After our full day of mourning we held an service in honor of Omoro. With each of us having our own connection with her, we all had our own stories to tell. All but Loretta, who couldn't get a word out through her tears. After we finished, I found Lucy having an (literal) heated conversation with Bill.
"When do we tell him? This is the reason we lost Omoro, and he could be next!" The only reason they hadn't been heard already was everyone being too focused on comforting Loretta. As the one in charge, I knew I had to deal with the situation before anyone else got involved.
"Lucy, can we go somewhere else? Bill can come with us if you want, we just don't need more of a scene." Apparently, she had a place in mind already. Sadly, it was the newly erected shrine. As we entered, she pointed out the words I carved on the stele at the center.
"I know what that means. Bill helped me when he told his story in the forest. It's more than a quote, it's a message." Bill couldn't look me in the eye. And I didn't know this quote well enough to know the meaning. My only option was to ask, but I didn't need Lucy to light herself in here after we had just placed Greek fire torches.
"Lucy, can you please tell me? Calmly, if possible?" I was hesitant to hear her answer, and moved closer to the door in case things got out of hand.
"It's from a series of media that Omoro told me about while I trained her at Mt Othrys. She said it was the one quote she felt described herself. That as someone who shouldn't exist, she felt like the type of characters it references. Nobodies." All this wasn't something normal for those in our position, but Omoro had been on her own for a while. That could mean anything was possible for her with this.
Still slightly shocked, I pressed on, " What does 'Nobody' mean? Did she ever say?" Lucy looked me dead in the eye, and I could see it wasn't fear or sadness she had. It was a more like she was already seeing me die.
"She told me they were pieces of a full being. Still normal, but without what made that being it's own self. In other words, a piece of a larger being that can either rebirth the original by uniting with the others, or end the original by ending itself. That's not what I guessed. Instead, it's a slight change." She had a small spark going down her leg, but so far nothing too major.
"If it's not that, what is it? You think she ended herself to stop her Dad? Or something else?" I was getting even more signals that all told me run.
"No. I think you and Bill are tied to your parents just like Omoro was with her father. I didn't tell anyone, but using a Iris message I was able to connect with American soil. Not very well, but I saw her father being trapped in a tree. After that, Omoro started having side effects with the opposite effect of her usual ones. It could mean that any children of deities are tied to their parents." She was glowing, and I knew what was coming.
"So, since Hyperion was dead. Omoro started fading. Since none of you guys are affected, the Titans had to have lost. That means either Bill or I is next, right?" I finished her thought, knowing this problem wasn't as bad as it could be. Even if I died, at least the Regiment made it to a safe place.
"No. Bill is safe. He's under a curse that is tied to his final battle. You'll die. I just don't know how fast this will happen." The glow was gone, instead the room felt cold. I could tell Bill had known some of this already, but he's used to it after his entire army was lost.
"It's fine. As long as I'm here, I'll lead. After I go, Bill is my replacement. Both of you know to keep this quiet," I turned to the silent warrior, "Now, Bill, you asked if I would allow Larry back? It's not just my choice. The other party is in this room. Ask her if you want, but, if she says no, I won't allow it."
With that, Lucy looked at each of us like we were crazy. "I hadn't let anyone else know about it because of everything we set up for Omoro," I told Lucy. Knowing her, it could go either way.
She sighed. "Bill, give him a few days. Everyone needs time, but he won't be ready at all until much longer. He had feelings for Omoro, after all. If he shows up earlier, then we let him in. But he's in probatio until he proves himself. I'm not allowing anything less." Bill looked like he wanted to say something profound.
"Thank you," Bill finally said. "If I may ask, place him under my own command." He was still asking that, but I had a better idea.
'Bill, he's not going directly under your command. That will be his final placement. First he has to right things with those he wronged. He will be placed under each person he wronged before he left. Then he will be with you. That means Loretta, Lucy, and Skylar. Then he'll do one day in this shrine. After that, I will be with him. Then he goes to you Bill. Everyone who does get him will decide when he may move on. And I will make sure they do it once they see he's changed and not as a lengthened or shortened time out of preference."
Bill looked like he wanted to say something, but he simply sighed and walked away. I turned to Lucy. "Do you know about the door he's been trying to open?" Her eyes got big when I said 'door'.
"Oh, the armory! No one can open it for some reason. Bill said it was enchanted at some point to prevent access. Could he be trying to get Larry to open it like he did those lockers at Mt Othrys? If that's right, Bill may have had a vision about it. No wonder he's been silent." Knowing what he was trying to open, I guessed he has something there that made him feel better.
"Well, let's head back to the rest of the group. Loretta and Skylar said they had a meal ready." I started my way back to the rest of the Regiment.
"Wait for me! I don't want to miss out on Loretta's bug juice and Skylar's fruit salad!" I never knew Lucy had an happy go lucky sarcastic side, but I'm glad she did. It would make things a lot easier.