Page 11 of Surrendering Hope (The Hope Legacy)

“He set her up,” I add.

Jed nods. “When she opened the Jar, various evils were released upon the world and mankind was forever altered. But here’s where it gets tricky. We believed Pandora had closed the Jar, and it saved hope for when mankind truly needed it. The prophecy led us to believe Pandora was holding hope hostage so the evils could consume the world, which is ultimately what Zeus wanted. He resented mankind. However, Nathan deciphered more of the pictures from the cave. It seems Pandora wrote these symbols, a memoir. It says that as she opened the Jar, various insects flew out and stung her, infecting her with their poison before they took off into the world. But before Pandora closed the Jar, trying to stop any further evil from being released, butterflies flew out and kissed Pandora’s wounds, healing her and infusing her with hope.”

Blinking, I try to make sense of what he’s saying. “You’re saying I’m hope?”

“In the literal sense, yes. Your job has been to stop the Jar from being opened and releasing the ultimate evil.”

“Epic fail,” I mutter as Jed wraps an arm around my shoulders. That’s insane, how can I be an entire emotion?

Duncan frowns. “What about the prophecies in the Codex and scrolls?”

Jed runs a hand through his hair. “They may be hoaxes leading us to do the wrong thing.”

“Aren’t they thousands of years old?” I ask.

“Yes, someone was playing the long game,” Jed says as Zee hands me a steaming mug of coffee.

“Who?” Duncan asks.

“Zeus,” Aaden says, his steel-grey eyes locking onto mine. “If he wanted mankind destroyed he had to play the long game so the legends became shrouded in mystery, making it easy to fool even the most powerful of beings into making the wrong decisions.”

“Except I recorded it in a secret cave on an island of cannibals?”

Jed nods. “Guess so.”

“Still doesn’t answer why Natia doesn’t know who she is,” Duncan says.

Jed shakes his head. “Yeah, we don’t understand either.”

“What does that make you?” I ask Jed.

His grip on my shoulder tightens. “What’s your guess?”

Tilting my head, I open my mouth, shut it, open it again, then slam it shut. Jed chuckles. “Read your Greek mythology,” Jed says.

“You’re a god,” Aaden says. “Which one?”

All eyes snap to Aaden, he shrugs. “I started researching the second we found out what we’re dealing with, it’s not a stretch to say we are dealing with multiple gods.”

“That’s good enough for now,” Jed says, avoiding the question. He’s taken lessons from the master himself, Archan. Despite the strong coffee I’ve now gulped, my head sags onto Jed’s shoulder. He kisses the top of my head. “When was the last time you slept?”

“Erm… I got some last night.”

His eyes soften. “Some?”

I nod, my focus drifting as Duncan speaks. “She sleeps an hour at a time, only six hours altogether since she left Archan four days ago.”

“Nightmares,” I whisper.

Jed wraps another arm around me and drops to the side, tucking me against his body. “Sleep, Natia. I’ll keep the nightmares at bay.”

Chapter Five

Natia

Your attitude problem doesn’t affect a Taurus; we will ignore you, laugh at you, or show you what a real attitude is… The choice is yours.

“Ican’t leave right now,” Jed whispers close to my ear, followed by an extended silence. “No, she’s not been sleeping.” He sighs, sounding torn. “I know, Zac. Yes, my loyalties will always be with the cadre, but we need Natia healthy if she’s going to help us.”

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