Prophecy of the Setting Sunrise (Oracle of Delphi #2), page 30
Poppy rolled her eyes. "Get real, Pythia. You already know."
"No, I don't."
Poppy snorted. "Okay. We'll do it your way. The goddess behind you has something I want. You are going to get it for me."
"What do you want?" She was going to play stupid for as long as she could.
"The Lullaby of the Setting Sunrise. You already know what it does so don't bother asking."
"No, I —"
Poppy slapped her, and damn, it hurt. It was the same side she had taken the hit on earlier.
"Sorry I had to do that, Pythia. But I just realized I don't have any patience for your lil' game."
"I'm going to kill you," Chloe growled, her face throbbing. Benjy whimpered beside her.
"I doubt it. The only thing you will do is whatever I tell you to." Poppy grinned, then began pacing the platform. "As you know, I'm disowned. Do you want to know why?"
She did and didn't at the same time. "I don't care."
"That means yes. Well, my brother, the Slumber Prince, Nod, died on a mission and I was blamed for it. He died in his sleep." She stopped. "I'm a dreamwalker, like Morpheus. I need only touch you to enter your dreams, though Morpheus can get to you anywhere. So that's what I did. I killed my brother in his dreams. He woke up dead." Her expression darkened. "He stole from me, Pythia. Nobody steals from me and lives to reap the benefits. Especially if it's the bracelet my mother gave me before she died." She flashed the wrist with the bracelet on it.
She seemed to want Chloe to respond to that, but she wasn't going to say what she was thinking: that Poppy was one psychotic harpy to kill a sibling, a Royal, over a piece of jewelry, despite the sentimental value.
Poppy continued. "My father didn't see Nod's thievery as a betrayal of trust the way I did. He called me a murderer and shunned me. He made me a pariah of celestial society and not even orphs would come anywhere near me. Do you have any idea what it's like to be a complete social outcast?"
"Yes."
Poppy glanced at her, but didn't comment on that. "My father overreacted. I'm convinced he wouldn't even have disowned me if Nod hadn't been his Prince." She shrugged. "He wasn't an Olympian Royal though, so I didn't have to stand trial and answer to Zeus. Because it was only the Slumber Prince, the law states that my father had the divine right to punish me as he liked. He chose disownment, but death would have been better suited for me. I'd rather be dead than disowned."
"So you've just decided to take all the gods with you by claiming the Lullaby and using it on them?" she hissed.
She'd had enough of this whiny psycho and it was time to deliver the reality check.
"Well, I've got news for you, Poppy. You're not the Heir to the Lullaby. Benjy is."
Poppy stopped and turned to her. A slow smile spread across her face and she patted Benjy on the head, before cupping his chin and saying,
"I know."
XXXII. CHLOE
Chloe wasn't sure she'd heard right. "You know about Benjy being the Heir?"
"Duh." Poppy kicked at something in her way. A pebble or something. "The question is, how do you know?"
Chloe just stared at her, dumbfounded. Poppy laughed.
"So I assume you read the letter I sent my father."
"Yes."
Poppy laughed again. "You are such a good lil' liar, Pythia. Truly talented. You said that with a totally straight face. But you couldn't have read the letter because I never wrote one." She shook her head, chuckling. "I told him you wouldn't fall for the whole "revenge" scheme without actually seeing the letter. But I should have known better. Oracle or not, you're mortal, which means you're pretty stupid. You'll believe anything."
She gaped at the girl, her heart stuttering from the second shock in less than five minutes. "You and Hypnos are working together."
"Bingo, baby. Poppy has to be declared again. As I said, the disowned demigod life sucks." She knelt down in front of them. "When my father came to me saying he wanted me to kidnap your brother so you would help him get his hands on the Lullaby, I thought, yes, the Fates were finally willing to send a lil' luck my way. Then he told me what was really going on and that he would declare me again if I agreed. I was like, oh, I am so in."
If her feet hadn't been bound, she would've kicked Poppy in the face. "So you and your conniving father put everyone I love in danger, just so I could wake Nyx?"
"And so little Benjy here could claim the Lullaby. Oh, by the way, did you promise him to my father? He said you would easily agree to the whole icey thing to get your brother back. Was he right?" When she didn't answer, Poppy laughed. "He was right. Man, you mortals are stupid!"
"I won't wake Nyx. I won't help Hypnos destroy the gods!"
Poppy laughed, long and hard. "Stupid girl. Are you sure you're as smart as they say you are?"
"What are you talking about?" she snapped.
"You don't have a clue, do you? Hypnos doesn't want to destroy the gods! This is all a part of a much bigger plan!" Poppy held her arms out wide. "This is only the part I play, but you're a fool if you think it ends here."
She was getting real tired of Poppy's crap. If only she could get her feet loose. Maybe she could kick her. Maybe Poppy would tumble right over the edge. Maybe a bottom would appear in the pit. Maybe the harpy would go splat all over it.
Poppy kept talking. "The bonds between siblings are strong. Even stronger, the bond between twins. They would do anything for their other half —lie for them, fight for them, even die for them."
Chloe stilled. Poppy was staring at her and smiling, and she knew right then that Isolde hadn't told her the entire story of what had happened to her.
"The sisters in these equations always seem to pick the short straws," Poppy said. "They always get stuck with the dirty work."
"What are you talking about, Poppy?" Chloe snapped. "Make your point."
Poppy laughed. "I already have. Think about it. Who do you think orchestrated this whole thing, Pythia? Who do you think told me to bring your brother here?" She grinned. "Who do you think convinced Daedalus to open a door to this death trap? Not me. Not my father. Only certain Olympians have that kind of influence. Like I said, the sister always picks the short straw. Think about it."
She didn't want to, but her Intuition was telling her to stop being an idiot and open her freaking eyes. The truth had been right there, in her head, all along.
Their purpose will be known. Their purpose will be made, she thought. Apollo's purpose. She hadn't even considered her to be a part of this.
"Artemis," she said. "We've been so stupid."
"Yes, you have. You all have. The goddess completely lost her sight months ago and only pretended to "find" Benjy when you and the Prince came to her for help. She knew you would come, of course. I was there the night her bounties captured the twins and I saw everything. I was supposed to take Benjy then, but your mother was standing in the window watching the whole thing happen. I knew she'd be keeping a close eye on Benjy that night, so I waited a couple of days and then made my move."
Chloe glared. "So the part about Tyche wanting Hector was a lie?"
"Oh no. That part is true. The only thing is, Apollo is the one that turned him in."
"What?"
"Come on, Pythia. Had to make things look legit, otherwise Zeus might have become suspicious. His divine sight works just fine, you know. I wouldn't be surprised if he already knew something foul was going on, just like last time."
Last time?
Poppy patted Chloe on the head and stood. She put her hands on her hips, studied Chloe, then said, "Do you even know why my grand-goddess Nyx named the Lullaby as she did?" Chloe didn't say a word and Poppy forged right ahead. "Because of her father. And guess who her father iiiissssss..." she sang.
That got her attention. Poppy performed a little dance when she realized Chloe didn't have an answer.
"Thought the Oracle was supposed to know every daaaammmn thiiiinnnng," she sang. She stopped dancing and grinned. "Chaos is Nyx's father."
Her breath hitched, but she refused to let this new horror reach her expression. Chaos was the father of the Cosmos, not just the creator of Myth. But why did Nyx give the Lullaby its name?
"Because Pythia," and Chloe realized she had spoken out loud. "Myth must always have a ruler. Always. And like the day must end to become night, and the night must fade to become day, so must the sun set on the reign of every King of Myth to give rise to another."
Chloe was starting to see where she was going with this. From what she gathered, Nyx had known that the Lullaby would be claimed to bring down a King and had sought to stop it from happening by giving the Lullaby a mortal Heir.
She looked at Benjy as he sat, scared and silent. Her baby brother had been chosen to possess one of the greatest weapons Myth had ever, or would ever, come across. Every god would be after him now, not just Apollo.
"The time has come again and Chaos will wake," Poppy said. "Only this time, the Fates have given one red-headed mortal girl the power to alter the outcome. Her name, as the Great Unknown says, is Pythia..."
With one stroke, Poppy bent and cut her ankle binds. "Get up now. It's time to wake the old lady."
Still in shock, Chloe didn't move.
Poppy glared. "Get up, Pythia. Or I'll cut your little brother's ear off." She flipped her dagger over in her hand and dragged Benjy to his feet. He whined and jerked around frantically.
"Wait!" She struggled to stand with her hands still bound. "I'm up. I'm up. Just don't hurt him. I'll do whatever you say."
Poppy chuckled. "Smartest thing you've said yet." She jerked Benjy's arms above his head and raised her dagger.
"What are you doing?" Chloe shrieked. "I said I'd do what you say!"
"Will you shut up with all of that? I'm just cutting off his shirt."
In one movement, Poppy sliced his pajama shirt right down the middle, yanked it off of him and tossed the fabric into the Underneath.
"Now, the rest is up to you." She turned and pushed Chloe toward the dais where Nyx still slept.
"Wake her up."
Chloe glared back at her. "Just how the hell am I supposed to do that?"
"The prophecy, Pythia. Say it. I know you know it. You know a lot of things the rest of us don't."
Chloe remained silent for too long, so Poppy turned and backhanded Benjy across the face.
"Okay!" Chloe screamed. "Just please don't hit him again." Benjy was crying now and his face was red where Poppy had hit him.
"Next time, I'm using the dagger," Poppy spit. "Now wake up the goddess. And if you are so stupid as to try and screw it up, I will make you watch while I carve out beautiful masterpieces. In his skin."
Chloe's anger boiled over then, but she didn't snap. She had to control it. She was not going to be the reason this lunatic caused Benjy any more pain. She stepped up to the dais, her eyes on her brother.
"Everything is going to be okay, Benjy."
"The prophecy, Pythia. Those had better be the next words out of your mouth."
She glared at Poppy, then looked down at the slumbering Nyx. She didn't want to do it. She didn't want to help Apollo by unleashing this power. But what choice did she have? She wasn't going to let her brother die for this, because if she refused, Poppy would kill him. No Lullaby. No Heir. No more Benjy.
She made a very hard decision at that moment, then started to speak,
"Sleep by day, sleep by night, sleep in eternity's darkest light.
For if sung by the fated scion on the darkest Solstice night, the ears that hear will sleep, a most everlasting plight.
And as the immortal slumbers, indeed they shall awake, and for the golden dream, the berceuse the heir shall take.
With one life given and one life to be paid, their purpose will be known, their purpose will be made."
She leapt back as the dais began to tremble. It cracked and split all over, filling the silence with sharp sounds, then there was a brilliant flash of light. She turned just in time, but even though her eyes were closed, she could feel the powerful essence saturate the air like a coming storm. She didn't want to open them, but when she finally did to make sure Benjy was okay, Nyx was awake and standing beside her.
"Pythia lives."
Nyx's voice radiated so much power that Chloe could feel it in her soul and felt compelled to go to her knees with reverence. But somehow, she remained standing and just stared at the goddess whose liquid silver eyes were beautiful beyond all comprehension.
Poppy stepped forward and bowed. "My lady, I come as your humble serv—"
"Treacherous half-breed," the goddess spit, her eyes shooting silver daggers into Poppy. The girl immediately cowered down and backed up. "I sense the evil in you and I know all that you have done. I know how you took the life of one you called brother, one whose veins were filled with my essence. You are fortunate you are of the same, else I would do as your father should have done and crush you where you stand. Do not speak aloud to me again." She looked at Benjy. "Unbind him, wretch."
Stunned into complete silence, Poppy stumbled away to do as Nyx said, it appeared, fearful for the first time since Chloe had met her. She fumbled with her dagger but managed to cut Benjy's binds without hurting him.
"Sissy," Benjy whimpered as soon as he was free to talk. It was his nickname for her, his "Big Sissy," and it swelled her heart with joy to hear it again.
"It's okay, hon. Just hold on. Everything is gonna be okay."
Nyx walked around the dais and approached him, slowly. Poppy gave the goddess wide berth as Nyx knelt before the trembling little boy and stroked his hair.
"Calm yourself, Thetan. I mean you no harm."
From the look on Poppy's face, it was clear that the demigoddess hadn't had any idea that Benjy was also a Thetan. A revelation passed through her eyes and her head drooped as she stared at the ground. Chloe wanted so bad to ask what understanding she had just come to. Then after she had her answer, push the lil' witch into the Underneath.
"You see much other mortals do not," Nyx said to Benjy. "It is your curse, little one. But one I sense that you accept."
Benjy just nodded, already seeming less afraid of the goddess than before. He was braver than she was. She was still terrified.
"A brave, young soul. Pythia will need your strength in the times ahead." Nyx pulled a gold medallion from beneath her robe. It was connected to a chain that she lifted from around her neck, letting her silky, silver hair slide through it.
"This, my child, is the Medallion of Morpheus. When you are certain your time has come, seek him out and allow him entrance into your dreams. Only then will you know exactly what is to be done."
The golden dream, Chloe thought.
"I don't want to hurt anybody," Benjy said, "especially not my Sissy. Or my mom. Or the twins. I won't have to hurt them, will I?"
Nyx smiled. "Sweet child, that is a question I cannot answer. Only the Fates know what is to become of us all now. But I do know that your pure little heart will prevail where others will not. And with that knowledge, I bestow this to you."
In a single movement, the goddess slipped the necklace over Benjy's head. As soon as the medallion touched his bare skin, it fused with it, sizzling and hissing as his skin morphed around the piece of gold and the chain looped around his neck, sealing it to him forever.
"Benjy!" she cried out. But he didn't seem to be in any pain, so she just watched. Which was all she could do as she knew there was no way she could put a stop to what was happening to him. He cocked his head to one side, seeming to sense something that no one else could. Besides maybe Nyx.
"Do you hear it?" the goddess asked. Benjy nodded. "Beautiful, isn't it? It is the Lullaby of the Setting Sunrise. You will hear it often in your mind. Never let the words pass your lips until you are sure they are meant to. You can sing it only once. Timing is everything and the repercussions are eternal."
She took Benjy's face in her midnight blue hands. "It will try to rule you, young one. It is why I slumbered for so long with it in my possession. It became too powerful for even me to control. But do not let it control you, my Heir, for you are to be its master. And at your command and by the will of the Fates, it will do as you say and destroy all that it is meant to."
After placing a gentle kiss on Benjy's head, Nyx stood. She turned to Chloe and smiled. "You are a beauty, fair one. I do hope you remain that way. Especially within your heart."
She turned away from the three of them.
"Wait!" Poppy exclaimed, stepping forward. "Where are you going?"
Nyx didn't seem to care that it was Poppy who'd spoken. She didn't even turn back around to look at her. "I return to the darkness from which I was created. My purpose is fulfilled. None shall lay eyes on me again."
"Thank you, Nyx," Benjy said, looking and sounding quite brave.
Nyx smiled up at the darkness. "Precious child."
Then with a muted flash, she was gone.
"WAIT!" Poppy screamed again. "Wait! I need your blessing to be declared again! Come back!"
But Nyx did not return. Poppy stared out over the Underneath, seething with rage, and Chloe knew it wasn't over yet. Not even close.
This entire mission hadn't been about her. It had been about Benjy and delivering him to his destiny. It was all part of their plan, and she now understood that she had never been meant to fulfill the G.U.P.
...With mind and instrument to bring to Olympus great power as one...
One. Benjy, the Heir to the greatest weapon in the universe. It was he who would fulfill the Great Unknown, not her. This is what the Fates had been trying to tell her all along.
What will be will be, they had said, and you have no hope of altering that.
She now understood and knew what she had to do. She closed her eyes. Forgive me, Strafford.
"There's still one thing left to do," she said, opening them, "to fulfill the prophecy."
Poppy glared at her. "Does it involve me killing you?"
"Yes." The girl cocked her head but didn't lose her glare. "Benjy's life was given, as Nyx's Heir. But there's still a life to be paid." She stuck out her chin. "Mine."
