Page 25 of Deception
I glance at Zina, and she looks around nervously, rubbing the back of her neck in anticipation. I quirk my brow in question, and she gives me a subtle nod of agreement. Although I wanted to turn the tables on her, I wouldn’t do it without her consent. I turn back to Helene, seeing her eye the two of us, searching for something.
“This is your daughter, Zina.” My expression falls, all amusement lost as I speak those words, my motive changing from beating Helene at her own game to getting Zina the closure she desperately needs. She deserves to be introduced to her godly parent, to have Helene acknowledge her, although I’m sure nothing much will come of it. She doesn’t seem like the type of god who wants much to do with anyone unless it helps to further her own motives.
Her eyes widen almost imperceptibly, a massive slip for the calculating god. Every gesture, every expression serving some purpose. She freezes, and her mouth pops open, her eyes observing Domenic keenly as he steps up behind me and Zina, placing a hand on each of our shoulders.
“Interesting.” She draws out the word once she remembers herself, her eyes narrowing into a shrewd glare. “That will be all.”
“That’s how you treat your daughter?” Domenic asks incredulously, his voice taking on a steely note. Despite his bravado, his hand shakes lightly on my shoulder, betraying his nerves as he stares down the god of the sea.
“You look familiar,” Helene says abruptly, not even bothering to acknowledge Domenic’s scathing look. I can almost see the gears whirring in her mind as she scans his face. “Who have you descended from?” The question sounds more like a demand as her eyes narrow on him.
I glance up at Domenic over my shoulder, his face paling as her question knocks him off-kilter. “The god of animals.” The words stumble past his lips, and his brows knit in confusion at the change in subject.
“Ah, I thought so. See, your mother and I share a deep connection, we’re blood bonded sisters,” Helene muses, drawing my attention back to her, and she taps a long, manicured fingernail to her lip. Tension hangs in the air, each of us holding our breath, unsure how to react to this new information, this new connection our group has to this god. “I can promise you that your mother has no plans of ever gracing you with her presence.”
I don’t miss the way her eyes focus on Domenic’s fingers tightening on my shoulder. The sharp pressure is a reaction to Helene’s words that sliced through him like a knife. A glimmer of intrigue sparks in Helene’s cunning eyes, moving between the two of us.
“Now, as I said before, that will be all.” Helene smiles cruelly.
I blink in surprise at the dismissal, not expecting her to give in so easily, especially not when she had just gained the upper hand. But before I can decide on whether I want to comply, Domenic turns and strides out of the office without a backward glance.
I grit my teeth, and my hands clench into fists at my sides. That was seriously all she had to say to her daughter, to the son of her blood bonded sister? Memories of last semester float through my mind, at how excited Domenic was to meet his godly parent and to learn about his powers. Now he had to suffer the indignity of his mother not even wanting to meet him, then her sister barely saying a few words to him, then dismissing him. My lips curl into a sneer, a few choice words poised on the tip of my tongue for the callous god of the sea.
But before I can get any of them out, Kyros tugs at my arm and I note the warning in his gaze. I glance towards the hall. Kali, Zina and Lucas are already following Domenic out, so I narrow my gaze on Helene one last time, but she doesn’t even bother feigning attention. Instead, she gazes off to the side, lost in her own thoughts.
Reluctantly, I let Kyros lead me out, and we meet Domenic and the others at the end of the hall.
“Let’s go to the library,” Kyros offers, and Kali nods in response as we make our way there in silence, only passing a few students on the way. They all give us a wide berth, presumably since I’m in their midst. I glance over to Domenic, his expression is blank, as though he’s still processing everything that just happened.
Kyros leads the way once we get to the library, directing us into his office to talk. I glance around the library, eyeing the open space suspiciously. An uneasy feeling settles around me, as though figures shrouded in darkness lurk behind the stacks, lying in wait to spy on us.
I stand by Kyros and lean back against his small work table, allowing the others to settle into the plush leather sofa.
“I’m kind of relieved,” Zina remarks, and she leans her head back, gazing up at the ceiling. I glance around the room, catching the wary gazes my companions shoot in her direction. It seems I’m not the only one who thought she would be more upset by Helene’s brush off. “I mean, it’s one thing to know your mother is a god, but to actually meet her, to put a face to the name. At least now I know I wasn’t missing anything all these years.”
She glances at Domenic and winces, patting him on the shoulder sympathetically. Although her own mother dismissed her, judging by Helene’s words, he never would.
“It’s fine,” he says in an attempt to assuage us, but his gaze is still distant. Finally, he scrubs a hand over his face and focuses on me.
“I’m just glad I know. Like you said, the idealistic vision I had is gone now,” he admits and chuckles sardonically.
“I’m sorry, Domenic.” I play with the hem of my skirt in an attempt to exert my nervous energy.
“Don’t be sorry.” He shakes his head, giving me a small smile. “I’m honestly glad to know the truth now. It’s better than sitting around wondering why she hadn’t come to visit yet.”
“After today, I’m not sure I want to meet my father,” Lucas admits, darting his gaze around the room as though he may pop out at any moment.
“I’m more concerned about these trials, Liv,” Kali admits, her hands nervously fidgeting in her lap.
“Ya, it sounds like they’re going to make the trials more difficult for you,” Zina says, her lips pulling down into a deep frown.
“Liv, I have a bad feeling about the council. Why all of a sudden are they so invested in the school when last year they chose not to intervene even with the attacks?” Kali grimaces, rubbing at her arm nervously. I purse my lips, I completely agree with her. I don’t trust any of the council members, but what choice do I really have at this point?
“I agree, but I’m tired of living this way,” I announce, standing from my position against the desk. “I’m going to train, I’m going to do everything in my power to pass these tasks, but I can’t keep up with this constant fear, this constant apprehension of when the other shoe will drop.”
Kyros grimaces at my words, but I continue, remaining undeterred by their protests. “Of course, I’m still going to worry about everything going on,” I relent. “But I don’t want it to overshadow every other aspect of my life.”
He nods in understanding at that. I have enough going on with the guys, the council, and the trials. I need a little light and laughter in my life.