His mother glanced over to Trates and the others. “Your father didn’t wait until his twenty-seventh birthday to turn Daimon. Can’t you turn early?”
“Mata,” he chided, “I’m too young. And I’d still need to feed.” Not to mention, he could turn trelos—the Daimon madness that caused them to kill indiscriminately. If he did that here, she would never be able to stop him from harming her. As a human, she was too weak and tiny.
The thought of destroying his own mother was more than he could stand.
With a ragged sigh, she nodded. “I just hate the way they treat you in Kalosis, and I blame myself for it.”
“Why?”
“Because I’m human. I keep thinking that if I’d been an Apollite, too, you wouldn’t be different and they wouldn’t spurn you so. You should be married …”
Urian shook his head. “Mata, don’t.”
“Don’t what? Worry about my son? Telling a mother not to worry about her son, Urian, is like telling someone not to breathe.”
He laughed. “I shall be fine. I swear.”
“And I shall worry about you, every minute of every day that I live. But with that worry, know that I love you ten times more.”
“I know. Just as I love you, too.” He glanced over his shoulder to where the others waited. “You should go in and make sure you have everything you need. I’ll wait here until I see you light the fire. Solren said that he’d arranged for servants to come on the morrow. They’ll bring food and supplies and everything you need.”
His father hadn’t wanted those servants to be here on her arrival for fear that they might realize Urian and the others were Apollites and Daimons, and harm her for it.
These days, too many Apollites preyed upon the humans just for shits and giggles. After Apollo’s curse and the destruction of Atlantis, those who’d managed to survive had taken a sick pleasure in rampaging against the Greek humans in an all-out frenzy.
While human blood couldn’t sustain or feed them, it slaked their thirst for vengeance and sated their need to strike back at the gods who’d cursed them. Not to mention the crazed trelos Daimons who were insane killing machines. Without conscience or restraint, they didn’t care who they tore apart. Their basic motto was, “Give me somebody.”
The treli wreaked such havoc as to spawn all manner of grandiose stories and legends among the human populations about Apollites and Daimons. It went a long way in spreading fear and suspicion, too.
For their melees and sprees alone, it was a wonder the humans hadn’t been on an eternal quest to exterminate them all.
His mother glanced over to the others. “Could you please step away so that I might have a moment alone with my son?”
Trates and the others moved off.
Taking Urian’s hand, she switched to Greek so as to give them even more privacy from what the others might overhear. “I know that your feedings bother you.”
“Mata …” He tried to pull away, but she held him in place with a grip so firm that the only way to break free would have caused her harm, andthathe refused to do.
“Listen to me, Uri. I know how much this embarrasses you. That you haven’t had a live feeding since you hit puberty …” She cupped his cheek and forced him to look at her, even though he was mortified by this topic.
And she was right. Because of the color of his eyes and the fear the other Apollites had of him and his father and grandfather, no one was willing to pair with him in any way. They were terrified of what other defects he might carry.
“There isnothingwrong with you. You’re a good boy. A wonderful son. Your father and I are so proud of you. And one day, you will find a woman who sees that, too.”
He swallowed hard as pain choked him. It was a deep-rooted misery that had planted itself firmly inside his soul long ago and wouldn’t let go no matter how hard he tried to pry it loose. “I was born a twin, Mata, and yet I feel so alone. Shouldn’t I feel as if I’m part ofsomething?”
She tsked at him. “You were born almost an hour apart. Unlike Paris, you wanted to come into this world feet first. You were most insistent upon it, in fact. Took an act of the goddess to get you to change your mind and reverse yourself so that I could birth you. And then you wouldn’t feed. But for Apollymi, we would have lost you that first day. The goddess knows, you’ve been stubborn every day since. Like your father, you’ve always wanted to do things on your own terms, with a courage I envy you for.Neverlose that. Especially given what you’ll be facing, all too soon.”
Her pale eyes turned serious. “I pray every night that your father finds another way to end this curse Apollo has placed on you and your siblings. I curse all the gods for it, and for the fact that they do nothing to help you. Damn them!”
He gaped at the venom in her tone. Never had she used such language or raised her voice while speaking of the gods before. His mother had always been a gentle, kind soul.
Unless someone threatened her children or they broke a rule. Then she could make his father look weak.
“Life isn’t fair and it’s been exceptionally cruel to my children. But don’t let it sour you. No matter what, Urimou. Enjoy every breath you have, whether a handful or billions. You fight for every one. And when others seek to knock you down, you rise up and know that onlyyoucan defeat you. Never give anyone power over you, not for any reason.”
Nodding, he led her hand to his lips and kissed her knuckles. “I will come visit as often as I can.” He meant that, and he prayed it was a promise he could keep. Though he never intended to stay long or step inside her house, he could come and see her from time to time.
