by Linsey Hall
My mind whirred. It’d definitely be a good thing if he could break free, but we all needed to escape at the same time if we wanted any hope of fighting off the Echidna. They’d go for us immediately, and we’d need all our skills to take them out.
Something small nudged my thigh, and I jumped.
I looked down, spotting Romeo’s toothy grin. Poppy and Eloise stood by him.
Shit!
Then they disappeared.
“I’ve hidden them,” Prometheus whispered.
Thank fates for illusion.
I’m working on your bindings. Romeo’s voice sounded in my head. Poppy is on the big stranger.
“Where’s Eloise?” I breathed. Maximus had it under control with his enormous gladiator strength.
Distraction.
Just then, a sound echoed from behind the fire. A rock falling.
The heads of the three Echidna whipped up, then they slithered behind the fire, searching for the source of the noise. It was all the time we needed.
My bindings fell loose, and so did Prometheus’s. Maximus surged free as his ropes snapped, falling to the ground.
I sprinted toward the tall bonfire, using it as cover.
“We’re invisible,” Prometheus whispered. “And I’ve bought us a few moments.” He hiked a thumb behind him, and I looked back.
My brows jumped.
In the three chairs sat myself, Maximus, and Prometheus, still bound.
“You’re good,” I murmured, so low even I could barely hear it.
Together, we crept around the flames, spying on the Echidna. They were at the back wall of the cave, searching the crevices in the rock for whatever had made the sound. They were like bloodhounds on the scent, determined to find what had disturbed their habitat.
We could run for it now, but they’d figure out we were gone before too long. And they were so fast they would definitely catch us. We needed to take them out while we had the chance.
I glanced up, spotting the stalactites on the ceiling. There were even more over here, and if we were lucky, they might be useful.
I pointed upward. “Let’s knock them down.”
I dug into my potion bag and withdrew one of the disintegration bombs. If I threw it just right, it could dislodge the stalactites without destroying the whole thing.
Romeo, tell Eloise to clear out, away from the back wall. No way I wanted my plan to squish my badger buddy.
Maximus drew his round shield from the ether, and Prometheus’s hands lit up with fire.
All clear, Romeo said.
“Go,” I whispered.
As one, we hurled our weapons. I chucked my potion bomb at the biggest stalactites, while Prometheus shot a blast of fire so strong it dislodged another one. Maximus hurled his shield, which flew through the air and slammed into the base of one of the protruding rocks.
As the three limestone spikes plummeted, I drew another potion bomb from my pack. Prometheus created another fireball, while Maximus caught his rebounding shield. One of the stalactites hit the red-headed Echidna right on the head. She collapsed.
The others shrieked their rage, their eyes frantically searching the cave for us. They glanced right over our forms, tricked my Prometheus’s illusion.
The three of us threw our projectiles at the ceiling again, breaking away another series of stalactites. Then another. Within seconds, we’d knocked out all of the Echidna. They lay amongst the tumbled rocks, still as corpses.
Prometheus let his illusion magic fade, and suddenly I could see the Menacing Menagerie, standing near the fire. They crept toward the bodies of the Echidna.
“No way they’re dead.” Prometheus shook his head. “Too bad.”
“Better that way,” I said. “I’m supposed to prove myself by getting up this mountain, not kill all the citizens.”
Even though they’re jerks? Romeo asked.
“Yeah.” I nodded, hurrying toward the Echidna to make sure they were well and truly out. “This is their turf. We were trespassing. They were just doing what monsters do.”
Upon closer inspection, all of the Echidna were definitely out cold. Maximus conjured some iron shackles and bound their snake tails together.
Once he’d finished, he brushed off his hands and stood back. “They’ll get out of those eventually, but they should buy us enough time.”
I grinned. “Good. Let’s get a move on.”
“This way.” Prometheus waved his hand to indicate we should follow him, then led us out.
“You’ve been down here before?” I asked.
“Long ago. Before the Echidna even moved in.”
We hurried away from the snake women and their fire, finding a huge tunnel that exited the cavern.
“What do you think she meant, that you smell like the ones on the mountain?” Maximus asked as we walked.
“I don’t know. But she said something about the winged ones.”
Maximus raised his brows. “Interesting.”
“Seriously.” My sisters had both gotten wings when they’d become Dragon Gods. To be honest, I’d quite like a pair myself.
Unless I turned into a bug. That’d be a letdown.
I grinned, and we continued on, following the scent of fresh air. The Menacing Menagerie hurried along beside me, their little feet moving fast on the dusty ground.
“I think we’re nearly to the cave exit,” I murmured.
We stepped out into the sunlight a moment later. The roar of a waterfall sounded to my left, and I looked over, spotting the falls that I’d used to knock over the Echidna. We were at the very end of their gauntlet.
“Let’s hurry.” Prometheus led us away from the valley, and we hurried up the mountain. The path narrowed as we climbed, falling away on either side. We could probably climb on the lower portion, but I didn’t want to. The ground looked rocky and uneven.
A while later, we reached a part of the mountain where the ground flattened out. The peak rose high in the distance, still a long way off.
Prometheus led us toward the sound of water, and we reached a waterfall that flowed down a sharp cliff. I craned my neck, looking up. There was no easy way to ascend.
“Are you sure this is the right way?” I asked.
“Not entirely, no,” Prometheus said. “This looks different than it did last time I was here. It’s been a couple thousand years, though. The waterfall is new.”
I frowned, inspecting the waterfall that flowed into a river at the base. The wide rush of water flowed across the flat plain upon which we stood, then poured down the mountain in the distance. The cliff wall on either side of the falls was perfectly smooth. Terrible for climbing.
I moved closer to the falls, my ears picking up the sound of rustling in the grass that surrounded the river. The Menacing Menagerie stopped abruptly, their eyes glued to the grass.
Visitor. Romeo looked at me.
“What kind?”
Don’t know.
A moment later, a small cat with russet fur crept out. Some kind of wildcat with bright yellow eyes and an intelligent face.
“Hello,” I said.
“Not sure he can talk back,” Prometheus said.
“I wouldn’t be so sure.” Romeo had shocked the hell out of me when he’d started talking. And I had Artemis’s gift of an affinity for animals. There was no telling what this wildcat might be able to communicate.
For now, though, she just stared at me suspiciously.
“We’re trying to get to the top of Olympus. Any advice?” I asked.
The cat tilted her head, as if she could understand me. I called upon Artemis’s magic, trying to forge a connection with the little feline.
Almost immediately, I felt her life force. Her eyes widened, almost as if understanding dawned upon her.
Suddenly, a thought blasted into my mind.
We needed to climb up the cliff, right behind the waterfall. There was a passage there that would lead us higher into the mountain. The cat never took that pat
h—never went any higher on the mountain, in fact—but she’d heard of it.
“Thanks,” I said.
The cat inclined its head, then trotted off, slipping into the bushes once more.
I turned to Maximus and Prometheus, who were looking at me like I was nuts. They hadn’t heard my communication with the cat—even I hadn’t really heard it so much as felt it. “We have to climb up behind the waterfall. There’s a tunnel back there that will lead us farther up.”
“The cat told you that?” Doubt echoed in Prometheus’s voice.
“Yep.”
He shrugged. “Fine enough. Makes sense. The waterfall was likely diverted this way after my last visit. I think I recall climbing a cliff.”
I gave him a skeptical look. He was good as far as guides went—he’d gotten us all this way—but I wouldn’t be five-starring him on Trip Advisor. Four point five stars, max.
We skirted around the edge of the river, going right up to the base of the waterfall. The river poured down, speckling my face with droplets. I edged up to the side of the falls and peered behind. The water arced away from the cliff, forming a pocket within which we could climb.
I spotted several indented handholds in the rock and grinned. “Jackpot.”
I glanced down at the Menacing Menagerie. Romeo was frowning at the rock face.
“See you later?” I asked.
Yep.
With that, the Menagerie disappeared.
“Let’s go.” I jumped on the wet rocks that lined the area behind the falls, making my way toward the middle where the handholds were etched into the rock.
Maximus and Prometheus followed, silent and quick.
I began to climb, finding the handholds easily. There wasn’t much light back here, but it was enough to illuminate the grips. The stone was wet beneath my fingertips, but rough enough that I had a good handhold.
Water roared behind me as I climbed, water droplets splashing the backs of my jeans. Probably my jacket, too, but I couldn’t feel it through the leather.
I was nearly to the top when I gripped the handhold that was actually a huge hole in the cliff wall. It was the tunnel that the wildcat had mentioned.
I scrambled up into it, climbing to my feet in the dark space. Maximus and Prometheus followed. I shook my hand, igniting the magic in my lightstone ring. It flared to life, sending a golden glow over the huge cavern.
Prometheus stepped forward. “Yes, this is familiar.”
“Any monsters in here?” Maximus asked.
Prometheus shrugged. “Probably. But they’ll likely be different than when I was here last.”
Just our luck.
We started through the tunnel, which was at least thirty feet across. It sloped gradually upward as we travelled, extending through the mountainside.
After about half an hour, we reached a wider cavern. It was huge, soaring at least a hundred feet overhead.
Aaaand…it was a dead end.
I stopped abruptly. “Well, shit.”
6
Strangely, the enormous cavern was filled with fallen trees. Their roots protruded upward from the ends, grasping like claws. The wood was bleached by age, making the trees look more like giant bones.
“How could a forest grow underground?” Maximus asked. “This must have once been on the surface.”
Prometheus nodded. “I believe so. Something has reshaped this part of the mountain.”
“But why?” I asked.
Prometheus shrugged. “War? Building a home? Your guess is as good as mine.”
Prometheus pointed upward toward the ceiling on the far side of the cavern. “I think there may be an exit over there.”
I squinted toward it, spotting a thick layer of vines twisting over the cavern wall.
“There’s an exit behind the vines,” Prometheus said. “I remember climbing the cliff behind the waterfall—though there was no waterfall at the time—and then ascending another cliff. I think this cavern is part of that.”
“Let’s try it, then.” Maximus strode toward one of the massive fallen trees and bent over to pick it up. The thing was at least three feet in diameter and had to weigh thousands of pounds, but he didn’t so much as break a sweat.
He swung it around and lifted one end high, then propped it against the far wall like a slanted ladder. He looked back at Prometheus. “How’s this?”
“Move the top end a little to the left.”
Maximus did as requested.
“Good enough.” Prometheus strode toward the log ladder and began to climb, moving nimbly toward the top.
I waited at the bottom, watching. Maximus joined me.
Prometheus reached the vines that covered the wall and pressed his hands to them. He waited a moment, then turned back to us. “I think this is it. I feel a slight draft.”
“Should we come up?” I shouted.
“Let me blast these away first.” Fire glowed orange around his hands, and he shot it toward the vine.
Instead of burning and withering away, they absorbed the fire, growing thicker.
Prometheus cursed. “Second time my fire has backfired.” He looked back at us, a sour twist to his mouth. “No pun intended.”
“I can try something.” I stepped forward.
“Good.” He sprinted back down the log. “Because I need to come up with some new tricks.”
Maybe. But with illusion magic like his, he was still loaded for bear.
I traded spots with him on the log and hurried to the top, feeling like a gymnast—a very unskilled one—on a balance beam. I reached the vines and eyed them warily. They were thick and green, looking like they might want to reach out and grab me.
I raised a hand and pressed it to the smooth surface that was as wide around as a two-liter Coke bottle. Immediately, I felt the strength in the vine.
Whoa.
This thing was strong. It fairly pulsed with life. I closed my eyes and called on my death magic, sucking the life from the vine. It flowed up my arm and into my soul, filling me with immense energy.
Once the transfer started, I opened my eyes. The vine withered in front of my face, shrinking away to nothing. I touched another vine, drawing out more energy. I kept going until I’d revealed a tunnel and my limbs vibrated with power. I was so full of it that I felt like I could jump to the moon.
I turned back to the guys. “We’re in.”
Maximus and Prometheus approached the log. I looked back at the tunnel, which was entirely dark, and entered.
The air smelled wetter here, almost alive. I raised my lightstone ring and shined the golden glow on the tunnel’s interior.
Dozens of eyes stared back, and I stifled a scream, lunging backward. Strong hands gripped my back, stopping me from going any farther.
“Oh, fates.” Maximus sounded horrified.
I blinked once at the enormous spider-like monsters that stared at us. No, not spiders. Scorpions.
And they were huge.
Giant stinger tails and pincers—even fangs that dripped with green venom.
They lunged, so fast that I almost missed the movement. My heart leapt into my throat, nearly choking me.
Instinct drove me. I called on the magic that I’d just absorbed, flinging it outward at the scorpions. The power sizzled as it left my fingertips, hot and bright. It exploded out of me as a flame, driving the scorpions back.
Prometheus joined me, throwing his own fire at the monsters. He grinned as they scuttled backward, avoiding the blast of our flames.
“Pretty handy now.” He glanced at me. “I didn’t know you could control fire.”
“Neither did I.” I watched the stuff bursting from my fingertips. “I think I got it from you.”
His brows jumped. “Well, I certainly didn’t give it to you.”
“No, I think it came from the vine.” It had absorbed his magic, and when I’d sucked the life out of the plant, the magic had come with it. Just another way the death magic was changing within me—and
remaining my most useful power. “Let’s move forward. Maybe we can sneak past the scorpions.”
I’d kill them if there was no other choice. But I didn’t want to if I didn’t have to. Once again, this was just a case of monsters being monsters.
Prometheus and I took the front, while Maximus took the back, drawing his shield and sword to protect our flanks. Slowly, we moved through the tunnel, keeping the flames blasting in front of us.
The scorpions continued to scuttle away, hissing and thrusting their spiked tails at us. As we got deeper into the tunnel, one snuck around the side and attempted to strike from the back.
My stomach dropped. Maximus lunged, and I heard him more than saw him. A scorpion hissed loudly, and I glanced backward.
Maximus had severed one claw, and the scorpion was glaring at him.
“There’s more where that came from,” Maximus said.
I chuckled at the dad joke.
The scorpion seemed to get the gist and stayed back. We made our way through the tunnel, finally reaching a spot where it diverged into two.
“Right or left?” I asked Prometheus.
He squinted at both, clearly debating. “Let’s try right.”
He didn’t sound very confident. “Still looks different than last time you were here?”
“Yeah. But it feels like the right one.”
“Good enough for me.” I moved toward it, directing my fire to keep the scorpions to the left.
They scuttled out of the way, and we hurried into the second tunnel.
“There aren’t any in this one.” Prometheus killed his flame and turned to face backward. He lit up again, blasting the fire back at the scorpions.
I mimicked his movements, and we kept it up until we were out of harm’s way.
“I think we’re good,” Prometheus said.
“I’ll hear them if they try to approach.”
We killed the flame and Maximus stowed his weapons, then we continued on through the tunnel. Our footsteps were silent, and I heard no other sounds but the slight huff of our breaths.
Gradually, the slope of the tunnel ascended, and the air began to smell of cooking meat.
I sniffed deeply. “Man, that smells good.”
