, baby. We knew this was coming.”
“You didn’t tell me I’d get grey hair!”
“Your hair isn’t grey—it’s white.”
“White, grey… I look like an old lady!”
“Moro mou, you look nothing like an old lady.” Xanthus swallowed, his eyes inspecting his wife, a look of wonder in his eyes. “You look like a goddess.”
“I do?”
“Yes,” Xanthus said. “You look… stunning.”
The concern faded from her face as a smile lit her emerald eyes. “You’re not just saying that, are you?”
He shook his head and smiled. “I’ve never seen a more beautiful creature.”
Sara grinned at the honesty in his voice, and her face literally glowed.
“And your voice…” he began.
“Yes?”
“That’s different too,” he said “Like…” He couldn’t seem to find the words.
“It’s the power you hear in her voice,” Triton said, “like a thousand symphonies played on each word she speaks.”
“Wow,” answered Xanthus. “That’s beautiful, and it fits surprisingly well.”
“I know all about power that can be wielded through the voice,” Triton said.
“Right,” Xanthus said. “The fathers of Sirens…”
Triton nodded. “Okay. Now with the danger of your transformation over and done with, it should be safe for me to leave you. Don’t try to do anything until I get back. We still don’t know the extent of your powers. But I simply cannot wait one more minute. I need to get Nicole.” Triton attempted to transport.
He didn’t move. Someone blocked him.
Sara’s eyes were closed. Did she stop him?
She sat for several long minutes. Her body was tense, her fingers gripping the bedspread so tightly that they whitened under her skin. She finally opened her eyes. “You can’t go yet, Dad. If you do, you’ll end up torn into pieces deep in the pit of Tartarus.”
“And your mother…?”
“Would be dead.”
“You can see the future? Is it that clear?” Xanthus asked.
Worry crept into Sara’s eyes. Her brows pressed together as she nodded. Triton’s pride swelled at the same time apprehension crept in. Sara was powerful, perhaps even more powerful than he was. Maybe not in the same sense as others might think; she probably wouldn’t be fighting any battles or laying waste to any civilizations. But knowledge was the greatest power of all. And it could be both a blessing and a curse to his sweet daughter.
“So how do we save your mother?” Triton asked.
“I’ll tell you later. For now, we need to gather reinforcements,” she answered.
“I’ll get the others and we’ll meet in the main room,” Xanthus said.
Sara moved to follow, and Xanthus put out a hand to stop her.
“Uh, moro mou. Let me prepare them for your new look before you give them a shock.”
“Do I really look that different?” Sara asked, her eyes darting once again to the mirror.
“You still look like yourself, but now you look… well… a whole lot better.”
“What?” Sara frowned at her husband. “Was I ugly before?”
“You walked into that one,” Triton whispered as he shook his head.
“That’s not what I meant,” Xanthus said. “You were perfect before, but now you’re… more perfect.”
“How can I be more perfect than perfect?”
“I don’t know. Gods, just a few minutes ago, you were the most beautiful woman I’d ever laid eyes on. But now, your beauty is beyond description.”
Sara smiled. “It is?”
“Yes, now have I redeemed myself from my idiotic words?”
“No.”
“No?”
“I knew what you meant the first time.” Sara smiled. “I was just messing with you.”
“You know,” Xanthus said, smiling, “usually I wonder how you can possibly be your mother’s daughter. But then there are times that I can see a definite resemblance.”
“Oh, that was low,” Sara said, scowling—a glimmer of a smile in her eyes.
“When you’re ready for your meeting,” Triton said, “summon me. There’s someone I know will want to help.” He prepared to transport himself.
Sara turned to him, all traces of humor gone. “No, Dad. Don’t try to contact Tyche. She doesn’t belong here. She has her own path to take.”
Triton frowned. “Are you sure?”
Sara nodded. “Very.”
“Okay,” Triton said. “I’ll let you take the lead.”
Minutes later, they were all gathered in the living room. The room hummed with voices, and the air was thick with worry. Eyes kept glancing at Sara with wonder. Gretchen sat at her side, with Donavan doing his best to reach Sara’s long, white curls.
“Okay,” Triton said to get their attention. All voices fell silent at his word. “Now that we’re all here, Sara will fill you in on our situation.
She swallowed, stood, and stepped forward only to find that the baby had succeeded in grabbing her hair. She carefully pulled it from his chubby grip. He let out a wail, but stopped when Gretchen gave him her necklace to play with.
Sara smiled at the baby, and then turned to the group in front of her. Her smile melted into concern as she sighed. “As you know, my mom is being held by Ares. He has her in a farmhouse in Pennsylvania. He had erased her memories and replaced them with the memories of the woman who lived in the house. He has replaced the woman’s husband with himself.”
“What did he do with the couple?” Gretchen asked.
Sara looked down, sadness shadowing her face. “He killed them.”
“Did you see it happen?” Gretchen asked—her brows pinched together.
She nodded. “I wish I hadn’t. Ares is heartless and cruel.”
“You said, ‘had erased’,” Kyros said. “I’m guessing she remembers who she is.”
“Yes, she remembers.”
“Then why can’t we just storm in there and take her back?” Kyros asked. “Triton’s a powerful god, and with the best Dagonian warriors in the sea at his side, I’ll say the odds are in our favor.”
“Ares is not alone,” Sara said.
“What?” Kyros said. “Who’s there with him?”
“Not who,” Sara said. “What.”
Triton wasn’t surprised that Ares had guards. Triton himself had his home guarded by sharks at all times. But he didn’t like the sound of Sara’s voice. There was too much fear in it.
“Vrykolakas,” she said.
“What under Olympus is a vrykolakas?” Drakōn asked.
Triton’s voice lowered. He couldn’t help the growl that escaped. “How many?”
“Over a thousand.”
“So what’s the problem?” Pallas asked. “Why can’t you just sing them into submission?”
“The voice of a siren can compel nearly every living creature,” Sara said.
“So?” Pallas said.
“The vrykolakas are not living.”
“What are they?” Straton asked. “What makes them so dangerous?”
“I think I’d better show you.” Sara sighed. “You need to know what you’re going to be up against.”
The scene around them flashed by. Moments later, they were standing in a field framed by rows of trees lit up by moonlight.
“Is this real?” Pallas asked.
“Sort of,” Sara answered and stepped forward, her bare feet padding through the grass. “You aren’t really here. We’re still at the cabin in Oregon. You’re just seeing a reflection of the past—yesterday evening to be exact. This is an image of the area around the farmhouse in Pennsylvania, where my mother is being held. Now look closely—the vrykolakas are over there in the trees.”
Triton could see them easily, but the others squinted trying to catch a view of them. The wind carried inhuman growls and hissing on the whistling breeze. The trees were thick with foliage, and even thicker with the undead. Humans would call them vampires, demons, or something in between. None of the descriptions would give the vrykolakas justice.
“I don’t see anything,” Pallas whispered.
The crunch of wheels over a dirt road alerted the group to the fact that they were not alone. Triton turned to see a human couple riding in a wagon pulled by two horses. His first instinct was to shield the humans from the monsters lurking in the trees, but as he tried to wield his power, he found it did nothing.
Of course. He’d forgotten they were not really here. This scene had already transpired. Sara’s vision was exceptionally lifelike. As he thought of her, he tried to locate her. He would not allow her to witness what he was sure they were about to see. But she was nowhere to be found.
“Where’s Sara?” he asked Xanthus.
“She said she’d already seen what happened here and has no desire to see a replay.”
“Who are these people?” Drakōn asked.
“Victims,” Triton said soberly.
From the trees, a figure took flight. The creature’s leathery wings flapped as he hovered over the humans for a moment before dropping down in front of their horses.
“Who approaches our captain’s lair?” he said in a wet, hissing voice.
The woman screamed as the man pulled back on the reins. The horses reared up as the man wrestled to control his animals.
The woman continued to shriek as she clawed at the man beside her. “Donald, get us out of here!”
A second vrykolakas approached and hovered nearby.
“I’m trying,” the man shouted. “I can’t get the horses to turn.”
The vrykolakas took a step toward them. The woman was wailing as she abandoned the man, climbed back over the seat, and leapt from the carriage. The hovering vrykolakas caught her before her feet touched the ground. This creature’s eyes were rimmed with red and saliva dripped from his fangs.
Triton had never seen a vrykolakas this close before. He was sickened by the sight. Though it had a body similar to a human, its skin was as black as coal. It had a strong, muscular physique, the rib bones running over the outside of its flesh, and its fingertips had two-inch long, razor-sharp claws. Its face was more animal in appearance than human, with long, sharp teeth, not unlike the teeth of a sand tiger shark.
The creature with the woman in his clutches hissed, spittle flying as it spoke. “Who are you?” She didn’t stop screaming to answer him.
“Call the captain,” he hissed to the other creature.
The other monster now had the man on the ground, one claw grasping the man’s neck, the other pressed against his abdomen. He turned his head to face the starry sky and let out a howl. In that moment, he was crouched in the shadow of Ares, who stood above, his eyes glowing.
Murderous rage rose in Triton’s chest. This god held Nicole prisoner.
“Why have you summoned me?” His voice rumbled deep, anger darkening his tone.
“These humans have wandered onto your lands. What would you have me do with them?”
Ares stepped forward. “Why are you here?”
Triton could hear the power in his words. This human would have no choice but to answer truthfully.
“We took a wrong turn. Got lost.” The man coughed. “Please help us. Tell the demon not to hurt my wife.”
“Now why would I do that?” Ares answered, smiling.
“No… no! Please. Don’t hurt her. Have mercy!”
Ares ignored the human and looked at the vrykolakas. “Do with them what you will.”
The creature’s jagged smile widened as he said, “As you wish, my master.” Not a moment later, he sank his teeth deep into the man’s neck. The man thrashed around for a few seconds before going limp. The creature noisily slurped up the flowing blood. The woman screamed, but her cry was cut short as the creature holding her aloft also sank his teeth in and took his fill of her blood as he lowered her body to the ground. A flurry of movement came from the trees as a black cloud filled the sky and descended on the scene, obscuring their view. The sound of fluttering wings, grunts, and ripping flesh filled the air, along with the stench of fresh blood. Minutes later, the cloud dispersed, leaving behind scattered bones and smears of blood. Even the horses were gone. Several vrykolakas stayed behind, sucking on the bones and licking blood from the blades of grass.
“I think I’m going to be sick,” Pallas said.
“Sara’s right,” Kyros said. “Reinforcements would be a good thing.”