“Four?” I said lamely, trying to change the subject. Shifting in my seat, I looked up again. “You need me to make some sort of wise decisions on your behalf or something?”
It was Seth’s turn to shift uncomfortably. “Sort of. Athena, we need you to convince the Titans, or the Watchers as you know them, to fight on the side of the Seekers.”
“And when you say we?”
Seth cleared his throat “I mean the powers that be. The archangels. Apparently you are the only one who will be able to convince them.”
His eyes hinted at something more.
I lowered my head. “Because of my father?”
He nodded.
“Right, so everyone expects me to sit quietly and plead our case to a Watcher in hopes that they will give up their horrid ways and turn to the Light? In what world is that even possible? And I’m sorry, Seth, I don’t care who my father is. You and everyone else are asking too much of me.”
“It’s your assignment,” Seth said calmly.
“I thought I was supposed to find out about my father’s new right-hand man and all that. I thought I had to get information about the Watchers and deliver it to the archangels, hopefully killing my way through downtown Seattle.” I nudged a noodle from my plate and sighed.
“So you’re upset because you don’t get to kill anyone?” Seth joked.
I rolled my eyes. “Yes, I live for blood. Didn’t you know?”
The moment seemed frozen as Seth leaned in. “I know more than you realize, Thena.” His voice sounded musical and familiar. His face contorted, turning into the most beautiful glow I’d ever seen. His eyes blazed with fire. “You are mine. You will do this, Thena. We need you to do this.”
Confused, I shook my head, and my eyes blurred; then Seth was next to me again. The normal Seth.
“Thena, are you okay? You look like you’ve just seen a ghost.” Seth patted my hand and smiled. “Sometimes I wonder about you and your little waking daydreams.” He got up from the couch and took the dish out of my shaking hands.
Why was it Seth always turned into that nightmare I had? Why him? Why not Adonis? I shook my head, trying to get the thoughts to jar from my brain.
“How many are we visiting?” I asked.
“The Watchers?” Seth clarified. “One. You will visit one. For now.”
“And the rest?”
Seth paced in front of me. “The rest follow. If you can get the one to stop this madness, or at least get him to side with you, then we have hope. We need them to understand the ramifications of bringing humans into the fight, of starting an all-out war between the Heavenlies. The theory is the rest of the Watchers will give up.”
“Right, because they’re known for making sound decisions.”
“I said in theory, Athena. Don’t be such a smart a—”
A yawn interrupted Seth’s crude remark, and I looked up. Adonis had just entered the room looking like he’d had the best sleep of his life. “Oh, pasta. Don’t mind if I do. Thanks, Seth.” He took a plate from Seth’s outstretched hand and piled a heap of pasta on it. “So, I take it you’ve told her then?”
I groaned out loud so nobody missed my frustration. “Adonis knows too?”
“Well, I do have some purpose, Athena.” He winked at me.
I contemplated throwing my pasta in his lap, as my eyes seared him with a hot glare.
“Besides, don’t you want my help when you start getting visitations?”
“Why does the word visitation have to sound so creepy, especially when you two say it? I am a grown woman, after all. I think I can handle a visitation. Even if it does suddenly feel like I’m in Dickens’s Christmas Carol, waiting for the Ghost of Christmas Past.”
Seth shared a look with Adonis before answering me. “Would it help for you to know that the Watchers are far more beautiful than any ghost in Dickens’s made-up story?”
“No.” I scowled and crossed my arms. “What would help is not being left in the dark anymore and getting my job done.”
“Fine.” Seth pulled a piece of paper out of his pocket. “As a marked one, I can’t do anything except help Adonis protect you. With both of our strengths, you should be able to hold your own against the Watchers.”
“Both of your strengths?” I looked at Adonis through pensive eyes. “Adonis?”
He lifted his shoulders as if to say, Sure why not? I’ll fight for you.
Perfect, I have a fallen angel and a beautiful enticer on my side. What do I have to fear? Oh right, death by Titan. Lovely.
Chapter Eleven