The Gatekeeper's Secret: Gatekeeper's Saga, Book Five (The Gatekeeper's Saga) by Eva Pohler
Authors: Eva Pohler
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who looked up to see Therese and the golden god had disappeared. “What’s happened to him? Another seizure? Bobby, call 9-1-1!”
Bobby went to the old rotary phone on the barn wall and made the call while her mother and Mr. Stern tried to revive Pete. Jen watched on, still dazed by what she’d seen.
Therese? Jen prayed. What’s going on? I’m scared to death.
Therese appeared on her knees beside Jen and wrapped her arms around her. Apparently the others couldn’t see her friend.
“He’s okay,” Therese whispered in a barely audible voice just before she disappeared.
Therese’s gesture should have made Jen feel better, perhaps, but it didn’t. She was angry that the gods were using her brother in a way that clearly made him sick. And she was determined to make them stop.
***
Than was alarmed when, after Therese and Apollo made their report to Hades, she asked him for a word alone in their rooms.
“What is it?” he asked, anticipating the worst. Maybe she discovered who was fated to die on their wedding day.
She climbed onto his lap and put her arms around his neck. Then she closed her eyes and nestled her face against his throat.
He swallowed hard. He hadn’t expected her to fold herself into him and was reminded of how much he missed being alone with her. If only they could have more time like this.
“This feels nice,” he whispered and then brushed his lips across her hair.
“I’m worried about Pete,” she said.
Talk about a mood buster.
“I think he’s obsessed with seeing the future,” she added. “I think he needs help.”
Than tightened his arms around her and kissed the top of her head. “What do you want me to do?”
“I don’t know,” she said, burying her face in his chest. “But I was thinking maybe…”
He lifted her chin and looked into her eyes. “Maybe what?”
“Couldn’t we ask Tiresias for advice? He’s been in Pete’s position. Maybe he can tell us how to help Pete.”
It actually wasn’t a bad idea. “When should we go talk to him?”
“You’ll come with me?” She gave him a huge smile. “Thank you! I’ve only ever gone into the fields once, to see my parents. I wouldn’t know the first place to look for him.”
“Tiresias isn’t in the Elysian Fields.”
“What? Where is he?”
“Tartarus.”
Therese’s mouth dropped open in shock. “Why?”
He wished she hadn’t asked, but he couldn’t avoid the truth. “That’s where all seers who use their gifts to predict the future end up eventually. It’s considered an act of pride. Mortals acting like gods. It’s one of the worst infractions a person can commit.”
“Then why would Hip tell Pete to do it?” The look of disgust on Therese’s face made Than stiffen.
“He never told Pete to do it.”
“That’s not what Pete said.”
“He told Pete that blood helps the dead communicate with the living, but he never told Pete to do it,” Than said again.
Therese jumped from Than’s lap and punched the empty leather chair across from him.
“Hip should have known Pete would try it,” she said.
“Don’t blame this on my brother,” Than said. “Pete still had a choice. Hip even warned him. He told him the same thing I told you. Pete still chose to do it.”
“But Pete helped us. Cybele spoke to us through him. That should count for something.”
“The same can be said for Tiresias,” Than said.
Therese looked across the room at him with a face full of despair. “We have to find a way to save Pete’s soul. I can’t let him end up in Tartarus forever. You’ve always said life isn’t fair but death is. I don’t see how condemning Pete to Tartarus forever is fair.”
“Playing god is one of the unpardonable sins.”
“We have to help him. Please, Than.”
Than went to her and kissed the palm of her hand. He wished he could think of something reassuring to say, but when she threw herself against him and into his arms, all he could do was hug her
Bobby went to the old rotary phone on the barn wall and made the call while her mother and Mr. Stern tried to revive Pete. Jen watched on, still dazed by what she’d seen.
Therese? Jen prayed. What’s going on? I’m scared to death.
Therese appeared on her knees beside Jen and wrapped her arms around her. Apparently the others couldn’t see her friend.
“He’s okay,” Therese whispered in a barely audible voice just before she disappeared.
Therese’s gesture should have made Jen feel better, perhaps, but it didn’t. She was angry that the gods were using her brother in a way that clearly made him sick. And she was determined to make them stop.
***
Than was alarmed when, after Therese and Apollo made their report to Hades, she asked him for a word alone in their rooms.
“What is it?” he asked, anticipating the worst. Maybe she discovered who was fated to die on their wedding day.
She climbed onto his lap and put her arms around his neck. Then she closed her eyes and nestled her face against his throat.
He swallowed hard. He hadn’t expected her to fold herself into him and was reminded of how much he missed being alone with her. If only they could have more time like this.
“This feels nice,” he whispered and then brushed his lips across her hair.
“I’m worried about Pete,” she said.
Talk about a mood buster.
“I think he’s obsessed with seeing the future,” she added. “I think he needs help.”
Than tightened his arms around her and kissed the top of her head. “What do you want me to do?”
“I don’t know,” she said, burying her face in his chest. “But I was thinking maybe…”
He lifted her chin and looked into her eyes. “Maybe what?”
“Couldn’t we ask Tiresias for advice? He’s been in Pete’s position. Maybe he can tell us how to help Pete.”
It actually wasn’t a bad idea. “When should we go talk to him?”
“You’ll come with me?” She gave him a huge smile. “Thank you! I’ve only ever gone into the fields once, to see my parents. I wouldn’t know the first place to look for him.”
“Tiresias isn’t in the Elysian Fields.”
“What? Where is he?”
“Tartarus.”
Therese’s mouth dropped open in shock. “Why?”
He wished she hadn’t asked, but he couldn’t avoid the truth. “That’s where all seers who use their gifts to predict the future end up eventually. It’s considered an act of pride. Mortals acting like gods. It’s one of the worst infractions a person can commit.”
“Then why would Hip tell Pete to do it?” The look of disgust on Therese’s face made Than stiffen.
“He never told Pete to do it.”
“That’s not what Pete said.”
“He told Pete that blood helps the dead communicate with the living, but he never told Pete to do it,” Than said again.
Therese jumped from Than’s lap and punched the empty leather chair across from him.
“Hip should have known Pete would try it,” she said.
“Don’t blame this on my brother,” Than said. “Pete still had a choice. Hip even warned him. He told him the same thing I told you. Pete still chose to do it.”
“But Pete helped us. Cybele spoke to us through him. That should count for something.”
“The same can be said for Tiresias,” Than said.
Therese looked across the room at him with a face full of despair. “We have to find a way to save Pete’s soul. I can’t let him end up in Tartarus forever. You’ve always said life isn’t fair but death is. I don’t see how condemning Pete to Tartarus forever is fair.”
“Playing god is one of the unpardonable sins.”
“We have to help him. Please, Than.”
Than went to her and kissed the palm of her hand. He wished he could think of something reassuring to say, but when she threw herself against him and into his arms, all he could do was hug her
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