CHAPTER 17

I dip my face under the cold stream that flows from the golden faucet. It is similar to an arch, wedged in the black stone. Calypso has not given up on beauty even in this place. The sinks are smooth and opaque oval basins. The blue-green light that comes from some neon lights hidden in grooves on the ceiling enhances a glass wall, beyond which you can glimpse the seabed. The opposite wall, however, is a mirror that makes the bathroom appear much larger than it is.

It’s deserted at the moment. Apparently the mutants are busy with something more exciting than mating in the bathroom. I can hear the screams, so excited they even overpower the music. I inhale and put my hands on the sink, trying to shake off what just happened. I still don’t feel stable enough to present myself before Lilia without losing what little dignity I have left.

I saw the way she looked at me, I am not human, I will never be for her. I will never be for myself either. That is the truth. I close my eyes. The chaos inside me is nothing compared to the hellish bedlam that writhes beyond the corridor.

"It seems someone has returned from Hades."

That voice. No, not this, not him. I can't stand it. I can't even turn around. But I know that won't stop him.

In the blink of an eye, I am slammed into the clear glass. Hermes’ lips on mine, the scent of another time. Another me. I take his face in my hands and tearing him away from my mouth is a physical pain.

“I am no longer Demetrius.” The frantic beating of my heart closes my throat and makes my voice little more than a whisper.

Hermes' obsidian gaze kills me and his lips curved in an amused smile, so close, take away my reason.

“It doesn’t look like it to me.” He tilts his head and nods toward the mirror.

Thick blond hair frames my delicate face, not even the cold lights of the room dull the warm color of my irises and the soft line of my lips.

He tries to kiss me again, but I push him away. “No.”

He lifts one corner of his mouth and lowers his eyelids. “Oh, don’t joke.”

I find myself on my back, my face pressed against the cold glass, a mass of silver sardines darting past. Hermes sinks into my neck and slides a hand between my legs. I can feel his arousal against me and I moan with pleasure.

“That doesn’t sound like a no to me…” His breath in my ear sends shivers down my spine and I want to die right now.

But no, it's not me, I don't want to be. I put my hands on the glass and push it away.

“I told you I’m not Demetrius, not anymore.” This time I don’t have to make any effort to return to my current form.

Hermes crosses his arms and looks me up and down. “You’re not bad even like this. What do you call yourself?”

“I don’t call myself Emanuele.” I point a finger at him. “And don’t you try to touch me again.”

The god curls his lips into a smirk. “Why? Did you like it too much?”

I narrow my gaze. “Did Calypso tell you about me?”

“Who else? But now I owe that bitch.” He grimaces. “It looks like she’s determined to help your girlfriend—and herself, of course.”

"What else did he tell you?"

Hermes bursts out laughing. “You gave me too little to expect all this trust... Emanuele.”

I hear the crowd explode in a roar. What the hell is going on on the other side?

"I don't have time to talk to you."

When I try to walk past him, however, he grabs my wrist. “Is it true? Do you love her?”

I free myself from his grip. “It’s none of your business.”

I'm already in the corridor when I hear his reply.

"More than you love me?"

I curse under my breath and almost run to the balcony. But nothing can prepare me for the scene that appears before my eyes.

That sort of grotesque discotheque has become an arena. And in the center is Lilia against some sort of Indian warrior armed with a long spear. She has just dodged a blow and is now keeping her distance by moving in a circle. How did she end up in this situation?

I start to lunge for the ladder, but a huge man with skin as black as night appears in front of me. His fish-like eyes, round and protruding, roll towards my face.

He moves his gigantic lips, producing words that sound like clucks. “The Nexus can only be accessed by challengers.”

I would change without thinking twice if Calypso didn't put her hand on my shoulder.

“Before you ruin your stay, watch.”

He gestures toward the arena, where Lilia is taking off her jacket. Her face is sweaty and red, her hair plastered to her forehead. Under her tank top I can see her chest rising and falling.

My voice is a low, rough growl. “Damn, I swear if you suc—”

Calypso puts a finger to her lips. “Shh…”

The fight resumes and the warrior thrusts his curved blade into Lilia. I scream, but then I see her move with a precision that shocks me. Her balance is perfect and she seems to be able to predict all of her opponent's attacks. I can't believe it.

"But how is it possible?"

A cold smile crosses the goddess’s lips. “You should tell me, did you know that she speaks almost perfect Greek? If we exclude a few pronunciation errors.”

Any answer dies in my throat. Lilia manages to grab the spear and, with an incredibly skilled lever, manages to unhinge the warrior's wrist.

As if that weren't enough, he swings the gun around like he's never done anything else in his life and has an easy time pointing it at his opponent's throat. If he'd wanted to, the young Peruvian would no longer have a jugular to rely on.

A triumphant smile spreads across her face, her whole face lights up, oblivious to the blood gushing from the corner of her mouth.

The crowd erupts in wild cheers and shouts his name as if he were the new messiah. The uproar surpasses the pounding music, some shout death, others are of the opposite opinion.

When Calypso raises her arm, silence falls suddenly. Even the music dies down and the only sound that remains is the slight vibration of the aerators.

Before the goddess can make her choice, however, Lilia throws the weapon to the ground. The gesture causes a murmur of disapproval, or of astonishment. From the look she gives Calypso it is clear that this is not a mistake. She has chosen what to do, publicly challenging the authority of the goddess.

“What a wonderful little bitch you brought me.” Calypso lowers her arm. “I’ll charge you for the therapy sessions Yaku needs after tonight. And maybe mine, too.”

I bring my face close to his, chewing on my words as I would with his arrogance.

"We're leaving tonight, I was wrong to think you could help us."

"Are you a little nervous, or am I wrong? I take it you've met Hermes before."

«Damn bastar...»

“Emanuele!” Lilia emerges from the stairs and throws herself into my arms. “Did you see?”

Her story rushes by word after word, in a crescendo of excitement and enthusiasm. I mask my anger with a smile and kiss her moist forehead.

“You were incredible.”

“Oh, yes, indeed. Crazy!” He hops, claps his hands, and stands on guard. “Watch out! I can beat you up to my heart’s content!”

"That's for sure."

«Come on, try hitting me!»

«Lilia doesn't...»

"Trial!"

Needless to say, a moment later I find myself on my knees with one arm bent behind my back.

"But you're a loser! Haven't you learned anything in all your lives?"

“Lilia, I’m a shapeshifter, I don’t need to fight to get what I want… Ah!” I scream and the pain blurs my vision.

He laughs and lets me go. “Okay, okay, sorry. You’re free!”

I massage my shoulder and get back on my feet.

“Good, because we're leaving tonight.”

Her eyes widen and joy turns to disappointment. “What? No! Why?”

"There's nothing for us here."

“Allow me to disagree.” Calypso interjects. “I will have definite news about your brother tomorrow, my dear.”

Lilia spreads her arms. “Did you hear that? What’s the point of coming all the way here and then coming back?”

I moisten my lips. "Listen Lilia, you don't understand..."

His gaze becomes fiery. “I don’t understand?”

"I didn't mean that..."

"But you said so!"

Calypso puts a hand on both of their backs. “Boys, you’re tired. I’ve had a room prepared for you so you can rest and clear your heads.”

Lilia steps back and crosses her arms. “My ideas are very clear.”

I put two fingers on my forehead, cursing myself for every choice that led me to this moment. One thing is true, though, I am exhausted.

I need some peace to put myself back together. If I push the rope any further I risk mutating into something truly horrible.

I step away from Calypso, before she throws her off the balcony. “Okay. Just get out of this mess.”

The goddess orders a short, gelatinous-looking man to accompany us. He has blue skin, no hair on his body, and large cerulean eyes. He has no mouth to speak with and walks with disarming slowness, but at least his presence does not worsen the electricity that vibrates every nerve in the body.

“It was incredible, you don’t know what happened in my head, Ema!”

Thankfully, she's left her irritation behind. I try my best to share her excitement, but I know I'm not the best.

“I can’t imagine it.”

I look down the hallway, neutral and functional. It is painted dark gray with minimal decorations running the length of it. The neon lighting creates an atmosphere as dark as my mood.

The air is fresh, but with a faint smell of sea humidity. The floor is made of large ceramic tiles with occasional scratches or signs of wear, evidence of the active life in the submarine base.

At regular intervals along the corridor, metal doors open. They are solid and well-built, with chrome handles and a very sturdy locking system.

Lilia takes my hand. “Did you hear anything I said?”

The little man unlocks a door and opens it, then leaves me a metal card that acts as a key.

I put it in my pocket. “No, I’m sorry. Are you sure you don’t want your own room?”

He frowns. “You want your own room?”

I sigh, feeling like I’m making mistakes in everything I say. “No, I just thought you wanted some privacy.”

"You know what? Maybe you're right."

He asks the little mutant for a room and he offers him one across from mine.

"Good night."

He doesn't even look at me and closes the door behind him before I can answer. Maybe it's better this way, I would have only made things worse. I exchange a glance with the watery eyes of the strange mutant.

"Don't say anything."

The little man shrugs his shoulders as if laughing, then pats me on the side and walks away.

I sigh and enter the small room. This one is also gray, but there is everything a person would need, except a window. It also seems clean, it could have been worse.

I throw myself on the bed and close my eyes. Sleeping is not in my nature, but if I calm down enough I can enter into a kind of deep meditation.

That's what I need. I don't want to think, I don't want to think about anything.