DISCLAIMER: IT ALL BELONGS TO SHERRILYN KENYON BLAH, BLAH I OWN NOTHING YADA, YADA, YADA. OK ON WITH THE SUMMARY.
SUMMARY: IN THE BEGINNING WHAT IF INSTEAD OF ESTES DYING OR "PASSING ON" FOR THE SENSITIVE PEOPLE WHAT IF XERXES DIED AND TO QUOTE THE "ANGRY" ACHERON AS RYSSA ONCE PUT IT FULLFILLED ESTES 'TRUE DREAM'.
FATE'S SICK JOKE
RYSSA'S POV
This morning father had found Acheron at our summer home. Even though I tried to stand up for him I am only a woman in this world ruled by men. In these times women are hardly a step up from dirt. I was ushered out of our home by my father's gaurds. I feel guilty for it all. For god knows what is happening to Acheron right now. It will eternally be branded into my mind the image of Acheron kissing father's feet while begging for forgiveness. Especially the image of his face when father had backhanded him, the pure terror in his eyes, his split lip and the deep slice across his left cheek where father's ring had cut him. Boris had come back early and when he saw me with the gaurds and quickly replaced them.
At one moment there were the sounds of Acheron screaming for mercy from his brother and the cheering of the gaurds and father then…nothing. The silence was eerie. Until the noise erupted gaurds were running around and someone was yelling for a physician. I hurried in with Boris on my heels. The scene was horrible. Acheron was passed out on the ground with his right thigh sliced open to the bone. Styxx was holding the blade and was frozen in an expression of terror as he stood transfixed by the sight in a mere ten feet away. I finally looked over and saw father. He was shaking on the ground clutching his chest; I soon realized he was having a heart attack.
TIME JUMP 1 month
After father's funeral I couldn't help but think of Acheron, he was in that horrible place again all alone with people who only wanted to hurt him. I was now in a large office with Styxx and a man I've never seen before, I didn't understand the need for us here. Though Boris was here I was for some reason uneasy. All of a sudden Uncle Estes bust through the door with a huge smile on his face teeth and all which would have normally calmed me if I didn't know how horrible he was. "Hello Styxx." He said cheery embracing him into a giant hug unlike I've ever seen him do. "Hello Ryssa." He said not as cheery as before as he kissed my forehead.
That's when he said it the unknown man said the one thing that shattered my heart because I knew what it meant. Acheron had told me about it once at the summer home.
"You know I'd understand why you hate Styxx and father even me I know you blame us." I'd told him.
"No I don't hate any of you. I'm angry that's all. I do feel a little bad for you, though." I must have looked confused because he quickly explained. "I've been with Estes for the longest of times and I know he likes me and the money I make but like many he wants more. So yes I feel bad for you. I know what he really wants; he explained it to me once while he was drunk. His true dream is that father dies so he can sell me and Styxx as twins. I might be angry at you all but I wouldn't wish that on my worst enemy. And I hope he doesn't ever experience my pain first hand. Look on the bright side though; at least he'll have your shoulder to cry on." He diverted his eyes for a second but before I could ask he said quickly. "I smell dough; I'll go see if Maia wants me to make bread with her." And with that he rushed off toward the kitchen.
The unknown man said "king Xerxes wanted me to inform you that in the event of his death he wants Styxx and Ryssa to be placed in your custody." I gave Boris a look of pure agony before I fainted where he caught me before I hit the floor. The last thing I saw was a smile on Styxx's face, soon enough he too would understand Acheron's pain. Then everything went dark.
