Empress of the Gods

Atarah

Atarah went to visit her sister at August’s farm and saw him on the porch of the house.

“I never got the chance to thank you for everything you have done for my sister,” she told him when she climbed the wooden stairs.

“There is nothing to thank. She helped us too,” he said before he stared at Myrah again. That was part of the reason why she agreed to stay, because she knew that even when it was a wonderful dream that place, they could not stay in there forever. Myrah could stay if she wanted, but she was her sister. Part of her was afraid that they would use her sister to drag her out. So, Myrah was doomed to live in hiding thanks to her. It was not fair. In a certain way, it was like William, he was linked to her life. Linked to her destiny.

Atarah followed August’s gaze when she saw him smiling. Her sister was laughing with his grandmother while she helped her with the basket that was full of apples. “I better helped them,” he excused himself so he could run towards her. She stayed in there watching her sister’s reaction when she saw August approaching her. Myrah smiled, but it was not a wide smile and less when she saw her on the porch of the farm as if she knew what was going to happen or what could not happen.

“You can’t stay here.” Wylan stood next to her. Atarah knew it, and it kept hurting her. “I have a friend in the Golden city that might be able to help you. His name is Jack Grayson. He had been studying everything related to the prophecies and to the creatures’ origins. If someone can help you, it’s him.”

“I understand,” she said without taking her eyes off her sister. If she could, she would let her stay, but there was no guarantee for her or August’s family to be safe if she stayed.

After their short conversation, Wylan excused himself and left her there with her thoughts.

There were no white fluffy cottons in the sky and the sun’s rays covered everything in its path with its warm light. The cold air felt like a blessing, helping her refresh her skin for only a moment before she could feel herself wrapped again in the warm air. Even the songs of birds were pleasant to her ears, making her close her eyes. Her hands were on the edge of the wooden balustrade, trying to calm her thoughts. She took a deep breath and then lowered her gaze without opening her eyes. She was tired of running and feeling that way.

“So, he is practically kicking us out of his property,” Robbie said, leaning on one of the wooden pillars with his gaze facing to the house. “Charming. I wonder how that lovely lady Joanne married him.”

“Could you blame him?” Atarah opened her eyes, looking at him. “He is only protecting his family in the best way he can. Although, I don’t think they would dare hurt him.”

“Come on, Tarah. Do you really think that?” Robbie had his arms folded. “When it comes to preserve power, they would do anything.” Atarah couldn’t help worrying for them, even when they were leaving soon. “The blessed ones from the other realms arrived today, so we need to be extra careful of the time we spend here,” he told her, changing the subject. “Are you still following Rhiannon’s plans?”

“Only the trials.” Then she thought maybe Robbie could train her. After all, he was half-driadae. “Robbie, do you have any gifts?”

“Beyond of having a wonderful voice and looks?” Atarah gave him a look as if she told him he knew what she was talking about. “I’m pretty good at fighting. Don’t … don’t give me that look. I’m serious.”

“Well, I’ve never seen you fight,” she explained to him.

“And you never will unless our lives depend on it,” he looked at her being so confident about himself which made her think he could be a good spy, letting her see a glimpse of who he really was that was a different person that she met.

“Is your real name Robbie?”

“Is it?”

She chuckled and then look at the open field again. If he was such a good spy, he could be there for the dagger too. “If I were you, I would sleep with my eyes open because the moment you even think of betraying us, it won’t be Elysia’s dagger who slits your throat. You have seen what Elysia and I can do, and you know who trained us, so be careful with what you do,” she warned him with a calm voice while she slapped him gently his cheek, barely touching him. In that moment, he didn’t back down or show her fear, but she caught another glimpse of who he really was.

“I wouldn’t expect less from Rhiannon Silverclaw’s daughter,” he said with a half-smile.

“Good.”

“Thanks for the friendly warning.” He put his hands on the wooden balustrade, watching the horizon.

“Anytime.”

“I got the feeling this is the beginning of a really good friendship.”

Then she wondered where William was. She hadn’t seen him since they talked, and he confessed he wanted revenge. She couldn’t judge him because she felt the same thing, but she could see his thirst for revenge in his eyes. She couldn’t say it didn’t scare her because it would be a lie. Which made her wonder what he had planned. If he planned it alone or if he was working with someone else.

She sighed. “William?”

“No clue.”

“No clue? He is your best friend, isn’t he? You went in there singing about him, so you should know where he is.”

“Don’t be jealous, Tarah. I like you more than I like him.” He smirked. “He is probably at the inn.”

“Yes, you might be right.” She tried to sound confident about it, but she couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong.