“Now!” His voice was barely audible over the upheaval.
I darted forward, falling into step with the second half of the army. In a matter of seconds, I was in the middle of screams and explosions and sharp objects intended to take a stroke at any neck in their path. Lucky for me, they couldn’t see me. At least not yet. I wondered how long Galilea’s block would last focused on two hundred and some odd people.
The enemy deities weren’t dressed in the same attire we were. Their ensemble was brilliant white and gold, godlier in appearance. Pretentious, even, taking into consideration what they were here for—to kill my daughter and me.
In the midst of my reverie, I lost David. There were too many bodies colliding against one another, too much blood for me to ignore. My nerves rattled. I took a breath and closed my eyes for a millisecond. I regained my center and calmed when I remembered David was invisible like me, which meant, for the time being, he’d be fine. As I scoured the crowd, filled with swords and bloodied wings, I spied my first target—a young male god who’d just taken off a demon’s head. With the slyness of a panther, I approached him from behind. Using my foot, I kicked in the back of his knee. He fell to the ground. I gripped a handful of his brown curls and pressed the flat side of my sword against his throat.
“You’re going to take me to your leaders,” I said.
“Or what?” he challenged. I pressed the sword against his throat, and he squirmed. A trickle of blood slid down his neck. “They’re not here.”
“You’re lying.” I jerked at hair.
“It’s the truth. They’ve gone in search of the newborn.”
CHAPTER 40
Everything slowed around me, even my heart. Had I not known better, I would’ve sworn it’d stopped beating at all. The male god whimpered as I gripped my sword tighter, inadvertently nicking his throat a second time. My hands shook as I turned my head in every direction, scanning for David’s face, but I couldn’t see past the mix of fog and smoke rising from the field. I released my grip on the deity and stuck my sword in its sheath on my back.
“If you’re lying, I’ll come back and kill you,” I seethed.
“I doubt you’ll find me alive.”
“Then I suggest you count your blessings,” I said before making my way around sets of wrestling warriors and demons. I tripped over severed body parts. The scene was more horrific than Frederick described and far worse than any war documentary I’d seen. I never wanted any of this. It was chaos, and for a minute, I thought I might be in hell. Then I realized I was.
“David!” I called for him, but the sounds of war and death weighed heavier in the air than my voice. “Frederick!” I yelled. It was no use. No one could hear me. I hardly heard myself. With my calls unanswered, I ran until I found my way out of the bloodshed.
“Frederick…” I spoke into the breastplate. “If you can hear me, I’m headed back to the house.” I panted, tears forming in the corners of my eyes. “They’ve gone after Faith.”
The soles of my feet never felt as heavy as they did when I broke past the edge of the forest and into the shadows of trees. I stopped for a moment to gather my bearings. My heart beat so fast I had trouble breathing. No matter which way I looked, the forest appeared the same. I stepped to the right, but changed my mind and took a few steps forward instead.
Or was it to the right? Exasperated, I raised both hands on my head. Oh, please… Please! Which way?
“Isis.” I heard the wind carrying my name, and I tensed.
From behind a tree, not more than ten feet away from me, I saw a bright light. A woman with dark hair stepped out from behind it, her body glowing in an angelic aura. She pointed to the left, and then disappeared, reappearing meters away and summoning me to follow. As I stepped toward her, the woman disappeared again. Unsure of what to do, I ran in the direction she’d indicated. I wasn’t sure if it was a trap. But I had no time to waste. I ran through the forest, my steps wild and furious and faster than I thought possible. When I saw the twinkle of the house lights ahead, I let out a small cry of relief as I continued forward. I ran across the backyard and into the house. My lungs burned, threatening to give out. I kept going. I reached the kitchen door and raced through the hallway where I found remnants of furniture scattered everywhere. Vasilika lay lifeless on the stairs. I held in my sobs. I heard loud crashes and commotion looming from the second floor. Taking two steps at a time, I sprinted up the stairs.
I set foot on the top floor, turned into the hallway, and found Alezzander fending off two male gods. One of them caught Alezzander off guard and trapped him in a headlock.
“You don’t have to die today, Alezzander,” the other deity said. “I’ll spare your life in exchange for the infant’s. Where is she?”
“The child is our salvation,” Alezzander told him. “I won’t let you do this.”
“You’re a traitor.” The deity raised his sword. “As such, you’ll get what you deserve.”
“You’ve never been a worthy leader,” Alezzander spit out.
The man swung his sword back. “Good riddance.”
By instinct, my wrist twitched, and a dagger flew across the room, straight into the man’s back. He fell to his knees. Alezzander elbowed the deity holding him in the stomach and rescued the sword from the kneeling man’s hand. Bestowing a swift slash to the man’s throat, Alezzander’s former captor dropped to the floor.
The man with the dagger in his back turned to look at me.
With what little life he had left in him, he wheezed as he said, “You—fight—dirty—you—little—shit.”
“Is there any other way?” I asked.
The man let out a laugh that turned to a cough. His body went limp, and he fell to the floor, lifeless.
“Behind you!” I heard David’s voice warning me, immediately followed by an explosion.
My feet were no longer grounded. My head collided into something hard. I tried to stand, but a sharp pain in my leg made me lose balance and fumble. My vision was blurred, warm liquid trailing down my face. Blood. My ears were ringing. I could make out the blurred figures of two bodies coming toward me. Off to the right, another set of bodies was fighting with Alezzander. I willed myself to stand in spite of the burning ache in my thigh. I reached for the sword in my back. It wasn’t there. I must’ve lost it when I fell. I reached down to touch my leg and found an object embedded in the outer part of my thigh. I wiped the blood off my eyes with the back of my arm, and I concentrated my sight on the foreign article, forcing my vision to return to normal. The source of the pain in my leg was a knife. One of them must’ve thrown it at me. I took a deep breath and ripped it out. The pain grew greater. But I had no time to tend the wound.
I pointed the bloody weapon at the man and woman running toward me. A body tackled the man from behind—David’s. But the woman treaded forward. Inexplicably, a ball of light formed in the palm of her hand. She hurled the sphere at me. I dove out of the way and onto the floor, only to land at her feet. She looked down at me, raising her foot to crush my head. I pointed the knife at the sole of her white boot, and it tunneled in. She screamed in pain, and I withdrew the knife. Using my hands, I pulled her legs out from under her. Thanks to the adrenaline in my body, I somehow managed to pounce on her. My fist hit her nose; hers hit my stomach. The blow left me winded, wheezing for air. She pushed me off her and stood up. Her hand created another sphere of light, and she raised her arm, ready to fire. A sword cut through the air, slicing her hand off at the wrist. It fell to the floor. A second later, her dismembered head and body crashed on the floor next to her hand.
David heaved me up from one arm, and then turned in Alezzander’s direction. Three of my warriors were standing with him. Two deities dressed in white lay on the floor, dead.
“More are coming,” David said, panting. His face and arms were a bloodied mess, but I couldn’t tell if it was his own blood. “They knew Faith would be here. They knew you’d come back for her.”
“It
was a set up?” I wiped my bleeding forehead. “I knew it. It was too easy.” I closed my eyes for a second. My thigh was killing me. My head felt like it was about burst. “Where’s Frederick?”
“Trying to win a war.”
“Is there any way to keep the enemy from finding us?”
“Galilea’s invisible block is depleted. By the looks of it, Cezario’s block is down also. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have found the house.”
“We have to find a way lure the Council’s warriors from the house,” Alezzander said. “A diversion to keep them occupied while we figure out where to take Faith.”
I blinked. Alezzander was on to something.
“Where are Faith and my mom?” I asked.
“The safe room,” Alezzander said. “Along with Samuel and Nyx.”
“We have a safe room?” I looked at David. He nodded. “Where?”
“Behind the closet wall.”
“Oh,” I said. “Alezzander, where—where’s Pluto? Is he…? “
“Alive. Standing guard with Ayrie.” Alezzander pointed his thumb to my bedroom door.
I limped to the door and knocked, asking to be let in. Persia opened the door, a sword in her hand.
“Is it over?” she asked.
“No.” I turned to Pluto. “Hey,” I said, “It’s your turn to shine, soldier.”
CHAPTER 41
An update from Frederick came in through David’s earpiece. Our army had all but vanquished the Turpis forces, and the rest had retreated. But what was left of the Council’s battalion was moving our way. By Frederick’s count, there were over one hundred Council soldiers left. Thanks to Galilea’s invisible block, we’d only lost two dozen warriors. It seemed few in relation to the number we’d had to fight against, but it’d be two dozen bodies I’d have to bury, knowing they died for my child and me. I’d unwillingly killed them. I’d have to live with the fact for the rest of my life.
“It’s not working,” Pluto said. “I can’t… I can’t get through the walls in the safe room. The concrete is too thick. I need to feel an essence for it to work.”
“Concrete is your kryptonite?” I asked.
Pluto nodded.
“Can you reproduce them from a picture?”
He shook his head.
“What you’re telling me is there’s no other way but to get them out of there for this to work?” I asked. He nodded. “I don’t like that plan.”
“You won’t know the difference between the clones and the real thing,” Pluto said. “I assure you, madam.”
“Isis,” David said, holding his earpiece, “Frederick says they’re closing in on the house. We have a minute before they reach us.”
“Cezario.” Alezzander jerked his head toward the door. Cezario followed him out of the room.
Meanwhile, Pluto and David awaited my decision.
“Bring them out,” I told Pluto. “But make sure they’re back in the safe room as soon as we’ve lured the enemy away.” I glanced at Persia who’d been standing by the bed listening mutely. “Do you understand?”
“Yes, madam,” Pluto and Persia said in unison.
“They’re here,” David said.
I rushed out the door, David at my heels. My heart pumped blood like I was running a marathon. As I called my inner beast to manifest, my face tightened. I jumped over the trellis and landed on the bottom floor. David landed with a heavy thud beside me. A moment later, five of my warriors stood at my sides.
“Trying to intimidate the enemy?” David asked, noticing my scaly demeanor.
“First impressions count,” I said.
Within seconds, the foyer was flooded with warriors dressed in white and gold flowing fabrics. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Claire appear at the foot of stairs with Faith in her arms. She ran past me and rounded the corner toward the enclosed patio. Clones.
Pluto is a genius.
“She has the child!” A goddess pointed to Claire’s clone. “After them!”
Five Council warriors ran after a fake Claire and Faith. The other ten retrieved their weapons, swinging sharp blades and spiked balls at me. I made for the front door, jumped off the porch, and headed toward the edge of the lake where part of my army was amassed. In front of them stood Claire, cradling Faith. There was no doubt Pluto was right about his cloning abilities. They were so believable, in fact, that from the left side of the house, the entire Council army charged against my troops to get to the phony copies of my daughter and mother.
As if in a frenzy, I swung my sword at the white-clothed deities, slashing, stabbing, and fighting for my life. From the same direction the Council warriors had entered the current battle, I saw Frederick leading the rest of our troops into the bloody mayhem. The Council army was trapped, enclosed in a circle made up of my rebel army. The killing continued. Screams of warfare filled the night air. I caught sight of Galilea engaged in battle, her bloodied face fierce, her sword relentless against the enemy. My army was unstoppable. We were winning. And then, at last, sweaty and bloodstained, I saw Galen and Eryx finishing off the last of the Council warriors. I was about to raise my sword, declaring our victory, when I saw a third pair of Claire and Faith clones standing on the patio. Behind them, Samuel walked out, his head bowed, a sword leveled to his neck. And that’s when it dawned on me…
Those aren’t clones.
“Faith!” I took several steps forward.
“Isis, no!” Claire screamed.
“Listen to your mommy, or she and the brat both die,” Olympia said, peeking her head from behind Claire’s. “I told you you’d be sorry.”
“If you hurt them…” David growled.
“What are you going to do about it?” Olympia leered at David. “Is your little heart going to break? I’d really like to see it happen.”
“Olympia, love,” the man hiding behind Samuel said. “Don’t make this a personal vendetta. Our business is on a grander scale.” He stepped forward. “Am I right, Isis?”
My jaw dropped along with my heart when I saw Eros. He would never… Or could he have conspired against us all this time? Would he be capable of such a thing? I knew the answer so well. Why was I even asking myself this? He’d convinced me to go with him in search of my father and away from David. He’d said he loved me. But it was all a farce—a plan to sabotage my life.
“You…” David’s face reddened. “Eros, so help me Deus, I will kill you.”
“I doubt it. But you can try, mon frère,” Eros said.
“Enough small talk,” Olympia said. “I’m bored of it.”
Olympia walked to Claire’s side, her sword pointed at Claire’s neck. She yanked Faith out of Claire’s arms, and Claire pawed at her, eyes wide and desperate. I heard Faith’s frightened cries echo in the night.
“No!” I let out a desperate scream. “Olympia, please… Please, don’t hurt her.” I tried to walk forward, but David held me back.
Olympia glared at me with the most-wicked eyes I’d ever seen, more wicked than the demons whose presence I’d been in just minutes earlier. She held Faith up with one hand and drew her sword back.
“No!” I screamed.
Claire lunged forward and pulled Olympia’s elbow back. Olympia swung the sword in the air, trying to free herself from Claire’s grasp. Then, as if in slow motion, I saw Olympia’s sword come too close to Claire.
Claire’s eyes widened and her mouth parted. Her legs gave out, and she landed on her knees on the porch floor. Her abdomen was sliced, blood pouring from the wound like a red waterfall.
Eros pushed Samuel out of the way and slashed the air with his sword. Olympia’s body parted in two at the waist, each half landing on opposite sides. Samuel dove for Faith, catching her just before she hit the ground.
I wasn’t sure if I was still standing, but I felt myself moving closer to Claire. All of a sudden, I was cradling her, holding her tight against me.
“Mom…” I cried.
“Isis,” I heard her whisper. I pulled
her away from me so I could see her face. “I love you. You’ve always been my hero.” Her breath hitched. “You did—good, baby. You did…”
I felt the life leave her body. She went limp in my arms. The pain in my heart was worse than anything I ever imagined. I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t think. All I could feel was the void of her absence growing stronger inside me, and the panic of not ever seeing her eyes open again struck me like an iron whip.
“Mom!” I screamed so loud the echo of my pain resonated through the forest and back to my chest.
My hope not gone, I stared at her motionless face, yearning to see her eyes blink. I shook her. Shook her again. But Claire—my Claire—was no longer with me. She was flying high above the clouds where the universe meets eternity, where angels greet the worthy, where dreams and wishes went to play. As I sat there, holding her, all I could do was pray and hope I’d someday be worthy enough to see her again.
***
We buried Claire five days later, after the remnants of the battle were cleared. Her white casket was adorned with pink roses—her favorite. I didn’t realize how many friends and acquaintances Claire had until the day of the wake. Following her death, my days blurred into one other. I couldn’t tell night from day, since all I saw were tones of black and gray and heartbreak. David held me every night as I cried myself to sleep. I’d wake thinking I’d dreamed it all, but the harsh reality would sink in moments after I’d opened my eyes. Claire wasn’t coming back. Neither were the warriors I’d lost in battle: Persia, Vasilika, Chrosis, Cezario, and Ayrie… And yet, life went on in spite of my sorrow.
My sunshine was Faith, who grew a little more each day. She looked like Claire when she smiled. Nyx and Galilea agreed.
Samuel mourned my mother’s death as deeply as I did. It was then I regretted not supporting their relationship. Theirs was true love, as David and mine was. I apologized to Samuel and asked him what I could do to make it up to him. He said I didn’t have to do anything, but asked me to call him “Dad”. I agreed because, after all, there was no denying he was.