Omega Series: Omega Part 14

"You can have him." Dosy was frowning. "What're you planning on doing with her?"

I looked at Adonis at the question.

"Submit her to the first trial," he replied.

"Before the other members of the Triumvirate interview her?"

"I have my orders."

"And you always follow your orders." The look they shared told me they knew a lot more about each other than I did about anyone I'd met. "I don't have to tell you or the Supreme Priest this is highly unusual. She deserves some prep time or something."

Adonis dropped my hands. "If she's the Oracle, she'll survive. If not, she won't."

My interest increased. "Why? Is it dangerous?" I asked, excited at the chance to put the skills I spent a lifetime learning to use. "Like really dangerous?"

Dosy appeared ready to chastise me the way she did Niko. Adonis' expression was that of scrutiny, as if he was trying to figure out if I was messing with him.

"Shut up, kid," Niko growled, emerging from a nearby hallway. "Even you aren't stupid enough to want to go through the trials without preparing for them." He sheathed his weapons. "My employer called me off with a promise he's got some words for your boss about how she's being handled, Adonis. You win this round." Niko stalked towards the front of the compound, trailed by his entourage.

"Next time," Dosy promised the quiet head of SISA. "Find your way to the Silent Queen and me, Alessandra. We won't imprison you."

"Sounds good," I replied. I watched her leave as well before Adonis stepped away. "Do you really have my friends?"

"I do."

"Niko killed four of them."

"They're better off."

I didn't like that at all. "But you'll spare the others now?"

"Will you go through the trials without me forcing you into them?"

"Yeah, sure. Can't be that bad."

He shook his head. "You're something else. If you're not the Oracle, you're the bravest fool I've ever met."

From him, I was certain it was a compliment of sorts.

"Submit to the first trial, and they'll be freed," he added. "Try to escape again, and I'll kill them off in front of you, one by one."

"No need for threats." I raised my hands and took a step towards the center of the compound. "I'm cool with this. What are these trials?"

He gave me an indecipherable stare.

"a.s.sume I know absolutely nothing about what's going on," I said impatiently. "I'm not fighting you. I'm just asking a legitimate question."

He studied me. "Usually, three G.o.ds sponsor the incoming Oracle and design trials to challenge her, test her magic, mental toughness and willingness to obey them," he explained. "The G.o.ds were too preoccupied to nominate sponsors for you, so each member of the Triumvirate is giving you a trial instead. You'll receive three tasks you must complete."

"Hmmm. What happens if I don't?"

"You'll never have full access to your power."

I can do more than create earthquakes? "It can't be that bad."

Adonis lifted his chin towards the hallway behind me in a silent command.

I retreated to the pa.s.sageway leading into the compound then stopped.

No voices came from the area, but my intuition was doing it again. Tingling.

I returned to the corner looking into the courtyard. Adonis was alone. He was on his knees, holding his head, face scrunched up in pain. I watched him, not expecting the man with the strength and agility of a great cat to be vulnerable or hurt. He didn't look as if anyone had touched him from the fight with Dosy and Niko. I'd nicked his arm, but he didn't seem affected by the wound. His hands lowered to his sides, and he shook his head and rose.

I eased back and hurried away on tiptoes through the compound to the apartment without crossing any of his men. It would be so easy to flee ...

But I wasn't going to risk the lives of anyone else I'd grown up with.

I returned to his apartment and nudged the door closed behind me with my hip. Something was rustling again. I inched forward, towards the source of the sound in his bedroom, and pushed the door open.

I was expecting to see someone left behind from Niko or Dosy's camp, but no one was present. The sound was gone, too, and I scoured the room.

Spotting the last thing I ever expected to see in the room of a man like Adonis, I laughed. "I forgot about you!" I crossed to his bed and sat down, grabbing the stuffed animal resting against one pillow with my bound hands. "No way he has a toy like this." The stuffed koala bear was ancient, its original tan fur visible in the crease of one ear. The rest of it was darker, dirtier brown. It smelled clean despite its grungy appearance. "You wouldn't happen to have any handcuff keys would you?" I asked it playfully.

Dresser.

I looked around. It was almost like a whisper but not quite audible. Like it was in my head. Taking the toy with me, I went to the dresser I had ransacked earlier for a weapon and this time searched out a handcuff key.

"Awesome," I said and set the toy down. I unlocked my cuffs then tossed them on the dresser. "Come on, little guy." I picked up the bear and went into the living area.

Chapter Ten.

My latest escape plan foiled, I did what any teenager would do. I flipped on the television. Accompanied by Adonis' toy, I sank onto the couch, my attention at once snagged by the news.

Real news. None of the censored stuff the priests fed us at the orphanage.

Except, as soon as I began watching, I began to feel ... ill. The world outside my forest was ugly and the people untrustworthy, but it seemed far better than what was going on outside of the region entirely.

"The death toll this year outside the wall has reached ten million, ten percent lower than last year. Experts claim the trend has been decreasing every year since the Holy Wars began five years ago, which they take as a sign the wars between the G.o.ds are losing steam due to the political posturing of SISA and the military," claimed one anchorman.

"Fantastic news, James," said the woman beside him. "With forty three states under official martial law, many are crediting the military and Supreme Magistrate with keeping the peace."

I watched in interest as they showed stock images from the wall and a map of the territories claimed by the G.o.ds and G.o.ddesses as well as those currently conflicted. The map of North America was riddled by colors indicating pockets of different deities' territorial claims. Images from those areas were ... horrifying. Smashed towns, long breadlines, ma.s.sive temples in perfect condition where the G.o.ds and G.o.ddesses lived surrounded by destruction and images of the extreme poverty and disease afflicting humanity.

The television flipped off.

I blinked, stunned, and faced the door. Adonis had a second remote and tossed it on the couch.

"Is this real?" I asked.

"Is what real?"

"The wars. The wall."

He eyed me. "How do you not know anything?"

"We were sheltered. But you're telling me the continent has been torn apart by G.o.ds infighting?"

"Not the continent. The world, except for about a thousand square miles of the eastern seaboard and Mount Olympus in Greece, their adopted home here."

My jaw dropped. This wasn't what the priests had taught us!

"The deities grant favors for a price and manipulate humans as required to ama.s.s their power and money. It's the way it's always been," Adonis said.

"But the Sacred Triumvirate is supposed to balance their power with humanity."

"They did at one point. Power is all that matters now, Alessandra. Power, influence, control. The G.o.ds have been at war with one another on Earth for five years. Which is why it's important we found you. We weren't planning on you appearing quite so soon, before my master had a chance to complete his preparations."

Five years. There it is again. But I was too incensed to follow that line of thought.

"Isn't the Supreme Priest the liaison between G.o.ds and people? Can't he make the G.o.ds stop hurting everyone?"

"Politics at this level are about one thing: power. No cause, no morality, no concerns other than power and survival matter once you reach the Triumvirate." He gave me a look saying he didn't quite believe I was so naive.

I stared at the blank television screen. I was beginning to understand better why the Old Ways were needed, but I didn't know why the priests hadn't just come out and told us all about what was going on in the world. What else were they hiding?

"Your first trial awaits," Adonis said. "My master has given me your tasking."

A trial didn't sound that bad. If anything, it sounded easy. I knew myself well enough to believe I could withstand anything.

"After the trials, I get my powers and I can stop the Wars, right?"

"If the Triumvirate wishes it."

"Like I care if they do! Ten million people have died this year. The Oracle helps people."

"The Oracle obeys her masters."

"No." I shook my head. "I don't care what they want. I'm going to do what's right. Send the G.o.ds home and free the people."

"You think you have a choice."

I hated it when he said something like that. The only way to uncover exactly what was going on was to face these trials and come out on the other side an official Oracle. Whatever this test consisted of, it couldn't be that bad. I was trained for everything and I had the additional motivation of knowing I could save the world.

I picked up the teddy bear. "You stay here," I said sternly. "Hey, why do you have this?"

Adonis' cold glare was his only response.

"Whatever. Where is the first trial?" Propping up the stuffed animal where it could see the television, I stood and went as close to Adonis as I dared.

He tilted his head towards the entrance to the apartment. "Courtyard."

"It's ... here?"

"Yes. But first ..." His eyes went to the bear and lingered. "... first you have been blessed by Mnemosyne."

Mnemosyne. The G.o.ddess of memory. Excitement rushed through me. "What does that mean? I meet her? She returns my memories?"

"You're the brave fool. Go find out."

Intrigued yet certain he was setting me up for something quite awful, I went to the door.

"You'll need this," he called after me.

Turning, I caught the sheathed hunting knife he tossed me. "Thanks. How long does it take for her to return my memories?"

"Do I look like a G.o.d?"

"Yeah, but ..." Hearing my response, I groaned. "Never mind. I'll go see the G.o.ddess then to the courtyard."

He stood stoic and still, hands crossed in front of him. I was getting no information out of him, but at least he hadn't reacted to my comment about him looking like a G.o.d.

A trickle of red seeped from one of his nostrils. "Nosebleed," I said.

He touched it gingerly then rested his knuckle on his temple temporarily.

"You have a headache?" I asked, sensing the strange weakness in him I'd witnessed in the courtyard. A man this strong didn't seem susceptible to the headaches I got with my fall sinus infections.

"Not your concern."

"Peppermint helps. Or, you could ..." My eyes swept over the couch again. "I thought I put it up on the cus.h.i.+on." His teddy bear was lying on its head on the floor. Crossing to it, I plucked it up and replaced it, this time in a corner. "Stay! Your daddy has a headache and can't pick you up."

"You are the most bizarre person I've ever met," Adonis said. "Is there any sense in there at all?"

I shook my head at him and returned to the door. "See you in a few," I said. This time, I didn't hesitate but opened the door and stepped into the hallway.

Or ... more accurately, into a forest. I stopped in place, startled, and stretched out one hand towards the side of the hallway I should've been able to feel, if this were a mirage.

Nothing. A warm breeze swept the scents of flowers and earth by me, and pine needles rustled far overhead. I started to turn to see if I could still see Adonis.

The forest surrounded me on all sides. The door had vanished. As far as I could tell, I'd stepped into a different world.