Chapter 8

CHAPTER EIGHT

T he woman on the beach had curly black hair and wore a red flounced skirt paired with a low-cut blouse. Her hair was bound with pearls and crocus flowers.

Penelope almost tripped on the sand as a wave of warm power hit her. It was like when she met Poseidon, but it was so much more potent.

"Where am I?" she asked.

"You are in the heart of the labyrinth. A place outside of time where we can meet," the woman replied. She waved a hand at the temple through the trees. "Do you not know where this is?"

Penelope wiped the water from her eyes. It was then she realized she was wearing a red chiton that came to her knees. A silver snake bracelet circled her wrist.

"Home. I'm…on Atlantis," she said, knowing she had spoken true. "Why do I feel this way about a place I've never been? Why do I yearn for it so much?"

The woman raised a delicate black brow. "You've never been here before? Are you sure about that, Penelope?"

Penelope stared at the woman, her whole body singing with recognition. "You are Asasarame."

"And you were one of my priestesses. A mistress of the labyrinth. Long ago."

Penelope bit her lip. "I don't know if I believe in past lives."

The goddess laughed. "They believe in you. Have you never wondered why you have always felt the call to Atlantis? The ache for it? This place is a part of you. It's why Poseidon and Nereus chose you specifically for your tasks. Do you remember what they used to call you?"

"The Heir of Gods," Penelope replied, a ripple of unease passing through her.

"That's right. The Heir of Gods . Plural. As in including me, priestess," Asasarame pointed out. "It's why you and Alexis feel so right to each other. His fate could be bound to no other."

Penelope pushed her hands through her wet curls and tried to steady her breathing. "I'm in the labyrinth. It's about fear, right? So, why am I here and not afraid?"

"As I said, you are in the heart. This is my place as the goddess of the labyrinth. This is where you will always be able to find me," Asasarame explained, taking Penelope's arm in hers. "Walk with me, priestess. We don't have much time. Your Alexis knows something is wrong and will try to dismantle the labyrinth if you are gone much longer."

Penelope laughed despite the weirdness of the situation. "That sounds like him." Everything felt so real. The sand under her feet, the warm skin of the goddess's arm. "What is this about?"

"Buried secrets. There were things on Atlantis that even the magicians had no idea existed. They grew up with magic at their fingertips and never wondered why that was."

"Please tell me it's not another demon. We only just got rid of the last one," Penelope said.

"It is no demon. My priestesses helped protect the vaults. The labyrinths were to help the people, but they also renewed protection spells every year. Some things cannot be released into the world again. Mankind couldn't control them, couldn't destroy them, so they were locked up with the help of the gods," Asasarame explained. She took Penelope's hands. "The locks are weakening, and the high tide is making it worse. You know this already. You can hear them calling out to you."

Penelope had been diving and diving, trying to find the source of the call. It was so loud, and she still hadn't found anything. "What are they?"

"The simple term would be…relics? But they are so much more than that. They can be used for creation or destruction. Weapons to wound or to heal. Pure power and potential that after they were made, the gods regretted it, and yet, they couldn't destroy them. Atlantis was the only place where they could be kept safe. They feed on magic. They are the source of magic."

Penelope shook her head. "You are speaking in riddles."

"They defy explanation because they are different to those who view them." Asasarame placed her hands on Penelope's cheeks. "Be careful of what they promise you. You are the last mistress of the labyrinth, and you must find a way to keep them contained."

"I don't know how," Penelope said, panic rising inside her. "Why me?"

"Because you loved Atlantis. Lifetimes have passed, and yet you love it still. That's how powerful it was." Asasarame looked deep into her eyes, and Penelope fought not to glance away at their intensity. "Your Defender will protect you. Your magicians will support you. There was a reason that they were so long-lived. It's about time they found out why, don't you think?"

"But it was to defeat Thevetat…" Penelope began and then stopped because the goddess was smiling.

"Child, the demon was a loose end. They are so much more than that." Asasarame kissed Penelope on the third eye. "I'll be watching."

Darkness swept Penelope away like she was caught in a rip tide of shadows. Light was growing in the distance, and she was suddenly spat out into the air. Strong arms caught her before she landed in a garden bed.

"Penelope! I have you. I have you," Alexis said, holding her close. "Gods, what are you wearing... Why are you all wet?"

Penelope clung to him, her whole body shaking in cold and shock. "You wouldn't believe me if I told you."

His indigo eyes flashed with magic. "Try me."

The sun began to rise over the water, and Penelope turned her face toward it. "In a moment, I need…"

Alexis wrapped her in his new robe to help with the shivering. The others were watching the sun too, and all looked shaken and relieved to see the light.

Alexis said, "Sing the hymn, Aelia."

For once, Aelia didn't have a sassy comeback. She looked as wrung out as the rest of them. Her voice rose with the sun, and the hymn to Asasarame brought the warmth of spring back inside them. Tears fell down Penelope's cheeks, the song's familiarity twisting around her heart. Had she really had a past life as a priestess? Every part of her pulsed in confirmation as the song and the sun worked their healing magic.

Alexis wasn't looking at the sun. He was still looking at Penelope with worry in his eyes. "You didn't come out before me. I didn't know where… You were just gone . Again."

"Take me to Nereus's old apartments?" Penelope asked.

It was the only place none of the other magicians could get to unless Penelope wanted them to. It was the only place that she felt was truly private in the whole world.

Alexis picked her up and summoned a portal. "We are going to bed."

"A good idea," Lyca yawned.

They didn't wait for anyone else's reply, only stepped through the glittering portal, Penelope hanging onto Alexis like he was the only anchor she had in the world.