The High Court by Chris Ledbetter

Author:Chris Ledbetter [Ledbetter, Chris]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Greek, Roman, mythology, historical, fantasy, superhero, ancient civilizations, teen, young adult, action, adventure
ISBN: 9781948671019
Publisher: Month9Books, LLC
Published: 2018-09-03T07:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

After winding through countless Limnos lower school Nereids, and frantically checking the barracks and the bathhouses, Amphitrite suggested we go to the waterfront. We found a path down the hill from campus to where the bay rushed up to wet the sand. Jagged hills framed the beachscape to our right and left. Metis stood there alone, allowing the surf to wash over her toes. Salty breezes swept her blond tendrils from side to side.

Phi turned to me. “This is her happy place. And mine. That’s how I knew she’d likely be here.”

We approached Metis. She turned slowly, her eyes red and swollen.

“Ummm, yeah …” Phi said. “I think I heard someone calling my name. I’ll leave you two.” She turned to Metis. “Girl, you know I wouldn’t have brought him down here if he wasn’t ready to grovel.” She clicked her teeth and winked, before leaving us.

A thick, briny headwind divided the space between Metis and me. In the silence, I contemplated dual philosophical dilemmas. How does one cross a chasm? How does one eat a pachyderm? The answer wasn’t the same for each. And yet there I stood with the insurmountable task of performing one or the other. Or both.

I cleared my throat. It wasn’t loud enough to be audible above the sea winds and the crash of waves, which also meant that she probably didn’t hear it.

“Sounds like you’re a little nervous over there,” Metis said over the bay noises.

So, she had heard me. “Metis …” Words jumbled in my throat, confused as to the order in which they should emerge. I took a deep breath.

“The guy I knew … the guy I fell for … had confidence for stadia, even when he shouldn’t have.” She wouldn’t even look at me. “He wasn’t a coward. He didn’t push away his allies either.”

I stepped forward, finally having found my voice. “Metis, I don’t know what’s happening to m—”

She whirled toward me. “Those are the first words out of your mouth?”

Dumbfounded, I took a step back.

“Before you say another damn word to me, you have one more chance to get it right.” She turned to me and crossed her arms. Her hazel eyes were icy. “I have already been through one goat dung relationship that I’d just as soon erase from history. But I will not do it again. I’ll be alone before I let you hurt me.” She turned back toward the bay. “Choose your next words wisely.”

I closed my eyes. Memories washed over me … of how we met … of the night in my bungalow after the wrestling championships … the night before we journeyed to the Underworld. A lump swirled in my stomach, stirring a spot of nausea. My throat closed up just before I would’ve spoken. I cleared my throat again. Louder that time. My back began to throb again. I tried to push it back down, at least until I had said what I needed to say.

“Metis, I am sorry. I truly am.”

She slowly turned to me.

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