And those eyes . . .
They were beguiling and terrifying.
After he was done, he brought his treasure to me and laid it out in a circle so that I could choose which apples I wanted first. He was always considerate that way. Thinking of others before himself.
"Do you think Father will come and visit soon?" he asked as he lay on his side, watching me eat my apple.
I could sense that he was probing me to see if I were lying. His silvery, swirling eyes were so disturbing whenever he held that gimlet stare. No wonder Uncle beat him for looking at people. It was disconcerting and even frightening to be under such bold scrutiny.
But he didn't deserve to be hit for something he couldn't help.
"I'm thinking you and I should take a trip in a few days to visit a queen."
He looked away, disappointed, as he toyed with his own apple.
Wanting to soothe and reassure him, I reached out to brush his golden hair out of his eyes.
"Is that the tenderness of true affection you spoke of?" he asked me in a hesitant voice. "The one where people who love you, touch you without asking for anything in return?"
"Yes," I answered.
He smiled at me, openly and honestly like a child. "I think I like it."
Then I heard something that made my heart stop beating.
There were several footsteps drawing near. I knew there shouldn't be any such sound in our temporary paradise. Petra and Maia were busy in the kitchen. Petra's husband had gone to town and the rest were busy with their duties.
Only one person would come with someone else.
I knew it was Father the instant Acheron sat up, his face overjoyed.
I closed my eyes and ached in terror as I forced myself to stand and turn around to confront him. His face angry, Father stood between the old stone columns that marked the opening of the orchard with Styxx by his side.
My blood froze in my veins.
I wanted to tell Acheron to run and hide, but it was too late. They were already too close.
Just three more days and he would have been safely away from here. I wanted to weep.
"Father," I said quietly. "Why are you here?"
"Where have you been?" he demanded as he moved forward. "I have searched and searched until it dawned on me to come here."
"I told you, I wanted time-"
"Father?" Acheron's excited voice filled my ears. This was the first time the boy had seen him since Father had sent him away.
Horrified, I watched him run to embrace his father. Unlike Acheron, I knew what reception he'd receive.
Not one ever to disappoint me, Father shoved him away ruthlessly and raked him with a repugnant grimace.
Acheron frowned in confusion as he looked to me for an explanation.
I couldn't speak. How could I tell him that I'd lied to him when all I had wanted was to make his life better?
"How dare you steal him from Atlantis!" Father snarled.
I opened my mouth to explain, but was distracted by the way the twins studied each other. I was entranced by their mutual curiosity. Even though each of them knew the other existed, they hadn't been together in over a decade. Neither of them really remembered what it was like to see and interact with the other one.