Chapter Fifteen
The rest of July had gone by way too fast. Adin and Legacy had spent every free moment they had together. He’d taken her out, visited her at home, brought her to his house. It didn’t matter what they’d done, as long as they’d been together. And things between them had gotten hot and heavy. Well, in the PG-13 sense.
As the summer progressed, the days just kept getting hotter and hotter. She didn’t think it was possible to be this hot already when it wasn’t even August yet. And the heat wasn’t like normal. The humidity was almost nonexistent. It was so dry that there were burn bans all over the state, and Calli often commented about her parents’ irritation that their beautiful pond was slowly evaporating.
When she’d slept, she’d dreamed, so now she was dreaming every night. Her dreams were always variations of the same nightmares. She either saw the tornado or knew it was coming, but she was never scared of it. The little girl in her dreams was always scared enough for the both of them. Either she saw the snakes, which seemed to accumulate, or the three snake holes. Every now and then, she’d dream of the bright vivid sky with the confetti of lightning bolts falling like rain, and they always disappeared before reaching her.
One new characteristic was present, though. Her hands were always different temperatures. One was always hot and the other was always cold. She didn’t think much of this in her dreams, so she hadn’t paid much attention to that detail when she’d been awake either.
Working became annoying because that was just less time she got to spend with Adin. But she needed the money, so she went, grudgingly. Ms. Gorgos had stopped using excuses to keep River from the store when she was there. Either the woman had accepted their friendship, or she was picking her battles more wisely. Legacy figured it was the latter.
River and Legacy talked all the time at work, but he properly kept his feelings in check. She hadn’t called him after that first time. There wasn’t a need, and she didn’t want to lead him on. Besides, when she wasn’t at work, she was usually with Adin anyway.
But as time went on, she was beginning to feel guilty about keeping her friendship with River a secret from Adin. She felt as if she needed to tell him everything. Not only did she want to be honest with him, but she wanted him to know.
She hadn’t told River about her plans. He’d only try to talk her out of it. She knew Adin was only human and wouldn’t completely understand this mythical life she was part of, but she wanted to be with Adin for the rest of his life, so she needed him to know…to understand.
Adin was leaving tomorrow to go to his dad’s for the weekend, which only solidified her resolve to tell him now. That’d give him the weekend to deal, and she could get this out before she lost her nerve. If that made her a chicken, then she’d wear her feathers proudly.
Adin’s mom was out of town, so he’d asked her over to his house so he could cook her dinner the night before he left. At least if he got mad at her about River—and her silence—no one would be around to hear him yelling.
When he picked her up, he complimented her on her outfit, though she knew he never really cared about the clothes she had on—he was complimenting her. When they arrived at his house, he held her hand in the car and put his arms around her several times while he finished up dinner.
They ate out on one of his porches. It was hot, but breezy. The food was very delicious. He made grilled fish and sautéed vegetables, and she ate everything. They were past the stage where she would pretend she wasn’t hungry and not eat much, thank heavens.
Throughout the evening, she didn’t talk much. She was going over her speech about River and her mom and her dreams, trying to decide how best to start. She knew he wouldn’t like any of this, and she hated thinking that he may be leaving tomorrow upset with her. By the time they finished eating, she couldn’t stop obsessing about what she was going to say to him.
She was so deep in thought that she barely noticed Adin clearing the table. She stayed outside on the porch while he put the dishes in the kitchen. When he came back, he took the seat right next to her, instead of the one he sat in across from her when they’d been eating.
Adin brushed his hand across her forehead and tucked her hair behind her ear.
“What are you thinking about?” he asked softly.
She wasn’t ready for this! How in the world was she going to get this all out without him getting mad? She didn’t want him to be upset with her, even though he had every right to be. Everything had been so perfect, and she was going to ruin it.
She shook her head faintly and felt her eyes moisten. She couldn’t look at him.
He saw the expression on her face and became alarmed. “Please, Legacy. Tell me what’s wrong.” Adin stroked her face between his hands and gently turned her head toward him.
She looked at him briefly and then shut her eyes so he couldn’t see them. Tears fell down her cheeks.
“Is this about me leaving? Don’t worry. Please don’t worry. My dad’s not going to change his mind about school. You know I’m just going down there to help him unpack.”
He’d jumped to the wrong conclusion, but she understood why. The last time he’d gone to see his dad, she’d been upset then too.
She shook her head without opening her eyes. “It’s not that,” she said, her voice thick with sadness.
She heard Adin catch his breath, and he dropped his hands. She opened her eyes at the sudden change in his demeanor and looked at him. He looked like he was bracing himself for an impact, but his face looked pained.
She started crying and threw her hands up to cover her face. “I need…to talk to you…about something, and I-I don’t know how to do it,” she said through sobs.
He sat there quietly while she took a few deep breaths, trying to calm herself. He wasn’t talking or trying to console her, but she could clearly hear his fast breathing.
She finally dropped her hands and looked at him. His mouth was open, eyes wide, face gravely pale. His body still braced for the impact.
“What?” he asked, barely a whisper.
“Please, please…don’t be mad at me,” she begged, shaking her head, but watching his eyes.
He just sat there. His expression unchanged. Gods, he was going to be pissed!
“I’ve been talking to River…about my mom,” she said cautiously.
Adin’s eyebrows furrowed briefly. Then his whole body relaxed and hunched over. He slowly put his hands on her wrists, moving them up her arms as if he were struggling to climb a mountain. He reached the tops of her shoulders, put his arms loosely around her neck, and leaned his head on her shoulder. It felt like he could barely hold himself up. “Oh,” he breathed into her neck.
That wasn’t quite the response she’d been expecting. She sat there for a minute, waiting for Adin’s jagged breath to return back to normal.
It didn’t. But he found his strength again, and his loose arms tightened around her. One hand slid to her back to press her to him while the other twisted into her hair, clutching her head.
She put her arms around him, but she wasn’t sure what was going on. “Um, this wasn’t a reaction I’d considered,” she whispered. “I thought you were going to be furious with me.”
He sighed. “I just need a minute.”
He was still obviously disturbed, but at least he was seeking solace in her rather than screaming at her.
“I thought you were breaking up with me,” he whispered into her ear.
Her body tensed up, and she grabbed him tighter. “No,” she whispered. “Never.”
She felt him nod his head as though he couldn’t talk.
They held each other for a long while. Then he lifted his head and kissed her. This kiss felt urgent, and because she was already so emotional, more tears spilled over. She realized how the thought of being without her caused him all this pain, so now she was hurting for needlessly doing this to him. She pulled away. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to…”
“Shhh…”
Adin shook his head and crushed his lips to hers again.
When they finished kissing, they held each other. She knew she still needed to talk to him about River, but Adin was obviously not ready. After several more minutes, he finally pulled away and looked at her. His eyes were a little red, like he’d been fighting tears. But nowhere near the color of red that her eyes had to have been. She could feel how swollen and wet they were.
Adin took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, watching her eyes. “So you talked to River about your mom?”
Great. He felt better, but she still felt horrible.
“Yes,” she said, looking down.
“You can tell me,” he said sincerely. “I won’t get mad.”
She needed to tell him, so she figured she should just get this over with now. At least he wouldn’t yell at her. Not after thinking he was losing her.
“Do you remember talking about the whole Greek mythology thing?”
“Yes, River told you something about descending from the mythical gods.”
“Right. Well, we’ve talked a lot about his family and mine. He confirmed what Lissa told me about how the gods descend. He mentioned a goddess named Anesidora after noting the similarity of my mom’s name. There are some versions of myths that connect Gaia through Demeter to Anesidora. Some say they are the same person, just different interpretations. Regardless, Demeter is Persephone’s mother and there is some connection to Anesidora.” She waited to make sure he was following her, making the connection to what they’d already discussed about her connection to Persephone through her last name Kore.
“Go on.”
“According to one of the myths, Zeus created Anesidora and gave her a beautiful container she was never to open. Her curiosity got the best of her. When she opened it, the evil contained within spread across the earth. She quickly closed it, but the only thing left in the box was the spirit of hope.” Legacy sighed. Gods, this was all so weird. “This Anesidora is also known as Pandora.”
Adin sighed and shook his head.
“The night you asked me out, I found a box in Lissa’s room. When I opened it, it had the word Elpis carved in the bottom. That words means hope. Do you see how this is adding up?”
“You think that container is Pandora’s Box?” Legacy couldn’t decipher Adin’s expression, so she slowly nodded. “And I take it River agreed to this.”
Okay, so Adin wasn’t very happy. It would be downhill from here.
“Yes. He also confirmed some of my research where I discovered Persephone was created by Demeter and Zeus. Demeter hid her from several gods who wanted her, but then she was abducted by Hades and taken to the underworld. I asked River about his theories, and he thinks there are a couple of possibilities.”
Adin’s expression was hardening, but he was staying calm. “What did he say?”
“Either Demeter created Dora, who created me, or the original Demeter, Anesidora, whatever, is my mother, and I’m actually Persephone. Either I am her or a likeness of her.”
“That doesn’t make any sense.”
“I know. When I asked him why gods would create a similar god, he said something about changing destiny. So he thinks if I am Persephone or like her, then my mom, whichever one she is, created me to stop the abduction. That’s why my mom left when I was a baby. Not because she was in danger, but because I was.”
Adin’s eyes softened. “Nothing is going to happen to you.”
“I know this sounds weird. I had a really tough time believing it myself. But you have to look at all the connections. If I am a goddess, I’ll reach my full power by my eighteenth birthday. If I make it until then.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Besides the threat of Hades, I think it’s River’s family that’s after me. His mom specifically. He said he thinks my mom created a powerful god with a pure ability—me. Most gods don’t know how powerful a new god is until that god reaches maturity. But that there are some who know, and if that knowledge gets into the hands of a vengeful god, then that god may try to destroy the new god. The weather has been acting weird this summer, and River thinks it’s his mom’s doing. Ms. Gorgos is powerful. If she can destroy me before I turn eighteen, then she’d assume my powers on top of the ones she already has. Plus, she doesn’t like my mom, so killing me is just another incentive. One of many.”
“What does that mean?”
Crap. “You’re really not going to like this.”
“I’m sure you’re right.” He sighed.
“Just don’t get mad, please.”
Adin looked at her calmly. “Legacy, I won’t get mad at you, I promise.”
She nodded and took a big breath. Here goes nothing. “River said the night Lissa told me about my mom he also found out about a prophecy, and it’s the same night you showed up at my birthday party.”
“Me?” Adin looked confused.
“Yes. River said the three of us are bonded together through a prophecy. Which is that I would end up with River as long as you were alive. He thinks that’s why you finally asked me out after being friends all these years. Maybe my turning seventeen triggered the prophecy.”
“That’s absurd! No one knows what the future holds. Asking you out had nothing to do with a freaking prophecy. He probably just likes you and wants to be with you.”
“He does like me,” she said, looking down because she actually believed River’s feelings were stronger than that. “He said he already feels attached to me. That’s why he’s told me all of this. He said he wasn’t supposed to, and he’s fought with his mom over it. But he couldn’t deny me anything, so he gave me what I wanted,” she whispered.
“I-I don’t know what to say,” Adin said, leaning back in his chair and putting his hands on his head.
“I asked River what his part in all this was. He wasn’t sure, but he thinks he was created out of the likeness of one of the gods that originally pursued Persephone before she was abducted. He’s that god’s attempt at a real chance with her…with me.”
Adin shook his head. He probably couldn’t trust himself to open his mouth without yelling.
“River said he thinks you’re the link in the prophecy, since whether you live or die will determine if he and I will be together. His mom doesn’t like me, so River thinks she may come after you. Killing you would keep me from being with him. Plus, it would destroy me emotionally before she could destroy me physically. He wanted me to warn you…somehow.”
“I—” He stopped, shook his head. “Do you believe any of this?”
“I believe parts of it. I think River is trying to help me. When I talked to Lissa, she didn’t deny any of it. In fact, Demeter also had priestesses who were titled Melissae. I came right out and asked her if that’s what she was.” She looked at Adin. “You even mentioned it was odd that she didn’t go out with my mom the night of her supposed death if they were such great friends.”
“What did Lissa say?” he asked cautiously.
“She was shocked, but when I mentioned the box in her room, she freaked out and ran to her bedroom, but it was no longer there. From the way she and River acted about the box, it can’t be anything good.”
“So what parts do you believe, specifically?”
“I think I am like Persephone. I think my mom left me here in Lissa’s care to keep Hades, or his likeness, from coming after me, so I could have a better destiny than Persephone did. I think my dreams are trying to warn me or help me—I’m not sure which one yet. I think Ms. Gorgos is going to try to kill me, and I think River is in love with me,” she whispered.
Adin’s eyes turned sad. “How do you feel about him?”
“I think he’s nice, and I consider him a friend.” She looked down at the table. Gods, this was hard. “I feel like I can talk to him without being judged, and I feel like I need to protect him from people who’d want to hurt him for being open with me.” She glanced at Adin, and he looked confused. “I don’t feel about him the way he feels about
me. He knows how I feel about you, and it hurts him, but I’ve been very honest with him about that fact. He knows I want to be with you, and he’s okay with just being friends.”
“It doesn’t work that way, Legacy,” Adin said. “If he feels only half as strongly as I do for you, I know he won’t stop until he finds a way into your heart. I know this because that’s what I’d do. That’s what any man in that position would do.”
“I told him if he couldn’t keep his feelings in line, then we couldn’t even be friends. He couldn’t stand the thought of not being friends, so he agreed. I think it was hard for him at first, but he’s been doing pretty well lately. I think, for him, the prophecy doesn’t necessarily mean now. He believes we’ll be together someday, but he’s not sure when that’ll happen. Until then he’s okay staying friends.”
“What do you think about the prophecy?”
“I don’t know what to think. I can understand if his family was responsible for your death how I would despise him and not want to be his friend at all, much less anything more. So I can totally see that part. But I don’t understand how I could not be with you if you were alive.” She looked down at her hands on the table. “I already feel like we were meant to be together. Forever.”
Adin lifted up her head to meet his gaze. “I feel that way too,” he murmured. “And I felt that way long before the night of your birthday party.”
She smiled at him, but it wasn’t a happy one. “I don’t understand how everything else can make so much sense, but I can’t accept what he said about the prophecy. I mean, I know you care about me, and I know River does too. So I can see how River thinks we’re all bonded. He feels bonded to me, and I feel bonded to you…”
“We are bonded to each other,” Adin corrected. “River isn’t part of that.”
“I know. But he’s still my friend.”
Adin took her hands into his and looked down at them. “I don’t want you to be friends with him.”
“Why?”
“Legacy, I don’t trust him. I know you think he’s helping you with your mom, and he might be. But his intentions are not, um, honorable.” Adin’s jaw ticked.
“What do you mean?”
“Whether or not he’s telling you the truth, he’s helping you to gain your trust. Once he has that, there’s no telling what he will do. He could turn on you and help his mother and you wouldn’t see it coming. Or,” Adin paused, “he could use that trust to get into your heart. I’ll be in college while he’s there with you every day at school. He has an ulterior motive, Legacy.”
“I wouldn’t let that happen, and I don’t think he’d purposely try to take me from you. He knows that would hurt me, and he doesn’t want to do that. Besides, why would he want me to warn you about his mother?”
“Because he wants me left alone since that’s apparently the only way he’ll get you,” Adin snapped.
“But even when I was upset about you being at your dad’s, he wanted me to talk to him about it even though I could tell it hurt him to hear me talk about you like that. He wants what makes me happy, and he knows that’s you. He wants my happiness no matter what it costs him.”
“Of course he does. If you go crying on his shoulder, he gets to be the one to console you. Then you’ll always turn to him when you need support. Legacy, he has an agenda.”
She took a deep breath and looked away. She felt like she wasn’t getting anywhere with Adin. She wanted him to know and understand.
“Legacy,” Adin whispered, and she looked at him. “You said something earlier that bothers me.”
“What’s that?”
“When I asked you how you felt about River, you said you feel like he doesn’t judge you.”
“Yes.”
“Do you think I judge you?”
“No.” She shook her head, but she wasn’t entirely sure if she was being truthful. “I think you don’t understand. I want you to understand. That’s why I told you. I was really upset at the thought of making you angry, but I needed you to know. If any of this is true, then I wanted you to know about it because I want you to know about me.”
Adin looked deep into her eyes. “You can always, always come to me. I will always be here for you. I will always listen to what you have to say. You have no idea how much I care about you. I will always try to understand whatever it is you want to tell me. But because I…because of how I feel about you, I will always, always try to protect you. Even though I will do whatever it takes to protect you, that does not mean I don’t understand.”
She nodded, and he wrapped his arms around her.
“I just told you that you can always come to me,” he whispered in her ear. “Now, I want to ask you to do just that. Please, Legacy. Please come to me whenever you need to, whenever you want to, whatever the reason. I want to be the one you turn to. Always. Forever,” he breathed.
“That’s what I want too,” she whispered.
Adin held her in his arms, rocking her gently. Even though this hadn’t been easy, she was glad to have it all out in the open.
What seemed like an eternity later, Adin finally spoke again, but did not let her go. “What about your dreams? Are you still having them?”
“Yeah.”
“Are they always the same?” he asked, stroking her hair.
“No. Parts of them are, but I’ve been dreaming about my hands too. They’re always different temperatures.”
“And?” He seemed like he was waiting for her to say more.
“And it’s odd. I’ve never dreamed about that before.”
“But your hands are always different temperatures, Legacy.”
She yanked back away from him, startled. “What?”
“Er, your hands. One is always hotter than the other.” He stared at her like he didn’t understand why she was shocked about that.
She pulled her hands away from him, touching each one to the other arm to feel the difference. Her right one was freezing, and her left one was blazing hot. Even looking at them, she could tell the fingers on her left hand had a red tint to them.
She grimaced. She didn’t know what to say.
“You didn’t know this, did you?”
“No,” she said, shaking her head. “How long have you noticed this?”
“Um, I don’t know for sure, but when I held your hands the night of your birthday party, I noticed it then. I guess I’ve noticed it ever since. I can’t say for sure if I noticed before your birthday. Before then I tried not to be too obvious about my feelings, so I tried not to touch you too much.”
“Hmmmm…” She wondered if this was relevant.
“Do you think it means something?”
“I don’t know. It’s interesting, though.”
She sat in silence while she pondered it. It had to mean something, but what? She couldn’t figure out what her hands had to do with anything. Unless this was part of the changes she was going through.
“River said there are no coincidences. I’m wonder what this means.” She rubbed her hands together.
“No coincidences,” Adin mumbled.
She looked over at him to read his expression, but it was unfathomable. He flashed his eyes at her and smiled. Then he lifted his hand and rubbed her arm.
“If the different hand temperatures are new, then maybe that has something to do with the changes Lissa mentioned.”
She smiled back at Adin. He was trying and that meant a lot to her. “Possibly.”
“What are you smiling about?” he asked, his lip twitching.
“I’m just happy that you’re trying to understand this. I know you don’t like River, but you’re making an effort and that makes her happy.”
“I don’t like River for many reasons, one of which is the fact that he seriously thinks he’ll take you away from me. Any man would feel threatened by that. But this isn’t about River. He may be a source of information for you, but to me, that’s all he is. This is about you, not him.”
“Thank yo
u,” she whispered, and leaned in to kiss his neck.
Adin put his arms around her again and held her for awhile. “Will you please do something for me while I’m gone?”
“Of course.”
“Stay safe. I’m going to be worried enough about you as it is. I’m not going to ask you to stay away from River because I know you can’t. Just be aware that even though there may be no coincidences, not everything is always as it seems either. So please be careful. For me.”
He said it again. Be careful. This time, they were on the exact porch that they were on in her dream.
So was that a coincidence, or something that wasn’t as it seemed? Gods, she didn’t know. But in Adin’s arms, she knew either way it didn’t really matter.