Sacrifice Ch. 07

She bit her lip and watched him carefully, hoping there was something written in his face which would provide surety for the actions she knew in her gut she was going to take. He was anxious looking and insistent, but that was as much as she could see. Her gut was telling her what he said was true...though she also knew there were different kinds of truths, including half-truths which were oft as good as lies.

Still...

"How...how do you know he, my lord, is in danger?" She took his arm again, leading him back down the hall and toward her master's rooms. She noted he looked more relieved than satisfied and decided to take that as a good sign.

"I can't be sure, at least...not positive. But I've seen things, disturbing things and he's at the center of it. I saw them when the scrolls went missing...or thereabouts. I assume it was at the same time because it was a day later when I was myself attacked and captured. Luckily I saw that coming as well and was able to arrange a daring and heroic escape for myself." He smiled wryly before continuing.

"I went the gorgons to see if they had seen anything and use their scrying pools since my own visions are often times ambiguous, only to discover that they were no longer there. And I fear..." He sighed again, heavily. "I...I didn't know where they were or what had been taken from them, or that I had been blamed for it until I was cornered on my way to find Thelios. After having dealt with all that, I needed someone familiar, someone I could trust."

She frowned. "I really wish you'd stop using their names like that. Someone might overhear." Her rebuke was somewhat softened by the gentle tone his expression of pain evoked in her. It seemed sincere.

Then again, seeming and being were two different things, she reminded herself. She musn't let him sway her too much.

He let out a mild snort. "Too late for that." He muttered darkly. "I'd bet good money the ones who have the scrolls and plan to use them already know his name. I do, and a moment ago you were sure I was the threat."

"I'm still not so sure you aren't." She murmured.

"Well, it's good of you to take me to him if that's the case. Foolish too I suppose."

She cast a look at him, remembering too late that her glare was useless. "Not at all. I'm quite sure my master can handle you. He's been anxious to come after you, and he's not fool enough to do so if he didn't think he was more than capable of looking after himself. I'm merely shortening his trip."

His brow raised, but he said nothing to that. The walked in silence a moment before she prodded him to continue with his tale.

"Ah, well, after I was cornered and subsequently clued in to who was looking for me, I knew exactly where to come to find him."

"So, your vision showed you my master, and that was enough to conclude he was in danger?"

"Well, that and nature of the magic being worked. I've had time to mull it over and come up with a few theories on what's been going on. One of the better theories involved your master specifically, and since he was featured heavily in my visions, I tend to favor it.

"His mother was blessed, you see..or cursed, depending on how you look at it, to have sons who would be greater than their father...or fathers. It's fairly common knowledge, and more than possible that whoever has the scroll knows this and wants to use it against his father in that way. There's simply no way he could be turned on his father except through magical impulsion, so if that were the goal, then this would seem the logical course of action.

"His father, in turn, has guardianship over a great many things of interest to a great many people; objects of power and great wealth that quite a few would love to get their hands on. Only they have to get past and through him to get to it, and he lets very few into his presence, let alone any he mistrusted...which is most people. Thelios doesn't really give a damn about power or wealth, everyone knows this, including his father. This makes him one of the few who can gain access to his stronghold without raising suspicion. He's a wily old worm that one, not much gets by him."

"That's quite the theory." she murmured, trying to sift through the unprecedented wealth of information, looking for inconsistencies...and finding none that she could discern. But then she didn't know any better. "Though," she considered aloud, "it explains why he would be sent to speak with his father and not one of the others. But...doesn't his father know about the curse, er, blessing? Wouldn't that make him wary?"

He shrugged. "Like I said, everyone who knows Thel—your master, rather, knows that even if he could, he wouldn't bother. He's too much like his father."

"In what way?" She pressed when he stopped, eager to hear more. It was rare that anyone was so forth coming with her, let alone about a subject which was as dear to her as her Master was.

"They're both content to just sit on their little hordes, play guardian, and be left well enough alone. That's not to say they're not both happy to expand when the opportunity arises, but they aren't either of them ambitious enough to put too much effort into it. They're more...possessive than acquisitive." He nodded thoughtfully, then chuckled. "Yes. I'd say that's it. I've never tried to put it in words before, but that—I think— is it."

It sounded accurate to her as well. She couldn't help but remember what Demitri had said about him to the man that had grabbed her all those months ago, or her master's reaction when he had foolishly attempted it again. The thought of Thelios' hand sliding over her stomach...the way he held her at night...she felt a hot flush run up her throat and cleared it as if it might also clear the heat from her skin.

Phineas didn't offer anything more. "So...this is enough for you to think that some one wants to use him in this way?" She asked, persisting.

He nodded. "It's only one of many ideas, but it isn't a bad one, if a bit vague. Besides, even if it's not the case, Thelios is the only one who would defend me in this group. That might cause problems for whoever is behind this, and that in itself endangers him. Though I still think this has something to do with his father. I saw something...it was unclear, but it definitely pointed in that direction."

"And you said he only let's my master visit him?"

"Well, the dragon's are all welcome...the Favorites, they're called. For obvious reasons. I suspect it's because he understands their minds and motivations in a way he doesn't understand many of this other children. He has quite a few you see."

"But Thelios welcome as well as these favorites?"

"Yes..." He drawled uncertainly. He tipped his head at her and frowned slightly. He looked like he was going to say something but was cut short by her own sound of surprise.

They had turned into the last hall and Calliope stopped short, cursing under her breath. "What is it?" He asked, stiffening.

Before she could answer Penelope spotted her and waved, coming toward them. "I was just waiting for you to return. That grouchy fellow told me you were out." Penelope cast a curious glance at the man next to her.

"I see. Is something the matter? Have you heard news?" Penelope seemed to hesitate. "It's fine, go on, this is a friend of Demitri's...who I presume is the grumpy one you mentioned." She nodded to him, stalling for a moment as her mind turned rapidly, "This is Penelope. Penelope, this is Cassius."

They greeted each other politely.

"Well, is something the matter, Penelope?"

"Ah, yes...well I overheard my new master speaking to one of his sisters. It seems..." she cast another glance at the man on her arm, "well, it seems they suspect the threat they had been concerned about might be on this very island. I'm, ah, sure your master will know soon if he doesn't know already...but I wanted to warn you." She smiled weakly. "But I must be going, I don't want to start off on a bad foot with the new master after all, I wouldn't want him looking for me and unable to find me." She grinned a little more fully. "And hopefully there is nothing to it after all, and things are just fine. Be well."

Calliope smiled as convincingly as she could, but it felt tight on her face, as if her cheeks would crack from the effort. "Yes. Indeed." She agreed. "Let's hope so."

She nodded and left, excusing herself once more. Calliope only watched her for a moment before dragging her charge into their quarters.

"We haven't much time." He whispered. "That girl, she recognized me."

She frowned. "How can you know?"

"Trust me. I do."

She nodded with a sigh. For some insane reason she believed him. "I was afraid of that. She did seem a little out of sorts. Damn it, what am I doing?" She set her jaw and looked grimly between the blind man on her arm and the door to the private rooms. It was now or never.

She half led, half pushed him into the sitting room, knowing that in the entrance hall he might be seen by another slave and she had no desire to compound their troubles any more than she already had.

Demitri was there already. She would have been amused by the look of open shock on his face if the situation wasn't already so serious. Before she could explain to calm him, he was across the room, pulling her away from Phineas and shunting her behind him.

"Demitri, calm down..." she managed, trying to pull him away, worried he might strike the man before she had a chance to explain.

"You don't know who this is." He warned.

She sighed. "Yes, I do. I know exactly who it is. That's why I brought him here, so the master could question him once and for all....but I don't think he's the one Demitri."

Demitri looked shocked again and glanced over at her disbelievingly. "Wha-"

She gripped his arm. "Please Demitri, we must hurry. We were seen together and I fear he was recognized. Where is the master?"

"With Lamia." He answered softly, still staring at her in confusion...then blinked, realizing his mistake, "Ah, that is..."

She smirked. "It's ok, I'd heard that from others before. No one is very good at keeping secrets here it seems. Now that I think about it, I don't know why they even bother being so mysterious about it. Where are they?"

He looked back at Phineas, then pulled away from her and stalked up to the man, who leaned away slightly as if sensing the larger man bearing down on him. Again she wondered if he was truly blind. "What the hell have you gotten that rotten hide of yours into this time?" He growled.

Surprisingly Phineas seemed to relax a little. "Demitri, it's good to hear your voice." He smiled wryly. "I'm afraid I haven't determined the sort of trouble I'm in just yet, I was hoping you could tell me."

Demitri sighed and shook his head. "Nothing is ever easy with you is it." He pointed back to her, still looking at Phineas. "You probably figured it already, but she's off limits. So try to contain yourself while I'm gone." And then he left.

Calliope blinked. "Well...that was easy." She murmured.

"We'll see. I suspect he was playing along until he has proper back up, namely Thelios and dear Lamia."

"Oh."

They must have been nearby, probably across the garden in Lady Nagi...or perhaps she should say, Lamia's quarters because it wasn't a minute before Demitri returned with the dangerous looking pair behind him.

Thelios immediately did the same thing Demitri had and placed himself between her and Phineas, glaring daggers at the much smaller and rather unassuming looking man. "Explain yourself." He growled at him, quickly cutting off her own stuttering attempts to do just that. Apparently it wasn't her he cared to hear from.

So Phineas did. Just as he had to her, but with a good deal more hasty concision. Though when he got to the part about the Gorgons lady Nagi's sharp gasp made him pause. "What do you mean missing?" She demanded.

"Missing, gone...no sign of them." He enumerated darkly. There...there was no blood. I...I'm hoping they merely....I don't know..." He swallowed hard and his face went a shade paler. "I...I haven't seen either of them since Stheno...well, you know." He ran a hand through his sandy hair, tousling it roughly.

"What, since you left her?" lady Nagi asked sharply, her eyes narrowing.

His pale skin flushed red. "She sent me away."

"You didn't have to go...she loves you, you fool. She was just testing you."

He rolled his eyes. "And I her, but you do not anger Stheno, no matter how well disposed she might be...I didn't think..." He fell off again with a sigh.

"Enough." Thelios muttered gruffly. He turned away and took up his usual seat, rubbing his chin and frowning. Calliope decided to join him, standing at his shoulder as the rest fell silent. "So, you're here now because the Gorgon's were missing and I was missing...what then?"

"I'd been having visions...you know how they are when something is imminent, and I saw you, this place, your father...and snippets of all kinds of things I can't yet make sense out of." He waved, as if shooing the visions away. "Eventually some men tried to capture me...I knew they would, and my visions led me here...though it took them long enough to do it. I noticed this one," he gestured to her, "in the halls and that she had a familiar aura about her, so I stopped her to ask for help. Eventually she brought me here so, I'm led to believe, you could deal with me yourself."

"And here you are."

"Here I am."

"Now what?"

He paused and shrugged. "Well, I thought we could go to Thetis for a start, surely she will help."

Thelios snorted. "That was the extent of your brilliant plan, was it?"

"I already asked him." Murmured Lady Nagi. "He doesn't think she'll be any more interested than my mother."

"Nonsense...she's a soft-heart if ever there was one."

Calliope noted the dark expression on Thelios's face and laid a hand on his shoulder. He glanced at it and took a deep breath. "She's selectively soft-hearted. She's still in mourning, and won't be seen, or so they say."

Phineas shook his head. "I told you to go see her ages ago. If anyone could console--"

"I'm not interested in consoling anyone." He snapped. "If she wants to waste away over the little prat then that's her business."

"She's your mother as--"

"Phineas!" It was lady Nagi who stopped him this time giving him a sharp look. "The matter is closed. Let it be."

Calliope frowned...his mother? Had he said Thetis? THE Thetis? One of the most powerful daughters of Nereus... and...and mother of Achilles? Did that mean...she couldn't help but stare at Thelios in wonder. He glanced at her again and seemed to shift under her gaze before ignoring it.

"Why not ask your mother, Phineas? These days she has more influence then mine."

He rolled his eyes. "You know why."

"Enlighten me."

"Triton."

Thelios grunted in annoyance. "Still? I thought you sorted that."

"Yes, by leaving. That's how I sorted that." He grumbled sardonically. "You know there's no reasoning with that bastard. Not that I would waste my breath, the bigot. He does everything he can to keep me from her. He thinks of me as her great mistake. He's too good to be related to a 'mixed breed.'" He paused and pursed his lips. "I only hope he hasn't gotten wind that I'm back."

"That's a laugh," Lady Nagi mused. "Considering how many human women his father's had. Human and ...other."

"Yes, well apparently it only counts with his mother, not his father. The truth is he just doesn't like me and I don't like him...unfortunately he's the more powerful of us two, so he gets to be right by way of might. Plus that bastard father of his and I don't exactly see eye to eye."

"You did start it." Lady Nagi murmured.

Phineas' face darkened and his lip curled. "Did I? You know what he did to Medusa...to her sisters...and to see him with my own mother..."

Her face softened and she looked suddenly exhausted. "Yes. I know."

Thelios sighed heavily and rubbed his brow in obvious frustration. "We don't have time for this. You're here, they will know this soon if they don't already...what do we do?"

"Leave." Demitri grunted from where he was leaning against the closed door. "I've got what we need set up, like you asked. I can slip these two out without too many problems.

"I agree. Leave." Stated Lady Nagi plainly. "There's a chance they don't yet know he's here. If one of them is truly responsible then I don't doubt it's Callea. She's one of the few who could approach the gorgon's unharmed, and if it is her then I can think of at least three who, if they are not in her camp already, could likely be under her sway. That makes it too dangerous to stay here." She shook her head. "But why haven't they moved if it is them? What is she waiting for?"

Phineas shook his head sadly. "That is unclear to me as well. I fear Thelios is at the center of it, but why, or what they want with him...or why they bide their time...I just don't know." He frowned, thoughtfully.

"What if they simply aren't ready?" Lady Nagi offered.

Phineas blinked, then smiled. "Ah, of course! Even if it is Callea, who, being a half-sister of the gorgon's would have the best luck getting the spells to work, one has to know how they work and how to perform them. She's no enchantress. This isn't the sort of spell she's used to, and controlling some lesser creature, even a human, is much simpler than one of us..." he paused in his excited babbling and looked surprised, "and maybe that's why they targeted me. Not to blame me, but to use me. I know how the spells work. The sisters taught me many of their magics. I don't know....I don't know how they could think they would...but it stands to reason whoever has them might know that..." He trailed off and froze and his head tilted in a funny angle.

"Demitri," Thelios barked, stiffening under the hand Calliope had kept on his shoulder, "go keep an eye out, warn us if anyone is coming."

He nodded and opened the door...then shut it casting a warning look back at them. "Good timing." He muttered. "I'll try to hold them off as long as I can." With that he was gone. Calliope looked in alarm at Phineas and Lady Nagi who looked equally alarmed. She then looked to Thelios whose jaw clenched and eyes hardened, but who gave no other outward sign of either panic or action.

She cursed softly and was the first to move, closing the space between her and Phineas, snatching up his wrist to pull him after her into the bedroom. He started to say something, but she stopped him with a sharp shushing hiss. She had to think, and think quickly. She didn't need him distracting her with unnecessary complaints or nonsense.

She looked quickly around the room, licking her drying lips. The bath!

"Quickly," she whispered, pulling him up the steps to the partially raised cistern. "Watch your step."

"Thanks for the warning," he muttered sardonically, already stumbling as he felt his way over the marbled stone. He frowned. "This is the bath."

"Yes. Get in." She took his elbow and guided him to the wide, sunken ledge that acted as a bench inside the bath itself. "Lay down on the bench...here." She helped him arrange himself on the bench nearest the door, and therefore hidden from immediate sight. You'd have to be standing over him to see him.

Now she just needed something to keep them from approaching the bath. Unfortunately only one thing came to mind. It wasn't fool-proof, but it might just be enough.

She leaned over and turned the tap, allowing the water to begin trickling down, filling the basin.

He raised his head at the sound. "Um..."

"Hush." He did, but she had to smile a little at the anxious look on his face. "Don't worry," she whispered, "it will take some time to fill. It is large enough for Thelios after all. Now don't make a sound." She warned.