by Kate O'Hearn
‘Enough!’ Pele slammed the base of her staff down on the ground. The earth rumbled as a large crack formed, shooting from the point of her staff straight at Lorin. Flames and lava rose from the split in the ground.
Paelen screamed as he was struck by a large glob of spitting lava and knocked down.
‘Paelen, no!’ Lorin cried. Furious, she raised her hands and fired blasts of Flames at Pele. The old woman shrieked and was driven off her feet, but recovered quickly. The image of the old woman shimmered and faded until in its place stood a powerful young woman. Her hair was blazing with fire and her eyes were red.
‘Fool!’ Pele screamed. She raised her staff and pointed it at Lorin. Flames and lava shot out of the tip. The intensity of the heat blasted humans and Olympians away from the area. When it struck Lorin, it sent her spiralling into the elephant squeeze.
‘Go!’ Pele shouted at the Olympians. ‘Emily awaits you at Diamond Head. Chiron, take Baird with you and keep him safe. I will deal with this foolish child and join you there!’
Lorin felt the heat from Pele’s Flames, but they could not touch her. Around her, the steel squeeze melted into pools of liquid metal. She climbed free of the debris and stood among the wreckage just in time to see Pegasus carrying the night dweller away. The other winged creature was with him and the Centaur galloped in the same direction with Baird on his back and Paelen in his arms.
Lorin’s eyes flew to Paelen, limp in the Centaur’s arms. She turned her fury on Pele. ‘You hurt my Paelen!’ Summoning her powers, she fired everything she had at the Hawaiian goddess. Flames, crushing powers, the commands to tear her apart, all flowed from Lorin.
Pele was struck. Her head flew back and she howled in pain as she felt the full fury of the Flame of Titus. The louder Pele screamed the more power Lorin fired at her until there was a sudden snap.
When the smoke cleared, Pele was gone.
34
Emily sat at the edge of the ocean-side highway at the base of Diamond Head. Her eyes remained on the star-studded sky, searching for signs of Jupiter. She had heard nothing from Pele. So the Hawaiian wouldn’t honour her pledge to protect the Olympians. They were on their own. Her only hope now was the Big Three.
Emily ducked down every time a car or truck passed by. Several military vans whooshed past her hiding spot, but they didn’t see her.
She was consumed with worry for her friends. What had happened to Paelen? Where was Pegasus? And her thoughts constantly returned to Joel. She missed him so much and hoped fervently that he was all right. She needed him now more than ever. As more time passed, her fears increased, until she heard a sound that was pure music to her ears. Whinnies rang out of the darkness. ‘Pegasus!’
The stallion soared around the side of the volcano, a blazing white glow in the sky. He tilted his wings, and touched down gracefully beside her. Emily ran to him and threw her arms around his powerful neck. She kissed his mane and wouldn’t let him go.
‘Emily,’ Fawn cried from his back. ‘I think Lorin might have killed Pele.’
‘What?’ Emily exclaimed. ‘When? How?’
Fawn slid off the stallion’s back and embraced her. Her face was blistered from burns and her arms were raw and weeping.
Emily was horrified. ‘I heard what they did to you. I’m so sorry!’
‘I will heal,’ Fawn said. She explained what had happened at the zoo. ‘Paelen was ready to sacrifice himself for us. He offered to go away with Lorin if she would leave us alone. But he was hurt when Pele attacked Lorin. I do not know if he is all right.’
Emily was stunned. ‘Paelen is hurt and Pele is dead?’
Pegasus nodded his head and nickered softly. ‘Pele has great power,’ Fawn translated. ‘But Lorin has more. Pegasus believes Lorin won. She knows that you are here. It will not be long before she comes to claim Riza and your powers!’
‘But she’ll kill Riza if she tries to take her from me.’
‘I do not think she cares. You were right. She looks your age, but inside, she is just like a young, uncontrolled child. She wants what she wants without understanding what could happen. She has not been taught patience.’
Emily looked up to the sky, praying that the Big Three arrived before it was too late. ‘I don’t have any powers left to fight her.’
‘None of us do,’ Fawn said. ‘She does not realize when people are trying to help her. Chiron tried to explain why you needed the shard, but instead of listening to him, she threw Flames at him. Pele saved him.’
‘I thought Pele had abandoned us,’ Emily said, feeling guilty. Especially as it was likely she was dead because of them.
Fawn shook her head. ‘No, Pele defended us when Lorin attacked. She gave her life for us.’
Across the highway, past the Diamond Head lighthouse, the ocean started to stir. It swirled and rose. Bright rainbow colours flashed in the water and a figure appeared above the waterspout.
‘It’s Nā-maka-o-Kaha‘i!’ Emily cried. ‘We’ve got to go! Get on Pegasus!’ When the night dweller was on the stallion’s back, Emily climbed up behind her. ‘Fly, Pegasus, get us out of here!’
‘Child, wait!’ Nā-maka-o-Kaha‘i called. Suspended above the spout, she was even more beautiful than the last time Emily saw her. The brilliant colours rising from the waterspout gave her an extra glow that also sparkled on the fish swimming through her seaweed dress. ‘I mean you no harm. Pegasus, come, please – we need to speak.’
‘Don’t, Pegs, it’s a trick!’ Emily called. ‘She’s going to capture us like she did with Joel.’
‘You have my word this is no trick,’ the ocean goddess said. ‘Please, trust me. I have the boy with me, he is unharmed.’
Pegasus whinnied and cantered across the highway to the edge of the flowering shrubs and manicured lawn that surrounded the lighthouse and overlooked the ocean.
The spinning waterspout swirled and moved closer to them. ‘My sister has been gravely wounded by that wild Titan.’
‘I thought you’d be happy about that,’ Emily called darkly.
Nā-maka-o-Kaha‘i shook her head. ‘I may not like my sister or always agree with her actions, but I would never wish her injured, especially by a Titan. I know what Pele did for the Olympians at the zoo and Joel has explained fully why you are here. I have come to help. I will remove the water from Diamond Head, but I do not possess the power to open the crater to free the shard. Wounded or not, Pele must do that – or Jupiter, if he arrives in time.’
Pegasus nickered and bowed his head to the ocean goddess.
‘Go now to the top of the volcano. I will meet you up there and close the water springs Pegasus released.’
When the ocean goddess started to move, Emily called, ‘Wait, what about Joel?’
‘I will bring him with me.’ Just as quickly as it appeared, the waterspout stopped and the ocean calmed.
Pegasus stepped away from the flowering shrubs, flapped his wings and launched into the air. He landed on the ridge path at the top of the volcano. Soldiers still stationed there started to run towards them. But before they reached Pegasus, the swirling waterspout rose out of the black waters within the crater.
‘Hear me!’ Nā-maka-o-Kaha‘i called – her voice echoing loudly. ‘Human soldiers, leave here now. You have no part in this struggle. To stay is to forfeit your lives. You have one minute to leave or I shall cast you off the side of Diamond Head!’
Not far from Pegasus a soldier fell to his knees and raised his weapon on Nā-maka-o-Kaha‘i.
‘No, don’t do it!’ Emily warned.
A second soldier opened fire on the ocean goddess.
Nā-maka-o-Kaha‘i said nothing. She turned on the men and raised her hand. A large blast of water struck the two soldiers with amazing precision. While they were knocked over the side of the volcano, the men aro
und them remained untouched.
‘Go!’ Nā-maka-o-Kaha‘i commanded. ‘Go, or you will meet the same fate!’
The soldiers didn’t wait to be told twice and ran for the stairs leading down from the upper rim.
Nā-maka-o-Kaha‘i raised her hands again. Soon the deep waters within Diamond Head started to swirl. As the crater drained, Emily was reminded of a toilet that had just been flushed. It didn’t take long until the waters were gone and Nā-maka-o-Kaha‘i with them.
‘Look down there – it is Joel!’ Fawn cried.
Emily’s heart lifted but she could see nothing in the darkness below. Pegasus whinnied loudly and launched off the rim. He glided down into the crater and touched down on the sodden parking area.
‘Joel!’ Emily cried. Seeing him waiting for her was more thrilling than she could ever imagine. They were in such danger, but with Joel at her side, Emily knew she could face it. His hair was wet and brushed back and his clothing dripping with salt water, but his face glowed.
Emily slid off Pegasus and ran to him.
Joel threw his arms around her. ‘I have missed you so much!’
‘Are you all right?’ Emily asked. She looked him up and down, checking for wounds. ‘Did she hurt you?’
‘No, I’m fine. Em, that was the coolest thing! I was at the bottom of the ocean, but I could breathe! It was like I was a water nymph or something. I met humpback whales and all kinds of freaky creatures. But I was so worried about you. Are you all right?’
Emily nodded. ‘But Lorin is here and Paelen is hurt!’
‘I know, Nā-maka has been filling me in on what’s been going on,’ Joel said. He looked up. ‘The Big Three need to get here soon. That Lorin is dangerous.’
‘They will not arrive in time.’
They turned and saw Pele limping towards them. Her beautiful floral dress was in tatters, her hair was tangled and singed and her right leg was badly burned.
‘Pele,’ Emily called. She ran up to the goddess. ‘Are you all right?’
Pele shook her head. ‘That kid really packs a punch! I come from Fire, yet somehow, she was able to burn me all over and I think she cracked a bone in my leg.’
‘She has the power of a Xan,’ Emily said.
‘I don’t know what that is,’ Pele said, ‘but her powers are unimaginable. Lorin intends to harm you.’
‘I know,’ Emily said.
‘Emily is our only hope to defeat her. But only if Emily has her power back,’ Joel said. ‘The shard is here, beneath the surface. If you free it, Emily will have enough power to face her.’
‘I will do this if you promise to take your fight back to Olympus or Titus. I will not have my Islands endangered.’
‘I promise,’ Emily said. ‘We don’t want to fight at all. It’s Saturn who is causing all the trouble.’
‘I don’t care who started it, I just want you off my Island. Now, Pegasus, take Joel and Fawn away from here. I do not wish them harmed. Emily, you will stay with me.’
Joel bent down and kissed Emily tenderly. ‘Stay safe. I’ll be right up there if you need me.’
Emily put her arms around him and hugged him tightly. She stood on her toes so that she could whisper in his ear. ‘No matter what happens, Joel, please know how much I love you.’
She kissed him again before walking towards Pegasus. ‘Keep them safe, Pegs. If things get out of hand, fly away from here. Don’t risk yourself for me.’ She brushed his thick mane from his eyes. ‘I’ll see you soon.’
Pegasus nickered and pressed his head to her.
‘Emily!’ Pele snapped. ‘Lorin is coming and we don’t have time to waste.’
Emily watched as Pegasus carried Joel and Fawn on to the top ridge path of the volcano.
‘Come,’ Pele commanded. ‘Show me where the shard is.’
‘This way.’ Emily walked Pele across the sodden parking area. The tarmac was cracked and broken from their first attempts to retrieve the shard. The whole area looked like a disaster zone after the flood had torn up trees and damaged the crater buildings. She stopped on the spot where she felt the shard strongest. ‘It’s here.’
‘Are you ready?’
‘Yes,’ Emily said. ‘The moment you open the crater, stand back. I know the shard is big, but I don’t know how big.’
Pele raised her staff and slammed the tip down on the crater floor. At first all they heard was deep rumbling from within the ancient volcano. Then the sound of cracking as more of the tarmac surface of the parking area split open. Heat, smoke and ash rose from the spreading crack.
The ground around them glowed orange as lava, long since hardened, melted into liquid again. Emily could feel the shard down there. As the heat blasted her face and blew back her hair, she held her hands over the opening and commanded the shard to rise.
‘No!’
The ground beside Emily exploded and knocked her down as Lorin landed in the crater. Emily climbed to her feet and got her first look at the enraged Titan. She was nothing like Emily had expected.
Lorin looked about her age. They were the same height, but Lorin had long blonde hair locked in braids and blazing, ice-blue eyes. Were it not for her tattered rags and the anger distorting her fine features, she would be nothing less than beautiful.
‘That shard is mine!’ Lorin cried.
‘Lorin, please,’ Emily called. ‘We don’t need to fight. But without that shard, Riza will die. All our powers came from her. They are not ours.’
‘You are lying! I have always had them!’ Lorin stormed forward. ‘You will not take them from me.’ She lifted her hands and fired.
Pele darted in front of Emily and deflected the Flames. As she faced Lorin, she looked back over her shoulder. ‘Get that shard! I’ll try to stop her.’
Pele lifted her staff and pointed it at Lorin. A stream of Flames and lava shot from the staff and hit Lorin directly in the chest, but it was powerless to stop her.
Lorin raised her hands and fired back at Pele. The Hawaiian goddess was knocked off her feet. As she struck the ground several metres away, her staff fell beside her, still issuing fire and lava and causing the ground beneath them to shake and crack open.
Emily only had seconds to act. Without that shard, she had no power to fight Lorin. But she wasn’t strong enough to summon it. There was only one thing left to do to keep Lorin from getting it. With the crack at her feet widening and lava spitting and bubbling to the surface, Emily looked up at Pegasus a final time. ‘I love you, Pegs . . .’
It was as if Joel had read her mind because as she turned back to the lava his anguished cry cut through the space between them. ‘Emily, no!’
Emily raised her hands above her head and, just like she had done from the diving board at the river outside Jupiter’s palace, she dived into the molten pool of lava.
35
The last thing Emily heard before she was swallowed by the lava was Joel’s voice. He was in pain, but she wasn’t. It was almost like the first time she sacrificed herself in the Temple of the Flame on Olympus. But then it had hurt. This time, she felt nothing.
‘Emily . . .’
Emily recognized the voice and rejoiced. ‘Riza, I have missed hearing from you!’
‘I have always been with you, but now is not the time to linger. I have no strength left to keep us together. We are fading. Please, join with me. Use the last of our powers to summon the shard. It’s our only hope.’
Emily felt herself drifting away, as though floating on a cloud. She knew Riza needed her, but the feelings she was experiencing were so peaceful, she didn’t want them to end. Riza’s voice started to ebb away . . .
‘Em, please hear me . . .’ A new and urgent voice rose around her. A voice filled with limitless love.
‘Mom?’
‘Yes, sweetheart, I’m here.’
Her mother appeared, looking just as young and radiant as she did before the cancer had ravaged her body. Her curly brown hair and smiling, hazel eyes were just as Emily remembered. ‘Mom, so much has happened . . .’
‘I know, my love, and I’ve been with you for all of it. Please, Emily, do as Riza asks. Call the shard into yourself. This is not the time to join me. You still have so much to do. Your father needs you, as do all the Olympians. Don’t leave them. I promise we’ll be together one day, but today is not that day.’
‘But I miss you . . .’
‘We’ll be together again, I promise. Remember that I love you and couldn’t be more proud of you. Now, reach for the shard, Emily. Do it now!’
Her mother’s voice and image faded. Emily cried after her, but she was gone.
‘Emily,’ Riza called – her voice a weak, fading whisper. ‘I’m sorry, I can’t keep us together any more.’
Her father’s face flashed before her eyes, and then Joel’s bright smile and, finally, Pegasus. Emily couldn’t leave them to face Saturn alone. Focusing all she had left, Emily joined Riza in reaching for the shard.
In an instant, it was pulled from its prison in the depths of Diamond Head and straight into her. Emily’s mind exploded with the full knowledge and power of the Xan. She heard Riza rejoicing. ‘My memories!’ she cried. ‘We have finally found all my missing memories . . .’
These were Riza’s private memories – known only to her. Information that was never shared with Arious. Emily suddenly understood why she and Riza got along so well. Though they were thousands of years apart in age, they were the same. Both strong-willed and independent and both yearning to do more. They were each filled with the spirit of profound curiosity about everything.
‘I am Xan!’ Riza cried joyously.
Emily shared in Riza’s joy. ‘C’mon!’ she cried. ‘Let’s go save Pele and the Olympians!’
Now with her powers restored and increased, she rose through the layers of molten lava. She marvelled at the bright colours coming from the liquid rock. Suddenly everything she saw reminded her of a memory she received from Riza.
