While the poison was fatal to mortal beings, it was a potent miasma for the gods, and it was the same serum Apollymi had used on the evil Atlantean gods to lock them in their deathlike limbo.
Akri staggered back and fell to his knees.
The Simi and Styxx ran to him.
“Acheron?” Styxx said, cradling his head.
“Simi!” akri called, ignoring his brother.
She knew instantly what he wanted and why he called her. What she needed to do to save him. “Simi on it, akri!”
Teleporting to Kalosis, she went to Sarraxyn so that she could get the three leaves from the Tree of Life once more. But while she did so, akra-Apollymi remained strangely quiet and reserved.
Simi paid it no attention as she quickly gathered what she needed and returned to poor akri who was completely gray and frozed on the ground. He looked terrible!
Not wanting to think about that, Simi handed the leaves to Styxx.
“What do I do with these?” he asked her.
Apollymi’s ghosty form moved to stand over them so that she could make sure her son wasn’t harmed. “Twist them until they’re moist. Then drip nine drops into Apostolos’s mouth.”
Styxx hesitated. “What happens if I do ten by mistake?”
“Let’s not find out.”
Simi couldn’t agree more. Holding her breath, she watched as akri-Styxx carefully put nine drops in akri’s mouth.
As soon as the ninth one hit his lips, the color slowly returned to the whole of his body.
Simi smiled in relief.
Groaning, akri opened his eyes, then grimaced. “Next time, add peppermint flavoring somebody. That is the nastiest-tasting crap on the planet.”
Simi laughed.
“You’re not seriously complaining that I brought you back. Are you?” Styxx asked.
“Yes, and no. Taste it for yourself. It’s worse than eating one of Urian’s shoes.”
Snorting, Styxx held his hand out to his brother. Akri took it and allowed him to pull him to his feet.
Simi was thrilled. This was the first time she’d seen them as actual brothers.
Forever and always. It made her happy that akri and his copy were in the same room and not trying to kill each other.
Akri hugged Styxx close, then stepped back to leave him to his Bethany.
Styxx turned and wrapped his arms around her. “I told you I’d come back for you, my goddess. That nothing would stop me.”
“Yes, but did you have to drag your feet? Seriously?”
Styxx laughed. “I’m afraid you’re going to have to get used to living with me right here. I will never again let you go. Just consider me a large exterior growth on your body.”
Bethany nodded. “I am so glad to have you back. I just wish we had our son with us.”
“I know, precious,” he breathed.
“Uh … about that.”
