The Pandora Curse (Greek Myth Series Book 4) (21 page)

“That is the most disgusting thing I’ve ever done,” she complained, getting off her horse and quickly giving the reins to the stable boy. Nikolai did the same with his horse and followed Vara from the stalls.

“You could have told me you were afraid of snakes. If I had known, I never would have asked you to come along.”

“I am not afraid,” she snapped.

“You are too. I am not blind. I saw the way you jumped when they came near. I wouldn’t have thought Vara the Conqueror was afraid of anything.”

“I am not afraid!” she repeated. “I just don’t like the feel of them. They’re too slimy.”

“Snakes are not slimy. But I don’t expect you to know that since you refused to touch them.” He chuckled, which only roiled her more.

“You’re laughing at me and I don’t like it.” She walked faster toward the castle.

“I am not laughing at you, Vara. I am just chuckling because I can’t help but think of how high you jumped when I touched your leg with that stick.”

“You think this is all a laughing matter, don’t you?”

“I am just amused, I guess. It is good to know that you are not that different than the rest of us after all.”

She grabbed him by the tunic and pulled him to her. He held back the laugh that was threatening to spill from his lips because he saw the darkness of her eyes. She had looked so cute today poking between the rocks with a stick, and holding her gown close around her legs. He liked it. He liked to know she wasn’t as hardened as she portrayed. She was acting more and more like a lady every day.

“If you so much as say a word about this to anyone,” she threatened him in a low voice, “I will personally injure you in a way that would never let you enjoy coupling again.”

“Now, is that any way to talk to the man you’re falling in love with?”

She let go of his tunic and let out a small growl. Then she headed for the castle. He heard her calling to a servant to bring her a tub of water. He was sure she would scrub hard and long to rid herself of anything having to do with today.

“I don’t suppose that means you’ll be helping me again tomorrow?” he called after her.

She picked up a rock and threw it at him. He dodged it and laughed again.

“You’d better be careful so she doesn’t hurt you,” came a voice from behind him.

He turned around to see the stable boy standing there watching them. The more he looked at him, the more he realized he had never seen this boy before. He wasn’t very healthy looking. And he smelled as if he hadn’t had a bath in a year.

“Did I hear you say she doesn’t like snakes?” asked the boy. “Well, now I know one thing she won’t eat. I wish I had known that long ago.”

“Baruch?” He looked closer through the dark and realized the boy’s skin did have a greenish tint to it.

“Well, did you think I was going to risk being seen in my beautiful form? I’m a little embarrassed to have to look so ugly, but I had to come up with something fast when I heard you two ride in the gate.”

He found it amusing that Baruch thought his green blob of a body was beautiful, yet when he shifted into the form of a human, he found it hideous indeed.

“So you shapeshifted into a human,” he said with a nod of his head. “Good choice.”

“Why not? After all, it’s a step up from being sweat. I just don’t do it very often because I find humans very unappealing.”

“Sorry about that. Walk with me while we talk.”

“I saw you on the beach today looking for snakes. I would have stayed around, but I didn’t know if you’d be doing anything . . . disgusting with Vara. I really didn’t want to watch that.”

“No, we were doing nothing disgusting, although I’m not sure Vara would agree.”

“I heard you say Hera turned your father into a snake.”

Just hearing those words made Nikolai feel sick.

“I gazed into the past to find this out. Now I know why Hera never told me I could see the past as well as the future. She never wanted me to find out. She wanted me to think my father abandoned me so I would hate him.”

They entered the castle and walked up the steps toward the bedchamber. They only spoke when no one else was around.

“Does this mean you’re angry enough with Hera not to finish your mission?”

“I thought about doing just that,” Nikolai said. “But I care too much about Vara to let her suffer the rest of her life with her vices. I will finish what I started, and I must do it quickly.”

He approached the chamber door, and when there was no one watching, they both went inside. He didn’t want rumors he was entertaining a stable boy in his room. He had enough trouble with people thinking he was entertaining women.

“Do you mean to finish quickly so you can continue the search for your father?”

“Yes, Baruch. I know the snake has the eye of the peacock on its belly. I also know he is in the area northwest of here near the water. That is, if he is still alive.”

“Then let’s make a plan and collect the rest of Vara’s vices as quickly as possible. We need to finish before Zeus finds out what we’re doing.”

“My thoughts exactly,” he agreed. “Tomorrow we will collect the vice of jealousy.”

“How are we going to do that?”

“Well, since you can shapeshift into a human, it should be easy. You just shift into the form of Calanthra, and we’ll make sure Vara sees that there is nothing going on between us. She’ll feel so foolish that she’ll never want to be jealous again.”

“Oh, no,” he complained. “I don’t like being female. I already told you that.”

“This is no longer a matter of preference, Baruch. This is a matter of desperation. Hera sent you to help me and you haven’t even been around for the last two days.”

“I’ve been shapeshifting into inconspicuous forms and following Agatha. She’s been sneaking down to the dungeon to see her father. I’ve been trying to keep her safe.”

“She has?” Nikolai asked curiously. “The poor girl. She must be so upset. You’re doing the right thing, Baruch. I’m sure Vara would never want anything to happen to her.”

“I’m not doing it for Vara,” he sniffed. “Besides, I don’t believe Agatha wants anything to do with the woman who locked her father in the dungeon.”

“Baruch, I need to count on your help if I’m going to collect the vice of jealousy tomorrow. Now will you be there?”

“Oh, all right. I’ll do it, but I’m not going to kiss you.”

“Believe me, Baruch. I would not kiss you even in a desperate situation. Now get a good night’s rest, as we have plenty of work to do come morning.”

Eighteen

Nikolai answered the knock at the door to find Calanthra standing there. Or so it looked.

“Baruch, is that you?” he asked quietly.

“I don’t like to admit it, but it is,” Baruch whispered back. Nikolai had instructed the minion to chew on spearmint leaves before he took the shape of Calanthra. He knew Vara would never believe it was her lady-in-waiting once she smelled his foul breath. Now he smelled less foul and more minty.

“Are you sure Vara saw you come up here?”

“Positive. She’s following up the stairs as we speak.”

“Good. Then go ahead and do as we’ve rehearsed.”

Baruch rolled his eyes and shifted uncomfortably. “Is this really necessary?”

“It is if we want to collect another vice. Now say your lines quickly. Here she comes.”

Baruch sighed and opened his mouth, sounding just like Baruch.

“Oh, Niko - ”

Nikolai cleared his throat, and the minion realized his mistake. He made his voice several octaves higher, and spoke louder.

“Oh, Nikolai, I just have to talk with you. May I please come in?”

Nikolai made sure he saw Vara out of the corner of his eye watching, and then he answered so she could hear him.

“No, Calanthra, you can’t. I have no feelings for you. It is Vara who takes my interest. There is nothing between us. It is only Vara that I care about.”

The minion faced Nikolai, his nose scrunching up and his eyes rolling back in his head. “Uh, I forgot what comes next,” he whispered.

“You tell me you love someone else and always have,” he whispered.

“Oh, right.” The minion cleared his throat and continued. “I love someone else and always have. I just came to tell you that. You are only a friend to me and nothing else. I think you and Vara are a perfect pair.”

The minion, his back to where Vara was standing, stuck out his tongue with that last sentence, letting Nikolai know he did not agree.

“Well, thank you for telling me that, Calanthra. But like I said, I never loved you and never will.”

“Thank you,” Baruch said, then lowered his voice and spoke in a whisper. “Are we done now?”

Nikolai glanced quickly toward Vara and saw her smiling.

“I think so. Now go before she finds out who you really are.”

“Gladly.” Baruch headed down the corridor at a near run, just as Vara came toward them.

“Oh, Nikolai, I just heard your conversation with Calanthra.” She threw her arms around him and hugged him. “You weren’t lying. You really don’t love her. I am so happy.”

“Don’t you feel foolish now for not believing me?” he asked.

She pulled away and slowly nodded her head. “I do,” she agreed. “I promise I will never feel that way again. From now on, I will always believe you. I will never be jealous again.”

He saw the green fog rising above her head and knew he had to capture it quickly in the bottle.

“So you’re giving up the vice of jealousy?”

“Yes, I am,” she said proudly. “I no longer need to be jealous after what I just heard between you and Calanthra.”

“Is that a rat?” he asked, pointing down the hall.

“Where?” she asked, turning her head. He quickly pulled the vial from his pouch and uncorked it. The green fog slipped silently inside. He corked it back up and dropped it back into his pouch just as she turned around.

“I don’t see any rat.”

“Oh, I guess it was my mistake. Sorry.” He cleared his throat. “Actually, I was hoping to see you,” he said, devising a plan to make her leave. “I am going out to look for my father again. I wanted to know if you would come along?”

Her smile disappeared, and she fidgeted with the tie on her gown. “No. I can’t.” She backed away and headed down the corridor. “I have to instruct the sword practice going on in the courtyard. Wish I could help you, but you understand.”

“More than you know.”

He grinned in triumph as she hurried away. Just as she left, something scurried over his feet and entered the room. When he realized it was a green tinted mouse, he entered the room and closed the door.

The mouse turned into Baruch. The minion ran over and washed out his mouth in the water basin.

“Yuck, ugh. Ooo, argh.”

“Baruch, what is the matter? You act as if you’ve tasted poison.”

“Well, if you had to taste Zetes’s mouth, you’d think you’d been poisoned too.”

“Zetes?” Nikolai laughed. “Don’t tell me he kissed you?”

“All right, I won’t tell you. But it seems Calanthra really does love someone else. I guess since she couldn’t have you, she started up an affair with Zetes. He cornered me in the corridor just after I left your room. He not only kissed me, but tried to feel under my gown. I don’t think he expected to have a punch to his jaw in return.”

“You hit him?”

“I did.” He rubbed his scrawny little hand with the other.  “I had no idea his face was so hard.”

“Well, your little acting role was worth its weight in gold.”

“It was?” Baruch looked up with bright eyes. “Did you capture the vice of jealousy?”

“I sure did.” Nikolai held up the vile of green and showed it to Baruch. The minion did his absurd dance of joy and tried to get Nikolai to join him.

“Come on, Niko. Loosen up and dance.”

Nikolai scowled. “I’ll dance when all the vices are collected and I no longer have to deceive Vara.”

“I’ll hold you to that promise,” stated Baruch. “So what’s next? Do we go after the last vice? Have you got a plan yet?”

“I have no plan whatsoever. Jealousy was easy, as I knew what made Vara feel that way. But anger, that’s a little harder. She seems to get angry for everything and anything. I am not so sure how we’re going to trick her into giving up that one.”

“Well, if you want, I’ll help you spend the day thinking up a plan while we search for your father.”

“Really?” Nikolai felt touched that the little minion would even offer. “You would help me find my father?”

“Yah, I would Niko. After all, I owe you for saving my life more than once. Plus, I think I know a way to make the search faster.”

“How?”

“I can shift into the form of a snake and talk with the other snakes.”

“I didn’t know you could talk to snakes.”

“There is a lot you don’t know about minions.” He brushed invisible lint from his arm. “I’ll talk to the others and see if any of them have seen your father.”

“What are we waiting for? Let’s go.”

*  *  *

Vara hurried away from Nikolai’s room, hoping she sounded convincing as to why she couldn’t help him look for his father. There was no way she was going to spend another day on the beach flipping snakes over to look at their bellies.

She shivered just thinking about it. She hoped he’d find his father, but she didn’t want to be the one to help him do it. Not when he was in that form, anyway.

She passed Calanthra in the corridor. “Calanthra,” she called, and the woman turned back. She looked as if she’d been crying.

“Yes, my lady?”

“I just wanted to say I was happy to hear what you said to Nikolai earlier. I hope my previous jealousy hasn’t made you hate me.”

The girl looked very confused, and Vara had a funny feeling in the pit of her stomach.

“I am sorry, my lady, but I know not of what you speak. I have not gone near Nikolai since you warned me not to.”

“What are you saying?” Vara wondered if the girl was lying, but it didn’t make any sense. Why would she lie when she was being applauded for her behavior? “I saw you talking with Nikolai outside his bedchamber door just moments ago, yet you deny it?”

She broke down and wept, her words coming out in a trembling tone.

“I swear to you, I don’t know what you are talking about. I did not see Nikolai today.”

“Why are you crying, Calanthra? Did something else happen?”

“Oh, Vara, I didn’t tell you, but I’ve been coupling with Zetes.”

“Zetes?” Vara felt foolish that she didn’t know this. “Did something happen between you?”

“He accused me of p-punching him in the jaw when he tried to k-kiss me earlier, but I never did such a thing. I love him. I would not do that. Still, just like you, he says I did something I did not. I d-don’t understand w-what’s going on.”

“Go to your chamber and rest for awhile, Calanthra. Do not give it another thought. I’ll have a talk with Zetes for you. I am sure he’ll be back at your door by this evening.”

“Oh thank you, thank you, my lady.” The girl curtseyed several times, then ran down the hall crying.

Vara pondered the situation, settling herself at the hearth in the great hall wondering just what Nikolai was up to. She had seen him putting another vial in his pouch this morning, just after he distracted her with his claim of seeing a rat. He didn’t think she saw him, but she did.

This vial was green, so it couldn’t have been the same as before. She wondered what it was. What kind of excuse he would give her this time?

“He would lie,” she said aloud, talking to herself. “That’s why I can’t ask him. I just have to find out for myself.”

“Pardon me, my queen, but did you say something?” Zetes approached her, looking very upset. His jaw was bruised and actually swollen.

“I was just talking to myself,” she said, studying his jaw. “What happened to you?”

Zetes looked away. “I had to break up a fight in the practice yard this morning. Things got a little out of hand.”

“I see.” She knew Zetes would never admit he’d been hit by a girl. Pride was something that meant everything to a warrior. “Tell me, Zetes, have you noticed anything odd going on around here lately?”

“Odd?” He shifted from one foot to the other. “How so?”

“Oh, I don’t know. Have you seen anyone on the premises that doesn’t belong here?”

He thought about it and then nodded. “I did see a stable boy last night that I didn’t recognize. He was walking and talking with Nikolai, so I figured he knew him.”

“Have you seen this stable boy since?”

He thought about it and then shook his head. “No, I haven’t. It’s almost like he disappeared into thin air.”

“How about any green-tinged rats?” she asked.

“Rats? What do you mean?”

“Never mind. Tell me, do we house old mares in our stables?”

“No, my lady. All our horses are young, strong, and fast.”

“Have you ever heard of anyone polishing a gargoyle before?”

“My lady?” He looked at her in utter confusion.

“Disregard that,” she told him, not wanting to explain it. “The fact is inevitable. Something is not right around here. Odd things have been happening, don’t you agree?”

He rubbed his jaw and answered cautiously. “Perhaps.”

“Keep close watch, Zetes.” She got up from her seat. “Let me know if you see anything at all out of the ordinary.”

“Yes, my queen.”

She started away, but then turned back. “Oh, and you may want to be kind to Calanthra. She is having a very trying day.”

“Yes, my lady.” He bit his cheek and looked away. “I’ll do that.”

Vara had to oversee her men on the practice field. She needed to practice also to keep her new figure. But as soon as she stepped outside, she saw Agatha watching her from behind the well. She pretended not to notice her, or she knew the girl would run away. Instead, she made her way to the orchard, picked a flower along the way, and sat down in the sun under an apple tree. She looked from the corner of her eye and saw Agatha following.

“My, look at that cloud,” she said aloud, twirling the flower in her fingers. She looked to the sky. “It looks like an apple.” Agatha sneaked behind the trunk of a nearby tree. “I love playing the game of looking at clouds. I only wish I had someone to play with.”

Agatha hid behind another tree, a little closer.

Vara picked an apple from a low branch and bit into it. “Ummmm. Delicious. But I wish I had someone to share it with. I am sooooo lonely.”

That did it. Agatha stepped out from behind the tree and Vara pretended to be surprised. “Oh, my. You scared me.” She held her hand to her heart.

Agatha came even closer. “I’m sorry.”

Vara smiled, and it was just what the little girl needed to approach her.

“I have a flower for you, Agatha. This one doesn’t have thorns. I want to replace the one I smashed and tell you I’m sorry.”

Agatha cautiously reached out and took it, then backed away.

“You can stay if you want. I would like that. If you want, we can look at clouds and see things in them. Nikolai taught me that game.”

“He did?” Her trust was coming back and Vara was glad. Once Nikolai’s name was mentioned, she sat down by Vara’s feet. “I like Nikolai. He’s funny, just like Baruch.”

“Baruch?” asked Vara. “Who is he? One of your little play friends?”