“Were you trying to break free?” I asked incredulously.
A shadow passed over him and he clenched his jaw as he looked at me. And then he nodded.
I felt the air rush out of me. “You didn’t trust me,” I murmured in disbelief. “You didn’t trust me to come back for you?”
He shook his head. “No, that’s not it. I want to save you, Empusa. And I know you won’t let me go. I have to do what I have to do to keep you safe. And in saving you, I’ll also save the mortal world. It’s the right thing to do.”
“You don’t understand,” I said through clenched teeth. Turning to the priestesses, I announced, “You can all go. Your services are no longer required.”
They remained still, each eye fixed upon me.
“Did you not hear me?” I demanded. “You may leave now.”
Keelin stepped forward. It seemed that she had taken a leadership role now that Branwyn was gone.
“I’m not sure that we can,” she answered quietly. “You see, we were called here, we believe by the goddess herself. We were all waked from the same dream and we were all led to this clearing, where we found Brennan tied to the altar. We have a purpose here.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I caught Brennan’s eye. He looked almost bemused and fairly satisfied with himself, triggering a memory. One of his gifts was willing something into existence. If he tried hard enough, he could sometimes make things happen… like giving all of these priestesses the same dream and making them come to the clearing. Of course they would believe that ‘the goddess’, my mother, had summoned him.
“Well done,” I told him grudgingly. He grinned.
“Thank you.”
“What do you mean, princess,” Keelin asked. As she moved slightly, something silver flashed in her hand.
“Why do you have a knife, Keelin?” I asked her. She pulled it from the folds of her dress.
“I know not,” she admitted. “I simply have it with me.”
I whirled and glared at Brennan. “Really? Without even saying goodbye to me? I mean so little to you?”
His grin was gone now and he looked pained.
“It was the only way I could bear it,” he admitted. “If I saw you, I knew my resolve would disappear. I have to do this, Em. I have to.”
“No. You. Don’t.” I was gritting my teeth so hard that I could hear the enamel on them groan. “You don’t understand.”
I turned back to the women. “Leave.”
“I don’t think we can,” Keelin answered quietly. She was brave, I’d give her that much. I looked her straight in the eye and practically growled.
“Leave.”
“No.”
“Yes,” Hades interjected. With his one word, the women began flying out of the clearing, tossed carelessly by something unseen. Hades. I glanced gratefully at him and took a moment to calm myself while he evacuated the women. After a minute, only Keelin remained, standing uncertainly in front of me.
“I’m sorry, princess,” Keelin offered limply. “We only sought to please your mother. I hope we haven’t offended you.”
“No, you have not,” I assured her. “You were trying to help and I understand that. But leave now.”
She nodded curtly. “Yes.”
She turned and joined the women huddled in the tree line, leading them away. None of them looked back. Circes remained.
“You can leave, too,” I told her. “I’m not sure who exactly you were trying to help or what you were trying to do. But you are relieved of it now.”
“You know,” she observed, studying my face. “You know the truth. Your truth.”
“Yes. I know that which has been kept from me for so long. Now please leave us.”
Circes crept around me, without another world. I think she could see on my face that I was in no mood for further discussion.
“What do you know?” Brennan asked curiously, his voice husky.
Glancing at Hades, I asked, “Can you give us a minute?”
He nodded silently and disappeared, leaving Brennan and I alone.
“What do you know?” Brennan asked me, his beautiful amber eyes trained on my face. He was at once impatient and reluctant to hear. I could feel it. I sank wearily down beside him on the stone, picking up his warm hand in mine. He was so warm, so very vital and beautiful. It felt as though I had been absent from the sun and now it was once again shining on me. It was such a warm and wonderful feeling.
“I learned something…. Something important,” I told him, stroking his fingers.
“Which is?” Brennan prompted. I lifted his head and propped it on my lap, hoping it would make him more comfortable. I found myself wishing I could free him. But instead, I explained what had just transpired in the Neitherworld. After a few minutes, my story had left him astonished. I could only imagine that I had looked the same way when I first discovered my true paternity.
“No,” Brennan breathed.
“Yes,” I nodded. “It’s true.”
“What does this mean?” he asked. “And can you please release me? I won’t do anything until we discuss it. You have my word.”
“When Hades comes back, we’ll release your bonds. Please forgive me for tying you. I just knew that you would try to sacrifice yourself. And I was right.”
I couldn’t keep the chastisement from my voice and he met my gaze firmly.
“You know I would do anything for you,” he said quietly. As quiet as he was, he voice still echoed in the night.
“I know,” I sighed. “Which is how I knew what you would do. Please, Brennan. You have to trust me. Going to Zeus isn’t going to save me and it certainly won’t save the mortal world. I’ve seen it. Hades showed me two versions of what will happen. One if we stand with him and one if we try to go it alone in the mortal world. Trust me, the latter ends very, very poorly.”
“Did he show you what would happen if I go to Zeus?” Brennan asked plaintively.
“No, he did not. Because I’m sure he knows that it isn’t an option for me,” I replied firmly. “It’s not an option, Brennan. I won’t lose you. Whatever we face, we’re going to face it together.”