"So say you."
Groaning, Ash shrugged his backpack off his shoulder and manifested the journal inside it. One of the reasons he always kept a backpack with him was so that he could teleport things that he needed without arousing mortal suspicions. Since no one knew what was in his pack, they didn't know when he used his powers to get something he needed or wanted.
It also held the things that meant the most to him and kept them from harm. Ryssa's three journals that he'd found after Didymos had been destroyed, her hair comb and Simi's teething toy that Savitar had given him for her when she'd been a toddler. Her baby fang marks were forever etched into the wood. The backpack also held his mother's medallion wrapped in one of the black scarves that Simi had brought back from one of her many visits to Kalosis.
And Nick's soul that he'd traded to Artemis, that Artemis had then given to Acheron.
He pulled out Ryssa's journal and handed it to Tory. "Can you read it without your glasses?"
She sighed irritably. "Not a single word. I hate being blind. Any chance I can talk you into going to my house and getting my spare pair?"
"I can't leave you unattended. You know that."
"Then will you read it to me?"
Ash looked down at the leather as a sharp pain pierced his chest. It was hard to read Ryssa's words because with each one, he saw her clearly in his mind and heard her sweet, calm voice speaking to him.
And it cut him deep in his heart.
Tory touched his arm again. "Please, Achimou?"
A muscle worked in his jaw as her tender voice worked magic on his resolve. "You are the only being who's ever called me that."
"Well I'd call you babycakes, but I think that might offend you even more."
He smiled. "All right, stop the torture. I'll read."
Tory watched the blurry shadow that was Ash as he took a seat near her bed and opened the book. When he started reading, she closed her eyes and listened to the deep resonant tone of his voice. From the ease with which he translated as he read, one would have thought it was written in English. He didn't even hesitate with the words.
"Today I spoke to my father about visiting Atlantis."
Tory straightened up in the bed. "Atlantis?"
Ash cringed as he realized what he'd said. He'd actually forgotten he was reading to an outsider. Tory had become such a part of him that he actually wanted to confide in her. "Yeah, that's what it says."
"See! I told you it was real!"
He had to calm her down. "It doesn't mean anything. For all you know this is an ancient Bridget Jones's Diary."
She scoffed. "They didn't have novels back then."
"History says they didn't have books, yet what's this thing in my hand? It's square, bound paper that's been written on. Looks like a book to me."
"Thank you, Captain Sarcasm. How nice of you to join us again. Can we get back to the story?"
"Just don't throw another hammer at me," he mumbled under his breath before he returned to the book. "Today I spoke to my father about visiting Atlantis and as usual it made him angry. Our negotiations with them aren't going well. Uncle sent word that war could break out again at any moment. But I don't understand why it's too dangerous for me to visit there while my brother and uncle live there. Surely it's not safe for . . ." Ash paused as he saw his name mentioned, "my brother. I can't stand not seeing him. The letters he sends aren't enough for me. I want—" Ash choked on the words on the page as pain hit him hard in his chest.—my brother home with me. Someone needs to make sure Acheron is kept safe from harm and though Uncle swears he's fine, I wish I could make sure of it for myself.
"She wants what?" Tory prompted.
"My eyes are hurting," he lied. "I think it's the lighting. Can we pick this up later?"
Tory frowned at the odd note in his voice. It sounded like he was choking on tears, but that didn't make sense. "If you wish."
"Cool. I'll just return it to my backpack." He got up and rustled around in it.
"Ash?" she asked after a couple of seconds.
"What?"
"Did anyone call my family?"
"I don't know. You want me to ask?"
"Please. I don't want my family invading when I feel fine. Especially not while we have insane people chasing us. I would die if one of them got caught in the crossfire."
"Okay. I'll go get Kim and find out. If you need anyone . . ." He put the hospital buzzer in her hand. "I know you can't see well so if you get scared at all, buzz the nurse and I'll be right back."
His concern touched her. "Got it."
Tory sat in the silence, processing everything that'd happened today. The things she'd learned and those she still only suspected about Ash. Not to mention the fact that she now knew she had people out to end her life any way they could over something she didn't even possess.
What was she going to do?
Ash returned a few minutes later. "Kim spoke to your grandfather and Aunt Del. She said they want you to call them as soon as you can." Ash stepped close enough that she could see him.