Turmoil: Book Three of The Shadow Goddess series

Chapter Six

It was both amusing and irritating to find Roman spying on us. Thankfully, he hadn’t heard us, but honestly, his hearing or not didn’t matter. He would find out eventually. I had no intention of telling any of them any time soon about what I was, I no longer had a choice. Roman’s hydra had told him. Kinda. It led him in search for the shadow goddess. Which just so happens to be me. This was not a conversation I wanted to have with a stranger. Like ever.

“Rose? What happened?” Nyx asked as she eyed Roman suspiciously.

“Nyx, this is Roman. He is one of the hydras I helped earlier today. Him his sister and their mother. They have been on the run for quite a while. Someone made an attempt on Roman’s life, then thinking he was dead tried to abuse him mother and sister. Thankfully I had followed Roman back to his house and was able to save them.” I turned to Roman who looked as pale as a ghost. “Roman, this is Nyx, goddess of night.”

“Lovely to meet you Roman.” Nyx responded, her eyes softening as she spoke to him.

“Likewise.” Roman murmured, his voice soft almost timid. I coughed in order to hide my laugh, but no one was fooled. Roman narrowed his eyes at me while Nyx’s eyes lit up with mirth. I guess two goddesses laughing at him probably wasn’t on his bucket list. I felt kind of bad for him. I mean he didn’t know he was looking for me, and I know he didn’t mean to eavesdrop.

“Okay Roman.” I said clapping to get his attention. “Long story short. These people are members of a new supernatural race of my creation. My children if you will. Each group has its own distinct power. These are members of the shadow clan. Their leader Emperor Sebastian and Empress Piper. They are the next generation of reapers.” I walked past them to the Zodiac clan. “This group here is the zodiac clan. A more powerful and entirely new version of witches and warlocks with control over the elements. Their leaders. Priestess Raven, and priest Ambrose.” The couple bowed politely, but kept their eyes on Roman like they were waiting for an attack.

“Last but not least is the demigod clan. A clan of demigods whose power is directly tied to one of the gods or goddesses. Their leaders are king Abraxas and queen Cybele. These people will be the beginning of my people. They will carry on like the werewolves and vampires have and grow stronger as they build their lineage and bloodlines. They will help when the battle of the gods reaches us.”

“Wait.” Roman squeaked. “Battle of the gods?”

“You remember when I said there was a war coming? I wasn’t lying. Zeus plans to bring the world to its knees. He wants slaves not worshipers. And he wants all supernatural creatures dead. He has no limits which he will not go to. It is better to have you prepared now then taken of guard when he strikes.” I told him as gently as I could. I didn’t know why I was trying to be gentle. He was a grown man and could deal with things as they come, I’m sure. But for whatever reason I found myself wanting to console him. I wasn’t stupid, there wasn’t a bond here. If there was, I would have thrown him back off the island. No, there was something else nagging at me to be kind to him. To try and ease him into whatever was coming.

I didn’t really have time to be gentle with him though. He needed trained, he needed to be ready, to be a man. Not be treated like some kind of fragile glass that will break at any moment. If he couldn’t handle the truth of what is to come, he won’t be able to handle it when it arrives. He would be left vulnerable, as would his family.

“Zeus?” Roman questioned. “Like god of lightning Zeus?”

“The one in the same.” I grimaced.

“And this is Nyx? The werewolf goddess?” He asked turning to Nyx.

“Werewolf, Lycan, werecats, werebears, among others.” Nyx smiled over at him.

“And you?” He pointed at me. “You’re the goddess of shadow?”

“Actually, I am the goddess of shadow and power if you want to be technical. But Shadow goddess is fine.”

“This can’t be happening.” Roman staggered on his feet like he was going to fall. Abraxas caught him under his elbow to steady him but didn’t seem very thrilled about touching him.

“Thank you, Abraxas.” I smiled. “I guess I forgot to introduce all of you to Roman.” I looked around at everyone and motioned to Roman who looked as pale as a ghost. “Everyone, this is Roman. He is one of the last living hydras left.”

“I thought hydras went extinct.” Piper stepped forward and studied Roman. “That they were all killed off for their venom and pelts.”

“Very sympathetic Piper, thank you.” I deadpanned. “While yes they were hunted to near extinction many survived. They blend in well with their surroundings and if they don’t shift, they look and even smell human. No one could know unless they shift. Or unless you are their queen.”

“Rose? Are we here to fight in this war?” Roman asked, finding the courage to face me.

“Not unless you want to. I will not force anyone to fight. Not even my own people. Them, much like you have free will. You can make your own decisions. Though I will warn you that this is not just my war. It’s everyone’s war. We are all being threatened. Our friends, our family. No one is safe from Zeus. Even here on my island. Should Zeus bring his allies here, he could easily break through my wards. I will be leaving soon and I’ll be gone a few days. The three clans will remain on guard and will train you, your mom and sister if you all wish.”

“Wait, where are you going?” Roman asked. He seemed worried.

“One of two things. The smartest thing I could have ever thought of and win us this war. Or a terrible mistake. I won’t know until I get there. Until then you stay here with everyone else. I don’t want or need company where I am going. I can’t be killed, you can be.” I turned from Roman to Sebastian. “Sebastian, I would like you and your clan to keep and eye on the hydra family for me please. They are more comfortable around reapers and will view you as an ally.”

“Of course, goddess.” Sebastian puffed out his chest as he bowed.

“Call me Rose.” I corrected him. “I don’t much like goddess or queen.”

“As you wish.” Sebastian smiled, circling his arm around his mate’s waist and pulling her into his side. In any other situation it would have made my heart happy. But right now, it just made my heart hurt. I had to leave my own bonded, my mates, behind. And it hurt more and more as the days moved forward. I knew it would be hard. I knew it would be painful to leave them. What I didn’t expect was for that pain to increase each day we were apart. It was like someone had a pair of those rib splitter things doctors use in surgery to slowly open me up little by little. Day by day. I wasn’t sure how much longer I could handle it.

Nyx left, giving me and my people her blessing and best wishes. I stayed a little while, chatting with my new ‘children’ before I sent them their separate ways. Each group had their own section of the island so they could have their privacy. I fully expected all of them to take advantage of their newfound life. Who knew, maybe we would have a few children running around this island soon. I just hoped it was after the war with Zeus.

“Roman. You need to go back to your cottage now.” I told him softly. “I have to go somewhere and I may be gone a few days.”

“Let me come with you.” Roman said as he stood to his full height. His eyes blazed with determination.

“I don’t know Roman.” I rubbed the back of my neck nervously. “It will be dangerous and I don’t think your mother will forgive me if I let anything happen to you,”

“I am eighteen. I can go without my mother’s permission.” Roman grumbled.

“Maybe so. But you owe her the respect of at least letting her know where you’re going and the danger it involves.” I countered.

Roman sighed. “You’re right. If you allow me to come, I will tell her I am going with you and that it will be a dangerous journey. I’ll make sure to let her know that you are not my keeper and are not responsible to keep me safe.”

“That’s not true and you know it.” I told him. “I am your queen. Everyone is my responsibility. And if you’re with me, you and your safety are my responsibility.”

“You’re only one woman. You can’t do everything.”

“No, maybe not. But I can try.” I looked up at Roman. His brown eyes bore into mine like he was searching me for something. “There is something about you Roman.” I murmured. “I don’t know what, but something draws me to you. I can’t and won’t allow you to be hurt.”

“So you feel it too?” He asked, his brow furrowing.

“Yes.” I looked more closely at him. His brown eyes were warm and inviting. He didn’t have quite the rounded face I had thought he did, but it was angular and his features were strong. “Who is your father?” I asked. Wondering if maybe I had known him or met him.

“A monster.” Roman growled. “He brutally assaulted my mother, taking her by force. She ran and had me.”

“I am sorry Roman. I didn’t mean to bring up a sore subject for you. Do you know a name?” I was probably pushing my luck. It wasn’t wise to anger a hydra. It’s not like he could hurt me, but I still didn’t want to upset him anymore than I already had. Even so, I felt like I needed to know. Like somehow his lineage would give me the answers I’ve been looking for.

“He was one of her mother’s friends.” He finally sighed, sinking onto a log behind him. “She didn’t tell me much. Just that he has sneaked his way into her room one night while her mom was busy with the others. Her mom made a living by pleasuring the more prominent men on society. Men who were tired of their wives or were looking for an outlet.”

I sat beside him and grasped his hand, trying to give him strength. “So she was a prostitute,” I commented.

“Yes. A high-class one but a prostitute all the same. Mom never had to want for anything, they paid her well and they lived a very happy and easy life. Until that night. I’ve dreamed of killing the man who did it to her. But I didn’t know if I would ever be able to. He is my father regardless of how I was conceived.” Roman’s brown eyes were sad as he looked from our hands to me. “She told me his name was Apollo.”

My eyes widened as I jumped to my feet and backed away from him. “No. It can’t be.” I shook my head, my hands shaking as I raked them through my hair. “This can’t be happening, it isn’t real.” I muttered to myself as I paced back and forth in front of him.

“Rose? What is it?” Roman asked as he pulled my pacing to a stop.

“I am royal from my mother’s side. A reaper from my mother’s side.” I blinked, remembering something. Apollo was my father, which means he was a Halliwell warlock. Why did I never put it together? I was a hybrid, made into a tribrid by the gods. But I was originally a Halliwell witch and a reaper. “Have you ever been able to do magic? Has anything ever happened to you that you couldn’t explain?”

“No. I’ve never really tried. Why?” He asked, confused.

“Here, try this.” I lifted my hand out and willed a light to form in my palm. “Focus on your will to make light. Picture an orb forming in your palm.” Roman looked at me curiously before doing as I asked. And just like that, a ball of light made an appearance in his palm.

“Rose?”

“Roman. I know why we both feel drawn to one another.” I murmured, my eyes staring at the ball of light in his hand, trying to find the courage to look up at him. When I finally did, his brown eyes were trained on me intently. His need for an answer like a fire in his eyes. “You’re my brother. My half-brother. Apollo was my father too.”