Page 49 of Eris

"And they are more demanding and cryptic than any oracle." Eris gave his hand a gentle squeeze. "Are you picking up anything yet?"

"Nothing more than a presence of her. A feeling that this is where she wants to go. Maybe it's more symbolic for her, and there won't be another vision involved," Enzo said hopefully. He didn't like his chances, but he doubted anything could be as bad as what he had experienced on Crete.

They reached the top of the mountain in the afternoon. There were a few cars and a bus at the top, filled with day trippers wanting photos of the view of the forest and ocean. Enzo got the palladium safely into its bag before they got out of the car. It hummed on his back, and his legs began to walk off on their own.

"Eris, it's happening," he said, and she quickly took his hand.

"I'm with you, Enzo. I won't let anything happen to you," she promised.

"Good, because we are going into the forest." The trance slid around his skin like a warm blanket. He was vaguely aware of Eris's touch, but he couldn't see her. The visions were hitting him thick and fast. He saw flashes of three goddesses, standing with Hermes and a young man with dark hair.

The part of him that was still Enzo was amazed at how much Aphrodite looked like Nonna Bianca. They had the same laughing eyes, full lips, and bronze-gold hair. Her skin was golden brown, and she wore a lavender dress that complemented her features.

Athena was dressed in a white chiton with a brown belt and sandals. She had bronze vambraces on her forearms and carried a sword, her dark hair in a simple braid. There was no mistaking her for Atana except her energy seemed so much less potent than Enzo's last vision of her. Even the golden snakes that adorned her strong biceps were missing.

Hera was dressed in purple and gold silk, her dark braids looping around a crown of stars. She was stunningly beautiful, but Enzo was terrified of the cold power in her eyes.

"Choose mortal," she said, and the dark-haired youth didn't hesitate as he tossed the apple in his hand to Aphrodite. Hera's eyes flashed with power. "Mistake," she hissed and vanished.

Athena's gray eyes connected with Enzo, and her brows drew together in confusion. Enzo stumbled out of the vision, and he was back in his own body. He was on his knees by a stream. Thepalladium was beside him where he had been scooping handfuls of water over her.

"Enzo? Baby, are you back in there?" Eris asked, resting a hand on his shoulder.

"I'm here… I think she saw me," he stammered. He could taste blood and realized it was his own. His nose was bleeding. "Fuck." He rinsed his face in the stream and had a flash of Aeneas doing the same thing to get the ash and char smell of dead bodies from his skin. He saw the palladium beside him where he had carried her all the way from Troy. Enzo wondered if he had ever known how Athena herself had fought against his people because of Paris's slight. Still, he loved the goddess enough to carry the palladium away from the city.

"Eris, we need to get… We need to get to Troy," Enzo said, his words slurring as ancient power began to drag him under. "The memories. I can't hold them back."

"I've got you, Enzo. I'll keep you safe," Eris said, her lovely face hovering above his as he sank back to the damp earth and let the power overwhelm him.

CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

The next time Enzo woke, it was dark, and he was back in the car. He was in the passenger seat with a towel wrapped around his neck like a bib. It was stained with blood.

"What happened now?" he groaned.

"Don't move! Just don't fucking move," Eris snapped, tears in her eyes.

Enzo reached over and placed a hand on her leg. "It's just a nosebleed. It won't kill me."

"I might if you don't stop worrying me," she said and wiped her cheeks. "We are almost at Troy. I'm not waiting a second longer while you are still attached to the palladium. We break in if we have to. I don't care."

"By the stream, I saw the day that Paris gave the apple to Aphrodite. She looked so much like Bianca," Enzo said, using the towel to try and clean up his face. "Athena, she…she looked right at me like she was confused to see me there. I have Aeneas's memories of being there with the palladium after Troy fell. It's so strange to feel so connected to things that happened so long ago."

Eris reached over and stroked his hair. "This will be over soon. I'm not going to let it hurt you anymore."

Enzo caught her hand and kissed it. "I'm going to be okay. I swear. How much longer?"

"According to my maps, it takes about ten more minutes. Drink that bottle of water by your feet."

Enzo did as he was told. He was covered in bits of leaf and sand from the stream bed. He must look like a fright to have Eris so worried. He didn't have a headache. He was just thirsty and felt hollowed out inside.

"Hey, do you want to go and do thermal pools after this?" he asked.

In the light of the dashboard, her lips twitched. "Don't you dare make me laugh after I have been losing my mind for the past two hours. Are all mortals this difficult?"

"Only the best ones. Just remember I'm worth it for how hard I make you come," Enzo replied, waggling his brows at her.

Eris did laugh then. "I hope so because I am going to need all the orgasms to get over the stress you have put me through today."

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