by Mary Ting
“Get down behind us,” Ares ordered.
“Who thought of that? Stop thinking!” Zeus scolded and raised his staff to shoot out bolts at the frozen leaves heading for us.
“I was only thinking of shooting stars. Oh, crap!” Amanda grumbled.
I waved my hand up and down, creating a thick ice wall. It temporarily helped, but the leaves eventually broke through. Everyone else did the best they could to block. Then Hades had an idea. Hades and I dropped to our knees and touched the ground, spreading our fire. Hot met cold. There was beauty in the elements of danger, red and blue, intertwining, fading in and out of each other.
“I don’t know how long we can stand this,” Athena grunted.
The threat kept coming at us, pounding fiercely like hail on glass. Then Poseidon stepped in front of us. He appeared almost translucent, like ice. Spreading his arms, he fanned them. His power pushed back the icicle leaves. Hades and I melted the icicle bullets, and Poseidon froze them into a solid mass instead. Genius.
Then, bam! The steel door fell back, and we were free to move forward. But there was one problem. The melted ice, turned water, came for us, swelling into a wave.
“Run,” Zara said for the third time.
Mason
The warm temperature cooled down and a breeze came swiftly. Shivering, I hugged my cape closer to my body. Every step seemed like I was walking through snow, pushing against a stiff wind. What now? My powers were limited to thunder and lightning. It was the first time I’d wished I had the power of fire like Hades. At least I could keep warm.
Hades had annoyed me at first, especially when he paid extra attention to Sky. Not that I was jealous, but I didn’t like the innocent kisses he would plant on her cheek or the simple touch on her shoulder. Knowing he was her half-brother put my mind at ease, though.
I tensed and stiffened when the tall, brick walls that seemed to reach the sky around me turned into icicles. Even the ground started to freeze and became slippery. Rubbing my hands together to produce heat, I trudged forward. Something sharp and long, about five feet long, thrust up from the ground. I jumped to dodge it, but more popped out, disorienting me as I ran.
Pain alerted me I had been hit. Blood seeped out of my arm. One had nicked me and torn my shirt. I had no time to assess it, for more sprouted faster and faster. But I also knew I wasn’t badly injured, and it would heal quickly. One of the perks of being a demi-god.
Pop! Pop! Pop! I weaved around, and with my lightning bolts, I destroyed the ice shards before they grew. Falling down a few times on the slippery ground, I leaped back up. Then an idea came to me. Using my power, I called upon the thunder. Not only would this give me more energy, I could alert Sky where I was located in the Labyrinth. Why hadn’t I thought of that before? No sense in being angry at myself. I lifted my hands to the sky.
Thunder boomed and lightning sizzled. The power surged around me and through me. My whole body fizzled and tingled. I had been told many times before that I had more powers than I imagined. It was as good a time as any to test that theory.
Previously, I had been able to manipulate objects to fly across the room or hold it in place in midair with my energy; it was time to try it on myself. Concentrating, I willed myself to float before the ground broke with more sharp icicles right underneath me. The magic stilled the blasting wind, keeping me protected, and a small grin crept onto my face.
It had been a while since I had used this much power. I zoomed through the Labyrinth, turning right and then left as more sharp icicles darted out of the ground. I pushed higher, trying to get a better view. If only I could see what the Labyrinth looked like from above, I could spot Sky and find her location. Or my worst fear…if I could spot the Titans, then I could get a head start. But I couldn’t do any of that.
Some kind of magic seeped through the walls, preventing me from rising higher. When pebbled roads replaced the ice trail again, I willed my power to stop, lowering me to the ground. I had to save the rest of my energy for other dangers ahead. After all, I was by myself. I was glad Sky wasn’t alone…I hoped.
The twisted, turning sectors of the Labyrinth had gone, and I stood in the middle of an arena where a dozen boulders completed a circle, surrounded by tiered concrete seating. Just when my erratic heartbeat eased, the ground shook and I heard the loud, familiar voice. Cronus!
Chapter 19
Skylar
We ran as fast as our legs allowed as my thoughts ran wild. There had to be something we could do to stop the water. When I looked over my shoulder to see how much the water had grown, I gasped in shock. Not only did the water tower over us, it had taken the shape of a shark’s mouth.
“Who thought of a shark?” Hades roared.
Nobody answered. We were too busy panting from running and being scared out of our minds. I prepared to be knocked out by the water, but instead, nothing. Everyone stopped and turned. I dropped my jaw. The body of water completely froze…all of it. Poseidon lowered his arms and fell to his knees weakly with his shoulders slumped. I ran to him.
“Are you okay?” I asked, slowly tilting my head back to gaze at the frozen shark’s mouth…so many sharp teeth. I imagined it eating us alive.
“Wow.” Amanda shivered. “That was close.”
“Great thinking, Poseidon,” Hades praised.
“Can you move?” Zeus asked, looking concerned.
“Yeah, I just need a second. I’m feeling a little dizzy, but I’ll be okay,” Poseidon answered wearily. His tone proved the amount of power he had used drained him.
Not a minute passed when thunder roared and lightning struck the sky. I gasped and flinched from the closeness. It had to have happened someplace in the Labyrinth. The only person that could call upon Mother Nature like that besides Zeus was Mason. And somehow, it wasn’t scary. In fact, it was the most beautiful sight I had seen in a while.
“Mason.” My eyes lit up, and my heart found a blissful beat. “He’s here. That was him.”
I became worried when the lightning didn’t die soon after. It indicated that he needed more energy. If we were going through hell, what was he facing? And he was alone.
“That was Mason,” Nick said shortly. “He’s letting us know where he’s located.”
“Then what are we waiting for?” Everett started walking with a dagger held in front, glancing side to side, watching out for possible danger. Ares and Athena followed behind without a word.
“Wait.” Zeus placed out his hand, gesturing for us to stop.
Everyone froze.
Zeus didn’t move a muscle. His face strained, as if he were trying to spy on a conversation from a distance.
“What now,” Noah muttered under his breath, always beside Amanda, protecting her.
Zeus shivered. His eyes darkened and creases deepened on his brow. I had never seen him so frightened before. “It’s Cronus. He’s close.” His tone came out as a whisper, almost a whimper. “Hades, Poseidon, do you feel it too?”
Hades nodded with a frown.
Poseidon dipped his head low in defeat but raised his hand to confirm.
Fear had taken over the nonchalant expressions on everyone’s faces at the reality that death walked near. Cronus might as well be called Mr. Death. He wanted the gods, and no doubt he wanted the descendants too.
She’d said Cronus would be there, but not having seen him so far, I’d hoped Eris was messing with our minds. Wishful thinking. Of course Cronus was there. I had seen his hand puncture the wall and take Mason.
“Are you sure?” Nick asked softly.
The gods didn’t have to answer. Our bodies slightly bounced on the ground from the vibration. That was our answer. We stood in silence. So still…so very still…and again the ground shook.
“Where’s Hermes?” Zara snapped us out of our daze. “He should’ve been here by now. Can you locate him? You can’t defeat Cronus without the three items.”
What was Zara talking about? Though I was curious, I didn’t ask.<
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Zeus rolled back his shoulder. “I trust him. I’m sure he’s doing the best he can. He must get the items from Tara. So…” he drawled. “Do you know if your sister did her part?” His eyes narrowed at her.
“She hasn’t.” She took a step back.
“What do we do?” I asked Zeus.
All was too calm. No breeze, no sound. Just everyone’s eyes staring at Zeus for direction. Another rumble in the ground made me quiver.
Zeus inhaled a deep breath. “We didn’t come here to hide, did we? The Titans are bigger, not smarter. We, on the other hand, can work as a team. We can move faster, and together we’re stronger. I have a plan. I’m glad Zara remembered the gifts the Cyclopes gave before. If Hermes brings them to us in time, we can use them; if not, then we have to have a plan B.”
“What were these gifts?” Nick asked, rubbing the back of his neck. He looked tired and worn, like everyone else. We were the descendants and more powerful than humans, but our bodies could only tolerate so much.
Zeus focused his eyes on his staff. “Let’s start walking. We can take our time heading toward Cronus.”
Everyone walked beside Zeus as he spoke again. “Our battle with the Titans was long and bloody. We traveled into Tartarus and freed the Cyclopes, who had been imprisoned by Cronus. They wanted revenge, so they helped us. They forged three weapons. Hades received a magical helm, which rendered him invisible while he wore it. They gave Poseidon a trident. And for me, a thunderbolt.” He held up his staff.
Nick’s finger flickered. “Refresh my memory? Why did Cronus try to kill you?”
Zeus sighed, releasing a breath as if he was bored. “Because of a prophecy that one of his children would overthrow him. So the simple solution was to eat his children.”
“Gross. That’s so twisted and sick,” Amanda grumbled.
“How did you defeat Cronus?” Everett asked.
“Hades sneaked up to Cronus invisibly and distracted him while Poseidon used his trident to paralyze him. Then that’s when I knocked him out with my thunderbolt. With Cronus taken, the other Titans bowed down.”
“Pretty impressive. Great strategizing. What happened to Hades’s helm and Poseidon’s trident?” I asked, surveying carefully as we paced.
Ares and Athena seemed less interested in Zeus’s story, keeping their shields and swords in front, sometimes walking behind us and sometimes in front. They’d probably heard that story many times before.
“I lost it during the battle,” Hades murmured, shrugging. “It was pandemonium.”
“I have to agree with Hades,” Poseidon added. “I don’t remember how I lost mine, but we suspect the Cyclopes have them. We never bothered to look since we defeated Cronus, our biggest threat.”
“I still have mine.” Zeus shrugged with a smug grin.
Hades raised his eyebrows. “Yeah, and you still have your ego.”
“My thunderbolt won’t hesitate to shake you up,” Zeus warned.
Hades parted his lips to speak, but a loud roar stopped him, followed by the ground quaking. We were getting closer.
Zara halted and looked at Zeus. “Tell us plan A and B. It’s time.”
I didn’t realize how far we’d come. We had turned right, right, left, left, and right again. Then the Labyrinth was no longer filled with zig-zag paths. We entered an open arena. I gasped and shuddered in utter fear at the sight before me.
Chapter 20
Hermes
I took Tara to Tartarus, adjacent to Mount Hem, where Hephaestus had lived. Mount Hem was completely destroyed. Only rocky terrain survived the bomb blasts. As for Tartarus, where the Titans had been imprisoned, half the mountain had been demolished by the blast too. That was how the Titans had escaped, with help from Eris, of course.
Tara fidgeted with her cape. With her eyes flickering to the direction of any sound and her lips sealed tight, she wasn’t a talker like Zara, we headed forward into the belly of whatever was left of Tartarus.
Tara’s little rock crystal in her hand glowed, giving us plenty of light to see in the dark. “Do you know where the Cyclopes are? Why would they still be in here? I thought they were guarding the Titans?” Though she whispered, her anxiety bled through her questions.
“Rumors said they were locked up again.”
The path was rough and rocky, and occasionally hot steam would burst through to relieve the pressure from the gathered rocks. Giant boulders looked oddly out of place. Some were even piled on top of each other. I assumed they had been tossed about from the blast. Sometimes, we had to duck and walk with our backs hunched. When we headed down a slope, it became slippery from the gentle water flowing over the bumps and curves of the rocky surface.
“Watch out.” I grabbed Tara’s arm just before she slipped, almost knocking the rock crystal out of her hand. Besides the lava snaking in the distance, the rock crystal was the only light we had. As we continued to trudge forward, a rotting stench replaced the fresh air. The smell disappeared after a long distance.
“What is that?” Tara rounded her fingers into a fist, and the light disappeared. We didn’t need it anymore. Bright light gave way to even a larger cavern, tall enough for giants. I had to tilt my head way back to see sunlight through the cracks. Thank goodness there were plenty of cracks.
“Who goes there?” A loud voice boomed to my right.
Tara and I exchanged glances. I had never been so happy in my entire existence, and I have lived a very long life.
Tara gasped and steadied herself. “It’s me, Tara!” She had to raise her voice to project as far as she could. They were so tall, I didn’t know if they could hear us.
I figured I’d let her do the talking. It was easier to welcome a sweet voice than a low, threatening one like mine. I had encountered only a few Cyclopes in my lifetime. They were all the same—oversized, stinky breath, stupid, clumsy, talked like children, and of course had one eye. And the one in front of me was no different. Another came to view and then a few more. They fidgeted behind thick iron bars. Seeing so many, my heart pounded, and I gulped down fear.
“Who’s in charge?” Tara took a step forward, though it must’ve been like tiny steps in Cyclops’s eyes, or none at all.
“Me,” the one gripping the iron rod said. Though he didn’t yell, it sounded like that in my ear.
“What’s your name?” Tara approached even closer, extending her hands out to gesture we’d come in peace.
As for me, I stayed rooted in my place. Not because I was scared, but I didn’t want to give any sudden movement that would cause them to react.
“I’m Polyphemus. The leader of Cyclopes.”
I got a whiff of his breath and cringed. “You were assigned by Zeus to watch over the Titans. Can you tell me what happened?”
“Titans did it.” Polyphemus pushed and pulled on the rods as if he could throw all his frustration at it.
“Stop!” I hollered, dodging the pebbles and dirt falling.
One boulder barely missed Tara as it plummeted down at her. I pushed her away, and she used her magic to stop the smaller ones from hitting us. Polyphemus stopped. His expression softened, almost apologetic.
“Tell us about the Titans. What happened?” I said slowly. “Try not to get upset.” I rolled my eyes.
Polyphemus blinked his dark giant eye. “When Mount Hem was destroyed, the blast shook Tartarus, too. Eris was here when that happened.”
“Eris,” I growled. Though I’d known she had a hand in the plotting, her name left a bitter taste in my mouth.
Polyphemus continued. “She tricked us.”
“How?” Tara, who was always calm, seemed to run out of patience. Her eyes narrowed at him and her cheeks puffed out.
I let out a snort. Polyphemus couldn’t see her expression, but it was kind of amusing.
“I don’t remember.” Polyphemus shook his head. “I remember an apple…so shiny…so pretty…so delicious.” He spoke as if he were hypnotized, sounding like a child who’d just
received a Christmas present. “Then I blinked.” He blinked. “And Titans and we switched places.” He growled, shaking more debris. “We were behind the bars. How? I don’t understand.”
Tara’s tone softened. “You were tricked. She must’ve drugged you with the apple and put you to sleep. She freed the Titans and got their help to carry you to the other side of the bars. Or she shrank you. You would be easier to handle.”
“Shrank?” He sounded confused.
“You know…to make you little.” I put my hands a foot apart to show him what I meant.
He dipped his head down and pounded his head against the rod over and over again. Tara and I backed away…far back.
“Stop! Polyphemus stop!” Tara hollered.
Polyphemus kept banging. Stupid idiot. I felt sorry for him, but I was annoyed with his childish mind. Tara took out her rock crystal and raised it toward him. The light blinded his eye, stopping him. He covered his eye with his hands. The other Cyclopes backed away, groaning.
“I can get you out.” Tara ruffled her hair and her cape to brush off the debris.
His lips twitched at the corners and then parted to show his yellow, rotting, uneven teeth. “How?”
Tara moved around a boulder and followed. “Do you remember the gifts you gave the gods to defeat Cronus?”
“Yes,” he nodded eagerly.
“Hades and Poseidon lost theirs during the war. By any chance, do you know where they are?”
“Yes.” He nodded. “I found these after the war and kept them. The gods told me to keep watch over the Titans, that it was our duty. We’ve been here ever since. We’ve been waiting a very long time for the gods to let us go, but they never came.”
“Would you like your freedom again?”
“Yes, we would,” he burst out excitedly.
Tara adjusted her cape and moved closer to the rods. “For your freedom, I need you to hand over the gods’ gifts. The gods need your help. They are about to face the Titans again.”