Author's Note: I do not own the Lords of the Underworld series or the characters.
Chapter 14 Rebellious Stage
For the next week Isolde was gone by the time the others got up, leaving them to search the temple without her. She refused to eat, had their breakfast made before they got up and had their dinner waiting for them when they got home, and ignored Lucien. Lucien in turn, ignored Anya for the most part. Anya noticed the absence of the girl and the bad mood it put Lucien in.
Hoping to figure out what was going on, Anya flashed herself into their temporary house. She found Isolde, dressed only a pair of grey boy shorts and a black tank top, sitting on her bed, her knees drawn up to her chest, arms wrapped around them, and fiddling with a ring on her left hand.
The girl looked awful. There were dark circles under her eyes, her hair was a tangled mess around her, and her nose was red. She looked like she had entertained a long cry. Anya felt her heart go out to the girl, to this girl who had sided with her and defended her against Lucien and his warriors. Anya didn't know this girl, yet she had befriended her as if she knew everything about Anya. Naturally she couldn't help but want to help Isolde.
"Hey chica."
Isolde's eyes swung up, landing on Anya. There was no jolt of surprise, no shock at the goddess's appearance in her room.
"Oh. Hey Anya. I'm surprised you're here instead of bugging Lucien." Isolde replied.
Anya approached, until she could perch herself on the edge of Isolde's bed.
"Yeah, well. I decided to make him sweat over my absence." Anya said, hoping for a smile and not getting it. "Alright, what's up, girlie?"
Isolde heaved a sigh. She was quiet for a heartbeat before she told Anya about what had happened with Lucien and everything he had said. Anya stared at Isolde, knowing exactly what had brought it about. Lucien must have gotten it in his head that Isolde wasn't honestly trying to help him after Anya had gone off on him about letting Cronus pull him about. It had obviously hurt Isolde, though Anya didn't know what Isolde could possibly know to make him insist she tell him.
"How can he expect you to tell him things you don't know?" Anya asked.
"But I do know, Anya. I know the past, present, and future. I know feelings and thoughts, events to happen, and so on."
Anya took a moment to take that in. If she knew all that...Anya nearly choked.
"Then you know-"
"Yeah, I know how you feel about Lucien. As well as your past, and your curse, everything. Don't worry, I'm going to tell his dumbass self a thing." Isolde replied.
Anya stared at Isolde as she fiddled with the ring on her hand. So she knew everything about her. That explained why Isolde defended her and why she was always relaxed with Anya around. She knew Anya, knew what drove her and accepted it all without a second thought. It was nice, great really, to have that kind of acceptance from someone. Anya was sure she found a good friend in Isolde. Especially since the girl knew all of this and had refused to say a word to Lucien, deciding it was Anya's to tell, not hers.
"Thanks, chica."
This did get a smile from Isolde, if only a small one.
"Well, if you know, why not tell him?" Anya asked.
"You're a goddess, Anya, maybe you'll understand." Isolde said, turning to face Anya, sitting cross legged.
It was then that Anya caught sight of a tattoo, a new one by the look of the red skin around it, which spread over her left breast bone, just above her heart. A butterfly, exactly like the one on Lucien's chest, stretched wings of a bright, glittery orange from the curve of her left shoulder, to her collar bone, and down under the neck line of her shirt.
"Nice tat." Anya said.
Isolde's hand flew up to the orange butterfly. Finger tips brushed lightly over the butterfly, before her hand dropped back into her lap.
"Thanks. It's new."
"I can tell. Now spill."
Isolde heaved another sigh, running a hand through her hair and wincing when her finger snagged on tangles.
"First, we need to get you cleaned up. It'll make you feel better." Anya said, taking Isolde's hand.
Isolde next found herself in Anya's beach house.
"Wow. Nice crib." Isolde said, looking around.
"Thanks!"
Anya dragged Isolde to the bathroom and pushed her inside.
"Take a shower. I'll have something for you to wear when you get out." Anya told her.
The door closed before Isolde could argue. Heaving a sigh, Isolde just did as told. It was best to just not argue with the goddess. And she really could have used a shower anyway. Isolde basked in the warm water gratefully, and washed her hair. When she stepped out of the shower, she found a fluffy, white towel, a soft, blue robe, and a pair of silver, low slung, undergarments. Isolde toweled herself dry, slipped into the underwear and strapless bra, and wrapped the robe around herself.
Anya was shifting through clothes when Isolde left the bathroom. She looked up when Isolde closed the door.
"Hey, looking better already. Here, put this on and then I'll do your make-up." Anya offered, shoving clothes into her hands.
"I don't really wear make-up. I don't like the feeling of having all that junk caked on my face." Isolde said.
"That's because you haven't had an Anya make-over before. Get dressed." Anya told her.
Isolde discarded the robe and pulled on the one-piece, strapless outfit. It zipped in the back, had sides made of nearly see-through mess, clung to her like a second skin, and was a deep, ruby red. The shorts of the outfit ended just below the curve of her butt and there were black butterfly designs dancing across it. Isolde twisted to look at the outfit.
"I like this. A lot. Where'd you steal it from?" Isolde asked.
"Who says I stole it?"
Isolde cocked an eyebrow at Anya, who grinned in reply.
"You know me so well. There was this cute little shop in London. That was on display. I took a guess at your size." Anya said.
"Well your guess was spot on." Isolde replied.
"Here, put these on too."
Anya handed over a pair of black leather, spike heeled boots that laced all the way up with red laces and stopped about mid-thigh. She helped Isolde to lace them, ignoring the weapons strapped to Isolde's legs. Anya added in silver bracelets and ruby and silver, tear drop, dangling earrings as well, forgoing gold since Isolde didn't like gold.
"Alright, now for hair and make-up." Anya said with a clap, ushering Isolde to a chair in front of the vanity. "I love these streaks. So rebellious."
"In my house they were. My father nearly shaved me bald when he saw them." Isolde replied as Anya brushed out her hair, stopping to run fingers over the tattoo on her nape as well as the one between her shoulder blades.
"What stopped him?"
"My foot heel to his knee cap."
Anya cheered at that. Isolde wished her mother had been that supportive of Isolde's need to defend herself against her father. Would have made life a lot easier.
"Had daddy issues?" Anya asked.
"I had family issues. Both of my parents hated me. Told me on a regular bases and beat the shit out of me when I so much as looked up from the ground. Hell, they would do it for me just breathing."
Anya looked at Isolde's face in the mirror. The girl's eyes were set on her lap as Anya worked at styling her natural waves and curls.
"You got them back for it, right?" Anya asked.
"Yeah, I did. I have my pride."
"Good. They deserve it. Ain't nothing wrong with you. They obviously didn't know what awesomeness they had."
That finally got a smile out of Isolde and Anya inwardly cheered. It was about time. The girl had some serious confidence issues that needed to be addressed. She needed some good father and mother figures in her life. Lucien, at the moment, was failing.
"Hey, you want to hear something my mom use to tell me." Anya offered.
"I think I already know, but yeah, I could use some wise words."
Anya grinned, liking the girl more and more. She focused on pulling Isolde's long mass of hair up into a high pony tail, leaving a bit hanging on either side of her face. Anya fluffed the curls and deemed it done, turning to kneel in front of Isolde to start make-up.
"My mom had told me that whatever I do, however I act, others would judge me harshly, so would the world, ya know?"
"Yeah, I know."
"Cool. Well she told me that we all must be true to our own nature. Acting as anyone other than yourself merely brings you pain and makes you appear ashamed of who and what you are. Others will feed off that shame, and soon it will be all that you are. Told me to be proud of who I was. The way I see it, you're a pretty chill chica. You sure as hell seem to have those warriors wrapped around your pinkie."
"Not completely. Sabin, I'm sure, hates me. He doesn't like how he knows nothing about me but I know everything about him. Strider and Gideon, I'm pretty sure, just want into my pants. Zane kind of avoids me, then again he avoid everyone. Cameo and I get along, and Amun seems okay with me. The others are wrapped, especially Paris. But I wonder about Lucien now."
Anya stopped in added a dusting of smoky eyeshadow to look at Isolde. The girl looked so miserable as she said that.
"You really do care about him." Anya said.
"I care about all of them. They've become the family I never had. Lucien really is the father I always wanted. Even if he's being a jackass." Isolde replied.
"So you're just going to forgive him?"
"It's a complicated feeling. I've always believed in forgiving those you care for, but I've never been the type to forgive and forget without some kind of revenge. Vengeance is a part of my nature."
Anya grinned. On that they were the same. This girl just might have a little chaos in her blood as well. She could have been Anya's sister, or maybe daughter since there was such a big age gap between them.
"Well then, give him hell." Anya told her, finishing up the make-up. "There we go. Take a look, girlie."
Anya moved, letting Isolde peer into the mirror. She didn't feel like she had make-up on but Anya had given her a smoky eye look that brought out the blue of her eyes, and had expertly lined both eyes with silver eye liner and painted Isolde's lips with a glittery pink. Isolde couldn't even see the dark circles under her eyes anymore.
"Damn! You're better than I thought you were and that was pretty damn good. You have to teach me to do make-up like you." Isolde said in wonder.
Anya beamed with pride.
"Can do, sugar cube. How about we go get something to eat, strunt our stuff, and then we can show those boys what their missing." Anya suggested.
"Sounds good to me."
-0-0-0-0-
Lucien, his mood still on the bad side since Isolde was refusing to so much as be in the same room as him, knew the moment Anya appeared.
"Go away, Anya. I am serious."
When she didn't reply, he repeated the order. She only materialized and sat on a boulder beside him.
"I said go away." he told her.
"Like I'm going to obey you. You aren't my daddy. Unless you want to be. 'Cause I've been a bad, naughty girl and I need a spanking."
"Anya. Please." he said with a groan.
Anya grinned, but she had another reason for being here at the moment.
"I talked to Isolde."
Lucien froze. He didn't look up at her, but he did freeze.
"She obviously cares about you so what the hell were you thinking?" she asked.
"That is not your business." he replied.
"Uh, yeah it is. Like it or not, Flowers, I like that girl and it pisses me off when you hurt her. Which, FYI, you did. She looked like she had been crying."
Lucien felt bad enough, but Anya's words sent a new wave of shame through him. He had tried to apologize to her, but she had avoided him at all turns. He had finally decided that giving her space and time would be the best idea. Obviously not.
"How is she?" he asked.
"Do you really care, or are you just asking, hoping you'll get back on her good side, so she won't tear you to pieces?"
"Of course I care! She is like a daughter to me." Lucien told her.
"Then why did you do it? She said you promised that you trusted her."
"I do trust her."
"Don't sound like it to me."
"I do. I am tired of being manipulated, was tired of her not answering and I lashed out at her without thinking." Lucien said finally.
"And what is to keep you doing it again the next time you're annoyed? From what she's told me, she's dealt with a lot of shit from her parents. And I mean a lot. Like getting the shit beat out of her on a daily bases, lot."
Lucien froze again. He had known Isolde's parents had been abusive to her. She had said as much, but he hadn't known it was that bad. Then there was the fact that where she wouldn't tell them what had happened with her parents, she had told Anya. Or at least had told her some of it.
"She told you?"
"Not all of it. I get the feeling there's a lot more to it, but yeah, she did. Bastards the both of them."
Silence stretched between as Lucien clenched and un-clenched his fist. He didn't want to hurt Isolde, didn't want to be the same as her parents. He knew he had messed up, damn it. He wanted to make it right.
"You get that you fucked up royally, right?" Anya asked.
"I do."
"Then fix it. She doesn't like being at odds with you."
"I know."
Lucien went back to work, deciding that he didn't care if she wanted to talk to him or not, he was going to put this right. He didn't want to be the cause of pain for Isolde. Anya watched him as he worked. Watch sweat roll down his back. She would have touched him then if Paris hadn't called out. Lucien told him to remain where he was, that she was his responsibility.
"Why not let your friends come over here and play with us?" she asked.
Finally he looked at her, even if it was a fleeting look.
"What are you wearing?" he managed to get out.
"A maid's uniform. You know, to help you dust." Anya replied, making his curse under his breath.
"Just as before, my friends are beyond the stone, and they will remain there, working. They do no need a distraction."
"Then wait until you see Isolde."
Lucien chanced a sharp look at her. But he didn't ask, didn't think he wanted to know, and went back to work.
"I remember this place in its prime. Before it was moved down to earth, we were taught here, the other deities and I. How to control our powers, how to act properly, blah, blah, blah." Anya remarked.
"I was never allowed inside. We went only where Zeus did, and he didn't choose to spend time here."
"A pity the place is so damaged now. You might have liked it."
"What did it look like?"
Lucien listened to her describe the place as he tossed rocks and pebbles over his shoulder. She told him about the rooms and when he questioned her farther about the alter room, she told him of the marble table and murals, the murals gaining his attention. He stood and gave her his full attention.
She told him about the murals. When she told him the murals didn't have anything to do with the box, he scrubbed a hand down his face. Again she wanted to touch him but didn't. Her eyes locked on to the butterfly tattoo, a black, larger version of the orange one on Isolde's breast bone.
"What thoughts tumble through your head?" Lucien asked.
"Naughty ones."
"You enjoy tormenting me, do you not?"
"Just a wee bit." Anya said, pinching her fingers together. "But don't worry-I'm not singling you out or anything. It's just a little quirk of mine, tormenting the men who want to kill me."
"Anya."
"What?"
Anya pulled out one of her favorite lollipops and tore the wrapper of before licking it and moaning. Lucien was in her face, ripping it free of her grip and throwing it to the ground the next second.
"Hey! That was uncalled for." she complained.
"Do not eat those things in front of me."
"Why?"
"Because."
"If you want one for yourself, just freaking ask me next time."
"I don't."
"Then-"
"No more talking. I must work."
Lucien went back to work, but she could tell he was fighting desire for her. Or at least she hoped that was the case. But asking him if that was so would have been fruitless. He never would have admitted it to her.
"You're wasting your time in that sand." she told him, deciding to help him a little.
"No more talking."
"Well you are."
"Disappear."
"Make me." she retorted.
He didn't reply, again. With a huff, she dropped to sit on a boulder.
"I want those artifacts as much as you do and your cold-shoulder treatment isn't helping our cause." she told him.
Lucien was at her side, knocking her off the boulder and pinning her to the ground in a second. She gratefully welcomed the close contact.
"Why do you want them?" he asked.
"Duh. Power."
"I thought we had covered this. You will have nothing to do with the artifacts." he replied, his voice cracking.
"Then you should have killed me. I've decided I want them really, really bad."
"No. I think you want to die. You are provoking me on purpose, while I have been giving you time to enjoy the last days of your life."
"Well, aren't you sweet. I'm just trying to survive, lover. And have a little fun while I'm at it." she told him, wrapping her arms around his neck.
"Aligning yourself with me will not save you." he replied.
"Why haven't you killed me, then? And don't give me that bullshit about letting me enjoy the last days of my life. You don't let other souls enjoy the last of their days. And aligning myself with you might not save me, but doing so with Isolde might. I like that girl, she's smart."
Lucien's expression darkened. He apparently didn't like the mere idea of Anya using him or Isolde for her own means.
"Perhaps I have spared you because you know something, something that can help me find the artifacts and thereby the box. Tell me." he replied.
"If I knew something, I would have gotten to them already, dumbass."
"Then you are no good to me."
Lucien raised a fist, but she knew it wasn't to strike her. It was to pull her soul from her body. She had seen him do it enough times to know what he was going to do. She knew she shouldn't have taunted him like that and could have kicked herself for it.
"I don't know where the artifacts are, but I can teach you more about the temple. How's that?" she said quickly.
"Go on." he replied with a nod.
Anya had a feeling that she had just been manipulated, the sneaky little devil. Not that it bothered her too awfully much. She started kneading his shoulder, working her way down his back as she talked, telling him about how the gods' powers were dependent on action and reaction. Sacrifice. Lucien remember Isolde saying something like that once. That she had said everything had a price, that everything required a sacrifice.
Anya ruined the moment by telling him she was thinking of another man when he asked what she was thinking about. Lucien stood then, tearing away from her. Anya could have screamed as she rose, brushing dirt from herself.
"Let us return to our previous conversation. Ashlyn had to sacrifice herself to save Maddox. Isolde once said that everything has a price, a sacrifice. What can I sacrifice?" Lucien said, spinning to study what was left of the altar room.
"Lucien, it's getting close to chow time." Strider called out suddenly.
"I just need a little more time." Lucien called back. "Anya? Sacrifice?"
"Are you asking if sacrifices were made here? Yes. So?"
"Blood sacrifices?"
"Yes. When the temple was moved to earth, blood sacrifices were made."
"And what did the patrons who came to this temple sacrifice, exactly? What did they make bleed?"
"They sacrificed their family members. Virgins mostly, those who were innocents. Would cut their throats and bleed them dry."
Lucien spun on the spot when he heard Isolde's voice.
And nearly fell over himself when he saw her.
He had seen some of the more provocative clothes Paris had bought for her, but nothing come close to the outfit she was wearing. Anya smiled proudly when she saw Lucien's expression at seeing the outfit. She walked over to Isolde and draped an arm around her shoulders. Isolde was still refusing to look at Lucien, even when Lucien's eyes locked in on the new tattoo peeking up over her left collar bone and shoulder.
He could talk to her later about what had happened, for now he had a feeling he was close to the answer she had been waiting for him to find.
"This is what's expected here? What's needed?" he asked.
"Not always. Sometimes blood freely offered by the one in need is more of a sacrifice than killing someone else and would have done the trick, but no one wanted to consider that. They would have had to hurt themselves, and most people would rather chop up a loved one and call it a noble act." Anya told him.
Lucien drew a dagger from his boot then and Anya backed away, taking Isolde with her.
"What, you thinking of sacrificing me now? Or Isolde?" she asked.
"You are neither a virgin nor a loved one and I could not kill Isolde even if I wished to." Lucien muttered.
Anya came to a grinding halt, Isolde latching a hand on her arm to hold her in place.
"I'm getting a little tired of you insults, Flowers. I've helped you today. More than you know. I helped you last week. I helped you a month ago." Anya said.
"You are right. I'm sorry. That was uncalled for, and I will not say such a thing again." Lucien said with a sigh of regret.
"Yes, well. What are you-"
Anya cut off shocked when Lucien sliced open both wrist. She rushed to his side, though Isolde, who wasn't shocked in the least, didn't move. Anya guessed the girl really did know what coming. That, or she had seen Lucien do something like this before.
"You're insane, Lucien. Absolutely insane." Anya told him.
"No. He's finally figured out what he has to do." Isolde replied lowly, hands on hips as she watched.
Anya didn't have time to question the other female before Lucien dropped to his knees with a roar. Isolde still didn't move from where she was standing. That didn't stop Anya from worrying even more even though Isolde's later of concern should have reassured her.
"Lucien. What's wrong?" Anya asked before he roared again and clutched his stomach.
"Lucien. Tell me what the hell is wrong!" Anya demanded.
Lucien opened his eyes to look up at her and she found both of his irises were suddenly blue. He stood to shaky legs and pulled from her grip, walking towards the temple's only remaining wall.
"I can see it." he said.
"What do you see?" Anya asked, realizing he was having a vision.
"I might have found something." Lucien called out to his friends, instead of answering her.
All four of his friends appeared quickly, spotting Lucien and Anya and focusing on Anya because of her outfit. They didn't say anything to her though.
"Why are you bleeding? And what the hell is she wearing?" Strider asked, directing a scowl at Anya as he pulled out a dagger.
Anya flipped him off.
"Does it really matter what she's wearing?" Isolde asked, stepping forward. "Put that dagger away. She didn't do anything to him."
Strider didn't have to put his dagger away. He dropped it when he caught sight of Isolde. All of the men froze. Isolde raised an eyebrow at them.
"Forget about what she's wearing, what are you wearing?" Strider asked, looking Isolde over.
"The outfit you'll be buried in if you don't get your eyes off my chest." Isolde replied.
Strider's eyes snapped up and, just for the fun of it, Isolde flipped him off, just as Anya had, a grin on her face.
"Anya is not to be handled in any way. She is mine and Isolde speaks the truth." Lucien told the warriors.
Smiling Anya gave the warriors each a pinkie wave, saying, "You hear that? I'm his, so you can all suck dirt".
"That's not what they want sucked, Anya." Isolde replied lowly, focusing her attention on Lucien.
Lucien gave Isolde a firm look, which she ignored.
"And you had better keep your hands to yourself, Anya, or you will lose them." Lucien told Anya.
"Please. Like your buddies could best me." Anya retorted.
The others ignored her, gathering around Lucien. Anya pushed her way through them, lifting daggers along the way. Isolde followed her, doing the same. Anya smiled like a proud mama, even if she wasn't Isolde's mother. None of the men noticed and let the two through without comment. Lucien pushed everyone out of his way to look at the wall once again.
"Lucien?" Strider asked.
"What do you see?" Paris asked.
"Waiting is fun." Gideon added in.
"Do you recall what the two mortal researchers told us about Zeus and the artifacts?" Lucien asked.
A string of yes rose from the others.
"They were mostly correct. I'm looking at a mural that seems to be alive. The images are shifting, revealing detail after detail. After Zeus imprisoned the Titans, he commanded Hydra to hide and guard their treasured artifacts. Hydra split herself into four fearsome beings which scattered, each beast guarding one relic." Lucien said.
"Oh, man. If Hydra's the guard, you boys are in trouble. She's a whack job, for sure. Two heads on one snakelike body-make that eight heads on four bodies, if Lucien's vision is accurate-and all those heads suffer from constant PMS." Anya said.
"But they'll only have to face two in order to obtain the artifacts. The other two will be gained through other, tougher means." Isolde added in.
"What kind of tougher means?" Strider asked.
"Let me know when you meet something that's a mix of cinnamon buns and red. Then you can answer that question yourself." Isolde told him, patting him on the chest.
Lucien continuing kept Strider from replying to that.
"Each serpent was to hide for eternity, never revealing her location again, even to the gods."
"How does this help us, then?" Strider asked.
"Amateur." Isolde said lowly, speaking Anya's thought.
Strider frowned at her, but her attention was locked on Lucien.
"Do you see any symbols?" Anya asked Lucien.
"Yes."
"Well, what are they? Zeus might not have wanted the other gods to know their location, but he would have made damn sure he could at least be pointed in the right direction if he so desired. In his glory days, when he stole whatever he wanted from whichever god he happened to want it from-it's the one thing I ever admired about him-he would hide them until the heat died down by using vision-symbols as treasure maps. He spelled them to change if the item was somehow moved." Anya said.
"You told us he told Cronus what had happened to them. You told us Cronus looked, but didn't find them." Lucien said.
"Doesn't mean he told Cronus the truth. Gods do lie. A lot." Isolde said.
"She's right. They're enemies, remember? Just tell me about the symbols already!" Anya added.
Lucien refused to answer, making the two females share a look.
"Fine. Don't tell me. I'll just leave the area and give you a chance to tell your boys. I totally will not remain here, invisible and eavesdropping and Isolde totally will not tell me." Anya said, both her and Isolde grinning.
Lucien growled at the both of them.
"Seriously, you know I'll find out eventually, even if she doesn't tell me, so stop wasting time. Besides, I'll save you a lot of steps trying to figure it out on your own. You need my help. Again. Admit it." Anya said.
"Isolde knows the answers and can tell me." Lucien told her.
"No she can't. I'm not talking to you." Isolde replied, her words hitting Lucien hard in the chest.
"Fine. We need your help. The first symbol has two lines edging down with a curved line weaving them together." Lucien said.
"South Africa." Anya said quickly.
"How do you know that?" Paris asked, moving up next to her and pinching her butt.
Anya slapped his hand away and moved to put Isolde between them.
"I'm smarter than you. That's how I know."
Paris stopped her from putting Isolde between them by gripping her wrist. Lucien stepped between them, snarling at the warrior as he ripped them apart.
"Fine. I get the message. No touchie." Paris said, stepping back.
It was then that he noticed his blade missing from his waist.
"Shit! My blade is gone."
The others looked from Lucien to Anya.
"What? You think I took it?" Anya asked.
"Mine is missing, too, but you can keep it. Think of me when you use it." Strider said, giving Anya a grin.
Anya smiled back, but Lucien snarled at him too.
"Actually, I took yours." Isolde told Strider.
"You already took my guns." Strider retorted.
"That was a month ago. Get over it. Besides...I've taken worse things from you before."
Strider gave her a questioning look, but Isolde wasn't sharing with him. He could ponder about that for the next couple of days if he wanted to. Isolde shivered then.
"Paris, please do something about your demon. I feel like I have something crawling all over my skin." Isolde said.
"Sorry." Paris told her.
Anya waved it all away.
"Get back to work, big boy. I know how you hate distractions." Anya told Lucien.
"The second symbol is a single, jagged line." Lucien said.
"That's the Arctic. Ah, those icy climes are bound to bring back memories of our first date. The one where you took a nice, refreshing dip, and I watched from the glacier. Remember? Maybe this is a sign we're meant to be BF's forever and ever. Is this a great moment for a huggsie, do you think?" Anya said.
"The third is a horizontal, curved line with a similar line growing out of it." Lucien said instead of answering.
"That's the States." Anya answered, taking that for a no.
"The last is a straight line that curves at the bottom, almost like the end of a machete."
"Egypt. You know what this means, don't you? More traveling, and more treasure hunting! Where are we going first? Huh, huh, huh?" Anya said.
"How do you know those locations?" Lucien asked.
"Maybe Zeus went around telling everyone about them and what they meant." Anya offered.
"Not going to work." Isolde told her lowly.
"How do you know?" Lucien asked again.
"I told you. I'm smart."
And her mother use to be Zeus' lover and the god had a big mouth. Isolde thought this but didn't share the information out loud. That could remain between her and Anya.
"And how do we know we can trust you?" Paris asked.
"Duh. You totally can't. But you need me, so I guess that plants you right between a rock and a very naughty hard place." Anya answered.
Lucien grabbed her arm, making her look at him.
"You are not going with us, Anya. Remove the thought from your mind now." he told her.
"Try and stop me. I dare you." Anya replied.
"You know I can. Stop you, that is."
Anya wasn't convinced, and from the look on Isolde's face, neither was she.
"Do I? I'm still standing here, alive and well, aren't I?" Anya replied.
Lucien's temper was close to snapping and that was easy to see. Isolde was sure that soon smoke would start curling from his nose, and maybe even his ears, and he was going to start spitting fire. Anya seemed to love it.
"Admit it. You wouldn't have known what the symbols meant without me. Isolde won't tell you. You need me." Anya said.
"You could be lying." Lucien said.
"Waste time researching, then. What do I care? I can find the Hydras while you sit at a computer. I'll gather the artifacts and locate the box, and I'll do it before you and your Testosterone Squad have even booked a flight, and I'll take loyal little Isolde with me. At least she knows how to have fun." Anya said, slinging an arm around Isolde's shoulders.
All four warriors growled at Anya.
"What? Touchy subject?" Anya asked, all innocence.
"Seriously, think about it. Would Isolde back me up if I was lying to you? She's down right possessive of all of you and wouldn't let someone, even me, do that to you. She would of-how'd Lucien say it-gone for my throat." Anya added.
"You have a big mouth." Isolde said simply.
"But I'm not lying, am I, chica?" Anya asked.
"No."
"There you go." Anya said happily, releasing Isolde and clapping her hands.
Lucien ignored this conversation. He already knew how possessive Isolde could be. Sometimes it was downright inconvenient. Others it came in handy. Right now he wasn't sure which was which.
"We're splitting up. Paris, you and Gideon will travel to the States." Lucien said.
"Ah, man. Why am I stuck with Lies?" Paris griped.
"Biggest land mass, most people. It will be better to have two warriors searching there. Strider, you will go to South Africa. Amun, to Egypt. I will head to the Arctic. Isolde, you will go with Paris and Gideon." Lucien said.
"No."
Lucien turned his eyes to Isolde.
"His demon is about to drive me insane and I told you before we left Budapest that I'm sticking to you. You pissed me off, but I'm still sticking to you." Isolde told him.
"Isolde-"
"Fuck you. I said no."
Lucien stared in surprise at Isolde. Though she had refused to do a lot of things, she had never been quite so...unruly. It was a hell of a time for her to start going through a rebellious stage. And he had a good feeling that that was exactly what this was. Lucien heaved a sigh. Arguing with her when she was still obviously mad at him, was useless. And if she went with him, it would give him time to talk to her.
"Fine, you will come with me." he told her.
"You might want to wear a coat." Anya suggested helpfully.
"No shit? I thought I'd go in my bra and panties." Isolde replied.
"Well I did give you a sexy, silver pair that rode your hips just right." Anya commented.
This had all of the warriors but Lucien turning to look at Isolde. Isolde snapped her fingers and pointed up.
"Eyes are up here, boys." she told them.
Amun and Paris were the first to look away, but Gideon and Strider just grinned and continued to stare. Isolde punched Strider on the arm, since he was the closet, snapping him out of his mental un-dressing of her.
"I'll ring Sabin's cell, and tell him what we've found. Who knows? Maybe he'll discover something more at the Roman temple." Strider said.
"Do you know anything about that location, Anya, Isolde?" Lucien asked.
"Nothing I can share yet." Isolde answered.
"Only that it was called the Temple of the Unspoken Ones." Anya added.
"Unspoken Ones? I've heard of them." Gideon piped in.
"Parents used to threaten their unruly children with banishment to that doomed place. Maybe because screams could always be heard echoing from the walls." Anya said.
"With good reason, I assure you." Isolde said tartly, a shiver shaking her frame.
"Who are the Unspoken Ones?" Lucien asked.
"I never saw them. I kept my distance. And as the name proclaims, they were rarely spoke about outside of the occasional parental threat." Anya asked.
"Let's just say they aren't someone you want to be on the bad side of." Isolde added.
Lucien nodded and sighed.
"Call Sabin if you wish, but I plan to flash to Rome and tell him in person. I'll scout the temple while I'm there. My blood acted as a catalyst here. Perhaps it will there, as well." Lucien said.
"I'm going with you." Isolde said.
Lucien looked over at her, his eyes scanning her. It was bad enough that Strider and Gideon had seen Isolde dressed like that. He didn't want her going to Rome like that.
"You will change first." he told her.
"No fucking way. I like this outfit. You aren't my dad." Isolde retorted.
Okay, so he deserved that after what he had done.
"Where should we begin looking when we reach out destinations? Right now, all I know is that I'm supposed to go to the States. As you said, that's a big damn place. With lots of women." Paris said, a slow smile curving his lips.
"You need to get laid." Isolde remarked.
"You offering?" Paris replied.
"And if I was?"
Paris fell silent at the serious look on her face. He knew she wasn't really offering but the idea that she might have unsettled him and his demon both since, to them, Isolde was one woman that couldn't be touched. Strider threw an arm around Isolde's shoulders.
"Frustrated from his demon, huh? I can help and take you up on that offer." Strider said.
Isolde swatted his hand from her shoulder.
"Yeah, no thanks. If I ever, ever, slept with any of you, it would be Torin or Kane." Isolde replied, but didn't bother to explain it any further.
Lucien turned to Anya, ignoring the conversation for the moment. Later he would have a talk to her about what she had just said. The last thing he needed was for Isolde to sleep with Disease or Disaster. She was impressionable enough without the closer contact. Not to mention that sleeping with Torin would spread his disease to others. He would have to talk to her about all of that, but later.
"Where should they look?" he asked her.
All eyes turned to Anya.
"What? I'm just a dumb, annoying minor goddess. Not needed. Not wanted. Not-"
"You can go with me." Lucien said, cutting her off.
"Sorry. What'd you say? I couldn't hear you." Anya said, cupping a hand over her ear.
Isolde fought back a smile. She knew Anya was just trying to push Lucien's buttons. It was a fun thing to do and, had she not been so angry with him, Isolde would be doing it too. But she was angry with him, so she would leave Anya to do the poking.
"You can go with me." Lucien repeated, loudly and darkly.
"Are you going to try to kill me?" Anya asked, crossing her arms.
"You know I must, but I will give you fair warning before I do." he replied.
"Fair enough. I accept."
"Where should we look?" Paris asked.
"I don't have all the answers, you know." Anya replied.
"Anya." Lucien said in a warning tone.
"What? I don't! Just have Ashlyn follow any rumors about giant, ugly monsters. That'll probably be Hydra. Oh, and she likes water. So maybe follow rumors about giant ugly monsters spotted near water." Anya replied.
The men nodded and turned their conversation towards talking about supplies. Anya turned to Lucien then.
"We're going to have fun, you and I." she told him.
Lucien had been in the middle of talking to Strider and stopped talking completely when she said this. He turned to her but she blew him a kiss, linked an arm through Isolde's, told him she was taking "their child" for the night, and vanished with a muttering Isolde in tow.