Eat.
Train.
Eat.
Read.
Sleep.
She ensured her days were structured and routine, like how they had been with Adriel. Every morning a soldier delivered breakfast to her room, and she ate every bite. The food choices here were surprisingly diverse. Flavorful breads, seasoned potatoes, large portions of fish and poultry. The meals were always accompanied by some type of pastry or sweet custard. She always devoured the desserts first. Even eating with her hands had stopped bothering her, although she still found it silly.
Her newfound company had started her on simple exercises. Small jogs around the gravel tracks, getting reacquainted with her swordplay. Day after day, week after week, she noticed a change. Her runs grew longer, the nagging in her leg lessened.
Aaron joined them as they made their way down the tunnels toward the Azure Chasm. She had gotten to know him over the weeks. At first, she couldn’t approach him, out of guilt that she had been responsible for his disfigurement. She came to learn he had a much different outlook.
“I am completely indebted to you.” That’s what he had said to her.
He told the story to anyone who would listen, about the foes in the night and how Helaina had fended them off with mortal magic.
He wore his missing limb like a badge of honor, his proof of survival. It eased her to see him write that narrative of things. She understood how special he was, and why Callum treasured him.
Her newfound companions introduced her to others. Skin changers, fire and water bringers, telepaths, fliers. The types of magic knew no bounds here. Despite their many differences and backgrounds, all the demigods had one thing in common.
Theo.
He had found all of them and offered them this life. He had handed them their chance at power. The stories of him were ruthless, an unyielding presence when faced on the battlefield. They feared him, of course they did. But there was also firmly established reverence.
The four of them took seats at a table lined with various dishes. Ground meat packed with fresh herbs, boiled eggs, and so many types of fruit she didn’t recognize. Fee brought over a large tin of coffee and began pouring it into ceramic mugs.
Helaina took one and swallowed the rich bitterness. “Who cooks the food here?”
“We take turns cooking and cleaning. Each rank has a job, and we rotate. Our powers play a part in making this place what it is, but we all take on other duties,” Aaron explained. “I recommend not eating when it’s Fee’s turn in the kitchen.”
Fee smacked him across the back of the head and smiled sarcastically. “You can starve then, if you hate it so much.”
Helaina decided to brave another question she had pondered since arriving. “What is Theo’s powerexactly?”
Aaron didn’t answer this time.
Breyer looked at Fee as her slender flour-white hand grasped her mate’s. “There are many... layers to what he can do.”
“The night we fought, he said his power didn’t work on me. What exactly did he try to do?”
They all looked to Breyer.
“He used it on me once. It was a long time ago... and it wasn’t his fault. He always kept his composure, always stayed in control. Until one evening I insisted on sleeping alongside him.”
Helaina was nervous about where this story was heading. She hadn’t asked Breyer about her and Theo’s history. Truthfully, she didn’t want to know.
“He was raging when I woke. A nightmare, I think. I only meant to wake him. But when I touched him... his bare skin...” Breyer exhaled, the deep contemplation clear on her face. “All it took was one touch, when his mind wasn’t fully aware. Suddenly I saw things, sinister things that shouldn’t exist in my head. It was too real, I was living it. I remember screaming, wailing,beggingfor it to stop. I’ve never felt that kind of fear, not in life, not in battle.”
No one has touched me like this, ever.
Helaina had a sudden understanding of what Theo had meant during their intimate moment.
My own powers can’t touch you.
It occurred to her that the same fear Breyer suffered by accident... Theo had tried to inflict on her with purpose. It had been a stroke of pure luck on her side that his power had failed.
