Chapter 318 - New Alliance (1/2)

”Yes, like that.” Ry reassuring voice boomed from deep inside the kitchen as Jos and Arei walked through the main doors of the room. The giant man was bent tentatively over the shoulder of one of the palace cooks. The young girl seemed to be enthralled in whatever it was he was teaching.

Arei chuckled as he and Jos entered the room. ”Does this mean we're in time for some fresh breakfast?” He asked as he pulled out a stool from the bar for Jos.

Ry only grunted as he ȧssisted the girl with the large pan.

”Where's Russ?” Jos asked.

”Still upstairs... Hasn't left the remaining girls' sides since the accident.” He didn't take his focus away from the girl. ”Easy does it.” He murmured soothingly.

Arei let out a sigh as he took a seat beside Jos. ”Look... we need to talk.” His eyes moved meaningfully to the girl when Ry turned to meet his gaze.

Ry nodded as he turned and patted the girl's head lightly. ”You did well. I'll call for you when it's ready to come out.” The girl didn't need any further directions, she gave him a slight bow before turning and making her way from the room. His curious eyes followed her until she was out of sight before moving to Arei and Jos. He gave Jos a faint smile. ”How are you feeling this morning?”

She could feel a hot blush creep up her neck. ”Good, thank you.” She glanced away in embarrassment.

He arched a brow with a slight uptilt to his lips. ”No need to be shy about it now, you sure weren't yesterday when you were beating our ȧsses.” He sent her a playful wink.

”This is serious, Ry. Our father is up to something... He pulled Jos to the side earlier this morning for a private conversation and then disappeared before I could even question him.” Arei said.

Ry crossed his arms over his ċhėst as he leaned against the counter. ”So? He's not the same as he once was. He's changed a lot in the past couple hundred years. Don't you think it's time you give him another chance?”

Arei arched a brow. ”Oh really?” He gently lifted Jos's arm. ”He took the watch off and got rid of it. What do you think that's about?”

Ry quickly recovered his surprise and shrugged. ”I don't know. What did he say when he did it?”

Jos tried her best to retail the earlier conversation. She wrung her hands nervously. ”Even as I repeat it a second time, nothing he said makes sense.” Her eyes moved back and forth between the brothers. Ry what is it exactly you guys do for your father?”

Arei and Ry's eyes met, exchanging silent words. Arei finally nodded and Ry let out a heavy sigh. Ry ran his fingers through his short hair. ”After seeing you best the both of us for a second time while in complete control, it's not hard to figure out where his mind is with this. After all, your mother's father is one of the few people Zeus fears...”

Arei nodded as he pulled Jos closer to him. ”And if our suspicions are correct about the dreams, the son of the second has already been lending a hand.”

Jos tilted her head up at Arei in question. ”I'm lost. Who exactly are you talking about, and what do my mother and her father have to do with this?”

Arei cupped her chin and studied her. ”You recall, I told you your mother's father is the titan Atlas, right?”

She nodded. ”Yes... and?”

His brows furrowed. ”Have you not researched anything on your family in all this time?”

She shook her head, still in his grip. ”No... They abandoned me... I didn't feel I owed them any consideration...”

Arei's eyes moved to Ry, silently begging for ȧssistance. Ry let out a frustrated sigh. ”You and that damn kid both... It's no damn wonder he's so clueless...” Ry filled his cheeks with air and blew it out in a huff. ”Atlas led the rebellion against Zeus and the other Olympians in the Titanomachy... and they nearly won.” He ran his hand over his short hair. ”And if we're right the key player in the near success of the last coup against Zeus has been coming to you in your dreams and trying to help.” He glared at her in bȧrėly masked irritation. ”Tell me you at least know who Morpheus is... who his mother is?”

Jos nodded, her gaze becoming focused. The mention of his name seemed to unlock something inside her mind, Images began flashing through her mind, giving her an instant headache. ”Ugh...”

Arei steadied her on the stool. ”What is it, kitten?”

She rubbed her throbbing temples. ”It's almost as bad as when my memories started to return...” She muttered. Looking up at him with one eye squeezed tightly shut, she whispered. ”I think I know what he is trying to tell me...”

Before anything else could be said, a light knock sounded against the already open kitchen doors. ”I hope I'm not interrupting... I was hoping to have a word with Joslyn...” Drake said leaning his head against the doorframe. There were bruises peeking out from the collar of the buŧŧon-up shirt he wore along with a bandage on one side of his neck.

”Well, you look worse for wear... Aren't vampires supposed to have speedy recoveries?” Ry asked.

Drake shrugged. ”They do if they consume enough blood...”

Ry arched a brow. ”And let me guess, you're one of those more holier than thou vampires who only drink enough to survive?”

Drake smiled weakly. ”Yeah, I am... got a problem with it?”

Ry shrugged. ”Nah... but you seem to...”

He pushed away from the door frame. ”I'll live...” His gaze moved back to Jos. ”What do you say? Can I have a word with you...” His gaze moved pointedly back and forth between the giant twins. ”Alone?”

Jos sent Arei a questioning glance. He shrugged. ”Only if you feel comfortable doing so.” He chuckled. ”We already know you're more than capable of taking care of yourself.”

Jos nodded and pushed up from the stool. ”Aright.”

Jos walked around the abandoned music room, running her fingers over the frames of each picture as she did so. ”You're not afraid to be alone with me?” She asked not taking her attention away from the art.

Drake shook his head as he wiped the dust from the piano bench and sat down. ”No...” He said distractedly as he lifted the lid and ran his fingers experimentally over the ivory keys.

”I agreed to this because I also have some questions for you... will that be agreeable?” She watched his reflection from the corner of her eyes as she continued walking around the room.

”That's fine...” He began playing an unfamiliar, sad song. ”You know, you didn't have to use your siren powers on me. I would have been more than willing to take you to my mother... I still am for that matter.”

She frowned as he circled back around to the piano. ”Because of the pull? The attraction?”

He shook his head as his fingers moved skillfully across the keys. ”No, because I despise her, and she deserves death...”