Moving to Cadmus’ side, I snuggled against him. “We should sleep, husband.”
He looked at me affectionately. “You go first, my love. Someone needs to keep watch.”
Ortrera piped up.
“Cadmus, my warriors and I will take turns. You should attend to Harmonia. She looks as exhausted as Aphrodite.”
“Are you certain?” he raised a dark eyebrow.
“Of course,” she nodded. “I’m not even tired.”
The lines of exhaustion on her face belied her words, but it would be useless to argue. The Amazons took pride in their fierce fortitude.
“Very well,” he patted her toned shoulder. “But should you need me, let me know.”
She nodded silently, taking her place at the door. She never asked her warriors to do anything that she herself wouldn’t do. So it was just like her to take the first watch.
I retreated to a back corner and tried to make a comfortable sleeping area out of the contents of my knapsack. The end result was no feather mattress, but it would do. Cadmus plunked down on it first, stretching his long legs out and opening his arms.
“I’ve been waiting all day for this,” he grinned, his teeth brilliantly white. “Come here.”
I gladly sank to the floor and folded into his embrace. He clutched me to his chest and I reveled in his strength. I had never felt safer anywhere than I did in his arms. It was like home to me.
“I love you more than life, Harmonia,” he murmured against the top of my head. “I would move the heavens and the earth for you. I hope you know that.”
I nodded. Of course I knew it. He had killed dragons for me.
“Cadmus, if it wasn’t for you, I don’t know how I would have made it through everything that I have. You’ve kept me strong and have given me a reason to keep trying. You are my strength. I thank you for that.”
“Oh, my sweet,” he brushed his lips against the side of my neck before pulling me even closer. “You are stronger than all of us. You just don’t realize it. Sleep now, though. You need the rest. Do not worry. I’ll protect you with my life.”
I nodded as my eyes fluttered closed with a will of their own. I would have liked to stay awake just a little longer, to enjoy being close to my husband. We had not been able to enjoy intimacy of this sort lately- everything had been so chaotic. But my body wouldn’t hear of it. I was too tired to stay awake.
Before I knew it, I was standing with Ahmose. His black robes billowed around him and he was staring at me intently. I looked around in confusion before realization set in and I groaned. I was dream-walking. My least favorite thing to do.
I sighed and turned to him. “Why are you here, Ahmose? I should be sleeping soundly. I’m more exhausted than I have ever been.”
“Of course you are,” he agreed, gazing at me sympathetically. “More than you even know.”
“What do you mean by that?”I narrowed my eyes suspiciously. His own were glinting with hidden knowledge. I had seen that look from him a million times. “What is it?”
“Ah, Harmonia. You know that nothing can ever be easy for you.”
“And nothing ever is,” I scowled. “But what are you speaking of right now?”
I was impatient and I instantly regretting snapping at him. He had died for me before after all. “I’m sorry. What are you talking about?”
“I’m concerned for you, Harmonia, but I’m even more worried for your mother. You both are going to have to take great care. You’re in danger there.”
I rolled my eyes. “We’re in the Underworld. We’re all in danger.”
“It’s more than that,” he continued patiently. “You and your mother are goddesses who live on positive energy. You require peacefulness to feed your spirit and your mother requires the energy of love. You’re currently in a place where that kind of energy simply doesn’t exist. Erebus is neutral. The only emotional energy you will receive there will be from the few people surrounding you. It’s not enough. Particularly for your mother- Love is a stronger energy and without it…well, your mother is in danger.”
Shock hit me like a wave. Of course- it made perfect sense. No wonder my mother and I could hardly stay awake. Our energy was being drained from us.
“You’re right,” I whispered. “She was very weak tonight. She could barely stay awake and frankly, neither could I. What can we do?”
He stared at me, his black eyes glinting. “You can leave. It’s the only thing that will ultimately help you. In the meantime, I sent you butterflies. Did you receive them? They bring with them energy from the mortal world. It’s not enough to make you feel normal, but it is enough to keep you alive. Your energy will be recharged in Hades’ palace but once you leave there, you will be in peril once again. You must hurry and return to the Spiritlands or there will be dire consequences.”
“Why didn’t someone tell us this before?” I demanded. “This would have been good to know.”
“Would it have stopped you from going?” he answered calmly and I swallowed. Of course it would not have and he knew it.
“See?” he answered. “It wouldn’t have mattered. But I am telling you now.”
“So, you’re telling me that bugs will keep us alive?”
He stared at me. “They are ethereal creatures, Harmonia. They will keep you alive. And when you drain their energy, I will send you more.”
“Why are things surrounding me always so strange?” I demanded. “I feel like I’m Alice in Wonderland half of the time.”
“It is what it is,” he shrugged. He was in his original form right now, ancient and stooped. His head was shaved bald and his hands were gnarled and old, his fingernails so long that they curled into his palm. I had always wondered why he chose this form- when he could appear as anything or anyone that he wished. But that was neither here nor there right now.
“How are things there?” I asked, changing the subject. “They have told us here that Hecate betrayed us and they dragged her away. Do you know anything about that?”
He looked away. “Not enough to be of help, but I’ll continue to hunt. Eris and I have found nothing of use for you,” he admitted. “We have searched through the old writings with Medea and Circes and there is simply nothing of consequence.”
“Why is Eris trying to be helpful?” I was instantly suspicious of my old nemesis. She and I were polarized goddesses. She was the goddess of strife and discord and I was the goddess of peace. We weren’t meant to get along, yet in Camelot she had uncharacteristically assisted us. I had not yet had a chance to try to figure that out.