Chapter 10
SETH KNEW BETTER THAN TO SEEK OUT MY COMPANY Saturday night. I was grateful for that, because I didn’t want to see his face. I did, however, answer the door Sunday evening when he actually knocked. That’s how I knew he was feeling apologetic. Seth never knocked.
His hands were shoved into the pockets of his dark cargos. The right side of his lip was swollen. “Hey,” he said, staring over my head.
“Hey.”
He shifted from one foot to the next. “Alex, I’m… sorry about yesterday. I didn’t—”
“Stop,” I cut him off. “I know you were just trying to get me to use akasha and you didn’t mean to knock me over, but you guys were insane. Not in a good way, Seth.”
A sheepish look crept across his face. “I know, but Aiden pissed me—”
“Seth.”
“Okay. You’re right. It’s over and done. And I don’t want to argue with you. I’m getting ready to leave.” He looked at me then. “I thought it would be nice if you walked with me to the bridge.”
“Just let me grab something to put on.” I needed to talk with him, anyway. After I grabbed a hoodie, we walked out of the dorm in silence. The campus was dark; only the shadows of the patrolling Guards moved. When I let out my breath, it formed small puffs in the air. “I felt your anger yesterday.”
“I’m sure anyone within a ten-mile radius felt my anger yesterday.”
“That’s not what I meant.” We followed the marbled pathway around the dorms, heading toward the bridge by the main Covenant building. “I really felt it. I wanted to knock the crap out of Leon. It was like… like it was my anger.”
Seth didn’t respond as he stared ahead, eyes narrowed.
“It went away as soon as I wasn’t touching you, but it was pretty weird.” I stopped walking as the bridge came into view. A black Hummer was being loaded with luggage. Exhaust filled the air, and several Council Guards stood post. “You don’t have anything to say about that?”
He glanced down at me. “You were so close to tapping into akasha, Alex. If Leon hadn’t interfered, it would’ve happened.”
As if that was the most important thing that’d happened. “Seth, did you hear a word I said?”
“I did, and I don’t know why you felt my anger so clearly.” He took his hands out of his pockets and folded his arms. “Maybe it was because you were tapping into akasha. It made you more in tune with what I was feeling.”
What I had felt didn’t seem to bother or really surprise Seth. But to me, it was a pretty big deal. “When I Awaken, I’ll feel and want what you want. Don’t you get what I’m saying? I wanted what you wanted already.”
“Alex.” He dropped his hands on my shoulders and pulled me against his chest. “You’re not Awakening. Stop worrying.”
I frowned and pushed off. He let me go. “But it’s really starting to happen, isn’t it? With the marks and now this? And I’m only like a month away.”
“It’s not such a—”
“Alexandria, I am so glad you’ve come to see Seth off,” said Lucian. I turned and was immediately enveloped in a weak hug. The smell of incense and cloves choked me. “I wish it was safe to bring you along. It would ease my worries to have you by Seth’s side.”
My arms stuck out from my sides awkwardly. Ugh. I hated when Lucian did this.
He patted my back and stepped away, addressing Seth. “How many Guards do you think we should bring?”
Lucian was asking Seth for his opinion? What. The. Hell. I turned to Seth in disbelief.
Seth stood straighter. “At least five, which would leave four behind to help keep guard in case something should arise here.”
“Good. You have an eye for leadership, Seth.” Lucian patted his shoulder. “If we had more Sentinels like you, we wouldn’t have such a serious daimon problem.” He paused, smiling. “If we had more men like you on the Council, then our world would be far better.”
I wanted to gag. There was no way Seth could be falling for this epic level ass-kissery. It was so obvious from the way Lucian simpered and cooed. It was blatant, but by the gods, Seth looked like he’d just been handed a million dollars and been told he could spend it all on girls and liquor.
“I’d have to agree.” Seth’s smug smile spread.
I wanted to shake Seth. I was seriously considering it.
Lucian faced me. “You, my dear, are lucky in more ways than most half-bloods. Being blessed as an Apollyon and having this fine young man as your other half.”
I scrunched up my face.
Beside me, Seth went still.
“I’ll leave you two to say goodbye. We shall be leaving in a few moments, Seth.”
I stared at Lucian’s retreating form. The white robes flowed out, never quite trailing on the ground. I thought about how he’d stared at Minister Telly’s throne while I’d given my testimony in the Catskills. No one loved power more than Lucian.
“You know,” drawled Seth, “you don’t have to look so shocked by what Lucian said. It could be worse.”
I laughed. “Are you serious?”
Seth glowered. “I happen to think I’m a pretty damn good catch.”
“You happen to think you’re the greatest thing that ever breathed, but that’s not what I’m talking about. He was kissing your ass, Seth. He’s up to something.”
“He wasn’t kissing my ass.” He folded his arms again. “Lucian happens to think I know what I’m talking about. He also happens to appreciate what I have to say.”
“You have got to be kidding me.” I tried to not roll my eyes.
“Why is that so hard for you to believe?” Displeasure radiated from his voice and stance. “Let me ask you a question, Alex. If that was Lucian or your uncle saying good things about Aiden, would you find it so hard to swallow?”
“What the hell is that supposed to mean?” And where had that come from? “Aiden is a Sentinel. His ability to make decisions or lead is—”
“What do you think I am?” Seth leaned his head forward, brows lowered. “A joke instead of a Sentinel?”
Yikes. I saw my mistake. “That’s not what I meant. You’re a Sentinel. A damn good one, but please tell me you don’t trust him.” I grabbed his forearm and squeezed. “That’s all I meant to say.”
“I do trust Lucian, and you should, too. Out of everyone around you, he’s the only one who’s trying to make our world different.”
“What?”
“Seth?” Lucian called. “It’s time.”
“Wait.” I held onto his arm. “What do you mean?”
Agitation blew off him as he stared at me intently. “I have to go. Please be careful, and remember what I said the other night. Don’t even think about trying to make your way to New York.”
I glared at him.
A bit of a smile peeked through. He started to turn away, but stopped. “Alex?”
“What?”
His mouth opened as he ran his hand over his head. “Just be careful, okay?” When I nodded, he reached into his pocket and pulled out something small and slim. “I almost forgot. I picked this up so we could talk while I was gone.”
I took the cell phone. It wasn’t one of the cheap versions, and I hoped it had a lot of games preloaded on it. “Thanks.”
Seth nodded. “My number is programmed in there. I have yours.”
There was nothing else to say. When Seth reached the Hummer, Lucian clapped him on the back again.
Leon suddenly appeared beside me—my escort back to the dorm, I realized.
Seth climbed into the Hummer, leaving to board a private jet at the airport on the mainland. He glanced back at me as the vehicle began to move.
I forced a smile before Leon guided me away from the bridge, but under the overhead lamps, I saw the brief look of disappointment on Seth’s face. And the satisfied smile that was on Lucian’s.
It was weird with Seth being gone. The cord in me settled down, and I was pretty sure if a god appeared in front of me, Seth wouldn’t have felt a flicker of surprise. It had only been one day since he’d left, but I already felt… normal. Like a weight had lifted off my shoulders.
And that was odd, because my backpack was ridiculously heavy with the Myths and Legends book in it. I was carrying it around, hoping to corner Aiden with it whenever he took up babysitting duties. Right now Leon was trailing behind me at a not-so-discreet distance.
I stopped in the middle of the pathway by the garden and turned around. “Aren’t you cold?”
Leon glanced down at the short-sleeved shirt he was wearing. “No. Why?”
“Because it’s freezing.” And it was. I had a tank top, a long-sleeve thermal, and a sweater on, and I was still cold.
Leon stopped beside me. “Then why are you outside if you’re so cold?”
“Unfortunately, going outside is the only method of traveling to other parts of the campus, unless you know something I don’t.”
“You could just do us all a favor and stay in your dorm,” he suggested.
Shivering, I hugged my elbows. “Do you have any idea how nice it is to be able to do something other than train or stay in my room?”
“Or spend time with Seth?”
I looked at him closely, trying not to smile. “Was that a joke? Oh, my gods. It was.”
His features remained expressionless. “There is nothing about that boy that is a joking matter.”
“Okay.” I turned around and started walking. This time Leon walked beside me. “You really don’t like Seth, do you?”
“Is it that obvious?”
I peeked at him. “No. Not at all.”
“Do you?” he asked as we rounded the corner of the training center. The wind off the ocean was unnaturally brutal. “I’ve heard rumors… that two Apollyons share a powerful bond. It must be hard to know how you truly feel about someone if that’s the case.”
Now this was awkward. There was no way I was discussing my relationship troubles with Leon of all people.
He sighed deeply as he stared up at the statue of Apollo and Daphne, a distant look on his face. “Emotions that are forced always end in tragedy.”
That was deep. Another gust of frigid wind cut through me. The look on Daphne’s face was tragic. “Do you think Daphne knew that the only way she could escape Apollo was by dying?”
He didn’t answer immediately, and when he did, his voice was thick. “Daphne did not die, Alex. She still remains as she was the day… she was lost. A laurel tree.”
“Man, that sucks. Apollo was such a freak.”
“Apollo was struck by a love arrow and Daphne was struck by a lead one.” He looked down as he gestured at the statue. “Like I said, love that is not organic in nature is dangerous and tragic.”
Tucking my hair back, I glanced at the statue again. “Well, I hope I don’t have to turn myself into a tree.”
Leon tsked. “Then pay attention to what is need and what is want.”
“What?” I looked at him sharply, squinting. The sun had begun to set, casting an eerie golden halo over him. “What did you just say?”
He shrugged. “Your other babysitter is here.”
Distracted, I turned around. Aiden was strolling up the walkway. I’d kill to see him in jeans again. I winced. Okay, maybe not kill, but close. I twisted back around. Leon was gone.
“Dammit,” I muttered, scanning the growing shadows creeping across the beach and garden.
“What?” Aiden asked.
My chest fluttered like always as I faced him. There was a slight bruise along his jaw from his scuffle with Seth. “I was talking to Leon and he just up and disappeared on me.”
Aiden smiled. “He has a habit of doing that.”
“It’s just that he said something—” I shook my head. “It doesn’t matter. Are you my babysitter for now?”
“Until you decide you’re staying in for the evening,” he responded. “Where you headed?”
“I was going to the rec center, but I have something I want to show you.” I tapped the bottom of my bag. “You up for it?”
His brows rose. “Should I be concerned by what’s in your bag?”
I grinned. “Maybe.”
“Well, what is life without taking risks? Do we need privacy?”
“Probably.”
“I know just the place.” He shoved his hands into the pockets of his cargos. “Follow me.”
Grasping the strap of my bag, I ordered myself to pull it together. I wasn’t talking to him just so I could ogle him or flirt. Or do anything I wasn’t supposed to be doing. I had a purpose for this, so there was no reason for my heart to be racing as fast as it was.
No reason at all.
Aiden nudged me with his elbow after a few moments of walking in silence. “You look different.”
“I do?”
“Yeah, you look more like…” He fell quiet. By the time he spoke again, the ocean was a golden red as the sun slowly disappeared over the horizon. “You just seem more relaxed.”
“Well, I have some time to myself. That’s relaxing.” I wondered if I did look different. Didn’t seem that way when I got ready this morning. The only thing I really noticed that was different was that the marks hadn’t burned or tingled once since Seth left.
“Oh, I almost forgot. Your letter was sent to New York, ahead of the crew that just went up there. Laadan should’ve received it yesterday or today.”
“Really? I hope my father… isn’t one of the ones who are missing.”
“How do you know about that?” His eyes narrowed. “Never mind. Seth?”
I nodded. “He told me that some of the half servants were missing and that the elixir wasn’t working.”
A troubled look darkened his eyes. “How much did he tell you?”
“Not much at all.”
Aiden nodded curtly. “Of course not. Some of the halfs aren’t responding to the elixir. There’ve been outbreaks of fighting among the servants; they’re refusing Masters’ orders and disappearing. The Council fears there will be a rebellion, and the New York Covenant has been weakened since the attack. And no one knows exactly how or why the elixir stopped working.”
I thought of my father. Was he one of those who’d disappeared, or was he fighting back? I knew he had to be one of the ones the elixir had stopped working on. “I should be there.”
“You should be anywhere but there.”
“Now you sound like Seth.”
His eyes narrowed. “For once, I have to agree with him.”
“That’s shocking.” My gaze fell on the main academy building, and I knew immediately where we were going. “You’re taking me to the library.”
The smile returned. “It’s private. No one is ever in there at this time, and if anyone spots us, you’re studying.”
I laughed then. “And someone is going to believe that?”
“Stranger things have been known to happen,” he replied as we headed up the wide steps.
We passed two Guards posted at the entrance. Ever since the attack here that had taken Caleb’s life, and the subsequent one in the Catskills, security had gone through the roof. Back in the day I would’ve bitched about this because it made sneaking around so much more difficult. But now, after everything, I was relieved to see the increased numbers.
Toasty air greeted us as we entered. Silently, I followed Aiden down the hall toward the library. Several Instructors still lingered in their offices, and we passed a few students heading out.
Aiden stepped forward and opened the door to the library, forever the gentleman. Smiling my thanks, I stepped inside and came to a complete standstill.
Luke and Deacon were emerging from one of the tall stacks, shoulder to shoulder. When they saw us, I’d swear they jumped at least three feet apart.
“Deacon?” Aiden sounded shocked. “You’re in the library?”
“Yeah.” Deacon brushed the mop of curls off his forehead. “We were studying for trig.”
Neither of them had a single book in their hands. I looked at Luke expectantly. He looked away, but his lips twitched.
Aiden eyes widened. “Wow. I’m sort of proud of you. Studying?”
I clamped my mouth shut.
“Turning over a new leaf and all.” Deacon bumped into his older brother. “Taking my education seriously.”
My tongue was literally burning to say something.
Aiden nodded at Luke. “Keep him out of trouble, Luke.”
Oh jeez. By the way Deacon was shifting back and forth on his feet and the size of Luke’s grin, I figured Aiden had no idea what kind of “trouble” those two were probably getting into. Same-sex relationships in our world didn’t even have a place on the list of taboo things to do. It was the fact that Deacon was a pure and Luke was a half.
And of all the half-bloods in the world, I knew just how stupid and dangerous whatever it was that they were doing was. I glanced at Aiden. He caught my eyes and smiled. My belly flopped. Stupid and dangerous, but it didn’t change how I felt.