Poseidon (The God Chronicles) (21 page)

As I looked in the mirror at my shimmering, blue dress, anxiousness was eating at me. Even here, on Mount Olympus, as I readied to end my life as I knew it, I couldn’t stop thinking about why Sy would have given me, of all people, his powers. Was it because he loved and trusted me? Or was it because I was there and he didn’t want Amphitrite to get them?

“Stop,” I grumbled to myself, biting a fingernail.

“You look beautiful.”

I turned and saw Karly in the door, wearing a beautiful dress of her own.

“Thank you,” I said, turning back to my reflection.

“How are you feeling?”

“Honestly? I’m scared.”

“I know how that feels,” she laughed. “At least you weren’t getting married the same day! I had my wedding and reception at home, plus the celebration here, and then I had the whole oath ceremony.”

“Yeah,” I
conceded weakly, only half listening.

“I know how you feel,” she
reminded me, coming up behind me. “It’s hard to know if you’re doing the right thing, taking all those powers. Anything could happen really. Your life will never go back to how it was.

“It’s okay to be scared though. People like Zeus were born into this. They didn’t get to decide what they
wanted; they just had to accept it. They don’t really understand how hard it is to give up a real, normal life. They see what they have as the ultimate existence. We see it as the ultimate sacrifice for those we love and the world we live in.”

She placed a hand on my shoulder, smiling at me through the mirror. I placed my own over hers and squeezed it thankfully, sharing my own grin.

“It’s nice to know there’s at least one person who understands most of what I’m going through.”

“You’re my sister now,” she said, backing towards the door. “Anything you need, I’ll be there.”

“Thanks,” I said weakly.

“I’ll wait for you in the hall, okay?”

“Yeah. I’ll be out in a minute.”

She turned and left, the door
softly clicking closed behind her.

I took another deep breath and glanced over my reflection once more. I looked like a Goddess, thanks to the help of a few of them. Now it was time to become one.

The Underworld glittered with fairy lights, giving it a happy feeling completely opposite from the last time I’d been there. There were Gods milling around, making it seem like we were at a reception more than anything else. As Karly and I walked through the threshold, they all stopped what they were doing and bowed—all of them except for one man.

He was wearing a cape over his golden tunic, a lightning bolt buckle at his waist. His hair was styled perfectly, finishing off the entire
authoritative look he possessed. 

“
Audrey! I’m very happy to meet you.” The man—who couldn’t have been anyone other than Zeus—walked forward and grasped my hand, pulling me into a bone-crunching hug. “My wife tells me you are quite the woman.”

“She’s too kind,” I said, blushing.

“I believe her,” he brushed aside my modesty. “Especially if you were lucky enough to hold my brother’s heart.” He looked down at the ground then, sadness overtaking his features. “I am happy to welcome you to our family,” he said quietly. “But I am saddened by the circumstances that brought us here tonight.”

“Me too,” I whispered.

“You’ll be great,” he encouraged, clearing his throat and grinning again. “Knock ‘em—er—dead.”

“Zeus,” Karly scolded.

“Bad joke,” he said apologetically. “Hey, Hades!”

“I’m sorry,” Karly
apologized as he walked away. “He thinks he’s a comic genius. I think he has terrible timing. It’s also his way of coping.”

“It’s fine,” I said with a weak smile.

We greeted a few more Gods, most of whom I recognized from their stories. I felt inadequate, being included in with all of the pillars of history. Even my name didn’t match in with theirs. Karly stayed by me the whole time, more than aware of what I was going through. I couldn’t express to her how much it meant to me.

Eventually, I found myself kneeling at the river’s edge, the Fates standing around me as they read off the vow. I repeated what they said, staring
straight ahead, waiting to feel different somehow.

As we neared the end of the ceremony and I was done spouting out words, I felt a weird tugging at the back of my head, like someone had grabbed one strand of hair and was pulling it over and over again. I lost my focus, eyes clouding over while a prickling sensation covered my entire body. When it vanished, I could suddenly feel where everyone was standing on the ground.

It was like the Earth had a heartbeat, pulsing images into my mind. Everywhere something that wasn’t from nature touched the ground, I saw a void in the shape of that item or person. It was so strong that I could even see every soul on the far away landmass behind Hades castle.

My eyes finally cleared and
I looked forward, getting caught up in the water. I could see every piece of it—currents, particulates, everything. The emotions I’d been warned about kicked right in when I realized I could see Sy in every part of the water, spread out just like when he’d dissolved in my arms.

I cried the worst tears I’d ever
experienced in my life.

“
Audrey, what’s wrong?” Karly asked, coming to my side.

“You didn’t tell me that I would see him in the water,” I cried. “What kind of joke is this, to convince me into taking these powers knowing I would have to see the man I loved, dead every day
?” I exclaimed through my tears.

“What are you talking about?” Karly asked, shock covering her face.

“You can see Poseidon in the water?” Hades asked, coming forward.

“Of course I can!” I yelled. “Don’t all of you act so innocent!”

“When a God dies, it ceases to exist,” Zeus said slowly, joining us at the front.

“There isn’t anything left,” Hades added.

“Audrey, walk out into the water where you see him,” Zeus ordered.

“Why?” I hiccupped, my emotions tipping in another direction.

“Just do it and I’ll explain,” he urged.

“Fine,” I grumbled, pushing up to my feet.

I didn’t bother picking up my dress and waded out into the water. Everything prickled against my skin and I had the sudden sensation of falling. As I looked down, I noticed myself dissolving in the same manner I’d seen before.

“What’s happening?” I said,
panicked. “I don’t know how to stop!”

“
Audrey!” Karly called, stepping out into the water. “Concentrate! Will yourself to stay the way you want.”

I couldn’t do it though. I watched as I slowly became part of the water, wishing I could stay that way and be with Sy without suffering. Within moments, I was all liquid, part of the river as it washed along the bank. I found I could still control where I went though, so I swam to Sy.

He was simply floating, letting the water dictate his direction. He didn’t even look like himself—all I could see was a different tint of color in one area, but I knew it was him. My powers told me it wasn’t anything natural. I could also feel his personality oozing from the spot. I’d noticed that on land as well, feeling the tendencies of each God as they stood around me. It felt a bit like reading auras.

Finally, I was with what remained of my soul mate. My newly tied emotions felt a rainbow of things—joy, hate, and
despair, among others. I was so stupid to not realize he was part of nature! Of course he would be here. I would probably see part of him in everything. Why hadn’t I thought of that before? I’d condemned myself to a life of misery. There would never be a time that he wouldn’t be with me.

Calm settled over me as I thought about it. John could never be with me again, but Sy would always be with me. I would still be alone, but parts of him would stay by my side. I could like that if I let myself.

I gave the equivalent of a sigh and concentrated on becoming a human form again, all the while wishing I could bring Sy with me.

Slowly
, but surely, I became myself again, standing waist deep in the river, my dress shimmering out around me.

“
Audrey!” Karly cried out in shock, frozen in place knee deep into the water.

“I’m fine,” I sighed, taking a step further.

The Gods behind her all looked to be in shock as well, not moving an inch as I came forward.

“What’s wrong?” I asked in confusion.

Suddenly, Zeus ran forward, throwing off his fur cape and barreling into the river. He swam right for me, an unknown expression on his face.

I didn’t know what to do, so I froze as well. Had I done something wrong?

When he reached me, he kept on going, zipping past me with abnormal speed. I turned to watch him and my heart caught in my throat.

Sy was in the water, but not like I’d seen him before. He was actually there, being grabbed up by his brother.

“Sy!” I cried out, the ground shaking a tiny bit.

I hurried to him the best I could, pushing through the water. Frustration pulled at me as I sunk into the mud. Willing myself faster, I somehow managed to create a small wave that pushed me forward.

I wrapped my arms around him as soon as I was close enough, taking him from Zeus. With another push, we were all on the shore, crowded around a God who should be dead.

“Is he alive?” I asked fearfully.

“He has to be,” Zeus said. “If he wasn’t, he wouldn’t be here.”

My eyes swept over Sy, looking for the injuries I’d seen him leave with. His skin was smooth and
unscarred, like it had never been touched by anything.

“I don’t understand,” I said. “I saw him get stabbed in the heart. He was dying in my arms.”

“I don’t know how to explain this either,” Karly said, looking at Zeus.

“The water from this river is the only thing that can kill us when attached to a weapon,” Zeus said, looking up from Sy. “But it’s also the thing that can save us from that. I’m not sure how he ended up here
though.”

The wheels in my head started to turn as I thought about what could have happened.

“Gods can magically appear anywhere, right?” I asked.

“Not in here,” Hades said from behind Karly. “They have to come through the gate.”

Sy’s eyes started to flutter and Zeus held everyone back, trying to let him have some space. When I finally saw the blue pupils staring up at everyone, I started crying in earnest and laughing, each wave hitting me harder and harder.

“
Audrey,” Sy said, his gaze finally resting on me. “You found me.”

I
fell to the ground next to him and buried myself into his side.

“It’s okay,” he said, wrapping his arm around me and stroking my hair. “I’m okay.”

“What happened?” Zeus asked, grasping his brother by the hand.

“I knew if I could get here I would live,” Sy said simply. “But I didn’t know if I would make it. I gave
Audrey my powers and kept enough for myself to make the journey. I knew you’d ask her to take my place and she would find me here. It didn’t seem likely that anyone else would recognize me floating around out there.”

“How did you get here though?” Hades butted in.

“All water is connected,” Sy said. “I just had to tell the current where to take me.”

“That would explain how Amphitrite ended up with the dagger in the first place,” Karly said, nodding. “She was part of the sea. She had the power with her all along.”

“You’re beautiful,” Sy said softly to me, pushing the hair from my face.

I cried harder, unable to stop the torrent of emotions slapping me in the face.

“Oh no,” he laughed. “It’s hard to handle, I know. You’ll get used to it though.”

“I’m so happy you’re alive,” I cried.

“Me too,” he laughed, hugging me tighter. “It is weird to not have all my powers though. I’ve never seen this place without them. It’s kind of boring. I’m a little thrown off not being able to see anyone either.”

“Take them back,” I said, sniffling. “They’re yours.”

“He can’t,” Zeus said. “They’re yours forever now.”

“What do you mean?” I asked, looking up at him.

“You can’t pass on your powers unless you’re dying,” Sy said softly. “And we don’t want that ever happening.”

“What will we do then?” I asked. “You can’t be the God of the ocean without your powers.”

“I’ve thought about that, too,” Sy said.

He stood up, pulling me with him. Our hands remained
intertwined the entire time—I didn’t ever want to let go of him again.

“Amphitrite had gained the same power as me during my
absence. She is dead now, which means that power is floating around, unclaimed. I request it be given to me.”

Sy waited patiently for Zeus to reply, no emotions of any kind on his face.