He would never be able to have a normal relationship with anyone.
Father, sister, even childhood friend.
The moment someone went through puberty, it was over for him. Sick with the thought, he slid down the door and hated whatever curse the gods had given him.
June 22, 9527 BC
Tomorrow Acheron would reach his majority. One and twenty. He should be thrilled and yet the oracle's words haunted him. More than that was the look on Maia's face as she'd attempted to grab him.
"Something has to change," he said with a heavy sigh. His brother was still plotting his father's murder and here he sat doing nothing except trying to stay out of everyone's way, hoping they wouldn't even see him.
"Acheron?"
He leaned his head back to find Ryssa joining him on the balcony. She narrowed her eyes at him. "You're taking that stuff again, aren't you?"
"Only for today and tomorrow," he admitted quietly.
"Why?"
Because Artemis had cut out his heart and he didn't have the stamina to make it through the next two days without it.
It was their old fight. He'd asked the goddess to acknowledge him or at the very least come to him on the anniversary of his birth and she'd laughed in his face. More than that he was tired of watching all the special celebrations that were planned for the anniversary of Styxx's birthday. Celebrations planned by a man whose life would soon be ended by the very son he coveted so zealously. Ironic, yes. But it didn't stop it from hurting.
"Acheron." Ryssa gripped his chin and forced him to look at her. "Can you hear me?"
"Not really."
He saw the frustration in her eyes. "What am I going to do with you?"
"Beat me like everyone else."
She glared at him. "You're not funny."
He wasn't trying to be. It was a simple fact of his life that he moved everyone around him to extreme acts of violence.
She shook her head before she stepped back. "You know I won't let Apollodorus near you when you're like this."
That was the one drawback. "I know. It wouldn't be very motherly of you. Not that I personally would know how mothers behave with their young. I think I saw it once in a play, only then the mother fed her baby to a lion. Too bad my own mother wasn't so merciful, huh?"
She pulled his head against her shoulder and kissed him just behind the ear, then gently ruffled his hair. "Your hair is lighter than before. I think I like it this length. Did you get it cut?"
He shook his head. "Whoever cuts my hair wants to sleep with me afterward. I thought I'd let it grow until it either touches my toes or Father gets angry enough to shear it again. Maybe I ought to go make another offering to the gods. I hear Athena has a feast day coming up."
She let out an agitated breath. "You are in a mood today."
It was the drugs combined with his frustration. He'd always hated being like this in Atlantis. His sarcastic brashness had never been rewarded well. And it'd always killed him that they fed him the drugs, then punished him for the effects the drugs had on his mind and body.
Artemis had a strange loving hatred for this mood. At times she liked it and at others she'd punish him for it, too. Problem was, he could never tell how she'd receive it until it was too late.
Ryssa withdrew from him reluctantly. His pain was tangible and there was nothing she could do to alleviate it. She wanted to cry from the weight of her helplessness where he was concerned.
The worst part, something had happened between him and Maia, but he refused to tell her what. Her guess was that Maia had succumbed to the same pull everyone else felt. It must be something to do with puberty. Before sexual maturity, children couldn't discern it. But afterward . . .
Her poor Acheron.
If only there was someone else who could control themselves around him.
I'm the only one.
She didn't consider herself special by any means. But it didn't change the fact that Acheron was alone. He'd always be alone. Their father would never allow him to marry and after the near assassination of Styxx, guards had once again been posted outside Acheron's doors. What little freedom he'd known was now gone.
How she wished she could make it better for him.
After nightfall, Acheron watched the activity below. The moment that caught his attention most was the large procession that heralded the Princess of Thebes. Styxx's new bride. They were to marry two weeks from tomorrow.
This time he planned to keep far away from his brother's woman. As if they understood the danger, his balls ached suddenly at the thought of being cut on again.
Flinching, Acheron damned his brother for the castration. Styxx had known the truth about what his betrothed had done, but the bastard hadn't cared.
So what? What was his humiliation anyway? The only thing that mattered was precious Styxx and his dignity.
Sighing, he thought back to the oracle. Akri di diyum.
What could that possibly mean?
The Lord and Master would rule. He already ruled the bedroom, what else was left?
It's just a drugged oracle, Acheron, forget it. They were always speaking in nonsensical riddles. And no wonder. The bitch had been higher then than he was now. Maybe he ought to start telling prophecies himself.
Oh wait, he already knew one . . .
Artemis wouldn't come near him today or tomorrow, but on the third day she'd jump on top of him until he was limping.
See . . . prophet. He knew the future even better than the oracle did.
Laughing bitterly, he rolled off the banister and headed to his bed.
The next thing he knew, he was in Artemis's temple, lying on the floor at her feet. "A little warning would be nice, Artemis."
Laughing, she wrapped her arms around his shoulders and nuzzled his neck. "I was feeling peckish."
He should have known. "You told me you wouldn't be able to see me until the day after tomorrow."
She stroked his neck with her nails, causing chills to run up and down his body. "There was a lull so I made space for you. A little gratitude could serve you well."
He leaned his head back to give her a droll stare. "Can't you see the gratitude oozing out of me?"
She nipped at the tip of his nose. "Sarcasm doesn't become you."
"Yet it makes you crave me whenever I am."
She smiled. "How do you manage to read me so well?"
It wasn't hard. She adored the fact he wasn't in awe of her. The fact that her eyes dilated and her breathing increased were clues hard to miss.
She nibbled his lips. "I've missed you."
A sharp gasp intruded on their play.
Acheron froze at the sound that brought Artemis off her chaise in a roar of anger. There in front of them was a tall, slender woman with strawberry blond hair. Her dark eyes were round in terror.
"What are you doing here, Satara?"
"I just . . . I-I-I saw nothing, Aunt Artemis. Forgive me."
Artemis caught her by the hair and jerked her close. "Look at me." Her fangs were out and her eyes were red and tinged by orange. "You speak a word to any being about what you've just seen and there is no power that will save your life or your soul. Do you understand?"
Satara nodded vigorously.
Artemis shoved her away. "Go and don't you dare return until you're summoned."
She vanished instantly.
Artemis then turned on him with a vengeance. "This is all your fault!"
Of course it was. "You're the one who brought me here."
"Silence!" She backhanded him.
Acheron growled at the taste of blood in his mouth. He wanted to strike her back, but he knew the repercussions. He was mortal and she wasn't. Yet it was more than that. As much as that slap hurt him mentally, he wouldn't deal it to her. No one should have to bleed for kindness.
They damn sure shouldn't have to bleed for love.
"Are you through?" he asked.
She set on him then with her fangs.
Acheron hissed as she took her anger at Satara out on him. He felt two tendrils of blood fall from her lips, down the front of his chest. Pain seared him as she fed with no regard for him at all.
When she was finished, she shoved him back.
Weak from the blood loss, he fell to his knees.
She grabbed him by the hair and jerked him back against her. A knife appeared in her hand as she hovered it over his heart.
Acheron met her gaze and waited. "Kill me, Artie. End it."
Her eyes darkened to the point he was sure she'd finish him, but just as the dagger came at his heart, she reversed the direction and flung it against the wall. She wrapped her arms around him and held him close as she wept.
"Why do you make me want you?"
Acheron laughed bitterly. "I'm not the one doing this. Believe me." If he had his way, no one would ever crave him again.
She pushed him out of her arms. "Just go."