The Zodiac Warriors: The Will of the Gods

Chapter 15: Amnerus revealed

Chapter 15

Amnerus revealed

Caitlin pushed open the door of the library and stepped inside. She looked around carefully to see if there was anyone else in there.

'I'm going to see if Herod is at his desk', Christian said in a low voice. She nodded and he headed towards the centre of the room.

For a moment, she didn't know which way to go. She didn't even know what she was looking for or where to start. There were hundreds of books in the library and they didn't have much time at their disposal. Taking in a deep breath to calm herself down, she tried to remember what Herod had told her about Amnerus and the Zodiac Warriors the first time they met. Most of the things had to do with the history of the brotherhood, about Amnerus's vision of making the world a better place. She closed her eyes, shuffling through her memories, trying to find something meaningful. She remembered Herod telling her how Amnerus was the heir of Ganymedes, Zeus's loved one, and how he took it upon himself to protect mankind by recruiting a group of eleven young warriors who best embodied the different zodiac signs they were born under. She remembered him telling her how they soon discovered that they had special abilities, how they worked to cultivate their powers, and how they all kept accounts of their experiences, accounts which were kept somewhere in Greece. She opened her eyes and sighed in frustration. None of these things were helpful.

And then she suddenly thought about something else that Herod had told her the day she was brought to the Observatory.

So he prayed and Zeus himself answered his prayers. The King of Gods sent down his doves to bring Amnerus ambrosia, the nectar of gods. Amnerus took it and became immortal. Pretty soon he realized that there was a price to pay for it: he had lost his powers. But he had gained eternal life.

She flinched as Christian's hand touched her shoulder.

'It's just me', he said in a calming voice. 'Herod's not here. We're alone.'

'I just had an idea', she said. 'What do you know about ambrosia?'

He gave her a puzzled look. 'Not much', he said. 'Only that it was the food of gods and it was brought to Olympus by white doves. It also has the property of making anyone who eats it immortal.'

'Is there any book about it in here?'

Christian pondered for a moment. 'Not specifically', he replied. 'There is, however, a book about drinks, spices, foods and all sorts of edible things that endowed people with special powers. There might be something on ambrosia in there.'

'Do you know where it is?' she asked eagerly.

He nodded. 'Follow me.'

***

Jamie was sitting on the bed next to William. Alex was standing at the head of the bed, watching him intently, while Angus was pacing around the room. Marissa picked something up from the table and walked over to William. She looked at Angus and frowned.

'Stop walking, you're making me nervous', she said.

He looked at her for a moment and went to sit down on the other bed.

'As for you', she went on, turning her attention to Alex, 'quit watching him like that. If you think you can will him back to consciousness, you're wasting your time. I gave him a powerful sedative last night.'

Alex's eyes sprang up to meet hers. 'Have you given him anything else since then?'

'No', she replied. 'I wanted to give him some more. I also wanted to give him something that would sort of paralyse him.'