The Truth Beneath the Fire
But before she could even speak, Frank launched into it—his words sharp, uncertain, trembling with everything he'd been bottling up.
"Do I even know you?" he asked, voice low. "I saw you that night… through the fireball. You caught two people off guard, just like that. Like it was nothing. I kept asking myself—who is this person I've been with for five years?"
He didn't wait for her to answer.
"I shouted at you… we argued… and you would just smile. Was I ever in danger? Were you pretending? If you ever wanted to kill me, would I even have known?"
There was a long pause on the other end.
Then she said softly, "No. I never wanted to hurt you. I actually liked you, Frank. Maybe even loved you. I imagined… us getting married, living a quiet life. I enjoyed our time together. But… it just wasn't possible."
Her voice changed—firm but gentler now.
"Did you feel any changes in your body after you entered the pyramid?"
Frank's mind flashed—telekinesis. The whispers in his head. The strange strength. He didn't answer out loud.
But Athena knew. She read the silence like a book.
"So… it looks like you underwent the Awakening," she said.
"Awakening?"
She nodded, even though he couldn't see her. "Yes. Since the day the Emperor's presence returned, all his former palaces around the world began to wake up. Each palace triggers something different—memories, powers, abilities. They grow stronger as the candidate grows stronger."
Frank's voice cracked, uncertain. "how do I know my gift?"
She didn't answer that directly.
Instead, he asked the question that had really been burning inside him.
"Did you actually love me… or was I just your pet? Your cover?"
Athena went silent again. Then softly:
"I don't know, Frank. But I'm sure… I did. Maybe I still do."
Then her voice shifted—colder now, official.
"There's something else you need to know. My family… we're one of the Six Great Families in Nigeria. We oversee the supernatural community here. Each family controls certain types of portals. And we've known about the Emperor's return for a long time."
Frank didn't say anything.
"I want you to join the organization," she continued. "We'll teach you to control your powers. You'll be trained—because things are changing, and fast. You're not safe on your own anymore."
Frank swallowed. "I'll think about it."
Then she asked were you alone that night.
Frank froze.
He didn't answer immediately. His thoughts spiraled—Athena's tone had shifted again. Too sharp. Too careful.
Why was she asking that?
He kept his voice steady. "Yeah… just me," he said, lying.
Athena didn't respond right away. It was hard to tell if she believed him. But she didn't press.
"Alright," she finally said. "If you decide to join, send me a message. I'll have someone come for you. Until then… be careful who you trust."
Then the line went dead.
Frank lowered the phone slowly, his heart pounding.
He glanced at the sealed box of stones and trinkets under his bed—the ones he and Philip had brought back. He thought about the strange feeling in the air lately, like something watching him from beyond the veil.
He wasn't sure what was more dangerous now: the powers growing inside him, the secret organizations watching from the shadows… or the girl he used to love.
He exhaled deeply, then picked up his phone again.
And called Philip.
"You need to hear this," he said. "Athena knows. And she asked if I was alone that night…"