Now Simi understood. This was akra-Apollymi’s son that her brother and sister had talked about in whispers. The Atlantean god they’d tried to kill. Only he wasn’t a baby now. He was a growed up man.
“Bond with him, Simi, protect my son as your mother protected me.”
But she didn’t know how to protect anyone. She was only a small Simi.
And the boy god didn’t look happy about having her with him. “I don’t want a demon.”
Tears stung her eyes at those words. She had no one? Simi didn’t want to be here without someone.
“Would you cast her out alone in the world?” akra-Apollymi asked.
“No.”
“Then she’s yours.” And with that, akra-Apollymi vanished and left her with a god who stared at her as if he didn’t know what to do either.
And Simi definitely didn’t know what to do. She had no idea how to get back to her brother or sister.
So, she stared at her akri, then snuggled against him and laid her head on his shoulder. “I miss my mama, akri.”
“Where’s your father, Simi?”
That made her even sadder. All she knew about her father was whispered stories. And the warnings from her family that they weren’t supposed to talk about him. “He died before the Simi was born.”
Her words seemed to make her akri have hurts in his heart, too. “Then I will be your father.”
Her lip quivered with hope that she wouldn’t be all by herself in this place. “Really?”
Smiling at her, he nodded. “And I swear to you that you’ll never want for anything.”
“Then the Simi has the bestest akri-papa in alls the world.” She hugged him tightly. “Simi loves her akri.”
Wanting to show him just how much, she did what all Charonte did when they bonded to someone, she faded into a shadow and placed herself on his skin, just above his heart as a colorful dragon image. Because she liked dragons. They were strong and bright.
Here, she could reside for a time as a part of him. She could feel his emotions and the soothing beat of his heart.
He brushed his hand over her, and it made her laugh. More than that, it tickled. So, she moved up toward his collarbone so that she could rest in peace and let the sound of his heartbeat soothe her.
This was her father. She’d never had one before. Would her akri be as good as her matera?
Simi hoped so. Honestly? She was scared. The world had changed, and the Simi didn’t like change. But she would trust in akra-Apollymi.
Most of all, she would trust in her new akri.
“Ow!”
Simi stared at her akri as he pulled away from her on the ground where they’d been sleeping. She licked at the blood on her lips, wanting to taste more of his hand. It’d been surprisingly yummy.
His swirling eyes were filled with shock. “You’re not supposed to bite your father, Simi.”
“But the Simi’s hungry and akri was lying there all still and yummy looking.” She smiled at him, hoping he’d let her have at least a finger.
He moved even further away. “Um … let’s find you something else to eat.”
She pouted. “Now or later?”
“Yes. Now.”
Wiping away the blood with the back of her hand, she sighed. “Okies.”
