Kala fought her way to Ashliel’s side. He was at the center of the army of the dead, throwing black fire from his hands, popping zombie heads off like dandelions.
When Ashliel saw her he nodded toward Hades, yelling over the mayhem. “Shouldn’t you be playing with the big boys!?”
Kala had to shout back as she shoved and tossed soldiers aside to reach him. “Rhea and Hades are protected! You said the Grigori helped build this place. Any ideas on how to un-protect them?”
Ashliel continued to make heads fly as if he was having fun doing it, but his expression was lost in thought. Taking down any attackers that stepped too close to Kala, she batted them away in annoyance.
Finally, Ashliel nodded his head. “They’re using ‘The Veil’ as their own force field.”
“I’m sorry: The Veil?” Kala had no idea what the Grigori was talking about.
“What separates the living from the dead. The Veil was here long before Cronus’s protection spells. They probably figure they’ll finish with us quickly and restore what damage they may have done to The Veil after they’re done,” Ashliel grunted as a zombie lunged at him. He made quick work of the corpse, lighting the whole rotting body with black fire.
Kala kicked a dead soldier into a swarm of incoming zombies, giving her a little more time. “So what are you saying? We take down this Veil or something?”
Ashliel couldn’t hide the horror from his face. “I don’t think that’s a good idea. Removing the one barrier between the living and the dead would have colossal effects on the living world. But we might be able to disrupt it, long enough to capture Hades and Rhea and make our escape.”
Looking back at Rhea and Hades and their lack of injuries, made the decision a no-brainer. “We have to try,” Kala said desperately.
Ashliel nodded and signaled to Antel, who wasn’t far off. The female angel was holding her own against the zombie army, but even in the chaos she turned at Ashliel’s call. He pointed up, shouting, “Hades and Rhea are using The Veil for protection!”
The female Grigori instantly knew his intentions and nodded. Antel motioned to five Grigori, and then to Kala, yelling over the noise of battle: “We Grigori have to combine our powers to do this, so you’ll have to keep the dead off of us. No distractions.”
Since Antel was a distance away, Kala stayed with Ashliel and two of the Grigori while the other three set up a perimeter around Antel.
Giant beams of yellow fire burst out of Ashliel and Antel’s chests, shooting straight up to the Underworld’s gray sky.
It was hard enough fighting off the army of dead before this started happening, but the instant the yellow fire hit the wall of the Underworld, the zombies flew into a frenzy.
Kala could see Hades and Rhea scream in panic at seeing the columns of flames. They know what it means, Kala realized with certainty.
And they weren’t about to let it happen.
Corpses climbed over each other, trying to reach Antel or Ashliel. Kala fought with every ounce of strength she could muster, tearing off legs, arms, and heads, anything that would slow the attack.
Talan and Owen caught on before the others and charged their way toward Antel and Ashliel to try to protect them. The other Grigori followed their leads. Before Kala knew it, her small circle of three had become an army of ten. The other half of the Grigori did the same for Antel. Even Asmodeus was quickly by Kala’s side, screeching and causing the zombies to cover their ears long enough for Kala to decapitate them.
The only ones who didn’t abandon fighting Hades and Rhea were the Olympians. For them it was personal. But as the fire began to turn a bright white Hades and Rhea knew they were in trouble. Turning away from the fight, the duo tried to shake off Poseidon and his sisters.
Kala heard Ashliel’s voice scream, “NOW! OWEN! THE PURPLE FIRE!”
Owen’s hands shot out and Hades and Rhea were encapsulated with the purple flames of their prison. Within seconds of struggling to free themselves, they were locked in the Grigori cocoon once more.
All at once, the zombie army dropped, their puppet master no longer connected to them.
The white fire came flying down to disappear in both Antel and Ashliel’s chests.
From the deafening roar of combat to the eerie silence of the Underworld was jarring in its juxtaposition.
Poseidon was the first to recover. “Let’s move.”
Following in line, Kala, Asmodeus, the Grigori and the Olympians went with Poseidon to what Kala could only refer to as the “Ocean Exit,” since no one seemed to want to elaborate.
At a spot that didn’t seem different from any other place in the landscape, Poseidon stopped. He turned to Kala, “You’re the only one with human in you. Can you breathe underwater? I can give you a second layer of skin that will make it possible for you.”
Looking around, Kala realized she was the only one who wasn’t all supernatural, which meant she could potentially drown. But, after her experience in the River Styx, she knew she’d be okay. Shaking her head, Kala responded, “I’m alright. I was able to hold my breath indefinitely in the River Styx.”
Poseidon nodded in acknowledgement and turned to the sky. “Get ready to swim.”
Talan was by Kala’s side and said to the group, “As soon as we’re out of the Underworld we can teleport back to the Compound.”
Since some of the members of their team had no idea what the Compound was, everyone had to hold hands.
As serious as the moment was, Kala couldn’t help but wonder if they were breaking some kind of world record for the most people teleporting.
Poseidon locked hands with the end of the train and used his free hand to perform the spell that would let them escape. Saying words Kala barely recognized, she didn’t have time to wonder what they meant.
The sky of the Underworld cracked and broke as if made of glass. A giant tidal wave of water rushed through at terrifying speed, slamming down on the small group. It felt as if a skyscraper had landed on Kala’s head, but being more than human made it possible for her to survive.
It took a moment for Kala to appreciate the fact that the water was being dumped into an invisible cylinder the circumference of her party size.
Poseidon had punched a hole in the Underworld directly under the ocean.
Once the tube was filled, the water pressure subsided and the army swam up through the opening.
The darkness of the ocean was strangely vibrant and colorful compared to the grayness of the Underworld. Though Kala had already been resurrected, she felt a flush of energy soar through her as she swam in the icy waters. The sensation was invigorating.
Kala was on earth again.
She was home.
Chapter Seventeen
Talan didn’t waste anytime. As soon as their army had passed the borders of the Underworld, Talan tried to teleport them but…
Nothing.
Being in the ocean, Kala knew the only way to communicate was through telepathy. What’s happening? She asked Talan.
His response was immediate. Something is blocking us from teleporting.
Cronus, Kala guessed.
The large group kept swimming, hands still clasped together. Kala thought what an odd sight it would be to see a couple dozen people holding hands in a line at the bottom of the ocean.
Luckily, just like when she was immersed in the River Styx, Kala was able to hold her breath endlessly. Not even the water pressure bothered her. She may be part human, but being Gaia’s daughter obviously protected her from “science.”
Rotoph! Kala called out. You’re the teleportation-blocker expert. Do something.
I’m… trying, Rotoph responded. His voice sounded strange, as if he was rattled by something more than being stuck at the bottom of the ocean. Then he added, If it’s Cronus, he’s hiding himself well.
Or someone else was hiding him, most likely Oceanus.
Kala mentally prepared herself to face Oceanus. At least they had Poseidon with them this time. She hoped that
would make a difference if they had to fight.
Then she saw them.
All of them.
Eleven Titans. Only Rhea was missing, trapped in the Underworld with her son.
Oceanus was front and center.
Kala felt very small in that moment.
Even Poseidon looked dwarfed compared to the twenty-foot Titans. Apparently they could grow in size, Kala observed with annoyance. Cronus was no longer in his sharp black suit. Like his other siblings, he now wore a traditional Greek tunic embroidered with designs and symbols, though the details were lost in the ocean darkness.
Swimming in a group with the Grigori, the Olympians and Asmodeus didn’t give Kala the confidence she thought it would. Her Atlas memories must have been infiltrating themselves into her consciousness because seeing the giant Titans in front of her actually made her afraid.
But it also made her angry.
After everything Kala had just been through in the Underworld, to be stopped by the Titan Brigade was… annoying. Why couldn’t they just mind their own business? Kala was losing her sense of guilt about her mission to trap Cronus by the second. In fact, she was almost looking forward to it.
Cronus spoke to them all through telepathy, Surrender now and we won’t harm you.
Owen’s voice was low and angry in Kala’s head as he responded to Cronus, You are not capable of harming us, Cronus. Not any more.
Kala wondered if Rotoph had more than one magic red-ball-of-renewal for any supernatural being that was sliced by a Grigori blade. She also wondered if at any point they were going to stop holding hands. The action was bordering on absurd considering the circumstances.
We’ll see, Cronus answered with venom.
Oceanus sent hundreds of spinning whirlpools in Kala’s direction.
Bracing for impact, Kala released her hands from Talan and the other Grigori angel next to her.
Before the whirlpools hit their party, Poseidon swam faster than any fish or vehicle Kala had ever seen. His body absorbed all of the swirling drills of water, then he pushed back with his hands creating a vortex so large it looked like it would consume all eleven Titans in one blow.
But Oceanus was ready for the attack, he held out his arms and the vortex dispersed into harmless bubbles.
Kala had the sneaking suspicion this battle would take a while if left to the two ocean gods to fight it out.
Though no Titan, Grigori or god had full power when immersed in water, that didn’t stop them from joining in the fray.
Green, purple, white and black fire burned through the ocean’s depths on both sides.
Not one to be overshadowed, Asmodeus turned into his true demon form matching the Titan’s size, his deep blue scales reflecting all raging fires around him. Using his black leathery wings like fins, Asmodeus took on Cronus himself and the two of them tumbled further down into the ocean’s depths.
Kala had no idea how to access her fire skills, though from her Atlas vision, she knew she’d be learning soon. Since no one seemed likely to offer her a tutorial at the moment, however, Kala had to do her own thing.
This was becoming an impossible task, though: Poseidon and Oceanus were moving the water surrounding the battling groups at impossible speeds and force. Kala was hit by an underwater wave the size of a truck, knocking her backwards. She fought off motion sickness, almost gasping for air out of habit. Luckily, she remembered where she was, but it was difficult holding her breath when being bounced around so violently.
What was becoming more and more obvious to Kala was the fact that she had no idea what she could do. Brute strength seemed pointless since it was almost impossible to throw a punch in water, fire was out because she had no idea how to use it, and the dome-of-air trick she’d used before would hold Poseidon back as well. And since Poseidon seemed to be the only one doing any damage to the Titans, Kala didn’t want to ruin a good thing.
So, she ended up treading water, watching the battle unfold, feeling completely useless.
Surprising her more was the fact that with all the brouhaha over how much of a threat Kala was, none of the Titans were paying her any mind. Not even Cronus appeared interested in a confrontation; he was too focused on trying to annihilate Asmodeus. It only showed Kala that this war was ancient. Ancient and petty. There were thousands of years of resentment between all parties: The Grigori for their imprisonment, the Titans for the betrayal of their children, the Olympians for the betrayal of their parents and Asmodeus for… well… for being his Demon-y self. The bitterness ran deep and the human part of Kala wanted nothing to do with it. Ironically, neither did her Atlas side.
Think strategically…
The Atlas-mission countdown clock was ticking and Kala knew they had to get back to the Compound. The only way to do that was to teleport. Cronus was preventing it. Rotoph was the only one who could stop him.
Trying to find Rotoph amongst the chaos was a challenge. It was only after scanning every silhouette and supernatural being through the darkness of the ocean that, on the brink of failure, Kala finally spotted the Grigori. Rotoph was fighting off Atlas’s father, Iapetus, along with Clymene and Theia. Three-on-one. These Titans definitely knew Rotoph was the key to their escape plan.
Kala swam through the blazing fire that lit up the water in small spurts of colors. No one seemed to notice her as she made her way toward Rotoph.
As she neared the Grigori, though, his voice called out to her inside her brain, Kala, leave me. I can take care of this. Rotoph’s voice was insistent.
You look like you could use some help. Kala wasn’t sure why the Grigori would refuse her aid.
Rotoph barely evaded the yellow fire bursting from Iapetus’s hands as he swam to the right. I mean it, Kala. I’ve run from my destiny long enough. It’s time.
Kala remembered what Rotoph had said to her once: I had a destiny I didn’t want to fulfill, so I banished my own people. She had always wondered what he meant by that. What had caused him to work with the Titans to imprison all his brothers and sisters? Kala was about to find out.
I find it hard to believe that fighting Titans in the ocean was the reason you sent your people to prison. Kala ducked as a beam of yellow fire was chucked at her by Theia. Kala had been noticed at this point and the Titan looked more than happy to try and take her down.
Rotoph sent his own bolt of blue fire at all three Titans, but only one shot found its mark. Blue fire must have been some kind of freezing magic because, hit by Rotoph’s fire, Theia stopped in her tracks and began to sink to the bottom of the ocean.
Kala, please. Just let me do this. Go take on Cronus if you want to help, Rotoph pleaded.
I’m going to help you whether you like it or not. Kala didn’t like the tone of Rotoph’s voice. He sounded defeated. We need the teleportation embargo lifted and you seem to be the only one who can do that, so I’m going to kick Atlas’s dad’s ass. Trust me, I’m satisfying both parts of my personality here. Kala swam as fast as she could at Iapetus, landing her fist on his ten-foot chest. To her disappointment, the impact only shoved Iapetus back a few feet. He was definitely more annoyed than injured, but at least Kala could move the Titan away from Rotoph. Then Rotoph would only have to deal with Clymene, and Kala was sure the Grigori could handle her solo.
Besides, Kala was tired of all this destiny talk. Ever since prophecy and destiny entered her life, it had gone to the crapper. She didn’t need Rotoph to do something crazy because he thought it was his fate. She was the Fated One, after all, and she was just fine shouldering that burden alone. Rotoph might be annoying, but Kala had grudgingly grown fond of the angel since he had joined her side. She wasn’t going to let anything happen to him. Rotoph, just take down that teleportation block and let me handle the rest.
Rotoph wasn’t answering her anymore; he was busy trying to evade Clymene as she swiped outward with a Grigori blade. With all the fire being shot around like it was a flamethrower convention, Kala had barely noticed that most of the twen
ty-foot Titans were also carrying the crippling blades. She had also forgotten that she held one herself. Pulling out the knife she’d taken from Rhea, Kala swam down as Iapetus launched a round of yellow fire at her. Her arm was nicked by the flames and searing pain shot through her body. Seriously. Ouch.
Yellow fire equals pain: check.
Kala took advantage of Iapetus’s moment of triumphant gloating from actually hitting a target and sliced the Titan’s thirty-inch sized toe.
It was enough.
Iapetus tried to send more flames in Kala’s direction, but the blade’s magic rendered him powerless.
PUNCH!
Iapetus’s giant fist made contact with Kala’s face and she flew back through the water at a sickening speed. Iapetus may not have magic, but he still had brute strength.
The one good thing about Iapetus’s attack: Kala grabbed Clymene’s hair as she passed by, pulling the Titan away from Rotoph. Clymene was so surprised, her arms flailed in the water, trying to gain back control. Taking full advantage of Clymene’s disoriented state, Kala reached down to the Titan’s barrel-sized neck and sliced it open with the Grigori blade. Blood poured into the ocean, making it even blacker than it already was. Clymene’s body went still as Kala released her, sending her down to the bottom of the ocean to join Theia.
Iapetus roared in rage. Even though it was muffled by the water, it was still terrifying. Kala used her smaller size to her advantage and swam underneath Iapetus’s legs to reach his backside. Slicing throats seemed to be the only way to stop a supernatural being, at least temporarily. And Kala needed Rotoph free so they could all teleport out of there.
Just as Kala reached out to cut Iapetus’s neck, Iapetus reached behind and grabbed Kala in one hand, tossing her away from him.
I could use a little help, please, Kala directed her thoughts at Rotoph.
But Rotoph had moved away from Kala’s battle with Atlas’s dad. At first Kala was relieved, since this meant he could break Cronus’s teleportation block in peace, but when Kala saw Rotoph floating in the water with a blank stare on his face she knew something was wrong. She’d seen that look on many soldiers before: frozen from fear and unable to fight.
The Underworld (The Atlas Series Book 3) Page 17