Simi was surprised by that. Urian’s father was Apollo’s son that akra-Apollymi had saved all those centuries ago.
“What is that?” Styxx asked.
Set laughed, low and evil, and made no moves to touch it. “The Eye of Verlyn. That will deplete the powers of any god it comes into direct contact with.”
Yikes! Simi didn’t like the sound of that.
Styxx looked at it with a new respect. “For how long?”
“As soon as it touches them, they’re wiped. Then it depends on how long it’s on their body and how strong they are. Too long, it’ll kill them.”
Styxx smiled. “Does it work on just full-bloods or any other species?”
Set shrugged. “I don’t know.”
Well, there was only one way to find out. Simi grabbed her sister and put her hand on it.
“Hey!” Xirena snapped. “What are you doing?”
Finding out the answer. “You still gots power, sissy?”
Xirena shot a blast of fire at her.
Grinning and ducking, Simi looked at Styxx and let go of Xirena. “It don’t work on us.”
Urian laughed. “I’m only a quarter demigod, and it doesn’t seem to affect me.”
“I think I’m the only true demi here.” Seth bravely took it into his hand and waited. After a couple of minutes, he shook his head. “No effect on me, either.”
Styxx hesitated. “Since my powers are borrowed from Apollymi, I’m not chancing it. We’ll assume I need to stay clear of it. Urian, let’s leave it in your custody.”
As Urian tucked it away, Styxx looked at Set. “Can the stone be broken apart or duplicated?”
Set shook his head. “Not without destroying it.”
“Would the stone just suck out your god powers and leave the rest intact?” Styxx asked akri.
“That’s what usually happens. Why? You thinking of giving me an early Christmas present?”
“Don’t distract or tempt me.” Styxx swept his gaze over all of them. “My most important question of all … Where’s my Bethany?”
As akri-Styxx reached for the doorknob with Simi by his side, Katra placed her hand on his arm. “I know we’re not friends, Styxx, but I’d rather you not go in there alone. Someone should be with you.”
“How are you Artemis’s daughter?” he asked in a quiet tone.
Kat smiled. “She’s not as bad as you think… Apollo, however, is probably worse.”
Standing on his other side, the Simi leaned in to whisper in his ear, “We’ll be super quiet. Akri-Styxx won’t even know we’re there.”
Urian put his hand on Styxx’s shoulder. “Don’t worry. What happens happens, and we won’t think anything about it. We’ll just be here for you if you need us.”
Because this was the first time akri-Styxx would see his Bethany. And he didn’t need to do it alone.
With a grim nod, he offered them a tenuous smile. “Thank you both.” Then, he opened the bedroom door.
The floor-to-ceiling windows were open, letting in the soft ocean breeze. But it was the huge, canopied bed in the center of the room that was most important. White linen drapes were pulled back with gold cords, obscuring the woman in the bed.
This was where Simi had brought Bethany when the Atlanteans had rushed her on Katateros. She figured this was the safest place for the goddess to stay until they found a way to wake her for akri-Styxx.
