Exoria (The God Chronicles #5)

by Kamery Solomon

  “Wouldn’t that be a good thing?” I countered. “We would finally have someone who could win the war for us.”

  He flinched, the low blow effecting him just as I’d planned. “Still,” he continued, clearing his throat roughly. “Katrina won’t be herself if you bring her back. You know that, don’t you? Every action has a price.”

  “I know that better than anyone.” Bitter, I turned my back on him, hands clenched painfully into fists.

  “You couldn’t have known that giving her soul the potion would only make the memory of her death worse.” His words were not unkind, but it felt like he’d punched me in the gut.

  “No, I suppose I couldn’t have.” Frowning, I thought of the poor spirit locked across the hall. Before I’d forced Mnemosyne’s down her throat, she had relived her brutal murder only once a day, at the most. She’d been quiet and subdued, though fearful as well. When the time came for her to revisit the last moments of her life, it had happened mostly in her mind. As soon as I’d dripped the blood into her mouth, though, her existence had become a constant cycle of pain and torment. She relived the events of her death as many as four times in an hour. I often found myself thankful that she experienced periods of unconsciousness, just so I could know she wasn’t suffering at every waking moment.

  I knew what that felt like. If killing myself would have eased her anguish, I would have done it gladly. My disappearance only would have helped me, though, so here I was, still fighting to make everything right by her.

  “And I couldn’t have known it would make no difference,” Zeus continued, asserting his opinion like there was no way to refute it.

  “Yeah. That excuses you waltzing in here with your sword and lightning and trying to strike me down.”

  “Poseidon told me what happened at the temple,” he argued. “I was angry. You needed to be reined in—you still do. I heard about the fight here last week.”

  “Of course you did.” Snorting, I rolled my eyes. “The gates of your prison were literally blown to bits that rained down on your guards. I’d be concerned if you hadn’t heard anything.”

  “So it’s true, then?” Stepping forward, his eyes flashed anxiously. “The demi-Titan was here?”

  “Yup. All fiery and flying and everything.” Finally. We were starting to get around to the point of him being here now.

  “And . . . Cristos?”

  Raising an eyebrow, I tried not to notice the way his hands folded in front of him, like he was about to issue a prayer or wring them in anticipation. “He’s still in his cell in Tartarus, if that’s what you’re asking.”

  A breath of relief rushed from him and he nodded, clamping his mouth shut tightly for a moment. It struck me that he was suddenly unable to speak, whatever emotions my confirmation had given him hidden inside.

  “She didn’t take him away. She left him alone.”

  “Well, I wouldn’t exactly say she left him alone, but no. She didn’t take him away.”

  He fell silent again, his hands fidgeting as he looked at the floor. When he finally looked up at me, I saw a side of him I’d never experienced before. “Don’t take my son to Erebos.” His voice cracked on the last word, unshed tears glinting in the firelight, his mouth trembling as he fought to remain control.

  Shocked, I felt my mouth pop open. Gone were all traces of the king, general, and beloved of Olympus. In his place, I now watched a terrified father search for the words he thought would spare his son from the horrors I was about to send him into.

  Taking a deep breath and steadying himself, Zeus cleared his throat. “He’s not ready. Erebos will kill him. Even I haven’t been able to get the upper hand when we’ve met on the battle field.”

  “What do you care?” It was clearly obvious that the man loved his child. However, this was a large turn of events from the banishment he’d enacted on Cristos. “You sent him to rot in Hell. Either he stays there and is gone from your life forever, or he goes with me and has a chance at life outside of a cell.”

  “You want to use him for that ritual I refused to do.” Showing his pig headed colors, the King of the Gods shook his head furiously, anger presenting itself on his features now. “That could kill him, too, for all we know. I won’t allow you to use him just to further your own ambitions.”

  “There’s the king I know and love!” Crossing the space, I stopped right in front of him, letting some of my pent up anger seep out of me and I spoke in a low voice. “Of course you will. You know why? You have no say over what I do or what your son does. He’s been banished; he has no ties to you or your throne. You have nothing to give him anymore. You set him on this path.”

  “I did no such thing!” Leaning in, his lip pulled back as he practically growled at me. “I love my son. He made some bad decisions—we all did. Banished or not, I don’t want him walking into a death trap!”

  “And I bet Karly put you up to coming down here and trying to talk me out of working with him,” I shot back. “You haven’t given a single thought to anyone but yourself and how to protect your throne since The Undoing. Everything always had to be about you. Katrina? She didn’t have anything to do with your story. Why should you care? Cristos? You literally tried to kill the woman he loved right in front of him because of the threat she posed to you. You didn’t even bother to question her, or find out what was really going on. I never took you for one to act out of fear, Zeus, but it seems that’s all you can do lately.”

  “Shut up!” Growling, he took a step back, fists trembling.

  “Why? I’m not the only person saying these things. Where do you think I heard it all? The gods are worried, Brother. They’re whispering behind your back. How does it feel, knowing they don’t think you’re good enough anymore?”

  Smiling triumphantly, I watched the dark shadow that dropped over his face, the air in the room suddenly seeming colder as he looked at me. It was true, and he knew it. The guards in Tartarus had been sharing the opinions amongst themselves. From his expression, he had unfortunately heard some of the other gods sharing the same sentiments.

  “Welcome to the club,” I told him bitterly when he didn’t respond. “I haven’t been good enough my entire life.”

  “You were always good enough.” The statement was soft and honest, but I could tell he was still very angry. “Whenever someone spoke out against you, I knew it wasn’t true. However, it would seem the things they’re saying about me are. I have given my all for the cause—even sacrificing my son—and it still has not been enough to win.”

  Deflating some, he released his fists, his gaze returning to the floor. “I can’t stop you from going after Erebos, and I can’t stop Cristos from helping you. But I swear on my life, Hades, if he dies, I will strangle the life right out of you.”

  Nodding, I accepted the terms he was offering me. “If Karly doesn’t do it first. I know. Trust me. I’ll be right there with him.” Hesitating some, I reached out and put a hand on his shoulder. “He’s not going to die, not while I’m with him.”

  “I know.” Laughing slightly, he looked back at me again. “You need him, too.”

  Smiling tightly, I pulled my hand back, briefly looking at the door to Katrina’s room behind him. “I do. He’s also my nephew. I don’t let family die just for the fun of it.”

  Zeus turned, apparently ready to leave. His shoulders slumped, as if he were suddenly ready to lie down in the hall and never get up again. Pausing for a moment, he took a deep breath and then stood straight, all of his mantles falling back into place.

  “Whatever you’re planning on doing, you need to do it fast. Olympus can’t take much more of a beating before it breaks.” Glancing over his shoulder, he looked at me wearily. “Erebos is in the labyrinth. My scouts confirmed it this morning. Be safe, Brother. Watch after my son.”

  Chapter Sixteen

  Hades

  “What are we doing?” On edge, Arsenio called to me from the back of our little line, a bag full of supplied slung over his shoulders
. “I thought we were going to use the tunnels to get out of here.”

  Glancing back, I resisted the urge to roll my eyes at the demi-god. He asked too many questions, always seeming to doubt anything that he didn’t know for absolute certain. It wasn’t really his fault in this case. We were heading away from the tunnels that led out of the Underworld, which we’d agreed to use when the time came to go after Erebos. It was part of our plan, which we’d carefully crafted for days. However, Zeus’s revelation of the Titan’s exact location had changed the timeline somewhat.

  Erebos would know that his location wasn’t a secret. He’d picked a location that didn’t need to be hidden. The famous labyrinth would keep her occupants tucked away from anyone who would dare enter her stone walls to face them. It was risky business, taking on the maze, but it ensured an extra layer of safety. We’d pass through the outer labyrinth that twisted its way around the mountain, and enter into the dark paths of the interior. The walkways tunneled deep inside, and challenged the minds of even the greatest thinkers. It would take a normal man more than half a year to map the massive structure. Even the gods looked down on it in awe when it was first created.

  Of course, the whole man eating Minotaur inside it had kind of painted the magnificent creation in a bad light from the moment the idea was first conceived.

  Focusing on the overgrown path ahead, I secretly wondered why I didn’t just tell the two men where we were going. The forest grew up around us, concealing the rest of the Underworld from view. Each step I took, I felt more dread, as if my heart were slowly burning out of my chest. It had been so long since I’d come this way. I didn’t even know what we would find when we reached our destination.

  “I assume we’re getting out a different way,” Cristos said calmly, in reply to Arsenio. “Plans change. You know that.”

  “Yes, but I’m typically privileged enough to know what the changes are,” he grumbled in return.

  “We’re almost there,” I offered offhandedly.

  “And just where is this place?” Arsenio pushed.

  “My garden.”

  “Garden?” The two spoke at the same time, clearly surprised I would have such a thing tucked away in the Land of the Dead.

  “I haven’t been since Katrina died. That’s where I buried her.” Swallowing hard, I concentrated on putting one foot in front of the other.

  “Oh. We need her body for the ritual, too?”

  Frowning, I ignored Cristos’s question. We didn’t need the body, just her soul. I didn’t know what I would have done if I’d needed the body as well.

  “When The Undoing occurred, all of the creatures that had been locked up in Tartarus escaped as well. Sirens, sphynxes, satyrs, all sorts of things. The last time I was in the garden—”

  Unexpectedly, my throat closed up, the memory of covering Katrina in dirt rushing through me like a cold drip of water. I could still smell the dirt, the charred wood of the cabin that Erebos and I had fought in hours before. The candles we’d lit during our makeshift wedding to each other had been left next to the gravestone I’d carved for her. Would it still look the same? What if the flames that were meant to last an eternity had gone out? Would she be sad that I’d never come to visit her grave? It wasn’t that I didn’t want to. I couldn’t. I’d planned to never return to the place until she was at my side again.

  “Hades?” Cristos touched my arm, concern on his features when I stopped and turned to face him.

  “I’m sorry,” I mumbled. “It’s been a long time.”

  “I understand.” Smiling encouragingly, he motioned for me to continue on. “There’s something in the garden we need?”

  “I keep all of my most prized possessions there. The things I loved the most. There will be weapons we can use, enchanted things.”

  My chest grew tighter as we neared the end of the path, the rock wall and door to the garden rising up before me. The stones that had once held the invisible entrance had been overrun with the plants on the other side of the wall, green vines spilling out onto the ground and clearly marking the entrance for all to see.

  Taking a deep breath, I hurried down the path to the entrance and practically hurled myself through it, pushing the vines out of the way. No sooner was I on the other side, though, did I freeze, seeing what had become of my precious getaway after decades of neglect.

  The trees were wild and crazy, rotten fruit hanging from the branches and littering the ground beneath them. The grass was so high it reached my waist, the slim green chutes swaying gently in the breeze wafting in from the opening above. Rose bushes looked more like thorn nests bent on capturing their next victim.

  Trying not to shake, I turned in the direction of where the cabin had been, eyes narrowing at the sight of the blown apart hut. Just barely, through the high grass, I could see the top of Katrina’s headstone, two small, flickering candles keeping watch over the sight.

  “There’s more than just weapons here, though,” I continued, swallowing hard as I took in the sights. “There’s also—”

  “Pegasus,” Arsenio breathed, pointing to his left.

  Tearing my eyes away from the resting place of my beloved, I looked to where he was gesturing, sighing in slight relief as I took in the small herd of black, winged horses. “Yes,” I stated. “The first one came sniffing around when I left. I’d hoped they would still be here.”

  “We’re going to fly to the labyrinth,” Cristos guessed, smiling. “Very nice. They won’t be expecting an air attack from us.”

  “I expect they won’t be planning for our arrival at all,” Arsenio added, sliding the bag off his back and setting it on the ground. “We should have the complete element of surprise.”

  “Don’t underestimate the maze,” I warned. “We won’t be able to just fly over it and pinpoint where the Titans are. Not all of it is open to the outside. We’re going to have to try our luck at navigating it as well.”

  “Let’s worry about that when the time comes,” Cristos replied, stepping toward the animals. “Get what you need and let’s be on our way. I have a feeling that we’re about to get into more than we bargained for.”

  Freezing air rushed past me, the chill making my skin prickle. It was odd, feeling more cold than hot. Snow lighted on us as we rushed through the air, the black wings of our magical horses pounding away with supreme resilience, despite the conditions we pushed them through. Every few minutes, the storm would rumble, the sound of thunder making my bones shake. Still, all I could think of was what waited for me in the labyrinth.

  It was believed that the maze forced people to battle not only with the enemies inside of it, but with themselves. It was a test of sanity and pride, a challenge of both patience and speed, and an experience in leading and following. One had to be lost before they could be found. Would the same still be true now, with no Minotaur to bring the failures to their knees?

  Something told me the Titans would be worse competitors than the man bull of ancient times.

  Glancing over, I watched Cristos, his gaze focused ahead of us, fingers entwined in the mane of his Pegasus as he rode ahead with confidence. Fighting him these past couple months, teaching him how to use his powers, and watching him develop at rapid speed over the past week had opened my eyes to what an asset he really was. There was a reason Olympus had chosen him as their champion, and he had proved it to me every day. I’d never been more impressed by his skill, even when I was beating him almost to death.

  Just behind him, Arsenio flew into battle as well, not even questioning what we were doing. He knew Cristos needed his help and he was there.

  If only I’d had brothers who treated me the same.

  Suddenly, my Pegasus faltered, dropping slightly and slowing down, a nervous whine reaching my ears.

  “There’s something ahead!” I shouted on the wind, looking around for what had spooked the animal.

  Cristos’s ride halted completely, wings flapping crazily as it turned in circles, panicked. A second later
, I saw what the issue was.

  There was a giant demi-Titan rocketing right for them.

  Phoenix’s wings were tucked behind her, the axe in her hand outstretched as she soared straight for Cristos, fire erupting around her. At the last second, she turned, barely missing Cristos as she continued to plummet toward the earth.

  Surprised, Cristos reined in his horse, turning it in the same direction and heading down. A pit formed in my stomach as I followed suit with Arsenio, the three of us leaving the storm clouds and entering into a war zone.

  Just above the labyrinth, battle was raging in the skies. With a sickening feeling, I suddenly realized we had forgotten to plan for one option in this fight; someone was already here attacking.

  Harpies clashed together in the skies, bloodthirsty cries ringing out from the ground below. Everywhere I looked, someone was fighting someone. Phoenix had brought her army to meet the Titans first and the ensuing massacre was a terrifying sight to behold.

  “There!” Cristos yelled, pointing to the ground.

  The demi-Titan was clearing the path into the labyrinth, tossing her enemies aside like they were rag dolls. Fire shot from her hands, searing the ground and anyone in her way. Batting her massive wings, she knocked a few other Titans to the side, hurrying into the stone maze without a second look back.

  “Follow her in!” I shouted, watching as those she had laid aside struggled to regroup and hold the entrance. “Let everyone else fight out here. We have bigger fish to fry inside.”

  Without any further prodding, my teammates urged their horses forward, leaning over the necks of the horses as wings rapidly carried us toward the opening. As soon as we touched the ground, we were running.

  Grabbing an arrow, Arsenio shot one of the Titans who had managed to get up, knocking him back down and kicking him as we passed by. Cristos punched out another monster, not even slowing down. It was like we were rolling over the top of them, our momentum carrying us through the tiny resistance of the outer maze and into the mouth of the mountain.