With My Last Breath

"Knights prefer to die in glory," he confirmed. "They all died a good soldier’s death."

I nodded. I knew he was right. Every knight, every warrior of any type for that matter, wanted to die in battle.

Harmonia.

Ahmose’ voice resounded in my head.

I’m proud of you.

His voice drew me to the window and I stared down, finding Ahmose in the courtyard looking back up at me. He was alive and well and back to his true self, an ancient man with black robes and thick eye-makeup. His black eyes glittered in the sun as brilliant blue lotus blossoms fell from the tree above him, fluttering around his feet.

I’m proud of you. But it isn’t over.

I rolled my eyes and shook my head. Could he not let me enjoy it for just a moment? Of course it wasn’t over. We still had to find where the Fates had imprisoned the Olympian gods and that would most likely be no small feat. But for now, the imminent threats were behind us and that called for a small celebration.

Right after I retrieved my daughter.

I grabbed Cadmus’ hand and pulled him past my parents and out of the room, calling over my shoulder.

"You should plan a dinner, mother. This is cause for celebration!"

Courtney Cole 145

With My Last Breath, Book Three

"Did she just say that she wanted a party?" I heard my mother ask in surprise. I had to smile. She was right. I was normally not one for parties. But we were bringing our daughter home and that was cause for a party if ever there was one.

"We’ve got to get back to Thalassa," I told Cadmus as I pulled him along behind me. "She has Raquel."

"Calm yourself, wife," he instructed patiently. "She’ll still be there when we arrive.

There is no need to break our necks in the process."

At his words, he neatly caught a large vase that I knocked over with my shoulder as I flew past. I laughed and slowed down. He was right. We had been separated from her for several millennia. A few minutes more would not kill us.

As I forced myself to walk slowly down the stairs, I could feel Cadmus containing his laughter behind me, but chose to ignore it. Any mother in her right mind would feel excited in my position and I wasn’t going to try and contain it.

"We should find Hecate before we travel to Avalon Lake," I murmured to him excitedly.

"Did you call for me?"

Hecate appeared behind Cadmus, a brilliant white smile on her lovely face. I shook my head. It has always been said that mortals enjoyed instant gratification. Mortals had nothing on gods.

"Hecate, we must get to Thalassa. I must see my daughter before I explode," I rushed and she laughed, but her face grew serious.

"Harmonia, I have to caution you…something isn’t right. I can feel it."

"What in the world do you mean, Hecate?" I stared at her in confusion.

"Zeus’ sword…" she began haltingly. "No one can control it like he can and I’m afraid… I’m afraid all did not go as planned."

My heart stuttered.

"What do you mean?" I whispered.

"I sheathed Zeus’ sword as planned. And as I did, I offered incantations to undo the Fates’ influence. But I feel as though that was not the correct thing to do."

"What do you mean, witch? Of course it was the correct thing to do. The Fates manipulated so many things throughout the millennia. Of course it needed to stop."

She nodded. "Going forward, yes," she agreed. "But I fear that my incantations have changed some things that we would not have wished to change. And my spell was permanent. It will take Zeus to set it right now."

"What things have been changed?" I asked hesitantly.

"Raquel…" Hecate’s voice trailed off.

The breath froze on my lips as Cadmus’ grip tightened in alarm on my arm.

"My daughter?" I whispered.

Courtney Cole 146

With My Last Breath, Book Three

Without waiting to say another word or ask another question, I faded from the Spiritlands and reappeared on the banks next to Avalon Lake. The mists hung heavy over the water, the lush grasses thick with dew.

"Thalassa?" I called, scanning the area. No one was here but me. "Thalassa?" I called again.

Hecate and Cadmus appeared a few yards away, my husband’s face frantic until he caught sight of me. He rushed to my side.

"Did you find her?" he asked anxiously. I shook my head.

As I did, I noticed ripples forming from the center of the lake. Watching with frozen breath, I waited while Thalassa emerged, walking out of her home beneath the lake. Dripping, she approached me with a smile, holding out her hand.

"Harmonia!" she called joyfully. "I’m so happy that you were victorious!"

She clasped my hand with her cold wet one and grinned again. "Well done!"

"Thalassa," I began quickly. "Where is Raquel?"

She stared at me blankly. "Raquel?" she repeated.

"My daughter," I replied impatiently. "Where is she? You were protecting her.

Where is she?" My voice turned shrill and my heart dropped in my chest at the continued look of confusion on Thalassa’s ethereal face.

"I don’t know what you mean," she said uncertainly, shifting her weight as she stared at me. "I don’t know her."

Hecate broke in gently. "This is what I was trying to tell you. I’m afraid that anything that the Fates had a direct hand in, such as the birth of your daughter, has been skewed or undone. It might be as though your daughter never existed. Or if she does, I do not know where."

My gaze flew to my husband’s face. He was as horrified as I was.

"How do we find her?" he asked, automatically pulling me to his chest. I dropped my forehead against him as I waited for the answer and when it came, I found that I already knew it.

"We must find Zeus," Hecate answered firmly. "He is the only one who can truly command his sword. And with his sword, all can be restored."

They kept talking but their voices faded from my consciousness. I limply rested against Cadmus, shock overwhelming me until it felt I would collapse. With my eyes closed, I felt his strong arms scoop me up and hold me firmly against him.

When I opened my eyes again, I was in my bed in the Spiritlands with my mother fluttering around me like a bird. She was packing my knapsack as Cadmus sat on the edge of the bed, stroking my hand gently.

"Are you alright?" he asked in concern. My eyes welled up with tears and I couldn’t answer.