Chapter 16

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

T he following day, the winds were strong, and Enzo was busy keeping the ship on course to Tunisia. He wanted to ask Eris if she was performing some divine intervention to get the wind on their side, but she had closed up tight again.

Enzo knew he should have kissed her properly the night before. He had stopped himself because, despite the desire that was burning inside of him, he still hadn't been entirely honest with her. She had been so open about herself, about how hard it had been with her curse. She had shown him the monster that lived under her skin. He hadn't shown her his.

Enzo had always tried to live his life as honorably as he could, and he wanted to tell Eris all the dark and dirty shit that lived inside of him. She deserved that before anything went further between them.

The truth was, he was afraid she would look at him differently. She seemed reluctant to get involved with immortals and mortals even less.

Despite her warnings about mortals getting involved with the gods, he didn't want to blow the one chance he could have with her. So he said nothing and tried to figure out a good way to tell her about his messy past.

They arrived at the Punic Port of Carthage at three in the afternoon when the sun was beating down with a relentless heat.

Enzo knew that money opened doors and smoothed travel, but whatever Rom had organized had ensured his boat had a dock available at every harbor. When he and Laverna said, "I have people to take care of it," Enzo hadn't imagined that included countries outside of Italy. The customs officers waiting for them on a rickety dock barely looked at their boat or their passports.

"Don't look so surprised. Once Rom decided you are family, it came with the family benefits of his anal attention to detail and love of organization," Eris said, adjusting her large black hat.

"It's just strange not having to be the responsible one for once, that's all," Enzo replied, pulling on the backpack containing the palladium. "Where to first?"

"Going to the archaeological site worked at Cuma. There isn't a palace left, but there are ruins of a citadel," Eris suggested, and they walked to the road. "But first, I'm calling a cab because I'm already sweating."

"Good idea," Enzo said. They waited in the shade of a tree, and Enzo stole covert glances in Eris's direction.

"What, Enzo? You are starting to make me nervous," she said.

So maybe he wasn't being so covert after all.

"I just can't get over how quickly you healed. You don't have a mark on you," he replied.

Eris folded her arms. "I tried to tell you I was fine."

"You don't get it," he said, his mind already full of images of blood and screaming.

"And I never will unless you explain it to me," Eris insisted.

Enzo was saved as a dirty taxi pulled up. "Maybe later when we aren't on an epic quest."

"Sure," Eris said, ignoring the door he opened for her and going around the other side of the car. With a sigh, Enzo got in beside her. Eris was already giving the driver instructions in Arabic and seemed willing to drop the conversation entirely.

It was for the best. Enzo didn't want to think about his past when he was actually doing something that felt worthwhile. Bianca had told him that he was stagnating, and he hadn't believed her. Being on a boat again and feeling like he had a purpose proved just how right she was. He wanted Eris too, after almost two years of not wanting anyone. So what if she was a primordial goddess who could smite him whenever she pleased? He smiled because he kind of liked that about her too.

"What is that grin about?" she asked him.

"Just thinking about if you're going to smite me anytime soon," he said.

Eris lowered her sunglasses and looked at him over the top. "Are you sure you're okay? You are in the strangest mood today."

"And you aren't? You're closed up tighter than a fish's asshole," he replied.

Eris pushed her glasses back up her nose. "It's called self-preservation."

And before Enzo could unpack that statement, the taxi pulled up in front of the archaeological park. Eris paid the man, and they stepped out into the heat.

"This conversation isn't over, goddess," Enzo said. "When we return to the boat, I want to know what you meant by self-preservation."

Eris made a small huffing sound. "Sure thing, Enzo. I'll tell you right after you tell me what's up with you and blood, or why you would kiss me one minute and then back off like I had slapped you the next."

Enzo opened and closed his mouth several times, but no words would come out.

"Exactly," Eris said before turning on her heel and marching off to the entrance.

"If you really are listening, Aphrodite, help me figure out what to say to this woman," he muttered under his breath. Instead of Aphrodite, the palladium on his back hummed. Enzo reached behind him and patted it. "Yeah, yeah, I'm going."

The park was emptier than Enzo expected. He supposed the heat would have driven most of the tourists into airconditioned bars and restaurants. It was better for their purpose that hardly anyone was around.

He tried not to be nervous about whatever the palladium would do to him next. Eris would watch over him if he went into another trance. It didn't matter if she was annoyed with him. Enzo knew Eris would protect him. That thought made his insides turn to mush and want to pull her into the shade and kiss her again. He was always the responsible one. The one in charge. To know that someone as powerful and capable as Eris had his back made him weak at the knees.

Enzo followed Eris through the admission gates, and they began to wind their way through the ruins. Broken columns, large stone floors, and fenced areas of a necropolis were all that remained. Enzo tried and failed to imagine what it would have been like in Aeneas's day. The way Rome and Carthage had fought had seen the city destroyed more than once. He hoped that the palladium could sense whatever it was he could not.

"Anything?" Eris asked, falling into step beside him.

Enzo shook his head. "Not since the gates."

"We keep walking then. We have a few hours before they shut down," she said. She reached into her bag and took out a bottle of water. She had a mouthful before offering it to him. Enzo took it for the small peace offering it was. He had a swig before passing it back.

"Thanks," Enzo replied.

They continued their walk, Enzo stopping to read the small signs about Byrsa Hill where they were standing and the history of the piles of stone they were looking at. They were almost at the top of the hill when the palladium started to buzz against his back. "We need to go this way," Enzo said, pointing to a path that led around the sides of a building structure.

Eris cocked her head at him but then nodded. "I'll follow you. I don't think we are in danger of being attacked by any naiads this time."

Enzo's lips twitched. "This time it will probably be snake monsters or a cyclops."

"Save the cyclops for Mount Etna," Eris quipped back.

Enzo grinned and followed the path the palladium was leading them down. They moved further up the hill and had to jump a small gate as they neared the top.

Enzo really hoped they didn't get busted because, unlike the caves, they only had the trees to hide them. They kept going until they reached the side that overlooked the port and the sea.

"This is quite the view," Eris said, taking off her hat and fanning her face with it.

"We can't go any further, so this must be the spot," Enzo replied. He took off the bag and unzipped the palladium. "Here we go, Athena. Let's enjoy the view together."

As soon as Enzo placed the wood to the earth, his world melted away to another. He saw palaces and ships and hunts out in forests that no longer existed. He saw passionate embraces and whispered promises. He saw ships leaving and a pyre burning. The sea crashed all around him, and a mighty temple of Athena rose in its place. A sign of where he must go next. And then all the burning horror of Dido's death came roaring back.

"Enzo! Breathe!" Eris's voice cut through the screaming, the heartbreak, the feel of a sword buried in his chest.

Tears were streaming down his face as he struggled to pull himself free of the visions. Eris was crouched on the ground beside him, her hands on his shoulders.

"There you are. Just keep breathing. You're okay," she murmured.

"I'm not okay. Nothing is okay. My family really is cursed," Enzo sobbed. He hadn't cried. He hadn't let the horror and grief inside of him out and now he couldn't hold it in. He clutched Eris's hands. "Don't you see? We always kill the women who love us."