Triton closed his eyes and summoned his granddaughter. Gretchen, Sara needs to talk to you. We’re in the main living room. Bring Kyros; he’ll want to be here too.
Um, I’m guessing this is Triton.
You guessed right, but you can call me Grandfather.
Not grandpa?
Please, no. Grandpa sounds like an old man. Grandfather sounds more like a title.
Whatever makes you feel younger. Triton could feel the chuckle in her voice. So can I call you like this all the time?
Yes, you can summon me whenever you need me, granddaughter.
Oh, okay. Cool.
Triton smiled. He sure liked this granddaughter of his.
Minutes later, Gretchen and Kyros stepped into the room, “Well, this isn’t intimidating at all,” Kyros said.
Triton realized he and Xanthus were standing on either side of Sara, with their arms crossed over their chests.
“Sorry,” Xanthus said as they relaxed their stances.
Gretchen sat next to Sara and smiled. Kyros continued to stand near his wife. He obviously felt the tension in the room and was unwilling to leave her side.
“You look so much better,” Gretchen said. “You had me worried. I swear you looked more exhausted than I do.”
“I’m feeling a whole lot better. But… I do have to tell you something important.” She paused for a moment before continuing. “You know those reinforcements we need?”
“Yeah.”
“Well, it’s your father.”
Gretchen paled. “My father? I’m guessing you don’t mean my adoptive dad.” Kyros put his hand on her shoulder.
Sara shook her head. “We need Thane. As the son of Thanatos, he has power to send the dead back to the Underworld.”
Gretchen’s shoulders dropped. “You want him to help us fight those vrykolakas creatures?”
“Yes.”
“Kyros told me about them.” Gretchen shot a glare over her shoulder at her husband. “Though he skimped on a lot of the detail.” She turned back to Sara. “By the way, I don’t like the fact that you left me out of your trip.”
“Believe me, Gretchen, you really didn’t want to see it. Besides, you needed to stay with Donavan.”
“Excuses, excuses. So when am I going to meet Thane?”
“I would like you to summon him now. As soon as you’re ready. I think you two should have some time to talk before we discuss battles.”
Gretchen nodded, clearly stunned. “You know, I had a million questions I was going to ask my birth father when I met him. But now I can’t think of a single one.”
“It’s okay. You’ll have plenty of time in the future to ask him every question on your mind. Right now, it’s time to simply meet and begin to get to know each other.”
“Okay, how do I do it?”
Triton stepped forward. “You know how we communicated just now?”
“Yes.”
“It’s the same. Picture him in your mind as you call his name.”
“But I’ve never met him.”
“Here,” Sara said. “I’ll show you.”
Gretchen’s eyes widened, looking off in the distance. “Is that him?”
“Yes,” Sara answered.
“Wow, he’s handsome—in a dark, eerie kind of way.”
“Now speak to him in your mind,” Triton continued, “as if you are talking to him. Because you’re his daughter, he should hear you clearly. Although, he’s only half god, so it may not work. If it doesn’t, I can do it.”
Gretchen nodded. “I’ll give it a try.”
She closed her eyes. Triton discreetly listened in. He knew that Xanthus trusted the son of Thanatos, but Triton wasn’t so sure. Many of the gods of the Underworld didn’t put much stock in family relationships. He wouldn’t allow his granddaughter to put herself in danger. And summoning a strange demigod could have dire repercussions.
Thane?
Triton could feel confusion laced with irritation that bordered on anger.
Who dares to summon me? State your name before I strike you dead.
Um, it’s me, Gretchen. Your… daughter.
The demigod’s anger vanished, replaced by… unease and a strong affection. He cared deeply for his daughter, despite the fact that he’d never met her. Triton, confident that Gretchen was safe, withdrew to give the father and daughter some privacy.
Triton watched his granddaughter’s face. Her eyes were pressed closed, but she looked happy. A tear leaked from the corner of her eye and trailed down her cheek. She nodded, apparently answering a question posed by her father.
Triton could feel power gathering like mist above moist earth. Darkness swirled around them. The power he felt was surprisingly strong. Thane may be a demigod, but he was far from human. In fact, he was nearly as powerful as a full god. That was a rare thing.
A dark figure materialized from the mist. A tall, imposing figure stood before them, with a look of apprehension in his glowing, silver eyes. This demigod could never pass for a human—not without changing his form.
“Wow,” Gretchen said. “You look even more eerie in real life. Oh, um. I mean that in the best way. I love eerie. I’m sorry, I’m completely messing this up, aren’t I?”
Thane smiled. “You remind me of my mother—always speaking her mind before she censors herself.”
“Your mother’s human, right?”
“Actually, no. My mother’s also a demigod—a daughter of Hades. But her mother is human.”
Gretchen shook her head. “The family tree keeps getting weirder and weirder. It’s more like a family banyan tree.”
“I knew you were too powerful to be half human,” Triton spoke up.
Thane looked at Triton. Triton could feel an undercurrent of emotion. Fear was too strong a word for it, more like apprehension.
“I’m sorry about Aella,” Thane said. “I had really hoped I could help her change. And I didn’t have the heart to destroy her. Would you like to know who ordered me to kill her?”
Triton shook his head. “It doesn’t matter. Her death was long overdue. There was no helping her. I blamed myself for years before I had to let the guilt go. She was her own person and responsible for her own decisions. Besides, it’s a good thing you didn’t kill her. If you had, we wouldn’t have Gretchen and Donavan.”
“Donavan,” Thane said, looking at Gretchen. “He’s the brother you and Kyros adopted as your own, right?”
Gretchen smiled, her eyes bright. “Yes.”
“So does that make me his grandfather?”
“Um, I guess if you want to be.”
“Want to be…? If you’ve adopted him, he’s your son, and any son of my daughter is a grandson of mine.”
Gretchen’s smile widened. “Okay, Grandpa.”
“Oh,” Thane frowned, “not grandpa. Grandfather sounds much better.”
“You too?” Gretchen giggled.
Triton laughed. “I told Gretchen those exact words. I think we should come up with an entirely new title. One that doesn’t make us sound old.”
“But you are old,” Gretchen said. “How old are you both anyway? Grandfather, I know you are thousands of years old,” she said and turned to Thane, “but how old are you?”
“Old enough.”
“That’s not an answer.”
He scowled and sighed. “I happen to be older than everyone else in this room.”
The entire room gaped at those words—including Triton.
“But you’re a demigod,” Triton said.
“…whose father is death. Do you know of many fathers who would strike down their own son?”
Triton raised an eyebrow. “I can think of a few.”
“Huh, yeah. I guess you’re right, but not my father. Besides, my mother would erupt in fury—get her father, Hades, involved. Suffice to say, I’m pretty safe from death.”
“You still haven’t answered my question,” Gretchen said.
He shook his head. “I’m about eleven thousand years old.”
“You’re kidding me,” Gretchen said.
“That’s not much older than me,” Triton said. His attention was diverted when Sara’s head turned, glancing at the clock. Worry creases formed between her brows.
“I hate to be the one to spoil this reunion,” Triton said, “but I’m afraid Gretchen didn’t summon you for a social call.”
Thane literally darkened. “What did you call me here for?”
“I asked her to bring you here,” Sara said.
“And you are…?” Thane asked.
“Sara Taylor.”
“My daughter,” Triton said.
“And my best friend,” Gretchen said. “Oh yeah, and she’s my aunt too.”
“So you’re a mermaid,” Thane said.
“She’s a goddess. Her mother is Nikoleta, daughter of Tyche.”
“If she’s a full goddess, who’s Nikoleta’s father?”
“His name is Petros, the true king of the gods.”
“Whoa,” Thane said. “Do you realize saying that another god should be king is treason? I mean, I think Zeus is a pompous jerk too, but he won’t stand anyone trying to take his place as king. And I will not put myself in the path of his bolt. I’ve seen what happens. And believe me, it’s not pretty.”
“Are you saying you’re a coward?” Drakōn asked.
In a flash, the demigod was standing before Drakōn, staring him down with his glowing eyes. Spectral mist swirled around him. “No one calls me a coward.” He growled—the sound not unlike the growl of a hellhound.
Drakōn stumbled back as Sara jumped up, probably attempting to step in between the two, but Xanthus held her back.
“You two stop it right now!” Sara said. “We can’t afford to fight amongst ourselves.”
They both stepped away from each other, but they kept glaring.
“I think it’s time I show everyone the truth,” Sara said.
“Don’t leave me behind this time,” Gretchen said.
“No, I won’t. Everyone have a seat.” Soon, everyone found a place to sit. Some sat on the couches and others took the chairs near the kitchen area.
“Okay, now close your eyes.”
Triton no sooner closed his eyes than an image appeared before him. He was in a corridor on Olympus. White marbled floors and high, vaulted ceilings stretched down a narrow hallway. A door flung open and Nicole burst through, her bare feet slapping against the stone slabs as her white robe fluttered behind her.
Ares followed closely behind, his eyes bright as a smile lit up his face. “Princess, I’m not going to hurt you.”
“Get away from me. Guards!”
He caught up to her and slammed her to the wall, pinning her against it. He laughed as she screamed.
“You’re blowing this out of proportion. I just want a simple kiss,” he said as he wrestled her around to face him.
“I’m a married woman! Besides, no one is allowed to touch me, or have you forgotten your king’s decree?” she said as she continued to struggle in his grasp.
He smiled. “No, I haven’t forgotten.” He pressed his palms against her face, holding her still. Leaning forward, he smashed his lips against hers.
“What is going on?” A deep voice boomed so loudly that the entire building shook. Petros stood in a doorway a fair distance down the hall. He took one look at Nicole struggling in Ares’ arms and ran toward them. “Get your filthy hands off my daughter. I’ll rip you apart and scatter your pieces to the four corners of the earth. I swear, I will.”
Ares laughed as he held tight to Nicole’s wrist. Horror washed over Nicole’s face as Ares spoke. “I wish…”
She sank to the floor, shaking her head in denial.
“…that King Petros was buried deep in the bowels of Mount Olympus and trapped there, powerless to escape.”
Nicole screamed, the anguish wrenching from her as if her own soul were being torn asunder. “Please no, not my father!”
Triton watched the anguish of the woman he loved, and his heart broke for her. There was no doubt that she loved her father. And here she was, the tool to destroy him. How could a girl live with that?
Triton’s anger boiled higher when Zeus stepped up next to his son. He smiled broadly at Petros as he continued to run toward them.
“Goodbye, my brother,” Zeus said.
A loud crack rent the air as the floor underneath the king cracked and opened a deep crevice. He tried to grab hold of the floor to stop his descent, but wasn’t able to get a handhold. He fell, his voice crying out in fury, growing fainter and fainter until Triton could no longer hear the king. Then the floor rumbled closed, the crack sealing as if it had never been broken. Then the only sound that remained was Nicole’s sobs as she clawed at the floor.
Zeus’ laughter hit like a slap across the face. “Good work, son.” He stepped up to Nicole as she wept, her tears flowing into a puddle on the floor. “Now it’s my turn.”
He leaned down, sank his hands into Nicole’s hair, and yanked her head back. “You waste your tears, Princess. Your father was a powerful god. The most powerful of us all, but now, he’s nothing. And in moments, no one will remember him.”
Nicole shook her head and whispered, “Why? He was always kind to you.”
“Power is a mighty motivator. And now that your father is gone, I can step in as king. And with your power, no one will dare oppose me.”
“My power?”
“I intend to take your power as my own. And now it’s time I got my wish. I wish that everyone, save myself and my son Ares, would forget you and your father ever existed.”
Nicole sniffled, blinking her eyes. “I… what am I doing here? What do you want from me? I’m nobody.”
Zeus’ laughter bellowed, echoing off the walls. “Yes, you, my dear, are nobody.” He manifested a flask and pulled out the stopper. A white mist poured from the nozzle and took shape. Triton recognized Sypher immediately.
Triton listened closely as Zeus mumbled strange words in a language not from this world. Sypher swirled. Her mist gathered around Nicole’s head and sank, disappearing into her. She gasped and lifted a shaking hand. “What did you do to me?”
Zeus didn’t acknowledge the question but turned to his son. “Take her to the human world and erase all the memories she has of Olympus from her mind. I don’t care what else you do with her. Keep her as a pet if you wish. Just don’t let her make trouble for me.”
Ares looked down on Nicole and smiled. “Yes, Father.”
A breezed passed over Triton’s skin, and he found himself back in the cabin surrounded by horrified faces.
“It’s true, isn’t it?” Pallas gasped. “I mean, I knew it was, but seeing it for myself… Gods, I can’t believe the treachery of Zeus.”
“When did this happen?” Thane asked.
“Two thousand years ago,” Sara answered.
“So… for nine thousand years, I knew Petros as king?” Thane said. “I can’t remember him. But still, didn’t his face—”
“Look familiar?” Triton supplied.
“Yes.”
“Sara,” Triton said, his eyes wide. “Can’t we just wish the king free?”
She shook her head. “No. One wish cannot undo another.”
“I have a question,” Pallas said. “Nicole mentioned she was married. Who’s her husband?”
“I am,” Triton answered.
“If that’s true—” Thane said.
“It’s true,” Triton snapped.
Thane nodded. “Then, you are the true king of the gods.”
Triton shook his head. “Petros is our king.”
“In his absence, you are next in line.”
“How are we going to convince any of the gods of this?” Straton asked. “None of them remember.”
“Their memories haven’t actually been erased,” Sara said. “The wish was to forget. Things forgotten can be remembered. Which is the hope in all of this. All the gods and goddesses know who their true king is—they’ve simply forgotten it. Which makes the task ahead daunting, but not impossible. Our path is clear. You need to free my mom, and then we’ll need to free the king. To free him, you need to gather—”
“The daughters who join the four corners!” Gretchen said excitedly. “Who are they?”
“You, for one.”
“Me?” Gretchen squeaked in surprise.
“Yes, you are one of them. You join the house of the Underworld to the house of the sea.”
Gretchen’s brows pressed together. “Wait a minute. If I join the sea and the Underworld, then… Petros. Petros means earth. Sara, you join the house of the sea to the house of the earth.”
Sara smiled. “Right.”
“Then who joins the other houses?” Gretchen asked.
“We haven’t found them yet,” Sara said. “But we will. We’ll need someone who joins the house of the Underworld to the house of the skies,” Sara said. “And someone to join the house of the skies to the house of the earth.”
“But even after we free the king, nobody will remember him,” Kyros said.
“I’ll be working with the Moirai on that,” Sara said. “It’s something only we can do.”
“Okay,” Thane said, “but first we need to free Princess Nikoleta. What is standing in our way?”
“There’s Ares,” Xanthus said, “and an army of vrykolakas.”
Thane shook his head. “Ooh, nasty creatures. I can send them back to their graves.”
“I knew he was the man for the job,” Pallas piped up. “That poor innocent couple. I still can’t get that smell out of my nose, and the sound of ripping flesh—”
“Pallas,” Kyros interrupted. “None of us need a reminder.”
“I wasn’t finished,” Thane said. “But, I have to be touching them.”
“Gah! I knew there was a catch,” Pallas said.
“There are over a thousand of them,” Kyros said.
“I think I can still help,” Thane said.
“Oh really?” Drakōn said. “It’ll be like spearing giant squid in spawning season. No matter how many you get, there’ll be more.”
“That’s not a good comparison, Drakōn,” Pallas said. “Spearing squid is fun. This will be suicide.”
“If you rub garlic oil over your body,” Thane said. “It will keep them from wanting to devour you. They can still kill you, but at least they won’t strip you of your flesh.”
“Is this where the legend of vampires comes from?” Gretchen asked.
Thane nodded. “Most legends evolve from truth.”
“Okay, so we slick ourselves down with garlic oil and we’re ready to fight,” Pallas said.
“Yes,” Thane answered. “And I’ve got a few other ideas I think will work.”
“Okay,” Kyros said. “When do we strike?”
“You’ll be fighting the vrykolakas at nightfall,” Sara said.
“That gives us all day to prepare,” Xanthus said. “We need to get the layout of the terrain. Sara, can you give us more details about the farm where your mother is being held?”
“I could, but that’s not where you’ll be fighting them.”
“What?” Kyros asked. “If not there, then where?”
“Right here.”
“You want us to lure them here?” Drakōn asked.
“No,” Sara said. “They’ll come on their own.”
“Why would they come here?” Xanthus’ voice growled low as he clenched his fists. He obviously suspected what her answer would be and wasn’t happy about it.
“Ares will be sending them to kill me,” Sara answered simply.