Omega Series: Omega Part 26

Cleon waited in a sitting room near the foyer. He rose as I approached. He didn't acknowledge Leandra at all as she took up her station nearby.

"Hard to believe you faced down a monster or two," he said, gaze going over me.

Not fully at ease in the fancy dress, despite its comfort, I crossed my arms self-consciously. His gaze returned to my features, and he held out an arm towards the entrance.

I began walking, and he joined me. Servants opened the doors for us to leave, and I paused outside the front door, beneath a marble canopy s.h.i.+elding the sidewalks of the compound from sun. A small entourage awaited us. It consisted of a man with a bottle of wine and two gla.s.ses, a woman bearing delicate hor d'oerves on a platter, Leandra, and four guards.

It was almost sundown, and I was disappointed to realize that meant Adonis wouldn't be at the soiree. Not that I wanted to see him, but ... ugh.

The Supreme Magistrate and I were handed a gla.s.s of wine, and we began walking.

"The Supreme compound houses the White House, where I work on a daily basis, the residences of the Supreme Magistrate and Priest and the Silent Queen's secondary court." As we walked towards the Congress building, Cleon began to point out residences, temples and official offices, describe the benefactors behind the various gardens and courtyards, whisper about the underground bunkers, and generally orient me towards the most exclusive and well-guarded compound in the world. At its center was a ma.s.sive white temple to Zeus surrounded by a dozen smaller temples dedicated to other G.o.ds.

The wealth and beauty of such a place, designed after an ancient Greek city, left me speechless. Cleon's general knowledge was underscored by the pleasant charm of a servant fascinated with his world rather than the boastfulness of a Supreme Magistrate.

He, like Adonis, was nothing like what I expected, especially after meeting the acid-mouthed Niko. My fascination with this new world and the man beside me grew as wine lifted some of the dread that had been following me around for days now.

We watched the sunset from the private, uppermost balcony in Zeus' temple. The sky glowed with different hues of orange, pink and red. I was even more mesmerized by the reflection of those colors on the marble temples in the compound. Several people were out in the quiet sidewalks and walking across the greens. The scent of earth and flowers filled the air, combined with incense from the altars on the temple floor. It was quiet, calming.

Closing my eyes, I leaned against the railing, unable to recall when I last felt this relaxed. It had been since I was in the forest. Perhaps it was the wine and my exhaustion, or the subtle personality of the charming man beside me, but I was enjoying the peace of a compound I knew to be a breeding ground for political dissension among the Triumvirate. I suspected Cleon was the latest who wanted to manipulate me into doing something.

But it was nice to take a breather.

"You are enjoying it," Cleon observed, a warm note in his voice for the first time. He stood beside me on the balcony.

"Yeah," I murmured. "I know it's not real. I wish it was."

"It's real enough to touch."

My eyes cracked open, and I s.h.i.+fted my hip against the railing to gaze up at him. He was handsome in a way as subtle as his charm. Unlike Adonis, who had to have been chiseled by the G.o.ds themselves, Cleon had a quiet beauty. Symmetrical features, wide forehead and jaw, eyes that were well s.p.a.ced, and an aquiline nose. Nothing stood out as especially good looking about his features but nothing to take away from them either. His clothing was tailored and fit well, adding to the air of stateliness.

Like the compound, he was outwardly flawless.

"It's what's beneath the surface that bothers me," I said.

"You are troubled by what you have learned since leaving the forest?"

"You could say that."

"Niko is a brash man but he is my best, and I trust him. He obeys without thought. I sent him there to protect you once word leaked of what SISA planned."

"You? I thought the priests hired him."

"The priests were naive to believe no one knew they were there. I knew. I didn't know what they were hiding, but I had a source providing me information. It wasn't hard to manipulate the situation so Niko was hired rather than another mercenary."

There it is. The conniving was starting to emerge. More secrets I was afraid to learn. More claims I'd never be able to verify. The moment one of these people opened up to me, or my memories shared new insight, I was tense. I clutched the railing, gazing up at Cleon, waiting for the other shoe to drop.

"I've worried you." Cleon rested a hand on my arm.

"No. I've been waiting for that. And worse."

"Your position is one of political maneuvering. There is much of that on this compound."

"It's not my thing. Like, it's the farthest thing in the universe from my thing."

"How can I make you comfortable talking to me?"

"Give me a knife."

Without dropping my gaze, he motioned one of the guards over and held out his hand. The guard removed a knife and sheathe from around his thigh and gave it to him.

Cleon handed it to me.

Surprised by the gesture, I accepted it. "Thanks."

"I want you to know you can trust me on some level."

I gripped the knife, and it helped ease some of my tension. My response to him wasn't going to be favorable, but I owed him some level of politeness after he handed me a knife.

"I have to ask. I know you have a trial for me. What is it?" I asked and braced myself for the response.

"I am to task you last," he replied. "I made a deal with the Queen for the privilege. But, honestly, I want only what is best for both men and G.o.ds."

"That sounds fair."

Adonis was right about the unknown messing with someone's mind. What could a man this powerful task me to do? The Supreme Priest had wanted to use my powers for his own personal gain. Was it safe to a.s.sume everyone in power would do the same?

I kept quiet and turned to face the sky once more.

It was as I saw the last of the sun dip below the horizon that it hit me why this was so awkward. Cleon was the first person I'd ever met who treated me like an equal. He didn't talk down to me. Didn't a.s.sume I was an idiot. Didn't try to control, cage or coerce me yet.

It made me want to be less hotheaded and watch my tongue for once, to remain in a position where he thought of me the way he seemed to at the moment. I wanted him to think me his equal, because no one ever had. It was gratifying to be considered such by someone at his level and wanted to try to live up to the expectations of a stranger.

He really is a good politician.

"Your guests await us," he said.

Blinking out of my thoughts, I walked with him down the stairs, out of the temple and through a maze of sidewalks. Before we reached the outdoor party, the sound of a harp and low beat of drums reached us. Laughter and the scent of food soon followed.

The soiree was teeming with close to a hundred people with a small orchestra in one corner, servants with trays of food and wine circulating among guests, and an area of tables. At the center was a fountain, and torches lit the perimeter. No one looked twice at us when we entered, for which I was grateful. I was feeling more self-conscious in the clothing, more afraid of making a mistake.

I don't belong here. Women were drenched in glittering jewels and designer gowns.

A servant with a tray approached and held it out. Cleon took the masks and handed one to me.

"I thought you might be more comfortable with a semi-anonymous event," he said.

Busy ogling the biggest diamond I'd ever seen, I hadn't noticed everyone down to the servants were wearing masks over the top halves of their faces. At Cleon's words, I started to relax. He was really, really good at keeping me chill.

Leandra plucked it out of my hand and carefully pinned it in place with hairpins. She wore one already.

"This is awesome," I said, gazing around at the masked strangers. "No one will notice if I eat all the snacks."

Cleon chuckled. "You are welcome to. It's your party."

That seemed too weird to be true, but I was thrilled by the idea of interacting with the highest levels of society and no one knowing it was me.

"Who are all these people?" I asked.

"The most affluent men and women in the world. Favored by the G.o.ds. The elite. Those whose fortunes and fates rest with those of the G.o.ds."

"They are probably excited to see me."

"They are. You are the promise of continued good fortune and wealth for them."

I didn't really like the idea of an elite when the rest of the world was in chaos because of the Holy Wars. I started into the crowd, absolutely entranced by the amount of bling the women wore. Did they dress like this every night and go to soirees?

I bet none of them have ever skinned a rabbit for dinner. I swallowed a giggle at the ridiculous thought, torn between admiring the people around me and critical of the idea they couldn't survive in the arena or forest if the world ended tomorrow.

Checking out the fountain, I stopped to perch for a moment and watch the world. I couldn't tell Cleon from the other men or Leandra from the other women. For some reason, being anonymous helped me relax more. I was somewhat free, if only temporarily, from being the person they thought I was.

"Beautiful smile, beautiful lady." The man's voice was the opposite of Cleon's carefully controlled one.

I turned and eyed the masked stranger with two hotter than hot women hanging off him. He was grinning, and his hair dark. I saw a gleam of green eyes through the mask, and a star was printed in the middle of his forehead. "Right," I said and rolled my eyes. I started away.

He laughed.

I stopped. I'd heard that laugh somewhere. Not recently. Not in the memories I'd always had. It was ... trapped somewhere in the new memories that hadn't yet completely emerged.

"Go on, ladies. Let me talk to our friend," he said and shooed the girls away. I stared after them. Leandra would give them a run for their money but I never would. The man pushed up his mask to reveal striking green eyes. His jaw was heavy and square, his brow low, and his face wide. He had a widow's peak and long hair held in place at the nape of his neck. "Lantos." He held out a hand.

I shook it. "Have we met before?" I asked, the same strange sense I got around Adonis present once again.

"Possibly." He winked. "I've spoken to many women before this night."

No surprise there. He was Hollywood handsome with sparkling eyes and a quick smile. He held my hand after our shake.

"You are?" he waited.

I pulled my hand away. I knew Adonis because I had brought him to life, and we'd met when I was a child. I knew this man because ... the memory was completely blank. If I hadn't been through the strangest week of my life, I'd be blus.h.i.+ng that someone who looked like this had sent away two models to talk to me.

Instead, I was suspicious.

"Lyssa," I said finally.

"Ah. The reason we're all here." He said and spread an arm out towards the crowd. "It's my honor and pleasure." He rested a hand over his heart and bowed his head in yet another show. "I saw you take out the Typhon. You won me a small fortune."

"I had help," I replied.

"Yes. I saw." A flicker of something irritation? crossed his eyes before vanis.h.i.+ng. "Care to walk with me?"

"Not really," I said.

He laughed and moved closer. "If I sweeten the deal, will you give me a couple of minutes of your time?"

Sweeten? "What're you talking about?"

Some of the flas.h.i.+ness faded, and I saw a genuine smile on his features. "Sweet girl. I'll take the device out of your arm placed by the Magistrate that's caging your powers if you'll speak with me in private."

I felt the soft skin of my forearm, studying him. "I'm armed."

He laughed again and stepped away, lowering his mask. "I'll keep my hands to myself. Promise. Come!"

I stared after him, dazzled by this charisma yet aware he hadn't accidentally stumbled upon me like he tried to play off. I trailed him through the crowd.

He led me past the orchestra and down a cobblestone path leading into the garden. Other couples posed in embraces, some talking, the others quiet, throughout the fragrant garden. When we reached a small fountain out of earshot from the others, Lantos turned.

"First. I always keep my promises. Your arm." He held out a wide, strong hand.

I placed my arm in it. Rather than pull out a tool of some sort, he rested his other warm palm on top of the area where Niko had shot the solution into me. While far from intimate, heat rose to my cheeks. His touch stirred my blood. I was grateful for the lack of lighting in this part of the gardens.

"What're you doing?" I asked after a long quiet.

"Removing it."

I gazed up at him and waited for more. Seconds later, he lifted his hand. A stream of red liquid ran from his palm to my forearm. He wrapped it around two fingers. It solidified into a cord resembling those I'd grown up around.

The last of the string left my arm, and the world erupted into ribbons.

I gasped, a little overwhelmed by the sudden reemergence of color. Lantos' hand went to my hip as he steadied me.

"How did you do that?" I demanded and swatted at ribbons floating between us.

"Easy. This is mine to command." He held up the cord then tossed it into the air. It disappeared. "Who do you think gave it to the priests to protect you?"

Tearing off my mask, I stared at him.

He removed his mask as well, eyes sparkling with humor I didn't share.

"You're not ... not a t.i.tan," I stammered.

"Alas, no. My father is. I'm the son of a t.i.tan and a human. I'm stranded here with my mother's kind. My father, Lelantos, is your benefactor. I am his humble servant."

If he hadn't done what he just did, I'd walk away.

He touched his forefinger to his lips. "But that's a secret." His eyes glowed with amus.e.m.e.nt. "You can keep a secret, I believe?"

I nodded, speechless.