by Kate O'Hearn
Paelen hesitated. “You are concerned for me?”
Stella nodded and kissed him on the cheek. “Of course I am. We’re friends, remember?”
“She’s right,” Joel said softly. “There’s no telling what’s going to happen when we reach Titus. At least she’ll be safe in this cave.”
Vulcan accepted Stella back. “Maxine and I will take good care of her.”
“Maxine is here?” Stella cried.
Vulcan smiled gently. “She has missed you almost as much as I have.”
“Go,” Jupiter said. “And may the power of the stars be with you.”
Emily nodded and looked at the Olympians. “Don’t give up,” she said as she climbed back up onto Pegasus’s back. “We’ll return, and when we do, we’ll have Saturn and the Titans with us.”
19
WITH AGENT B SEATED BEHIND her on Pegasus, they took off and flew away from the war room on Mount Helicon. As they headed back toward Tom and Alexis’s cave, Paelen cried out, “Over there! Look how big they’ve grown!”
In the distance they could see two glowing blobs that were the mutant Titans. The colors flashing inside their gelatinous bodies were sparking like lightning. Each stood higher than the tallest giants and was grossly enlarged by feeding off of Olympus and the Olympians.
“Emily!” the female Titan shouted. Her voice echoed across the distance like a roaring avalanche. “You cannot escape us. Soon we will feed on you and Riza. No one will dare stand against us!”
The two Titans started to ooze toward them. That sight alone would give Emily nightmares for the rest of her life. They didn’t walk. They didn’t fly. They slid, like thick pudding pouring out of a bowl and onto the floor.
“We need more than the Titans to stop them,” Joel called from the back of Chrysaor. “We need Riza. Only a Xan can defeat them!”
Hearing Joel’s words cut through Emily like a knife. Yird’s message rushed back to her head. In a time of great need, you must call out your mother’s full name and the last door to power will open and the final metamorphosis will begin. You will become Xan.
The choice was hers, but did she have the strength to make it? Remain as she was, or commit her life to being a Xan. “I can’t do it,” Emily said aloud. “Not yet.”
“What?” Agent B said. “What can’t you do?”
She looked back into his intense blue eyes. “I can’t do something I know I should. I’m not that strong.”
His arms were around her waist and he gave her a light squeeze. “You’ll do the right thing when the time comes,” he said. “I have faith in you. We all do.”
Emily frowned, searching his face for something that told her he knew the decision she was facing. “What if I don’t find the strength?”
“You will,” he finally said. “You just have to believe in yourself.”
But did she? Emily doubted it. If she did, she would have already told Pegasus to turn around and go back to the mutant Titans. It would be so simple: Face the blobs, call her mother’s name, and it would all be over. Why couldn’t she do it?
Racked by guilt and insecurities, Emily kept flying toward Alexis and Tom’s cave. When they touched down in front, she saw evidence that the mutants had already been here. Not one tree or plant was left. Panic gripped her as she slid down from the stallion.
“Tom, Alexis!” She ran into the cave, but no one was here. Had they been absorbed by the blobs? “Cupid, are you here?”
Joel was already pulling the first gemstone from the sack. “Emily, I’m sure they all got away. They can fly. That makes them faster than those things out there.”
“I hope so, I really do,” Emily said. “But Cupid said he’d meet us here.”
“Not with those monsters in the area,” Paelen said. He was standing at the entrance of the cave, keeping watch.
Agent B was working with Joel to set up the gemstone against the back wall of the deep cave the way Arious had told them to. They felt the ground rumbling as the Titans headed their way.
“Hurry,” Paelen called. “I can see them. They are getting closer!”
As Joel and Agent B struggled to set up the stone, Chrysaor squealed and pushed Agent B aside. “Hey, back off, pig!” the ex-CRU agent said.
Emily suddenly remembered the first time she’d met Chrysaor. Back then, she and Pegasus had been his prisoner. He has used a gemstone mounted to a cave wall, just like this, to access the Solar Stream to the Nirad world.
“No wait! Joel, Agent B, let him work. Chrysaor has done this before.”
They stood back and watched the winged boar expertly use his snout to mount the gemstone to the wall.
“Hurry!” Paelen cried. “They are almost here!”
Chrysaor stepped back and squealed loudly.
Instantly the cave wall fell away and they were facing the blazing light of the Solar Stream. Chrysaor looked back at everyone, squealed, and then ran into the light.
“He said to follow him!” Paelen said as he charged into the blazing light. Pegasus nickered and gently nudged Emily forward. She looked at Joel and then Agent B. “Let’s go.”
They ran together into the Solar Stream.
• • •
The journey to Titus was short. No sooner had they entered the Solar Stream than they were coming out into daylight.
“It looks just like Olympus,” Paelen said.
“This is amazing,” Agent B said softly. “It’s so beautiful here.”
Emily sighed sadly. “This is what Olympus looked like just a short time ago.”
There were cobbled roads lined with statues—though the statues were of people Emily didn’t recognize. Stunning marble buildings filled the area. Fountains and art were everywhere. Most of all, Emily was thrilled to see all the plants, flowers, and animal life.
The last time she had been here, Titus has been destroyed by Saturn’s weapon. Nothing lived, and it was a barren dust bowl. But Jupiter had said that it was becoming livable again. Then Riza’s father had done the rest when he’d sent the Titans home from Hawaii and Olympus.
What she had seen in Urania’s pool was correct. The Titans had abandoned war and were concentrating on rebuilding their world.
Paelen put his arm around her. “We can rebuild Olympus. It will look like this again.”
“If we survive the mutants,” Emily said darkly.
The Solar Stream had deposited them in the middle of a public square, and their arrival hadn’t gone unnoticed. Some of the Titans around them looked frightened and moved away quickly. But others wore expressions that were openly hostile as they realized that Olympians were standing among them.
Several large Titans rushed at them. One of them had wings and looked a lot like an older Cupid, with sculpted features and blazing dark eyes. Another resembled Mars, and was all muscle. All of them looked as beautiful and powerful as the Olympians.
Emily held up her hands. “Please, it is urgent we speak with Saturn. Titus is in terrible danger.”
“It is you who is in danger, Olympian,” the winged Titan said, pointing an accusatory finger at her. “You have defied the Xans’ ban on interworld travel. That was foolish indeed.”
Pegasus whinnied in threat and came forward.
“I will do as I please,” the Titan said back to him. “Who are you to tell me what to do?”
Pegasus nickered and whinnied.
“Pegasus?” the winged Titan repeated. “I do not know that name.”
“But you should,” a stern voice called. “It is a name from the past, and a name known to many of us from Tartarus.”
Emily watched a large, commanding Titan approach. There was something very familiar about him. He almost looked like a younger Jupiter, but it wasn’t Saturn. He had the same piercing blue eyes and same shape face. His build was muscular. He was followed by several others, all bearing weapons.
She frowned, struggling to remember who he was and where she’d seen him.
“Hyperion,” he said to
her unasked question.
Emily gasped while Pegasus whinnied and Chrysaor squealed. He had been in Tartarus when she’d fired on Saturn and his most powerful followers.
Agent B stepped forward. “Hyperion—I know that name. If I remember correctly, you are Saturn’s brother and Jupiter’s uncle.”
“Do not speak that criminal’s name here, human,” Hyperion spat. He started to look among them. “I see Pegasus. He was always with the one called Emily. Where is she?”
“She’s not here,” Joel said.
Emily shook her head. “No, Joel. No more games. This is far too important.” She faced Hyperion. “I don’t look the same as I did before, but I’m Emily Jacobs.”
“Do not lie to me, girl,” Hyperion said. “I fought her in the bowels of Tartarus and will never forget her face. You look nothing like her. In fact, you look very much like my grandniece, Diana.”
Emily held up her hand and summoned the Flame. “I told you, I’ve changed. But it’s still me, and I remember you, too. You, Saturn, and several others burst through the door in the cell block where you were holding Joel and Prometheus.”
Hyperion was eyeing the flames in her hands. “Continue . . .”
“There’s not much more to tell. Saturn attacked me and I fought back. I destroyed three of you and hurt the rest. I am sorry if I injured you, Hyperion. I swear I never wanted to. But Saturn wouldn’t listen to reason.”
Hyperion’s eyes widened. “It is you!” He looked back at the others around him. “Seize them! Seize them this instant. They have returned to start another war!”
20
AFTER BEING CAPTURED BY HYPERION, they were escorted to a new prison building. The cells were clean and bright and mostly empty except for one directly across from Emily. It contained a young satyr who sat glumly on the floor. There were shackles on his goat legs and another chain around his waist, which was attached to a ring on the wall. His hands were bound by another chain.
“Not the best start to our new friendship with the Titans,” Joel said from the cell beside the satyr. He was locked up with Paelen, Chrysaor, and Agent B. “Not here five minutes and already we’ve been captured and locked away.”
Emily and Pegasus were standing at the bars of their cell. “It could have been worse. They might have started a fight.”
“Doubtful,” Paelen said. “Once Hyperion realized who you were, he knew better than to try to use force or violence.”
“We’re wasting precious time,” Agent B said. “Why won’t they listen to us?”
“Hyperion never listens,” said the soft voice of the satyr. “He prefers to lock people away before learning if they are innocent or guilty.”
Emily looked at the young satyr. He couldn’t have been much older than ten. “What did they accuse you of ?”
The satyr stood up. “They say I stole some jewels from Saturn’s wife, Rhea.”
“Did you?” Emily asked.
“Not exactly. I just borrowed them. I would have put them back—eventually.”
“So you are a thief,” Paelen said, suddenly interested.
“That is one of the things they call me,” the boy said. “But I am more than that. I am going to be a hero.”
“What’s your name?” Emily asked.
“I am Jai-me the Magnificent!”
“Jai-me the Magnificent?” Joel repeated. He punched Paelen lightly. “What is it with you thieves and your magnificent names?”
“I am not a thief !” Paelen cried. “How many more times must I say it to convince you?”
“Once a thief, always a thief,” Joel teased.
“Why have they put you in chains as well as the locked cell?” Emily asked.
Jai-me grinned. “Because I can escape anywhere they lock me.”
Joel looked at Paelen again. “You two could be twins. You’re always saying the same thing.”
Emily looked from Paelen to the satyr. “I wouldn’t exactly call them twins,” she said, knowing the thick wall separated them and they couldn’t see each other.
The sound of a heavy door opening caught everyone’s attention. Emily peered down the long marble corridor and saw Hyperion and several of his men marching toward them.
“It is about time,” Paelen said. “We have told you of the danger; you must let us out of here!”
“Silence!” Hyperion commanded.
He and his people stopped before Emily’s cell and the door was opened. “You and Pegasus will come with me.”
“What about us?” Joel asked.
“You will stay here until we figure out what to do with you.”
Agent B came to the front of the cell. “Look, I know you have bad blood with the Olympians, but that doesn’t mean we’re not telling you the truth. Titus is in terrible danger.”
“I would take the word of a filthy Olympian before I believed a single thing out of a human’s mouth.”
“Then you’re a fool,” Agent B spat. “And you all deserve what’s coming.”
Hyperion moved closer to their cell. Emily could see the tension in the Titan’s shoulders. Agent B was making him angry, and that was a very dangerous thing to do to Saturn’s brother.
“Hyperion,” she quickly called. “Agent B is right. We keep telling you that Titus is in danger. Why won’t you believe us?”
“Believe you?” Hyperion said as he turned back to her. His blue eyes blazed. “Believe the one who nearly destroyed us?”
“I didn’t do that.”
He nodded. “Yes, you did. Because of you, we were all imprisoned in Tartarus.”
“Yes, after you and Saturn attacked Olympus and Earth.”
“You had no place getting involved in that squabble.”
“Squabble?” Emily cried. “Squabble? Saturn locked his kids away in prison because he was paranoid they’d overthrow him. Because he did lock them away, they did overthrow him. But all of that won’t matter once those mutant Titans get here and start eating everyone.”
“What do you mean mutant Titans?”
“That’s what we’re trying to tell you. There are two really huge bloblike creatures that used to be Titans. Right now, they’re devouring Olympus and absorbing all the Olympians’ powers. When they finish there, they are coming here.”
“That is a lie.”
“No, it’s not! They told me their plan!” Emily cried. “They intend to come here and kill you all. Why else do you think we’d risk coming back here if not to warn you?”
“She’s telling you the truth!” Agent B spat. “Put away your ego for once and listen to her. We’ve seen them up close and know what they can do!”
“That is not possible. The Big Three . . .”
“The Big Three are useless against them!” Agent B cried. “They have tried combining their powers, but nothing works. If those blobs devour Jupiter and his brothers, their powers will be absorbed by them and they will truly be unstoppable.”
“Please, Hyperion,” Emily begged. “Take me to Saturn. Let me tell him what’s happening.”
Beside her, Pegasus started to whinny and snort. He pounded the marble floor with his golden hoof.
Hyperion tilted his head to the side and nodded. “Agreed.”
Emily had no idea what Pegasus had said, but the frightened expression on Paelen’s face told her it wasn’t good.
• • •
Emily and Pegasus were led away by Hyperion and his guards. They spoke little as they walked through the main city of Titus. Everywhere Emily looked, she could see the beauty of the restored world. There were Titan children playing in the street with large, strange insects, and the sweet fragrance of flowers filled the air.
“This looks so much like Olympus used to,” Emily said to Pegasus. “It’s beautiful.”
Hyperion looked back at her. “We have all worked very hard to restore our world.”
“It shows,” Emily said. “Olympus used to look like this until the mutant Titans came.” She didn’t bother to
mention the damage the Titans themselves had done to Olympus as well during their invasion. She needed them to understand that the blobs were a danger to them all.
Up ahead she spied a wondrous palace that was almost twice the size of Jupiter’s. Fountains sprayed rainbow water in the air, and enormous flowers were growing around it in the gardens.
Emily saw several centaurs working with satyrs, digging in the gardens and planting flowering trees. Not far away, several giants were lifting marble stones into place as they built another home. Everywhere she looked she saw evidence of how the Olympians had come from the Titans. They truly were one people.
“This way,” Hyperion said as they arrived at the base of the palace steps. He looked back at his guards. “Stay here and wait for us.”
The men nodded and took their positions.
“Aren’t you afraid I might try something?” Emily asked as they climbed the steps.
He shook his head. “Pegasus has vouched for you. He said he would not fight us or try to escape if you did anything. He had offered his life in exchange for your good behavior.”
Emily looked sharply at Pegasus. The stallion nodded to her. She could see the trust shining in his bright eyes. His absolute faith in her warmed her heart. She reached over and stroked his neck. “Don’t worry. I won’t do anything. I promise.”
Hyperion studied her and Pegasus closely. He looked back at Pegasus. “Neptune is truly your father?”
Pegasus snorted and nodded.
“That makes you my great-nephew. But do not misinterpret our family connection. My loyalty is to Saturn and Titus. I will do as I must.”
“And we will do anything we can to stop those monsters from destroying both worlds,” Emily said.
Hyperion raised an eyebrow to her but said nothing more.
They passed through the front doors of the palace, and Emily saw riches she’d never dreamed possible. While Jupiter’s palace was adorned with art, flowers, and beauty, this palace was filled with golden treasures and jewels. Even the furniture was gold.
Servants fluttered around, cleaning and arranging everything. They looked at Pegasus with dismay, as if they expected him to make an especially bad mess. Were the situation any less critical, Emily would have said something. Instead she looked away and followed Hyperion.