The Sky Throne

by Chris Ledbetter

  I looked up from my food. “I’m tired of being one step behind this mule scrotum … whomever is doing this. We need to figure this thing out.”

  Hera sighed, knitting her dark brows together. “Let’s talk to the Oracles in the Agora. They must be able to shed some light on things despite their usual encrypted messages.”

  “How in the Underworld are we going to get down there? The Muses will be guarding the Hurlers under the direction of Eros,” Shade warned.

  “They’ll let us go to the Agora, don’t you think?” I drummed my knuckles onto my forehead, thinking of options.

  “No. I don’t think,” Hera said. “There has to be another way.”

  “We have to try,” Shade said.

  Once we got outside in the quad, I looked around for Rhea, and then whispered to Hera, “I’m going to grab the scroll. Maybe the Oracles can read it or at least tell us how to.”

  “Good idea. But we still don’t have a way down there.”

  “I’ll tag along with you, Zeus,” Metis said.

  I glanced at Hera, whose level gaze made it difficult to breathe. I looked away and kept walking. Metis trotted at my side.

  The sound of our feet crunching the shale underfoot sliced through the thick silence between us. We entered my bungalow and I reached in my closet to grab the scroll I’d won from Kreios.

  “Stop,” Metis whispered when I turned around. She placed her hand on my chest. “Just stop.”

  “We have to get back,” I said.

  “I have to know something … ” Metis stared into my eyes, into my soul. “Are you mad at me?”

  I stood with my mouth open for a moment because I knew that my answer would define us, our expectations of one another. I hoped what happened in the Caldron was an accident. But I wasn’t sure. So, if I answered yes, that would undercut the trust and understanding we had. Can’t be mad at someone for an accident. But if I said no, and it really had been malicious, then she’d think she’d gained my trust enough to harm me.

  “Don’t answer that,” she whispered. A tear crested the ridge of her right eyelid. She sniffled and looked away. “I don’t want to know what you believe about me right now. So many have so much to say about me, about us.”

  “You mean Hera?”

  “Whatever lies Hera might’ve told y—”

  “Hera hasn’t said anything about you.”

  “Oh.” She folded her hair behind her ear. “Well she always looks at me like I killed her best friend.”

  Her words hung in the air. I gazed into her teary hazel eyes.

  “Zeus, please,” she whispered. “I can’t take back what happened out there earlier, but I’m so sorry. You have to believe me. I never intended to hurt you.”

  I nodded.

  “I have never actually speared anything before in my life. It all happened so fast. I didn’t know what was going on. I freaked out.”

  Her irresistible magnetism drew me forward. I stepped into her embrace. I failed at any attempt I made to be upset with her anymore. “I know you’d never purposely harm me.”

  She sniffled again and leaned her head against my chest, right over my heart. “Thank you.”

  “We should go.”

  When we returned to the torch-lit path between cabins and bungalows, Shade and Hera were waiting for us. We descended the Cloudwell to find Professors Mnemosyne and Phoebe guarding the Hurler. I swept a sidelong glance at Hera and she took the lead, barely looking at me.

  “Hey, Professor Nemo, I know Eros wanted us all to stay on school grounds, but we thought a visit to the Oracles couldn’t hurt.”

  Slightly taller than Phoebe, Nemo folded her slender arms, crinkling her tyrian purple tunic. She spoke with a slow and deliberate cadence. “Absolutely not, Hera. Eros has delivered his decree and I happen to concur. A lockdown is best.”

  “But,” Metis countered. “Isn’t it entirely possible that the Oracles could help us solve this mystery?”

  “Perhaps they could. Or perhaps not. You never know with those strange fruit,” Phoebe said. “I don’t know if the risk is worth it.” Both professors studied our faces, and then turned to one another.

  “I’ll tell you what,” Phoebe said. Her pale skin contrasted the dark valley of Thessaly that framed her back. “I am just as shaken as everyone here. And in fact, I would love to know what the Oracles have to say about this.” She paused and shook her head almost imperceptibly. “To ensure you get to where you’re going and don’t stray from the path, I shall go with you. There are no beasts in the Agora. Mnemosyne, you stay here on this end.”

  “No!” Nemo said. Her dark hair swirled about her head like smoke. “I must protest. It’s far too dangerous. We have already lost three students.”

  “Mnemosyne—” Phoebe placed a hand on Nemo’s shoulder. “Yes, but we have lost zero faculty. I will ensure their swift return. Just don’t tell Ouranos or Eros. If we find something, it’ll be worth it. I got this.”

  Professor Nemo glowered at Phoebe as she huddled us around the Hurler. “We’ll be back in no time,” Phoebe said, as we all placed our hands upon the Hurler before Nemo could protest more.

  Once we arrived at the Agora, in the interest of time, we jogged down the right side of the open-air square gathering and meeting place to the Oracles’ Temple. I kept hoping we just wouldn’t run into Pallas, Perses, or Atlas down there. At least not with our depleted numbers.

  The two-story temple was on the far end of the Agora, directly across from the Dragon’s Breath, overlooking the Odeon theatre. A facade of six columns guarded the sole entry. Fake windows had been carved between the columns.

  “I’ll remain at the entrance,” Phoebe said. “Come right back out when you’re done.”

  “You’re not going in?” I asked.

  “Those crazy witches creep me out,” she said.

  Cold shadows embraced us as we walked through a sparsely lit corridor, our footsteps sending invisible ripples through the stillness. I brought my fists up in front of me, ready for anything. Several times, I turned back toward the entrance, in case we needed to make a quick escape. A hand stabilized my back. I turned, half expecting it to be Metis. Hera’s calm gaze steadied me instead.

  My pulse raced as we turned a corner and approached a small interior sanctuary. Wall torches lit the small room. Slits stretched vertically through the ceiling of the room. Three hooded figures sat on miniature columns, still as statues. When we drew closer, they rocked from side to side in unison. In front of them, a cauldron of liquid roiled. Steam rose from its surface and disappeared through the ceiling vents.

  I cleared my throat and opened up my mouth to speak. Hera jabbed me in the side with her elbow.

  “May we speak to the Oracles?” Hera asked politely.

  They stopped rocking abruptly. “Who is it whom deserves an individual account of the wisdom of the universe?”

  I stepped forward. “Zeus. And this is Hera, Metis and Shade, er, I mean Hades.”

  “Ahhh, yes. Hades. Know that name well.” The three hoods turned upward to look in his direction. “Do you see sufficiently in the dark, young man? I hope you do.”

  “What? I guess so. Why?” Shade replied.

  “Good. Darkness is your ally.”

  “I guess that’s a good thing since I wear black a lot, huh?”

  Hera bumped Shade’s shoulder.

  “What did I say?” he responded.

  Hera brought her forefinger to her lips.

  They rocked again, then abruptly stopped and focused on Hera. “What say you, girl wonder? Hera, you are, yes? Ahhh, the sky is the limit for you.”

  I glanced at Hera. She winked back.

  The hoods all whipped in my direction and spoke in unison. “Crackle. Flash. Sizzle.”

  My face wrinkled. “What in Gaia’s name does that mean?”

  “No questions, boy,” the middle hood spoke.

  I raised my hands in an
effort to ease the tension. Metis placed her finger to my lips. I nodded.

  “But if we ask no questions,” I said calmly. “How will you know—”

  “But, we know why you’re here, Olympians plus one,” the middle hood said. “Your missing comrades are related to an earlier prophecy we made that you Olympians would defeat the Titans handily in War Games this season. Find out why you’ll defeat them and how and you’ll find your comrades.”

  “Well, what in Tartarus does that mean?” Shade blurted.

  “NO QUESTIONS!” the Oracles said in unison.

  “May we at least hear the original prophecy?” Hera asked.

  Silence fell like a swift strike. We looked at one another.

  “Very well.” The middle hood sighed as the bubbling water gained vigor and steam rose to fill the room. “The Word revealed itself thusly;

  a school gains a pupil, foretelling a fall

  an islander will illuminate the demise and so rise

  the great sky will be slain, ichor shall rain

  to the victor, permanent altar

  only through the stoppage of time can the heavens be restored.”

  My mouth dried. I had no words after hearing the exact prophecy that had begun this entire mess. I smoothed my hands down the front of my tunic. My gaze dropped to the floor. My stomach roiled with anger and sadness.

  This was the second instance that we’d encountered some variation on the concept of time. On the wall of the Observatory was inscribed: Time Marches On. Now, the Oracles had said, Only through the stoppage of time can the heavens be restored. The two messages opposed one another.

  Hera nudged me and pointed to the scroll.

  “One more thing,” I said. “I have this scro—”

  “Silence!”

  “But I can’t read this scroll.”

  All three hoods turned toward us. They spoke simultaneously, “If you can not read it, then you were not meant to. Now leave before we change your prophecies!” the Oracles said.

  “You can’t do that,” said Shade.

  Hera yanked Shade’s arm and pulled him out of the room. As we exited the temple, confusion clouded my mind more than when we had entered. Find out why you should beat the Titans and you find your comrades. And the original prophecy was about as cryptic as anything I’d ever heard. Now I knew what Phoebe had meant about strange fruit … and what Ouranos had meant by they speak in three tongues.

  Back at the Hurler, Shade said, “I’m the oldest here now, so I suppose I’ll lead us from here on out. When we get back to campus, let’s meet at my bungalow.”

  Hera sucked her teeth. “We’ve been through this, Shady. You and I both know I can lead circles around you.” She turned to me and cast a sidelong glance at Metis. “We should meet in my cabin.”

  Professor Phoebe placed a hand on my shoulder and Hera’s. “That’s a good idea. You should meet in Hera’s cabin. She’s a proven leader, whatever task she’s leading you on.”

  “We’re trying to go find—” Hera punched Shade square in the arm before he could finish.

  “Sorry, there was a fly on your arm, Shade.” Hera smiled wickedly. “Yes, we’re just still trying to find Tia’s Astro project to see if it can offer any clues as to where she might be, aren’t we, Shade?”

  He nodded sheepishly.

  “It’s settled,” I said. “Hera’s cabin after evening meal.”

  As we hiked back up the Cloudwell, Ouranos roared down the path.

  “Where have you been?” he roared.

  “I told them not to go, Headmaster,” Professor Nemo said.

  We looked at one another. Shade spoke up, “We just went to the Agora with Professor Phoebe to—”

  “To get something to eat,” Hera finished his sentence. “At Lambda, Lamb—”

  “Yes, I know the place.” Ouranos scowled. “But, Eros decreed that no one leaves campus. Any distortion in that message?”

  Phoebe stepped forward. “I told them I’d accompany them to the Agora. I will take the heat on this.”

  Ouranos glared through her. I thought her skin was going to melt from the intensity of his stormy eyes. “Phoebe, proceed to my office. You will be detained in the gymnasium with Pontus.”

  Phoebe’s head drooped. Her posture slumped. I wrung my hands as she walked slowly away.

  “All of you may go,” Ouranos said. “Zeus, you stay.”

  I rolled my eyes and took a deep breath. I waved my friends on and nodded. “We’ll catch up later. Where the hare sleeps.”

  Hera’s head whipped around. She smiled out of Ouranos’ line of vision and then walked away.

  When they’d reached a healthy distance, Ouranos guided me up the path away from Nemo. His demeanor was ragged and disheveled. He fidgeted with his white robe like it itched him.

  “Listen,” he said. “We have found no clues anywhere regarding where Hestia might be. Or, if she was taken, where she might be kept. Nor Demeter or Poseidon.”

  My eyes stung.

  “It may be time to face the lyre music, I’m afraid. If they don’t turn up by next Gaiamera, I’m going to close the school. For your safety of course.”

  My mouth gaped. “What?”

  Ouranos chewed his bottom lip. “What’s the point of having a big school like this for just three students? Sorry, four.”

  “So if you shut school down, then what happens to the rest of us?”

  He shrugged. “I suppose I’ll have to send you all to Othrys—”

  “What? No! Don’t force us to go there. Are there any other options?”

  “No. I am quite fearful based upon recent events. Three missing students is catastrophic at best. I cannot in good conscience risk endangering you all,” the Headmaster said. “But allow me to make one thing clear as aether. If you leave this campus again, the punishment will be swift and severe.”

  CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

  I ambled to my bungalow after talking to the Headmaster. I’d certainly seen Ouranos volcanic before, but not quite like that. The scowl on his face left an imprint on my brain.

  I wasn’t about to give up and just let him shut down our school. I’d finally found a place where I belonged, a group of supportive friends, and Metis, a girl with whom my soul threaded. I needed to talk to the others quickly.

  I stepped into my bungalow. My crumpled, bloodied tunic from the dragon incident still fermented on the floor near my bed. I picked it up. Some of the blood hadn’t yet dried. Small pools of murky goldenrod ichor swirled with bright red blood. The dragon’s and mine. After bunching the tunic, I carried it across the room to the window. Blood droplets painted the floor in random splotches. That sure was going to be easy to clean up.

  I couldn’t get to the window fast enough. Blood splattered the desk and a few scrolls. I gasped and panicked when it splashed on the scroll I’d gotten from Kreios. Strike that, won from Kreios. That old kook. And to think he was Pallas and Perses’ father.

  I grabbed the mystical scroll—so sacred no one could even read the blasted thing—and began to try to rub the blood off it. I was pretty sure that my efforts were going to be useless—ichor was terribly difficult to get out of anything—but suddenly, something odd happened. Words appeared.

  I narrowed my eyes and tilted my head. Words rose off the page, hovering just above the smears. But not all of it was legible. I needed more blood.

  I gently dabbed my hand on the bloody tunic and then again on the unfurled scroll. Rub. Smear. Reveal.

  My eyes bulged. It read:

  Cosmic dust powers all.

  A speck is the source.

  The alpha and the omega.

  From a speck of dust, the universe is known.

  An entire cosmos in every granule.

  The power to build and the power to collapse.

  Absorbed into flesh, deities rise.

  Absorbed into metal, the bearer calls the tune.

  Absorbe
d into evil, disaster falls.

  Could bring death to deathless ones.

  My mind raced to piece together what I knew and what Rhea had told me with what I’d just read. Death to deathless ones. Who were the deathless ones? I needed to talk to the others.

  My blood-caked hands shook as I grabbed the scroll and bolted out the door, stopping at the bathhouse to clean my hands. I wasn’t about to go to Hera’s looking like I just came from a goat slaughter. I shut down all thoughts as I crept around campus except where to place my next step in order to get where I was headed.

  Hera’s cabin sat way back on the wooded hillside with stone steps leading to it. Shrubbery and growth surrounded it. A vine-covered trellis framed the entrance.

  A peacock strutted around the corner of the cabin, barely acknowledging me before it walked away. Shade greeted me as I opened the door. “What’s that bloody mess?” He pointed to the scroll.

  I swept straight past him, walking to Hera who sat at her desk. “That peacock outside, is it yours?”

  “Of course it is. Why?”

  “Where’d you get it?”

  “I found it walking on campus. Or rather, he found me. Something about him is so regal.”

  “Wait,” I held her gaze for a beat longer than I had to. “The peacock is a he?”

  “Of course. Male peacocks are the proud, vibrant ones.” Her green eyes sparkled. “I know a strong male when I see one.”

  Behind Hera, three Dragon’s Claw styli hung from nails above her desk. Aside from that, her cabin was spartan and spotless.

  I returned to my mission. “Guess what Ouranos just told me?” I continued without allowing them to respond. “He said that if we don’t find Tia, Don, and Meter by Gaiamera, he is going to close our school.”

  “What?” Shade yelled. “He can’t do that! He wouldn’t.”

  Hera’s face contorted. “No way! I’m not—we’re not going to let that happen! Did he say why?”

  “For our safety.” I shook my head and ran my fingers through my hair. “Which makes sense if you think about it. Safety in numbers and all, right? First Tia got taken … then Don and Meter. Someone’s hunting down everyone in our school.”