Page 120 of Love, Nemesis
Cal stared at Lethe as if shocked he’d say the words to her.
Ana looked back at the painting, legs stretching out as her arms hung limp by her sides.
She kept looking at the painting until she rolled onto her hands and knees and positioned herself directly before it.
“But I’m just one man, Ana,” Lethe said.
The painting seemed to bring her a strange sense of peace. She reached her hand and touched the canvas.
“Ares figured it out,” Ana said after a while. “How do we?”
Lethe approached her, standing over her as she flattened a hand on the painting.
“I’m going back to the State,” she said hoarsely. “Hailey wants Chronos. I have my own conditions.”
“Right now? That’s insane! You froze them all,” Cal argued.
“Cal, can you get her some water?” Lethe replied back sharply, and Cal nodded and rushed outside to the nearby well.
“It was only a second for them,” Ana said, reaching up as Lethe caught her arm and helped her to her feet.
“Why all of a sudden?” Lethe asked as she steadied herself against him.
“He forgave them,” Ana replied, looking back at the canvas. “Ares gave up his plan to attack the capital. He forgave them. I’d be a hypocrite if I turned on the State now.”
“How do you know?” Lethe asked, searching the room.
“He told me,” she replied, gesturing to the painting. “That’s not mine.”
Lethe looked back over it, inspecting it closely. Through his new eyes, he saw small fingerprints of sentiment and intention. He’d have to look closer to confirm if what Ana said was true.
“You got all that from a painting?” Cal asked, hauling in a sloshing bucket from outside.
“Yes,” Ana replied.
“And you’re sure? I’m not. Not at all, actually,” Cal said as he dunked a cup inside and handed it to her.
“Yes. Let’s go.” She pushed off of Lethe, finding her stride as she started back to the door. She reached for it, hand hitting the doorframe and missing the door. She rubbed her head, leaning into the doorframe.
Lethe took the water from Cal and handed it to her. She drank thirstily before explaining, “Chronos can have some strange effects on people. I’ll get better as long as I don’t use it again,” she said, exhaling as she seemed to struggle against some feeling of sickness inside her. “Let’s go,” she repeated, pushing off again. Her knee buckled and he caught her.
“All right. No,” Lethe said, pulling her into him as he slid down the doorframe and sat them both against the floor, taking the cup from her. “You can go back, but tomorrow.”
“He’ll come after us,” Ana said, but she didn’t lift her head from his chest. She stared out at her horse, but he could feel every ounce of energy in her body centered on staying focused on anything at all.
“Ana, Hailey isn’t coming to meet us,” Lethe said. “We need you to rest some, all right? Cal. Go up the path and keep watch. As soon as you see any of Hailey’s men, you ride back.”
“Lethe, that’s risky for Cal,” Ana objected.
“I accept,” Cal said, leaping over them as he walked through the door. “You can trust me! I’m a hero now.”
“Cal, be careful,” Ana said.
Cal waved back. “I’ve got it.”
He jumped on his horse and charged off.
“I think your arrogance rubbed off on him,” she whispered, watching him go.
