Fires of Olympus: Books Ten, Eleven & Twelve (The Immortality Trials Book 4)

by Eliza Raine

  Power hammered through Lyssa’s body, all of her instincts preparing her to fight. She wanted to fight. The challenge in Ladon’s eyes sang to her, calling her forward. Had she ever faced a creature so impressive?

  ‘Lyssa,’ Phyleus said, and she realised the voice was in her head. ‘Lyssa, this is not the plan.’

  ‘New plan,’ she answered curtly, as Ladon took another slow step down the tree trunk. There was a metallic sound as Nestor drew her warhammer from its sling on her belt.

  ‘No, Lyssa. Hercules will be here soon. We must find the Hesperides. You can’t...’ He trailed off and she looked at him.

  ‘You think I can’t beat him?’ she said aloud, and the dragon’s laugh made the Rage pulse harder within her.

  ‘Of course he thinks you can’t beat me! He’s less stupid than you are,’ Ladon boomed, the flames leaping to life in his irises. Lyssa bared her teeth, dropping her weight, preparing herself. She had Zeus’s own power within her. She could beat Ladon. She could beat anybody.

  ‘And here your mighty father is now,’ sang Ladon, his voice silky again.

  11

  ‘Hercules, please, I could help!’ Hedone pleaded, as Hercules climbed into the longboat after Asterion.

  ‘No! I will just worry that you will be in harm’s way. We’ve discussed this!’

  Frustration welled up in Hedone.

  ‘But I’m fast, and I’ll stay away from the dragon. I can’t bear the thought of being so far from you and so useless, you must understand that?’ She poured her power into her words, making them as seductive as she possibly could. Hercules’s severe expression softened.

  ‘My love, I equally couldn’t bear it if you were in danger.’

  ‘Then you will fight even harder. Perhaps that’s what Zeus meant about you needing others. It’s not because you are not enough on your own, but because you need a stronger motivation.’

  He stared at her for a few heartbeats, considering.

  ‘You are as wise as you are beautiful,’ he said eventually. ‘Get in.’ She suppressed her squeal of triumph, and took his hand, climbing into the small boat. ‘Stay well away from the tree. You shouldn’t be able to fall off the island if it’s like the others in Leo. Don’t do anything that might endanger your life.’

  ‘Yes.’ She nodded. ‘Of course. I’ll do exactly as you tell me.’

  The longboat lifted from the deck of the Hybris and her hair fluttered around her face. She would help Hercules at any cost.

  Hedone couldn’t help the gasp that escaped her lips as they landed on the small island.

  The dragon was huge, and absolutely stunning. The white centaur, Lyssa and Phyleus were standing opposite him, Lyssa tense and crouching slightly, clearly ready to fight. The centaur was holding a gleaming hammer aloft.

  ‘Stay here,’ Hercules said to Hedone, as all eyes turned to them.

  ‘How will you kill it?’ she breathed in awe as Hercules pulled Keravnos from its sheath.

  ‘Just watch,’ he said, and stepped from the boat.

  ‘Hercules, welcome!’ The dragon said, and Hedone’s mouth fell open. ‘We were just discussing your arrival.’ The creature’s deep, lyrical voice gave a sense of great age. Hedone stared at his massive teeth as his jaw moved. For all his impressive beauty, there was no doubt Ladon was still a monster. Fear for Hercules thrummed through her as he strode forward.

  ‘I’m glad to be here,’ he called. ‘My daughter and I have unfinished business, as it happens.’ He turned to Lyssa but before he could speak again the girl spat at him.

  ‘Don’t fucking call me that!’ she yelled and Hedone was sure she going to spring at him.

  ‘I fear I’m no longer the centre of your attention,’ the dragon said loudly, and they both turned back to him. He was slowly making his way to the ground, his body slithering against the tree bark, which was pulsing with gold rivulets. ‘You have both come for a golden apple. Your half-giant rival will arrive in a while,’ he said, and his eyes flicked to Lyssa. ‘I’m sure you wouldn’t want to lose your hard-won advantage,’ he said, his eyes flicking to Lyssa. His point was clear. She’d wasted her head start and now had to compete with Hercules.

  ‘I agree,’ said Hercules, turning his face to Lyssa, eyes narrowed. ‘I don’t want to kill you now, girl. You will watch as I defeat this dragon and become immortal. And then you will spend the rest of your short, insignificant life losing everyone you love one by one, at my hand.’

  Keravnos glowed as he raised the sword above his head, and charged at Ladon.

  12

  ‘Lyssa, for the sake of the gods, will you listen to me!’ Phyleus’s voice thundered through Lyssa’s raging thoughts and she spun to face him as Hercules hurled himself towards the dragon. ‘Leave him to be torn apart by Ladon! We’re not here for revenge right now, we’re here to get that apple!’

  The sense in his words penetrated the fog of Rage and she let out a snarl.

  ‘I want to kill him, Phyleus! I can’t... I can hardly control my power around him now,’ she said, gritting her teeth. She heard a thud and turned to see Keravnos being buried into the trunk of the stunning tree, then Ladon’s tail flicking out of nowhere and sending Hercules flying backwards, swordless. Nestor roared on her other side, and began to canter towards the dragon.

  ‘Then we get away from him. Come on, I’ve got an idea,’ Phyleus said, and grabbed her hand, tugging her away from the tree. Lyssa resisted for a second, her body refusing to leave the impending battle, but he tugged harder, and her feet began to move. He pulled her to the longboat, and Lyssa shot one last reluctant look at Nestor as the centaur launched her hammer at the dragon’s head and swerved away from its snapping jaws, before she willed the boat into the air.

  ‘Where are we going?’ she asked him as they rose.

  ‘Underneath the island.’

  ‘What?’

  ‘There’s nothing else up here, and nowhere else to look!’

  They soared away from the island, then as soon as they cleared the edge they dove, the little boat dropping through the clear sky. Lyssa held her breath as they took in the underside of the island, then let it out slowly. There was nothing there but shallow, bare rock.

  Phyleus groaned beside her. Lyssa’s hands curled into fists again and she pressed her lips firmly together to stop the torrent of swearing escaping. ‘Fly underneath,’ Phyleus said and she glared at him. ‘We’re here now, we may as well check it properly!’ he protested.

  ‘Fine,’ she barked, and guided the longboat under the island.

  A blast of warmth engulfed them, and suddenly the longboat began to spin.

  ‘Lyssa!’ Phyleus yelled, and she reached for him as she tumbled from where she was crouched in the boat. He threw both his arms around her and they fell hard together. The spinning didn’t stop or even slow down and they were thrown around the hull of the little boat, disorientation making her feel sick. Then there was a jolt and a crash and they weren’t moving any more.

  13

  Eryx watched in the flame dish as Hercules rolled out of Ladon’s reach and swiped his sword up from where he had dropped it on the ground. He was grinding his teeth so hard it hurt.

  ‘How is this helping?’ he shouted suddenly, and Abderos and Evadne jumped. ‘I should be down there!’ He leaped to his feet and stamped away from the dish, anger making his movements heavy. He leaned against the railings of the Alastor, looking down at the tree on the island far below. How was he supposed to avenge his captain’s death and help Lyssa from up here? She was a fool for leaving him here, impotent.

  ‘You’ll get your chance,’ Evadne said from behind him. He didn’t turn around.

  ‘This was my chance. I’m a fighter, it’s what I do. It’s all I can do, and I’m stuck here, watching others fight.’ He banged his fist against the rickety rail. ‘I hate this,’ he said, bitterly.

  ‘I’d say let’s steal a longboat and go help, but there’s no way down there,’ she said, apologetically. He
sighed, and turned to look at her.

  ‘Well, thanks for the thought,’ he muttered. A sudden, blinding flash of white light made him shield his eyes and he heard Evadne shout in surprise. His heart was racing as he lowered his arm, and he inhaled sharply as he dropped to his knees.

  ‘Poseidon,’ he breathed, not daring to lift his head and look at the god. Poseidon was here. His father, just a few feet front of him. Eryx realised he was breathing too shallowly, and tried to slow his galloping heart.

  ‘Rise.’ The god’s voice rang out. ‘I do not have long here.’ Eryx stumbled to his feet. ‘I am sorry about Antaeus. He was a good man. You will have to assume his quest now,’ Poseidon said. Eryx was sure he could see actual waves, white and blue and crashing, in the god’s eyes.

  ‘His quest?’

  ‘My brother Zeus’s hero is a cruel moron,’ said Poseidon, his lip curling as he spoke. ‘I have no desire to see Hercules immortal. In the second Trial you won a key from the Hydra. You will need that key, Eryx.’ He turned to Evadne, and the girl’s face instantly flushed scarlet. ‘You will be able to work out what to do with it.’ She gaped at him, her jaw moving but no words forming. Poseidon rolled his eyes and turned back to Eryx. ‘The Orion will be here soon. Get on the ship and retrieve that key.’

  ‘How will we get there?’ Eryx stammered. Poseidon frowned for a moment, then flicked his wrist. A longboat appeared on the quarterdeck behind them, and Eryx blinked at it. The sides of the boat were not plain, but carved in pale blue waves, and the small sail was a shining teal colour. ‘You may keep this longboat,’ Poseidon said, after a second’s silence. ‘I believe you deserve it,’ he said, then vanished.

  14

  Hercules rolled again, awkwardly angling Keravnos so that he didn’t slash himself with his own sword. Gods, Ladon was fast! Whenever Hercules tried to get above him he would slither back into the tree, then reappear a heartbeat later, ahead. The dragon was also successfully fending off Asterion and the centaur from Lyssa’s crew, and laughing while he did it. Anger strengthened Hercules’s muscles and he powered out of reach of a swiping claw.

  ‘Ladon! You’re my father’s pet! Shouldn’t you be helping me?’ he shouted, as a tail whipped towards him from the branches. He jumped over it, and ran towards the tree trunk. The dragon’s laugh boomed in his mind.

  ‘Poor little Hercules, always caught in the middle of your father’s mistakes. Zeus keeps me here, whether I want to be or not. I owe his kin nothing.’

  ‘He will punish you for saying such a thing,’ Hercules panted.

  ‘The lord of the gods has some limits, you know. None of the Olympians can read minds. Only an oracle has that gift.’

  Asterion ran up to Hercules, breathing hard.

  ‘He’s too fast, Captain.’

  Hercules glanced up, spotting a golden apple glinting high above him in the foliage.

  ‘Climb,’ he growled to Asterion. The minotaur frowned at him.

  ‘But, Captain, I can’t climb.’ He looked down at his hooved feet.

  ‘Then use your arms!’ Hercules bellowed, then shoved him aside as Ladon’s head dipped out of the tree to their right, huge teeth gnashing at them. He swung Keravnos and almost caught the end of the one the creatures’ probing whiskers. The dragon withdrew with a snort. ‘You’re just a pet, Ladon. A toy belonging to a god. You’re hardly ancient or mighty.’

  ‘You can’t beat me, little man,’ the dragon boomed. ‘I don’t think I like you.’ Hercules started to run again, towards where he had seen a flash of red in the lower branches.

  ‘Stop wrapping yourself around this blasted tree and fight in the open like a real opponent!’ he roared.

  ‘You want me to leave the tree?’

  With unnatural speed, Ladon erupted from the branches, his massive body writhing effortlessly above his short legs. He had jumped clear overhead and as Hercules whirled around, sword raised, his heart almost stopped. The dragon was speeding towards Hedone.

  15

  By the time Hedone realised the dragon was aiming for her, it was too late. She tried to duck down into the longboat but Ladon was too fast. She screamed as his clawed hand closed around her waist and she was lifted off her feet. The dragon didn’t stop moving and the air was knocked from her lungs by the impact, cutting off her shriek and making her gasp as the world around her flew by in a green blur.

  ‘Sorry, lovely little goddess.’ His voice slithered through her mind. ‘But I need to teach that captain of yours a lesson.’ He had taken her into the tree, Hedone realised, struggling in Ladon’s grip to look around her. Gold-veined leaves surrounded them, soft against her skin as they kept moving. Fear pulsed through her, and she thrashed hard.

  ‘Put me down!’ she commanded mentally, as fiercely as she could manage. Her hair was bouncing around her face and she could hardly see as Ladon chuckled. She beat her hands uselessly against his massive black claws. ‘Are you going to kill me?’ she asked, throwing her arms protectively over her head as they crashed through branches.

  ‘You’re far too lovely to kill,’ he answered after a pause. Hedone hoped he was telling the truth.

  ‘He’ll get an apple while you’re up here playing with me,’ she shot at him.

  ‘Dear girl, my head and tail are still below the tree, toying with these fools. I have been guarding this fruit a very, very long time.’

  ‘Well, he has more than just the apples to fight for now!’ she said, the irony of her words striking her. That was why she had wanted to come, to spur him on. She bit her lip as she came to a stop, deep amid the foliage.

  ‘Tell me, how can a thing as delicate as you be in love with a brute like him?’ Ladon mused in her head. Hedone pushed her hair away from her face, scanning the branches around her. Ladon’s massive fist had protected her body from being scratched, but her arms were covered in shallow scrapes and her hair was full of leaves and twigs.

  ‘He’s not what everybody thinks he is,’ she answered, trying uselessly to pull at the claws around her.

  ‘He’s exactly what everyone thinks he is. I sense a power over you that is not your own.’ Hedone stilled, her face creasing into a frown. ‘The power of an Olympian. Tell me, child, have you felt confused recently? Unable to gather your thoughts?’ Hedone’s heart pounded and shivers ran over her skin. Yes. She recalled all those moments where something important had seemed just out of her reach. But then the image of Hercules’s face replaced them, large and handsome and fierce.

  ‘So what if I have? Theseus lied to me and led me on for years; of course I would be confused when I found a man who truly loved me.’ Ladon laughed, long and loud, and anger washed over her. ‘Put me down!’ she screamed, beating at his claws again with renewed vigour.

  ‘The gods are cruel, little goddess. I do not envy you your future.’

  ‘My future will be with Hercules!’ Hedone shouted, tears filling her eyes. Why was he putting her through this, making her doubt her own feelings? ‘When this is over we will be together, and the gods will finally leave him alone! He will heal.’

  A sob escaped her. The dragon said nothing.

  16

  ‘Are you OK?’ Phyleus asked, trying to sit. Lyssa was sprawled across him, and she pushed herself up fast, shoving her hair out of her face.

  ‘Yeah, are you?’

  ‘Yeah. What...’ He trailed off as they both stood, taking in where they were. ‘The Garden of the Hesperides,’ he breathed. And it was one hell of a garden. There were flowers everywhere. The smell of them should have been overpowering, but Lyssa inhaled deeply, the scent calming her. Ahead of them was a long pool that seemed to stretch across the whole island, and bridges with ornate, curling railings connected little islands of bright flower beds, delicate trees or swinging cushioned seats. At intervals there were fountains around the banks, statues of all sorts of creatures pouring glittering water from jugs and urns. Either side of the pool there were bushes and hedges that had been clipped into the shapes of even mo
re creatures, pristine and neat and surrounded by white daisies.

  ‘Hello,’ breathed a voice, and one of the nearby trees shimmered and morphed into a stunning young woman. Phyleus coughed loudly, and stumbled in the boat. The woman was naked, save for a ring of interlocked baby-blue flowers hanging around her neck. Her long blonde hair fell to her waist and she cocked her head as she smiled at them. Lyssa felt her own face heat a little.

  ‘Hi,’ she said, awkwardly.

  ‘We don’t have visitors here very often,’ came another lilting voice, and all around them, plants and fine trees morphed into more beautiful naked women, wearing different coloured flowers around their necks. Lyssa looked at Phyleus, who had fixed his eyes on the face of the first woman who had spoken and appeared to be doing his best to keep them there. She rolled her eyes, trying to squash the instinct to compare her own body unfavourably with these girls.

  ‘We don’t mean to disturb you,’ she said, stepping out of the boat. The grass was bouncy under her feet and a wave of that delicious, fresh floral smell wafted over her.

  ‘Not at all. It is a pleasure to have company,’ another woman said, a huge smile on her full lips. ‘Would you like a drink? Some fruit?’