chapter 34
“Lower your weapons,” the one Sentinel said again. He was tall and older, maybe in his forties, and apparently was used to being listened to.
Gods, it was truly possible for a crappy situation to get even crappier.
Aiden was the first to lower his daggers, placing them on the ground beside his feet. Then he rose slowly, lifting his hands. I knew he carried more weapons on him, and I hoped the other men didn’t realize that. Following suit, I got rid of my daggers, but left the gun shoved in the back of my waistband just in case.
The Sentinel in charge stalked forward, keeping his gun leveled on Solos, which I thought was kind of funny. Out of the four of us, he really should’ve had that gun pointed on me.
Then I realized he didn’t know who I was. Part of me relaxed, because if they were playing for Team Evil, I was sure they would have had pictures of my face plastered across their bedroom walls.
Marcus prepared to speak again, but the Sentinel’s eyes narrowed in warning. “I heard where you said you were from and that you mean no harm, but please tell me how we’re supposed to believe that.”
Good question. I glanced at my uncle, brows raised.
“We were a part of the group that escaped Deity Island,” Marcus said.
“Well, obviously,” replied the Sentinel.
I sort of liked this dude, gun pointed in our faces notwithstanding. A muscle flexed in Marcus’ jaw. “We are not working with Lucian or the First. I am not sure how to prove that to your standards, but we have traveled far to come here and have lost one of our own, courtesy of the automatons guarding this place. We are not your enemy here. We want the same thing, to stop Lucian and the First. Sentinel Mathias was on his way here. He should’ve arrived with news of our travels.”
“If this Sentinel was set to reach here within the last twenty-four hours, then he’s among the poor souls beyond the wall.” The leader’s gaze drifted over us. “No one has made it past them for over a day, which makes me curious how your group has.”
I hadn’t met the Sentinel who’d arrived while Aiden and I had been in the Underworld, but it sucked to hear that he was now among the dead.
“They turned on you then?” Aiden asked calmly. “They weren’t guarding the campus?”
At first I didn’t think the half-blood was going to answer, but he did. “The automatons were guarding the campus up until about a day ago, and then they started firing upon those seeking sanctuary here. We tried to stop them, and we ended losing half of the first wall and many lives. So again, I am curious to how a group consisting of teenagers and two untrained pure-bloods could’ve made it past them.”
“I’m the Apollyon,” I said, squaring my shoulders. “That might have something to do with it.”
Every damn gun went straight to me, and I wondered if that’d been the best thing to say. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Aiden start to move toward me.
“It’s okay,” I added quickly, keeping my hands out in front of me. “I’m the good Apollyon, as in the one who doesn’t want to take out the Council and kill the gods.”
The Sentinel in charge didn’t look relieved or awed. Instead, he appeared ticked off and like he really wanted to put a bullet between my eyes. Which wasn’t good, because I was pretty sure Aiden was already calculating the time it would take for him to pull his gun and take out this Sentinel.
Bullets were about to fly—just as the sun started to crest, too, and wouldn’t that really gore up a beautiful sunrise?
“Half of the Sentinels and Guards who have sided with the First are looking for you, and you came here?” Anger flashed in the Sentinel’s eyes. “Do you have a death wish?”
Good thing I hadn’t mentioned that Seth and I were still sort of connected. “Actually, I don’t have a death wish. And you can shoot me if it makes you feel better, but it’s not going to kill me.”
He looked like he was seconds from finding out.
I took a deep breath, trying to keep a grip on my temper. “Look, I get your unwillingness to house me. I understand that, but you need me—you need us—because we took out those automatons and we can protect you. Not to mention I’m the only one who can stop any of this. So if you throw us out to the wolves, you’re sealing your own fates.”
The Sentinel stiffened but said nothing.
“And you have to realize this isn’t about a pure-blood’s thirst for power. This is bigger than that. Only a god could’ve turned those automatons. Not Lucian, and not the First. And that god is going to wipe out anyone who stands in his way.”
I gave my best smile, the one that usually got me out of trouble or ticked off those on the receiving end of it. “And that god isn’t the only one you’re going to have to worry about. There’s another one who goes by the name Apollo—yeah, that Apollo—and he’s going to be pretty pissed if you turn us away. See, we’re kind of related and he sort of likes me.”
Someone swore under his breath.
My smile tipped higher. “Just one more thing—you hurt any of my friends, you’re going to seriously regret doing so. Get my drift? So let’s all play nice and become best friends forever.”
“I think we should let them in,” one of the Sentinels said.
“Sounds like a smart idea.” Dark humor laced Aiden’s tone. “You might want to get your gun off my brother’s face while you’re at it.”
No one moved for a second, and I seriously hoped this guy didn’t call my bluff. I wasn’t sure I could do much in terms of the Apollyon thing, but luckily he raised a hand and the guns disappeared.
I let out a relieved breath.
“I hope I don’t regret this,” the Sentinel said, slipping his gun back into his holster. Then he extended a hand, much to my surprise. “My name is Dominic Hyperion.”
My brows rose as I took his hand. He had a firm shake.
“Hyperion?” said Marcus. “Interesting last name.”
Dominic grinned wryly. “I guess someone had a sense of humor, taking the surname of a Titan.”
“I guess so,” I murmured, relieved to see my friends no longer had guns pointed at their heads.
Stalking past me, Dominic stopped at the gate. “So you guys really took out the automatons?”
“Unless they send more, you should be free of them,” Solos answered.
“That is good.” The half paused. “You say you lost one?”
Olivia cleared her throat. “Yes. She was only eighteen, training to be a Sentinel. Her name was Lea.”
Dominic’s chin tipped down. “I am sorry for what you all have lost. The gods know we can sympathize with what you’re feeling.” With that said, he turned back to the gate. “Please follow me.”
“So you really can stop the First?” another Sentinel asked. He was younger than Dominic, around Aiden’s age. A certain gleam filled his eyes when I nodded. “Well, I’m sure there’re a lot of people beyond these gates who’ll be happy to hear that.”
“Do tell?” asked Aiden, who suddenly was by my side. He placed an arm over my shoulders, and I sent him a curious look.
The Sentinel’s eyes about popped out of his face as they landed on the overly possessive arm of Aiden’s. “You’re a—and you are a—”
Oh, dear.
Aiden smiled, his eyes a dark gray. “We’re what?”
“No. No. It’s just…” The Sentinel looked back at equally flabbergasted halfs. No one came to his aid. “It’s nothing. Never mind. Bigger problems, eh?”
“Yeah, bigger problems…” There was a clear, cold warning in Aiden’s voice as he steered me around.
The gate was opening as Aiden’s arm slid off my shoulder, drifting across my back, leaving a wave of shivers in its wake. Dominic went through first, followed by Marcus and then Solos.
I stopped, twisting back to the bug-eyed Sentinel. “You said others would be happy to hear that I knew how to… stop the First? Who would that be?”
Dear gods, the guy looked at Aiden first before answering. “Before the automatons went crazy, a handful of groups made it in from other locations, including the Catskills.”
My heart stopped. “Council members and Sentinels?”
When he nodded, I was close to doing the Muppet arm-thing. I hadn’t let myself consider was that my father could have been one of those burnt corpses lining the road, but knowing that some had made it to the University safely sparked hope deep in my chest. It didn’t ease the tight pain of Lea’s loss, but it was something to go on.
It was something, and that was better than nothing.
As dawn crept across the lush meadow, throwing light over the tiny blue wildflowers, we reached our destination. The University campus was large, spreading between two mountain peaks like its own little town in a hammock. I imagined it was like any other college in size and atmosphere, but that was where the similarities ended.
Early-morning light reflected off the large sandstone buildings modeled after the ancient coliseums. Courtyards were filled with what seemed like every flower and tree known to man, scenting the air. Statues of the Muses guarded one academic building, while sculptures of the Olympian Twelve lined the road. Dorms that looked like mini-skyscrapers rose in the background, housing potentially thousands of students.
It was so like Deity Island, but on a much larger scale, that there was a pang in my chest.
In the center of the campus was what I assumed was their Council building, and that was where we were heading. Muscles in my legs ached, and visions of beds were dancing in my head, but I forced myself to keep going instead of sitting down in the middle of the road and going to sleep.
Busts of the Olympian Twelve were carved into the marble and sandstone structure. It was circular, like an indoor amphitheater, and a cold shiver rolled down my spine. I don’t know what it was about the Council buildings that always freaked me out, but they did.
As we climbed up the steps, I saw the statue of Themis and almost laughed. Her scales were balanced, but in whose favor?
There seemed to be no one else moving around as we entered the brightly lit lobby. Students were probably still asleep, if they were even continuing with classes. Hell, I didn’t even know what day it was. It might’ve been the weekend for all I knew.
Dominic led us around another cluster of statues, and by then I was so getting tired of seeing them and, of course, we headed up a never-ending flight of stairs. Not even the damn University could throw some money at an elevator.
It was when we were heading down a wide hallway, and I saw the Guards standing before double doors sheathed in titanium, that I knew where we were heading.
“The dean’s office,” I said.
Dominic nodded at the Guards, and then they moved as a unit, opening the heavy doors. My first glimpse of the office really struck home. It was nearly identical to Marcus’. Lush. Spacious. Tons of expensive-looking leather furniture, including a big old desk that probably made someone feel powerful and all kinds of special. There was even an aquarium built into the wall behind the desk, with vibrant fish zooming back and forth.
I glanced at Marcus and saw that his face was impressively blank. Months ago I would’ve believed that Marcus just didn’t feel anything, but now I knew better. Seeing this office had to bring forth memories both good and a buttload of bad, and I sincerely felt for him.
A door opened to our left, and a tall man with ice-blond hair and startling blue eyes entered the room. He was dressed like Marcus used to—a poster child for Golf Club of the Month. Behind him, a smaller figure entered and my mouth dropped open.
“Diana,” Marcus gasped, and then shot forward.
A wide, beautiful smile spread across the Minister’s face. I’d met her while I’d been at the Covenant in the Catskills, and she had been the Minister to stand against Telly by voting against me being placed into servitude.
So, yeah, I liked the woman.
Marcus clasped her hands in his and it seemed like he wished to do more—maybe pull her into his arms, hug her… kiss her like a man who’d never expected to see her again.
“I am so… thankful to see that you’ve made it here safely.” Marcus’ voice was gruff and heavy with unspoken emotion. He so had a thing for this woman. “So very thankful.”
Pink stained the woman’s cheeks. “As I am to see you here.”
The Dean cleared his throat. “I was unaware that you were familiar with my sister, Dean Andros.”
Sister? Oh… oh, awkward.
Marcus let go of Diana’s hands and faced the man. “We are… friends, Dean Elders. She’s a lovely woman, but as much as I’d like to list her glowing attributes, that is not why we are here.”
My brows inched up my forehead.
The Dean’s lips twitched as if he wished to smile. “I am also grateful to see that you have made it here safely. Not many have recently.”
“That is what we have heard and seen.” Marcus clasped his hands behind his back, throwing me headfirst into memories of him in an office very similar to this, where he’d been about to lay into me for something stupid that I’d done.
He made a quick round of introductions. The Dean seemed measurably surprised when Marcus announced Aiden’s name. His head cocked to the side. “I have heard that name before—a pure-blood who used a compulsion against another pure to protect a half-blood?”
Crap. With everything going on, we’d forgotten that Aiden was Public Enemy Number Two.
My fingers inched toward my daggers, but Aiden spoke, his voice even and calm. “That would be me. And make no mistake, if you’re looking for remorse or guilt, I have none. I’d do it again.”
The Dean smiled then. “Ease yourself, Sentinel. At this moment, I could care less what you have done. It is not an issue… now. As I am sure most of the members of the Council would agree.”
The way he tacked on now did not make me all happy face.
“Thank you for your hospitality,” Marcus said, obviously trying to diffuse the building tension. “Hopefully we will be able to repay you in some measure.”
My uncle was such a diplomat.
The dean of the University nodded. “Please start by explaining how you made it past the automatons.”
Between Marcus and Dominic, they filled the Dean and Diana in, for the most part, on how we made it here in one piece. The conversation quickly turned, though, when Dominic announced that I could stop the First.
I shifted restlessly, surprised to be so uncomfortable with all the eyes on me. Usually I loved being the center of attention. I had no idea when that had changed.
“I can stop Seth,” I said finally. “It won’t be easy, but I know how.”
“And how can you?” the Dean asked. “From what our history teaches us, the First has complete control over the Second, and if you two are around each other, he can transfer your power to his, therefore becoming the God Killer.”
Folding my arms, I met Dean Elders’ curious stare. “Well, obviously the First doesn’t have complete control over me. And there is a way for me to reverse the transfer, stopping him from becoming the God Killer. And if he’s not the God Killer, then Lucian has no real weapon protecting him.”
Diana leaned against the oak desk, her brows pinched. “But you would have to be near him to do this, correct?”
I nodded. “Yes. We came here hoping there would be others who would be willing to… to fight for this. There’s no way that just the eight of us can breach the army that Lucian has surrounding him, so that I can reach Seth. We need our own army.”
Dean Elders looked at Dominic, who shrugged. “We have many Sentinels and Guards here, plus half-bloods who are receiving advanced training. And we also wish for the same outcome. This needs to be stopped before more innocent people are lost, so you may recruit whomever wishes to join you.”
Well, that was surprisingly easy.
“There will be some, maybe even many,” the dean continued, “but none will be forced to join the cause, Apollyon.”
I found that funny considering how an entire race of halfs had been forced into either servitude or a certain early death, but somewhere along the line, I’d learned to keep my mouth shut. Kind of.
“Understood,” I said. “As a half-blood, I would never force people into something that would risk their lives.”
The dean’s brows rose. “Point taken.” He gazed over the rest of my group. “I imagine you all wish to meet with the Sentinels and Guards here as soon as possible, but all of you look like you could use showers, food, and clean beds. While you rest, Sentinel Hyperion and I will have time to set something up for you.”
“Okay,” I said, wondering when whether or not I agreed had started to matter. I wanted to talk to the Sentinels now, but I knew if I did, so would Aiden and most of the others. We all needed to rest; we were barely standing. “That will be fine.”
“There are many rooms available for your rest,” the dean said. “Sentinel Hyperion will show you to them.”
Unable to hold back the question any longer, I turned to Diana. “The Sentinels who have arrived from the Catskills… do you know any of their names?”
“Some I am familiar with,” she said.
Then it struck me. My father probably wouldn’t be known as a Sentinel, at least not any longer. “What about the servants?”
I couldn’t tell by Diana’s pained expression if she knew what I was getting at or if she was aware that my father had been a servant at the Catskills. “Things were in a state of chaos when we left there. Some servants were brought here, and those who no longer appeared to be under the influence of the Elixir escaped into the woods. Some remained behind. The servants could be anywhere.”
“Oh,” I whispered. They could be anywhere—my father could be anywhere. I felt Laadan’s hand on my back and I drew in a sharp breath. “What was the state of the Covenant when you left?”
A dark shadow crossed Diana’s face. “The walls had not been breached, but it was only a matter of time. Lucian and the First wish to take the Catskills. It does not matter that the bulk of the Council no longer resides there. It is the seat of power, and whoever sits upon the throne rules our society. It is the law.”
It was an incredibly stupid law that didn’t mean a damn thing to me.
“May I ask a question?” Diana countered. When I nodded, she went on. “If you were to succeed in transferring the power to you, what would happen?”
At the unexpected question, I blinked. “What would happen to Seth? He would still be alive. I guess he’d still be the Apollyon, but weaker. The tables would turn. The prophecies…” I shook my head. “The prophesies would change.”
“And what would it do to you?”
I could feel the eyes on me again, mainly Aiden’s. “I would become the God Killer.”
Her brows knitted in confusion. “Please do not take offense to this, but isn’t the God Killer the last thing the gods want?”
“I imagine so, with the exception of the god who is working with Lucian. That god obviously wants the God Killer for his own reasons. Speaking of which, it must be Hephaestus, considering he created the automatons,” I threw that out, hoping the topic would change. “I don’t know why he’d do this, though. I mean, he helped keep me away from the First, right?”
Aiden nodded. “He did.”
“It doesn’t make sense, but when do the gods ever make sense?” I forced out a laugh. “I guess he was tired of being known as the gimpy one.”
“But what about the other gods?” she persisted. “They cannot be pleased with the idea.”
Seeing no way around this other than ignoring her question, I sighed. “It is what Apollo wants. And it is what the gods want.”
Aiden turned completely toward me, as did half the room. I felt like slinking under the desk. “After I become the God Killer, they want me to take out the god responsible.” I looked up, my gaze settling on a marble bust of Zeus. “The Olympians want me to kill one of their own.”