The Heir of a Thousand Lifetimes (A PJO Universe Story)

This is Orpheus and Eurydice all over again! (It's really not)

When the myrmekes leave us, we are in a sort of arboreal antechamber. The whispers have gone entirely silent. The trees form some sort of dome over the grass, and bones litter the ground.

"This isn't what I was expecting," Cassius admits quietly. I shake my head.

"Me neither," I agree. "Are all oracles this ominous?"

"Yes, but not...not like this." He takes ahold of my hand, and I look at him questioningly. He's frightened- I can feel it. "Audra, be careful."

I make what might be a far too familiar decision and run a comforting hand over his arm.

"I will," I promise him, my voice just barely louder than a whisper. "But I'm not doing this without you. We- Achilles and-" I cut myself off, wincing as a sharp pang of grief stabs at my heart. "They were apart, and- and here I am, having inherited Achilles' grief over two thousand years later. And we have a chance to make things right. We can't do this apart."

I look up at him earnestly, my eyes never wavering from his. I squeeze the hand that is holding mine.

"I need you to promise me, whatever the prophecy says, as long as we have a choice, we will do it together. I can't- I can't relive Troy, not in this life, not again, Cassius," I beg him. I'm surprised at how desperate my plea truly is, how much the deepest parts of me are crying out for this. It floods out of me, and I cannot stop it.

Cassius' expression nearly breaks my heart. He pulls me into his arms, hugging me tightly to his chest. He cradles my head against him, and I release a shuddered breath in an attempt to hold back the tears that are threatening to fall. He tucks his head against mine.

"I promise you. I swear it on the River Styx," he whispers to me, and a chill runs down my spine. "I will do everything I can to see us through our second chance."

He is still for a moment before he places a tentative kiss to my temple. The simple act of affection nearly brings me to my knees.

"The gods brought Troy to its knees," he murmurs, "but we are its legacy."

I pull back enough to look up at him. His words make me smile, the tinge of vengeance coloring them giving me new energy. I nod.

"Then I suppose we should go hear how that legacy will continue," I suggest, shoving my fear down deep where it cannot be found.

Cassius gives me a sympathetic look as I realize he can tell that I'm blocking out my emotions, but at this point, I'm already heading to the doors to the grove. I pointedly ignore the crunching of bones under my feet.

I mean, myrmekes need to eat too, I guess. Right? Sure. Makes sense. Definitely not murder victims or dead demigods. Nope. Not even a possibility.

The gates to the Grove of Dodona are massive and, frankly, intimidating as hell. The oak doors stand tall and glow with a faint amber light. With every step closer to them, the pit in my stomach pinches tighter and tighter. The whispers grow louder and louder. My ears begin to ring, and I let out a hiss at the sudden pain in my head.

"What is it? Are you okay?" Cassius asks worriedly, grasping at my arms to make sure I don't fall. I tug one arm free to press my hand to the center of my forehead, wincing and closing my eyes tightly.

"How do you not hear them?" I choke out. The whispers are becoming full-fledged shouts and screams.

"I don't know," he admits. He runs a soothing hand over my arm. "We'll open the doors. It'll get better in the grove. It has to."

"Does it?" I mutter dubiously, but I let him lead me nonetheless.

My sight is starting to black out at the edges. But the second Cassius presses my fingertips to the wood and we stumble into the grove, everything suddenly explodes in a white-hot scream. I don't know if the noise comes from the voices in my mind or my own throat, but it erupts. With it, I feel my consciousness shift as my body weight falls against the sacred wood.