Lyre (25 page)

‘Ozzy.’  Yuri came up to his side.  Her form flickered, adding weight to the fact that she was no more substantial than a shadow.  ‘You came for me.  And for that I will always be grateful.  But you need to go back.  You need to live your life.   It’s the only way I’ll be able to find peace.  There are so many other women out there…’

‘Don’t!’

‘Ozzy.’  Her expression was pained.  ‘Don’t waste your life on a ghost.  My mother did that.  You know she did.  You need to move on.’

He balled up his fists into tight, stubborn hurt.  ‘I will not.’

She raised one elegant hand to his face as if to touch him, then withdrew.  ‘You will.’

‘I can’t.’  He looked at Persephone.  The man with the stone had said to focus on her.  But despite her wet cheeks, she was not going to help.  He had to think more laterally.  He forced himself to calm and thought of what Medusa had told him about the Underworld King and his partner.  ‘My Lord Hades, you must love your wife.’

Hades frowned.  ‘What of it?’

‘You loved her so much that you kidnapped her.  You brought her here and wouldn’t let her leave.  I simply want to do the same.’

‘You are human.  I am a god.’  Hades shrugged as if that explained everything.  ‘Humans are fickle creatures, ruled by their emotions and prone to rash action.  It’s completely different.’

Oz, suddenly, knew exactly what to do.  ‘Rash action?’

‘Yes, you…’  Hades didn’t have a chance to finish.  Oz leapt forward, grabbing hold of Persephone and dragging her towards him.  He curled one hand round her throat and glared at Hades.  ‘Don’t think I won’t do this.  Don’t think I won’t kill her.’

Hades seemed to grow in stature.  His eyes ablaze with fury, he took one threatening step forward.  ‘I will squash you like a fly.’

‘But will you do it before I snap her neck?’

‘Ozzy!  Stop this!’

‘Your wife for Yuri,’ Oz said, keeping all his attention on the god.  ‘It’s as simple as that.’

‘You dare to come here and do this?’

Oz snarled.  ‘You bet I do.’

The expression on Hades face darkened even further.  Then he threw back his head and laughed.  Oz was so surprised he almost dropped Persephone.

‘You think this is funny?’ he yelled.

‘Oh,’ Hades said, wiping away a tear, ‘I think it’s hysterical.  Finally, we have a human who has some actual balls.’  He gripped his groin and laughed again.

‘I will kill her!’

‘No, Osbourne.  You won’t.  But I admire the effort.’

‘This is about her life,’ Oz shouted.  ‘How can you be so fucking blasé?  How can you…?’  He released his grip on Persephone and backed away, gasping.

Hades gazed meaningfully at his wife.  None the worse for wear, she returned the look, giving a half-smile.  ‘Do it,’ she said softly.  She moved down to Yuri and took her hand.  ‘Do it.’

‘It’s never been done before.’

Persephone shrugged. 

Hades rolled his eyes.  ‘Women.  Very well.’

Oz stared at him, no longer daring to even hope.  ‘You mean she can return with me?  You’ll let her go?’

‘Yes, yes.  But I can’t have word of this getting out.  Anyone hears about your little stunt and I might just take it all back.’

Oz turned to Yuri, drinking in her features.  ‘It worked,’ he breathed.

‘You can take the exit tunnel back out,’ Hades continued.  ‘She will follow behind you.’

‘Thank you,’ Oz murmured, no longer able to look away from the woman he loved.

‘But if you look back, just once, she will be gone forever.  You need to wait until you return to your world to look at her again.  Understood?’

Yuri and Oz simply gazed at each other.

‘Understood?’ Hades roared.

Oz started.  ‘Yes.  I understand.  Don’t look back.  No problem.’

Persephone shot her husband a wary look.  He narrowed his eyes at her, warning her to stay quiet.  ‘Leave now before I change my mind.’

‘Thank you!’ Oz bowed.  ‘Thank you so much!  If I can do anything, say anything…’

‘Just leave.’

He nodded vigorously.  ‘I’m on my way.’  He gave Yuri a final brilliant smile then followed the direction Hades was pointing in. They’d just achieved the impossible.

*

Once Oz had disappeared, swallowed up into the dark tunnel leading back to the human world, with Yuri trailing after him, Persephone frowned.

‘You’re a fucking bastard, Hades.’

He shrugged.  ‘You didn’t think I was going to let him threaten you and get away with it, did you?’

‘Maybe they’ll make it,’ she said softly.  ‘Sometimes love does conquer all.’

Hades scoffed, marching over to the table to grab a leg of turkey to gnaw on.  Petitioners always made him hungry.

The tunnel may have been narrow but its walls were smooth and dry.  Truthfully, it could have been the slimiest, smelliest, most rank place on earth and Oz wouldn’t have minded.  With Yuri behind him – and the promise of her return to life – nothing else seemed to matter.  He did feel some relief at not having to traverse back through the rest of the Underworld to leave, however.  He had no desire to confront Cerberus again. 

‘Are you still there?’ he asked.

‘Of course,’ Yuri responded.  Her voice sent a frisson of delight down his spine.  ‘I can’t believe you succeeded.  If I’d known this were even possible…’

‘What?’

She took a moment to answer.  ‘My father.’

‘You couldn’t have done anything.  You heard Hades.  This is the first time he’s ever allowed anyone to leave.  And you were nothing but a child then.’

‘What about Brittani?’

This time it was Oz who took his time replying.  ‘I don’t know.  I couldn’t have fathomed that this was even remotely possible back then.’

‘That doesn’t make it fair.’

‘No, it doesn’t.’

‘Children die every day.  Husbands, wives…’ She drew a shaky breath.  ‘Why should I be the one to be allowed to escape death?’

‘It’s not an escape,’ Oz said firmly.  ‘It’s a temporary reprieve.  Don’t we deserve it?  After the way Olympus has messed us around?  I don’t just mean Poseidon and Antaeus and Pan.  Medusa and Sibyl have had their parts to play.’

‘They really tried to keep us apart?’

‘They really did.  Apparently as long as we were together, your life was in danger.  They did it for the right reasons.’  Oz spoke flatly, as if he didn’t really believe what he was saying.

Yuri lapsed into silence.  Aware of how painful it must be to be betrayed so ignominiously by your own best friends, Oz kept his mouth shut to give Yuri time to absorb the news.  The only sound was his own footsteps.  Until the moment Yuri stepped away from the Underworld boundaries, she would remain incorporeal.  He had no choice but to trust that she remained behind him. 

The tunnel was just starting to widen out – and become steeper – when Yuri found her voice again.  ‘Survivor’s guilt,’ she said.  ‘I didn’t feel it with my father although there was a fair amount after Brittani passed away.  Now it’s suddenly overwhelming.’

‘It’s my guilt to bear.  I’m the one that came here.  I’m the one taking you out.  It’s not because of you.’

‘Are we doing the right thing?’

‘Yes.’  He fought the urge to turn and look her in the eyes and let her see how much he meant what he was saying.  ‘We deserve a chance.  I’d do anything for you, Yuri.  I’d face Hades a million times over if I thought it would mean we could be together.’

‘I love you.’

Oz closed his eyes, his heart squeezing with emotion.  ‘I love you too.’

They continued to walk.  ‘What was it like for you?’ Oz asked.  ‘Dying, I mean.’

‘There was a lot of fear,’ Yuri admitted.  ‘And pain.  Neither lasted long, however. Afterwards everything seemed dim and cloudy.  I was waiting for a long, long time and I wasn’t sure what I was waiting for.  I just knew that was what I had to do.  And then I was being pulled out and brought to Hades.  That’s all there was.’  She gave a short laugh.  ‘It’s not much of a story.’

Oz smiled faintly.  ‘I’ve had enough of stories.  The two of us should find a quiet corner, untouched by anything or anyone from Olympus and settle down.  The only story that needs to exist from now on is the one between you and me.’

‘What about Orpheus?’

‘The boys will understand.’

‘And Odyssey?’

‘They’re just a business.  They’ll get over it.’  Sudden anxiety struck him. ‘But if you want to stick with
Yell
…’

‘I did,’ she interrupted.  ‘I really did.  Now, I’m not so sure.  I don’t want the rest of my life to be just about a job.’  She paused.  ‘Yes.’

‘Yes what?’

‘Yes, I’ll marry you.’

A huge uncontrollable grin spread across Oz’s face. He needed to say this, however. ‘You don’t have to be beholden to me.  If you decide you don’t want to be with me, then you don’t have to.  It’s enough for me to know you’re still in the world.’

‘Really?  You’d be happy with that?’

‘Well, no, not really.  But I can learn to feel like that.’

‘As if I’d want to be with anyone else,’ she scoffed lightly.  

Oz’s smile broadened even further.  ‘My parents will be made up.  They were gutted when we split up.  Virtually every time I see them these days, they still mention you.’

As Yuri laughed, Oz half stumbled.  There was something up ahead.  ‘There’s light,’ he said with dawning excitement.  ‘Yuri, we’re almost there.’

‘Oh my goodness.’  She whispered the words but her feelings were obvious.  ‘I can’t believe it.’

Oz started moving faster.  ‘I can’t wait to hold you.  I’m never going to let you go again.’

‘I’m right behind you,’ she assured him.

‘Can you run?’

‘Like my life depends on it.’

‘Then let’s do it, baby.’  Heart racing, Oz took a deep breath and began to sprint.  A slight breeze rippling in from above ruffled his hair and involuntary tears sprang to his eyes.  Although he would have whatever was necessary to bring Yuri back, he hadn’t been sure he’d manage it.  All the signs and all the advice were against him.  But now it was really happening while, behind him, Yuri followed, matching him step for step.   

The light grew brighter.  ‘Are you with me?’

‘I’m with you!’

Oz lengthened his stride, the real world – his world – almost within his grasp.  Yuri mimicked his movements but, focused as she was on him, she didn’t notice the ancient gnarled tree root in her path.  In a manner oddly similar to when she’d fallen at the feet of Antaeus, she went sprawling down to the ground.  She opened her mouth to call out to him but a huge hand clamped round her face and she was able to make nothing more than a tiny squeak.

Oblivious to what was happening, Oz burst out of the tunnel and into brilliant, dazzling sunshine.  The warmth on his skin and the glow in his heart couldn’t be surpassed.  He sucked clean air into his lungs and turned just as Hades released his grip on Yuri three feet away in the darkness of the tunnel.

‘I did warn you,’ the god said.

Oz gaped.  ‘But…’

‘You were told not to look back.’

‘I’m out!  We made it out!  We…’

‘No.  You made it out.’  He pointed a long white finger at Yuri.  ‘She did not.  The decision is made.’

Abject horror filled him.  He shook his head and sprang forward, arms outstretched towards Yuri’s pale face.  There was a line, however, where sunlight met darkness and Oz was unable to pass it.  He threw himself towards it with as much force as he could muster, but the invisible barrier simply bounced him back.

‘No,’ he whispered.

Tears welled up in Yuri’s eyes, as much for the pain on his face as for anything else.  ‘We were selfish,’ she said.  ‘We shouldn’t be allowed to cheat death when the rest of the world must abide by its rules.’  She touched her fingers to her lips, then held them out towards him.  ‘Don’t look back, Oz.  I’ll always love you but if I ever meant anything to you, don’t look back.’  Already her form was starting to flicker and fade.

‘Yuri!’ Oz yelled, a hoarse cry that filled that air and sent a cluster of birds on his side fleeing up into the sky.

‘Farewell,’ she whispered.

‘You heard the girl,’ Hades said.  ‘Don’t look back.’  He gave the broken man one swift wink then, with Yuri in tow, vanished completely until all that remained were dark shadows.  There was an odd rumbling sound and then even those disappeared until only a smooth grass covered hillside could be seen.

Oz collapsed to his knees and howled.

The air was brisk, with the sea sending a shiver of cold across the cliff tops despite the blue skies and sunny weather.  The waves far below were high and the pair of surfers expertly manipulated their long boards along them.  Oz tracked them with a vaguely wistful expression, holding his breath for a moment when one lost their balance and fell underneath the water.  A second later, however, he reappeared, head bobbing above the waves and a smile only just discernible on his distant face.

Oz crouched down, plucking a daisy and examining its delicate petals with care.  He stroked the edges, holding it up to the light, then tucked it behind his ear.  Standing back up again, he took a step towards the cliff edge and leaned over, looking down.  It was a long way to the beach.  Oz gazed down, musingly.  It would probably hurt a lot. 

‘You’re not thinking of doing anything rash, are you?’

He turned his head, spotting Medusa.  Despite her light tone, her eyes were sober and concerned.

‘No.’

She moved up beside him.  ‘She liked it here.’

‘Yes.’

Several of the snakes around her head hissed and lifted their heads in Oz’s direction.  She reached up to give them a caress of reassurance and they subsided.

‘They wouldn’t let you into Olympus?’

‘No.’

‘They’d barred the way.’

Oz gazed out over the glittering ocean.  ‘Yes.’

‘You couldn’t find the Underworld entrance again?’

‘No.’

‘And the band?  Orpheus?’

He shrugged.  ‘We’re finished.  Most bands these days have a shelf life anyway.’

A flicker of relief crossed Medusa’s face although it had nothing to do with the demise of Orpheus.  ‘Thank goodness.  I was starting to wonder whether you were capable of saying anything more than yes or no.’

A ghost of a smile traced his lips.  ‘Don’t worry about me.’

‘Yuri would want…’

‘I know what Yuri would want,’ he interrupted.  ‘You don’t need to tell me.’  He looked back down to the bottom of the cliff. 

‘Oz…’

‘Actually, I think I prefer Ozzy after all.’

Medusa blinked.  ‘Okay.’

He sighed.  ‘I’m fine.’  He reached inside his jacket pocket and pulled out a crumpled letter.  ‘Here.’ 

She took it from him, scanning the words written there.  ‘Medical school?  Really?’

‘Just because I’m a musician doesn’t mean I don’t have a brain.  I used to get pretty good grades in school.’

‘I didn’t mean … I just …’

‘It doesn’t matter.’  Oz shoved his hands in his pockets.  ‘I’m not too old to start learning again.’

‘You’re never too old for that.’

‘No,’ he sighed, ‘I suppose not.  Anyway, after a lot of study and a lot of years, I’m going to become a doctor.  Not just your average run of the mill GP.  I’m aiming for surgeon.  Or the emergency room.  Anywhere I can help people to…’

‘Cheat death,’ Medusa finished.

He nodded.  ‘Indeed.  I can’t beat Olympus or Zeus or Hades.  But perhaps I can twist the future just a little bit to be a thorn in their sides.  And it’ll be on my terms.  Not theirs.  I know it’ll be a hard slog but I’m prepared to put in the hours.’  His shoulders drooped for half a beat before he seemed to remember himself and straightened his back again.  ‘It’s not as if I have to worry about anyone or anything else.  Not anymore.’

‘She’d be proud of you.  I’m proud of you.’

Oz reached up, his fingers brushing against the daisy behind his ear.  ‘I’m glad I knew her,’ he said simply.

Medusa took his hand and squeezed it.  Then both of them turned and stared out over the blue horizon.

Other titles by Helen Harper

The Blood Destiny series

Bloodfire

Bloodmagic

Bloodrage

Blood Politics

Bloodlust

The Corrigan series

Corrigan Fire

The Olympiana
series

Eros

The Bo Blackman series

Dire Straits

New Order

High Stakes