As it was, he had nothing. And he wasn’t sure if he’d ever walk again.
In fact, it took him a second to realize that Apollymi had pulled him into her arms and was holding him, calling his name as she stroked his cheek. That was how much pain he was in. Just how senseless she’d knocked him.
He struggled to move or have any semblance of a rational thought.
“What were you thinking by barging in here unannounced?”
He hadn’t been.
“My mata,” he breathed.
She scowled. “What?”
“W-w-wanted to check on my matera.”
“You foolish boy!” She looked over to her Charonte. “Xedrix, fetch water from the falls. Fast!”
The demon didn’t have to go far. A beautiful priestess was already there in the gardens. One Urian had never seen before. Dressed in a black gown, she had long, curly auburn hair that held tiny braids and ribbons, intricately designed and laced through the dark tendrils. Even though she kept her gaze on the ground and he felt as though he were about to die, he couldn’t miss the vibrant beauty of her green eyes as she came closer to hand Apollymi a jewel-encrusted cup.
Apollymi tipped it to his lips. “Drink!”
Urian flinched at the black water as his stomach heaved in revulsion of it.
“Drink!” she insisted.
Bracing himself, he obeyed, praying it didn’t taste as bad as it looked.
The moment the black water invaded his mouth and burned his lips and tongue, he choked but somehow managed to swallow it down. Scented with roses, it tasted more like peppermint and some kind of sweetness he’d never known. And it swept through his body like fire, taking with it all his pain.
The priestess laid a gentle hand to his hair, then his shoulder, before she vanished.
Urian glanced from her to Apollymi. “Who is she?”
“Never you mind. Are you all right?”
Still shaken by his near-death experience, Urian frowned. “Pretty sure you knocked out the last three or four bits of my brain cells, akra.”
She scoffed at him. “What have I told you about intruding so rudely into my sanctum?”
“A point I shan’t ever forget after tonight.”
“See that you don’t.” Glaring pointedly at him, she helped him to his feet. “Now, let us look and see what’s going on with your mother.”
Urian was still having a bit of trouble seeing straight after her violent assault as they went to the pool. It’d been a long time since he’d last ventured here for this. His days of wanting to see the sun had long passed. He’d learned not to yearn for things he couldn’t have. To not torture himself with such pointless endeavors.
But as the waters cleared and he saw the bright light where his mother lived, his breath caught. It hadn’t been an illusion. She was under vicious attack. In the mirrored waters, he could see the humans who were ransacking her farm and delighting in the harm they caused.
Urian started to teleport but couldn’t. Apollymi had locked him in.
“Are you insane? It’s daylight!”
“I don’t care!” Frustrated tears filled his eyes as he watched his mother being attacked. “She’s my mata!” Hysteria welled inside his heart as he heard his tiny mother screaming for help and mercy. Neither of which came for her.
Rather the humans continued on and on with their brutality.
Apollymi rippled the waters, scattering the images so that he could no longer see or hear them.
Not that it mattered. They were seared into his mind and soul. Forever scarred there.
