by Skyler Grant
“If you were paying close attention to the real one, you should be able to find the difference,” said Aphrodite Two, taking her place on the other side of me.
“And what do I do when I find the right one?” I asked.
“You push the rock up the hill,” said the Aphrodites in unison.
“And the wrong one?”
“The wrong one poofs into clouds,” said Aphrodite One.
“And you just keep pushing for all eternity,” said Aphrodite Two.
It wouldn’t be for all eternity. Elsora knew where we were and if I vanished off the map she’d come to the rescue. I’d also been trying to stay faithful even if she wasn’t demanding it of me. Having sex with a Goddess of Pleasure would smash that goal to pieces in a hurry.
Of course, she quite possibly knew I would find myself in a situation like this. If I was right about her being a seer, she probably foresaw it. The same as her offering to accept and love my children because she knew the Nine would be an issue, she might know I’d find myself in a situation like this.
“And if I push the rock up the hill, I go free,” I said.
“Those are the rules,” Aphrodite one said.
“It wouldn’t be true torment otherwise,” Aphrodite two said.
It was so tremendously hard to think, but I was still forcing myself to do so. There was one more piece of information I needed.
“Why would Aphrodite want to help me escape?” I asked.
“Because Zeus always claims she is his daughter, but she really isn’t,” Aphrodite one said.
“Cronus and the Ocean are her real parents,” Aphrodite two said.
That didn’t make a lot of sense, but I figured I got the basic gist of things. Aphrodite was tired of her seat at the table and knew, if Zeus were out of the way, she’d have a better one. Perhaps even the throne.
I was going to do it. Not because I was stupid and acting on my urges, but because I’d thought things out and it made sense. I kind of liked the idea of a Liam that was true to his wife, but I was the Liam that made the complicated choices and did whatever it took to keep moving forward. Sometimes that was giving the order to destroy Earth, sometimes it was laying down with a Goddess of Pleasure so she could break you out of prison to murder her adopted father.
That meant spotting the difference. It was a classic game and the distinction between the two could be incredibly tiny. I didn’t have the Aphrodite from the throne room here before me, but I did have the two contrasting models in bed with me.
It took three hours of incredibly difficult research to find the difference. One had an almost imperceptible scar upon her left foot, while the other didn’t. I couldn’t remember that from the throne room, but then I wasn’t really looking. In the end I decided that Aphrodite would never let herself be anything less than perfect.
I wish I could praise my self-control in what came next and say that what proceeded was a businesslike pushing of the boulder up the hill exactly once. However, I’d picked the right one and it turned out to be a far more exhaustive task.
When I finally made my exit from the mindscape I found myself in the bed I’d left earlier. Empty now. A rather more dressed Aphrodite in leather armor dumped my equipment on the bed, “Up and at them, stud.”
“Not a cuddler then,” I said.
“Ugh. Are you one of those?” Aphrodite said with a grimace, gesturing at the gear. “Play hard, work hard. You’ve got killing to do.”
I really wasn’t one of those, I was just a little taken aback at how quickly she shifted gears. I was morally flexible though, I could keep up.
I got dressed. I took some comfort in the fact she at least seemed interested enough to watch the process.
“What about my companions?” I asked.
“They broke themselves out already. They’re strong. You and the redhead both got stuck in the same punishment, although she managed to convince Nephele to push the rock herself. You’re the only one that needed a rescuer,” Aphrodite said, tapping her foot. I was getting the impression she really wasn’t the most patient of sorts.
Great. My pride needed that. It probably wasn’t that bad, my Mind Games might have gotten me out of that even without Aphrodite’s assistance.
“You have a plan?” I asked.
“We’re not alone. If we’re doing a little jail break, we may as well do a good one. All the monsters of Olympus are coming out to play. I’ve got an army. We can weaken them, but it isn’t exactly healthy for us to kill our relatives.”
“So you want us to do the dirty work,” I said.
“Exactly. You’re good with that?”
“You’ll call off the war?” I needed to make sure of that.
“I’ll call off the war, let Hope out of Pandora’s Box, and you’ll have a friend on the Throne of Olympus,” Aphrodite said.
“And I get to keep the box,” I said.
Aphrodite narrowed her eyes at that. She didn’t like it and I didn’t blame her. If it could hold Hope, that box was dangerous to a lot of people. That’s why I wanted it.
“Then I want your guarantee Zeus and Ares die. The others will be forced to play by my rules, if they are dead,” Aphrodite said.
If I was going to insist on terms, it was fair she do the same.
“Deal,” I said.
“Deal.”
Always have a deal. I’d learned that from Yve. We’d worked out a price. Now we just needed to go to war.
Chapter 11
When Aphrodite said she had an army, she wasn’t kidding. The giants were the most notable, towering figures of massive size and strength that made the earth shake. There were also Gods and Demigods aplenty. It seemed that over the centuries there was no shortage of those who had earned Zeus’ ire and found themselves confined.
“I can’t say she didn’t keep her word about having an army,” I said to my companions, having rejoined them.
“Well, she is perfect in every way,” Yve said, rather smitten.
“Murderous and strong,” Ashley said, the same.
Now I knew how I must have sounded every time I’d been supernaturally compelled to fall in love. It was really annoying, and surprising Ashley hadn’t ever stabbed me.
“What is the plan?” Walt asked. At least he wasn’t drunk on love. Walt was never drunk on love.
“Aphrodite wants Zeus and Ares dead, so they need to be our priority. We could use Hope’s help, but she isn’t going to go along with that and will stop us, if we let her out of the box too early. I want Zeus, I owe him a lot of pain,” I said.
“Zeus kicked your ass last time,” Ashley said. That was undiplomatic of her. True, of course.
Walt said, “Then we switch it up this time. Ashley and I will take Zeus and leave Ares for Yve and Liam.”
“If I couldn’t take him, what makes you think you two are going to have any better luck?” I asked.
“I’ve got a Death-hand,” Walt said.
“And I killed the last God we faced,” Ashley said.
Yve snagged my arm. “And we work well together, always did.”
That was emotional blackmail, and it was effective.
“Fine,” I said.
Mount Olympus was before us and Aphrodite’s army surged forward to meet with its defenders.
There was no shortage of Gods on either side. And ground soldiers, legions of warriors armed with pikes and facing down the giants armed with massive clubs.
Although it was tempting to get into the melee this wasn’t our war, and these weren’t our targets. Aphrodite had left a nymph to guide us and when the time was right she led us along an almost invisible path winding to the building atop the mountain.
Zeus and Ares were waiting for us inside.
“A fool of a King and his companions. What lies did she tell you to get you here, I wonder? Or are you but another victim under her spell?” Zeus asked.
“Jealousy is such an ugly emotion,” Yve said.
“What lies would she
need to tell me? You refuse to end this war, and tossed me and my companions into a prison,” I said.
“Enough talking,” Ares said, pulling a massive sword from his back and stepping forward. I guess Aphrodite wasn’t the only one in this family that wanted to get right to the action. That was okay, although I didn’t think this time around would be nearly as satisfying.
I met Ares’ charge with Intemperance as Walt rushed at Zeus, and Ashley went stealthy.
Ares was a master swordsman and I wasn’t. Fortunately I wasn’t alone—he was against two of us. We hadn’t discussed our exact strategy for this fight, but Yve and I really were good together. She knew my strengths and weaknesses better than anyone, as I did hers.
We both used swords and against a master swordsman like Ares we’d be in danger of hitting each other. I was stronger, had the better weapon, and lacked range. That meant Yve would be the one to hold back and use her spells.
On the bad side, the spells mostly had an area effect. On the positive side I’d gotten rather used to being burned alive and I healed fast. Ares wouldn’t have that going for him.
I parried the first few of Ares’ blows before falling for a feint and he delivered a vicious slash to my thigh. The sword cut through to the bone, darkness billowing around my armor to seal the breach as soon as the weapon was withdrawn. Great, self healing armor. Given how frequently I’d had armor destroyed in the past I’d should find the time to be appreciative, but not right now.
Pillar of Flame
An explosive pillar of fire erupted from the ground to engulf Ares and he was shifting back to avoid it. I wasn’t going to let that happen and reached forward to grab at one of his arms, pulling him back into the flames.
That was agonizing, the fire burning the flesh away from my hand, but it was doing a good bit of Ares-melting as well. With a howl he delivered several punches to my face. I’d prepared though and braced my feet. It kept me from flying across the room although he did break my nose and loosen a few teeth.
The flames faded and we pulled away from each other. We’d both taken a lot of damage from divine flame. My wounds were already starting to knit closed while his were lingering.
“Swap. I’m out of mana,” Yve said from behind me, and I pulled back to let her take over the melee portion of the combat. Disengaged from the fight I’d heal even faster.
Fury of the Storm
Zeus was facing off against Walt and was letting loose with a blinding array of lightning. I didn’t know what Walt had done to piss him off this badly, but he must have done something. The Death-hand was absorbing a lot of the energy, but not all of it. Walt was starting to look as burned as Ares and me.
I had to trust that he and Ashley had it handled, because I had other problems. Yve went soaring across the room, making a terrific din as she bounced several times upon the marble floor. At least she was groaning, which meant she was still alive.
I was back in.
I didn’t bother trying to match Ares in terms of skill. I was stronger and in better health, and he’d already been hurt. I went at him with everything I had left in pure attack.
Ares was ready for me, and for every blow I managed to land he somehow got three on me. I was bloodied and charred, but I’d not go down. A deep thrust in his side left him weak and losing blood. Still he fought like a God of War, an indomitable force of nature. I’d seen better though. Cobalt, Ashera, and even Hope were not just his match, but his superiors. I wasn’t theirs, but I could win. It came down to endurance and after having lost so much blood Ares finally pulled back and tossed down his sword.
“I yield. Well fought,” Ares said, panting.
I had an agreement. I respected the fight he’d shown and it wasn’t he that had put my daughter into a box, but I honored my deals. My final blow took him by surprise, Intemperance cleaving his head from his shoulders and leaving his body to topple backwards. I was glad my daughter wasn’t around to see that, she wouldn’t have approved.
I helped Yve to her feet. I remembered how perfectly composed she always looked as a Goddess—somehow with a black eye and armor stained crimson she was still a vision.
Zeus was down, Ashley straddling his chest and tearing him apart with her God-killing blade which glowed with a soft green light. Streamers of energy connected them. That probably wasn’t a good sign.
Walt was down, if alive, smoke rising from his smoldering form. Yve limped over to heal him.
I found Pandora’s Box on a pedestal and, working with the clasp, finally got it open. There was a rush of energy and Hope materialized looking dazed.
“Daddy?” Hope asked.
“It’s me. Are you okay?” I asked.
“It was some sort of sealed plane. I kept trying to travel out, but I’m not good enough. I couldn’t figure it out,” Hope said.
“You’re fine. We were trapped in a prison too for a time, but we’re out and we won,” I said.
Aphrodite sauntered in. I wondered if she had been watching and waiting for her moment. The sight of the bloodied corpses on the ground drew a smile from her perfect lips and she bent to retrieve Ares’ head, giving it a lingering kiss on the lips. “You really should have joined with me, Brother.” The head got tossed aside and she advanced towards me to press a lingering kiss against mine in turn. Even I was a little weirded out.
“Dad? What’s going on?” Hope asked.
“This is Aphrodite, Queen of Olympus,” I said.
“Hottest goddess there is,” Aphrodite said.
If Yvera were here, I was sure she’d have words about that. Fortunately she wasn’t, she was only able to see through Yve’s eyes when we were on the Crucible Shard. It likely saved us a diplomatic incident.
“We good?” I asked.
Aphrodite settled herself down into the throne and gave a languorous stretch. “We’re good. The war is off.”
One army down. I only hoped the others had been as successful.
Chapter 12
A quick trip back to Castle Sardonis, and Elsora informed us that Diamond had called for support from the first team to report back. Although she was working on taking out their portal technology, a starship was currently assaulting her position.
It was an easier trip than last time. I think so long focused on her travel powers while trapped in the box had helped Hope to master them. We materialized in a metallic hallway, the faint hum of engines beneath our feet suggesting we were on a powered ship.
Fortunately, the hallway was empty. I didn’t expect it would remain that way for long.
“So, I don’t suppose anyone has a clue how to stop a starship?” I asked.
“Kill everyone on board,” Ashley said.
“Not happening,” Hope said.
“If we could get to the engines I might be able to use my powers to make them overload,” Yve said.
“Which would do what?” Hope asked.
“Cause the ship to explode and kill everyone on board,” Yve said with a shrug.
“Still not happening. Seriously Dad, why do all of your companions always want to kill everyone?” Hope asked.
“Because we’re fun,” Ashley said, adding to me, “Your spawn is boring.”
Cobalt had to try and raise at least one daughter who possessed ethics. Given all of our other children were rather more terrifying, it had to be a good thing.
“Does anyone have any suggestions that do not involve murdering everyone aboard this ship?” I said.
Silence answered the question. Fantastic.
It was Yve who finally spoke up. “I don’t like the idea as much, but I could try overheating the engines a little less. I don’t know what technology drives this ship, but the insides of most engines are often fairly delicate. We may be able to cripple the ship without killing everyone on board.”
I looked at Hope, who nodded. Okay, we had a plan she agreed with.
“Any idea where the engines might be?” I asked.
Yve gestured and led the way.
Perhaps what remained of her supercomputer brain had a clue or maybe she was guessing. It wasn’t easy being the tank.
We barely made it to the end of the hall when klaxons started going off. A voice announced, “Intruders in Hallway B7. Alert Stations.”
Guards ran into the corridor. They wore armor with energy plates that glowed a pale blue, and carried swords that sparked with some sort of energy.
“Now that is just dumb,” Ashley said.
“I agree,” Walt said.
“It reminds me of the weaponry of Doctor Light back home,” Hope said.
“I mean, if you are going to have some kind of energy weapons—why not a gun?” Ashley said.
“It’s the hull,” said the lead guard.
“How’s that?” I asked.
“We’re on a spaceship, right? Do you know what happens, if you breach the hull? Really bad things. A gun, you keep blasting at the same spot, you might open a hole, but these swords, none of the blades are actually long enough to cause a breach,” said the lead guard.
That was helpful, and kind of interesting.
“Still not very cool,” Ashley said, although she appeared a little mollified.
“If we’re quite done giving lectures on ship safety, it is time for you to surrender,” said the lead guard.
“No killing,” Hope said, as she ran into the middle of them. Four blades tried to find her at once, but she was never where they were, ducking and weaving between the guards and delivering punches that scattered them.
I followed, delivering a punch here and there. I had to pull them, given my immense strength, but soon we’d put down the guard patrol.
“That was easy,” I said.
I spoke too soon. Gravity suddenly cut out and I found myself floating along with the others.
At the far end of the hall stood a woman, her feet still firmly on the floor. She wore a uniform looking of a high rank. I recognized her at once.
“Diamond, can we get some help here?” I asked.
“Tactician Dia, not the doppleganger you speak of, although I am aware of her existence. You’ll find any further attempt at struggle a futile endeavor,” Dia said.
