The Last Oracle (49 page)

Jeremiah’s eyes darted around the room and then he hobbled to several of the other council members and began whispering commands. Getting nowhere with the council, Jeremiah said, “Myrddin! I might have known you were behind this!” 

“You see, I assured you that it would have been extraordinarily awkward for a council member to have two spouses—well, except for you, Jeremiah,” Shinsu said.

Shinsu stepped in front of the council. “I suggest that we permit all of these witnesses to speak before making any judgments!”

Luther nodded his agreement.

“I demand that Alexander Morgan be removed from these proceedings!” Jeremiah choked again. The dribs took Alex’s arms and moved him toward Erebos.

“Just one moment, Jeremiah,” Shinsu said, and then her eyes narrowed. “Alexander, I did not see you arrive by gondola. How is it that you find yourself here in Delos?”

Alex smiled coldly at Jeremiah. “I came from the underworld.”

“Impossible!” Jeremiah said.

“But true, none the less,” Alex said calmly.

“Jeremiah, in that case, I am afraid that you have no jurisdiction over Alexander. He has come from the underworld and is now under Hades’ jurisdiction.”

“My nephew, the lord of the underworld, is to make a decision even in my small kingdom of Delos?” Jeremiah asked.

Paolo lifted a hand. “I do not believe that you may call it ‘
your kingdom,’
. Delos is the home of the oracles.”

“Hades may take Alexander back for all I care!”

Suddenly the council members looked unsure of themselves, Luther said, “Jeremiah, Shinsu, I’m not sure what’s going on here. But I believe that before we make any further judgments here we, as a council need to investigate the initial charter—”

Shinsu lifted a hand, “You need only wish to see the truth. Delos was established for the oracles. The truth is that this current council has no power here.” She glanced at Alex, “Please continue.”

“I did not come alone,” Alex said. “The soul that I have brought with me wishes to testify.”

“How?”
Luther asked.

“Through the stone of truth.”

Suddenly, the rose and gold quartz plate lit with the form of a hand and there was a vision of Valeria on the screen overhead. Alex sighed heavily with relief. He had trusted his intuition, as Daphne had recommended, as she was right.

“What is this?” Jeremiah asked. “Another criminal is now going to speak?”

Valeria narrowed her eyes at the council head. “Jeremiah—I do not require your approval to speak! This council was presented to three. Those three, or their representatives—as approved by Apollo and Zeus—are the only ones permitted to hold council here!”

Caleb wandered toward Alex. “That’s the third triumvirate,” he said to Alex proudly. Alex shook his head subtly to silence the boy.

“Young woman! We are all aware of your history and this is a council that is present in
this
world. As you, evidently, are no longer of this world, you may not testify.”

Valeria’s voice had a power behind it that caught Jeremiah by surprise. “You have no authority here. By the laws of Apollo, this council shall now be returned to its rightful leadership and therefore Jeremiah, you are excused.”

The noise from the crowd rose, as Jeremiah stepped toward the oracles. “Erebos, I order you to execute these intruders!”

Erebos stomped toward Alex, as Valeria said calmly, “Erebos, your domain is in Tartarus—not here. I suggest you return to the hole you crawled out of. Your services will no longer be required. Further, Jeremiah, I remind you that the laws of the third triumvirate state that you must allow at least one designee of each of the positions!”

Erebos seemed confused as he glanced up at the image of Valeria on the screen and then back toward Jeremiah.

Jeremiah’s eyes sparked with outrage. He glared from Valeria and then back at Erebos. “Erebos,
I
am the head of this council and I will inform you of when you may leave.”

“Jeremiah, you were given no power in any of the worlds—as it was a well-known fact that you are not to be trusted.”

Suddenly, in a fit of rage, Jeremiah hobbled on his cane to the quartz stone of truth, pulled it from its pedestal. Immediately Valeria’s image disappeared from the screen. Jeremiah threw it with the strength of a young Olympian. The stone hit the wall of the cave, broke into two halves, and then dropped into the river.

Seeing his wife silenced and her image erased was the last straw for Alex. It was as if Jeremiah had actually assaulted her. His face reddened as he moved toward the former council head in a fit of rage. “I’ve had enough of you!” Alex said with all of the pain of the past few years and the realization of Jeremiah’s role in his agony. He grabbed the ancient man by the neck and dragged him to the edge of Delos and then held him out over the River Styx—ready to drop him in and allow Cerberus, the three-headed dog, to have his way with him.

“Alexander,” Jeremiah choked. “You are not a murderer,” he said as his eyes bulged. “You don’t want to spend an eternity in Tartarus. That is not a place that you—”

“Drop the bastard!” Paolo yelled. “Just drop him!”

There was an extraordinary silence within the cavern that was suddenly broken by Genni’s coo. In an instant, Alex was reminded of who he was. He was a husband—a symbolon—and now a father.

Slowly, he released his shaking hands from Jeremiah’s throat. Jeremiah immediately collapsed forward as he coughed and sputtered. Then Alex drew a deep breath as he returned to his daughter.

A moment later, Caleb said, “Alex, Val’s soul is still here.”

“How do you know that, Caleb?” Alex asked, with his heart still pounding.

Shrugging, Caleb said, “I don’t know how...I just know.”

“What does she want?” Camille asked.

Tavish laughed and folded his arms. “She wants us to drown that stinking rat, Jeremiah.”

Caleb laughed and he turned to Lita and scrunched his nose. “She says she wants Myrdd to hold Genni.”

Lita glanced at Caleb and then at Alex. Myrdd was still staring at the ground. Finally, Lita said, “All right, my friend.”

Glancing toward Shinsu, Lita had a moment of inspiration. “Shinsu, perhaps you could help.”

Shinsu nodded as Lita handed her the tiny pink bundle. “She is a beautiful child, isn’t she!” Shinsu said with a glow.

“I thought you might be able to help Myrdd hold Genni,” Lita said.

Shinsu continued smiling at the infant. “There is something very special about you, isn’t there?” she said to the baby, as she bounced her in her arms and stepped slowly toward Myrdd.

Then she glanced at Myrdd, who barely made eye contact with her. And, while keeping her eyes on the child, she said, “Myrddin, you have become quite a recluse. Cassandra has requested that you hold her child. But I don’t believe I am quite ready to give you up yet,” she said to Genesis.

Myrdd held out an open palm and Shinsu lowered her brows and shook her head. “Oh, no, no!” she said in mild irritation. “Myrddin, that will simply not do at all—don’t you recall holding a child?”

“I...I’ve forgotten.” He looked to the ground, confused and upset with himself.

“Well, Myrddin,” she huffed, “infants never were your forte. Give me your hand!” she said as she took his hand and wrapped it around her and the infant. Then, with her face lowered to observe the child, she felt the arms of her symbolon moving around her. She closed her eyes as his arms moved snugly around her and the child. Then he peered over her shoulder and the fog cleared from his eyes.

Speaking to the infant, Shinsu said, “Myrddin and I never had children. We were too old by the time he got his nerve up to propose.” Her face glowed, although she hated to admit that she was thrilled by his touch. “Of course, those days were so very many years ago—nearly an eternity,” she said musically, as if she were telling a fairy tale.

Then Myrdd’s hand reached up to brush her cheek and, shocked by the action, Shinsu jumped and turned. She saw the soft glow of love in his eyes and her heart filled with love for her symbolon.

“Hello, Sue!” he said as the color returned to his face.

Her face lit with a playful smile. “Hello, you old, cheating goat!” But her eyes sparkled and her skin flushed.

“I’ve missed you!” he said.

She winked and whispered, “We’ll talk more later.” Then she turned to Lita. “Perhaps you had better hold this precious child.” Shinsu passed Genni back to Lita. Then Shinsu returned to Myrdd and he wrapped his arms around his wife.

Within an instant, there was an eerie feeling in the cavern. An odd breeze picked up that seemed to come from the underworld. The room dulled as if the source were absorbing the available light. There was a presence in the tunnel and the immortals subconsciously backed away from it—even the dribs.

The presence continued to move down the cave from the underworld. Suddenly, there was a ripple on the river and then Charon’s boat appeared with a ghostly vision of Valeria wearing a white gown.

Behind Charon’s boat, a giant of nearly eight feet rounded the corner, walking on top of the river and stepped onto Delos. There was a hushed whisper among the immortals.

Hades brushed his fingers along his dark beard and then lifted a finger at Jeremiah. “Uncle, it has been too long since we have visited.” He turned up the corners of his mouth and the glacial chill of his smile matched the color of his eyes. With mock sincerity he added, “You never come to visit anymore.” Then Hades released a loud laugh. “Hyperion—or is it Jeremiah now? You have what belongs to me, and I want him back,” Hades said, narrowing an eye at Alex.

“It has been too long,” Jeremiah said hesitantly, as his eyes darted back and forth nervously. “And, as far as I am concerned, he is yours to take and good riddance!”

Alex bravely stepped forward. “Hades, I was in your land, but it was only to right a wrong. The Fates and Jeremiah interfered with the destiny of my symbolon, as was laid down by the laws of Apollo, and she was wrongfully taken.”

Raising a single eyebrow, Hades twisted his mustache and lifted his mouth in a calculating smile. “Now then, Alexander, mistakes are unfortunate—but they do happen. Be a good boy and step onto
Charon’s ferry. Be with your symbolon. You must know that once you have entered my kingdom, you may never leave. That
is
the rule!”

“Hades, I would not have been forced to enter your kingdom without this deception.” Alex lifted his hands. “How can we resolve this?”

Licking his lips, Hades responded, “Alexander, I am a simple god. I have simple needs. I do not interfere in the business of others. I only know that you have come into my land and so you must return. I have already recovered Cassandra. Come, be with her! I will attempt to make arrangements with Minos, as he is the judge of souls, so that you might join her in the Elysian Fields.”

Alex felt the pull to be with his love and he could feel her yearning as well. But he hesitated and Hades added, “Bring the child if you wish.” Then Hades glanced hungrily at Genni for just a moment. “You would enjoy the Elysian Fields—Cassandra enjoyed her stay there!”

“Genni is not an option!” Alex said with finality. “But we do have an exchange.”

“Whom do you offer?” Hades asked, as he eyed the oracles hungrily.

“Aegemon has offered to go in my place,” Alex said. “There is another. If you allow Cassandra to speak, I’m certain this could all be resolved to your satisfaction.”

Hades dipped a brow. “Ah, yes, Apollo’s not so humble servant, Aegemon,” he said. “Bring him to Charon’s ferry.”

Alex and Tavish walked to the Gondola and lifted the stretcher carrying Aegemon. As they crossed the island, Aegemon looked up weakly and said, “Thank you...Alexander.”

They stood just short of Charon’s ferry and Hades motioned them to proceed. “Once Aegemon has boarded, we shall barter.”

Tavish stood his ground. “We will not load Aegemon until we have received confirmation from you that Alex and the lass are released.” Then Tavish added under his breath, “You lying, cheatin’ bastard.”

Hades glowered at Tavish, but then smiled and said, “Come now. Set Aegemon down in the ferry and we can discuss it.”

“I cinnot!” Tavish said, as he glared at Hades.

“Hades, Aegemon must be an exchange for me. Do you agree?” Alex asked.

Shaking his head in sympathy Hades said, “As much as I would like to make that exchange, Aegemon was already mine; therefore, I cannot make that agreement.”

“You can and you shall!” Tavish said as he sat Aegemon’s stretcher down, just short of Charon’s ferry. Tavish posed for a moment with his hands on his hips as he glared at Hades and then swaggered back to the oracles.

Charon reached a long gangly hand from his robe and pulled Aegemon by the collar onboard his ferry. Aegemon stood up as if fully recovered.

“Perhaps I can give you some credit for transporting him a portion of the distance.” Hades glanced around and then lifted a long finger at Caleb. “However...I believe that boy could make up the difference. I might be willing to take Aegemon and the boy in exchange for you,” Hades said.