CHAPTER 30

Phase of the Navel

“Absolutely out of the question,” Apollo said.

“I stay, or there’s no deal,” Andy said.

“Andy!” Iva said.

Andy turned to her. “You’re not staying alone. That’s all there is to it. If you stay, then I stay.”

Benjamin watched Apollo closely, unsure what the Greek god would do. Apollo looked at Ananya who raised an eyebrow in return.

“So what’s your answer to that, Apollo?” Ananya asked, and Benjamin saw the smile she hid.

Apollo looked from Ananya to Iva to Andy, then back to Ananya. “Delphi is not accustomed to male residents.”

Andy crossed his arms. “I guess you’ll just have to become accustomed to it.”

Apollo glanced once again at Iva. And then Benjamin knew. Apollo would agree. He didn’t want to risk losing Iva. “Fine. But there will be no special privileges made for you. And you cannot—and I repeat—cannot interfere with her work as an oracle. Iva will serve for a year as the high oracle of Delphi.”

“High oracle!” Iva said. “I’m not qualified for that.”

“You are more than qualified to be high oracle of Delphi,” Ananya said.

“When will Iva and Andy return to our time?” Benjamin asked.

Apollo waved dismissively. “They will return when they return. You cannot expect me to be bothered with such petty details. And now if there is nothing else—which I certainly hope there is not—I suggest we head down to the Navel of the World.”

Apollo took the lead, not waiting for anyone to join him. Ananya joined Iva and Heidi, and Benjamin, Andy, and Cory took up the rear.

“Are you really gonna stay?” Benjamin asked Andy.

Andy let out a half-hearted laugh. “Yeah, I am.”

“But you don’t know anything about this time,” Benjamin said. “What if you get into trouble?”

“How much trouble could I get into?” Andy asked.

“I can’t imagine my time is much different than yours,” Cory said. “And I think it is a very courageous offer you are making.”

“Yeah, I agree,” Benjamin said, and he felt a weird sense of pride for Andy well up in him. “I have to admit, I am surprised.”

Andy shrugged. “I just don’t think Iva should stay back here alone. And if no one else is around, what’s to say Apollo doesn’t just keep her here forever?”

“That’s a good point,” Benjamin said. “But with her busy being the high oracle of Delphi, what are you going to do for a year?”

“I haven’t quite figured that out yet,” Andy said. “But I’d have to guess there’d be plenty to explore, even just inside the city. And with the way all this time travel stuff works and all, we’ll probably get back to Lemuria a couple minutes after you guys.”

“Yeah, that’s true,” Benjamin said. “And a year older.” Talk about weird.

The crowd was gone when they reached the bottom of the hill. Visiting hours were over and the sun had sunk low on the horizon. The blindfolded oracle still sat upon the dais in front of the Navel of the World.

Apollo walked directly over to her and stopped. “Leave us now.”

The girl quickly rose and hurried away from the area. Even with her blindfold intact, she didn’t stumble. Benjamin could sense her fear as she walked away. Would Iva feel the same fear in the year to come? Benjamin didn’t know what he could do for her now. The decision had been made, and he needed to get back to Lemuria as soon as possible.

“Do you speak to all your oracles so?” Ananya asked Apollo.

“Only those who displease me,” Apollo said. “Which seem to be all of them these days.” He walked directly to the Navel and placed his hand palm down on top of its intricately carved surface. It sprang to life, light emanating from a seam around the center of the stone. “Quickly now. You three must gather round. If you need to say goodbye, then I suggest you do so immediately. The Navel of the World acts quickly. There will be no time for goodbyes once you touch the stone.”

Benjamin turned first to Iva. “I’m not sure what to say, Iva. Thank you for doing this for me. For me and for Cory.”

“There’s nothing to thank me about. You know as well as I do that this was my destiny. You saw me here in Delphi. Remember?”

Benjamin immediately remembered the vision. How could he have forgotten? He had seen Iva. He nodded. “I remember. Just be careful. I don’t trust Apollo.”

“I will. I promise. Plus I’ll have Andy here to take care of me. I’ll see you before you know it.”

He next turned to Andy. “Seriously. Try not to get in trouble. And take good care of Iva.”

“It’s the only reason I’m staying,” Andy said.

When Benjamin turned to Ananya she smiled at him. “So we say goodbye again, Benjamin Holt, but once again, not for the last time.” He noticed Chaos, her monkey, still sat on her shoulder.

“When will I see you next?” he asked.

“I cannot say,” Ananya said. “I can only say that it will come to pass.”

“Will you be able to stay here and help Iva and Andy?”

“No. The path they have chosen is their own to tread. And they will do fine. I will, however, come back in a year to make sure Apollo keeps his end of the deal. Try to stay away from Kronos. He is only trouble.”

“Thank you for everything,” Benjamin said. “I’ll look forward to the next time we meet.”

“As will I, Benjamin Holt.”

“Is everyone ready?” Apollo asked, not waiting for a reply. “Place both hands on the Navel as quickly as you can.”

Benjamin didn’t hesitate; he did exactly as Apollo instructed. The Navel of the World flared out, casting light the entire way across the dais. In his mind, Benjamin felt the presence of Cory and Heidi. And the crunching began. But no sooner had it started that it stopped, and the light from the Navel began to dim.

Benjamin looked up across the Navel to the new presence he felt there.

“Nathan.”

Nathan smiled. “Benjamin. Did you really think you were going somewhere?”

Benjamin pushed his hand down harder on the Navel, hoping that might help, but it remained lifeless.

“I’m telejamming it,” Nathan said in answer to Benjamin’s unvoiced thoughts.

Near him, Benjamin saw Apollo step forward. “Get out of my city. You are not welcome here.”

Nathan turned to Apollo. “This has nothing to do with you. I suggest you stay out of it.”

“In my city, everything has to do with me,” Apollo said. “You have been banned from ever setting foot in here again.”

Nathan laughed. “Your ban won’t keep the oracle from dying. How dare she tell me such a future?”

Iva stepped forward. “The oracle wouldn’t lie.”

Nathan turned his head slowly to look at Iva. Benjamin willed her to silence. Why had she drawn attention to herself?

“Now what do we have here, Apollo? A new oracle?” His eyebrows went up. “A new high oracle?”

Iva glared at him, even as Andy stepped in front of her. “Leave her alone, Nathan.” And then Andy lunged for Nathan.

Nathan lifted a hand off the Navel and extended it, trying to push Andy aside with an invisible force. But Andy’s telekinetic strength didn’t fail him. He stopped in his tracks and put up his own hand, and there they fought pushing one against the other.

Under his own hands, Benjamin felt the power of the Navel flare. With Nathan distracted, there was a chance he’d take his other hand off it, and Benjamin, Cory, and Heidi could use it to get out of here.

“I think when I’m done killing the oracle who gave me such a horrible future, I’ll kill your new high oracle, Apollo. What would you do then?”

Iva. He was talking about killing Iva.

“I would kill you, of course,” Apollo said, and energy sizzled through the air.

“We can’t let Nathan stay back here,” Benjamin said to Cory and Heidi in his mind.

“I know,” Cory said.

“But what can we do?” Heidi said. “He’s telejamming the power of the Navel.”

“But if he stays he’ll kill Iva,” Benjamin said.

“If there was only some way to stop the telejamming,” Cory said.

Benjamin wracked his brain, going through everything he’d learned in telejamming this summer. With as strong as Nathan was, there was no way Benjamin would have the power in his own mind to stop it. And then he remembered at the start of summer when he’d joined minds with Iva. In addition to sharing each other’s thoughts, their powers had been combined.

“Yes, Benjamin,” Heidi said in his mind. She’d apparently followed along with his line of thought. “I think it will work.”

“What?” Cory said.

“We combine minds,” Benjamin said. “We combine minds and fight Nathan together.”

Outside of their minds, the electricity cracked in the air. Benjamin felt the battle between Andy and Nathan, between Apollo and Nathan. And felt Nathan’s still unwavering hold over the power of the Navel. But if this was going to work, Benjamin needed to force everything else from his mind. To focus only on Cory and Heidi and the hold Nathan’s mind had on the Navel.

He reached out with his thoughts and found Heidi and Cory there. And within seconds he’d been able to join with Cory’s mind. But as soon as he tried to grab for Heidi’s also, the link severed. So he tried again, first grabbing Cory’s mind, and then trying for Heidi’s also. And again it fell away. The energy from Apollo sizzled around him, but still Nathan fought it.

“Heidi, I can’t form a link with you,” Benjamin said.

“I know,” Heidi said. “You and Cory will have to do it on your own.”

“No,” Benjamin said. “We need your telepathic strength.”

“No you don’t,” Heidi said.

Cory shook his head. “We’re not strong enough.”

“Together you will be,” Heidi said. “Remember your twin brothers, Benjamin? Remember the Deimos twins?”

Immediately Benjamin knew she was right. Derrick and Douglas were off the charts when it came to telekinesis And Helios and Selene Deimos ruled an entire world. He and Cory should be able to defeat Nathan Nyx. He grabbed back hold of Cory’s mind and linked with it again. And then using every bit of telekinetic combined forces they could muster, they started pushing on Nathan’s mind.

Outside of Benjamin’s mind, the battle stopped. Nathan’s other hand flew back onto the Navel. Benjamin and Cory pushed harder on his mind, and under their fingers, it sprang to life. The crunching sounds began again, and this time they didn’t stop. Then, before Nathan had time to attempt to stop them, Benjamin, Heidi, Cory, and Nathan began to phase away.

Benjamin waited until his shadow disappeared, and then he knew he needed to act. He couldn’t leave Nathan behind to kill Iva and possibly Andy also. And he couldn’t bring him back and have to fight him anew.

“Cory…”

“I know,” Cory’s thoughts returned to Benjamin.

And within a split second, using their linked minds, Benjamin and Cory telekinetically pushed Nathan’s hands from the Navel of the World, right in the middle of the temporal phasing. And Nathan disappeared.

The crunching grew so loud, Benjamin thought his eardrums might burst. But a few seconds later, the noise diminished, and Benjamin felt his body uncrunch and again felt grass beneath his feet. It was dark, and the journey was over. There were here. Somewhere. Somewhen. And Nathan was not with them.

A quick glance around told him exactly where they’d ended up.

“Delphi,” Heidi said.

“I can’t believe Apollo let this happen.” Cory’s jaw dropped open as he looked around at the ruins.

“Frankly, after meeting Apollo, I can’t either,” Benjamin said. “It makes me wonder why.”

“That was close,” Heidi said.

“Too close,” Cory said.

Heidi bit her lip. “Do you think Iva will be all right?”

Benjamin squeezed his eyes shut and tried to force the horrible image he had there from his mind. “I hope so. But it’s out of our control.”

“Andy is there with her,” Cory said. “And Apollo will also protect her.”

Heidi nodded. “Yeah, I know. But who knows where Nathan ended up.”

“Not to mention he could find a way back at any time,” Cory said.

Benjamin laughed. “Maybe he got stuck back in the crusades. Maybe he’ll get executed.”

Heidi smiled. “That would be nice. But pretty unlikely.”

“His power was strong,” Cory said. “Stronger than Achilles.”

“Who is stronger than Achilles?”

Benjamin felt the familiar thoughts in his mind just as he heard the voice. His muscles relaxed as he saw Helios Deimos striding toward them.

“Nathan Nyx. The man who worked for my dad in Wondersky City.”

“Do we need to worry about him?” Helios asked.

Quickly, they explained to Helios what had happened with Nathan, both before the trip back and the unfortunate encounters with him in the past. Helios listened the whole time, only interrupting once or twice with a question.

“We need to put out alerts,” Helios said. “He does not sound like the type who will let himself be confined.” He looked away, outward, and Benjamin felt a solid mind block go up around Helios. Within moments Helios again returned to the conversation. “Selene is setting up global alerts for Nathan Nyx. And she is notifying your father of the situation.”

“My father as in my dad in Virginia?” Benjamin asked. It was a weird question, but after all the confusion Nathan had caused, he just wanted to be sure.

“Yes, your father in Virginia. The father who raised you.” Helios turned his attention to Cory. “I see you are a couple members short but have gained a new ally along the way.”

With all three of them filling in the gaps, Helios learned the story of the retrieval of Cory, the trip to Delphi, and the ensuing deal made with Apollo there.

“So he’s causing trouble even three thousand years ago.”

Heidi sighed and her eyes got a glazy look. “He seemed so nice at first.”

“That’s because he wanted something,” Helios said. “He must have been able to sense Iva’s telegnostic abilities miles away. Even years away.”

“He said Iva was going to be the high oracle of Delphi,” Heidi said.

“And I believe she will be remembered as one of the best,” Helios said. “History would confirm that a female of unknown origin sat upon the high seat in Delphi years ago and prophesied for all the world to hear.”

“You mean we can read about Iva in history?” Benjamin knew as soon as he told Gary, Gary would run to the nearest library to research it.

Helios nodded. “But as much as I would enjoy being able to stay and catch up, I’m afraid I must be on with my business.”

“And we probably should get back to school,” Benjamin said, wondering at the same time he said it if Cory would go to school; he was just so old.

“Yes, but only the two of you,” Helios said, pointing at Benjamin and Heidi.

Benjamin glanced over at his new-found brother. “I figured Cory could just come back with me.”

“I have other plans for Cory,” Helios said. “Though in the future your combined powers may be required, for now Cory will have other obligations. Obligations which do not involve learning telekinesis at summer school.”

Benjamin’s heart started to pound. “But we just met. I thought we could spend a little time getting to know each other.”

“I understand,” Helios said. “Though it is not to be. You, too, Benjamin, have other duties.”

Benjamin shook his head. What was Helios thinking? It wasn’t fair that Cory would be taken away so soon. “Where will Cory be going?”

“A secret assignment,” Helios said. “I’m afraid I cannot share the nature of the assignment with even you.”

Apparently the secret assignment thing surprised Cory. “What will I do? I’m from three thousand years ago.”

“Yeah. That’s a good point,” Benjamin said. “A lot of things have changed in three thousand years.”

“And many things have remained the same,” Helios said. “You will do just fine, Cory. But to be safe, you’ll be working with someone else.”

“Who?” Benjamin asked.

Helios shook his head. “Sorry, Benjamin. That’s classified information.”

“When will Benjamin and I see each other next?” Cory asked.

“I have no idea.” Helios took a few steps back, away from Benjamin, Heidi, and Cory. “And now, Cory, if you will please join me.”

Cory looked at Benjamin, and Benjamin could see the sense of loss in his eyes. But he noticed those same eyes held no fear. Cory’s eyes were those of a trained warrior. Trained his whole life. Cory would take the assignment ahead of him and tackle it with all that he could. Benjamin fought against the lump he felt in his throat and forced a smile onto his face.

“Come back safely, okay?” Benjamin said.

“I’ll come back safely, and I’ll come back soon,” Cory said. “You just find our other brother and be waiting for me.” He embraced Benjamin first and then turned to Heidi. “I’m glad you didn’t become a concubine for Achilles.”

Heidi laughed. “Me too.”

Cory moved away from Heidi and Benjamin, stepping over to where Helios waited. And then Helios grabbed Cory’s wrist, and they teleported away.