Iridescence

CHAPTER TWELVE

ELIZA

After our training session ended, I was feeling better than I had at our other sessions. Not only had I enjoyed learning magic, but I was actually good at it. It felt nice to finally be able to contribute something to the group.

"Eliza... We need to talk," Apollo said after he walked me and Krissy home. Krissy had already gone into her house.

"Okay," I agreed. "What's going on?"

He sighed and asked, "May I come in?"

I raised an eyebrow at that. My parents weren't home yet, and they probably wouldn't be thrilled to come back to find me alone with a man they didn't know. Then again, the way they kept fighting lately, they might not even notice.

"Alright," I agreed. I unlocked the door and let Apollo follow me inside.

His eyes scanned over the living room. He smiled as he spotted the grand piano.

"Have a seat," I said politely. This was starting to feel a bit awkward. "Would you like something to drink?"

"Allow me," he replied. He clapped his hands. A golden tea set appeared on the coffee table. There were suns etched onto each cup, as well as the tea kettle. He poured me a cup before pouring one for himself.

I cautiously drank the tea. It was sweet and strangely familiar. I felt calmer as I sat beside him on the couch.

"Eliza, this is going to be a lot for you to process," Apollo began. "I need to tell you a story of a battle which began long ago."

I listened patiently, so he continued. "When Artemis and I were younger, a deity tried to destroy everyone, both good and evil. We called him Chaos, as it was considered dangerous to use his proper name," he explained.

"I know the story. I've studied him in both Greek and Egyptian mythology," I replied.

"He was building an army to overthrow the deities. He wished to thrust the universe into complete and utter chaos. Good and Evil had to unite to keep him from rising to power, and many deities and our allies were killed over time as the battle continued. We all lost friends, relatives, lovers..."

"That's horrible," I said softly.

"We all worked together to take a stand and end the bloodshed. In the last major battle, we learned we had been betrayed by my cousin, Altheos."

A chill ran down my spine that I didn't understand. Theos, my mind whispered, almost as if I should know who Apollo was talking about.

"We all trusted Theos completely. Zeus and Hera raised him from the time he was small, and he was more of a brother to me than a cousin," Apollo continued. "Hades and Nemesis, his parents, wanted him dead as soon as he was born. They were cruel to him. My father took him away from Hades to save him. Hera immediately got attached to the boy. She loved him as her own son."

"What happened?" I asked. I couldn't understand the anxiety filling my mind or the tightness in my chest, but I knew this information was important.

"Theos began working with Chaos in a quest to overthrow everything. He was a remarkably skilled liar, and not one of us ever suspected the truth... He was beloved by one and all. When he revealed his true colors, it was too late. I would have perished in battle, but someone saved me."

"Who saved you?" I asked very softly. I knew this was connected to the vision I'd had.

"Her name was Kleia," Apollo replied just as softly. I saw tears in his eyes, but he didn't let them fall. I felt something strange that I couldn't quite identify as he said her name.

"She was my beloved," he explained. "I intended to make her my consort one day, but she was only nineteen... For a deity, that's still incredibly young. I decided to wait to marry her. I wish I hadn't."

"She died?" I asked.

"She died," he confirmed. "She had already used much of her life force to protect us and help us win the battle, but saving my life left her weak, and she fried herself psychically. She fell out of the sky and crashed down to the ground, and she never woke back up. She died three days later. I refused to let go of her until she was truly gone."

"I'm so sorry, Apollo."

He shook his head. "Do not apologize, my sweet Eliza... I am about to tell you something that may be difficult for you to hear, but please keep an open mind."

"Of course."

"Morpheus kept a small part of Kleia in the dream realm. It wasn't enough to bring her back or heal her, but it allowed a small shred of her to live on... And somehow, she has reincarnated."

"She has? Apollo, that's wonderful! You can get a second chance!" I said hopefully. I could feel his grief. He deserved a chance for a happier ending.

"Eliza... I believe that Kleia's soul lives inside of you."

I stared at him in shock. "Me? No... No, that's impossible. I am no Goddess."

"You don't see it, but you are extraordinary, Eliza. And Kleia was more than just a Goddess. She was half-Muse. Her mother was Polyhymnia, and her father was Aether."

I shook my head, still insisting on denying it even though his words stirred something inside of me. Polyhymnia had always been one of my favorite Muses, along with Calliope. As for Aether, I was very drawn to the light, and his name brought me a strange sense of comfort.

"I can't be her," I whispered, more to convince myself than Apollo.

"Eliza, I'm sorry. I wish I didn't have to tell you all of this, but you may be in danger. If anyone figures out who you truly are, you will be targeted."

"What happened to Theos?"

"He's dead... He died in the same battle Kleia did." He hesitated.

"What is it, Apollo?" I asked nervously.

"We believed Kleia was completely destroyed, Eliza, yet here you stand... It is at least possible that Altheos has returned as well."

I took a deep breath to fight back the panic his words had stirred in me. "Then we'll just have to face him and put an end to this once and for all," I said with a determination I couldn't quite explain. I was terrified and still in denial, yet part of me seemed to believe every word he'd said and know exactly what to do about it.

It's true, I realized. I was Kleia.

With that realization came both a sense of peace and a sense of incredible sorrow. I looked up and realized Apollo had let a few of his tears fall while I wasn't looking. I wiped them away with my index finger.

He seemed stunned by my touch and he gently grabbed my wrist, keeping my hand against his cheek. I could feel his pain, and all I wanted was to chase it away.

"Eliza..." He whispered, still holding my wrist. He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and finally released me.

My hand lingered for another moment before I pulled it away. We returned to drinking our tea, neither of us sure what to say.

The phone rang and I jumped. Apollo let out a slightly undignified cry of surprise. I tried to calm myself before I answered it with a quick, "Hello?"

"Oracle," someone whispered.

I was suddenly very nervous. "Who is this?" I asked.

A high-pitched screech came through the phone, causing me to drop it in shock. My head hurt and I needed a moment to focus. In that moment, the doorbell rang.

"Eliza, don't answer that," Apollo said firmly.

I was very nervous, so I didn't argue. The doorbell rang repeatedly, like someone kept pushing the button frantically. When I still didn't move, the windows flew open on their own. I could hear something pounding on the front door as every other door in the house opened and slammed shut repeatedly.

"What's happening?" I asked in terror.

"Stay on the couch and don't move," Apollo replied. He stood up and began shouting in Ancient Greek. Despite the fact that it was after dark, sunlight suddenly filled every inch of my house. It should have been blinding, but I felt a million times safer as it surrounded me.

After a few more moments, the activity stopped. The doors remained closed, and the windows slammed shut. The banging on the door stopped and so did the doorbell.

I was trembling as I looked at Apollo gratefully. "What was that?" I asked.

"A demonic attack that was probably meant to scare you into running outside," he replied. "Are you okay?"

"I'm pretty freaked out," I admitted.

"I'll ask Hecate to put protection wards on your house, and I'll add my own. The energy of the Sun will linger for a bit. That should keep them away for tonight."

I was still shaking. Apollo wrapped his arms around me. "It's alright, Eliza," he said soothingly. "It's over for now. You're safe."

I felt calmer in his arms. I was still freaked out, but at least I wasn't alone. "I don't know where my parents are," I said. "At least one of them is usually home by now."

"I can stay as long as you need me to. Will that help?"

I nodded. "I don't want to be alone right now."

"I don't blame you." He released me and moved toward the piano. To my surprise, he began to play a beautiful, inspiring melody. I slowly stopped trembling as his fingers moved over the keys.

Soon, I found myself humming along to the melody. Lyrics popped into my mind easily and I began softly singing them aloud. As I sang, my fear lifted, and so did my spirit. I felt at peace, and judging from the expression on Apollo's face, so did he.

After our unexpected duet, I was much calmer. "Your voice is beautiful, Eliza," Apollo told me.

I blushed and looked away. He stood up and moved closer to me until his index finger landed beneath my chin. He gently tilted my head up with his finger until I was looking into his eyes.

"I would like to do that again soon," he said softly. "It would be my honor to create more music with you."

I didn't know what to say, so I simply looked into his eyes. Suddenly, they were so familiar to me... I couldn't connect to Kleia, but I could no longer deny I felt her stirring inside of me. The question was, what would happen when she fully awakened?