The Flame of Olympus

by Kate O'Hearn

  As Pegasus moved from a trot to a full gallop, he spread his massive white wings. Emily clutched his mane as he leaped confidently into the air. She felt Joel tighten his grip around her waist as Pegasus rose up and over the dark water.

  Manhattan lay dead ahead. As she looked at the beautiful, sparkling lights, Emily realized this would be the last time she would ever see her home. If they made it safely to Olympus, she would die in the Temple of the Flame.

  What would happen to her father? Where was he? She was going to die without his ever knowing what had happened to her. Or that she loved him and had done it for him. That pain was the worst of all.

  Inhaling deeply, she looked down on New York. The city would be safe. All those millions of people in it would live and never see or hear of a Nirad again.

  ‘Hey, wait for me!’ a tiny, unsteady voice called from behind them.

  ‘Paelen?’

  Turning back, Emily and Joel saw Paelen struggling to catch up with them, limping through the dark air. Only one sandal was flapping its wings and he was covered in blood.

  ‘Paelen!’ Emily cried. ‘You survived the Nirads!’

  ‘Are you all right?’ Joel called.

  ‘No!’ Paelen called back. ‘But I will live. Can you please slow down so I can catch up? The Nirads wounded a sandal and only one is working.’

  The stallion snorted.

  ‘Pegasus says you may hold on to his tail,’ Diana called back to Paelen. ‘He can help carry you home, but we must move faster if we are to reach Olympus.’

  In the night sky, it was difficult for Emily to clearly see Paelen. But as they passed over New York, the city lights revealed his deep, open wounds.

  ‘What did they do to you?’ Emily cried.

  ‘They tried to tear me apart,’ Paelen called back. ‘But I was able to change my body so they could not do it. Though I have broken a lot of bones.’

  ‘Your bravery will not go unrewarded, Paelen,’ Diana promised. ‘My father will know what you did for us.’

  Before Paelen could respond, Pegasus whinnied to Diana.

  ‘Emily, Joel,’ she called, ‘hold on. We are about to enter the Solar Stream to Olympus.’

  ‘The Solar what?’ Joel started to ask.

  Suddenly they were moving at an impossible speed. The starlight around them became a blur of white light. To Emily, it looked like special effects from a science fiction movie. But this was no movie. It was very, very real.

  Looking back, she saw Paelen was almost surfing the light as he struggled to cling to Pegasus’s tail while the one sandal flapped its tiny wings to keep up, his terrified cries filled the air behind them.

  What really surprised her was Pegasus. He was still beating his large wings. What would happen if he stopped? Emily wondered hazily. And how did Diana manage to get to Earth without wings?

  As these thoughts spun through her head, Emily forgot her dark destiny for a moment. But when Pegasus slowed down and the white light faded back into simple starlight, she felt her fear return.

  Not far ahead, Emily saw what looked like the top of a mountain rising in bright sunshine. They emerged from the starlight and passed into a beautiful sunny day. The sky was brilliant blue – bluer somehow than on Earth – and around them, the sky was dotted with thick fluffy white clouds. As Pegasus flew amongst them, Emily could taste their rich sweetness on her lips.

  Lower and lower they went. Soon they could see lush green fields beneath them. The mountain rose from the green. Emily realized that they were heading towards it.

  ‘Is that Mount Olympus?’ Emily asked Diana.

  ‘This is all Olympus, not just that mountain,’ Diana replied. ‘Though we do live at the top.’

  ‘Just like in the myths,’ Joel added, gazing around in wonder. ‘Is there a Mount Helicon here where the Muses live?’

  ‘There is,’ Diana said. ‘That is where the Nirads first entered our world. The Muses were the first to be captured and Helicon the first to fall.’

  As they approached the mountain, Emily tried to take in all the sights. There were huge structures of glowing white marble. But as they drew near, she could see they had been knocked over, broken and destroyed.

  ‘Did the Nirads do this?’ she asked.

  ‘Yes, and much worse,’ Diana answered.

  Emily and Joel looked down on the ruins of Olympus and at last understood what they were fighting for. Before it had been destroyed by the Nirads, this world would have been the most beautiful place imaginable.

  Beneath them, the amount of rubble grew in density as they entered what must have been a heavily populated area. But more than that, much to her horror, Emily started to see bodies of the dead Olympians. For as bad as seeing the men in the facility on Governors Island had been, this was so much worse. There were people of all ages, even children and strange looking animals, lying dead on the ground.

  ‘This is all my fault,’ Emily choked.

  ‘No it’s not,’ Joel said, horrified. ‘That’s crazy talk!’

  ‘It’s not crazy, Joel. If I am the Flame, then when it became weaker in me, it became weaker here. I allowed the Nirads to attack and kill all these people.’

  ‘No, you’re wrong,’ he protested. ‘I won’t let you blame yourself for this. The Nirads did it, not you.’

  ‘I am sorry, Joel,’ Diana corrected, ‘Emily is not entirely wrong. She is the Flame of Olympus.’ Diana looked at Emily. ‘But she did not cause this intentionally. I now understand what did.’

  ‘What?’ Emily asked weakly.

  ‘Love,’ Diana answered. ‘The deep love you had for your mother. When she died, grief overwhelmed you. It diminished the Flame. It was not illness as I first suspected. It was grief.’

  ‘What about now?’ Emily asked in a whisper. ‘Is there enough Flame left in me to save Olympus and our world?’

  Diana nodded. ‘Oh yes, child. Even I can feel it burning brightly in you now. You are recovering. I believe Pegasus had a great deal to do with it.’

  Pegasus snorted softly. Emily felt her heart fill with emotion for the stallion. Diana was right. Meeting Pegasus and caring for him had finally dimmed the searing pain of her mother’s loss.

  She looked back to Diana, ‘When the Temple of the Flame is lit again will you be able to save these people. Will your brother live again?’

  ‘I hope so,’ Diana said. ‘Without its people, there is no Olympus.’

  Pegasus started to glide in the clear air over the ruins.

  ‘We are going down,’ Diana said. ‘We must all be on our guard. We are still in grave danger. Pegasus has taken us as close to the Temple as he dares. But legions of Nirads remain here. Their one goal will be to kill Pegasus and Emily.’

  ‘Do they know what I am?’ Emily asked.

  ‘I do not think so,’ Diana answered. ‘Because you were wounded before, they will think you are important enough to kill. They will chase you as much as they do Pegasus.’

  ‘We’ll be careful,’ Joel said. ‘If we have to fight, we fight.’

  ‘I too am ready,’ Paelen said.

  Emily looked back to him and could see his deep wounds and the odd angles of his arms and legs. More than just a few of his bones were broken.

  Soon Pegasus landed. Emily was shocked by the stillness of the air around them.

  ‘Is it always this quiet?’

  Diana shook her head as she climbed off the stallion’s back and helped Joel down. ‘No, every animal, bird and insect has fled the onslaught of the Nirads.’

  As Paelen touched down, Diana directed him closer to Emily. ‘Take her hand. She can help you heal.’

  Emily reached down and took Paelen’s hand. As she closed her fingers lightly around his wrist, she felt the bones shift and slide, slotting back together. After a few moments, Paelen could stand better and didn’t look to be in as much pain.

  ‘I do not understand,’ he said as he looked at Emily in awe. ‘How are you doing this to me?’

  Joe
l put his arm around Paelen’s shoulders. ‘It’s a long story and we just don’t have the time,’ he said. ‘Are you feeling well enough to fight?’

  Paelen gave Emily his crooked grin. ‘I could take on Jupiter!’ he said.

  Diana actually chuckled, ‘Do not let my father hear you say that.’ Then she looked around. ‘We must move on. The Temple is some distance away. Does everyone still have their gold?’

  Emily and Joel held up their pieces of gold from Pegasus’s bridle.

  Paelen shook his head. ‘Mine is still lodged in the head of a Nirad back on Governors Island.’

  Diana reached up and took Emily’s piece. She tore it in two, handing one part back to Emily and the other to Paelen. ‘Do not lose this one. We need every bit of it.’

  Emily remained on Pegasus as the group slowly made their way through the rubble that once was Olympus. Many times she had to avert her eyes from the horrible casualties that lay on the ground. With every nerve on edge, she strained her eyes and ears for fresh signs of the Nirads. She saw nothing but destruction and heard only the soft, empty wind. ‘Where are the Nirads?’

  ‘I do not know,’ Diana answered, looking around. ‘But it worries me. There were thousands here not long ago. We must be on our guard. I do not believe they have left already.’

  Pressing on, they reached the spot where the worst fighting had taken place. Amongst all the ruins, Emily saw tall steps leading up to the remains of a temple. The heavy metal gates at the top were torn from their hinges and cast down on the steps.

  Instinctively, Emily recognized this place.

  ‘That is the Temple of the Flame, isn’t it?’ she asked, pointing to the ruins.

  Diana nodded but said nothing. She was kneeling before the body of a fallen Olympian. She reached out and gently stroked dark hair from a bruised and bloodied face, silent tears trickling down her cheeks. Seeing this strong and confident woman brought to her knees weeping made Emily realize all the sacrifices that had been made already.

  ‘Is that your brother?’ Joel asked softly.

  Diana sniffed, and nodded. ‘It is Apollo. He was a brave and honourable fighter. I loved him dearly.’ She looked around at the other dead fighters. ‘They were all brave.’

  ‘He will be avenged,’ Paelen said, determined. ‘I promise you, Diana, they all will.’

  The horrible cries of Nirads shattered the stillness of the area. Emily looked back and her eyes went wide at the sight of hundreds of Nirads bearing down on them from nowhere.

  ‘We must go!’ Diana cried as she rose and left her dead brother. She ran to Pegasus and Emily. ‘Child, it is up to you now. You are this world’s only hope. Your sacrifice could save us all. I grieve at what you must now face. But I swear your name and your gift to us will not be forgotten by any Olympian!’

  She pulled Emily’s face closer to her and kissed her on the cheek. ‘Your mother will be very proud of you when she meets you in Elysium.’

  Tears filled Emily’s eyes as she realized the time of her death had come. After only thirteen short years of life, it was going to end in the agony of flames in this shattered world.

  ‘Joel, go with Pegasus and Emily, take them to the temple,’ Diana ordered. ‘Paelen and I will do our best to hold back as many as we can.’ She looked back up at Emily. ‘Go now, child. Fulfil your destiny!’

  Emily didn’t even have time to say goodbye to Paelen as Pegasus darted forward. Joel struggled to keep up beside her as they ran towards the Temple of the Flame. When they reached the base of the steps, Emily looked back and saw hundreds, maybe thousands, of Nirads charging towards them. Diana threw back her head and howled the loudest battle cry Emily had ever heard. With Paelen at her side, they held up their pieces of gold bridle and charged forward into the mass of Nirads.

  At the temple steps, Pegasus hesitated.

  ‘Take me up, Pegs,’ Emily said softly as tears filled her eyes. ‘If I don’t do this now, they’ll kill you and Joel. Let me do it for you.’

  Hesitantly, Pegasus started to climb the marble steps. Emily heard Joel’s sniffles beside her.

  ‘I’m not sure I can watch this,’ Joel whispered.

  Emily looked into her friend’s red, teary eyes. ‘It’s all right, Joel. Really it is. But if you somehow survive this, please promise me you’ll go back to Earth and find my dad. If the CRU still have him, get him away. Bring him back here. Don’t let them hurt him.’

  Joel looked up at her, but couldn’t speak. He nodded his head weakly.

  At the top of the steps, Pegasus stopped. Emily looked to Joel. ‘Would you help me down?’

  Joel helped her climb down from Pegasus, and steadied her on her undamaged leg.

  ‘Do you want me to help you into the Temple?’ he whispered.

  Pegasus snorted and nickered softly. Emily sniffed and shook her head. ‘I don’t think you’re allowed.’ As grief overwhelmed her, Emily threw her arms around Joel’s neck. She hugged him tightly. ‘Please stay well,’ she wept.

  ‘I’ll try,’ he promised. As he broke down, he kissed Emily on the forehead. ‘Thank you for being my friend, Emily.’ Then, with a final backward glance, he drew out his gold piece and charged down the steps of the temple to join Diana and Paelen in their struggle against the Nirads.

  ‘Joel, no!’ Emily howled. But Joel gave no sign of hearing her as he ran screaming into the thick legion of Nirads.

  ‘Oh Pegasus,’ Emily wept.

  Pegasus reached back and nudged her gently. She knew he was telling her it was time to go. She had a destiny to fulfill; Olympus to save. When he opened his newly healed wing, Emily used it to support her while she hopped the final distance into the Temple.

  The ruined temple was empty except for the huge marble bowl where the Flame of Olympus had once blazed. It had been knocked off its plinth and was badly cracked.

  Pegasus slowly drew her up to the bowl. It was there Emily knew she was about to die.

  As she hopped forward, she came up to the stallion’s head. Her tears were falling steadily and she could no longer see clearly. ‘I’m glad it was me, Pegs,’ she said, her voice breaking. ‘I didn’t want you to care for someone else. Even though I’m going to die, I know that deep in my heart, for at least a little while, you were mine. I just wish we had more time together …’

  Emily broke down and hugged Pegasus’s head as her voice finally gave out. ‘I love you Pegasus.’

  Letting him go, she hobbled to the large, cracked marble bowl. With a final backward glance, she saw the black and brown stallion with the brilliant white wings lowering his head and pawing the ground in grief.

  ‘Please remember me, Pegs,’ Emily said. She looked away from him and climbed into the large marble bowl.

  33

  The moment Emily stood upright in the bowl; she felt a searing pain in her heart. She clutched at her chest and cried out in agony. This was it. Death. She was about to be burned alive.

  An instant later, huge brilliant flames burst out of her chest. The explosion of flame and energy filled the Temple with brilliant white light and spread like huge ripples on water. Flying in every direction it poured out of the Temple and throughout all Olympus. The flames were coming from each part of her, consuming her and spilling out of her every pore.

  As she stood in the centre of the flames, the pain slowly ebbed and finally disappeared completely. Emily looked around. She was searching for her mother. She’s always heard the moment you die, your family come for you. But where was her mother? Her grandfather, everyone she had ever lost?

  All she saw was flame and brilliant light. She felt an increasing sense of peace washing over her.

  Emily waited. For how long, she was uncertain. All she knew was that somehow, she was still herself. She could think, feel and hold on to all the love and memories she had. She remembered everything about her life. The happy years with her mother and father in New York. Her mother’s illness and finally, death. And although there was pain at the memory, Emily kn
ew it wasn’t as bad as it had been before. But then again, she also knew her mother would be waiting for her just outside the flames.

  Emily thought of Joel. Sweet, angry, hurt Joel and that first endless climb up the stairs of her building. It all seemed such a long time ago. She promised herself she would find his family and tell them what he had done for her. She recalled Paelen’s crooked smile and cleverness. Then there was Diana – beautiful and strong Diana crying over the death of a New York horse and the body of her fallen brother. But most of all, Emily remembered … Pegasus.

  Thoughts of the stallion brought a smile to her burning lips. Of all the new friends in her life, Emily knew that in death, she would miss him the most.

  After the briefest of moments, or perhaps the longest of eternities, Emily felt something change. The flames were drawing back. Soon, she could see again and somehow she knew it was time to leave the flames.

  A new journey spread out before her. She felt certain her mother would be there waiting for her.

  As she moved to the edge of the bowl, she could see between the flickering flames. And what she saw gave her more joy than she could imagine possible … Pegasus

  He was no longer brown and black. Pegasus was glowing brilliant white again. Not a feather stood out of place on his beautiful folded wings. Majestic and proud, he was perfect.

  Emily bent down and grasped the edge of the bowl for support. When she did, she noticed the crack in the marble was gone. Not only that, but it was no longer lying on the floor of the Temple. Somehow, it was back on its tall plinth.

  Crawling over the top edge, Emily lowered her good leg down to the ground. When she put her wounded leg down, she felt no pain. It was true! She thought. When you died, all the pain stopped.

  But when Emily added more weight, she found her leg still would not support her. Losing her balance, she fell heavily to the marble floor.

  Pegasus was instantly as her side.

  ‘Pegs?’ Emily said in confusion as she looked up into his warm brown eyes and felt his tongue on her cheek. ‘Can you see me?’