by Lucy Roy
I looked down at Mary and saw that she wore a suspicious expression. Her eyes flicked toward the front of our group then back at me.
“You’re talking to him, aren’t you!”
“Talking to who?” Yana asked.
“No one,” I muttered, giving Mary the stink eye.
Just then, we arrived at the portal field and I was saved from further questioning.
Instead of going to the plain white door from which we’d entered Olympia, Nathaniel led us to a shimmery golden one.
“Who’s first?” He caught my eye, and I saw one eyebrow raise slightly. Almost immediately, I felt a hard shove to my back.
“Tessa is!”
I glared at Mary. “I’m wearing heels, you jerk!” I hissed.
“Like your balance has ever failed you,” she said, making a shooing motion with her hands.
I shook my head, then went to stand beside Nathaniel in front of the door.
He smiled down at me. “First again?”
“I guess so,” I said with a sigh. I eyed the open doorway warily. “Same deal as when we arrived?”
“Yes. Just step through to the other side. Once I get the rest in, I’ll be right behind you.”
“Sounds good.”
Focusing my eyes forward, I put one foot through the door, bracing myself for the same coldness I’d experienced on my first trip through a portal.
When I stepped out onto the rocky mountainside, I stood in front of an opulent building built on an outcropping that overlooked the Valley of Olympus far below. It was about four stories tall with a colonnade of gleaming white columns around the perimeter, interspersed with statues of the gods. A dense forest rose up behind it, ending far off in the distance just below the wispy ring of clouds that circled the summit. Rose and honeysuckle bushes were planted in beds along either side of the front, breaking up the monotonous white tone.
It was different than the typical Agoras of ancient Greece which were usually open-air meeting areas. This building reminded me more of the Parthenon in Athens, which I’d visited when I was twelve with John and Analise. I felt a quick pang of sadness as I was hit with the realization, once again, that I had no idea when I’d see my guardians again.
Shaking off the feeling, I stepped away from the door to wait for the others. I slowly turned, taking in the massive mountain range that surrounded me. Much like the night sky, its vastness reminded me how completely small I was in the grand scheme of things.
As I looked out over the expanse of Olympus, the voice I’d heard as I stepped through the portal when I arrived sounded in my head.
Never doubt yourself, Tessa.
I felt my brow furrow in confusion.
When I’d first heard those words as I’d left Renville, I’d thought it was just my own mind misremembering the words that Analise had whispered before I left. Now hearing it again, I noticed that the voice was distinctly male and sort of familiar, and the words were definitely not Analise’s.
I jumped as I felt a hand on my arm. I turned my head and saw Mary frowning, looking concerned.
“Tess? What is it?”
I rubbed my forehead. “Nothing. My head kind of hurts, that’s all.”
“Oh, okay. Well, everyone’s through. Your boy is taking us in.”
I looked up at the building, and sure enough, the rest of the recruits were halfway up the steps. Mary moved to catch up, and I followed slowly behind. Two imposing blue and white mosaic doors swung open, and the quiet din of conversation filtered down the wide white steps.
I couldn’t help but gape when I entered.
Opulent was too mundane a word to describe the inside of the Agora because it had clearly been built for the gods. All throughout the massive white marble room, mosaics depicting various deities glimmered, some so lifelike they appeared to be moving. The parquet floor was made of shining wood, inlayed with intricately carved flowers and vines.
Ischyra, distinguishable by their formal black uniforms, filled the straight-backed chairs at the elaborately carved tables that were arranged on either side of the room. Each seat was set with gleaming gold flatware, pearlescent plates, and crystal goblets. Scattered along the tables were tall pitchers of clear liquid with some type of white blossom floating inside.
The fifty Ischyra recruits took up five of the large round tables. Mary, Yana, and I snagged seats together, and we were quickly joined by Anette and two other girls I hadn’t met yet. Eric drifted to the table next to us with Igor, Andrei, and the blond guy he’d been talking to, along with a few other male recruits.
“And here I thought you’d be the first one to find someone to hook up with,” Mary whispered, giggling.
“I thought the same about you,” I murmured as I looked around the room. “This place is insane.”
At the end of the room opposite the doors, set in front of arched windows that rose from floor to ceiling, was a curved dais that featured fifteen thrones so beautiful they looked as though they’d been sculpted by Michelangelo himself. Running the length of the dais in front of them was a long table carved in the same style as the one we occupied. With a start, I realized those seats would soon be occupied by the Elders of Olympus.
A redhaired girl who sat on the other side of Mary leaned over. “Why are there fifteen thrones?” she whispered. Her accent reminded me a little of Anette’s.
I shrugged. “No clue.” I smiled at her and held out a hand. “I’m Tessa.”
She grinned and shook my hand. “Sina.”
For the next few minutes, none of us spoke, and I could tell by the way Yana was throwing furtive glances at the door and the way Mary was wringing her hands under the table, that I wasn’t the only one with a bad case of nerves.
After a few minutes, one of the large tiled doors opened with a loud creak, and the room became quiet. A small man in a charcoal gray, double-breasted suit stood at the front of the room before the dais and cleared his throat.
“Hey, look, it’s Rudolfo,” Mary said. “I didn’t expect to see him here. Think he’s gonna play hypnotist again?”
I laughed as I remembered the previous year’s after-prom party where he’d been hired to hypnotize students.
“You both know him?” Yana whispered.
“Yeah,” I said. “He’s friends with Eric’s guardians. We’ve known him pretty much forever. Last year, our school hired him as a hypnotist for the party we had after our prom. You should’ve seen the things he got some of the kids to do.”
“He is a Coercer, then?”
“Yep. He’s a super cool guy.”
I refocused my attention on Rudolfo as he began to speak again, his heavy Spanish accent ringing through the room.
“I would like to take this opportunity to welcome our new generation of Ischyra to our lovely mountain! For those of you who don’t know me, I am Rudolfo, of the three hundredth generation of Ischyra! Each generation, we begin the Ischyra recruits’ time here with a feast, a night to enjoy your first taste of Olympian food, mingle with the recent generations of Ischyra, and meet the Elders. This is a most special event, and I do hope you will enjoy yourselves as much as I will!” He cocked his head to the side, then smiled and clapped his hands together loudly. “Now, if you will please rise, the Elders have arrived!”
Everyone stood as the doors opened once more. It was a bit hard to see across the sea of bodies, but I didn’t have to wait long to get my first glimpse.
Whatever I had expected when I pictured them was nothing to what was in front of me now. I’d been pretty star-struck when I’d seen Athena, Apollo, Ares, and Hermes at the portal field in Renville, but now, seeing all thirteen of them up close as they made their way up to the dais?
Nothing could’ve prepared me for the beings who passed in front of us.
Their youthful looks might make someone think they were no older than twenty-five, but their expressions, the way that they carried themselves, indicated that their experience was eons beyond that of any human.
Athena
came through first, accompanied by Ares. As they came closer, I noticed a small silver shield clasped to the lapel of his navy blue suit jacket. Athena’s matching shield glittered at her temple where it pinned her wavy brown locks away from her delicate face.
The two war gods were quickly followed by Hestia who was wearing a flowing turquoise gown. As she passed by our table, I thought I saw a slight smile flit across her lips.
A tall, fierce looking man in a fitted gray suit with dark brown skin, almond shaped eyes, short black hair, and sharp chin came next. The small trident on his jacket indicated he was Poseidon, god of the sea.
I didn’t know why, but he always seemed to be the most intimidating god in all the stories.
Hephaestus, the stooped, dark haired Olympian forger of weapons, limped slowly behind him, his black cane making a distinct tap on the marble floor with each step. His hair was nearly as black as his suit, yet when he passed beneath the gentle glow of the chandeliers, I saw that reddish streaks ran through the soft waves.
Aphrodite followed next, the train of her shimmery white gown trailing behind her, a sharp contrast to her russet skin. The straps of her dress were held together with matching silver doves. Her thick, black hair was piled high on her head with wavy tendrils that trailed down her back. There was a small upturn to the corners of her heart-shaped mouth, as though she were smiling at some private joke.
The next few Elders who walked past had the same ethereal presence. Demeter, the goddess in charge of the Olympic agricultural operation that supplied the mountain, was wearing a navy blue halter dress made of layers of sheer fabrics. She was tall and thin with full lips, light eyes, and perfectly arched brown eyebrows. Long, flowing blonde curls tumbled to her waist and were woven through with red poppies.
Hermes came next, and walking beside him was a confident looking male with light brown hair that fell across his forehead and deep, olive toned skin. He carried himself in a way that told me he knew he was good looking. Three silver leaves of ivy were pinned to the breast of his gray suit coat, identifying him as Dionysus, the youngest of the Olympians and close friend of Hermes.
Nine Elders had come through and seated themselves at the curved dais. When I looked back to the door to see who would be next, I saw Apollo and a woman who I recognized as his twin, Artemis. They had the same pale features – white-blond hair, gray eyes, porcelain skin, and killer cheekbones. His double-breasted fitted white suit matched Artemis’s shift dress perfectly. On his lapel was a shiny silver sun, while Artemis’ clasp was in the shape of a small bow and arrow, indicating her place as goddess of the hunt. They didn’t show the same friendliness as the other gods who’d accompanied one another. They walked about a foot apart from each other and both wore the same dour expression.
The last two to enter the hall were Zeus and his wife Hera, and Chaos be damned if I ever saw a more stunning pair.
Each wore a white toga fastened with a gleaming gold clasp in the shape of a lightning bolt, the fabric doing little to conceal Zeus’s muscular physique. His sandy blond hair fell in waves to his chin, which bore a short, neatly trimmed beard. Even from a distance, I could see that his eyes were both warm and wise. His mouth rested in a small smile as he touched Hera’s delicate hand, which laid lightly on his arm.
Dragging my eyes away from the ruler of the Olympic realm, I realized the fragile look of Hera’s hand hardly matched the immortal strength that was clear on her face. Waist length brown hair a few shades darker than her olive-toned skin was pinned back, revealing a thin, regal nose, and dark, almond-shaped eyes. The calculating way she took in the room simply oozed power and left no doubt as to why she had such a formidable reputation.
Sina let out a shuddering breath once the Elders had taken their seats. “My goodness,” she breathed.
I was just about to sit back down when two more men entered the room.
“Who is that?” Yana asked.
“Not a clue,” I said, frowning.
I did a quick count of the gods and goddesses seated at the dais and saw that all thirteen were present, yet there were still two thrones that sat empty on the end. Zeus’ mouth was pressed in a firm line, but he gave the men a welcoming nod. The two who were joining them looked to be brothers, possibly twins.
The first man who entered appeared confident, his square chin held high as he walked the length of the room, eyes focused on the dais. He wore a black suit over a white shirt, the top button left undone. His short blond hair and tall, muscular build made me think he was a soldier of some sort.
The other man was identical in build and coloring, but his hair was worn a bit longer, just brushing his shoulders and slightly unkempt. He wore khakis and a black, long-sleeved dress shirt with black shoes. Both men were handsome, but where the first exuded confidence, the second looked…uncertain—apprehensive, even—as he took in the crowd. His eyes jumped from face to face as though waiting for someone to approach or call out.
I heard Mary let out a muttered curse, and when I looked at her, I saw that she wore an expression of disbelief as she tracked the movements of the two men.
“What is it?” I hissed.
Mary tore her gaze from the two men and turned her wide eyes on me. “You don’t recognize them?”
I shook my head. “No, who are they?”
“Tessa! Gods, didn’t you pay attention to your lessons? That’s Prometheus and Epimetheus.” She stared at them as they walked past and made their way to the two remaining empty thrones on the dais. “What in all the realms are they doing here?”
My eyes went wide, and my jaw dropped. I probably looked ridiculous, but in that moment, I didn’t care.
Prometheus and Epimetheus. Twin Titans, previously disgraced at the hands of the Olympians.
Epimetheus. The Titan whose foolish decision to take Pandora as his wife had led to the release of countless monstrous creatures onto Earth.
The same monsters that forced Zeus and the other Olympians to create a race of immortals designed for the sole purpose of fighting them.
“Holy shit.”
12
Nathaniel
Noticing the reaction of Tessa and her friends when the Titans entered, I quickly scanned the minds of the newcomers, curious if their reactions would be similar. For the most part, I found confusion mixed with some surprise.
Once the gods were settled, Zeus stood from his place at the center of the dais and motioned for the guests to take their seats, then began to speak with the thunderous voice of a seasoned orator.
“Welcome, all! I hope today finds you well and that all of your travels were smooth. Tomorrow morning, the transition ceremony for the new Ischyra recruits will take place, at which time the powers the gods have entrusted you with will be awakened.” His eyes roamed over the crowd. “I acknowledge that this time in your lives may daunting, but know that older generations of Ischyra, as well as the gods and demigods of Olympus, are here to support you. We’d like you all to take this time to get to know one another before you meet your mentors in the morning.”
He smiled and held out his hands. “Now, let’s eat!”
I was surprised he hadn’t mentioned the Titans’ presence at all. I scanned the faces of the Elders and found Athena looking at me.
‘Chiron will discuss the presence of the Titans at the first training session. If anyone asks, you can tell them.’ Her eyes drifted toward the table of recruits next to me and landed on Tessa, who was talking animatedly with several of the female recruits. ‘Hermes told me you met with that one. She’s very pretty,’ she said with a smirk.
I sighed and rolled my eyes. ‘You all gossip like old ladies.’
She gave me a small shrug, then turned and began talking with Demeter.
Once Zeus was seated, servers dressed in white, high-necked shirts and black dress pants began distributing food to the guests.
“Music, Delia!” Dionysus called to a harpist in the corner. She began to play, the soft music just loud enough
to be heard over conversation. He sat back down and immediately poured a goblet of ambrosia wine to the brim. Laughing, he turned to Hermes, who was seated next to him, and filled his glass as well.
I shook my head, knowing they would be inebriated and likely singing by the end of the evening.
A movement out of the corner of my eye drew my attention. I looked in the direction of the recruits’ tables and saw that Tessa was snapping her fingers in my direction. Just beside her, Mary was deep in conversation with the black-haired girl Tessa roomed with.
I raised my eyebrows. These twenty-first century women were quite the demanding bunch. I motioned for her to come over. She excused herself from her friends and made her way toward me. When she saw that her friend Eric was in the seat just behind me at the next table, she jerked her thumb behind her.
“Eric, swap with me for a sec.”
“What? Why?” His eyes darted toward me, then back at her.
I had a hard time not keeping a straight face when I heard his response. Fortunately, Tessa rolled her eyes hard enough for both of us.
“Because I said so. You’ll get your seat back in a minute, relax.”
He looked as though he wanted to argue further, but when Tessa put a hand on her hip and cocked an eyebrow in challenge, he just gave me a scathing look and stormed off to take the empty seat next to Mary.
Amused, I turned my attention to Tessa, trying not to openly admire how she looked in her dress.
Focusing my eyes on her face, I smiled. “How’s your first day on Olympus going?”
“It’s great.” She adjusted her dress and sat down, then tilted her head in the direction of the dais. “What’s up with that?”
“I’m assuming you’re talking about the presence of the Titans?”
“You would assume correctly.”
I took a contemplative sip of water, then set my glass down on the table. “They’ve been here for quite some time, so no need to worry.”
She tapped her fingers lightly on her knees, frowning slightly. “Listen, I know I said that I’m fine with my future. I really am. I want to know what my powers are, and I want to do good for all the realms, not just on Earth.” She turned her green eyes on me. “But Epimetheus is one of the reasons I have to be okay with all of this. So I guess my question is, them being here…does this mean we’re going to have to work with them?”
