Once more back in Kronos's suite, I fiddled with my bracelets anxiously as he stood facing his desk, looking over the battle arrangements I had suggested as well as the troop formations. However, he didn't seem to be really paying attention to them. "What did you want to do with your life, Lily Jackson?" Kronos suddenly asked me, turning around so that I was trapped by those golden pools. "If you were not currently here, and there was no war, where do you imagine yourself to be?" I had not expected that kind of question, and for a moment I wondered if it was a trick. Kronos smiled. His smile still sickened me. He walked over to the couch and sat down before more or less ordering me to do the same. Now I was definitely going to be sick. Kronos lounged slightly, leaning back against the armrest with one leg resting on his knee at the ankle, looking calm and relaxed as I slowly sank into the plush cushions remaining as stiff as a board and trying to press myself as far away from him as possible. "I believe I asked you a question, Lily." Now he wasn't even using my surname.
"I don't know." I told him honestly. "I…hadn't really thought about it. Since I was blind before I didn't really have a great deal of choice, or at least I didn't think so. However now…I do rather like history, it's fairly interesting and having a unique perspective could lead to a different approach to scholarly understanding today. Maybe I'd even go into archaeology. Look for lost cities. Sunken treasure ships. That kind of thing." Clearly Kronos knew he was making me uncomfortable because he was now smirking at me rather sadistically.
"Did you not dislike the sea?"
"I don't mind it, just not being in it. I figured I could just ask the nereids where things were underwater and kind of cheat. They're pretty chill with me. Anyway, I could always then just take any treasure I find and keep it for myself and make a fortune. My mom could then write books all day like she wants, I'd buy her a house, she'd have a pension…a good life." At the mention of treasure Kronos arched an eyebrow at me, as if impressed that I would be so selfish and even queried if I would not hand over items of historic importance to the mortal museums where they could be studied and displayed. I made a face. "Sure…if they paid me for it." Now he laughed, cold and chilling, but it didn't make me shiver as bad now. I was growing accustomed to the sensation of the cold around Kronos, though he rarely laughed and if he did, it was usually out of mockery. This however sounded like genuine amusement.
"It is good to be selfish sometimes, don't you think?" He posed the question in the air but it felt rhetorical so I didn't answer. "I understand why Luke was so fond of you, Lily Jackson. If you continue in this manner and prove yourself in the coming battle…then perhaps there is another seat you could occupy other than that of a commander." Kronos hinted at me though any offer of gifts or promises he made needed to be heeded with warning. I've known Kronos to break his promises, but even as he spoke I found myself growing curious. Deep down in my supressed personalities I felt my hungriness for power and recognition spike, a light springing to my eye that Kronos recognised all too well as greed. It seemed to please him to see it there. "How would you like to be a queen over the new world that I shall build? I can give you any domain that you wish, even the sea that once belonged to your father."
"What about Oceanus? Won't he want the sea back for himself?" I questioned rather impertinently but Kronos only waved this off like it was a mere trifle, hardly a bother for him to deal with Oceanus. I kind of felt bad for the guy, seems like he might not get his old stomping grounds back after all if Kronos suddenly decides to give it to someone else.
"Or you could perhaps choose to rule over the mortal world. I know that you are comfortable amongst them for you know their ways. Perhaps they will respond better to a supreme being that looks like them and will more readily accept their subjugation." In my head an image appeared of me standing at least two feet taller than I naturally was, encased in shimmering fabrics of silver and white and wearing a golden circlet studded with diamonds and pearls. Beautiful and devastating, and so powerful. I knew Kronos was putting the image in my mind to tempt me, and it was so hard to turn away from it because I wanted to be that person, because she looked perfect. Someone you couldn't help but love and fear simultaneously. "I could give you that, if you wanted. Or even if your desire for power and rank beyond ruling mere mortals, there may be another throne open for you." Then the image changed, and the woman I'd seen before now seemed to pale into insignificance for what I saw next. Now I saw a towering figure seemingly forever preserved in marble, smooth and glowing and glorious, drapes of gold shimmering like fine dust and droplets of sunlight wrapped around her body as she glowed with radiance, tumbling locks falling almost to the floor like an inky river of night that glinted from the frozen droplets of water that adorned her upon each wave as eyes of sea green burned with an eternal expression of power and magnificence unparalleled by any that crawled at her feet as she stood crowned with stars and a material so pure and brilliant that it made gold look like worthless tin. "You could be that, if that is what you desire."
"But she…that's a goddess. Do you mean you'll put me into a goddess's body?" Knowing that it was somehow possible, at first I was alarmed but then my small pang of greed made me thought, if I could be beautiful like her for all time and eternity, wouldn't that be worth anything? I quickly chased the thought out of my head.
"Not at all. I would grant you immortality, since I have that power. I can stop you from aging and you would live forever by my side. As my consort and queen." It took a few moments for that to sink in, and when it did I practically shrieked.
"WHAT?!" I don't know what shocked me more, the offer to become an immortal goddess like figure or the fact that Kronos – who was technically my grandfather – had hinted at an offer of marriage. I seriously don't get immortal unions, they just mess with the head. At least my dad hadn't married his own sister like Zeus and this dude sitting in front of me who looked rather smug and amused with himself. "You can't be serious!"
"Oh but I am."
"I…I…we're related!"
"Little girl, godly ties do not exactly count, and you reject yours in any case. It would be no different from you marrying a stranger of no blood relation as most mortals do." Kronos told me apathetically, like we were discussing the weather. My mind was reeling, uncertain whether or not I was hearing this right but as I glanced at Kronos, I could tell instinctively that he wasn't messing around. "Do you have your answer?"
"No!" Quickly I checked myself, clearing my throat and trying to calm down. "Forgive me, my lord. I was just startled. What I mean to say is…I do not think getting married to someone is something I'm interested in. I've barely had a chance to live my own life." I thought Kronos would grow angry and enraged, would use his terrible fury upon me and torture me with nightmares but he continued to sit there calmly in contemplation. After a few brief moments, I dared to ask a question that was weighing on my mind. "Why me? Aren't you already married?" His eyes flashed.
"Rhea betrayed me, her love for her children was too great and because of it, she used them to dethrone me. No, I shall not resume our union once I am returned to my rightful place. This is a new age and we Titans rise again, so it is only right that the old ways are abandoned and we take up new ones, including if necessary, new spouses. Thus far, you are the only female that has impressed me to any extent. Perhaps a little wayward and rebellious at time, but I do not find that entirely disenchanting, so long as you know your place." A cold stare frowned upon me as if telling me exactly where my place was, at Kronos's feet. I had to bite my own tongue to keep from answering back. "I cannot trust the gods, and few of the female Titans remain who do not already have their husbands and lovers. If I am to foster a new age, then I must have a queen for there to be complete order. I am confident that should you bear my children, you would not be so foolish as Rhea, who doted too much upon her impulsion to nurture. Any child of mine you bear would be powerful, to be certain, but I will be more careful this time. I will make sure that they would not dare challenge me." Even as he spoke I felt myself turn pale white until I was near enough a ghost, because the way he was talking was enough to make my blood freeze and my heart stop. Next thing you'd know, I'd be in the Underworld. Bear his children? No one wants to hear that kind of thing! "What is wrong? I thought you would find this offer agreeable."
"It's just…children…marriage…I'm not…I don't…" I could barely formulate words, let alone think of a clever excuse to refuse him without him striking me down on the spot. How embarrassing would that be, to stand before the judges and when they ask how I died, having to tell them that a Titan had destroyed me because I'd refused to be his wife and carry his babies. It's disgusting. My stomach was twisting so violently I thought I was going to throw up on the Lord of Time himself. Somehow, I managed to swallow it back. When I'd pulled out of my trance, I found Kronos's face right in front of mine, gold eyes burning against me and I launched myself backwards so violently I almost fell over the back of the armrest.
"Do you not want this form? It was my understanding that you found Luke Castellan attractive. I believed it would please you to have his body to yourself the way you secretly wanted." Kronos said to me, again moving closer so that now I had nowhere to go, leaning back against the armrest with my hair tumbling to touch the floor with his hands pressing into the couch to cage me in as I just stared up at him with eyes so wide I swear they were just about ready to pop out of my skull. "Do you deny this? That you desired Luke for yourself? It is why you bickered so insistently with the empousa, because she attempted to seduce him even before you." His hand rose and touched my cheek, making me flinch because it was so cold his fingers felt like they were made from ice. "You can have everything you want, Lily Jackson. You can have Luke, if it is your wish. Even after I assume my true form, I can appear however I want. You and Luke's body could be together forever, if you would but swear yourself to me, cleave your soul and body to mine." Somehow his words which usually felt and sounded garish and unappealing were smooth and silky like a chant, spinning my mind away from my control as I felt my body go lax underneath him. I could have Luke? Forever? He'd be mine…I'd have him back…we'd be together forever…King and Queen of the World…
A sudden wave of alarm and warning rushed through me like a tidal wave with so much force that my body reacted upon instinct to respond to the danger I faced. My hand shot out and grasped hold of Kronos's throat and energy burst through me that gave me enough strength to push him back so that he became pinned back against the couch, my enraged form towering over him as I grasped his neck in an iron grasp without squeezing so that he still had his air supply. If I choked him to death, then perhaps Kronos would disappear and Luke's spirit would be free. The thought hit me like a truck on a highway, but then it vanished almost as instantly as I calmed down and the sudden spike in power faded away, leaving me straddling the Titan King with my fingers wrapped around his throat. Now would be an appropriate time to curse. I stayed calm, however, because he was still in too great a shock to react, so I took a gamble, probably my biggest one yet, and that was saying something. "Give me Luke." I demanded of him, staring down with a fearlessness that I didn't know I possessed. It was like there was no room for fear as my entire body was filled with that one feeling, and it was not fading away. "Let me talk to Luke. It's Luke I want, and you are not him no matter how long you wear his face." Beneath me, Kronos stared a few moments longer before smirking.
"I admire your spirit, and I was right. You do possess inordinate measures of power you refuse to acknowledge. Just imagine what you could do if you would only let yourself be as strong and unbeatable as a raging ocean." Kronos crooned at me as I remained utterly still. "I do not dislike spirited women such as you. Very well. I need to rest in any case, I am not entirely restored so some time away will do me good. Enjoy this time I grant you, Lily Jackson, and beware. My tolerance does not stretch very far." Then with a shudder I felt the presence of Kronos dim until it was little more than like holding a snowflake in your hand, and instead, the presence of Luke began to resurface.
He shuddered and gasped until his eyes flew open, and there they were. Bright and blue and utterly wonderful. "Luke!" I lost it then. I flung myself upon him and gave a few sobs of pure joy and frustration as Luke stuttered, uncertain of what was going on until his mind seemed to catch up with him, and then he was holding me. He gathered me up and crushed me to his chest until I couldn't breathe but I didn't tell him to let me go or loosen up. I could feel him as he had been, even before he had been corrupted by Kronos, and it was the most intoxicating feeling I had ever felt.
"Lily what's happening? Why am I here? What has Kronos done to you?" Luke demanded, suddenly pushing me back in order to check me for injuries of any kind but found nothing, only my stupid grin and trembling hands as I ghosted them over his face.
"He's gone to sleep, which must mean that your soul has taken the lead. How do you feel? Are you in any pain? Can you hear and see me when you're under?" I had so much I wanted to ask him, however I could barely get my words free for the tangled garble they came out in. Luke laughed and I cried all over again, making him laugh more. We were a mess because Luke was crying too, but his were quiet and tasteful whilst I just bawled like a baby as he held me in his arms.
"I'm not totally aware of what's going on, but sometimes I find myself waking up and I catch glimpses of what's going on. Mostly it's when you're around, you seem to naturally pull me back to my senses." I blinked at him and I had to wonder if when Luke's soul and consciousness came back, it somehow melded slightly with Kronos's so that when I was near, Kronos began to be a little more considerate of his tone, though it was a minute distinction that only I could pick up upon. "Lily I told you to get away from this. Why are you still here?"
"Because here is where I need to be you bonehead. You're here!" I punched him at that, though I think it hurt me more than him because he didn't even flinch whereas my hand burned in protest. "But things are taking some really creepy turns Luke, Kronos just asked me to marry him and be his queen. How do I tell him no without losing my head?" But Luke completely lost it, getting so angry that I actually jumped away from him in order to be out of range of his bellow. Hopefully anyone who heard would just think it was Kronos throwing another temper tantrum, though if they heard his words they would be totally confused.
"HE WHAT?! WHAT DO YOU MEAN HE ASKED YOU TO MARRY HIM? DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT IT NERIDA LILY JACKSON!" Imbuing my name unintentionally with power I naturally flinched, rising to my feet in order to scowl at Luke. I didn't want to fight, not when we didn't know how little time we had until Kronos would wake up, but I was offended that Luke thought I would ever agree to marry Kronos for any reason, no matter how tempting his promises of power, wealth, glory, respect and all that. It's moments like those that I had to remind myself of what mom always told Percy and I growing up. If we wanted something, then we had to find a way to earn it for ourselves. Someone giving you your deepest desire makes it worth a whole lot less compared to achieving it yourself.
"I'm not stupid Luke, you don't think I'd actually marry him do you? I'm eighteen for gods' sake! I should be worrying about college and a career, not armies of gods verses Titans where one of them wants to make me his trophy wife! Get a grip! I don't want to fight with you right now!" This seemed to calm him though he required a couple minutes of very deep breathing until his voice was level again, though even then it was still slightly stiff and strained. He apologised for shouting, he just hadn't expected that of all things. "You and me both. Now. How do I reject him without dying?" Unfortunately Luke could offer me no airproof advice other than delaying my answer, though we both agreed that making Kronos wait would only make him mort irritable. It was a problem I'd have to solve on my own, it seems. Now that Luke had calmed, he'd pulled me onto his lap in order to sit with me, pulling his fingers through my hair as I curled into him and breathed lightly, enjoying his warmth and presence like it was sugar to pegasi.
"You look tired. You're not sleeping, are you?"
"You didn't." I pointed out and Luke tilted his head in acknowledgement. Next thing I knew I was being lifted up and carried to the state bed, though the idea of sleeping on that thing made me feel sick, and not for the first time that night. "Luke no, not there. I can't wake up in the morning and find him here with me."
"Then where are you sleeping?" Telling him it was our old suite, Luke turned around and proceeded to carry me out of the admiralty suite and down to the lower floor. Thankfully it was late and no one else was up, because if anyone seen Luke who was meant to be hosting Kronos carrying me in his arms like a doll, they would have had some serious questions that I would have been too embarrassed to answer. Thankfully the way was clear, and after returning to our old room, I suddenly felt like the way it was before, and I smiled to Luke as he playfully dropped me onto the bed then suddenly rolled over me, making me laugh as he settled down next to me and once again put our arms around each other. "What if we fall asleep and he wakes up?"
"Don't worry. I'll leave before that."
"But not before I fall asleep?" Promising me, Luke brushed at my hair and shifted me closer, practically sprawling me across his chest and as my eyes grew heavier by the second, I made no motion to roll away.