Chapter 6 - Feverish Dream

As I got to the lawn in front of the castle, colours danced on my skin. My entire body was enclosed in a mixture of colours. 

“What…. Bruce, what’s happening to me?” Fear gripped me. My body was in a war with itself. My power was pushing but my conscious mind tried to contain it. 

“Malia, look at me.” Mia commanded. 

“Breathe honey, breathe. It’s ok. Stop fighting it. Everything is going to be alright. It’s ok to let go.”

I shivered with the amount of power that felt like it would rip my insides out. By this time all who came to the memorial gathering were now surrounding me and looking on. 

“No! Get back! Get away from me please…..” I pleaded and fell to my knees on the cold hard ground. I didn’t want to hurt anyone. I would rather this absurd power kill me first before I harm anyone.

Before long my vision started to get spotty. I felt my body go limp. The last thing I saw before darkness consumed me was a white light exploding from me and engulfing the entire area and a pair of eyes that was full of worry. 

“Nooooo!” I screamed. Seeing one of the monsters attack my sister and I’m just there frozen in place not able to move my arms or legs to save her. 

“Malia. Malia.” A man's voice called out to me but I didn't recognise it nor could I see who was calling me.

“Aaliyah run!” I croaked with tears in my eyes helpless to the scene in front of me. My heart tugged in my chest. Bruce… Bruce is close and he can save her. Where is he? I can’t see him. I tried calling him but no sound came out.

“Malia god damn it wake up mi amor!” The same voice as before yelled but I still didn’t recognise it.

“Her fever broke so she should be good in a few days. Keep her hydrated and she needs plenty of rest. These past few days have been hard on her. If she continues fighting the power she can cause serious harm to herself.” A female said. 

“Thank you doctor.” Mia's voice rang as clear as day in my ear but she was a few feet away from me.

I opened my eyes to see a woman’s back exiting my room. 

“Aaliyah” I tried to call but my words came out as a whisper.

“Shhhh. Shhhh. She’s ok.” Bruce came to me with an exhausted looking posture. What happened to him? My throat felt sore, and my lips were parched. Before I could say anymore he brought water to my lips.

“Bruce. What happened?” I looked at him with confusion running through my mind.

“You need to rest Lia. We can talk later.” He tried to brush it off but I won’t let him.

“Bruce!” My voice was soft but my tone was stern.

“My apologies, my Queen.” He said with his head bowed and knelt by my side. I felt like I was getting whiplash.

“Because you were fighting against your power and not working with it your body was in agony which caused you to go into a mini comatose state with a high fever.” My mind couldn’t catch up. What in the world was this boy saying? Comatose. Fever. Wait!

“How long was I….” I couldn’t finish. Fear was lurking around me.

“Two days.” Bruce at that time finally looked up at me. But his eyes flashed a bright gold before it went back to black. 

Before I could think anything through. Mia came and tucked me in. She touched my forehead with her thumb and the last thing I saw before heading into sleep was her smiling face which gave me a sense of comfort.

The next day when I woke up I was no longer feeling under the weather and was now pissed off. “Ok that’s it. I’m done being mopey and scared I need to know what the hell is going on.” From my room I marched straight into Ryan’s study. There were five men that fell silent with my intrusion. My eyes locked onto Ryan.

“Get out!” I didn’t care who I offended. I needed answers and I need them now. 

“As you wish your-” I glared at the man who was about to use my so-called royal name. Which caused him to shut up and four out of the five men left immediately. 

The fifth however remained seated with his back to me not acknowledging my presence. This annoyed me. He annoyed me. For the love of god. If he wants to stay fine.

I’m angry now so who was better to take that anger out on? Yes, that so-called shit that said he fathered me. The royal pain in my ass is none other than Ryan. I locked angry eyes on him 

“Now!” I said through gritted teeth but the word came out sharp and precise. I saw him slightly wince and the other guy cleared his throat and fixed his collar. 

“Have a seat.” He gestured for the vacant seat next to the stranger whom I saw slowly rested his hand back to the chair’s armrest. God! his hand was sexy. My mind wandered to what he could do with that hand… I mentally kicked myself. 

Without a word I folded my arms and glared at Ryan again. This time he held up both hands in surrender.

“Have it your way then. Well then I think you’re finally ready.” He paused for a moment 

“You’re….. Remember I told you about demigods?” I sighed. This again. 

“Yes you did. But I didn’t say I believe you.” I wanted to pelt something but I needed him to start talking and making sense so before I blew his head off I gritted my teeth and  stayed silent.

“Well…. you’re much more than that. There’s a prophecy thousands of years ago, that a descendant of Metis would one day walk the earth and conquer the creation of Hades. However you're not only a descendant but I believe the goddess Athena dwells within you. Or at least her spirit dwells within you.”

My knees suddenly felt like they couldn't support my one hundred and ten pound body anymore so I sat on the same chair that was offered to me earlier. 

“Athena… do you mean to say… Athena. Ok back up a sec.” My elbows are now resting on either side of the armrests and my ten fingers are massaging my temples. “The goddess of war Athena is either living inside me or I’m her.” He nodded. “Now can you tell me how you came up with that ridiculous idea.”

“Because you’re my mate.” The stranger said, which made me turn to look at him on my right for the first time. My breath hitched. It’s a sin to be that sexy. 

“Excuse me?” What the hell is a mate and did he say I’m his?