I should have the bastard beaten, except it would cast a pall on Styxx's party. That smug prick . . . The king withdrew and closed his door.
Acheron shook his head, trying to clear it of the king's thoughts. He picked up Ryssa's gift to study it. How ironic that she would give him this tonight. It was as if his mother had somehow guided her to it.
"Apostolos?"
He froze at the hesitant female voice he'd heard so many times in his life and thought himself mad. "Matera?"
"My baby. I swear I will avenge you. But we must be careful. Xiamara will return and show you how to use your powers. Leave them alone for now so that Archon can't find you. Stay hidden and when the others have ceased their machinations, she will lead you to me and I will make sure no one ever hurts you again. I swear it on my life."
He felt the lightest whisper of air against his cheek . . . like a small caress before the air was still again.
Clenching his teeth, he felt the pain overwhelm him. His mother loved him . . . His real mother.
He wanted to see her desperately. To know, just once, what it felt like to have a parent look on him the way the king looked at Styxx or Ryssa. With pride. With love.
I'm wanted.
More than that, Artemis would no longer have to be ashamed of him. While it was unseemly for a goddess to be with a whore, there was nothing shameful about being with another god.
She could love him openly . . .
He wanted to shout in joy. Holding Ryssa's bracelet to his chest, he smiled at the thought of telling Artemis what had happened to him. Surely she'd be thrilled.
How could she not?
Yet he still had a strange sense of foreboding that warned him he should be afraid of what tomorrow would bring.
June 24, 9527 BC
Acheron paced the floor, desperate for Artemis to appear so that he could surprise her with his newfound role. The morning had been interesting as he discovered new things about himself. He could move objects with nothing more than a thought. Like Artemis, he could teleport outside and back in. Granted his mother had told him not to use these powers, but honestly he couldn't help it. They were much more in control of him than the other way around.
And still he heard the voices from the people around him and even off in far lands. Sometimes so loud the pain of it drove him to his knees. Every single thought. The entire world was laid bare at his feet.
The only peace he had was around Apollodorus whose desires were simple. Eat, sleep and be held and loved. There was so much solace in simply holding his nephew that it eased all the other voices screaming at him and allowed Acheron to focus and ground himself.
"Acheron?"
He turned around as Ryssa exploded into his room in a flurry with Apollodorus in her arms. Apollo is such an ass. I'm so tired of being his plaything or food. He thinks I have no purpose but to come to him the moment he snaps his fingers. "I have to go for a little bit. Could you please watch Apollodorus? His nurse can't get him to stop fussing and I can't tend him right now." His father is a selfish pig who thinks I'm his trained bitch. "I hope you don't mind."
Acheron shook his head in an effort to determine what he heard with his ears versus his mind. It was extremely disconcerting. "I don't mind." He took Apollodorus from her arms.
Mama? Hold me . . .
Acheron tightened his grip on his nephew. "I have him. Don't worry."
"Thank you." I don't know what I'd do without you, akribos. You're the only one I can depend on. The rest of them are worthless. "I'll be back as soon as I can." She placed a quick kiss on Apollodorus's head, then ran out of the room, cursing Apollo with every step.
He looked at his nephew who was watching him curiously. "I had no idea your mother knew such language."
Apollodorus laughed as if he understood. Theo play with me?
"Absolutely." Acheron knelt on the floor and put him on his feet so that Apollodorus could hold onto him and walk.
Appie love theo.
Acheron smiled at the boy's nickname for himself. Appie loves his uncle. He treasured those words. Closing his eyes, he tried to see the man his nephew would grow into, but as with Ryssa, he saw nothing. It was so odd. Everyone who came near him, he saw their future with utmost clarity.
Why not those closest to him?
Apollodorus fell back on his rump to suck his thumb.
"So what shall the two of us do while your mama is away?"
Tickle belly.
Acheron laughed. "All right." He obliged and Apollodorus squealed in delight. He rolled onto his back and kicked his legs while he held Acheron's hand to his stomach.
The pure simplicity of his nephew's joy and love touched him so deep inside that he wanted to hold the child for the rest of eternity and keep him safe. There was nothing he loved more than this one tiny being. He prayed it would always be like this between them. That no hurtful words or actions would drive them apart.