The Light Within Her - Book Nine

Ch. 30- Child of the Sun

"I do not rise from the ashes. I make them."

***

Getting drunk with a God was not on my bingo card or on my list of achievements. Yet, here I am with a bottle of tequila in one hand and Helios's hand in the other. We were on top of the table as music rammed into my ears at full blast as we sang at the top of our lungs. I took another chug of alcohol and my sunlight screamed in excitement. As though, she was drunk herself. Tonight, I could let myself loose and enjoy the company of my family and friends. Helios said he would create the weapon in no time, so he would be able to enjoy the party with me. Nyra, my niece, yelled at me which made me find her in the crowd below. Her pink hair was frayed and a mess, but she still looked as pretty as ever. "Sor, truth or dare?" she questioned.

Back at the academy, she would ask me the same question every time we were drunk. Of course, I always picked dare because telling the truth is boring and depressing. Which is exactly why I burnt off that professor's mustache and made the entire school go into a blackout once or twice. Even drunk Soari found Amias's gaze immediately, his dark brown eyes keeping me from doing anything dangerous. He stood next to Luc and the other two soldiers, all keeping an eye on us. "Dare!" I yelled and my siblings cheered in response. Kala and Aeson were dancing to the music, along with our cousins and Bea. My aunts and uncles were dancing far away from us–having a blast though from what I could tell. The King and Queen were in their own personal bubble as they danced together. It was best I left them alone.

Nyra thought of a dare for a moment, which made me want to take another chug of tequila. "She is going to make you regret it." Helios laughed. I was not sure if it was my drunken self or his, but he was literally glowing. He was beautiful beyond words. Still, it did not make me want to kiss him at all. I wanted another man and he knew that all too well.

My niece grinned ear to ear as an idea popped into her head. Even if Nyra was older than me, she was still adopted by Kalama before I was born which made her a Breevort. Though Nyra was sort of like my sister in a lot of ways. "I dare you to jump off your own temple." I stopped dancing as she said it, my brain buzzing every which way. This building was at least one hundred stories tall, but I have jumped off cliffs higher. Drunk Soari was dangerous because I was already agreeing to do this dare out of spite. Because nothing else in my life was in control at the moment and this was the only time I could take back a little bit of my power.

Silence brewed throughout the main room we partied in, my family's eyes turning toward me at the same time. Beside me, Helios just watched me proudly while I pulled my hand out of his grasp and jumped down from the table. Of course, I was not doing this without bringing my bottle of tequila. Nyra shook her head as she laughed drunkenly and immediately I pulled her along just like old times. "Let's see if I can make the gods quiver before me." I giggled. I was not sure if the others were following to see the show–but I didn't care. My mind was set on the task at hand.

As soon as we were outside, I took a swing of tequila and handed it over to Nyra. She accepted it immediately–her eyes widening at how tall my temple stood in Corinth. It had to be the tallest building in all of Greece and yet my eyes brightened with possibility. With freedom. The walls outside were made of sun carvings and there was even one made out of myself that I hadn't realized until now. Damn Helios and his kindness. I could have easily gotten to the top with my powers, but I wanted this to be a challenge. A way to make everyone see I was not weak. So, without thinking, I started to climb my own temple even if I was too drunk to do it. Being rational was never a part of my personality.

A few minutes passed and I was already out of breath. Great. I stole a glance down below where my whole family and friends were watching in bewilderment. And worry. Amias had his arms crossed over his chest–ready to catch me if I fell. Why did my eyes yearn to find him in a crowd every single time? He was never supposed to be mine to begin with. No matter how many times my mind told me to deny him–to not love him, my heart still beat for Amias Guinivere. And because of my love for him and vice versa, he has a prison sentence on his head.