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He couldn’t help wondering what the past revealed to her. Either she was still processing it or she didn’t want to talk about it. He did his best to never push her before she was ready to share. They walked side by side and it was clear she was lost in replaying whatever it was she saw.
These ruins covered a larger area than The Tholos. Once they reached the temple’s ruins, he stooped and placed his hand on one of the decaying pillars. “Indica mihi quem quaerimus. Reperio.” He waited. Nothing.
Magic was not going to be what unearthed The Book of Prophecy; that was clear to him now. He stood and dusted his hands on his jeans. When his eyes met hers he shook his head. She tried to give him a smile, which seemed more like a grimace before she turned away and wandered around.
He knew she wanted this all to just be over. He did to. Some of the others tried to cast spells to locate the book with the same results. Nothing. Phaedra walked towards him.
“Anything?” She must have figured Willow had a clue or something that would help.
“No.”
She looked out at the mountains. “It’s like looking for a needle in a haystack, but not know which haystack to look in.” The exasperation in her voice was evident. He felt it too.
Why did her mother tell her about the existence of the book, but not where or how to find it? Unlike the ruins of The Tholos that were almost picturesque, the ruins of the Temple of Apollo weren’t much to look at. Here there only remained six jagged columns of varying heights, which stood taller than anything else. The rest of the ruins just consisted of the foundation of what once was a temple people traveled to from all over to visit, and hear the mighty Oracle speak.
A quick flash in his mind showed Willow much the same way she looked the other night in her toga, giving prophecies and visions to the generals and emperors that came to have their destinies revealed to them.
His boot kicked at a few pebbles as he watched Willow walk over to the columns. She had her back to him, her hands wrapped around her torso, almost like she was hugging herself. There was no way she could be cold out here. It was blazing hot. Before he could give it any more thought, the ground rumbled and shook. Then the earth began to fracture, like an earthquake was tearing it apart from the inside. He stumbled around, as did everyone else, trying to find something to hold onto and keep their balance. Out of the corner of his eye he could see some people had been knocked to the ground by the force of the quake.
“Willow!” She was right near a portion of the fragmented ground. She wasn’t looking at him, but she looked terrified. The uneven, shaky ground had her swaying. She’d dropped into a crouch to try and steady herself. There was no way for him to get to her. A vapor or mist rose from the fissures where she stood. Icy fingers wrapped themselves around his heart. What if the gas was poisonous and she breathed it in. “Willow! Cover your mouth!” He tried to yell above the rumbling of the earth that quaked beneath their feet.
Thankfully, she heard him. She covered her mouth and watched with wide, fearful eyes as the vapor rose around her. Seconds later, he saw her hands drop to her sides and her body go rigid, before she fell to the ground convulsing.
Fuck!
Fear, adrenaline and anger coursed through his veins. Agony sunk its teeth into his guts and tore them to ribbons as he watched her writhe on the ground. Was the gas killing her? She wasn’t screaming. Was it because the mystery gas was choking her to death? He attempted to use his magic to try and stop the earthquake. When that didn’t work, he tried to use magic to end whatever was happening to her. Again, nothing. Whatever had caused the earthquake and vapors had also quelled his magic. He was reminded of how helpless he felt on the battlefield watching that spear run through her body.
A frustrated roar erupted from his throat.
Not again.
He would not stand by and watch her suffer again. Even if it meant his life, he would get to her. It was like God or something in the universe heard him, because the ground stilled. The gaseous substance continued to flow from the crevices the earth had cut open around Willow.
Lysander somehow beat him over to her body, but he only came within fifteen or twenty feet of her and didn’t go any further. Eli was about to run past him to get to Willow when Lysander blocked him. “Don’t touch her.” His voice was calm. “Not when she’s like that.”
Despite Lysander’s demeanor, he was anything but calm. He pushed against him. No one and nothing would keep him from saving Willow. “Let me go. She needs me. Look at her.” He shoved against Lysander again. If he had to put this man flat on his ass he would, especially if he didn’t move out of his way.
“I have looked at her and I’m telling you she doesn’t need you. She’s not hurt and she’s not in pain.”
He’d had enough. If Lysander wanted a fight, he was about to get one. Usually, he could keep a cool head, but when it came to her, he wouldn’t stand by and let something happen to her if there was something he could do about it. “If you don’t step out of my way, I won’t apologize for what I do next.” He was ready to use magic to remove Lysander from his path if needed. At this point, everyone had formed around them. He could see Phaedra gearing up for a brawl if it came to that. The other Protectors also looked ready to have his back.
“Look at her eyes.” Lysander didn’t seem fazed one bit by the fact that anger seeped out of every pore or that Eli was close to laying hands on him or worse. “Look.” He said the word more forcefully this time.
Eli’s chest rose and fell with agitation, but reluctantly he let his gaze drift to Willow. Lysander continued to restrain him.
Willow’s eyes had gone a glassy white like they did back at the Walker coven during their last training there, a milky white like he’d just seen at The Tholos ruins when she saw the past. Lysander was right. She wasn’t injured... Willow was seeing the future. His body relaxed and he took a step back.
“The Pythia, the original Oracle of Delphi, Willow’s ancestors saw some of her visions this way. It was not uncommon. It’s not pretty to watch...” He looked over his shoulder at the jerking movements of Willow’s body and limbs and turned back to Eli. “We have to let it take its course. These ruins, this place...” He looked around and up at the sky. “It must have recognized who she was. The Temple of Apollo may no longer stand, but the ancestors know one of their own. This place is still imbued with power.”
Eli could only hope that not only was she seeing the future, hopefully she was getting a glimpse on where to find the book.
As Willow continued in her trance, Arsenio spoke up. “I’ve tried to call Hadrian to see if they experienced the earthquake, but I’ve gotten no response. Maybe I should send some of the men back to make sure everything is all right at the theatre.”
“Good idea.” Lysander threw over his shoulder.
Arsenio pulled two men from the group and gave them instructions. They disappeared into thin air.
Even though he was aware that Willow was in no danger, it didn’t take away his worry or concern. This was still new to her and it was the longest she’d been under. He crossed his arms over his chest and waited.
Morgana came up on one side and Mathilda on his other side. Mathilda put her arm around him. “She’s okay.” Her young voice sounded so strong and sure that it gave him confidence that it was the truth.
“I know you worry about her, but she’s strong. She’s a fighter, that one.” Morgana echoed Mathilda’s reassurances.
He appreciated having them here. It wasn’t easy caring about someone as deeply as he cared for Willow. She’d told him she could take care of herself and he knew that, but it didn’t stop him from wanting to take care of her as well.