by Kate O'Hearn
“Then I’m overreacting too,” Darek finally said.
“Maybe it’s Lergo again,” Astraea said fearfully as she looked around, including up in the trees.
Cylus shook his head. “I don’t know how I know, but it’s not. Lergo slithers. I’m not hearing that.”
“What are you hearing?” Zephyr asked.
“Nothing,” Cylus said. “That’s what’s so strange. I feel it, but I can’t hear it.”
“Then let’s keep moving,” Astraea said. “If something is following us, all this stopping is giving them a chance to catch up.”
Despite agreeing not to stop to listen, they all did as they followed the setting sun. Just before it vanished completely, they reached the end of the jungle and were faced with a golden beach leading up to a deep green ocean. Tall, choppy waves broke the surface and crashed to the shore as the sun lit golden on the surface.
At the very opposite end of the beach, they saw a rocky cliff face climbing high into the sky. At the base of the cliff, the ocean’s waves pounded against all the fallen boulders, casting great plumes of ocean foam into the air.
“It’s beautiful.” Astraea sighed as Zephyr stepped onto the sand. Apart from their visit to the plateau, this was the only other time they had been free of the dense jungle, and Astraea celebrated being able to see the wide-open sky again.
“Look out over the ocean,” Zephyr said. “I can’t see the end of it.” She looked back at Astraea. “Do you mind if I walk into the water? It looks so cool and inviting. I could use another good soak.”
“Me too,” Astraea agreed.
Zephyr treaded into the water until it covered her back and was up to Astraea’s waist. She sighed at the relief it offered from the heat. “Oh, this is wonderful. I could stay here all night.”
Astraea sighed at the relief the cool water offered her broken leg. “It sure is. Finally, there’s something good about this world.”
Cylus and the centaurs waited on the shore as Astraea and Zephyr cooled off. After a few minutes, Zephyr walked back to shallower water.
“Feeling better?” Cylus asked.
“Much,” Zephyr said. She looked around. “Now where are we supposed to go? The sun’s going down over the water. We can’t swim out there.”
“I don’t know.” Astraea reached up to her neck and gently pried the two snakes away. She peered into their red eyes. “I hope you two can understand me. Where do we go now?”
She held the snakes out to Render. “Would you put them down on the sand. Maybe we can follow them.”
When Render lowered them to the sand, they slithered out a bit and then looked back, as though saying they understood. Then they started crossing the sand.
“I guess we follow them,” Astraea suggested.
Zephyr treaded in the shallow water following the snakes while the centaurs stayed on the shore. Just before they’d crossed half the beach, Cylus stopped and looked back toward the jungle. “I still keep feeling we’re being followed!” He looked at the two other centaurs. “Do you feel it?”
They both nodded and raised their bows. Darek frowned. “I think it’s more than one thing following us.”
“Me too,” Render agreed. “I’d offer to go back and check, but in this place, I’m likely to get eaten.”
“We stick together,” Cylus said. “It’s safer for all of us.”
Astraea looked back toward the jungle. She wasn’t sure if she was now feeling something, or whether she was reacting to the centaurs’ nerves. Whatever it was, she was becoming very uneasy. “I don’t think I like it here on the beach. We’ve very exposed.”
“Then let’s keep moving.” Cylus was now walking backward with his bow raised while Darek and Render looked to the side, up the beach, and into the jungle around them.
Zephyr’s ears were constantly flicking and listening to everything. Then her eyes settled on the water farther out and she tilted her head to the side. “Astraea, does it look like something’s moving out there?”
“It’s the waves, isn’t it?” Astraea said.
Zephyr snorted and shook her head. “I don’t think so. Look again. There’s definitely movement.”
Everyone stared at the water. Cylus took two steps into the surf. “She’s right. There is something moving out there. You can see the ripples on the surface. And if you look carefully, you can see it’s kind of glowing.…” He squinted his eyes and then they went wide. “And it’s coming this way! Zephyr, get out of the water, now!”
Zephyr opened her wings and launched into the air while Cylus galloped out of the surf and up the beach. An instant later, a massive blue ocean creature launched itself onto the shore and snapped its tooth-filled mouth shut in the area they’d just been standing.
When it failed to catch them, it wiggled and rolled back into the pounding surf. But instead of moving into deeper water, it stayed there, waiting and watching.
“I hate this world!” Zephyr cried as she touched down on the sand again. “And I hate constantly saying how much I hate it!”
“Why does everything here want to eat us?” Darek panted. “Doesn’t anything eat plants?”
“Did you see that thing?” Render cried as he paced the area. “I’ve never seen anything like it! It had scales and fins like the sea creatures on Titus, but so many teeth! If we had anything like that back home, Neptune wouldn’t stand a chance even with his trident.”
Astraea was looking at the water and shaking her head. “How can anything survive here? All these creatures want to do is eat each other.”
“Look at it out there.” Zephyr pawed the sand. “It’s just waiting for us to make another mistake.” She clopped closer to the shore, but still far enough away from the ocean creature. “Forget it, fish face. You’re not making a meal of us!”
“Let’s get moving,” Cylus said, looking nervously around. “I really don’t like it here.”
“No kidding,” Zephyr agreed.
Astraea peered down to the sand and saw the two snakes waiting for them. She nodded. “All right, you two, we’re ready.”
As though they understood, the snakes slithered across the sand. Everyone followed keeping a keen eye on the jungle behind them and to their left and the ocean at their right. It seemed that danger could come to them from any direction.
Eventually they crossed the beach and were approaching the cliff face on the opposite side. They stopped and peered up.
“I hope they don’t expect us to climb up there,” Darek said, peering up the sharp cliff face. “It’s really high.”
“They’d better not, because I just don’t have the energy to carry you all,” Zephyr said. She took a step closer to the snakes. “Wait, look, behind those boulders—there’s a cave in there.”
“Oh no!” Cylus cried. “No more caves. Remember what happened last time we went in one.”
The snakes hissed up at them and then moved between two large boulders and disappeared into the cave.
“Those two can just forget it. I’m not going in there,” Cylus said.
Moments later they returned, followed by more snakes than they ever expected to see. Some were smaller than Nesso, but some were much larger, and one was longer than all the centaurs put together in a line and reached up to the top of Zephyr’s legs.
“So this is where they’ve all gone,” Astraea noted. “Look at the size of that one! I guess it’s true that they do grow into Lergo. Do you think we should tell Jake, considering how devoted he is to Nesso?”
“Nah, don’t tell him.” Zephyr chuckled. “Let’s keep it a surprise for him.”
“Yeah.” Cylus laughed. “A really big surprise!”
They all laughed as more snakes came out of the cave and formed a kind of slithering carpet around them.
Zephyr took a cautious step back. “Hey, you know something? I don’t think I like this. In fact, I’m sure I don’t like it. I mean, Nesso is fine, maybe even kind of cute in her own scaly way. Even the others are okay. B
ut this is a lot of slithering snakes!”
“Too many,” Cylus said.
The original two came forward and lifted themselves up as high as they could. Render bent down and offered his hand and they slid on. He handed them up to Astraea. “I’ve already got one; these two are yours.”
Both Darek and Render each had a snake around their neck and weren’t too pleased about it. Astraea accepted them and smiled. “I don’t know what you’re all worried about. I think they’re sweet.”
“Hello?” Zephyr said. “Have you forgotten about that big one in the cave? You know, the one that nearly killed me!”
“No, I haven’t,” Astraea said. “But have you forgotten it was these two and the ones with Darek and Render that brought the berries that saved your life?”
When they were settled around Astraea’s neck, the two snakes hissed. Immediately the others on the ground parted, creating a trail leading into the cave.
“Let’s go,” Astraea said.
“Go where?” Cylus said suspiciously.
“Into the cave,” Astraea said.
Cylus shook his head. “I told you, no more caves for me.”
Astraea’s leg was throbbing, and she was more tired than she imagined possible. The last thing she wanted was to fight with Cylus. “Fine. Stay out here if you like with all the things that want to eat you. But Zephyr and I are going in. I’m exhausted, my leg hurts, and I need to rest. If there were any danger in there”—she pointed up to the snakes at her neck—“I don’t think these two would let us go in.” She leaned forward to Zephyr. “What do you think?”
“Well, I…?” Zephyr said hesitantly.
“Fine,” Astraea said. “You can stay out here too. But I am going in.” She started to slide off Zephyr’s back.
“Astraea, stop.” Zephyr tightened her folded wings and locked Astraea on her back. “If you really want to go in, we’ll go in. Don’t get down. It’ll only hurt your leg even more.”
“But I don’t want to force you to go where you don’t want to!”
Zephyr burst out laughing. “It’s too late for that. We came to this world, didn’t we?” She started to walk forward between the snakes. “But if I go in there and get bitten again…”
“I know,” Astraea said, patting her neck. “You’ll never forgive me.”
“Just so long as that’s clear,” Zephyr finished.
Once inside the cave, they found the air was much cooler and it was easier to breathe. There was a lot of sand on the ground, as well as large clumps of washed-up ocean grasses. Render helped Astraea off Zephyr and lowered her to a pile of dried grasses.
Zephyr settled beside her, and the three centaurs lay down near the entrance. Once they were comfortable, the wave of snakes entered and made their way to the very back of the cave.
Despite their large quantity, they were oddly silent. No hissing or communication of any kind. It was obvious the snakes were terrified and were seeking a safe hiding place.
As they moved past Astraea, the giant snake paused. Their eyes met and held for a moment. Then the snake leaned closer to her, it’s tongue flicking in and out.
Astraea reached out her hand and tentatively pet the snake’s wide snout. At her touch, it shut its red eyes and tilted its head to the side. Instead of joining the others at the back, the large snake coiled up at her side.
“I think you’ve made a new friend,” Zephyr teased.
“I do too,” Astraea agreed as she continued to stroke the snake.
“I can’t believe this,” Cylus said to her. “And I doubt anyone back home would either if we told them about it.”
“I know,” Render agreed. He yawned loudly. “I’m so tired. I feel like I haven’t slept in an age.”
“Me too,” Darek agreed.
Once all the snakes were inside, Cylus rose and walked over to the entrance of the cave. “You all rest. I’ll keep watch.”
“You need to sleep too,” Astraea said.
“I know, but whatever is following us is still out there. One of us should stand guard. I’ll take the first watch, and then we can switch.”
“I’ll take the second watch,” Render offered.
“And I’ll do the third,” Darek put in.
Astraea knew there was no point arguing with the centaurs. They all needed rest, but their warrior training meant they would keep watch, despite their exhaustion. She nestled against Zephyr and dosed off, feeling grateful to them.
* * *
It felt like Astraea had just closed her eyes when a warning shout from Cylus and the clanking sounds of swords startled her awake. With the moon shining brightly into the cave behind them, it wasn’t long before Astraea realized what she was seeing. Cylus was fighting two Shadow Titans. With a sword in one hand and his dagger in the other, he was a true warrior.
As their weapons clanked against each other, wild sparks flew into the air. Cylus was brave and unflinching as he took on the attackers. With a quick, swiping undercut, he skillfully struck one of the Shadows in the arm and sliced it off at the shoulder. But the creature didn’t feel the wound and kept fighting.
Just as Render and Darek rose to their hooves, Astraea watched in horror as a third Shadow Titan charged at Cylus and knocked his sword away while the other lunged forward and thrust his weapon into the centaur. With a single cry, Cylus collapsed to the cave floor.
“Cylus!” Render howled as he raised his weapon and charged into battle.
Like Cylus, both Render and Darek fought bravely and with more skill than Astraea could imagine. Their swords moved so swiftly, she couldn’t see the blades anymore. Just the sparks as they struck the Shadow’s blades.
But despite their efforts, Render was wounded and fell to the ground, while Darek was struck in the head with a cracking blow that Astraea and Zephyr heard at the back of the cave. He collapsed and became still. When they were hauled out of the cave, more Shadow Titans entered.
Astraea stole a glance back at the snakes and saw them disappearing into cracks and crevices. There was no time for anything more as a Shadow Titan charged forward, caught hold of Astraea, and hauled her to her feet. She screamed when her broken leg touched the ground. “Stop!” she begged. “My leg is broken!” Unable to stand, she fell to the floor of the cave again.
“Leave her alone or I’ll stomp you!” Zephyr whinnied. She reared up and kicked the Shadow Titan away from Astraea. The massive bird Shadow collapsed to the ground and fell to pieces as Zephyr stomped it to oblivion. More Shadow Titans charged forward and tried to subdue Zephyr. Finally, when a large green turtle Shadow raised its weapon to Zephyr’s neck, Astraea shouted, “Zephyr, stop, please. They’ll kill you!”
Seeing she was surrounded, and feeling the blade at her throat, Zephyr stood down. Though her nostrils flared and her ears went back, she allowed herself to be captured by the Shadow Titans.
With Zephyr subdued, Astraea was hauled up again by a Shadow Titan. Despite her pained cries, she was dragged along the sandy floor and out of the cave, past Cylus, Darek, and Render.
The ocean’s waves were pounding on the rocks, casting salty spume in the air and making a voice sound very soft and far away. “Bring them to us.”
Astraea and Zephyr were taken over to a line of Mimics. Standing in their true, blubberous form. With the moonlight reflecting on their wet-looking gray skin, they were even more terrifying.
Astraea had only ever seen one from behind in the cells of Tartarus, or when they were melting from Nesso’s venom. But standing before her were four healthy, horrifying Mimics. Their eyes were dark and bulbous and the skin on their faces was drooping into deep folds. There were no noses that she could see, or lips on their wide, thin mouths.
One of them brought its hand to its mouth and spoke. “Bring those still alive closer.”
Astraea was dragged forward and deposited at the feet of the creatures, with Zephyr right behind her. The three centaurs were deposited outside the cave. Astraea looked back at them, but t
hey weren’t moving. Were the centaurs dead? Could it be true?
The Mimics each held a torch, yet they seemed to be straining and had to squint to see her as they bent down and peered closer.
One of them gasped or made a sound that could have been a gasp. “These are the Titan spawn that have caused us so much trouble.”
“Indeed,” mused another. “But where are the rest? There are two biped spawn missing.” It looked at the first Mimic who’d spoken. “Ask your Shadows to tell us how many they killed in the cave.”
The first Mimic held up its hand to its mouth again and started to speak. “How many Titans did you kill in the cave?”
One of the Shadow Titans held up three fingers and pointed back to the cave entrance and the centaurs.
“Those are the centaurs,” said the first Mimic. “Where are the bipeds?”
“Perhaps they separated, and our Shadows only followed this group,” said a new Mimic.
Astraea realize Cylus and the others were right. They had been followed. She was sickened to realize they had led the Mimics directly to the snakes’ hiding place. She just hoped they’d managed to escape deeper into the cave, where the Mimics and Shadow Titans couldn’t reach them.
The Mimic standing above Astraea raised its hand to its mouth again. It was then she noticed the small, round silver device it held. “Hold her up. I wish to see her better.”
Astraea winced as the Shadow Titan lifted her off the ground by her wrist and held her out to the Mimic.
“So, Titan, where are the two bipeds that were always with you?”
“I don’t understand,” Astraea said. “What is a biped?”
“You are a biped, as you walk on two feet. That one behind you is a quadruped, as she uses four.”
Astraea looked back at Zephyr and then back to the Mimic. She realized they were talking about Jake and Tryn. She lowered her head. “They were eaten by a big serpent. It tried to get me too and broke my leg.”
The four Mimics looked at each other and spoke in a strange language. Then the one in front of Astraea spoke again. “We know you are here for the snakes, to use them against us. Did you really think we would allow you to collect them? We have been following you since you arrived. You never had a chance against us.”