by James Hunter
Asteria, though, was suddenly up and on her claw-tipped ursine paws, her HP skyrocketing, her lips pulled back in a snarl. And good thing too, since Myrina was being overwhelmed: three of the spider pigs attacked her as one, bringing her down despite her combat prowess. Asteria wasn’t having it, though, not one little bit. She threw back her head, let out a thunderous roar, and rushed toward Myrina on all fours. She slammed into the spiders crawling over the Warden, shredding them like a bunch of wet newspaper.
I didn’t have time to watch, though, because the last two arachnaswine were barreling toward me on a total of sixteen legs of spider fury. Time to pull my weight as war god. I planted my feet and drew the War Blade, clenching the handle tight in a white-knuckled grip. At ten feet out, I thrust my free hand forward, palm out, and triggered my other new combat ability: Lightning Lance.
My Essence Points plunged by nine, bringing on a new wave of vertigo.
White-hot power burst from the godstone in my chest, surging down my outstretched arm, then exploding from my hand as an arc of brilliant blue-white lightning. The javelin of pure electricity connected with the leading spider-pig, blasting the creature back, smoke rising from its body as the scent of cooked pork invaded the air. In seconds the lightning faded, leaving a purple afterimage burned across my eyes, but its work was done, and the creature was dead. The other spider-pig had closed the distance, though. I backpedaled a step as the monster leapt, then lashed out with my sword.
The blade whistled through the air and connected with a meaty thunk. To my utter amazement, the weapon sliced through the boar like a hot knife through butter, cutting the creature’s head cleanly in half. The spider pig let out a wet gurgle as it flopped to the deck, black blood pooling in the dirt. I just stood there, glancing from the sword to the dead monster. No way I could be that strong … but then I remembered my extra height and bulging biceps. Maybe all those fancy new muscles weren’t just for show.
Plus, I couldn’t forget just how much damage the War Blade was capable of dishing out.
I shook the thought free and twirled toward Myrina and Asteria, searching for more enemies to kill. But there were none. The three arachnaswine that had managed to sack the Warden were uber dead—like chucked into a meat grinder dead—bits and pieces scattered all over the path and forest floor like confetti. Super gross. Unfortunately, Myrina wasn’t looking so hot. The spider pigs had carved her up pretty good, opening a handful of deep gashes. Her skin was abnormally pale and slick with sweat, her eyes hazy and feverish.
“The poison,” Myrina growled, fixing me with a harsh glare. “It works fast. I am not long for this world, Jacob Merely.”
“Not if I have anything to say about it,” I replied, sheathing my sword and hustling over to her side. I still had thirteen Essence Points remaining, which meant I was good for one more Miracle. The act would drop me uncomfortably close to zero, but I wasn’t about to let my main Battle Warden die right out of the gate. I dropped down beside her, running a hand through her sweat-soaked hair, and triggered Healing Touch for a second time. As the energy left my body in a rush, I fell over onto my butt, stars dancing in my vision, head swimming.
Apparently, miracles came with a steep price tag. According to my character sheet, I only regained eight Essence Points per hour at my current level, which meant I needed to ration my supply carefully.
Right now, however, none of that mattered. The only important thing was that my handiwork had done the trick. Myrina’s HP stabilized, then rose, a healthy flush returning to her cheeks as torn flesh knitted itself back together with unnatural speed.
Super badass. I could definitely get used to that.
She blinked. “By all the gods,” she whispered, propping herself up on her elbows, “you truly do have the power of Ares.”
“Kind of,” I offered with a tired grin. I pushed myself up onto shaky feet. “And I’m getting better every second of every minute of every day.” I turned to see the flames eating through the webbing, wiping out the young spider spawn.
I felt Asteria behind me, pulling the cloak out of the rucksack and slipping it on. She was back to being human. “This will give us a great deal of meat for our stores,” she said, perpetually bubbly. “We are victorious. Jacob healed us while we fought!”
Myrina stood inspecting her wounds—or rather, her lack of them. “Yes, I feel strong. Good. There is nothing like combat to clear the head. So, we will ride the wave of this victory and find Stheno in her lair. She will feel the bite of our strength.” She gave me a long unwavering look. “Your firestick was effective, but your skill with other weapons is lacking. If Asteria had not saved you, we would be mourning your death. And your death means the death of the world. For now, you will stay back while Asteria and I deal out the judgment Stheno deserves.”
“No,” I said. “I’ll do my part. Asteria might have saved me, but I saved you, Myrina. Did you see me take out that pig with my sword? Cut its head right in half. In half, dammit! And my lightning magic? That was pretty rad, am I right?”
Myrina rolled her eyes and frowned.
“It was courageous,” Asteria said, slipping an arm around my waist to steady me. “But perhaps Myrina is right. Look at you. A slight breeze might kill you.” She leaned over and brushed her lips against my cheek. “But still, very brave.”
As much as I hated to admit it, she did have a small point. I was feeling weak and nauseous, and I couldn’t pull another miracle out for another hour at least. “Fine,” I muttered under my breath.
Asteria insisted we take a small break to recuperate and down some water, while Myrina went about looting the corpses and gathering up her javelins. By the time we were done, the blazing fire had obliterated the webs entirely. The dense jungle vegetation was too wet for the flames to destroy much more than the webs, so we were able to move through the smoking remnants of the arachnaswine lair without much problem.
Some of the surviving spiderlings glared at us from pools of deep shadow, already building new webs, and getting bigger even as we watched. It was a reminder that the evil on the island wasn’t diminishing, but increasing in strength as the seal holding Hades back gradually weakened.
“So, when I ran through here before,” I said, surveying the tree line, “the harpies chased me, but there were snake dudes as well—nagas, I think. They had bows. We should watch out for them.”
“Nagas, yes. The sons of Cecrops,” Myrina said offhandedly. “Now, they are servants of Stheno as well. We will tread carefully.”
We moved deeper into the jungle, making our way slowly and carefully as afternoon faded, giving way to twilight. After a steady hour of uneventful trekking, Myrina led us to a path I hadn’t seen during my initial trip to Lycastia City. No wonder—I’d been running for my life while fighting shit from Greek mythology.
We followed this new trail, the surly Battle Warden slashing her way through the undergrowth using her short sword as a machete. Vines, branches, and spreading palm fronds fell before her. Asteria kept sighing at how slow we were going. Finally, she pushed the cloak at me and turned into a massive anaconda, bigger than most small trees. The massive snake stole a last lingering look at me, then slithered through the ferns and underbrush unimpeded.
While my general worked on clearing the path enough for us to pass, I reviewed my character sheet as a level four god of war:
I’d already burned through my Ability Points to save my generals, but I wasn’t ready to commit my Attribute Points just yet. Not until I had another opportunity to chat with Phoebe and discuss how best to divvy them up. Still, I was happy with the progress even though I knew gaining levels would be much harder the higher up I got.
I closed the interface as we finally arrived at the cracked stones and fallen columns of another ruin, this one partially consumed by encroaching foliage.
It almost looked like some sort of strange temple, with statues of Amazons as well as snake men in various poses of combat scattered through a huge courty
ard. But as the cogs in my head started spinning, I realized that the statues had once been living creatures, transformed by the Gorgon’s stony gaze. They were trapped forever in prisons of stone. Rock swords and rock shields, eaten away by time and the elements, lay in the fists of Amazons while the sons of Cecrops held rock arrows and rock bows.
We threaded our way through the eerie stone figures, the hairs on the back of my neck standing stiff. Damn, but this place gave me the heebie-jeebies.
There was a gaping black maw which led into the temple proper. Above the entrance was a single word in Greek: sθiːnoʊ. Unlike the rest of the dilapidated ruins, the sign seemed newly carved. The old placard lay cracked and in pieces on the ground nearby.
I pointed at the new signage with my spear. “I’m assuming that means Stheno.”
“Can you not read?” Myrina asked.
Anger flashed through me, power thrumming from the godstone. Her whole I-hate-you-with-unholy-passion act was getting real old, real fast. “Yes, I can read, but not ancient Greek. And what’s your problem, anyway, Myrina? Five minutes after I create you, you have a knife to my throat. You’re not making this easy, and I’m not doing this for myself. I’m doing this for the world. So you need to back the hell off.”
Myrina lifted a finger to silence me. Her eyes darted about as she listened intently.
“What now—” I began.
“Quiet, now, Jacob Merely,” she cut me off, her voice an urgent whisper.
I fell silent as a deadly hush fell over the ruins.
Then I realized two things. One, Asteria was nowhere to be seen.
And two? A ghostly song drifted out from the temple ahead.
It seemed Stheno enjoyed singing.
FOURTEEN
Stheno’s Lair
The tune emanating from inside the main temple was mesmerizing. Not really toe-tapping and catchy—more eerie and haunting. Mesmerizing all the same, though I definitely wasn’t going to rush down there and get her autograph. No, it made me want to turn around, go back to Lycastia City, and forget that Stheno even existed. The lyrics of the song were in Greek, so I couldn’t understand it. My generals didn’t seem to have a problem understanding both Greek and English, so I wondered if they had a built-in universal translator.
I wasn’t sure, but part of me was glad I didn’t have a translator.
I had zero desire to understand what the Gorgon was singing about—the melody alone was bad enough.
The sun was almost completely down—only a vague purple light like a fresh bruise remained in the world. Shadows clutched at every corner of the ruined courtyard dedicated to Stheno.
“So, what do we do?” I asked Myrina in a muffled voice.
A bow creaked, and an arrow whistled past my face, an eighth of an inch from the tip of my nose.
Myrina put her finger to her lips and gave me an extra spicy I told you so stare to shut me up.
I wanted to shove her and scream my head off, but I didn’t. However much of a video game my life had become, I wasn’t going to respawn, and neither would Myrina. Although I hadn’t realized it at the time, the blueprints Ares had given me to create the generals were gone—wiped clean the moment each of them came into existence. There would be no redoes with those three.
The Warden gave me some hand signals, which I couldn’t understand at all.
Myrina saw my confusion and frowned. I could see the judgment emanating from her gaze in waves.
Bending, she picked up a jagged rock and tossed it against a statue nearby. A heartbeat later, an arrow streaked out from the entrance to Stheno’s lair and clattered off the stone figurine. I heard a click, click, click sound from the opening. Another arrow zipped through the air, the iron tip shattering against the statue.
Myrina nodded. Understand now? that nod asked.
It was clear that whoever or whatever was shooting arrows at us was drawn to sound, which meant no talking. This was ridiculous. How could we plan if we couldn’t talk?
Dammit, I was being stupid.
Triggering my combat display, I saw Myrina’s and Asteria’s stats as well as Phoebe’s. A map of the island gave me their locations. Asteria was in the lair, down deep, though I didn’t have schematics for the tunnel. Actually, I only had details on the places I’d previously visited: The eastern beach where I’d washed up. The dense forests leading to the city. Lycastia City itself, and now the ruins of Stheno’s temple. Made sense. Idly, I wondered if I could somehow use Asteria for reconnaissance to fill in the map for me. Worth looking into for sure.
All that wasn’t helping me right then, though. I clicked on the Myrina icon and opened a communication link with her just like I’d done with Phoebe. I didn’t think our link would go as deep since Phoebe had the special Mind Delve ability, but as long as we could speak telepathically, I’d be happy.
“What is this?” Myrina asked in surprise. I pulled her down as three arrows buzzed over our heads, quickly swallowed by the night. More clicks trickled out from inside the lair, but this time, there was a hissing sound as well, like a nest of rattlesnakes.
Crouched underneath a statue of a snake man, I pulled Myrina to me. She had to accept my message, or we couldn’t talk. For a second, I thought of overriding that option and forcing my thoughts into her head, but that didn’t feel right. I waited and tried to contact her again.
Phoebe had picked it up quickly, but then she was a Rune-Caster and a complete genius.
Finally, Myrina figured out how to accept my message.
I sent her my thoughts. We can talk like this without them hearing us. If one of us makes a bunch of noise, the other can sneak up, see what we’re up against, and report back to the other.
More silence. Myrina’s eyes were wide, and she looked a little scared. I thought a few stray arrows wouldn’t freak her out, and I was right. Her immediate thoughts poured into my brain like a firehose. Don’t control me, Jacob. I hate it. Please, promise me you won’t take control of me. Please?
Like before with Phoebe, Myrina’s voice in my head was far more modern-day American than newly created Amazon.
I didn’t even know I could do that, I said to her. But I promise I won’t ever do that to you.
She nodded as sweat streamed down her face. Okay, I like your plan. I’m faster than you, but I’m also a better fighter. So it’s up to you on who should be the distraction and who should do the actual fighting.
Honestly, I didn’t like either option, but I knew if let Myrina do all the fighting, it wouldn’t make her respect me any. I had to trust my new strength and the armor of a war god. Okay. You distract, I’ll get close. Deal?
Yes, Jacob Merely. And don’t worry, I won’t call you Jake or Gamer-Two. You are Jacob Merely to me. Then she gave me a little smile. It was the first one of her life, at least as far as I was concerned.
Myrina collected rocks, popped up, and threw them at various statues. They ricocheted off the stone and bounced along the ground. The noise echoed through the air. A veritable barrage of arrows followed.
I took a deep breath, then sprinted toward the entrance, my legs churning as I moved, while my brain yammered incessantly that an arrow was going to take me out any moment. But my stupid brain was wrong, and impossibly, I made it into the ferns on the far side of the courtyard, undetected. Ten feet from me, three figures stood guard in the entryway to the temple proper. Nagas. All had bows in their hands and short curved scimitars tucked into long sashes wrapped around their waists.
The stink of them, a murky rotted stench, curled my nose.
These were the sons of Cecrops all right, but these snake men didn’t have eyes. Even though it was hard to see in the fading light of the sun, I could tell that their faces had been horribly disfigured and burned. Thick layers of scar tissue had closed up not only their eyes but their noses as well. Only their mouths remained. Which sort of made sense, considering their mistress’s gaze could turn them to stone. Blinded, that wouldn’t be a problem.
; I thought about using my pistol but decided against it. One bullet wasn’t going to do the trick against all three, and besides, I had something to prove here. I needed to impress Myrina. Needed to win her over. I had enough Essence Points to dish out a single Lightning Lance, but that wasn’t going to be enough either.
Prepare to move, came Myrina’s voice inside my head. Another round of rocks flew out from behind me, clattering noisily off the statues. The snake men responded at once, unleashing a fresh volley of arrows at enemies that didn’t exist.
This was it, my chance to prove that as a level-four war god I could hold my own in a fight. Hefting my spear, I lunged forward, hurling the weapon at the nearest naga. My aim was dead-on and my arm strong. The spear impaled the naga, passing through his leather armor, into his chest, and right out the other side. And the raw force of the attack lifted the creature from the ground and sent him flying backward.
The two remaining creatures started their clicking.
From here, I could see it was their teeth, chattering, but more than that, it was echolocation. Both turned on me, dropping their bows and drawing swords. But I was ready, the War Blade in my hand, my shield up and ready. I charged forward, taking the first blow on my shield before lashing out with my blade. Iron on iron rang out as one of the snake men deflected my blow. I lunged, bashing the blind naga in the teeth with the front of my shield, then bolting right and swinging my sword around again.
Despite being blind, the naga slithered back a pace; the edge of my blade carved a shallow furrow across one arm instead of killing the monster outright.
Before I could launch another attack, something wet and powerful encircled my arm. It took me second, but I realized the second naga had slithered into the action and had lashed out with a long sticky tongue. I certainly hadn’t been expecting that—who would’ve known they had steel frog tongues? While I was distracted, the first naga used his serpentine tail like a whip, slamming into my legs, jerking me off my feet, then coiling around my calves. Yeah, snake men, forgot about their tails.