Maybe it wasn't his godhood . . . maybe it was because they were from different pantheons. "Have you ever met an Atlantean god?"
Exasperated, she flicked her hands at him so hard that her nails actually made a popping sound. "Why are you so inquisitive today?"
"Why are you getting angry over such simple questions?"
"Because I want to spend time with you without that thing attached to you. Could we put him in a cage?"
Acheron was aghast. "Artemis!"
"What? He'd be safe there."
"He'd cry and be scared."
"Fine." She pushed herself to her feet and glared at them. "I'll come back when you're free of him." She vanished instantly.
Apollodorus stared up at him curiously. Acheron patted the boy on the back as he shook his head.
"Well Appie, that was your Aunt Artemis in all her glory."
Art-ee-miss.
He smiled at the boy's attempt to pronounce it in his head. "Close enough. Not that it really matters. I don't think she's going to be around much for you."
Ackee be with Appie.
His smile widened at the way Apollodorus pronounced his name. "Ackee will always be with you."
Giggling, Apollodorus curled up in his lap and laid his head down. Acheron stroked his small back and before he knew it, the baby was asleep.
He picked him up and held him against his shoulder where the sound of the baby's soft snore kept the rest of the world away from his head. He was at peace with the universe right now and wondered if his mother would have held him like this.
For the first time in his life, he thought that she might. At least his real mother.
Apollymi.
Apollymi continued to pace as Xiamara stood, watching her. "That Greek goddess keeps seeing my son. Do you think we could use her to protect him?"
Xiamara hesitated. Perhaps she shouldn't have kept everything from her friend, but if Apollymi knew the full extent of Apostolos's human life there was no telling what she might do. "I don't know, akra. The Greeks aren't like us and Artemis isn't all that powerful within their pantheon. She would be afraid I think to protect him."
Apollymi growled in frustration. "We have to do something."
"I can bring him here, but the moment I do, Archon and the others will descend on us and attack."
"I have no fear. Once I'm free, I can defeat them, plus we have your army. But with Apostolos . . . they would attack him and one of them might kill him while we're occupied with others."
That had been the only reason Apollymi had run from them while pregnant. Fear for the baby had kept her from battling. One stray strike and it could have ended her son's life. It was a risk she'd never take.
"Should I summon a Chthonian?"
Apollymi paused at the question and her heart wrenched. Though the Chthonians were usually human in birth, they possessed the powers of the gods and functioned as a sort of police unit for the various pantheons. They kept order and prevented all-out war between the gods. Even so, they had their own agendas which weren't always in the best interest of the universe and definitely not in her best interest. "I don't trust them. They're as likely to kill Apostolos to keep peace as save him. I won't take that chance." Frustration welled inside her. So long as Apostolos was in human form, he was vulnerable. He could be killed so easily right now . . . How could she get her son to her without jeopardizing his life?
Jaden . . .
She turned to look at Xiamara.
"Akra," she said in a chiding tone. "You're not thinking what I think you're thinking, are you?"
"Jaden could be bartered with to bring Apostolos here. But I would need a demon to summon him." She gave Xiamara a knowing look.
Jaden was a broker who made deals between demons and the primary source of the universe. His power equaled if not excelled that of a god. If ever there was a being who could protect and return her son to her, he was it.
"You know there is nothing I wouldn't do for you, Apollymi. But Jaden is unpredictable. Even if he takes the bargain, we'd have to offer him something supreme for this."
Honestly, she didn't care. She'd give anything for her son. "What would he take in exchange for his services?"
"There's no telling."
Apollymi stalked toward her pond where she could spy on the universe through its waters. She could have even used it to check in on Apostolos as he grew to manhood, but her fear for his safety had kept her from it. If Archon knew when she was watching her son, he'd have been able to use the pond to find Apostolos himself. Even now she didn't dare use it to see her son. It was a risk she refused to take.
She raised the water from the pond to form an iridescent ball in the air. There in the center, she focused her powers to find Jaden and see what it was he wanted most.
Dark shadows swirled and twisted. Then they began to take form . . .
Just as it would have been recognizable, it dissolved. Apollymi cursed. The power that owned him wouldn't allow her to see how to control him.