The Pandora Curse (Greek Myth Series Book 4) (22 page)

“No, he’s the funny little green man in Nikolai’s room.”

“Funny little green man? Oh, you mean Nikolai’s stone gargoyle. He does look funny, doesn’t he?”

“He dances and twirls his tail and plays hide-and-seek with me. He’s nice.”

“Agatha, the gargoyle is just a statue. He can’t really do those things.”

“But he can. And he turns to green smoke and disappears.”

“Smoke? What do you mean?”

“Just like what Nikolai keeps in those little bottles. The monsters. But Baruch is a nice monster, that’s why he’s different.”

“Monsters in little bottles?” Vara thought of the vials she’d seen filled with colors in Nikolai’s pouch. He was hiding something from her, and mayhap Agatha could tell her what. “What kind of monsters, Agatha? And why is he putting them in bottles?”

“I can’t tell you.” She held her finger to her mouth and whispered. “It’s a secret.”

“A secret?” she asked. “From whom?”

Agatha jumped up and ran away, clutching tightly to her flower.

“Wait!” Vara got to her feet. “Agatha, come back.”

Vara felt defeated by not finding out more of Nikolai’s secret, but at the same time she knew she’d accomplished something. She’d broken through the wall of fear, and Agatha was talking to her once again. Now, if only they could be friends.

Nineteen

Nikolai entered his chamber anxiously, with Baruch sitting on his shoulder in bug form. He closed the door and hurried over to the bed, placing the sack containing the snake upon it.

Baruch shifted back into his regular form, smiling at Nikolai from ear to ear.

“We did it, Niko. We found your father.”

“You did it, Baruch. I never could have found him without you.”

He dumped the contents of the bag onto the bed and his father slithered out in snake form. Nikolai picked him up gently and turned him over to look once again at the eye of the peacock, Hera’s mark, tattooed on his stomach.

“He wanted me to tell you how sorry he was for leaving you in the first place,” relayed Baruch. “He said it was a mistake to confront Hera. She is an evil goddess. You shouldn’t trust her.”

“Father,” Nikolai said, talking to the snake. “It is all right. I understand why you did it. Now we have to find a way to change you back.”

“You can’t,” Baruch said with a frown. “It’s Hera’s spell and only she can change him back to his human form.”

“She’ll never do it. I will have to trick her somehow. Either that, or you’ll have to convince her, Baruch.”

“Me?” Nikolai saw the fear in the minion’s eyes. “If she finds out I helped you find your father, she’ll vaporize me. Please,” he begged, “don’t make me do it.”

“All right, Baruch, calm down. I am grateful for the help you’ve already given me. I will find another way. But in the meantime, I’ll need to find somewhere safe to keep Father.”

He put the snake down and took off the pouch with the vials and placed it on the bed. Then he put the snake in the larger bag and tied it around his waist. “I am going to find a container to keep him in. Also, to get him food. I will be back shortly.”

“All right, Niko, take your time. I’ll just stay here and rest.”

Nikolai headed for the door, but before he left, he gave Baruch one last instruction.

“Don’t even think about sleeping in my bed.”

*  *  *

Vara had a good day’s practice. Her men were handling their weapons with expertise and were more than ready for another raid. They didn’t understand why she’d refused. But since she’d given up her vice of greed, she didn’t have any desire to take from others what was not hers. She’d actually found a new hobby now. She had made friends with a few of the ladies of the castle and would take time every day to socialize. The women all sat in a room sewing and weaving. She had learned to make her own gowns, and had even been working on a special tapestry for Nikolai, since she had shredded the one in his chamber. She wanted to keep it a secret until she could show him the finished product.

The ladies were in awe of her talent with the needle, as well as the loom. She, too, was surprised at how quickly she’d learned these tasks. She had almost forgotten that in her blood was the gift of Athena which carried the knowledge and talent to do domestic things.

She liked this change in herself, but still there were things she was not proud of. If anyone angered her, she would not think twice about attacking their village, even if pillaging was no longer an option. She was still a warrior, and a good battle was something she had not had in too long a time.

She headed up the steps, wondering if Nikolai had yet to return. She wanted to take a look around his room and find out more about those vials.

She thought about his ugly gargoyle and wondered why in the name of Zeus he would want something like that in his chamber. And why would little Agatha claim to have played with it? She acted as if the thing were alive. She pitied the little girl. She was so desperate for playmates that she had to make them up.

Instead of going to her own chamber, she headed directly for Nikolai’s. When she was sure no one saw her, she put her hand on the door latch, and finding it open, let herself in.

She knew he wasn’t here. If he had been inside, he would have barred the door. She glanced around the room, not exactly sure what she was looking for. She half expected to see that hideous gargoyle staring at her from by the window, but thankfully it was gone. She hoped he had gotten rid of it forever.

Her eyes settled on the bed and her heart stood still. This was her lucky day. The pouch containing the mysterious vials lay in plain sight and unguarded. She hurried over to the bed and reached out for the bag. She opened it and looked inside to see five vials. Four of them looked to be filled with different colored liquids. Or smoke, as Agatha had called it.

“That’s odd,” she said, noticing the red one. “Nikolai told me he polished his gargoyle with that.” Why was she not surprised?

She reached out to pull it from the pouch, but just then, something flew at her and tangled in her hair. She dropped the pouch to the bed and swatted at whatever it was.

It broke loose, and she realized it was only a bat. Not a black or brown one, but one that almost looked green. She noticed a putrid odor coming from it, and figured it must have been in the stables.

Once again she reached for the pouch, but just like the first time, the bat buzzed around her head. She waved her arms and tried to catch it, and then she lost her temper.

“Stop bothering me!” she screamed and swatted at it hard. She managed to hit it and it fell to the floor, stunned. “That’s better.” She brushed off her hands and continued with her exploration. She picked up the pouch and opened it. She reached for the red vial first, and heard Nikolai’s voice crying out.

“Stop, Vara! Don’t touch it.”

She looked to the door to see him standing there with a small earthenware trough of some sort. An empty bag was flung over his shoulder. Agatha peeked out from behind him.

“You’ve been lying to me, Nikolai. I demand to know what is in these vials.”

He walked forward slowly, holding out his hand in warning. It was almost as if, should he make any fast movements, he thought something was going to explode.

“Vara, I admit I haven’t been all that truthful with you. But what I’m about to say, I swear is the honest truth. If you touch those vials, you’ll die.”

“That’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard. Almost as ridiculous as believing you were polishing a stone gargoyle.” She opened the bag wider. “I’ve already touched a vial the first time I saw them, yet I’m still alive.”

“That was a different one, Vara. It wasn’t one of these. Now please, don’t touch them.”

She ignored him. “I am curious.” She shifted her attention from him to the bag.

“I found my father today, Vara.” He slowly put down the trough and pulled from it a very large snake. He held it out and walked closer.”

Her heart jumped, and panic set in. He knew she was afraid of snakes. What was he doing? She gripped the pouch and backed up.

“You are trying to scare me, Nikolai. Well, it’s not going to work. I have the pouch and I’m going to look at the vials.”

He took a step closer, and this time when she backed up, she fell upon the bed. The pouch fell out of her hand atop the covers.

“I don’t want to do this, Vara, but I’m afraid I can’t let you touch those.”

He tossed the snake gently onto the bed and it slithered toward her. Her body frozen, she could do nothing but stare. The snake coiled up around the pouch in a protective manner. She jumped off the bed and ran for the door. She crashed into Nikolai and he held on to her.

“Let me go,” she said, pounding her fists into him. “I hate you. I hate everything about you.”

“Vara, you don’t understand. Only a demi-god can touch those vials. They are from my mother, Hera. If you touch them, you will die instantly.”

“I don’t believe you,” she snarled. “All I ever get from you is lies.”

“You have to believe me, Vara. Please.”

He’s lying. Don’t believe him.

He has something to hide.

You need to know what it is. You deserve to know.

Go touch the vials. Go get the vials.

She tried to push the Furies out of her head, but they were stronger than ever now. Her anger peaked, and she was so frustrated with Nikolai and his lies that she decided her anger was even stronger than her fear of the snake.

She pushed out of Nikolai’s arms.

“I am tired of your lies, Nikolai. Give me one reason why I should believe you?”

When he said nothing, she lunged for the bed, no longer caring about her fears. She pushed the snake aside and grabbed the pouch. She ripped it open, ready to grab the vials.

“Because I love you!” came Nikolai’s reply. Her hand stilled, and her heart told her his words were sincere.

“What did you say?” She looked up as he came closer. There was fear in his eyes, but they were also tinged with something she hadn’t seen before. Could it be love? She wanted to believe it. This is what she had been waiting for.

“I said I love you, Vara. I love you and I mean it. I don’t want you to touch the vials because if you do, I will lose you forever.”

He is lying
, hissed the voices in her head.

He doesn’t love you. He loves Calanthra
.

She knew that wasn’t true. She’d felt it deep inside. Calanthra meant nothing to him. He really did care for just her. He wouldn’t lie about something as important as this. If he was going to lie about it, he would have done so that day on the beach.

“Then if you love me, let me look at these vials.”

“No.” Agatha stepped into the room. “I don’t want you to die. Please don’t touch the monsters.”

Silence filled the room. Something touched her hardened heart and swept her curiosity aside. It wasn’t only Nikolai’s words of,
I love you
, but also Agatha’s words,
I don’t want you to die
. Two people cared enough about her to try to stop her from doing something they were convinced was wrong. She’d never had anyone care for her that way before. It was a feeling that could never be replaced.

“All right,” she said gently. She put the pouch down and scooted to the edge of the bed. “I believe you.”

No! It’s not true.

Hit him. Fight him.

Grind him into the ground for the way he’s been acting.

The girl is your enemy, of course she’ll lie.

“Enough,” she shouted, closing her eyes and holding her pounding head. “I can’t stand this any longer.”

“Vara?” Nikolai reached out cautiously and pulled her to him. “Who are you talking to?”

“The Furies,” she shouted. “I do not want to hear them any more. I have made my decision. I believe you love me. I believe Agatha doesn’t want me to die. I refuse to be angry toward anyone ever again.”

“So what are you saying?” asked Nikolai. “That you are going to give up your last vice of anger?”

“Yes. I give it up. I release it completely. I give up anger forever. I never want to feel that way again.”

She saw him, as well as Agatha, looking above her head. When she looked up, she discovered why. A black, dark cloud floated above her, swirling in circles. It was ugly and felt evil.

“What is it, Nikolai? What’s happening to me?”

“It’s the monster,” whispered Agatha.

Nikolai let go of her and reached over the snake to pull the last empty vial from the pouch.

“Trust me, Vara. It is something you don’t want.”

He uncorked the vial and the black cloud was sucked into the glass tube. When it was all contained he trapped it inside and slipped it back into his pouch with the others.

She felt so light. So free, as if a thousand weights had been lifted from her shoulders. A warm sensation ran through her, and everything was brighter, and cleaner, and happier. She noticed things she had never noticed before.

The warm glow from Nikolai’s eyes. The beauty of Agatha’s face as she held tightly to her flower. The vibrant green trees out the window. The smell of the fresh summer breeze blowing into the room. It smelled like earth and rain, and sunshine. She walked over to Nikolai’s standing mirror, gazing at her image within. She looked into her own eyes. She looked very deeply. Instead of the horrid creature she had seen before, now she saw a glowing white coming from her heart.

“My vices are in those vials, aren’t they?” she asked, looking at Nikolai in the mirror.

He looked down to the pouch and nodded slowly.

She turned to him with so many questions she didn’t know where to start.

“Why couldn’t you tell me?” She felt a tugging at her heart.

“It was a secret,” said Agatha with a finger to her mouth. Nikolai reached out and patted her on the head.

“Hera instructed me not to,” he told her.

“So am I free from my vices forever?”

“You will be as soon as I complete the last task.”

“What is that?” she asked eagerly.

He was silent and looked to the window instead of at her.

“I am sorry, Vara, but I really can’t tell you. I have already told you more than I should. I am not even sure this is going to work, since you now know what I was doing.”