Chapter 33

Rhuyin

I lost the fight, but not the war.

Luke insisted that he was going to be the one to "entertain" Aurelius, even though I felt the bone deep terror in him at the mere thought of being in the same room with the monster. He struggled desperately to mask it in front of his brother, but I could feel it vibrating through our bond. I could also feel the steely determination in him to do it anyway.

You have to let me do this, he signed emphatically. I need to do this.

I looked at my lover and tried to wipe out the image I'd had of him when Kopanos had cornered him in that office, how pale he'd been, frozen beneath a terror that went bone deep. He'd told me he'd been raped, and it didn't take any stretch of the imagination to guess who had done it.

I know how strong you are, I signed. You don't have anything to prove.

I'm not trying to prove anything to anyone except myself,he responded. But you need to realize…I may need to—do things—in there. With him.

I shook my head and turned away in frustration. He was so goddess-be-damned stubborn!

I felt him come up behind me, the warmth of his body through our clothes as he pressed against my back and wrapped his arms around me, that unique smell of vanilla and cinnamon that just spoke of home to me. I grabbed his arms and held on to him with all my strength. Finally, I released him and turned around.

It should be me,I signed. This is my mission. You wouldn't even be here if it wasn't for me.

Not even Sylvi's magic could turn you into a blond quickly enough, he signed, a grim smile on his face, his fingers tangling in my black hair. And I wouldn't want her to, I love your hair.I need to do this, Rhuyin. It's the only way I know of to lay these ghosts to rest. The only thing I'm afraid of is that I'll freeze up and be unable to complete the mission, whatever my part in it turns out to be.

I rested my forehead for long moments, feeling his breath whisper across my lips before finally nodding. I knew he was right, but the thought of him being alone with Aurelius… The gold chain dangled from his collar and an idea sparked in my brain.

What if…What if you didn't have to go in alone?

What do you mean? he asked, suspicion and hope warring in his eyes.

What if I went with you, as your pet?

Pet? You mean, in your fox form?

I nodded.

Or whatever form is convenient. I could at least be there as backup. We can take on Aurelius together. He barely knows what a Soma is, or he would never have allowed Hel to be released in the Machi to begin with. He wouldn't be expecting it, and you wouldn't be alone.

My Bonded pondered the idea for a few moments.

It never seems wise to ‘split the party' but I don't think we have any choice. We need to keep him occupied until midnight. Master B, Master Tarek and Sylvi need time to prep the wagon for our escape while Hel and Elex free Stergiou and Kyris.

And we kill Aurelius, I added.

He smiled at me, the first real smile I'd seen on him since that damned Omada alert had gone off.

Losing his Spymaster would be a major blow to my father, but I don't think a fox is the best option,he signed.

What would you recommend? I asked.

The symbol of Aurelius' house is an eagle. Could you do that?

I nodded thoughtfully. I had never tried to change into an eagle before, but I had practiced other animal forms in preparation for this trip and I had my years of Soma training to fall back on.

I think I can do that.

I have faith in you,he responded.

I was glad he agreed, because there was no way I was allowing him to face this particular demon without me.

I took out the Prometheus bag and handed the small, flesh-colored buttons out to the team. The Prometheus techs had created tiny microphones and earpieces that were nearly invisible. The Alexandrians in our group had never seen anything like it before. The buttons sat behind the ear and conducted vibrations directly to the bone behind the ear and couldn't be overheard.

The sensation was strange. I could feel the vibration, but before Bonding with Luke I hadn't been able to "hear" the words. Now I could feel the vibration and sometimes make out words, but I still relied on my lip reading and sign language. The microphone was smaller than a button and could be hidden anywhere on the body. Since I was going to be in animal form I couldn't use them anyway.

I placed Luke's behind his right ear, right below his hairline. I placed Sylvi's as well. Since I was changing shape there was no point in me even trying to use them.

"Are you going to be okay with this?" she asked Luke as we saw him nervously tuck his hair behind his ear to cover the dot.

My Bonded nodded his head, but I could feel the fear welling up inside of him.

"How do you do this?" he asked, looking into Sylvi's brown eyes. "The thought of him… I'm just…"

His voice trailed off, but Sylvi seemed to understand where he was going with his concern.

"Luke might be scared, but Poseidon? Poseidon lives to torment men like Aurelius with his body. He loves the power it lets him hold over them. You need to let Poseidon use that power, that lust, to make him do what you want. Build your character in your head," Sylvi said.

"You make it sound like he's a different person," Luke said.

"He is." She replied simply. "Who are you?"

"P-Poseidon," he responded uncertainly.

"Where was Poseidon born?" she demanded.

"Um, Ithaca?"

"Are you sure? That sounded more like a question that a statement," she answered, tapping his forehead. "You have to live the character in your head. What does your character like? What do they dislike? What is their favorite color? Their favorite animal?"

I saw Luke stumble for a few moments before it seemed to click, then his confidence seemed to grow and he began to respond.

"Poseidon…was born in Ithaca. His parents were Leta and Roget Meera—they're both dead now. They owned several olive groves, as well as raising falcons for nobles. Some of the best in Ithaca," he responded with a slight grin.

Sylvi nodded in encouragement.

"Go on," she said.

"Poseidon didn't want to be an olive farmer, so he ran away to Greece. He took his pet eagle, Aetos, with him. He couldn't find work, and if it weren't for Aetos, they probably would have starved. Until Master B took him in and taught him the courtesan's trade."

"He loves pomegranates, but he hates olives," Luke continued. "Because his parents loved them more than they did him."

Sylvi smiled.

"Now you've got it!"

I could almost see the transformation taking place in my beloved. Luke slowly faded to the background, and Poseidon seemed to move forward. His smile changed slightly, becoming more sly and slightly cruel. Even his walk was different, more feline, more like Sylvi's graceful movements. I began to believe we might be able to get through this.

Master B went to have dinner with Hestus and Aurelius while Sylvi continued to coach Luke. The rest of us ate a simple meal, then dressed our appropriate parts. Sylvi worked her magic on Luke and Elex. She applied a cream to Luke's back to hide the tattoo of moon and stars that marked him as a member of the royal household. She blew on it to let it dry, then looked at me with serious eyes.

"Be careful. It won't rub off on clothing, but if he sweats too much the oils on his skin can make it smear."

"How do we get it off?" I asked.

"Alcohol. Once we are out of here, I can use alcohol to remove it."

You ready for this?Luke asked me.

I nodded and closed my eyes, focusing on the image of an eagle.

It was a more challenging change than my fox form, but doable. Within moments I felt the world change and grow. I realized with a start it wasn't the walls growing higher, but myself shrinking.

I flapped my wings and let loose a sharp call, fluttering my wings automatically to keep myself upright. I had never tried to become a bird before, but I found that the same instincts that helped me in my fox form helped me now.

I saw Luke towering over me. When I stood on my taloned feet I almost reached his waist. I marveled at how sharp and clear everything was. Glancing out of the doorway I could clearly see a small ant climbing up the wall in the other room. It was so clear I could count each of its legs and see its tiny antennae dancing back and forth as it climbed.

I felt something like a tug in the center of my chest and looked at Luke. He held out his arm, covered by a leather gauntlet Master B had procured. I flapped my wings, awkwardly at first, then flew to his wrist, switching awkwardly between taloned feet, feeling him brace his arm beneath my weight. I saw with amazement that my talons were so big that they wrapped nearly around his wrist.

"You look—amazing!" he exclaimed.

I screeched under his approval, cocking my head at him as I struggled to adjust to the eagle's sharp eyesight.

"Where did your clothes go?" he asked in confusion, looking around. The first time I had transformed my clothing had tripped me up. This time they had disappeared.

I moved in what I hoped was a good imitation of a shrug, settling myself into a comfortable position on his arm. I had to hope they would reappear when I changed back, or I'd be running naked through Alexandria.

I felt a knock on the door and everyone stood.

When the door opened Eli stood in the hallway.

"Honored Guests, you are invited to attend Master Hestus and his guest, Master Aurelius in the great hall," they intoned.

I saw Eli's eyes land on me, and they widened.

"What an extraordinary creature!" they exclaimed.

"This is my friend, Aetos. Where I go, he goes," I felt Luke say.

Eli glanced around the room.

"Where are the others?" they asked.

"Hephaestus is recovering from the wound your servant treated so ably today. Hercules shall remain with him to care for him," Luke answered. "We wouldn't want to impose on your staff. Perseus is suffering from a minor indisposition. He should be well enough to serve tomorrow."

"Shall we, Lady Sylvi?" Luke said before Eli could ask any more questions.

"We shall," she whispered in her breathy voice. She had exchanged her leather outfit for one of made of black and green silken scarves. The fabric shifted and shimmered, both hiding and revealing at once. She and Luke made an entrancing sight. He was dressed in silks as well, this time of golds and blacks that matched the colors of my feathers. He wore a green lacquered mask that covered his whole face. The paint had flecks of gold throughout that brought out the shimmer of his blue eyes.

We must have made an imposing sight as we entered the great hall because everyone fell silent.

Guests were scattered around the room, various lords and ladies seated on couches, others on scattered cushions. Courtesans of every description fluttered around each guest in varying degrees of undress. A woman with brown curls whispered into the ear of man sucking opium smoke through a long pipe, their eyes glazed and unseeing. A young boy sang in one corner, his voice high and clear, singing in some foreign tongue. My fury at what these men and women allowed to happen right in front of them ripped through me and I screeched, my wings extending to their full expanse almost six feet across.

Master B and Master Hestus stood at the end of the hall next to a raised dais. Between them sat a tall, thin man who could be no one but Master Aurelius. This guess was confirmed a moment later when I saw that one of his sleeves was pinned back to cover the stump of his hand.

"My lords, it is my pleasure to introduce to you two of my newest family members, Lady Sylvi and Lord Poseidon," Master B declared.

As he bowed, some of Luke's hair slipped from the queue Sylvi had artfully arranged, the blond locks falling across his masked face in deliberate temptation.

Aurelius glanced first at Sylvi, his eyes scanning her body dispassionately. Then they skipped to Luke, and I couldn't keep myself from bristling under his inspection of my Bonded and the lust that filled his eyes.

Luke stroked my feathers gently, whispering calming words as I settled my wings.

"A beautiful and deadly beast, Lord Poseidon," Aurelius purred.

"As you say, my lord," Luke responded, bowing his head in acknowledgement. Luke was using his Air powers to modulate his voice so that it sounded different from his normal voice. I couldn't hear it, but I had felt him and Elex practicing the trick throughout our journey here.

"His name is Aetos."

"Named after Zeus' eagle? The eagle is the symbol of my house, you know. You seem—familiar, Lord Poseidon," Aurelius said, his forehead wrinkling in confusion. "Have we met?"

"I have not had that distinct pleasure, my Lord," Luke lied easily, lowering his gaze. I could almost feel him pulling his new persona on over his real one, almost as though it were a layer of armor.

"He looks—extraordinary, Master Bacillus . Has he ever served in the royal household? I know you have provided courtesans there in the past," he asked.

"No, my lord. He is a new addition to my family, having only been with us this last twelve month," Master Bacillus responded.

"Hmm… I look forward to rectifying that," Aurelius said, pushing a small pouch of coins toward the brothel owner. "He shall do nicely, Master Hestus."

Master Hestus smiled and nodded, and Master B bowed.

"You do me great honor, Master Aurelius," he said.

"Come. The Gold room, I shall think," Aurelius said, standing abruptly.

Master B looked discomfited. We had expected Aurelius to dally in the hall for a few hours at least and had planned on using that time for Elex and Hel to free Stergiou and Kyris. It was only 10 p.m. now. We had hoped to keep him there until midnight, at least.

"Ah, you don't wish to savor the other delicacies, Master Aurelius?" Master B asked, gesturing to the items and people on offer in the hall.

"No. I'm to return the eunuch to the palace tomorrow," he said, absently patting a pouch at his waist. "I will need to be up early to have any hope of getting through the damned traffic any time before midday," Aurelius responded.

He gestured at Luke imperiously and turned to exit the hall. I saw the anxiety behind Master B's obsequious smile as we turned to follow. This was it.

Showtime.