Chapter 12 – Luke

'What's the curse of Achilles?'

We were sitting in the corner of our training room after the talk with Kronos. Naomi was staring down at the crash mat below her, carefully avoiding my eyes.

'It's not really a curse. It's a blessing that can be attained by a certain act.' I frowned at the floor. It was still painful to remember the 'certain act' that got you the blessing. I hated to think of Naomi going through the same thing. I shook my head slightly. I shouldn't think like that, it was a necessary step, 'anyway,' I continued, 'we'll be going ashore tomorrow so I can take you… where you need to go.' I said carefully. I figured that if I told her we were going to the underworld it might freak her out a bit.

'The river… is it in the underworld?'

I stared at her in shock and confusion. Had I accidentally just said that thought out loud? (It'd happened in the past with rather embarrassing consequences)

She glanced at my expression and seemed to read it perfectly. 'It's just, when I was reading that myth book you gave me, I decided to read up on Achilles, after what you told me I mean. It said something about a river in the underworld, the Sticky River or something…'

The corner of my lip twitched slightly as she said that. 'The river Styx. Yeah, it's in the underworld. Did you by any chance read what his curse did for him?'

She shook her head. 'I figured if Kronos wanted me to know he would have told me.' I frowned slightly as I saw her furrowed brow.

'What's wrong?' She shook her head again, but after clocking my expression she sighed.

'It's just…I don't know him.'

'What? You don't know who?' I was worried by her lowered voice and the fact she still wouldn't meet my eyes.

She picked at the mat below her with one finger, looking suddenly much younger than her fifteen years. When she replied her voice was even quieter. 'My dad.' A cold feeling flooded me. If she was starting to think about her dad and feel bad about agreeing to help us… well let's just say I knew what it felt like to suffer Kronos' displeasure. I did not want that happening to Naomi. She looked so vulnerable suddenly all I wanted was to protect her. I shifted as though to rise and go over to her but stopped myself. Instead I waited for her to continue. 'I'm helping you to destroy the gods but… I mean I wouldn't be here if it weren't for the gods…'

I leaned towards her slightly, lowering my voice to a gentler tone. 'You wouldn't be here if it weren't for your mum. And you wouldn't be in this time if it weren't for Kronos.'

'I know,' she murmured. She closed her eyes and I thought I saw a tear squeeze from between her lashes.

Suddenly I heard the door open behind me. I hadn't realized how much I'd been leaning towards Naomi and hastily straightened myself. Naomi quickly wiped her eyes and looked towards the door with me. Felicity stuck her head around the door and I saw her eyes sweep the room before locating the two of us in the corner. She stepped further into the room staring at us with what looked almost like suspicion.

'What is it?' I said, sounding sharper than I meant to.

'You have a visitor in your room.'

'Who?' I asked rising to my feet from the gym bench.

'Kelli, the empousa. She says she has news from her mission she needs to tell you.'

'Ok, tell her I'll be there in a minute.' Felicity withdrew, and I turned to Naomi. 'Sorry but I'd better go talk to Kelli.'

'Who's Kelli?' She frowned at me, looking slightly guarded. 'And what's an empousa?'

'A type of monster. She's been on a special mission for Kronos; looking into a possibility for us.' I expected to see curiosity on her face, but it looked almost like she was about to smile.

'A monster?'

'Yeah… why?' I raised an eyebrow at her in confusion.

'No reason. You'd better not keep her waiting; I'll just get on with practice.'

She slid down from the crash mats and headed towards the cupboard with the practice dummies.

I shook my head. What was with her? Why did she always have to be so confusing?

I left the room and headed for my quarters.

Kelli was sitting on the edge of the bed when I walked into the room, wearing a dark red dress and looking as frustratingly good as ever. A huge smile broke over her face as soon as she saw me.

'Luke! Oh, it's so awesome to see you!'

'Felicity said you have news?' I said rather sharply. I guess I was still annoyed at having my conversation with Naomi interrupted. She narrowed her eyes and pouted slightly at my tone.

'Oh, Luke, don't say you haven't missed me?! I know I've missed you loads!' she had an annoying habit of ending every sentence in a way that gave it an exclamation mark. I just stood and looked at her waiting for an answer. She sighed and pouted some more before continuing. 'He's going to attend the orientation for Goode High School but I don't see why we have to wait until then. Tammi and I are ready now.'

'No, it will be better then, harder for him to get away. And if he does get away, I'm sure our Lord Kronos can find a suitable punishment for his subjects who have failed him.' I raised my eyebrows at her and her pout turned into a stone mask. I guessed it was to stop any fear from sneaking into her expression. I turned and held open the door. 'If that is all…'

She slowly slithered off the bed and walked out the door I held open for her. However, in the doorway she turned, her face only a handbreadth from mine, her breath warm on my skin. 'I can tell you're distracted today Luke. Whoever she is, you know Kronos would prefer you to like me.' Before I could utter a word, she had turned and walked away, disappearing inhumanly fast. I shook my head and took a deep breath before heading back towards the training deck.