The Final Turn

The Final Turn
Naos was tired, and the sword he held was nowhere near as powerful as the Harpe was. The injuries of past lives still thrummed through him, but she had to be running out of power, using it like that. He just had to hold on. He’d recover it as soon as the game was won and he had her subdued. With the power he’d drained from half of the nation, he had enough to outlast her. 

People stumbled back in fear as she lifted her spear overhead and a bright light began to collect on the end. She held the Harpe in front of her and projected a bright blue shield. Naos felt his heart skip a beat as clouds collected overhead and thunder rumbled in the sky. Her eyes were on Naos.

He gathered his power and aimed at her, the most deadly thing he could think out. It wouldn’t really work against her but it would slow her down. Then, a familiar, large round, obsidian shield appealed, taking the curse and blocked his view of her. The edge glittered with rubies and red script glowed around the edges.

“Leandros!” Naos screeched as the shield lowered, and Leandros’s eyes, glowing bloody red, came from behind the shield. Blood was streaked across his face, and his expression was grim. "How many times do I have to kill you?"

Pythia’s haunted voice whispered beside him, “And so he will stand against you, Direwolf. The Benevolent you taught ruthlessness.”

Leandros flicked the Harpe toward him and Naos's sword flew out of his hand, up into the lightning Penelope had conjured vanishing. 

“You--”

Leandros darting forward. He saw Leandros slash one, twice, three times. He felt the familiar pain of it as he fell to the ground in pieces. 

“No…” he choked out, struggling to pull himself together. “No—”

The blade cut through his neck, retracing the wounds he’d given Leandros lifetimes ago. He didn’t speak either, and the red glow burned into his mind. 

Then, the sand started to move him. 

“No,” he said, trying to at least roll his head away, but the sand moved faster carrying him toward the trench Penelope’s attacks had opened. 

“No!” His cry echoed in the darkness as he fell and the rift closed around him.



Leandros staggered, eyes burning as he watched the last spear go up and the rift close. A stroke of terror went through him as he looked around waiting for some sign that it had worked and they’d be free of Erebos and his petty jealousy forevrey. 

Leandros relaxed a bit and the Harpe shimmered out of his hand. That had to be a good sign, right?

“Do you think—”

He broke off Penelope launched herself at him, throwing her arms around him. Leandros caught her in his arms and laughed, startled a bit, before lifting her and spinning her around. She shrieked with glee, and they laughed together into the sea wind sweeping over the beach. 

“Do you think it’s over? Really over?”

Light rippled around them. A beacon of light shot up from the highest reach of Delphos’ tower. He looked up and Penelope looked up as well. 

Seidon let out a cry down the beach. It carried as Leandros staggered and the sight of a woman he knew but had only seen in visions appeared a few feet away. Beside her, a man with the same bearing as the statues on the island stood. 

He swallowed and tightened his grip on Penelope. Penelope turned her head and released him, nudging him toward them. 

“Go. They’ve… waited a long time to see you.”

“Not without you.” He gripped her hand and pulled her with him, looking between the couple. 

“Hi Mom… Hi, Dad.”

Tears spilled down Caelth’s cheeks and she wrapped her arms around him. 

“Hello, son.”



The sun was starting to set for the last time on this life as they made their way up the slope to where Hecate’s Wheel sat for the last time. He took her hand, with a sigh. 

“Why did we only get a few days and everyone else got a hundred years?”

She chuckled. “Because everyone else had a lot to do…” She slowed to a stop, holding his hand. “I never told you.”

“I’m pretty sure I’ve got the full picture now.” He paused and turned to her. “But if you want to tell me, I want to hear it.”

She drew a deep breath and met his gaze. “I couldn’t protect you.”

Not what he expected her to say. It startled a laugh out of him.

“Penelope, you’re the butterfly. I’m the snake.” She gave him a patient smile. He blinked. “Aren’t I?”

She shook her head. “No.”

He grimaced. “Let’s pretend I’m the snake.”

She chuckled. “We’ve done that enough, I think.”

“But I’m the Shield. Defender, Protector?” She trailed her hands down his chest. He shivered a bit. “No?”

“Yes, you are all of those things, but you’re the butterfly.” She lowered her gaze, placing a hand over his heart. “Erebos took you, and without you, Hecate’s Fountain and Erebos’ Basin cannot refill. The gods depend on the Fountain to sustain themselves. And they were all desperate, but none more desperate to have you back than me.”

He wrapped his arms around her waist. “Go on.”

“He wanted a gift from each god and the chance to have the wife of his choosing.”

Leandros grimaced. “My mother was first on the list…And he failed the Trials?” She nodded. “Hence the Harpe changed hands.” She nodded. “How long were you plotting to get rid of my uncle?”

“From the moment he decided to set his sights on me.” She twirled a lock of hair at the nape of his neck. “You were not a fighter then, and he knew that. It made him more resentful, and I knew that.”

He squinted at her as the Helm of Thryaon flickered into view. 

“You’ve had it on all this time?” She nodded. “This is exactly why I should be the snake; that is not good for you.”

“It was entirely necessary.”

“You almost killed him.”

“True, but I also had to open your old prison.”

He scoffed. “Right. So I’ve never been far off in saying this was all your scheme.”

“Not at all… But I had never imagined he would be so cruel to you.” She cupped her face. “I wonder often if—”

“That train of thought is exactly why I’m the snake and you’re…. A vicious butterfly.” He kissed her forehead. “Never, in any life, would I have wanted to give you up for my freedom, and never would my father. You in my life is everything to me and always has been. You’re the only reason I have one.” He paused. “Literally and figuratively.”
She chuckled. “I suppose so.”

He turned. “So, my butterfly, my love… my wife. Shall we start our honeymoon finally on the same side of existence for a change?”

“Hardly a honeymoon. We could end up as toddlers.”

“Growing up with you and my parents...all my parents is not a threat.”

She chuckled and followed him to the chamber of Hecate’s Wheel.