Pytho stood up, facing Terena as she watched her, but did not respond.
“How many more times? How many before it ends?”
Pytho did not answer.
Terena wanted to choke the woman. “You are useless to me,” she hissed, springing forward. Pytho started and Terena’s smile turned nasty. “I came here in good faith and this is all I get? Death, betrayal and weapons? That’s your fucking answer?”
Pytho scowled, “Do not use?—”
“Oh, I’ll fucking say whatever the fuck I want!” Terena raged. “Why should I even bother to find my parents now? What’s the point?”
Terena covered her face. She hadn’t felt this kind of despair since she’d lost Lerek. It couldn’t have all been for nothing. Everything she’s gone through. Her mind spiraled, her hands shaking so hard she clutched them together. The ground beneathher trembled.
Terena heard Pytho back up a few steps. Behind her, the sound of someone running. She looked up to see the Magi, hand on the hilt of his scimitar, stop next to Pytho, his eyes wide in horror.
Heat flooded behind her eyes and Terena panicked for a moment, thinking they might turn to ash in her skull. She looked down and saw white light beneath her skin, racing back and forth over her veins.
Pytho lunged for her, grabbing hold of Terena’s arms. Terena shook her off as if shooing away a fly and the woman went flying into the altar at her back. The Magi yelled and turned to attack, but Pytho screamed at him to stop.
She held out a hand, pleading with Terena. “You have lost your beloved and you are being hunted,” she said desperately. “I know, and I am sorry for it! But you have a destiny, Terena, and like all heroes before you, you must earn it. This is your burden. Terena, I want to help you, but I am afraid that if I say too much, they will punish me. I will tell you what I always tell you: go to Sparta and seek King Altos. He has something belonging to you. It is your birthright.”
“Am I a hero then? Is that why I have these powers?”
“You are a god, Terena. You know this,” Pytho hissed at her.
She rose and took a few tentative steps closer. As the heat in her eyes subsided, Terena’s veins continued to pulse with a radiant white light.
Pytho put a hand on Terena’s cheek. “What I’ve not told you before is you have already found your sister.”
“Priestess, no!”
Terena twisted her head, her eyes narrowed on the Magi who’d spoken, his face paling beneath his dark olive skin.
“She travels with you,” Pytho continued, as if the Magi had not spoken. Terena shook, her mind not processing fast enough. “She travels with you and already this time is different because of it.You changed it!That’s why there’s hope; that’s why I’m telling you this. This is the last circle, Terena. The very last. But there is so much more for you to do and you must harden yourself and keep your sister and your friends close. You have the power to save mankind and that is the point, Terena. That is why you must keep going.”
Cradling Terena’s face softly with her cool palms, Pytho smiled wistfully, her eyes glassy with unshed tears. “How long I’ve waited to see you again.” She shook her head as Terena frowned, confused.
“And do not let his betrayal break you,” Pytho whispered, her face so close to Terena’s she could not look away from the depthless pure black of her eyes. “You will need his love. You will need his strength and his sword for what is coming.”
Pytho brought her lips to Terena’s, softly laying them over her mouth as she whispered something Terena didn’t understand.
She moved away, slowly, and Terena exhaled, her body feeling heavy until she felt nothing.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Mist swirled around Terena as she walked. She did not know where she was going or where she was coming from. Echoes whispered around her, some words growing stronger, others unintelligible mutterings. Terena turned, looking for the source of the voice, but the echoes filled her head until she crouched down, covering her ears.
Take the Twins
You will lead them
Find—
Lead them
Athena’s Weapon
Destroy him before he destroys you
