Chapter 13

Alec took a deep breath before beginning. "I saw you fight the Head and the other Magi. I tried to help you, but I couldn't get out of the portal. It was like…something was pulling me in and kept me there. But it wasn't like that…I could help you but a…." Alec looked questioningly at Amon and asked, "Should I tell her?"

"I guess…She deserves to know everything."

Alec replied with, "But she'll think it's weird."

Amon shrugged, "Up to you."

"What do you want to not tell me?"

"A voice held me back," he said uncertainly. He looked at the floor with a small smile. He was thinking, I can't believe I just said that. "When I was watching you…there was this voice and it was telling me that one day I couldn't save you. The time when you needed—" He was about to say me, but then changed his mind. He cut himself off and then said, "When you needed help the most. When I decided that I was going to ignore the voice, I was about to help you. But it was too late." He averted his eyes from me. "I just had enough time to watch you get hit by the light."

He let a couple of seconds pass. I was afraid that he wasn't going to talk but he took a deep breath and said, "The vortex spit us out here, at the National Library in Athens. I tried waking you up, but you were—"

"Seriously knocked out," Amon chipped in.

"Yeah, and then I went into the library to set you down. I tried finding someone to help you, but I knew it was useless because only Augurs can heal you. Luckily—"

"He met me! The most—"

"I thought I was telling the story?" Alec asked. Amon waved his hand around, letting Alec continue. "When I was looking around in the library, I noticed that something was wrong with his aura," he motioned at Amon.

"I prefer, propitious."

Alec ignored Amon and continued, "That's when I knew he was an Augur. I carried you to him and asked if he could help us. And you," he pointed an accusing finger at Amon. "Said, 'No. I can't help her. I'm pretty sure she's dead,' and then walked away. But I—"

"Didn't quit and kept following me around like a hungry puppy—"

"A lion," Alec cut in.

"Finally, I agreed to help him and I brought you guys here," Amon motioned proudly around his house.

"You guys sound like a married couple," I said out of the blue.

"Were you even listening to the story?" The both asked me simultaneously.

They looked at each other and then Alec said, "We do sound like a married couple."

"Except we're not gay," Amon said. "Well, I know I'm not gay. What about you Alec? Are you—"

"Wait, you're not gay?" asked Alec.

Amon looked at Alec with raised eyebrows. Alec put his hands up. "Hey, you're the one wearing those pants and—"

I started laughing, "Alec, you don't ask people that."

"And you don't insult people about their fashion sense," Amon said.

"And Amon, I'm pretty sure Alec isn't gay. If he is, he's got a lot of explaining to do. You aren't—"

"No Alice, I'm not," Alec replied. Then a second later he added, "Making sure you get a chance with me?" with a smile.

I blushed, not knowing why. "Okay, let's get back to what happened to me. And not what your or your," I pointed at Amon and Alec, "genders are. So, Alec continue please."

Alec looked at me thoughtfully, "its Amon's turn."

"When I brought you guys here, I took a better look at you."

I raised my eyebrows, "Got a better look at me?"

I looked at Amon, then at Alec—who was trying not to laugh—then back at Amon.

"To understand what happened to you," Amon explained. "There are prettier pixies than you."

"Really? They're prettier with those pointed ears and high-flute laughs?"

"Yeah. You know, I had a pixie-girlfriend once, Nellie. She—"

"Let me guess," I said. "She was pretty, but every time she laughed, you had to plug your ears."

"I—"

Alec grinned, "You told me about her a couple of days ago! Amon wouldn't try to make her laugh at all. He would—"

Amon turned the tables against Alec, "Even if I tried to 'get a better look at you,' Alec wouldn't have let me. Wouldn't you Alec?"

Alec waved off the question and said, "We're getting off track."

Amon laughed, "I knew it."

Alec raised his eyebrows, "Knew what?"

"We're not getting anywhere guys," I said. I waved my hand, "Go on Amon."

Amon said, "My pleasure," and went on with, "where were we?"

I thought a minute, "I think you were telling me about 'taking a better look at me.'"

"Ah, yes. Anyways, when I did that, I found out that the spell that the Magus cast on you could last for years. At the minimum, months. Like Sleeping Beauty."

"But I didn't get woken up by a kiss," I reminded him.

"Oh?" He asked, the question pointed at Alec.

"Left her alone," said Alec with his hands up.

Amon smirked, "You sure?"

I pouted, "I think I would know."

"Would you?" Alec asked questioningly.

"Shut up and let Amon continue," I said frustratingly.

"I was really surprised that you woke up just after a week," said Amon. "When I found Alec staring at you—doing nothing—I had to scream at him so he would move and hand you the drink."

Alec asked, "What was in the wine?"

"Mint, cinnamon, spices, herbs, crushed magical stones, Betony, Belladonna, and Calea Zacatechini. There's much more, that's only some of them. Would you like to know all of them?"

I ignored his question and asked him, "Isn't belladonna dangerous?"

"It is when you don't know how to use it properly," Amon smiled crookedly.

I asked, "What's Calea Za-ca-tech-ini?"

"It's supposed to keep you from dreaming unpleasantly," Amon explained.

"What about Betony?"

Amon sighed, "Would you like me to tell you all the ingredients and explain what each one does, or tell you about what happened?"

"Tell us the ingredients," said Alec.

Amon rolled his eyes, "I was talking to Alice."

"Yeah, but I want to know the ingredients," said Alec.

"Edelweiss, Elderberry, Heliotrope, Rooibos, Garden Myrrh, Yew, Stevia, False Unicorn—"

Alec laughed, "False Unicorn? What does that do?"

Amon looked at him darkly, "You don't want to know."

I was suddenly very alarmed, so was Alec. "IS IT POISONOUS?"

Amon frowned, "Why would I put poison in it?"

"Well, you didn't want to help her before," said Alec.

Amon shot Alec a look and continued to rattle off more ingredients. "Geranium, Eclipta, Damiana, Golden Root, Goats Rue…"

Amon kept reciting ingredients. Finally Alec had enough and put his hand up, "Dude, I was interested for the first 5 minutes, but now I'm not."

"I'm about done actually. The last ingredient is Deadnettle."

"Deadnettle? That sounds like poison," I said worriedly.

"Will you stop with the poison questions? One day I might just put it in your tea," said Amon exasperatedly.

"I'd never drink tea. I hate tea," I muttered. "It makes me feel like an old lady."

Amon pouted, "I have a cabinet full of tea in my kitchen."

"Well, don't expect me going through it," I said.

"I like tea," Alec said.

"Ew," I replied.

"Don't insult my love for tea," Amon said pointing a finger at me. He got up and started walking.

"Where are you going? We're not done yet, are we?" I asked.

"No, but close to done. And I'm about to make myself some tea."

"I want some," said Alec.

"That's why I didn't ask you, I didn't feel like making another cup."

"But you are making me some right?" asked Alec hopefully.

Amon nodded and disappeared into the kitchen. Alec and I sat in silence. I felt like I needed to break the silence so I said, "How could you like tea?"

"It makes me feel like the Queen," replied Alec with a lazy smile.

I laughed, "You wish."

"Who wishes what?" asked Amon, coming back into the living room. He handed Alec the tea in a ceramic white cup.

"Alec wishes that he was having tea with the Queen," I said.

He grinned at me, and then inhaled the scent of the tea he had gotten. "This smells good. Smell it," Alec nudged the cup at me.

"No," I replied.

"Come on, just a little sniff."

I gave in and sniffed the tea. It did smell good. Seeing the look on my face Alec laughed, "You like it don't you?"

I smiled, "You win."

Alec offered his cup, "You want some?"

"I don't know…later I guess. Save me some?"

Alec nodded and took a sip. "Where do you get this?"

"Nowhere, secret family recipe."

"Tell me how to make it," said Alec.

I said, "It's a secret, Alec."

Amon nodded and sipped his tea before saying, "Where were we?"

"You just finished telling us the ingredients," Alec suggested.

Amon nodded, "Yeah, before that though?"

"Um," I thought for a second. "You were telling me how you had to scream at Alec so he would move."

"Oh!" Amon laughed, "Yeah. Okay, so after that…well you know the rest. You were already awake."

I nodded, "Do you know why I woke up so quickly?"

Amon looked at me for a moment. He seemed to be debating to himself whether he would tell me what he was found out. It just dawned on me that I couldn't hear his thoughts. Before I could ask why, he said, "You have different blood in your system. You seem to be related to one of the gods."

"I what?"

Amon nodded, looking at me then Alec, who had a dumbstruck expression like me. "I've seen the blood of the gods, serum. Silver, very shiny…"

"Are you sure?"

"I'm…pretty sure. I mean, I saw some serum in your blood…So you must be related."

"How did you find out?" Alec asked.

"When I was looking at Alice, you saw that I did a spell on her to see what medicines I need right?" he asked Alec. Alec gave a nod. "When I did that, I saw that your mind was asleep as well as the serum was in your system."

Alec demanded, "Why did you tell me?"

"I thought that it would've been better to tell you together."

"Do you know which god I'm related to?" Amon shook his head. "And you're the only one who knows right?"

Replied Amon, "Yes…besides you two." I nodded slowly, and exhaled. "I'm sorry, I know it was a lot to take in," said Amon. "Is it bothering you?"

"Yes…Are you positively sure that I'm related?"

"You're making me have doubts…"

"Can we do the spell again?" asked Alec.

Amon looked at us, "It is worrying you a lot isn't it?" I glared at him. Amon asked, "Why don't you want to be related to a god?"

"Because I don't want people trying to kill me," I snapped. Alec looked at me. "Oh. Sorry," I apologized.

He moved his hand to and fro, indicating that it wasn't a big deal. After a moment, he said, "You know I just realized something."

"And that is…?" Amon and I asked.

"That people are trying to kill me—" and you're not safe with me. We stared at of finishing his sentence, he said, "I just thought about it."

I slowly nodded, "So Amon…can you do the spell again?"

Amon stood up and said, "Yeah. Let me go get the book."

Alec and I looked at each other. There was a silence between us. Alec was the first to break it. "What will you do if you're related to a god?"

"I…don't know," I replied. Alec stared at me and then at the fire that Amon had set a while ago. The fire made his green-eyes a shade darker. He looked at the fire like it would tell him the future. Or maybe that it would tell him the answers to all the world's problems.

"Why did you want to do the spell again?"

"What?" He was caught off balance by my question.

I repeated the question again, "Why did you want to do the spell again?"

"I wanted to find out if you are related. Don't you?"

"Yes...but no. I—"

Amon came into the room, "Ready?" He had a devilish grin, a grin that marked that something was off about him. I ignored my suspicions and replied to his question.

"I guess so," I replied. "What do I need to do?"

"Just sit there and try not to squirm," Amon replied. Amon placed the book on the big rectangular black ottoman—that was covered with a white faux-fur blanket—that served as a coffee table. He moved to stand in front of the book, in front of Alec and I.

I asked worriedly, "Is it painful?"

"No, but you'll feel a little…warm. Ready?" he asked again. I nodded. Amon's book flipped itself open to a page filled with words I couldn't make out. It was written in what it looked like hieratic mixed with the language of the gods, Ion. But much more powerful. There were also drawings that showed of what it looked like a person glowing red.

Amon started chanting the words out loud. Starting softly then getting louder and louder by every word. The words scratched my ears, like nails on a chalkboard. I knew somehow that this was related to the incubus language.

While Amon had been chanting, a red glow illuminated around me. I swiveled to look behind me, but something kept me from moving. I tried twisting around, but it only gave me pain. I grimaced; Amon kept chanting, his eyes closed. The red light grew brighter and brighter. The light had form a crimson bubble around me.

As that was happening, heat had begun spreading in my body. It had started warm, but now it was amplifying into a heat so intense I couldn't keep from crying out. Amon kept his eyes closed a peaceful expression on his face. It was as though my screams were the most peaceful sound he had ever heard. I yelled Alec's name, he replied, but I couldn't hear him.

My lungs were now burning, like someone had made me swallow down fire. I took raspy shallow breaths. I looked at Alec; he was trying to break into the bubble. I knew it was hopeless. I know now what Amon had been chanting. A spell made for arousing Lucifer, the king of Hell.

I remembered that I could talk to people telepathically. Alec! Stop. Stop. Alec!

Alec looked up at me, his eyes filled with anger. What? I'm the one who's trying to save you!

Shut up for a second and listen. Amon, he's possessed. He's summoning Lucifer—

The cat from Cinderella? Alec thought back.

Don't be a dunce. Lucifer is one of the—you know what? Forget about that. Just stop Amon. I screamed at the top of my lungs, the pain was almost unbearable. Go, I said silently to Alec.

Alec moved at the speed of light. One second he was standing next to me. The next, he was in the wall.

I did a double take. Alec, why are you in the wall?

He looked at me; He's in a protective triangle.

Oh, I thought. You can't get in? Alec looked at me like the answer was taped on my forehead. I sighed, feeling like I was the dunce. Can you—

Already a step ahead of you, said Alec. He took his wand out and pointed it at Amon. Gold twine came out from the tip of the silver wand and covered his mouth.

Unconsciousness was slowly wrapping around me like a warm welcoming blanket. Alec, I warned him. Even my voice sounded breathless telepathically.

I know, I know. I'm trying to hurry. He went to the edge of the triangle and put his wand on it. He started moving his lips, muttering a spell.

The second I closed my eyes, there was a pop, and an instant change in the air. I reopened my eyes; Alec was kneeling over an unconscious-Amon on the floor. I momentarily forgot that the red bubble popped and there was a vast amount of free oxygen. The moment I realized that, I took in big gulps of air. Letting my lungs prosper.

"Alec!" I said. He looked up at me. A large smile broke out on his face. He stood up and held his arms open.

I took in his welcome and muttered, "Thank you. Thank you," over and over again. I awkwardly stepped out his arms and looked at up at him. He was at least a head taller than me.

"You okay?" he asked all serious now. He no longer had a smile on his face. His green eyes were darker and his eyebrows were scrunched together, showing me that he was very worried.

I nodded, "It was just suffocating in there. And the heat was like being baked in an oven. Wait. No. It was hotter than that I think."

He looked at me, "I'm not joking."

"Just trying to lighten the mood," I replied. I touched his eyebrows and pushed them apart, not making them scrunched and pushed together.

He shook his head. "Don't," He looked at me pleadingly.

I shied away from him and asked, "Is he dead?"

"No, I only knocked him out. He'll be up and moving in minutes."

"Shouldn't we tie him to a chair or something? He might try and hurt us again."

"I cast another spell on him so he wouldn't be able to move. Only talk," he said.

"But what if—"

"He chants spells to hurt us?" Alec said, finishing my sentence. I nodded in reply. "He can't do that either. He can only answer the questions we ask," he explained. I noticed that he was answering me mechanically. He didn't seem to be paying attention to me.

He was looking out at the window placed to our left. Past that, he was looking down into the street filled with houses and shops. We seem to be at a townhome of some sort in Athens. The houses were built in white marble looking material. With decorations of columns and intricate carvings of their Greek gods.

I tried to figure out what he was looking at, without reading his mind. The idea seemed askew. The look on his face suggested that he was thinking about something personal. I had learned not to read his thoughts by putting another block in his mind. A block only meant for me, so I couldn't read or hear his thoughts.

I walked away from him and to the triangle that Amon had stood in minutes ago. Inside the protective triangle was the sigil of Lucifer. Symbol of Satan.

The symbol had an upside-down triangle. The triangle had two lines sticking out and ending with a swirl at the bottom point of the triangle. There was a V almost connecting with the swirls. In the middle of all of that, attached to the other two points of the triangle was a large X.

I gave a little tremble at the sight of the symbol. Not because I was I afraid—which I wasn't—but because the symbol just looked plain wrong.

Someone put a hand at the lower of my back. Making the little quakes in my body stop. I looked at Alec; he was looking at the triangle with distaste. The expression made him look older. Regal and rigid somehow. Yet, also mixed with a little softness that decided he was also vulnerable.

I mindlessly moved my hand to touch his face, wanting to smooth his expression out. I soon realized what I was doing to do; making me put my hand quickly back into place.

Alec saw the small movement I made, his mouth quirking up at the corners. I hit his chest lightly and said, "You looked so serious." He gave me a laugh in reply. A little strained, but enough to let me know that he wasn't somewhere far away at this point in time.

Moments ago, it seemed at there was a wall of ice between us. Now, I feel like it had cracked and shattered in a million pieces. The pieces getting carried away by the wind.

Before I could say anything else, Alec was kneeling over Amon. He had stirred next to us, little gurgling sounds coming out of his mouth.

"Stop," Alec said. "You can't move or speak. You can only answer the questions we ask you."

Amon looked at us expectantly, waiting for us to launch a volley of questions to him.

He didn't have that dark glint in his eye—like what I noticed before—anymore. In his eye, tiredness and terror replaced the dark glint. He also looked pale and clammy. Sweat was trickling down his face, down to his neck. At this sight, I knew he was back to normal.

...

So what do you think Amon would have to say to them?
Oh well, you'll have to wait until the next chapter!

The Symbol of Satan (Lucifer) is real.
I don't know if I did a good job describing it.
But if you want to know how it really looks, please look it up yourself.

I think this is the longest chapter we've had so far!

~Kat

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