2. Trustworthy: Eryx

CHAPTER 2

TRUSTWORTHY

ERYX

D im light from energy-efficient bulbs cast long shadows across the room, deepening the creases of worry on everyone's faces. The air felt thick, heavy with anticipation and the faint scent of old books and weapon oil that permeated their hideout. Eryx could almost taste the metallic tang of fear and hope mingling in the atmosphere.

Eryx felt a familiar warmth pulse through his chest. Apollo's presence, always simmering just beneath the surface, seemed to sharpen his senses. He welcomed the god's influence, allowing it to heighten his perception as he studied their informant.

Erika's eyes, a stormy gray that seemed to hold centuries of wisdom, darted around the room once more before settling on Alex. "You might want to sit down for this," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Eryx's brow furrowed as he watched Erika's fingers twitch, her shoulders tense beneath her worn leather jacket. Every instinct he'd honed over years of reading crowds at concerts screamed that there was more to her story than she was letting on. The challenge, he knew, would be separating truth from misdirection, genuine information from carefully crafted half-truths .

"We're fine standing," Alex replied, his tone brokering no argument. "Just tell us what you know."

Erika nodded, taking a deep breath. "They're planning something big. Bigger than anything we've seen before."

"We already know that. You're going to have to be more specific than that.'" Gabe prompted, his usually jovial face set in grim lines.

Erika's gaze flicked to the witch before returning to Alex. "I don't know the details. That's part of what's so concerning. Even most of the Order's own people are in the dark."

"How do you know that?" Alex asked, unable to keep the skepticism from his voice.

"Because I've been listening. Watching. Doing what I do best." Her form shimmered slightly, a reminder of her light-bending abilities. "There's been a shift in the past few weeks. More closed-door meetings, encrypted communications. The foot soldiers are buzzing with rumors, but no one seems to know the full picture."

Eryx exchanged a glance with Alex, seeing his own unease reflected in the former god's eyes. He turned back to Erika, studying the tightness around her mouth, the way her fingers curled into the armrests of her chair. She was scared, that much was clear. But scared of what, exactly?

"What kind of rumors?" Alex pressed.

"The Order," Erika continued, her words slow and deliberate, "is planning to kidnap someone. Or they might have already done it. I'm not entirely sure of the timeline."

The words landed like a physical blow. Eryx felt the air leave his lungs as if he'd been punched. Around him, he saw similar reactions from his teammates – sharp intakes of breath, widened eyes, hands clenching into fists.

He locked eyes with Alex, seeing his own grim realization reflected in the former god's face. A kidnapping added a new, urgent dimension to the threat. It wasn't just about stopping a ritual or thwarting a magical plan anymore – there was potentially an innocent life at stake.

The room erupted into a cacophony of questions, each team member vying to be heard over the others.

"Who are they targeting?"

"Do we know if it's already happened?"

"Why is this person so important to the Order?"

"How did you find out about this?"

Erika held up her hands, shaking her head. "I don't have all the answers," she said, frustration evident in her voice. "The Order is keeping this operation incredibly tight-lipped. What I do know is that this person is key to their plans – maybe someone with unique abilities or knowledge."

She paused, her gaze sweeping across the room before settling back on Alex. "Sven and Morvain are the ones running this operation. They're keeping the details close to the chest, even from most of the Order's own members."

Eryx felt a chill run down his spine at the mention of those names. Sven, the mimic with the ability to copy others' powers, and Morvain, the enigmatic leader of the Order. The anger he felt for the bastards was palpable.

He cleared his throat, speaking up for the first time since Erika had dropped this bombshell. "How sure are you about this kidnapping plot? Is there any way to verify if it's already happened or not?"

Erika's eyes snapped to his, a mix of surprise and interest in her gaze. It was clear she wasn't used to being questioned so directly. "You must be Eryx," she said, a hint of a smile playing at her lips. "Alex told me about you. To answer your question – I'm as sure as I can be, given the circumstances. But as for whether it's happened yet..." She shrugged, frustration evident in the gesture. "That's the problem. I don't know."

Eryx nodded, his mind racing. Apollo's presence pulsed within him, a storm of conflicting emotions – urgency, skepticism, determination. He studied Erika's face, searching for any hint of deception or uncertainty.

Part of him wanted to take her at her word. They needed this information desperately, and they couldn't afford to ignore a potential kidnapping. But another part, the part honed by years of dealing with fickle record executives and duplicitous managers, hesitated.

"Look," Erika said, her voice cutting through the noise, "I get it. Most of you don't know me, and you have no reason to trust me. But I've risked everything to bring you this information. Do you think I'd do that on a whim? For fun?" Her eyes blazed as she looked around the room. "I have my own reasons for wanting to see the Order fail, reasons that go far beyond simple altruism."

The air in the room seemed to thicken, charged with tension. Eryx felt Apollo's presence surge within him, a wordless warning. Something was about to happen.

"I need to leave," Erika announced abruptly. "The Order will be looking for me, and I can't risk staying in one place for too long. Especially now that I've shared what I know."

Alex stepped forward, his face a mask of barely contained frustration. "Wait, we still have more questions-"

But Erika was already moving towards the door. She paused, her hand on the knob, and turned back to face them. A smile played across her lips, enigmatic and just a touch mischievous.

"You have what you need to get started," she said. "Find their target – or rescue them if you're too late. The rest is up to you. Good luck, Shadowguards. You're going to need it."

With a mock salute, Erika's form began to shimmer. The air around her rippled like a heat haze, and then, between one blink and the next, she was gone. The door opened and closed seemingly of its own accord, leaving behind only a lingering scent of ozone and the echo of her last words.

For a moment, no one moved. The silence in the room was deafening, broken only by the soft hum of electronics and the distant sound of traffic outside.

Eryx let out a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding. Apollo's presence roiled within him, a maelstrom of conflicting emotions – frustration at Erika's abrupt departure.

He caught Alex's eye across the room, a silent exchange that spoke volumes. With a slight nod, Alex made his way over to where Eryx stood.

"You're not convinced," Alex said quietly, his voice pitched low enough that only Eryx could hear.

Eryx shook his head, running a hand through his hair in frustration. "It's not that I don't want to believe her. It's just that there are too many unknowns. Too many ways this could go sideways."

Alex's hand found Eryx's shoulder, a warm, grounding presence that sent a spark of electricity through their bond. "Talk to me," he said, gently steering Eryx towards a quiet corner of the room.

As they moved away from the others, Eryx felt Apollo's presence surge within him, responding to Alex's proximity. It was always like this between them – a gravitational pull, two celestial bodies locked in orbit around each other. Even in the midst of crisis, Eryx couldn't help but marvel at the depth of their connection.

"Okay," Eryx said, his voice low and intense. "I know you trust Erika, but from where I'm standing, we've got someone I've never met before today dropping this bombshell about a potential kidnapping. She can't tell us who the target is, whether it's already happened, or even give us a solid timeline. And then she disappears before we can ask any follow-up questions."

Alex nodded, his expression thoughtful. "I understand your concerns, Eryx. But there's something you need to know about Erika."

Eryx raised an eyebrow, curiosity piqued. "What's that? "

"I've known her for years," Alex said, his voice softening with what sounded like a mix of exasperation and fondness. "Long before I met you, even before I left the Underworld. She's... complicated, to say the least. But one thing I've learned is that when it really matters, when the stakes are this high, Erika comes through."

Eryx felt a flicker of surprise. "You never mentioned her before."

Alex shrugged. "It never came up. Erika operates in the shadows, and that's where she prefers to stay. But trust me when I say that if she's risking exposure to bring us this information, it's because she believes it's crucial."

Eryx absorbed this, feeling some of his initial skepticism waver. "But what if she's been compromised? What if the Order is using her to feed us false information?"

"It's possible," Alex conceded. "But highly unlikely. Erika's too smart, too careful for that. And she has her own reasons for wanting to see the Order fall." A shadow passed over Alex's face, hinting at a history Eryx wasn't privy to.

Eryx felt Apollo's presence shift within him, a wordless urge to consider all possibilities. He took a deep breath, trying to center himself. "I just can't shake the feeling that we're missing something crucial."

Alex was quiet for a moment, his eyes searching Eryx's face. When he spoke, his voice was gentle but firm. "Your caution is one of your greatest strengths, Eryx. It's saved our lives more times than I can count. But right now, we need to act on the information we have. If there's even a chance that what Erika told us is true, we can't afford to hesitate."

The conviction in Alex's voice resonated through their bond, a surge of determination and strength that made Eryx's breath catch. This was why they worked so well together – Alex's decisive leadership and deep well of experience balancing Eryx's cautious analysis .

"You're right," Eryx conceded, feeling some of the tension leave his body. "I trust your judgment, Alex. If you say Erika's intel is solid, then we'll work with it. I just want to make sure we're not walking into a trap."