by Linsey Hall
“There’s a barrier around their operation,” I said. “Some kind of force field that only I can penetrate.”
“If they’ll allow you to cross, then I believe they must need you,” Atlas said.
“But why would they need me?”
“You’re powerful, Rowan. Your magic is powerful.” Atlas shrugged. “Maybe they want that. It could help them get the titans out, perhaps.”
“So they want my magic.” My mind started to whir, spinning as I considered that. “They’ve got something that drags me to them if I get close to the barrier. I can’t fight it.”
Atlas frowned. “It could be that the barrier itself contains the magic to compel you to enter and stay within. There is an ancient Greek spell that can do that.”
I shared a glance with Maximus. “Makes sense. They couldn’t compel me to come to them before.”
He nodded. “You need to stay far away from that barrier.”
But I couldn’t. Not if I was the only one who could get through it. Somehow, I was key to this.
Atlas leaned toward me. “You were fated for this task, Rowan. You must find a way to get past the barrier and stop them. It is your duty as a DragonGod. Your magic is the key to all of this.”
I nodded. “Okay. I can do this.”
And I really thought I could. Because now, I had an idea.
We’d learned pretty much all we could from Atlas, so it was time to return to the Protectorate. He escorted us out to the courtyard, stopping at the exit of his building. “I’m sorry, but you can’t transport directly from here. Protective measure.”
I tried not to wince. “So we have to rappel down?”
“I’m afraid so.” He pointed behind him. “But if you go to the other side of the compound, there’s a rope for that. Once I know you’ve made it, I’ll pull it back up.”
“Do you have the strength?”
“I will, if you close the gate to Tartarus. And if you don’t… Well, it won’t matter who finds me.”
I nodded. “We’ll do it. Stay safe.”
“The same to you.” He inclined his head, then disappeared back into the house.
I felt terrible leaving him. “Wait! Atlas.”
He turned.
“Can we send someone to you to help you manage around here?” I didn’t know who, but I was sure the Protectorate would have some contacts for someone who could help.
He smiled slightly. “I will be fine. Best you hurry with the Stryx, though.”
I nodded, and Maximus and I left.
“That was helpful,” Maximus said as we climbed the stairs to the top of the wall at the back of the fortress. “But I think I expected more.”
“So did I. But there was one thing he said, and I think it’s the key to all of this. Something we didn’t realize.”
“What’s that?”
“The Stryx want my magic, and it’s the only way to get through the barrier. I’m going to give it to them. Only, they’re not going to like what they get.”
Chapter Fourteen
Getting down the side of the pillar of rock was easier than climbing up, thank fates. As soon as we landed on the bottom, Maximus pulled a transport charm from his pocket.
“This is the last of them,” he said.
“Like, the last, the last?” Damn. They were really hard to come by. But we’d been burning through his stash like they were kindling.
“Yeah. I’ll try to get some more, but it’s a good thing we’ve got this almost figured out.”
“I think we do. Now, let’s get back to the Protectorate.”
Maximus threw the charm to the ground, and the familiar cloud of silvery smoke exploded upward. I stepped in, letting the ether suck me toward Scotland.
When I stepped out onto the main lawn in front of the castle, I shivered. It was colder up here, the moon already risen and the castle windows gleaming with a warm light. It seemed quieter than normal, probably because most of the staff were at the Stryx’s operation, trying to break in or figure out what was going on.
I pressed my finger to my comms charm to ignite the magic. “Bree? Ana? I’m back, and I have a plan.”
In unison, their voices crackled out of the charm.
“We’re here, too,” Bree said.
“Meet us in the entry hall,” Ana added.
Maximus and I hurried across the lawn and up the castle stairs, stepping into the warmth of the main entry hall. The Cats of Catastrophe, three feline residents of the castle and Ana’s familiars, raced up the stairs in a line, clearly on the hunt.
Ana and Bree appeared at the stairs leading up from the kitchen, each holding a cup of juice.
“We just got back from recon,” Bree said. “The rubble pile from the Stryx’s explosions is nearly to the village.”
I swallowed hard, remembering the boy and his dog. “Is Jude here? And Hedy?”
“They’re downstairs, too, finishing up.”
“We’ll join you.” My stomach grumbled at the idea. “It’s as good a place as any.”
They nodded, and we followed them down the stairs into the warmth of Hans’s domain. He was bustling around the stove, his white chef’s hat perched jauntily on his head. The fire roared, illuminating Jude and Hedy, who were finishing off bowls of stew.
Jude looked up, her face haggard and her eyes tired. “Rowan. I’m glad you’re safe.”
Hedy smiled, too, and honestly, she didn’t look any better than Jude. Her lavender hair was tangled, and matching purple shadows hung under her eyes.
Maximus and I had been chasing answers, but they hadn’t been relaxing here, that was for sure.
“Any luck?” Jude asked. “Your sisters say you have a plan.”
I sat across from her. “I do.”
“Good.” Her gaze turned dark. “Because we’re running out of time.”
“Eat!” Hans smacked a big bowl of stew down in front of me, along with a cup of juice. “You can have a juice box for the road, once you’ve finished that.”
I almost laughed at the sheer normalcy of his comment in the face of all that was happening. There were a lot of things I could tell everyone about our journey, but that wasn’t what I wanted to focus on.
I leaned forward. “This bomb you made, Hedy. How does it work, exactly? How big is it?”
“It’s about the size of a softball,” she said. “But it’s currently hooked up to a magical battery the size of a vacuum cleaner. Once it’s removed from the battery, it has about ten seconds until it will detonate. Once it does, it will disrupt the magical signature that creates the barrier and destroy it. Hopefully.”
“Ten seconds, huh?”
“Don’t think you can run it in there,” Jude said. “Even if you could run fast enough and far enough—or drive, in that buggy of yours—you’d be too close to the Stryx. They could capture you. Especially since their magic calls to you now.”
I nodded, agreeing with her that me running the bomb in was a crap plan. “Atlas thinks that the magic that compels me to go to the Stryx is part of the barrier.”
“It’s a compelling argument,” Maximus said. “Since they didn’t have that ability before, it’s likely part of the barrier. There’s also an ancient Greek spell that could help them create a barrier like that.”
Jude pursed her lips. Then she nodded. “I like this logic.”
“So if we can get rid of the barrier, they can’t call you to them,” Bree said.
I nodded. “I think so. Maybe.”
Jude leaned forward. “Did you learn anything else? Like why the hell they’re blowing big holes into the earth?”
I nodded, knowing she wasn’t going to like this bit. “They’re trying to release the titans.”
“Those murderous monsters?” Jude sat back, her face white. “It sounds like they’re raising an army.”
I nodded. “Well, I’ve got a plan to break down their barrier and stop them.” I leaned in and shared my idea.
From the looks on everyone�
�s faces, they liked it.
“We need to move,” Jude said. “Rowan, if you’ll get what you need to break down the barrier, I’ll rally the troops. We attack as soon as we’re ready.”
We split up, and I hurried to my room. It was as cluttered as usual, and the Menacing Menagerie was lounging on my couch, each fast asleep.
“Guys! Wake up. We’re going to war.”
The three of them popped up, immediately awake. Excitement gleamed in Eloise’s eyes, and Poppy adjusted her flower, as if she wanted to look good for the fight.
Now? Romeo asked.
“In ten minutes. I just need to grab something.” I went to the big chest that sat in the corner of the living room and knelt by it, then sucked in a deep breath.
I hated looking in this chest. It contained a reminder of what I’d lost.
But that didn’t matter. Losing this magic and then gaining more from the gods had taught me one thing—I wasn’t my magic. I was so much more than that. I was perseverance and toughness and the ability to pick myself up when I was down.
That’s what really mattered. Not some magic trapped in a dumb rock. I’d use this to my advantage. I wouldn’t let the Rebel Gods get the best of me.
I opened the chest and lifted out the rock that contained my magic. It pricked against my fingertips, feeling both familiar and foreign. In a way, it felt good. It was my magic.
But then, I knew it was tainted. I could feel it.
The Rebel Gods’ darkness was in there.
Fortunately, I didn’t think that would matter. This rock contained my magic, and that was all we really needed for this plan to work.
It was time for war.
Wind whipped my hair back as the buggy raced up the mountainside in central Greece. It was still nighttime, but the moon was full and bright, providing more than enough light for the battle ahead.
Ana drove the buggy, while Bree stood with me on the front platform. Maximus, Cade, and Lachlan took the back platform, ready to fight. The Menacing Menagerie rode in the back seat, ready to jump out when the battle started. Members of the Protectorate were ascending the mountainside all around, headed for the crater at the top. When I broke down the barrier, they’d flood in and take out the Stryx’s demon army.
That was the plan, at least.
“We’re getting close!” Bree shouted. “You ready?”
I shifted the magic-filled rock in my hand. It was a little smaller than a basketball, and we’d attached a massive slingshot to the front platform of the buggy. It was suspended between two rods that stuck up from the railings. Then, we’d taped the small bomb to the side of the rock. The bomb was still plugged into the battery, which was basically just a huge glowing rock filled with sparkling magic that powered the explosive force Hedy had packed into the bomb. We’d strapped the battery into the passenger seat, but when we yanked the cord and shot the thing past the barrier…
Boom.
The buggy bounced over a massive rock, and I grabbed the railing, holding on tightly as Ana got us on the right course. We crested the ridge, and I caught sight of Ali and Haris about a hundred yards away, crouched on the edge of the ridge, waiting. Caro was with them, her bright platinum hair covered by a dark hat. If I squinted, I could see dozens more, including members of the Order who’d joined up for the final battle.
“I sure hope this works,” I muttered to Bree.
“It’s a good plan. It will work.”
“Only a hundred yards away now,” Ana shouted.
Gravel kicked up from behind the wheels as the buggy plowed down the mountainside toward the barrier. I could feel it prickle against my skin. Worse, I felt the call of the Stryx. It tugged at me, wanting to yank me toward them.
My hand went to the chain wrapped around my waist. It was connected to the front platform of the buggy. I had about thirty yards of slack if I needed it, but the chain was just a little safety precaution in case the call of the Stryx became too strong and I ran toward them like a crazy person.
I shook my head, trying to drive off the feel of being bound to them.
“Twenty yards!” Ana shouted.
I could see the barrier now, just slightly. It was barely darker than the air around it, a hazy gray. When we were only five yards away, Ana pulled the wheel hard to the right, and the buggy turned, driving alongside the barrier.
“Ready?” Bree asked.
“So ready.” I wanted to get rid of my tainted magic. Hurl it at the Stryx and use what they wanted against them.
I fitted the rock into the slingshot pouch, then pulled back. I leaned hard away from the railing, getting as much tension as I could on the slingshot. We needed this thing to fly far.
My muscles trembled as I pulled. “Now.”
Bree yanked the battery cord free. “Ten seconds!”
I released the slingshot, and the rock shot forward. I held my breath, praying my plan would work. When the rock sailed through the barrier, I couldn’t help but grin.
It had worked.
The Stryx had wanted my magic. Well, they’d get it. And a whole lot more.
I counted down the seconds, praying the explosion went off. Silence reigned as everyone stared forward. Waiting, waiting.
I bit my lip, staring hard into the darkness.
Finally, it came. The flash of light nearly blinded me, followed shortly after by a boom that made my ears ring. I blinked through the brightness, spotting dozens of blue streaks of light coming from the middle of the crater.
They shot toward the domed barrier, lighting it up. They threaded through the dome, making it look like a cage.
“It’s weakening,” Bree said.
“But it hasn’t fallen yet.” I frowned. “Maybe we could run through it, but…”
The bolts of blue light crackled within the dome. The energy in the bomb was breaking down the barrier, but it wasn’t quite strong enough. It needed more juice.
An idea came. It was crazy, but…
“Ana, stop the buggy!” I shouted.
“Are you crazy?”
“Yes! But I have an idea.”
She pressed on the brakes, and I grabbed the railing of the front platform for support. As soon as the buggy stopped, I jumped off the platform.
“What are you doing?” Maximus shouted.
“Don’t worry.” I shook the chain that was tied around my waist. “I can’t get far.”
Then I called upon the lightning within me. It streaked through my veins, making me light up with energy that tore through my muscles. Pain followed, but I ignored it, letting the lightning crackle through me until I was a human lightning bolt. When I was sure that I was as lit up as I could be, I sprinted for the barrier.
I plowed through it, feeling it crackle and break as I plowed through. The chain pulled me up short, and I stopped, panting.
I let the lightning fade from my body, immediately feeling the pull of the Stryx. They called me to them, making my muscles want to move in their direction.
I fought it, breathing deeply as I looked up.
The barrier was breaking away.
My lightning blast had given the spell the last bit of energy it needed, and the dome was retreating. Blue light from the bomb still crackled within it, and it was beautiful.
Slowly, the pull of the Stryx faded.
Oh, thank fates.
“Rowan!” Bree shouted. “Let’s go!”
I felt a tug on my chain, and turned. Everyone watched expectantly from the buggy. All around, members of the Protectorate and the Order of the Magica flowed down the hill into the crater.
With the barrier gone, the fight could begin.
I sprinted back to the buggy and scrambled up onto the front platform.
“Their pull has disappeared,” I said, yanking at the chain around my waist.
Bree helped me get it off, and Ana hit the gas, speeding forward. Though the barrier was gone, the Stryx hadn’t stopped their digging. Explosions still tore through the night, the sound dea
fening. Debris flew into the air from their operations, dark smoke and tiny bits of volcanic rock raining down. I squinted through it, trying to spot our enemy.
When I did, I gasped.
There were so many.
Demons of all varieties. Big and small, skinny and muscular. Some with huge weapons and others with magic glowing around their claws, ready to be hurled at us.
“Slow down!” I shouted at Ana. We were about to reach the spot where the crater bottomed out and we’d lose our height advantage for reconnaissance. “We need to find the Stryx.”
Ana slowed the buggy, and we searched through the shifting smoke. It moved as giant clouds, concealing and revealing the demon army.
To our right and left, fighters from our side sprinted toward the demons. Ali and Haris led the charge, the two djinns running full out. They sprinted straight at the two biggest demons. Before the monsters could strike, the djinns ran straight into them, possessing them. Immediately, the giants turned on the demons around them, swinging their massive clubs at their fellow soldiers. The clubs sent the demons flying like they were dominos.
Caro followed, holding out her hands and shooting water straight into the chest of a demon who ran for her. The water was so fast that it struck the demon like a blade, plowing through him and coming out of his back, tinged pink with blood.
I searched for the Stryx, finally spotting them through the haze. I pointed. “There!”
“Got it!” Ana hit the gas, and we surged forward.
Hundreds of demons stood between us and the Stryx.
Bree stepped forward, hands raised. Lightning struck from the sky, clearing a path right in front of the buggy. Demons ran, and the buggy plowed through.
They attacked from the sides, firing bolts of magic toward us. A blast of fire headed toward me, and I dived low, skidding on the front platform as it zipped over my head. The heat singed my hair.
Two more demons leapt toward the front platform, grabbing the railing and trying to climb on. As I jumped to my feet, I conjured a sword and swiped at their hands, cutting them free. They howled as they fell.
Time for the show to start! Romeo leapt off of the buggy, clinging to the head of a demon.
The beast roared as Romeo went for his eyes.