I took a half a step backward. Hera held my back.
“I know you have rare scrolls. Do you have any on cosmic dust or not?” Hera said, a little more directly.
“I have one scroll on cosmic dust. But you’ll hafta play me fer it.”
“I’m sorry … play you?” I could’ve sworn he’d been nicer the last time. Then again, I had just punched my fist through his son’s brain last night. I folded my hands into my armpits to hide my bruised knuckles.
“Yesss, boy. You do know the game, dontcha?”
Stone, scroll, and sword. I narrowed my eyes. I was getting really tired of his hissing lisp. “Don’t you think this is a tad childish?”
His face drew close enough for me to smell his lunch. “If it’s so childish, ya ought to win, ought’nt ya?”
“You got this,” Hera whispered in my ear.
Kreios stepped backward. “I’m the best there is, boy. I invented the game. If you win, you get my scroll. But, if you lose, all three of m’ boysss beat the nectar outta ya. Deal?” His neck bones cracked as he twisted his head back and forth.
So he did know about the punch. I wiped my moist palms on my tunic and stared into Kreios’ aged, cloudy eyes. “I’m ready when you are.”
We both stuck our left palms out. I raised my right fist. My bruised-knuckled right fist. He stared at my knuckles, then back at me before raising his own calloused hand.
Pound. Pound. Pound. I chose sword. He chose stone.
“That’sss one, boy.” His cheeks plumped into a fiendish smile. “Best outta three.”
Damn. I should’ve known he’d choose stone first. Lumbering oaf. My heart thudded as we prepared for round two.
Pound. Pound. Pound. I chose sword again. He chose scroll. I won. Yes.
A growl rumbled through his clenched teeth. “Last one, boy. Don’t get nervousss.”
Based on his going stone first, and scroll next, I was sure he thought I would go with stone next to try and block his sword. But, since I did sword twice, he probably thought I’d either do sword again, in which case he’d go with stone again. How can I win this match?
“Raise yer hand, boy. No thinking game. All instinct.”
I raised my hand. My pulse vibrated against my wrist.
He flinched his hand downward and then laughed. “You ready? Don’t think too long. Always go with your first choice.”
Pound. Pound. Pound. I chose scroll. He chose stone.
I pumped my fist and looked straight into his eyes. “Now, give me the scroll.”
Kreios huffed and disappeared into the back of the shop. He returned a moment later and shoved the scroll in my face with his gnarled hand.
I slowly unrolled it. “Wha—”
“You were smart enough to win it from me,” Kreios said. “Now be smart enough to read it. Good day, boy.”
“But it’s blank.”
“Is it?” Kreios snarled through clenched teeth, beginning to stalk toward me.
I backed toward the door, with my gaze trained on Kreios. Hera and I exited the shop and made another sweep around the Agora. No sign of Tia. The people at Lambda, Lambda hadn’t seen her either. I closed my eyes and massaged the bridge of my nose.
“Let’s get back to campus,” I said. “Maybe she’s turned up by now.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
As we climbed the Cloudwell, Shade shot past us from the housing area. ”Assembly in the Andron. Better get moving. Pontus is fired up!” he called over his shoulder.
Hera sighed. Her voice approached a whisper. “I hope it’s not bad news about Tia. I always liked her.”
“Liked? As in past tense?” I fidgeted, picking my fingernails. “Don’t think that way.”
“She was always more headstrong than Meter. I’ll give her that. But not more than me.”
I chuckled. “Is anyone as headstrong as you?”
“Not likely.”
“Hurry up!” Shade called from across the quad.
She turned to me. “We probably should double time it. Pontus is such a bear when he’s angry.”
“Nice of you to join us,” Pontus hurled the words toward us like a javelin when we entered the Andron. “Where’ve you two been?”
Rhea stood to Pontus’s right shoulder and glared.
“I told Hera to come on,” Shade said, stirring the tension.
Hera marched toward him.
I grabbed her arm out of concern. “We don’t need any fighting right now.”
Hera’s head whipped around. “Don’t you ever touch me like that again.” She yanked her arm from my grasp.
A hush swept through the room.
“And as for you, Shade—” Hera started toward him again. A scowl darkened her face. “You better keep my name out of your mouth. You hear me?”
Mental note: Do not get on Hera’s bad side.
I caught a glimpse of Metis out of the corner of my eye. At least she still wasn’t unaccounted for. I smiled as I remembered her on my bed after the wrestling match. I strained to see if she had on a chiton like the one she was wearing last night. But she wore our standard issue, white MO Prep tunic with gold trim. Drat.
Suddenly, I felt a heated gaze on the back of my neck. I turned to witness Hera glowering at me as she returned from confronting Shade.
“Settle down. Everyone have a seat.” Rhea clapped loudly. “We have a serious issue at hand. Obviously Ouranos is missing and someone’s blood is smeared across the Observatory. I’m not worried that he’s missing. He takes off from time to time, especially near end of term. But the ichor is cause for concern. If he doesn’t return by Hemera Gaia, two days from now, we’ll have to report the Sky Throne vacant to the Khaos Council who oversees our school system.”
Nervous shifting and uneasy throat clearing filled the room.
“More pressing and slightly more troubling is Tia’s absence. Has anyone seen her?” Pontus stepped forward. “I can’t make sense of it. There’s no note. Nothing out of place in her cabin.”
“Boys and girls, this smells immortally foul to me. We have ichor trails, Hestia’s necklace, and a mysterious spear. Aside from that, we don’t know where to begin.” The lines around Rhea’s eyes deepened with her concern. “If any of you find information, you are to report to me immediately. And I’ll know if you know anything because I will be pushing my mental faculties further than normal. I am the leader of this program now.”
We could have heard a feather hit the floor.
“Additionally, I will make rounds to other Pantheons, especially Kerkyra Lower Academy and Matterhorn Scuola Roman Academy. Tia used to be close to a boy from The Horn. Pontus will check over at Othrys. No student comes or leaves until we return. You are hereby ordered to remain in student housing except for meals and to turn in assignments. All projects are still due. Turn them in to my office. You all must use the buddy system. Anyone caught by themselves will be reprimanded. That is all.”
We filed out of the Andron. A hand caressed my shoulder blade. I turned. My face softened when I saw Metis.
“What do you have there?” She nudged my arm.
“Just a scroll from Kreios,” I said. “In fact, we had the weirdest run-in with him. Do you know Kreios down in the Agora?”
“Everyone knowsss Kreiosss,” she said, imitating the man’s lisp. “You forget, you’re the newbie around here.”
I smiled and nodded.
“So what’s on the scroll?” She reached for it.
“Nothing you’d be interested in,” Hera interjected. “Why are you back anyway? Shouldn’t you be sniffing up Atlas?”
“If you must know, we broke up.”
“What is this, the eleventieth time?”
Metis stared Hera down. I actually admired that she didn’t back down. “Is there something you wish to say, Hera?”
“Pretty sure I’m saying it.”
Metis squared her shoulders. “If so, then you
need to go back to remedial Rhetoric because your argument lacks vigor.” She turned and left.
Hera’s cheeks were as red as a radish. I glanced down at her shaking hands. “You all righ—”
“I’m. Fine.”
I drew in a deep breath. “Well, we need to figure out a way to read this scroll. We should try to retrace Tia’s steps. She was my Astronomy partner, after all. I feel responsible.” I turned away from Hera, shaking my head slowly. “When she said she was putting the final touches on our project last night, I should’ve gone with her. Pretty sure it had something to do with cosmic dust.”
After several calming breaths, Hera shook her hands out. “Then, we need to find her research and/or project.”
“We need to find her.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
Two days later, tension was as thick as nectar in the Andron when I entered with Shade. It was Gaiamera morning. If Ouranos didn’t turn up by the end of the day, the school would probably go into emergency lock down. Even more than it had been. Meter ambled across the floor with her veggie plate. Don stared out the window, his eyes vacant. He hadn’t even touched his food. I grabbed a plate and piled some goat meat and figs on it. After I sat down, I couldn’t help but notice Hera picking at her food. It was already odd that she was actually eating in the Andron along with everyone.
Shade stood near the windows. “Something is brewing outside.”
“A storm?” Meter asked.
“The worst kind, I’m sure,” Shade said. “Kronos just walked up from the Cloudwell.”
“No way.” Don bolted from his seat and rushed to the window.
“Does that mean they found—” Meter’s words fell off.
Loud voices rose from the grassy quad outside the Megaron. We all hurried to the windows.
Pontus stepped across the pebbled path toward Kronos. “Your father always liked you best, didn’t he? That is, until you turned psychotic.”
“I’d be careful how I talked to your next Headmaster—”
Upon hearing that, Don swung out of the second floor and sailed toward the ground. My eyes widened, knowing I’d never be able to pull off that move. Scampering to her feet, Meter just barely beat Hera and myself to the doorway. I clenched and unclenched my fists in an effort to calm myself. My blood ran hot at the thought of coming face-to-face with Kronos again. We scrambled down the stairs, through the halls, and burst through the doors onto the quad.
Don and Shade stood beside Pontus. Shade must’ve jumped through the window at some point too. Rhea jogged down the path from the Observatory and reached the eye of the storm as we did.
“Kronos, what are you doing here?” Rhea asked. Her regal golden robes swished around her as she walked. “We have enough to contend with at the moment—”
“You do indeed, Pussy Cat. But, you haven’t found our father yet, so I’ve come to spearhead this investigation.”
“We have enough hands on deck.” Don stepped forward.
Pontus held his arm in front of Don. “Stand down. We will handle this.”
“Exactly,” Kronos sneered. “This sand box is a little large for you, Poseidon.”
“Kronos, I know you wish to find out what happened to our father, but you may take leave of us now. We need to continue our searches.” Rhea folded her arms. Her eyes shot ice daggers at Kronos.
Kronos took two deep breaths. His eyes glassed over. “Not until I see the scene for myself.” Kronos walked toward the Observatory. “And you’ll also present me with any evidence you’ve already found. Catching whoever did this is my first priority.”
Rhea followed him at a brisk pace. “I am the leader of this program now and commander of these grounds. We are under a full examination and I order you to stop at once.”
Kronos wheeled around. “As soon as I’ve had a look around you can resume your searches … under my supervision.”
Pontus led the rest of us just behind the gathering storm front as it surged up the path. He turned to us. “Students, if this turns ugly, go immediately to the armory and suit up.”
“Ooooh,” Hera uttered.
“The armory?” I asked.
“I’ll fill you in later,” Don said.
“Dammit, Kronos,” Rhea’s voice rose considerably. “I want to find out what’s going on as much as you do. But running through my campus like a bull is not helping matters. You already splintered our school once. I won’t let you do it again.”
Suddenly, as if from the ether, three shafts of sparkling energy descended from the heavens to the ground. The one on the left gleamed shining gold with sparks of white crackling and revolving around the edges. The middle pillar shone brilliant white and stung my eyes. And the third column was solid black with tendrils of dark smoke wisping from it.
My heart rate increased as three men the same color as their energy appeared where the shafts had touched down. It’s almost as if they’d hurled here without using Hurlers. Kronos took a step backward when they walked toward us.
The one with pale white skin spoke first. “Good. You’re all here in one place awaiting our arrival,” he said in a booming tone betraying his clean-shaven, boyish face. “That means we shan’t have to search for you all as well. The gravity of an empty Sky Throne must not be underestimated … which is why the Khaos Council is here. We are henceforth in charge of this investigation. I am Eros, for the uninitiated.”
“But, I can handle thi—” Kronos said.
“You … are ill equipped to handle an investigation of this magnitude.” Eros’ piercing blue eyes cast a sharp glare at Kronos.
“This is a matter to be reconciled by Primordials. Period,” said the black-skinned man, his visual presence a stark contrast to Eros’s.
“But Eros,” Rhea pleaded. “If you can give us a bit more time, we can resolve this.”
“Time is not on our side,” Eros said crisply. “We’ve seen these types of Sky Throne vacancies in other pantheons before and they never end well … for the incumbent that is. You agree, Erebus?”
Black-skinned Erebus nodded. “We have entered the Time of the Empty Throne. We will suspend school operations in seven days if we can’t find Ouranos or discover what happened to him. Students’ safety is paramount. If we are under attack from an external force, we need to protect our own first.”
“But—” Kronos stammered.
“In fact, first we need to secure the Observatory.” Erebus pointed to the third man in his group, whose golden skin glinted in the sun’s gaze. “Phanes, stand guard at the lab until we can assess its contents. No one in or out.”
“Done, Erebus.” Phanes nodded and walked back up the hill to the Observatory. He gripped his staff tighter. The orb at the top of it emitted a light so intense that we all shaded our eyes.
“Rhea.” White-skinned Eros brushed past Kronos as if he wasn’t even there. “We will set up a command center in the Megaron. I expect to see everyone present and accounted for just after midday meal so that we can ask a few questions. This will give us time to perform our diligence.”
“This is my father we’re talking about here!” Kronos threw his hands in the air. His bottom lip quivered. “I demand to be a part of this investigation.”
“And so you shall,” Eros said. “Do what we ask of you and there won’t be any trouble.” He paused, staring into Kronos’ eyes. “Or will there?”
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
After waiting around in student housing for the remainder of the morning and reconvening for midday meal, all of us waited against a wall outside a room in the Megaron. Shade stood at the front of the line, waiting his turn to enter and be questioned. I was fourth in line, barely able to see around Don’s thick-muscled frame into the darkened room. Hera tapped her foot just ahead of me and Meter’s hand rested right on the small of my back.
Finally, we saw Professor Nemo exit the room with an exhausted expression and downcast eyes. She’d been the last of the f
aculty to be questioned. She cast a tight-lipped glance toward Rhea, who leaned on the wall opposite the interrogation room. Rhea tapped her fingernails against her teeth. Her leg bounced like it had a mind of its own.
The line inched forward as Shade stepped out. He cast a sidelong glance back toward Don as he entered the room. I turned toward Meter, noticing a tear sitting at the corner of her eye. Metis stood behind her with arms crossed. This felt like Crete all over again, except I did nothing wrong this time.
This waiting caused my heart to beat erratically, filling my chest with an unpredictable cadence. I closed my eyes and tried to steady my breathing, but questions flashed through my mind. Where was Ouranos? What happened in the lab? What kind of questions are they going to ask us?
Before I realized it, I was next. Phanes greeted me before entering the room by stretching his arm across my torso, halting my progress. His golden skin still gleamed as if we were outside.
“What is your name?” he asked.
“Zeus,” I answered.
He waved his staff over my entire body from head to toe. “This process is to ensure you are who you say you are. False identities are forbidden in these proceedings.” I felt scraped raw by the end of the search as if he were taking tiny rakes and scrubbing my body from top to bottom from the inside. “You may proceed.” He motioned me in and closed the door behind me.
In the middle of the dark room stood a single wooden throne. Nothing overly elaborate. Eros paced back and forth while talking to Erebus whose features and robes melted into the shadows.
Eros looked at me with severity. “We have before us the dilemma of a missing Headmaster and Sky Throne master. The fact that he is Headmaster concerns us not. But the Sky Throne vacancy is of utmost import.”
Phanes approached. “It is our intention here to bring the truth to light. If you are found guilty of a stained hand in the disappearance of Ouranos, heinous disciplinary measures await. Do you understand?”
I nodded, running my palm across my torso. My eyes had finally adjusted to the lack of light in the room when a bright light pierced the darkness. The sphere atop Phanes’ scepter lit up, blinding me while shadows moved behind it.
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