Chapter 103:

Pythia POV:

I was starting to get frustrated, we had been at this for hours and I haven't managed to tap in to anything else but fire and I was starting to get really mad at myself about this. Delilah has tried to help but I thought it would be best if I figured this out since she won't be in my head like she normally is. I needed to know I could do this on my own without her guidance so that I knew I stood a chance in this fight. Everyone else has been really patient with me and Alley has given me her best and somehow I've been able to hold off her elements with fire alone. "Why don't we take a small break? We have been going non stop." Ambrosia said. "Yeah, I think a break would be good." I muttered as I turned on my heels and started to walk off. Why can't I get to the other elements like I have before? What is different now? My mind was racing trying to figure this all out and the only difference I can think of was I was under a lot of pressure, when we moved the house those other wolves were moving in on us and Lucindas voice came in my head. 

That could be what helped but ultimately I was under a lot of pressure to keep everyone safe in a short amount of time but with our plan some of that pressure would be taken off. "Walk with me." Alley said, cutting through my thoughts. I didn't bother lifting the invisible spell as we walked close to the border, I still wanted to remain hidden. "What is on your mind?" Alley asked. "Just a lot. I told Delilah to let me figure this out on my own because she won't be in my head during everything." I replied. "I can understand that but there is something else you are hiding, what is it?" Alley asked, looking at me. My biggest fear was something bad was going to happen and there was going to be absolutely nothing I could do about it. I saw Bartholomew. I know what he looks like and deep down it terrifies me. It's like his image is burned in my head and I can't get rid of it. I looked at Alley and I wasn't even sure if I could form the right words. "I don't know how to explain it honestly." I whispered. "Then show me." Alley said standing in front of me. "How am I going to do that?" I asked. "Just trust me okay?" Alley said as she raised her hands and placed them on the sides of my head. 

It took me a minute to realize what was happening before it felt like an explosion of warmth blew up in my head and different images were flying by until they slowed down to when I was with Lucinda, when she bent down and touched the water and the image of Bartholomew in human form appeared first, he doesn't look at threatening, he radiates power and authority which isn't something that makes me afraid of him. I could hear the conversation as she explained what and who he really is but when she went to wave her hand across the water I started to tense. I knew what was coming next. "Relax, it's only memories." Alley whispered. When Bartholomew appeared in his wolf form I heard Alley gasp. This was harder to look at because I had no choice but to look, I couldn't get away from my own memories. "What the hell is that thing?" Ambrosia asked. What is what? I'm literally inside my own head right now. "I've opened the link so that they could see." Alley whispered. 

I took a deep breath, "That is Bartholomew in human form and his wolf." I replied back. "I can see why this scares you. He  is massive. Why is he so big?" Ambrosia asked. "Because he is the alpha, I can tell he craves authority." Tye replied. "He is a lot bigger than the last one we saw." Jasper said. "A lot harder to take down for one person. This is why Lucinda wanted to separate you and Delilah." Jenson added. "It seems like he can control fire? Judging by his eyes that have a red tint to them." Alley said. "He can control it in a way but not like we can. He relies mainly on his strength to get things done." I replied. "What about the others? Are they just as big?" Tye asked. "No, none of the others are bigger than he is." I replied. If I can't figure out how to get into these other elements I will have to rely on what I know which is manageable but will be a lot harder. I needed to come up with another back up plan just in case I can't accomplish this. 

"Can you go back to the image of Bartholomew?" Ambrosia asked. The images flashed again until the image of him was before us again. "He looks Indian, his skin is well toned like them. He gives the appearance of being a chief? or the son of the chief. Indians have their own beliefs though, did Lucinda say anything about that?" Ambrosia asked. "No, she didn't could he come from a tribe?" I asked. "Possibly, some old Indian tribes believe in different things, they believe their ancestors give them power. I think it is wise to ask Lucinda." Ambrosia replied. "Delilah? Do you know?" I asked. "His mother was Indian. I do not know what tribe, she had him but died in birth." Delilah replied and I mentally wanted to facepalm myself over this. "Why didn't this get brought up?" I asked. "We don't keep track of the humans." Delilah replied easily. That is true, Lucinda and Athea created the supernatural. "So we need to figure out what tribe he came from to figure out what power he carries within him." Alley said as she withdrew her hands from my head. I blinked a few times to clear my vision. 

I didn't realize everyone was standing so close to us until I looked around. "This is what I want you to do. I want you to take a few minutes to yourself, get yourself together and run over all your thoughts. I think what is really holding you back is the fear you feel when you look at him." Alley said. "You've never felt a fear like this before so it puts you in a different state of mind that you are not used to." Ambrosia added. "I should be able to handle this though. I have been in many fights, many different situations. Why is this one any different?" I asked, looking around. "Because this is a threat directed solely to you. In the other fights you've been back up and aided." Tye said softly. "That still doesn't make any sense. I've had people try to kill me before." I replied. "It's because you have a lot more to protect now, mainly your son. You know that you and Tye are the only things standing in his way. Even though you have the rest of us to protect him, you know we will be occupied." Jasper whispered. 

Apollo. I would do anything for him. To protect him. "But why would that make me freeze like this? It should make me more angry." I replied. "It should, but the thought of no one being there to protect him is what is scaring you. I don't think it is Bartholomew himself that scares you like that. It's the fear of leaving Apollo behind." Tye said. That was a possibility, I can't sit here and say that it has not come across my mind because the way that I see it is Delilah and I am the only thing standing in the way of all the children and these beasts. If one of us goes down then the other one has to pick up the slack because I don't want anyone else getting involved or getting hurt because of us. "I don't want anyone to get hurt. If Delilah and I can't take him down then that would mean you would all be dead and possibly the children we are going to be hiding away." I said. "You have to stop worrying about the rest of us. If that is what is holding you back then you need to lean on your elements to keep everyone safe, not block them out." Jenson said. "Your elements are there to keep you safe, you pushed back two of mine because you thought Rex was hurt." Alley said. 

She did have a point, after a certain point I wasn't feeling angry, I felt the need to protect him from whatever may come our way in that moment. That was until Ambrosia kicked me from the side. "Take some time to yourself, you need to clear those thoughts out of your head. When you are ready we will continue until dinner." Alley said patting my shoulder. As they all started to walk off I grabbed a hold of Tyes hand to keep him back. I didn't even have to tell him that I needed him, he pulled me in to his arms and I breathed in his scent. I wasn't in a rush to step away from him. "Let's sit down and talk my beauty." Tye whispered in my ear. Even as we started to sit down I made sure to stay close to him, "Talk to me beautiful, what is on your mind?" Tye asked. "It's just everything. All of you are right though, I've never had something directed at me like this but the thought of something really bad happening scares me. We have a son now Tye. I know my dad put that spell in place and all but still." I replied in a huff. "Nothing is going to happen to any of us. You said Lucinda assured you of that in her own way." Tye said. "Yeah, I know but other things could happen and for some reason I am already feeling guilt about it." I replied running my hand across my face.

The guilt started to set in a week or so ago, I don't want anyone hurt but I know some will be and there was nothing I couldn't do to stop it. I am so used to being in control of situations and this feels beyond my control on so many different levels and I didn't like that. I didn't like that Bartholomew was already taking a small amount of power over me. If he gets too much then he has already won. "We know the kids and the others are going to be with Athea and Lucinda and together they can easily take down literally anything." Tye said. "We also know that our plan will work, the maze was a great Idea. It's just what comes out of that maze is the part that gets to me." I said. "Well, I kind of did something and  haven't told you yet." Tye said, looking down on me. "What do you mean? What did you do?" I asked. "I have brought in a few more alphas to help with the back side of the maze to give us more cover just in case." Tye replied carefully. I thought about his words before I started to actually laugh, "Why does that not surprise me?" I laughed. 

I looked up to Tye who had a look of guilt on his face, "You thought I would be mad?" I asked. "Well I know how you get when it comes to stuff like that." Tye replied. "That is not important right now, what is important is your mind set, everything will be fine. Yes it is going to be a hard fight but you have to know within yourself that you can do this. We all know that you can do it. We have seen Delilah and she is strong as hell." Tye added. "I fully trust her, there is something I didn't tell anyone. Delilah is able to tell in a fight someones move before they do it." I replied. "Wait really?" Tye asked. "Yes, really. Delilah and I will have an open communication so she can tell me what is what and where he is going to go before he does that way we can stay a step ahead of him." I replied. "That can be the gain you both need. Now we just need to get you in tip top shape." Tye said. I took a deep breath and sat up and my mind was thinking over how I would feel the elements, earth was moist, soft and beautiful. The way I could smell the grass and the flowers was really soothing and it calmed me.

The way the sun reflected off the water and how it caressed my skin every time I stepped outside. The warmth it made me feel. The way the grass felt under my bare feet, how it felt cool and soft to the touch.

Before I realized what was happening I felt the ground shift under us. I looked around to see that roots had made their way to us and surrounded us in a protective way. “How did you do that?” Tye asked. “I don’t know honestly. I was just thinking of what I thought earth felt like.” I replied. “Well whatever you do, keep doing it.” Tye whispered. I only had a few more hours before we called it quits for the day and maybe I could finally figure out how to unlock at least one more element.