by Kate O'Hearn
Tryn remained silent through most of the exchange. Finally he sighed. “I really didn’t want to do this—I had hoped that we could reason with you, but you’ve left me no choice.” He charged forward and wrestled Cylus to the ground. Though the centaur was much larger than Tryn, with four powerful hooves and two strong arms, there was nothing he could do to free himself from Tryn’s grip.
Astraea was stunned at Tryn’s strength. He managed to pin Cylus down with almost no effort at all, and no matter what Cylus did, he couldn’t get up.
“Get off me!” Cylus cried. His hooves kicked air as he called to his friends, “Get him!”
As one of the centaurs moved forward, Zephyr jumped at him. “Oh no, you don’t. This is between Tryn and Cylus. Let them settle it, and then we need to talk.”
“Cylus, enough,” Tryn said calmly. “You are wasting precious time. I believe your mother has been abducted. Just like Astraea’s parents, Vulcan, and several other Titans.”
“What are you talking about?” Cylus continued to struggle.
Astraea knelt down beside Cylus while Tryn kept him pinned down. “Cylus, we are being invaded. If we don’t stop them now, we could very well lose our world.”
“Don’t be so stupid,” Cylus grunted. He was sweating as he continued to struggle. “Who would dare invade us?”
“We’re calling them Mimics,” Astraea said. “They’re creatures that can change shape and look like us. If you stop fighting, we’ll tell you more, because we really need your help to prove it.”
“What do you want us to do?” one of Cylus’s friends demanded.
Astraea looked at everyone. “Help us capture Vulcan.”
Cylus finally stopped struggling, and Tryn was able to release him. When he gained his feet again, Tryn, Astraea, and Zephyr explained their suspicions.
“That is why I hurt you,” Tryn said. “So you would hit me and I could tackle Vulcan without raising suspicions. The real Vulcan has metal legs. The one in school today had flesh legs.”
“You’re all crazy,” Cylus cried. He was rubbing his shoulder where Tryn had twisted his arm back. “That was Vulcan, not some stupid Mimic.”
“Believe me, I know it sounds crazy,” Astraea said. “But we’ve seen them. There is a huge labyrinth below Arcadia Two. There are rooms filled with containers of dead, dried animals. That’s their food. We don’t know how they’re doing it yet, but they’re taking our families through the Solar Stream and replacing them with other Mimics.”
“And you seriously expect me to believe that my own mother is one of those Mimics?”
Astraea nodded. “Be honest with yourself. She has changed, hasn’t she? You said she called you a distraction? My mother said those exact same words about me and Zephyr. We’re distractions. She didn’t care that I was out all night or that I’m going to stay at Zephyr’s house.”
Despite Cylus’s angry outward demeanor, he was listening to them, and his expression revealed a trace of fear. Finally he said, “All right, so my mother has been acting weird for a while. That doesn’t prove anything.”
“It proves we’re in trouble,” Zephyr said.
Cylus shook his head. “But if that’s not my mother, who is it and where’s my real mother?”
“We don’t know yet,” Tryn said. “That’s why we need to capture Vulcan so we can ask questions.”
“Why Vulcan?” demanded one of the centaurs.
“Because I know the real Vulcan very well,” Tryn said. “And I am one hundred percent convinced that the creature in class today wasn’t him.”
“And I’m convinced that it wasn’t my mother this morning,” Astraea added. “I haven’t seen my father yet, which is also strange. He’s always home for breakfast.”
“Why are they taking our parents?” asked Cylus’s best friend, Render.
“I don’t know,” Astraea admitted. “But my mother is on the council of advisers to Jupiter, and my father is the designer of the new prison.”
“I heard about that,” Cylus said. “Why do we need a bigger prison when there aren’t any criminals here?”
“Exactly,” Astraea said. “That’s why I broke into the prison’s new wing to see what was in there. It’s filled with humans and creatures from other worlds.”
“What?” Render cried. “Humans are here on Titus?”
“Yes,” Astraea responded. “There were other creatures too, some really dangerous ones. I’ve seen them with my own eyes, and I’ve spoken to some of them. They don’t remember being taken, just waking up here. I’m thinking they were brought here to keep my grandfather, Hyperion, and his security people distracted while the Mimics move in and take over.”
Cylus paused. “I am not saying that I believe you, but I have seen some strange things lately.”
“Me too,” another centaur said. “My father is acting really strange.”
“We’ve all seen strange things,” Zephyr insisted. “But we can’t tell anyone, because we don’t know who to trust anymore. Anyone could be a Mimic.”
Tryn looked at all of Cylus’s friends. “I know you don’t like me because I’m not a Titan or an Olympian, and that’s all right. But you have to trust me. Tell me how many of you have noticed your parents behaving differently.”
Four of the six centaurs raised a hand.
Tryn nodded. “Now I understand.”
“Understand what?” Cylus challenged.
“Understand why some have been taken, and it’s worse than I thought.” He looked at Astraea. “Your mother and father are very influential because you are related to the Big Three. Your grandfather is Hyperion, and your father is the designer of the new prison, and Aurora is on Jupiter’s council.” He looked at Cylus. “Your mother is on the Big Three’s ruling council as well.” He looked at each of the other centaurs who had raised their hand. “And your parents are Jupiter’s advisers.”
“What are you saying?” Zephyr asked.
“Don’t you see? The Mimics are taking the most powerful and influential Titans and Olympians first. This is how they’re going to take over. They’re quietly replacing our rulers one by one until there will be no one left to stand against them.”
“You seriously expect me to believe this?” Cylus cried.
“Do you have another explanation?” Astraea challenged.
Cylus said nothing, but a member of his gang called Darek came forward. “I know something has happened to my father. He’s just not the same. He was teaching me how to shoot my bow more accurately. But lately he has no time for me. If you want to capture Vulcan, I’ll help.”
“Me too,” said Render.
Finally Cylus came forward and poked a finger in Tryn’s chest. “I don’t like you, Tryn. I doubt I ever will. But I believe you.” He looked at the others. “All right, we’re in. Let’s go get Vulcan.”
They all headed over to Vulcan’s forge but didn’t find him there.
Astraea looked up to the setting sun. “It’s getting late. He might be feeding beneath Arcadia Two.”
“So what do we do now?” Cylus said. “Wait here for him to return?”
Astraea shook her head. “I’ve got a better idea. Why don’t we all go to our homes and act like nothing is wrong? We can have our dinner and do all the things we normally do. After that, we can gather the supplies we need to capture Vulcan. Then we all meet up at Zephyr’s house and go from there.”
“I can bring a rope,” Cylus offered.
“And I’ve got a big woven bag we can use if we have to,” said Render.
“I’ve got some chains,” said another centaur.
“Excellent,” Astraea said. “I guess we’re ready.”
Tryn stepped forward. “Remember, everyone, act normal. We can’t let them know we suspect anything. If Mimics are really replacing our parents, we don’t want to be replaced too.”
Zephyr gave Cylus and his herd directions to her home. She stood with Astraea and Tryn, watching them leave. “I hope that wasn’t a mi
stake. I don’t like them knowing where I live—especially Cylus.”
“It wasn’t a mistake,” Tryn said. “You saw his face. Cylus believed us. He doesn’t like it, but he does. I just hope he doesn’t mess up and let his mother know we suspect something.”
“Me too,” Astraea agreed. She looked at her two friends. “Why don’t you two come to my house for dinner?”
Zephyr’s ears went back. “But Aurora didn’t want me there. Remember she called us a distraction?”
“Exactly,” Astraea said. “Tonight will prove once and for all whether my parents have been taken and replaced by Mimics.”
25
“MOM, DAD, I’M HOME.” ASTRAEA listened for a response, but just as on the previous evening, no one was there.
They walked through the house into the kitchen. The room was spotless—cleaner than it had ever been. On the marble counter was the ambrosia cake from the morning. The only pieces taken from it were the ones Astraea had grabbed on her way out. Neither her mother nor her father had touched it.
“Not home a minute and already this is weird.” Astraea turned to Zephyr. “Have you ever seen our kitchen looking so clean and organized?”
Zephyr snorted. “Actually, no. Your family is always so busy you eat on the run. No one has time to clean.”
“Exactly,” Astraea said.
She walked through the house, with Zephyr and Tryn following close behind. Everything was in its place, and there wasn’t a speck of dust to be found. “I don’t like this one bit,” Astraea said. She led them through to her father’s office, where he was working on the plans to the prison. But when Astraea tried the door, she discovered a lock had been put on it.
“This door never had a lock on it before,” she said.
“Then it’s good that I keep this with me.” Tryn produced his lockpick set. He bent down, and within seconds the door was open.
“You’ve got a real knack for getting into places,” Zephyr said. “Is there something you want to tell us, Tryn? Like maybe you’re a thief or something.”
Tryn’s face remained calm. “I’m not a thief, but my dad taught me to always be ready for anything. Picking locks is only one of his tricks.”
“Do we want to know the others?” Zephyr asked.
Tryn shook his head. “Don’t think so.”
They entered the office and Astraea’s jaw dropped. “Wow,” she said, turning in a circle. “This isn’t my dad’s office. He’s the messiest of all of us. This is way too organized.”
“Astraea, get over here,” Zephyr called. She was standing at the drafting table. “I don’t think these designs are for the prison, but they look like cells.”
When Astraea arrived, she saw plans laid out, but none she’d ever seen before. “You’re right, that’s not our prison, but it does look like one with all those cells.” She peered closer and saw strange writing on them. “That’s not Dad’s handwriting—I can’t read it.”
Beneath the first page were similar pages filled with drawings of cells. Again, there was a lot of writing on them, but not in a language they could understand.
As they went through the plans, Tryn called, “Wait, stop! Go to the last page.”
“Do you recognize this place?” Astraea asked.
“Maybe,” Tryn said. “Just show me the last page.”
Astraea lifted up the collection of pages and found the last one. The drawing showed narrow steps built along one wall and a long corridor that opened up into three massive cells.
Tryn groaned. “It’s what I was afraid of.”
“What? What do you see?” Astraea demanded as she studied the plan.
“Three immense cells on the bottom level.”
“So?” Zephyr said. “Big cells for big prisoners.”
“Yes,” Tryn agreed. “The biggest. Those cells were built to hold the giant Hundred-handers.”
“What? No,” Astraea said. “The Hundred-handers were never in prison here. They were held in . . .”
Tryn started to nod.
“No,” Astraea cried in a hushed voice. “It—it can’t be.”
“It is,” Tryn insisted. He put the plans down and reordered them, then ushered Astraea and Zephyr out of the room.
“Hey, watch the feathers,” Zephyr complained as Tryn shoved her to the door.
“Zephyr, move,” Tryn grunted, pushing harder. “We have to get out of here right now, before they come home and find us.” He closed the door after them and locked it tightly. “Astraea, you can’t stay here tonight or any other night. Go to your room and grab some clothes. You’re leaving with us.”
Astraea started to move when Zephyr snorted loudly. “Stop! I am not moving another hoof until someone tells me what’s happening. What were those plans?”
“Zeph, don’t you remember your history?” Astraea asked. “The Hundred-handers were only ever imprisoned in one place. A horrible, wretched place—the worst place ever . . .”
“Let’s pretend for a moment that I don’t know what you’re talking about, because I don’t,” Zephyr said. “What place?”
“Tell her,” Tryn said.
Astraea took a deep breath. “The Mimics have taken my parents and everyone else they’ve abducted from Titus and are locking them up in Tartarus!”
Astraea’s hands were shaking as she ran into her bedroom and started to pack a bag, while trying to make it look like she wasn’t moving out. Zephyr was beside her, helping as best she could, while Tryn stayed outside keeping watch.
“Hurry!” Tryn called.
“I’m moving as fast as I can!”
Before Astraea could finish, they heard the front door open.
“They’re back,” Tryn called. “Hide your bag!”
Astraea tossed her bag out the window and ran out of her room, with Zephyr close behind her. Taking a deep breath, she, Zephyr, and Tryn walked through to the kitchen.
“Hi, Mom!” Astraea said lightly as her mother entered.
There was shock and a quick flash of dismay on her mother’s face. “Astraea, I thought you were spending the evening at Zephyr’s.”
“I was—I mean, I am. I just came back to see if I could have some ambrosia cake for us.” She walked up to the cake to cut a few pieces. “Mom, you remember my friend Trynulus.”
Aurora frowned for a moment and then nodded. “Of course. Hello, Trynulus, it’s lovely to see you again.”
“Good afternoon, Aurora,” Tryn said. “I hope you don’t mind me being here.”
“Not at all,” Aurora said. “Astraea’s friends are always welcome.” Her eyes landed on Astraea. “But you know your father is due home any moment. I can’t have you three distracting him while he works this evening.”
“We won’t,” Astraea promised. “Once I get some ambrosia, we’ll go.”
“Take it all. I have already eaten and I’m sure your father has too.” Aurora started to pack up the whole cake.
“Thanks, Mom,” Astraea said. “Oh, I wanted to ask, are you starting to molt? I found a flight feather.”
Aurora showed no reaction. “I don’t think so.”
“Maybe you should check. I thought it was mine.” Zephyr opened her wings as wide as the kitchen would allow. “But it’s not—they’re all here.”
Aurora looked at Zephyr and shook her head. She handed Astraea a container with the ambrosia. “Not now. I’ll look later. Now run along and have fun.”
“So it’s still all right for me to spend the night at Zephyr’s?”
“Yes, spend a few nights if you like. I know how close you two are.” Aurora smiled, but it held no affection or humor.
Astraea nodded. “Great! So I’ll see you later?”
“Yes, see you later.” Aurora turned and left the kitchen.
Astraea stood watching her go. There was no hug or kiss good-bye. Her mother had just handed her the cake and left.
Astraea walked out of her house in a daze, followed by Tryn and Zephyr. She could hardly believe what ha
d happened. If there was any lingering doubt in her mind that the woman she had seen in the morning wasn’t her mother, this last encounter completely removed it.
“My mother has been replaced by a Mimic.” Astraea spoke in a voice hushed by shock. The three of them went around to the back of the house to retrieve her bag from beneath her bedroom window. As they walked toward Zephyr’s house, Astraea stopped. “They aren’t going to get away with this. I won’t let them.”
“We won’t let them,” Zephyr insisted. “I love your parents as much as you do.”
“Don’t worry, we’ll stop them,” Tryn promised. “And we’re starting tonight.”
26
THEY ARRIVED AT ZEPHYR’S HOUSE and found Jake sleeping on the bed that was usually Astraea’s whenever she stayed over.
After getting Jake up, they gathered in the kitchen, and picked at the ambrosia cake while they told Jake what they’d discovered.
“Maybe that’s where they’ve taken my sister. We have to go there to check,” Jake said.
“We?” Tryn asked.
“Yes, we,” Jake said. “If there’s a chance that Molly is in that prison, I have to try.”
Astraea was pacing the kitchen. “That’s the problem; I don’t know how to get there. I know we need to use the Solar Stream, but I’ve never been in it.”
“I have,” Tryn said. “It was through the arch in Jupiter’s palace. But now Jupiter won’t let anyone use it.”
Zephyr snorted, “If Jupiter is really a Mimic, that’s how they’re getting here. They’re using the arch.”
Tryn shook his head. “No, that’s only for travel between Xanadu and here. They’re using a different way in. Once we have Vulcan, we’ll get him to tell us how they’re doing it.”
A knock on the front door stopped the conversation. “That must be Cylus and the others,” Astraea said. She looked at Jake. “Stay in here until we’re sure. We don’t want anyone to see you.”
Astraea and the others left the kitchen and headed into the living room. Astraea opened the front door and stood back to let Cylus and his herd in.
