by Kate O'Hearn
Astraea was standing back with Zephyr, Tryn, and Jake. “They need ambrosia or nectar soon. They won’t be able to recover without it.”
“Is there anything like it here on Earth?” Jake asked.
“Not really,” Tryn said.
Astraea looked at Tryn. “We could always go back to Titus to get some.”
Jupiter was sitting down against the wall and overheard their conversation. He called them over. “Take that thought from your mind. It would be too dangerous for you to return. If the Mimics have discovered our escape, it will lead back to you. They will be hunting you.”
“But you can’t go without food. None of us can,” Astraea called.
“We will have to find something else,” Jupiter said.
“Wait!” Tryn snapped his fingers. “Sugar! I remember talking to Pegasus a long time ago. He said when he came to Earth, he ate sugar. It kept him going. Paelen, too. They did lose their strength, but it kept them alive. One of Pegasus’s favorite foods was chocolate ice cream. Emily still makes it for him.”
“Yes, of course,” Jupiter said. “But how do we get some?”
“We’d have to buy it,” Jake offered. “I’ve still got some cash with me in my backpack, but we’ll need more if we plan to stay here long.”
Jupiter looked down at his hand, pulled off one of his gold rings, and held it out to Jake. “I seem to recall gold being valuable here. Is this worth anything?”
Jake looked at the large gold ring. “Whoa, is that real?”
Jupiter nodded. “Yes.”
“I bet this would bring in enough to buy a truckload of sugar!” He handed the ring back to Jupiter. “If we have to stay long, I’m sure we could sell it or find a pawnshop or something.” He looked at the large gathering of Titans and Olympians. “Guess we should get you guys some clothes, too. You can’t go walking around dressed like that.”
His eyes landed on the centaurs, satyrs, and Aurora with her large wings. “And some of you can’t be seen walking around at all.”
Juno turned to Aurora. “Or flying. I am sorry, but I believe while we are here, you must stay grounded.”
“I am too weak to go anywhere, walking or flying,” Aurora said.
Jupiter looked over to Vulcan. “Take today and rest.” His eyes trailed to everyone in the area. “All of us can take the day. But tomorrow, regardless of how weak or sick we are, we must find a way to turn these machines on and make the weapons we need to defend Titus.”
With everyone else lying down on the filthy floor, Astraea and her friends explored the main part of the building. The damp smell of decay was everywhere, and there were puddles of water from old ruptured pipes. Finally Astraea stopped. “They’re all so weak. I’ve never seen my mother looking so pale, and my dad can barely stand. They need ambrosia.”
“I know,” Tryn agreed. “But after what we’ve done, the Mimics must know it was us. Going back for ambrosia now, before we’re ready, would be madness.”
“Yes, it would,” Zephyr said. “But it wouldn’t be to go for nectar.”
“What?” Astraea said. “They’ll catch us.”
Jake looked at Zephyr and back to Astraea. “What? What did she say? Who will catch us?”
Astraea translated, “Zephyr said we should go back to Titus for nectar, not ambrosia. But it’s crazy. They’ll catch us.”
“Yes, they will!” Jake cried.
Zephyr snorted. “No, they won’t. Not if we only go into the nectar orchards. The night dwellers are there. If we tell them what’s happening, they would give us jugs of it. We could bring it right back and help everyone.”
“It’ll be dangerous,” Astraea said.
“What will?” Jake cried. “You’re still not talking about going back, are you?” He looked at Zephyr. “Astraea’s right. It’s too dangerous to go back right now.”
Zephyr snorted, “What’s dangerous is leaving our people weak with no nutrition. I may not like Pegasus, but I know what he went through here. Human food is just no good for us. We’re all right now, but in a few days, we will be as weak as the others. Then what good will we be to Titus?”
Astraea looked at Tryn. “She’s right. We have to go back.”
“Wait,” Jake said. “What could Zephyr have possibly said to make you change your mind? Going back there is insane.”
“Jake, we have to,” Astraea insisted. “But we’re only going into the nectar orchards. We won’t go anywhere near the palace or our homes—just the orchards.”
“But Jupiter said not to,” Jake insisted. “Won’t he go ballistic when he finds out what we’ve done?”
“Not ‘we,’ ” Tryn said. “Us. You have to stay here.”
Jake started to shake his head. “No way! If you’re going back, so am I.”
“Not this time, Jake,” Tryn said. “Right now, you are the most important person here. We can’t risk you getting caught by the Mimics.”
“What’s so special about me?” Jake asked.
Tryn pointed to the snake around his neck. “You and Nesso. You’re the only one who can talk to Nesso, and she’s the only one with venom that can stop the Mimics. Plus, you’re human, and this is your world. If we’re caught on Titus, Jupiter and the others will need your help to live here until they are strong enough to open the Solar Stream on their own and get to Nesso’s home to gather more snakes.”
“He’sss right,” Nesso said. “We mussst ssstay here to take care of the weak big thingsss.”
“Please stay and help them,” Astraea said. “We won’t be long. We’ll just go, grab some nectar, and come right back. You won’t even miss us.”
Jake looked at each of them skeptically and then back to the resting Titans and Olympians. “All right, I’ll stay—but only if you promise to take Cylus and his herd with you. They may be permanently angry, but they’re really strong.”
“All right, fine. If you stay, we’ll take the centaurs,” Astraea agreed.
They moved quietly though the resting Titans and Olympians and gathered their daggers. Jupiter was on the floor snoring softly beside Juno, while Pluto snoozed not far away. Cylus was near his mother. She was lying down fully, but Cylus’s head and torso were up, keeping watch over her.
Tryn motioned to Cylus and pointed to his flame-sword. Then he pointed to the other young centaurs and silently motioned for them to follow.
Cylus nodded and clambered carefully to his hooves. He quietly gathered his group and told them to grab their weapons. They all followed Tryn to the back area of the plant.
Cylus clopped up to them. “What do you want?”
“We’re going back to Titus,” Astraea said.
“You are going back for ambrosia. I was thinking of doing the same thing. My mother is so weak, she needs it,” he said.
“We can’t go for ambrosia,” Astraea said. “We would have to go to our homes for that, and it’s too dangerous. But we are thinking the Mimics won’t be looking for us in the nectar orchards. It’s just as good as ambrosia. We are hoping the night dwellers will help.”
“Even if they don’t,” Darek said, “we’re taking it anyway. My parents can barely stand.”
Cylus nodded. “Fine. When do we go?”
“Right now,” Tryn said. He looked back at Jake. “If we’re not back by tonight, tell Jupiter what we’ve done. Jake, you have to help them—you’re the only one who can.”
Jake nodded. “You just be careful.”
“We will,” Astraea said.
Tryn walked up to a wall and raised his ring. “Take us back to Titus, the biggest nectar orchard, nighttime.”
Immediately the Solar Stream opened on the wall. Tryn looked back at the others. “Are you ready?”
“Enough talk,” Cylus said as he and his herd barged forward and entered the Solar Stream.
Astraea looked back at Jake, smiled, shrugged, and followed the centaurs.
37
THE JOURNEY SEEMED SOMEHOW SHORTER as Astraea stayed close to Zeph
yr. When they emerged from the blazing light, they found themselves in the sweet-smelling nectar orchard.
It took a moment for their eyes to adjust to the nectar orchard at night after the blazing brightness of the Solar Stream. When they could see again, they saw a group of night dwellers looking at them curiously.
The centaurs charged forward. “Give us your nectar, now!”
“Cylus, stop doing that,” Astraea called. “We need their help—we don’t have to threaten them!” She approached a middle-aged night dweller. “I’m sorry about him. Please, can you call the night dwellers together? We need your help. Jupiter and all of Titus are in big trouble.”
“My mother is too!” Cylus put in. He raised his flame-sword. “So give me your nectar now or else.”
Astraea reached over to Cylus and forced his flame-sword down. “If you don’t stop threatening the night dwellers right now, I swear you’ll regret it!”
“What are you attacking me for?” Cylus cried. “You know we need it. They have it. So we’ll just take it.”
“No, we won’t,” Tryn said. “We ask. If they say no, we’ll gather our own.”
The night dwellers seemed overwhelmed at their sudden arrival. “What are you talking about?” an older night dweller said softly. “We just saw Jupiter a while ago.” He started to back away fearfully. “He told us you are in big trouble and we should tell him if we see you. What have you done?”
Astraea felt her stomach drop. She looked around. “They knew we’d be coming back for supplies! This could be a trap.”
“You must listen to us,” Tryn implored. “The Jupiter you saw is an imposter. He comes from a species that is trying to take Titus from us. The real Jupiter is hurt and needs help. We need the nectar to save him.”
The man backed away farther. “Jupiter said you would say that.”
“Please, listen to us,” Astraea begged. “Titus is being invaded. We are all in terrible danger.” Her eyes landed on the two young night dwellers who had helped her and Zephyr. “You remember us, don’t you? You helped us a few days ago by filling our urns with nectar for our detention. Won’t you help us again?”
The night dwellers were muttering among themselves when a larger group of other night dwellers arrived.
“What is happening here?” asked one of the newcomers. This dweller looked older than everyone. But like the others with him, he was carrying a jug.
Astraea walked up to the new night dweller. “We were just explaining how we need your help. Titus is being invaded by creatures that are making duplicates of everyone. Jupiter and the others need this nectar. Please, let me have your jug.”
The night dweller handed over his jug. But when Astraea received it, she discovered it was empty.
“If you expect us to believe you,” he said softly, “you should tell us where you have hidden Jupiter and the others.”
The hair on the back of Astraea’s neck rose instantly. “Um, what?” She reached out to touch the night dweller, but he pulled back his hand.
Astraea looked back at Zephyr and shouted, “He’s a Mimic!”
The words were barely out of her mouth when the Mimic’s hand wrapped around her wrist. “What have you done with Jupiter? Tell me!”
Astraea had never felt anything like it. It was like she had been instantly frozen and was unable to move, scream, or fight. She could feel her strength ebbing away as the Mimic stole her energy. She was helpless in his lethal grip.
Astraea couldn’t breathe as stars flashed before her eyes. The sound of rushing water filled her ears as the stars faded and were replaced by darkness.
38
“ASTRAEA, WAKE UP!” THE VOICE was filled with fear. “Please, wake up.”
“Mom?”
“I’m not your mother, silly,” Zephyr said. “Get up. We don’t have a lot of time.”
Tryn was kneeling beside her and helped her rise. “That Mimic got you good. You hit the ground fast.”
Astraea climbed unsteadily to her feet and rubbed a sore wing. “He got me bad. I feel awful, and I landed on my wing.”
One of the young night dwellers who had helped her before brought forth a small cup and offered it to Astraea. “I hope this helps.”
Astraea thanked her and drank the sweet nectar. Almost immediately her strength started to return, but it did nothing to dull the memory of the experience. She had never felt more sick or helpless before in her life. She realized now why Tryn hadn’t been able to fight in the cell at Tartarus. No one could fight against the Mimics.
Astraea looked around and saw the night dwellers running from tree to tree, gathering as much nectar as they could. Three of the centaurs were posted around the area with their bows held high and at the ready. Two centaurs were missing.
“What happened after that thing got me?” Astraea asked.
“It was insane,” Zephyr said. “After you went down, the other Mimics charged and started grabbing night dwellers and then coming after us.” She looked around at the centaurs with renewed admiration. “I have to say, those centaurs can move fast. They shot all the Mimics with their poisoned arrows.” She nodded toward the grass. “You can see them there.”
“I’d rather not, thanks. I’ve seen more than enough Mimic puddles.”
“After that, Cylus sent two on patrol, while the others are guarding the night dwellers as they gather more nectar for us. Look how much we’ve got.”
Beside Astraea was a collection of jugs filled to overflowing with sweet nectar. Across from her, Cylus was wrapping a cloth around a night dweller’s arm. The night dweller was sitting against a tree and looking green. “What happened to him?”
“At one point it was impossible to tell the real night dwellers from the Mimics, so he was shot with an arrow by mistake. It was only a graze, but Nesso’s venom made him really sick.”
“That’s terrible,” Astraea said.
“He doesn’t mind,” Zephyr said. “After what he saw, he said he was grateful we were here.” She paused and then finished, “The night dwellers have to come with us. They aren’t safe here after they witnessed the Mimics.”
Zephyr was right. Mimics seemed to know when Titans discovered their secret or who was around when one of them died. But would the night dwellers be any safer on Earth? “I agree,” Astraea said. “We’d better get going.”
The centaur Darek barged through the trees. His eyes were huge with fear. “Shadow Titans are coming! Grab the nectar! We have to go, now!”
Tryn called over to the working night dwellers. “Everyone, gather your jugs, we have to leave!”
Astraea and Tryn picked up two jugs each, while the night dwellers gathered what they had and ran up to them. The centaurs also came closer but kept their bows high and ready to fight. Nerves on their flanks twitched as they readied themselves for the fight.
“Open the Solar Stream!” Cylus cried as he raised his flame-sword.
“Hurry!” Darek cried. “They were right behind me!”
Tryn held up his ring and called softly, “Earth, Detroit, Michigan, Westward Junction and into the Reynolds Specialty Steel plant. Now!”
The Solar Stream opened and Tryn shouted, “Everyone, go!”
They all ran forward into the blazing light. Astraea looked around and saw that all the night dwellers, centaurs, Zephyr, and Tryn had made it in. But then her eyes beheld a terrible sight. Three huge Shadow Titans had also followed them into the Solar Stream.
“Look!” Astraea cried fruitlessly as the Solar Stream stole her voice. But calling was unnecessary. The centaurs were looking around within the light and when their eyes landed on the Shadow Titans, they instantly raised their bows. But the arrows they loosed were stolen away by the swirling vortex and vanished. No matter how many they shot, not one hit their target.
Cylus swung his flame-sword but was unable to strike the Shadow Titans.
Tryn handed his jugs to a night dweller and pulled out his dagger. He shouted to Astraea, “Your dagger, use your
dagger!” He was trying to walk within the Solar Stream, but like Cylus, he found that moving was next to impossible. Finally he surrendered and stopped trying. But he kept his dagger high and eyes locked on the Shadows.
Astraea also handed over her jugs and pulled her dagger free. She turned and faced the Shadow Titans. Fighting within the confines of the Solar Stream might be impossible, but Astraea was going to be ready for them the moment they emerged on Earth.
With each passing moment, Astraea’s heart beat faster. She was facing the Shadow Titans and realized just how horrible the war in the past must have been. Three of the creatures were terrifying. What if she had to face a battalion of them?
When they arrived back on Earth, because she and Tryn were facing backward, they tumbled out of the end of the Solar Stream and onto the filthy floor of the plant.
The three Shadow Titans appeared right after them with their weapons raised high. Tryn was on his feet first and charging at the monstrosities, with Astraea right behind him. But even before they reached their targets, arrows whizzed past them and struck the black armor of the Shadows.
Most of the arrows bounced off the protective armor. But when one struck a shoulder joint in the armor, it cut through to the creature inside. The creature howled, staggered backward, and started to melt.
“They’re Mimics!” Tryn shouted. “Go for the joints in the armor!” But the Mimics were moving targets, and hitting the small joints with the arrows was difficult.
Seeing this, Tryn ran forward and threw himself down on the greasy floor. He slid the rest of the way right into the legs of one of the remaining creatures. He stabbed his dagger into the ankle joint.
Astraea did the same thing. But her dagger struck the Mimic in the knee joint. In the same flowing move, she rolled away from the creature. But even though it had been poisoned, it didn’t stop charging at her.
As the Shadow Titan raised its sword to strike Astraea, Cylus dashed forward and blocked the blow with his flame-sword. He followed through with a swing that struck the Shadow Titan’s armored head, and it was cut from the body. When the helmet rolled away, they all gasped to find that it was empty.