Fighting Fate, page 33
“Don’t worry about Ares,” Khronos tells me quietly. “He woke up when you were confronting Aphrodite and saw her end. Her compulsion is no longer affecting him. He needs some time to sort through his anger and grief. Being compelled for four thousand years and realizing the woman you thought you loved killed your beloved daughter does terrible things to a man. Just give him time.”
I nod, wishing I could be there for him, but perversely glad that he doesn’t need me. We don’t have a close relationship, partly because of my father and in good part because of Aphrodite herself. Time will tell as to the future.
Once our hands are linked, we translocate. With Khronos directing us, I’m expecting to be somewhere unfamiliar, but we find ourselves outside of Karma’s house.
From her squeal of happiness, Karma is happy to be home.
“Holy crap, I am so looking forward to a nice long shower!” She sighs.
“Not too long, Karma,” Khronos warns her as we follow her into the house. “Get cleaned up, and then we need to talk.”
He settles himself in the living room while I follow her down the hall. She pauses at the doors to the bedrooms, looking conflicted. “I want to get you in the shower with me, but I don’t think that’s a good idea with my grandfather here.”
I suppress a shudder, giving her a brief kiss. Brief only because if it’s any longer I won’t be able to listen to reason. “I understand. Shower separately, then talk. However, after that you’re mine.”
Her smile turns both sultry and fierce, instantly heating my blood. “I think it will be the other way around, but we will see, won’t we?”
Before I can grab her, grandfather be damned, she slips into her room. I take a minute to control myself, then turn into the guest room to clean up by myself. The cold shower does little to help the situation. It’s not till I begin to wonder just what Khronos needs to talk to us about that the chill begins to take effect.
Ten minutes later, we are done, changed and sitting on the couch across from Khronos. He glances between the two of us with curiosity.
“I know the answer for Karma. Hadyn, have you ever met an Original Immortal?” he begins.
Shaking my head, I lace my fingers with Karma’s as I respond, “As far as I’m aware, you and your wife are the first.”
He nods as if that is what he expected. “Because of that, you both are unlikely to recognize what changes have been happening within the two of you recently.”
Karma frowns in confusion. “Do you mean how the bond between us has been growing stronger and amplifying our powers?”
“Not exactly,” he hedges, then sighs. “Would you rather have the build-up first to explain what’s going on and then the bottom line, or the reverse?”
Karma and I glance at each other, then simultaneously state, “The bottom line first.”
“All right.” He straightens as he takes a deep breath. “Congratulations. You two are the newest pair of Original Immortals.”
KARMA
My mouth gapes open at my grandfather’s words. Did he just . . .?
He glances between the two of us and nods shortly. “You had no idea.”
“No idea?” I squeak. “I didn’t even think it was possible! I mean, you guys are all the ones who began everything . . . the first Immortals.”
Hadyn is pale but remains silent, his eyes not leaving my grandfather. His hand tightly squeezes mine. I’m not sure if it’s for his reassurance or mine, but I’m happy to have it after the floor just fell out underneath me.
I mean, come on! This can’t be true.
Yet, at the same time, I haven’t known my grandfather to lie to me, especially about something important like this.
“Ah, a popular misconception. We were not the first Immortals. That’s not what Original means. Yes, we were among the first Immortals to come to Earth. We don’t have time to get into our origins before we came to this world.
“What’s important here is that Original means only that we are the first to hold that type of power. Because we are the first, we also have a greater amount of power, even more than those who will come later with the same power type. We are sort of like the wellspring from which the rest will come, though our powers don’t diminish with each new person. You two are our newest pair to have Original powers.”
I shake my head, feeling overwhelmed. The lack of sleep is catching up to me. “How did we get original powers? I don’t understand. Why us?”
He places his hands loosely on his knees while his back remains straight, the posture he adopts when teaching or explaining something.
“What do you know of the way the Original Immortals are paired?”
Knowing he will only get to his explanation in his own time, and used to his style of teaching, I quickly sum up what I know. “There are twelve Original Immortals, each pair with opposing powers that complement each other.”
“Do you know what it means that each pair has opposing powers that are also complementary?” he interrupts before I move on.
I scrunch up my face since I haven’t really thought about it. “Not really? I mean, you and Grandmother Ananke are paired, yet your powers are of time and hers are seeing the future, so it’s kind of related.”
He holds up a finger. “Not quite. Our real powers are not what is most obvious. My powers are seeing the potential in time. Ananke’s are seeing the inevitability or when that potential comes to an end.”
“So, you both have powers related to time, just coming from opposite sides of it.”
“Correct.” Grandpa Khronos nods. “Each pair is in balance with each other, holding both sides of the same power. Ouranos and Gaia hold the elements of fire and earth. Ouranos’s focus is on the heavens, which we would now call space, and Gaia on the planets themselves. Aether and Thalassa are sisters devoted to opposing elements of growth and life, Aether of air and Thalassa of water.
“Eros and Tartarus have powers of the soul related to the beginning and ending of life. Eros enacts his powers with love, which often eventually leads to children. Tartarus focuses on life’s end, monitoring a soul’s eternal reward or punishment. “
“Hemera and Nyx are light and darkness, often confused with day and night. Nyx’s powers have been thought to be evil by humans, but her powers aren’t evil, just related to the dark and the night. Lastly, are Arche and Themis, whose powers relate to the cyclical nature of life that many find difficult to understand. You may find it easier to call them by chaos and order.
“Now, after hearing that, how do you think you two come into the picture in relation to your powers?”
Hadyn and I look at each other, both of us uncertain.
“Mine are related to energy,” Hadyn says slowly. “It can manifest in fire as well as lightning, but it’s all energy.”
I shake my head. “I don’t see how mine are complementary or opposing. I just balance the scales of people’s actions.”
Grandpa gives me a reproving look. “You are oversimplifying, Karma. That’s not all your power entails.”
I look at him balefully. “Just tell me. You know I’m not an analyst. I do my job and get it done.”
Hadyn frowns before nodding in agreement. “I feel like I’m circling around the answer in my mind but I’m not quite getting there.”
Grandfather sighs and lifts his hands. “Fine, for the sake of the lateness of the hour, I will just tell you. Hadyn, you said it with stating your powers are related to energy. You both manipulate energy.
“Hadyn’s powers focus on the outer world while Karma’s focus on the inner world or sense of self. It’s why she can see a person’s memories and thoughts if she tries, compel the truth, see into a person’s soul to see what they deserve, etc. Her sisters haven’t been able to do those things.
“Whereas you, Hadyn, can concentrate your powers of energy so densely that you can create anything you need, from a shield such as what you used over your brother, making things invisible, greater strength and speed, creating fire that can condense into electricity and lightning, and so on. It’s all energy.”
“So, we were Original Immortals this whole time?” Hadyn asks in surprise.
“No. You finished the transition tonight, which is why we are talking now. You always had the potential to be an Original, but you must go through a specific process to have the potential triggered, and then do everything right afterward. We couldn’t warn you or tell you about it ahead of time because the potential pair must make those choices on their own. Most of them fail, which is why there aren’t more who reach Original status even though many Immortals’ powers vary by degrees.”
“What triggered the start of the transition in us, then?” I ask curiously.
“A need,” Grandfather Khronos answers easily. “This plane of existence needed Immortals with your powers, so the forces of fate nudged you into being and then placed you in the right circumstances. However, if you mean the final transition now, it was you two meeting and growing the connection between you. Each pair has to be connected. It doesn’t have to be a romantic connection. It can be siblings, best friends, or any other close relationship. You both grew your connection together organically.
“Karma.” He turns to me. “You were told days ago to stop your scan into the future because, while it is in your potential skillset as an Original Immortal, you did not have the resilience to withstand the strain of it yet. You will be able to utilize that skill now.”
Well, that is a relief. I knew it was something I should have been able to do. Before I can respond, he continues. “You were given advice from the forces of fate before you left Atty’s house. Do you remember what it was?”
Hadyn asks, “Do you mean the sort of prophecy that only Karma heard, or the words all the women spoke to the both of us at the end?”
“The latter.”
“Trust,” I say. Then my eyes widen as I put two and two together. “So, that’s why they kept telling us to trust? What was it?” I try to remember and count on my fingers. “They said trust them, each other, fate, our powers, and our heart. Trusting helped us form the bond to become Original Immortals?”
“Yes, and to win the day tonight.” He nods solemnly. “That was the most they could say without giving the whole thing away. You both had to learn to trust in yourselves and each other implicitly. If you had failed at every test. If you hadn’t decided to trust each other. If you hadn’t trusted your hearts and formed the Psyma bond. If you hadn’t done everything right, then you both would have died when Manu used the device on you, and then the dagger he stole.
“Instead, you balanced your powers by experiencing the deepest pain and deepest love, which kept the device from working. You formed the Psyma bond, which kept Aphrodite from compelling each of you. You decided you trusted each other implicitly, which is what finalized the transition into becoming Original Immortals. Didn’t you feel a surge of power once you both decided you trusted each other? Your Psyma bond just magnified that power, which also allowed you to use a small part of each other’s abilities.”
“Whoa!” I blink at my grandfather before turning to Hadyn. “That makes sense. I think I pulled on your power earlier and was able to move faster and strike harder than I ever have before.”
He nods. “And I used yours to pull the truth out of Aphrodite. It’s how I knew she compelled both Ares and me, and orchestrated Harmonia’s downfall with the necklace.”
My eyes widen in shock. “She did what?”
Hadyn nods soberly, wincing at the tightening of my grip. I loosen my hand as I shake my head, scowling. “I should have made her hurt worse. No wonder Ares has been so messed up.”
My grandfather agrees. “She did a number on him. Hopefully he will see the way forward and give himself the time he needs to heal.”
“How likely is that?” I ask anxiously, glancing over at Hadyn, knowing he’s been torn about Ares.
Grandfather Khronos closes his eyes and lifts his hand, moving it back and forth, as if it’s helping him scan. Finally, he opens his eyes, which briefly glow from his use of power. “Unfortunately, that will depend on several things, some of which we need to talk about now. I just gave you all the good news, and now we come to the bad.”
“Uh oh, this sounds serious,” I say, straightening in alarm. “Didn’t we stop all the bad things from happening and fulfill all that prophecy crap tonight?”
“Yes, and no,” Grandfather Khronos corrects. “There is a conspiracy, or I suppose you could say it’s a consortium of sorts. The result of this consortium getting their way is the world falling into darkness and destruction. The humans talk about an apocalypse with end-of-the-world type of events. This is the level we are talking about. The prophecy foretells this darkness falling upon the world, which will wipe out most of the Immortals and at least half of the humans.”
Alarm bells ring in my head. Wasn’t I just positing a similar scenario if humans and Immortals ever went to war against each other? That can’t be what’s happening . . . right?
“So, what did we do tonight if we didn’t stop this prophecy from happening?” Hadyn asks with faint irritation.
I agree. I thought we were finally done, and honeymoon bound! I groan internally at having more issues to deal with.
“You stopped the worst-case scenario from playing out where the world fell into darkness with no chance of stopping it.” Grandpa Khronos gives me a faint smile as if knowing I’m internally pouting. “We have a little bit of time now, but your parents and Aphrodite were only part of the problem. If you remember the prophecy given to you at the old temple, you will have to deal with the powers of heaven, the soul of fear, tainted love, twisted war, strife and discord, deception, and fate.”
“My father was fate,” I muse.
My grandfather turns shifty, which means he knows something he’s not telling. I narrow my eyes at him. “What? What are you hiding?”
He sighs, looking resigned. “I wasn’t sure if I should tell you this, but I believe you deserve to know.”
“Know what?” Hadyn asks suspiciously.
Grandfather Khronos looks me straight in the eye, his gaze solemn. “Manu was not your biological father. He took credit for you, but your birth was devised by him and your mother to gain access to more powers.”
My head feels like it’s not attached to my body anymore as I try to force the words out, my mouth dry. “Then who is my father?”
“Tartarus.”
“Aunt Atty’s husband?” I screech in surprise.
“Yes.”
Hadyn remains quiet, but I feel him squeeze my hand in comfort, which helps my head attachment issue. Now I’m just bewildered.
“Why did they choose him? Does he know?”
Khronos presses his lips together in anger. “They chose him for several reasons. First, because there was a prophecy that foretold a child of great power would merge the powers of fate and soul. Most thought that pointed to Arima when she was born.”
Oh, my Gaia, Arima is my sister! My mind is exploding. That makes Taavi my cousin and my nephew. Also, can we talk again about how prophecy crap destroys my life! If I didn’t love Tia so much, I would probably hate her because of her powers. Although, I might not be here without that prophecy either, so how much can I really complain? Ugh!
“Second, when Manu and Morae came across this prophecy, they decided that Arima didn’t show enough power to be this foretold child,” Grandfather continues grimly. “Manu realized that Morae fit the description much better than her sister. Through his powers he also knew that a seventh daughter of a seventh child would gain a greater power capacity, which fit the prophecy. Because of this reasoning, and his greed, he urged Morae into the relationship.
“Tartarus turned her down, of course, because he loved Atty. When they realized he wouldn’t change his mind, they gained the cooperation of Aphrodite to compel him. Since Aphrodite is also able to increase fertility, she made it possible for you to be conceived.”
I’m stunned. I have absolutely no words. Except…
“I’m happy I cut that bitch’s head off. She didn’t deserve her powers,” I scowl.
“Agreed,” Grandfather smiles tightly. “To answer your earlier question, Tartarus knows he was coerced. It’s why he left. I have no idea if he knows you exist.”
I shake my head, still not sure what to think. “So, I’m not the daughter of fate and destiny the prophecy talked about? I’m this other prophecy child?”
“You are both,” he states definitively, to my disappointment. I’m never going to be shed of that stupid title. “You are the daughter of fate and destiny by their design. You are also the daughter of Tartarus. His soul powers are how he can know what kind of life an Immortal deserves in the Underworld. You inherited that power from him, which is why you can see inside others to know what they deserve now. His powers and his strength, combined with what you inherited from me and Ananke, are why you are so much stronger than your sisters, are drawn to the fighting arts, and can handle my sickle.”
My mind explodes again. Overwhelmed, I glance at Hadyn who gives me an encouraging squeeze of his hand and a small smile.
“So, this means you really are the Angel of Death,” he ventures quietly with a note of humor.
I spurt out a laugh that turns into a full-on belly chuckle. Hadyn and Grandfather Khronos also smile.
After the chuckles subside, I’m still feeling overwhelmed. There is so much to unpack regarding my biological father, but one thing I am certain of is that I feel bad for how Manu and my mother treated him. My aunt and my sister as well.
“Does Aunt Atty and Arima know?” I ask my grandfather quietly.
“Atty knows,” he nods solemnly. “She doesn’t blame you or Tartarus for that. I do not believe Arima knows, but I could be wrong.”
I sigh, then shake my head. “I’m sure I’ll have more questions later, but I can’t handle any more craziness on this little sleep.”
