The Sky Throne

by Chris Ledbetter

  As I returned my attention to the wolves, our most immediate threat, I realized they seemed to have stopped their advance. Metis’ elbow hit me in the back as she thrust her spear at the bristly beasts.

  A lone wolf cocked its head and howled. Not a rallying cry … A warning! Out of the corner of my eye a dark shadow swept across my vision and, suddenly, two wolves were whisked into the air and sent sailing into the stratosphere. The remainder of the wolves scattered like drops of olive oil in a goblet of water.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

  “Great Gaia!” My stomach knotted. An acrid taste rose in my throat as we stumbled into a run.

  “What was that thing?” Metis cried out.

  “I don’t know!”

  Twenty paces or so from the woods’ edge, two gnarled wolf carcasses fell from the sky with a heart-stopping thud. I shoved an arm in front of Metis. A shrill wail from above threatened to burst my eardrums.

  In the next breath, a gigantic, black dragon knocked me to the ground and placed a clawed foot across my chest. Its wings slapped the air as it towered above me. The briny smell of the beast scraped the inside of my nostrils.

  “run, metis,” I screamed with all of the breath left my lungs.

  The dragon’s eyes glowed like the setting sun. Silvery smoke wafted from its flared nostrils. It opened its mouth and I could see the furnace within its throat. Wolves’ blood dripped from its fangs onto my chest. Fright rose within me like a river swelling over its banks under flooding rains, tremors running through my entire body.

  My peripheral vision registered the scramble of feet as Metis ran. I knew I was dead meat. I just hoped she could make it.

  The dragon gripped me tighter and looked upward into the sky as if preparing to take flight. Its talons dug through my breastplate and I cried out as the points pierced my skin. Then, suddenly, in the next breath, it stopped.

  The dragon’s gaze dropped back down to me. The monster tightened its grip again. I felt the low rumble of vibrations through each talon’s point, much like the dragon claw stylus had shuddered in my palm. The dragon slowly closed its mouth, gazing at me in confusion.

  A wild thought crossed my mind. I grabbed ahold of the dragon’s leg and snapped my eyes shut. If I were going to die anyway, what difference would it make for my eyes to stay open?

  I focused all of my fortitude into extracting the dragon’s essence. First, nothing happened. I tried again. Then, I gasped. My chest heaved. My hands shook as his energy surged into me like lava spewing from a volcano, chaotic and fearless. Every nerve ending I had was fried.

  My vision changed. My eyesight grew sharper. Everything got both nearer and farther away as my eyes focused through a red tinted lens. I looked down my torso at my own thick, scaly legs and talons. I rolled to my feet and prepared for an epic fight, but the other dragon abruptly flew away. I almost gave chase, but decided against it. I turned toward Metis.

  Too late, I noticed her sprinting full bore at me. It only took her a moment to heave her spear, piercing me in the back. Pain sliced through me, radiating from the point of impact. My scales and outer defenses were not as tough as if I were a real dragon.

  Blood oozed from my dragon body, coating the spear’s shaft, leaking slowly like my soul was seeping out. I hobbled around the clearing, not wanting to engage Metis, obviously. And she had no idea it was me. I crumpled to the ground near the cave’s entrance. Vitality vacated my limbs. The blood loss became severe. Metis saw her opportunity to end me and grabbed my sword from the ground. I let out a wail to try to tell her to stop.

  I spit a small stream of fire to let her know I wasn’t playing around. She backed up just enough to not be dangerous. Gaia save me, I prayed.

  My mind fogged over. There were two of Metis. Then three blurred images of her. Back to two again. I tried to remember what Phoebe had said about if you die as the beast you shapeshifted into … but the lesson wouldn’t come to me.

  I attempted to take flight again, but was too weak. Then, I willed my mind to shift me back to myself, back to normal. My first try didn’t work. I fell over on my side. Metis drew closer, her sword outstretched.

  If she got within a goat’s breath of me, I was gone. I focused again with all the strength I had left. I saw myself back on Crete … running through the twilight on a night raid during a game of Goat-For-A-Sheep. Immediately, I felt able to twitch my toes, a good sign that I had returned to my human form. As I weakly opened my eyes, Metis’ mouth gaped wide. She stood directly over my neck, on the downward arc of decapitation.

  I held my arms up over my face. Still gaping, Metis took several steps backward, and dropped the sword with a clank, heaving sobs as she knelt to the ground.

  “Metis,” I coughed out. “I nee—I need your—” Tos and Amalthea flashed into my clouded mind, their fates at the end of a spear.

  Metis didn’t move. She covered her face with her twitching hands as she wept.

  “Metis,” I shouted, expending all my remaining energy. “The spear!” It was still lodged in my back.

  She uncovered her face and scrambled to my side. “Oh, Gaia! Zeus, I am so sorry. I thought you were—How did you? But the dragon—”

  I coughed ichor blood onto the ground.

  There was a gentle tug around the wound as she tried to work the spearhead out. My ears barely registered footfalls getting louder. I hoped they were friendly.

  “We heard the sounds of a fierce battle near here,” Shade said.

  “Yeah,” Hera added. “What in Gaia’s name is going on? And what is the spear doing in your—” She whipped her head toward Metis. “Can you talk? What happened here?”

  I opened my eyes. Hera’s sword was at Metis’ neck.

  I tried to sit up. Metis raised her palms to Hera as a means of quieting her. “P-p-put down your sword. I’ll tell you what happened. It’s too complex to tell here. Let’s get Zeus to safety first.”

  “If I don’t like your explanation—” Hera lowered her sword. “I might just remove your tongue.”

  I groaned.

  Hera then cut off the bottom of her cloth tunic and pressed it against my wound. “You’re pale as limestone.” Then she didn’t speak another word.

  Between Shade, Hera, and Metis, they took turns shouldering me back to the armory area. The comforting torch lights around the armory came into view. And the hazy blue of the Hurler posts. My consciousness faded toward darkness.

  “What happened to him?” Pontus rushed to greet us. “Oh dear … ”

  I barely opened my eyes when I heard Pontus’s voice or when he gently examined my wound. Metis promised to tell everything once we’d gotten back to the school. I hoped she would tell the truth. At this rate, I wouldn’t be able to offer much.

  “Let’s get him back to campus,” Pontus said. “This isn’t going to end well. I can promise you that.”

  “I hope he can survive the Hurler to get back,” Shade said.

  “Anyone seen Don and Meter?” Hera asked.

  ”Hurry and get Zeus back to his bungalow without the other faculty seeing you,” Pontus ordered. “And please mind your thoughts. Your cognitive vibrations will alert Rhea.”

  My senses dulled. Consciousness waned. I felt as light as a peacock’s feather. My classmates’ voices became incoherent mumbles as I faded away.

  When next I opened my eyes, it looked like there was a wispy piece of linen over my face, covering it like a veil. I gently reached for my wound, slowly probing the area of my back where I thought it had been. My fingers smoothed over a ridge and then trailed around the circular indentation. My first permanent scar.

  It pulsed, an almost imperceptible, dull vibration unless I stilled my mind.

  I winced as I raised my body to an upright position. When I spotted the goblet on the desk next to me, I grabbed it and poured it down my parched throat. Nectar. Not exactly the best drink to quench thirst, but it was all I had at the moment.

&
nbsp; I thumbed through my memory, trying to make sense of earlier events. They assaulted me, image after image flashing in a foggy gust. Darkness. Red eyes. Snarling. Dragons. Wailing. Shifting. Dying.

  Rhea breezed into my bungalow. “Good, you’re awake.” She pulled me off the bed and her fingers gripped the back of my tunic in an embrace, an uncharacteristic move for her. “I’m so glad you’re all right. You gave us quite a scare. Again.”

  I looked down to the floor, thinking back over the previous months. “Trouble has a way of finding me.”

  “Trouble will always contest those on the path to greatness.”

  “Is that the kind of path I’m on?”

  “I have to believe so.” She sat down next to me. “Opposition is always strongest against those with the most potential. Life is staring you in the face and daring you to grab the reins. Unfortunately, your life will get tougher before it gets easier. Everything seems darkest now, but it’s the darkness that allows the stars to shine.”

  I remained silent for a moment, running my fingers over the wound again. I took another gulp of nectar.

  “Do you know why we drink nectar?” Rhea asked.

  I shook my head and sipped more.

  “It’s because nectar is made from cosmic dust; hydrogen, helium, oxygen, carbon, and iron … the stuff you’ve been studying with Hestia. Cosmic dust is the alpha particle, the cornerstone to our existence and of deity creation. We’re mortal without it.”

  My brows shot up.

  “The easiest mode of absorption is ingestion. But there are other ways as well. In short, the reason you’re alive is the cosmic dust in the Hurlers, which reformulated your body’s cells when you hurled. We carried you up to your bungalow from the landing site.”

  It heals wounds … I thought back to the dagger incident. And then an image of Tos flashed into my head. A Hurler could’ve saved him.

  “The dust particles bind to your cells, strengthen them.” She pulled me close. “And yes, it could’ve helped your friend. But, there’s a dark side to cosmic dust that only Ouranos knows.”

  “I wonder if Tia knew as well?”

  “Possibly—”

  “Wait, Ouranos knows?” I asked. “As in present tense?”

  “Yes. Ouranos returned this morning during your search and rescue mission. He’d been out planting Hurlers, as he does from time to time. I’m just so thankful he’s all right. Now we can get the Khaos Council off our backs and your name completely cleared. I knew in my heart you did nothing wrong, despite what the Council said.”

  “That’s great. Now we just need to find Tia.”

  “But wait—” She placed a hand on my shoulder. “Poseidon and Demeter still haven’t returned from the mission yet. Pontus is out looking for them now.”

  “So you know about the search.”

  She nodded. “That was incredibly foolish of you all. And also stupendously brave. I intend to discuss this at length very soon with the entire staff and student body.”

  Words rushed out of my mouth. “It was my fault and my idea to go down there and search.”

  “No it wasn’t.” She cast a severe glare at me. “Lying is reprehensible. In your weakened state, your thoughts are quite unguarded. I know who engineered this jaunt.”

  My stomach churned and I dropped my head into my hands.

  “I don’t know what is going on with those two, but we intend to generate a plan. Clean yourself up and meet us in the Andron. That is all.”

  I bathed, dressed, and headed to the Megaron. The sky was still dark. So, either nighttime had fallen or the Khaos Council still interrogated Hyperion, which would suit me just fine.

  My stomach growled as I entered the room. Headmistress Rhea and Headmaster Ouranos stood within a circle of students and faculty. Long faces met pinched brows and downturned lips. Metis managed a half, tight-lipped acknowledgment when I approached. Professors Phoebe, Nemo, and a few others stood near the rear of the crowd.

  “Headmaster, am I glad to see you,” I said as I reached the circle.

  The smile he offered failed to reach his eyes. “Thank you.”

  “Have you seen your lab yet?” I asked.

  “Yes I have. And I am livid,” he said. “But we have more pressing concerns.”

  CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

  “In fact,” Ouranos continued, “one of our most pressing concerns … is you.” Ouranos pointed to me.

  “M-me?” I stammered. My posture stiffened. “What did I do—”

  “You, and your classmates left campus when you were expressly forbidden!”

  “No disrespect, Professo—”

  “Headmaster, thank you,” he snapped.

  “Headmaster, you just returned to campus,” I spewed. “How would you even know about the travel restriction?”

  “It just so happened that I witnessed part of the proceedings during which Hyperion was questioned. I then traveled to the Caldron to inspect the Hurler post that had blood spatter near it. So yes, I am aware of the transgressions of both faculty and students at this school.”

  My gaze dropped to the floor.

  “Yes,” Ouranos continued. “You and Pontus are priority one.”

  “We’re all distressed here, Ouranos.” Rhea’s voice quaked. Her eyes were red and puffy. “Poseidon and Demeter have yet to return after the mission. They also are priority.”

  “Indeed.” He pointed to himself. “But I will look for them.”

  Blinding light flashed outside the Megaron window. From the aether, the three primordial beams of energy descended.

  “Oh my heavens,” I muttered to myself. “That’s it. I’m burnt bread ends now.”

  When my eyes refocused due to the bright light, Eros, Phanes, and Erebus approached the Megaron. Pontus walked ahead of them.

  My pulse raced until they stepped through the door to the Andron.

  Eros began, “It’s definitely nice that you’re all together. It makes this job that much easier. Our investigation led us to the Caldron where we found Pontus. Unfortunately for him, he will be reprimanded for endangering students.”

  “I am returned,” Ouranos bellowed. “The Sky Throne is again safe. And occupied. I can spearhead the investigation and handle any staff punishments.”

  “We still don’t know anything about Tia yet,” Hera said. “And now we have to find Don and Meter too? It was a good thing Shade and I came along when we did or we’d be out there searching for Zeus too.” She cut her eyes at Metis.

  Metis swung her hands erratically. “Look, first we were surrounded by wolves, and then a dragon attacked … and then there were two of them. I didn’t know he was the second damn dragon, all right?”

  “Oh no?” Hera spread her arms as if to goad Metis into a fight.

  “Ladies!” Ouranos cleared his throat while Rhea edged between Hera and Metis. “I will not have this. You’re arguing like we don’t have bigger stags to roast here. There are fierce beasts out in the world. Be glad you’re safe at this school.”

  “Are we?” Hera shot back.

  “Watch your tone, young lady.” Ouranos gazed sidelong at Hera and continued, “I’ve been gone for only four days and, in that time, this dire situation arose. And now, we have more students missing.” Ouranos folded his massive arms.

  Eros stepped forward. “That is why we are here. Ouranos, with your lab in such disarray and your absence, we issue a decree of no confidence in your ability to lead—”

  Ouranos slammed his hands on the table he stood behind. His icy blue eyes were more intense than I’d remembered.

  “I told you, I can handle this.”

  Phanes pointed his scepter toward Ouranos. “We are in charge here. And you will obey. Period. Must we restrain you?”

  Ouranos stepped backward. His tongue ran over his bottom lip rapidly. “I apologize for my absence. I thought I was only going to be gone two days, but my task took far longer than I had anticipated.
But I’m back now, and I plan to give you the support we all need through this trying time.”

  “You will stand down,” Erebus said.

  “Since we still have three students missing and Ouranos’ questionable travel itinerary, the entire school is officially on lockdown now. By the Khaos Council,” Eros said. “I will help the Muses guard the entrances and exits to school grounds. Every Hurler must be manned. No one arrives or leaves. Erebus will restrain Pontus in the gymnasium. And then he will shadow Ouranos.”

  Phanes spoke, “I will return to the Caldron to continue the search. My scepter will illuminate the truth.”

  My chest tightened when I thought of Tia and Meter still being out there. Don, I wasn’t too concerned about. He could take care of himself. I sighed as I looked at the table in the Andron where Tia and Meter usually sat during meals. I rifled my fingers through my hair, and then pulled my neck downward.

  My gaze trailed after Erebus as he led Pontus out of the Andron. Erebus produced a long rope made of black smoke that snaked around Pontus’ wrists. I couldn’t believe Coach Pontus got in trouble. I mean, it was a ginormous risk we embarked on. And yes, he orchestrated it. But his intentions had been golden. If only Don and Meter had come back. Now, we have to find them too. Damn. This entire situation had gone from horrible to horrendous!

  Rhea and Ouranos exited the Andron as well. Suddenly, I was so hungry, I could feel my stomach touching my backbone. I poured a goblet of nectar and then piled my plate high. While I inhaled my food, Metis, Hera, and Shade looked at me with wide eyes and slacked jaws.

  “What? You’ve never seen a hungry person before?”

  Shade shook his head. “Not one that hungry.”

  “I have some major questions,” I said between bites. “Like … do we know how widespread these abductions are? Is it only MO Prep? Are other students missing from other pantheon school districts?”

  “And what’s the connection? Obviously nothing happened to Ouranos because he’s here. But why were Tia, Don, and Meter taken?” Shade asked with downcast eyes. His voice cracked. That was the first I’d ever heard emotion like that from Shade. “Especially Meter … what did she ever do to anyone?”