Iridescence

CHAPTER FORTY-SIX

KRISSY

I finally started to regain consciousness. My head was killing me. I definitely wasn't a happy camper as I looked around and realized I'd been left in a small room with no exits. A few candles provided my only light.

I sat up slowly and took a deep breath. My throat hurt, but my lungs seemed to be working properly again.

"Alright, let's recap," I mumbled. "I got abducted by Eliza's evil dad. My entire body hurts. Eliza and Abby could be anywhere. Leo is actually Altheos. I'm stuck in a room with no way out. And, worst of all, there's no coffee or soda in sight." I sighed. "This has been a pretty crappy day. Time to make it better."

I stood up. To my relief, my legs were stable, although I was shaking. I was definitely injured. Things weren't looking so great.

"Heal yourself," a voice said to me.

I looked around and realized Tophie's spirit was in the room with me. "What?" I asked.

"You can heal, Krissy," he replied patiently. "Heal yourself."

"How? I realize Rydia used water to heal others, but there's no water in this place."

"Little Sister, you are made of water," he pointed out with a kind smile. "You can do this, Krissy. I know you can."

I wasn't so sure, but he was both my incarnated brother and my soul's brother. If anyone knew what I was capable of, it was him.

"How did you find me?" I asked.

"My Godly self, Cephissus, can't get in here without a portal, but I'm a spirit. I can go anywhere I want. I'm connected to you, so I was able to follow you."

I accepted that and tried to figure out how to heal myself. I closed my eyes and focused until I connected to the water within me. My body had water in it just like anyone else's, and my soul was made up of the essence of Water itself. Between the two, I felt my element flowing through me.

I started to feel stronger. My injuries rapidly started to heal. I knew that I was going to be alright.

"Thanks, Tophie," I said. "You're an awesome big brother... I wish I could have had time to get to know you better."

"Don't miss me too much, Sis," he replied. "My incarnation died, but this was only a small part of me. Cephissus is still alive. You can spend time getting to know me as a deity when you get out of here."

"Wouldn't a God mind having his hyperactive little sister chasing after him?" I asked.

"Not at all," Tophie replied. "I miss you. It will be amazing to spend time with you again."

I smiled. "Good. Now I need to find a way out of here so I get the chance."

I started scanning the room for vulnerabilities but didn't see any. "Alright, I need to think outside of the box. How do you escape an inescapable room?" I wondered aloud.

"Normally, you would escape through a portal," a voice said as one opened. I was hoping to see one of our allies or even Viktor. Maybe I could knock him out and escape before the portal closed.

Instead of seeing anyone I recognized, a boy with light brown skin walked into the room. "Who the heck are you?" I asked as Tophie waved at me and vanished from sight.

"My name is Jack Casey. I'm the new kid in school. I'm a friend of Vanessa's and Faith's... And I'm also apparently Eliza's brother."

I stared at him in confusion. "Eliza is an only child," I said, but then I remembered that I'd thought the same thing about myself before I remembered Tophie. "Explain this to me," I demanded.

"My dad lived with his other family... I didn't know he had one, but I'm not surprised. He was barely around my mom and me," Jack explained. "I can tell you more later, but what you need to know right now is that Altheos and my dad kidnapped Eliza. She wrote a chant and it unlocked my soul... I'm still getting the hang of things, but I can teleport anywhere I want to go. I can also open portals."

"Who were you, Jack?" I asked.

"Vincenzo," he replied. "I was-"

"Viktor's son," I finished for him. "Rydia remembers you."

"I don't remember everything, but I remember how to use my powers... Sort of." He smiled a bit awkwardly and it eased my nerves slightly. This guy was definitely not here to stab me in the back, unlike Altheos and Viktor.

"Does that mean you can get me out of here?" I asked.

"Yeah, but not using a portal. Eliza's portal spell was one-way and I don't remember how to write my own. I'll teleport us out."

"Is she okay? Where is she?"

"Altheos and our dad locked her in a room. She's still in there. She sent me to rescue you once she realized what my powers were."

"Why didn't you bring her with you?" I demanded. "Is she hurt?"

"She's okay. She insisted I go after you. I wasn't thrilled about leaving her behind, but she wouldn't budge."

"How could you just leave her there?" I was beyond furious.

"She has a plan, Krissy, and I'm still trying to adjust to the fact that, one, I have a sister and, two, I'm some kind of reincarnated God. I let her take the lead."

"Oh Gods, Liz! What were you thinking?" I wondered aloud.

"Have some faith in her, Krissy. I think she knows what she's doing."

I sighed. "I have plenty of faith in her. She's my best friend... But it isn't like her to take risks, so I'm worried."

"Then let's start by getting you out of here, and then we can help Eliza." He hesitated before saying, "I need to hold onto you to take you with me."

I shrugged and opened up my arms. "I'm a hugger," I replied. "Come at me, bro!"

Jack laughed before he wrapped his arms around me. I held onto him tight. In an instant, we went from the room with no exits to the inside of a church. It took me a minute to adjust as Jack released me.

"Krissy!" Jenna cried in relief. "Are you hurt?"

"I was, but I healed myself," I replied.

"That's my girl," Tethys said proudly.

"That's our girl," Hermes added with a grin. He ran to me and pulled me into his arms. I finally felt safe.

"Jack?" Vanessa asked. "What's going on?"

"You know this boy?" Poseidon asked. "He could be Altheos!"

"He's not," Jenna replied before I could.

"How can you be so sure?" Apollo asked.

"Because I found this..." She pulled out a charm. It was a silver sword with a a symbol etched onto the blade.

"This bears the crest of Altheos," Apollo said in surprise. "Where did you find it?"

"I found it when we rescued Eliza and Abby."

"You found them? Jack told me where Liz is, but where's my aunt?" I demanded.

"Abby is safe," Apollo promised. "She and Della are back at your house."

Relief flooded through me. My aunt was alive. I hadn't lost her. I clung to that knowledge for strength.

"I know who he is, Apollo," Jenna said. "I've seen that charm every day, but never looked closely... It belongs to-"

"Leo," I said.

Vanessa gasped in shock. Emily looked furious. Jenna simply nodded.

"Way to steal Na's moment," Lucky teased me with a laugh.

"I knew it!" Apollo shouted. "That no good, rotten little creep has been cozying up to Eliza since the day I met him!"

"You said you know where Eliza is," Emily said to me, refocusing everyone and stopping Apollo from flying into a rant.

"Jack was with her. He rescued me," I explained.

"How?" Poseidon asked.

"He's Vincenzo," Hecate said. "The teleportation gave it away."

"Vincenzo was a traitor just like his father!" Ares declared.

"No," Hades said firmly. "While Vincenzo was originally tricked into helping my abomination, Viktor, and Chaos, he quickly realized what they were up to and turned on them. That betrayal sealed his death warrant. They killed him. He wasn't evil."

"You're certain?" Hermes asked.

"He's right," Apollo replied. "I had a vision of Vincenzo's redemption. Of course, I only saw Viktor. I didn't know Theos was a traitor yet."

"Fine, then prove yourself," Ares said.

"Join us," Nike agreed. "Let your true colors show in this battle and clear your name."

"I'm still new to this," Jack said nervously. "I'll try to figure out ways to be useful, but until an hour ago, I thought I was just a kid living in a new neighborhood and angsting over my deadbeat dad. I'm still learning what I can do."

"You rescued Krissy," Apollo said. "Why haven't you rescued Eliza?"

"She told me not to," Jack admitted. I could tell he wanted to shrink and hide from all of the deities who were watching him suspiciously, but he tried to stand his ground. "She has a plan, and I think we need to let her see it through."

"Who are you to decide-?" Apollo began.

"He's her brother," I blurted out.

"Wait... What?" Jenna asked.

"I don't see a resemblance," Lucky joked.

"I do," Apollo admitted softly. "Despite their vastly different skin tones, there are subtle similarities in their features. Their cheekbones come from Viktor, and they even share a few mannerisms. I watched him during his first day at the school."

"Well, if Apollo says it's true, I believe him," Poseidon decided.

"I feel their blood tie in his energy," Emily added.

"Okay, so Eliza has a brother, and a plan, and we're all caught up on that," I said. "Is anyone going to tell me why Faith and Artemis aren't here?"

"Genie took them," a little girl I hadn't noticed before said softly. "Genie's the bad man's daughter."

"And Faith's roommate," Emily explained.

"I missed more than I thought," I mumbled. "I think I'm gonna need some caffeine and sugar ASAP."

Lucky reached his hands into thin air. An energy drink appeared in one hand and a cupcake appeared in the other. "You're welcome," he said.

I flung my arms around him. "You're the best!" I told him before eagerly accepting his offerings.

"Come on, Krissy," Jenna said, wrapping an arm around my shoulders. "I'll fill you in on everything you need to know while you recharge your energy."