Chapter 9

Jason's point of view

Mera laughed in my arms as I spun her around the dance floor, singing into her ear. Finally, after a thousand years of waiting, she was my wife in name as well as love. By the Moirae, she was breathtaking! Resplendent in her lavender wedding gown, sparkling in jewels, the brightest and most treasured being those fire rimed violet eyes of hers. Perfect… everything in the universe was right in these moments.

"Murderer." A whisper echoed through the room. I looked around, seeing nothing; we were still the only ones there. "Murderer." It echoed again. I looked around, still dancing, though I had grown tense.

"What is it, my husband?" Mera asked, smiling as she said the word husband.

"Did you hear that?" I asked her. She shook her head.

"Murderer."

"Hear what?" She asked obliviously.

"Murderer."

"That." I stated.

"Murderer."

"All I hear is our song." She whispered, as she moved closer to me.

"Murderer."

I pulled away and began looking around frantically, trying to find the source of that whisper, of that vaguely familiar voice. I knew it; somehow I knew it, like a whisper on the winds… No, not a whisper… a bloodcurdling scream. I froze in place as I found her. Andrea Lorespa, Mera's grandmother, standing there with her out stretched hand pointing at me with accusing eyes. She began walking towards me down the length of the room. She appeared as I had left her; bloody, partially flayed, blood dripping down the corner of her lip and staining her sundress, one eye swollen shut, the other staring me down. Panic rose up within me as she slowly drew closer to me.

"No." I whispered.

"Murderer." She accused.

"FORGIVE ME!" I begged. "I left your daughter be. Is that not enough?"

"Jason!" Mera shouted, getting in between us and taking my face between her hands. "What are you talking about? Forgive you for what?"

I met her eyes, and then looked up and leapt back as I shouted. Andrea was no longer the only apparition I saw. There were thousands, each dead at my hands or by my actions. They were closing in, closer, closer…

I awoke in my bed with a start, leaping away from the hand stretched out towards me and falling off the bed in the process. I scurried into the corner of the room, hands out stretched to fight my victims off.

"JASON!" I knew that voice.

I lowered my hands to see Mera standing on the other side of the bed, watching me. I broke down, crying like a child as she ran over and wrapped her arms around me. My head rested against her breasts, my arms wrapped tightly around her torso as I held onto her for dear life bemoaning the horrible mistakes I had made.

Every night was like this, and had been long since Meristos purged Zenophian from my soul three weeks ago. My greatest shame was the first night I spent in this home. I slept in Mera and Ariston's bed, next to Mera. While she was trying to wake me from one of these night terrors, in my trashing fighting off the demons in my dream… I struck her. And of course, that was the moment I woke up, when my fist collided with her face. Ariston grabbed me by my shoulders and threw me from the bed against the far wall.

I was horrified I had done such a thing. I scurried away, running all the way down to the barrows of the wine cellar, hiding among its bottles until Mera and Ariston found me. I wept as I tried over and over again to apologize. Somehow, they both forgave me, saying they knew it was not intentional.

She tried to get me to come back to bed, but I refused, saying I would not dare put her in danger again. On my request they gave me a guest room right next to their own, and stayed with me until I went to sleep. After which, I would ask them to seal me in, to make certain I would harm no one in my sleep.

"What was it this time?" Mera asked.

"It started out as a dream, on our wedding day." I began. "Then.. then it turned into a nightmare about your grandmother."

She listened to every detail, as she always has. The strength this woman possesses was beyond me.

"It is over," She promised. "It is all in the past, where it belongs." I pulled away from her, guilt over coming me as I began pacing.

"You don't understand," I nearly growled. "You have not seen what I have done!" She shook her head, reaching out for me.

"I have, and you know I forgive," I cut her off.

"DAMN IT, MERA!" I shouted, staking toward her and taking her face between my hands. "Look; see what you love."

I showed her things I hoped to bury in my past. How I sliced up her grandmother; how I murdered young and old… so many horrors I committed. Anyone that stood in my way. The times I would black out for years, giving over to Zenophian completely, being aware of what he was doing, but not caring enough to speak up and try to stop him. Who knows if I could have back then.

The look on her face was something I hoped I would never witness… but a part of me has always known it was coming.

"WHY DO YOU STILL LOVE ME?" I screamed.

"WHY DO YOU STILL NEED A REASON?" She shouted in return. "I do not love the Nameless One. I love you, Jason. I love you, damn it!"

"What I have done," I began.

"Is there a part of you that has wanted to continue in the torments you cause since I have been back in your life?" She asked. "And I do not mean Zenophian whispering into your ear… I mean you."

"You are blinded by your love for me." I stated.

"Do you remember how I reacted after you told me who you are?" She asked. I remembered all too well. "And how long it was before I could even speak to you? Did it ever occur to you that I do see what you were, and chose to love you in spite of it?"

"But,"

"Make it right." She said. "Make that your focus every day. Take the chances that will come to begin to redeem yourself. I do not know how many times I have to say this to you, but I will keep saying it for as long as it takes."

I had her in my arms in the next moment, holding onto her in a tight embrace.

"Ask for Zeus to visit." I finally said. "I have some things he will want to know."

Zeus' point of view

This request was quite unexpected. From what Ariston had told me, Jason was still healing from having Zenophian ripped from his soul. He was Jason. The Nameless One was no more. He was a combination of Jason and Zenophian, and a fearson one at that. Now, with the parting of their souls, Jason was left, one of Mera's soul mates. Who he was now that Zenophian has left him remains to be seen.

It was two days before I had enough time for the visit. When I arrived, he was sitting in one of two chairs that faced each other. He uneasily rose to his feet and gave me a deep bow. I bowed my head in return and we sat down across from one another.

"What is it you have to tell me?" I asked him.

"Everything." He replied. I raised an eyebrow.

"Everything?" I asked, he nodded.

"Everything." He stated. "I know where every outpost is, every fortress and every lost soul. I will name for you all of those that are either dead or missing. I will tell you whom I have killed, so those families will no longer have to suffer not know if their loved one is alive."

"What of this plan Mera spoke of?" I asked, to which he smiled.

"I will tell you of that as well. You may bring Elitheia if you wish. I will even swear upon the Styx that my testimony is truth."

"Both will be necessary." I stated, he nodded in understanding and agreement.

I summoned the goddess in question, and watched as the man before me took those vows; he even went so far as to swear curses upon himself if he knew any of the information he gave to be untrue. He would never earn the right of being my father; Cronus earned that title too long ago, but I had to admit I was curious to see who this Jason would grow into now that he was free. He could easily go light or dark.

The list was extensive, naming traitors in our midst and how they were able to get into my apartment. I sat there with pen and paper, thankful to have something to do rather than look upon him. My hand stumbled too many times to count, hearing the names, the places, they had infiltrated. Half of them I would not believe until I saw proof. Others, we had already suspected, and the list proved their guilt.

"I do not seek your forgiveness. I know there is nothing I can do to earn that after what I have done." Jason stated. "I only hope this helps you. Please let me know if there is any other way I can be of assistance."

"The information you have given will be looked into." I told him. "If it proves true… then you have done a truly good thing." I did not mention what would happen if this information turned out to be false. He knew the implications of treachery in his case. True and utter decimation.

I left the room and made my way down the hall, where my son paced in wait. I smiled and greeted him with a hug. I had nearly lost him far too many times, to death and depression. Now here he was, with a family of his own after so very long, and a complicated one at that. It was only because of my son's faith in Jason, that there was even a hint of trust in what was shared today.

"Well?" He asked. I wagged the thousands of pages in the air. "This is invaluable, father!" He smiled, to which I nodded.

"If it proves to be true." I stated. "I still fear what he will bring to our family."

"The Nameless One has left his soul." He reminded me.

"What does that even mean, after this many aeons? Their souls should have been inseparable…" I shook my head, running a hand through my hair. "You can see it in his eyes; even he does not know who he is."

"Can you blame him?" He asked.

"How can I trust him?" I asked Ariston. "After what he did to you? To everyone?" Ariston was about to answer when a voice stopped him.

"DADA!" Edmund shouted as I spun around to see him running to me.

I dropped down on my knees and he threw himself into my arms. I cried as I held him, feeling his little hands grabbing onto me. I kissed his head and held him so close.

"Oh my son, how I have missed you!" I whispered.

"Miss you too, dada." He mumbled. I cried and kissed his face again.

I pulled back to look at his face, seeing the joyful tears in his own eyes. I looked up when I saw Nell's feet in my field of vision. Her gray blue eyes stared at me coldly.

"Please," I whispered. "Let me see my son." She gave me a single nod.

I turned my attention back to Edmund, who was trying to get my attention. He wrapped his little arms around my neck and began jumping.

"Up, dada." He said. I laughed and picked him up, the both of us watching each other.

I ran my fingers through his growing hair; there were not words for just how much I have longed to hold my son. I met his mothers eyes, watching as emotion flashed through them, and down at her womb, where another of my sons grew. I took one slow, tentative step towards her, and then another, until I stood before her. Holding Edmund in one arm, I held out one hand towards her growing womb.

"May I?" I requested. She nodded gently.

I touched and then gently laid my hand there. I felt my seed growing strong within her, I smiled and met Nell's eyes. For the first time, I saw her face break with emotion and could not help my next move. I wound my fingers through her hair and kissed her. It was a kiss that she blessedly returned, and in that moment the truth was painfully clear. I had fallen in love with this woman, as more than the mother of two of my children.

"Nell," I breathed. "I miss you, I love you. Please, please come back home." Her eyes hardened and she pulled away, that emotionless mask falling back into place. I began shaking my head.

"You need to go." Nell stated. "Give him to me." She began to pry Edmund out of my arms. He began to scream and clutch onto me.

"DADA!" His scream broke my soul and I tried to get him back.

"Nell," I began when she shoved me away, finally pulling him from my arms.

"LEAVE!" She shouted at me.

I could take him from her, I could detain her right then and there. I could take my son back, even take the son that was within her when he was born. I had more than enough power. She has no idea who she is dealing with, I growled. Try and keep my children from me? Yet the guilt lingered, that despite all of my power, Edmund had almost been kidnapped.

Gods, this was not the time for this to happen! There were too many other priorities, such as tracking down Zenophian, if he survived what Mera did to him. I needed things to be right between Nell and I, for our children's sakes and for our own. So for now, though it tore my soul apart, I prepared to leave.

Ariston's point of view

I arrived at the scene right after Nell left. I hurried here when I heard the commotion. I turned the corner to see my father barely holding back tears, as he listened to Edmunds screams in the distance. I growled under my breath, my hands curling up into fists as I walked past him.

I found Nell in her bedroom, which Mera and I had given her the use of. She was pacing back and forth, trying desperately to calm Edmund down. She looked at me in annoyance.

"What?" She asked.

"That was the cruelest thing I have ever seen. And that is truly saying something." I stated as I tried to keep my composure and not scream at her.

"Like you would understand." She snapped. "What do you know of the choices I make for my sons?"

"Nell, allow me to make one thing perfectly clear." I stated, my tone cold. "You will not speak to my father like that while living under my roof. Not after everything that god has done for, for you son. And further more, do not pretend you are doing this for your children." I looked at Edmund. I sighed and held my hands out. "Let me see him."

She handed him over, he came willingly as he looked into my eyes pleadingly.

"Dada," He cried, his eyes begging me. "Want dada."

"I know." I shushed him, gently bouncing him up and down. "You will see him again." His crying began to quiet as he laid his head on my shoulder and I rubbed his back.

He soon fell asleep, the screaming having exhausted him. I placed him in his crib and then returned to talk with my aunt.

"Thank you." She said.

"The children come first." I stated. "You and I are no where near the end of our discussion." She ran her fingers through her hair

"He failed us!" She screamed.

"Right," I stated. "Because the only reason you were with him to begin with was for protection." I shook my head. "You had that without welcoming him into your bed."

"HOW DARE YOU!" She shouted.

"You are missing my point!" I raised my voice, trying to remain calm. "You forget that we come from a place where such activity is not judged. And you know very well I meant more than sex. You two started something together. And you bear the fruit of it. Do you plan on keeping this child away from a loving father as well?"

"What are you getting at?" She demanded.

"Simple." I stated. "You love him, and it scares the hell out of you, because everyone else you have ever loved has betrayed and abused you. Except for the boy you won't let yourself have. A choice you made for Edmund's sake." Taking a breath, I met her watery eyes. "Do you have any idea what that man goes through on a daily basis? Even in the short few months Zeus has been in your life, you have to have witnessed it, no matter how he hides the weight upon his shoulders. The last thing he needs, the last thing he deserves, is to have you treating him this way. You have to either get over this fear or let my father go. Either way, I implore you not to keep those children from him."

I turned and left the room, not trusting myself to speak further. My father was long gone by this point. I ran a hand through my hair, shaking my head at the situation. I reached the bottom of the stairs, heading for the library when I noticed a sight that took my breath away. Mera, the mother of my children, sound asleep on a large white fur, bathed in the light of the setting son. Her body curled around Nathan and Meristos who slumbered along with their beautiful mother.

I quietly made my way over to them, summoning a camera to capture this moment that was too perfect to go unrecorded. I would have to ask Jason to recreate this moment in paint. His painting of Mera and I's wedding hung in our bedroom, a beautiful token we treasured beyond words.

I sent the camera away, though not before sharing the picture with some of our loved ones, namely Mera's parents, grandmother and her best friend Margret. Being careful not to disturb my sleeping wife, I curled up behind her and rested my eyes.

We awoke sometime later to Jason's screams. Mera popped up.

"I will go to him." I told her. "You need to sleep." She shook her head.

"He needs me." I nodded and she disappeared in golden light.

Somehow, the screams did not wake the boys. They could sleep through anything, we had found. So long as they wanted to be asleep, nothing could rouse them. I knew Nell would be there with her father as well, trying to find something to ease his tormented soul. He would not take anything to help him sleep, fearing being trapped in his nightmares. I prayed to the Moirae to ease his soul, bring him peace.

Reina's point of view

For three weeks, plans have been laid. Every detail that could possibly be accounted for was, and then some. The time had finally come. The girl would play her part as has been scripted, and this would go smoothly. I had not even consulted Roan about the idea, though I knew he would be thrilled. How can anyone give away my plan when the only one I had told would not remember it?

Roan laid in bed with two women, one lying on either side of him, the three of them glowing with satisfied looks upon their faces. He noticed me at once, his smile widening.

"My queen!" He greeted. "You missed quite the party." The women in his arms nodded in agreement. I admired their forms and had to agree.

"Next time." I told him, then looked at the women. "Leave us."

"I think they will have trouble walking for a while more." Roan bragged, the women giggled, kissing his neck.

"I am sure they will manage." The women did just that, knowing when they were dismissed.

I sat on the bed when the doors had shut behind them. Roan raised himself up onto one elbow as he gazed upon me.

"Are you going to let me in on your secret plan now?" He asked. I looked at him in surprise before smiling and kissing him. You do not know someone for as long as we have known each other and not know everything about them.

"I suppose so." I answered.

"So, where are we going, my queen?" Roan asked. I smiled, tracing the lines of his face with my fingers.

"To retrieve your wife, and my mother."

Author's Note: I am so happy to finally be turning out a new chapter! I am so sorry it has taken so long, and I hope to keep writing!

Love Jasmine