“Nate Te—”
His coughing intensified, cutting me short. I winced uneasily, wondering if he was going to cough to death right next to me.
“Temple!” I shouted hurriedly, trying to time my answer between his coughs.
He finally hacked up a glob of something nasty—more solid than liquid—and furrowed his wiry eyebrows at me. “What the fuck kind of a name is Tainted Nipple?” he demanded. “You trying to make jokes and give me a bullshit name?” he roared, his pecs flexing as he tried to swing my way as if to kick me.
“No!” I snapped, swinging to avoid his wildly unpredictable attack. “Nate!” I shouted.
He angled his ear towards me, trying to use his shoulders to push the matted hair out of his way so he could hear me properly. “What?”
“NATE!” I shouted as loud as I could.
He grunted. “What do I care? You want to call yourself Taint, go ahead,” he grumbled. “At least your mouth isn’t sewn shut.”
I glanced over sharply, my eyes widening. I tried to get a look past the giant, but he was just too big. “Carl?” I shouted, straining my neck.
I saw clawed feet kick out, and then a long white tail and a flash of pink. My heart soared. I wasn’t alone! But my smile slowly withered. We were both trapped.
“What does the eagle want?” I asked, glancing over at my new pal.
He slowly turned to look at me with a furious glare. “You think you’re real fucking funny, don’t you?” he growled murderously. “Give you fire, sentenced to eternal torture, and this shit-stain thinks he can make jokes. Well, I’m not talking to you anymore.”
My scalp suddenly tingled at an alarming thought. I squinted to see an even higher peak in the distance—a tiny finger of rock with a nest perched at the top. And if I could see that from this distance, it had to belong to a massive bird.
An eagle, to be precise.
My stomach began to churn for multiple reasons. Fire, he had said. Eternal torture. I slowly turned to look at the man beside me.
No. Not man.
Titan.
“You…” I stammered, staring at him in awe, “are Prometheus.”
He grunted.
“Thanks for the whole fire thing,” I blabbed, fan-girling a little. “It really gave us a fighting chance.”
He gave me an incredibly dry look. “Kind of regretting it, to be honest, Taint,” he muttered, glancing pointedly at his scarred torso—where the eagle ripped out his liver and ate it. Every. Single. Day.
I didn’t blame him for his poor attitude, but why had the eagle grabbed me?
“I didn’t know who you were,” I said guiltily, realizing I’d offended him twice already. “My friend and I were picked up by an eagle and brought here. I wasn’t being an asshole. I just didn’t make the connection.”
He grunted again. “I’m betting it wasn’t the same eagle.” He let out a breath. “I didn’t see anyone bring you here, but I was busy having my liver ripped out by the cursed eagle up there. I usually black out at some point and then wake up the next morning. Woke up today and saw you two keeping me company. Tried talking to the lizard over there, but his mouth is sewn up. You’re in for a real show. It’s almost breakfast time,” he said, glaring up at the eagle. “Hope you’re immortal. Well, might be better if you’re not, actually.”
He fell into another coughing fit, unused to speaking this much—or at all, for that matter.
I shuddered. Almost breakfast time? Shit.
I remembered the eagle attacking us in the mountains, and the flash of lightning just before everything had gone dark. Then I remembered Loki’s illusion—that he had made us all look different. Fenrir had asked why I was disguised as the Father of Lightning, and I’d assumed he was referring to Thor—the Norse pantheon’s God of Thunder. But since we were hanging out beside Prometheus…
“Zeus,” I cursed. “Why the fuck would Zeus kidnap me?”
“Did you give anyone fire? That really seems to chap his ass,” Prometheus grumbled dryly.
“No fire,” I said, wondering what I might have recently done to piss him off, other than unknowingly impersonating him—but that was probably enough right there, to be honest. I’d planned on taking the pups to the River Styx, but I hadn’t actually done it yet, and no one knew—
“Hermes. Motherfucker.”
Prometheus grunted. “He’s one of the few I actually liked. Doubt he’d do anything to help Zeus.”
I frowned, recalling my conversation with the Greek Messenger God. It lined up with Prometheus’ comment. Hermes had carefully warned me against his fellow Olympians. Had he known what Zeus was going to do even then? Then I grinned.
He had given me a coin!
He’d also referenced the first coin of his I’d used—the one Asterion had given me to take out the dragoons so long ago. It had been more than just a coin, though.
Flip once to save another’s life, flip once to save your own.
Chapter 46
Could it be that simple? Had he given me a golden replica? A key to my handcuffs? I scanned the ground and saw my satchel propped up against a table in a small alcove beside a wooden door that led deeper into the mountain.
But I hadn’t put it in my satchel. I’d put it in my pocket!
Hanging from my wrists was going to be a problem, though, and I had no way of knowing if Zeus had emptied my pockets before leaving me here.
Only one way to find out. I kicked my feet out and began swinging. Back and forth, back and forth, building up my momentum.
“What a genius idea, Taint,” Prometheus muttered.
I ignored him, swinging almost horizontal to the ground, my feet just barely missing the wall behind me. As I began my next forward pass, I latched onto the chains with my hands, kicked my feet straight up and pulled with everything I had like I was trying to pole vault.
I quickly looped my boots around the chain three times in order to support my weight, and then let out a sigh of relief.
Prometheus stared up at me, looking impressed. But I could tell my grip was precarious, so I didn’t waste any time as I carefully pulled myself higher up the chain, alternating my hands. Thankfully, the links were so large that I could grip them like rings, so it wasn’t as hard as rope-climbing would have been. I tried to gauge when I might be high enough to reach out with one hand and search my pocket.
Because I’d have to risk letting go of the chain with one hand to do so. My legs were still supporting my weight, but I could feel them sliding little-by-little.
I took a deep breath, let go with one hand, and shoved the other into my right pocket. My hand clasped around the coin just as my boots slipped. I yanked my hand out of my pocket and flipped the coin with my thumb, praying to Hermes for a little more luck.
There was a flash of light, and the golden coin sliced through my chains like a scalpel. I dropped to the ground like wet laundry—pins and needles instantly shooting up my ankles and shins.
I lay there for a few seconds, riding out the pain and getting my breath back. Then I let out a weak laugh. It had worked! It was just like Asterion’s coin! “Boo-yah!” I crowed.
I rolled to my feet, grinning up at Prometheus. He was staring down at me with a strange look on his face, and it took me a moment to realize that it was—ironically—hope.
Something he hadn’t had in a very long time.
I stared down at the manacles still on my wrists and noticed red symbols glowing on them. I tried to use my magic again, but still couldn’t sense anything. Damn.
I didn’t see the golden coin on the ground, but I remembered that Hermes’ original coin had returned to my pocket after being used. I shoved my fingers into my pocket and grinned, pulling it out with a laugh.
I didn’t know how much time I had until someone came to check on me or—
A piercing scream suddenly made my blood run cold. I spun towards the nest to see an eagle flying our way, either drawn by the sound of me breaking free, or coming over f
or his scheduled breakfast of Prometheus’ liver.
“Get me down!” he begged, his face frantic. “Or I’ll be dead, and you’ll have to wait until tomorrow when I wake back up!”
I hesitated, staring at Carl and then Prometheus. If I let the Titan down, he was maybe strong enough, and tall enough, to help me get Carl down. Hell, the chains holding Carl and I were way smaller than the ones holding Prometheus, almost dainty in comparison.
But…what if the coin wasn’t strong enough for his chains?
I made my decision and flipped the coin.
It zipped out and sliced through Carl’s chains, and Prometheus’ face darkened in fury. He’d given us fire, and I wouldn’t even save him from his punishment when given the chance.
I bit back my guilt and held up my hands. “I’ve got an idea!” I shouted, and I sprinted over to my satchel. The eagle was rapidly approaching, only seconds away, and he looked suddenly pissed that his two new meals had somehow broken free.
I shoved my hand inside my satchel, grabbed my dirty little secret, and whipped it out with a triumphant grin.
Gungnir—Odin’s legendary spear—had never actually gone missing. I knew Odin had wanted it more than anything in the Nine Realms, in order to fix the Fenrir problem once and for all.
He wanted it for protection, or murder.
If he knew I still had it, he never would have let me out of his sights, so I’d pretended that it had gone missing. Then I’d told anyone who would listen that I was traveling the world.
If he believed me about Gungnir, he’d waste his time scouring the Nine Realms for a thief.
If he doubted me about Gungnir, he’d waste his time following in my footsteps, checking to see if I’d used my travels to disguise stashing it somewhere.
Or he would use Hugin and Munin to do it for him.
And look who had been so busy traveling that he hadn’t bothered going to Asgard to check on his own people—giving Loki the opportunity to fill his shoes? Odin.
And look who collapsed from exhaustion in my front yard, running errands for Odin all over the Nine Realms. Hugin and Munin.
So my guess had been right—either way.
I’d also known that Loki wanted it almost as badly as Odin—so he could deny his father the one weapon that could kill his son, Fenrir.
To keep up my ruse, I had duct-taped a Sensate to Gungnir and shoved it into my bottomless satchel where no one could reach it. With a Sensate stuck to it, Odin couldn’t locate it via magic, and no other being could pick up on its powerful energy signature.
Making it look like I really didn’t have it.
I turned and ran towards Carl and Prometheus, shouting at the top of my lungs to distract the eagle. But he was already making a direct dive for Carl since the Elder was wobbling around as if drunk, struggling to regain the proper use of his legs. I lifted Gungnir over my head and was about to throw it at the eagle when Carl abruptly spun—with surprising agility—and leapt clear of the eagle’s talons, making it look like the easiest thing in the world.
He’d been faking it!
The eagle slammed into the ground with alarming force and…
Kept on sliding right between Prometheus’ legs and into his pillar with an ear-splitting crack.
The pillar teetered, swinging Prometheus around like a pendulum, and his massive weight only served to make it worse. I watched, knowing there was nothing I could do but hope.
My hope wasn’t enough.
The eagle was just climbing to his feet, shaking his head and tail, when the pillar holding Prometheus toppled out into the open sky.
For a single moment, Prometheus—the Titan who had blessed mankind with fire—stared at me with eternal hatred.
In that look, I saw that he hated me more than he had ever hated Zeus.
Because I’d given him hope for a brief second.
And that was the worst thing in the world to take away from someone. I knew that well, because I was the Horseman of Hope.
Prometheus had just enough slack in his chain to wrap it around the eagle’s neck like a leash on his way over the edge. He yanked it tight and mounted the eagle’s back in hopes that they might save each other despite the anchor of stone.
I ran to the edge, holding onto my old pillar for support as I leaned out.
“I’m really, really sorry!” I shouted as loud as I could. “And thank you for giving us fire!”
“May the gods damn you for eternity, Tainted Niiiiiipppppllllleeeeeeee…” his titanic voice boomed through the air before he and the eagle disappeared through the blanket of clouds.
I sighed, shaking my head. At least he hadn’t gotten my name right. In the unlikely event that he did survive, he would stalk the earth in search of Tainted Nipple.
I turned around to see Carl staring at my feet, still averting his eyes.
“Do you think they will glide to safety?” I asked the Elder.
Carl shook his head firmly, and then fastidiously straightened his sleeveless pink coat, even wiping at a dirt stain.
“Yeah,” I sighed. “Me neither.”
Chapter 47
I used Gungnir like a staff, walking up to Carl. I scanned our surroundings, wondering what to do next. I had a pretty good idea where we were, but I found it very strange that Zeus had just left my satchel here. Why hadn’t he kept it? Had he reached inside, found nothing, and just dropped it, assuming it was trash?
Why hadn’t he kept it for himself?
I was betting that if we walked through the door, we would get the opportunity to ask him in person. Because since we were up so high in the clouds—right next to Prometheus’ penthouse…
Good chance we were on Mount Olympus.
But if my plan to use the River Styx to protect the pups had pissed him off, wouldn’t he have personally killed me?
And why had Hermes given me the one thing I would need to get out of the situation, as if he knew it was coming? That implied it wasn’t about my River Styx idea. Or my impersonation. Was Zeus finally getting around to punishing me for Athena?
I sighed. Only one way to find out.
I touched my necklace, but nothing happened. I let out a frustrated breath, glaring at the strange manacles. Whatever they were, they were strong enough to hold a Titan and bar a Horseman from his powers.
But I did have Gungnir. And I had a voiceless Elder. I was betting his powers were similarly restricted or blocked, but he didn’t need two handicaps, and I was about sick and tired of whatever was going on with the silver wire.
I stared at him, but he obviously refused to meet my eyes.
“I don’t know what this is all about, Carl, but I’m sick and tired of that wire. And I hate seeing you act so meek and subservient around me. I don’t know or care what foolish thing you’re trying to prove to me. I don’t know or care what my ancestors did to you, because I’m not them. I have firsthand experience with how cruel and sadistic some of them were. But I am not them! I refuse to be like them. From now on, you’re free from any obligation you think you have to me. Your people are also free. You can burn that stupid shrine to the ground, for all I care.”
I lifted his chin and leaned close, forcing him to look into my eyes or look like a fool trying to avert them all over the place. He finally did, refusing to even blink.
“The only thing I care about is my friend. I want him back. Right the fuck now, you creepy weirdo. If I’m about to die up here, I want to at least talk to my buddy again before I kick the bucket. especially if you think of something wildly inappropriate to say to Zeus. That would be perfect.”
He stared at me, his shoulders quivering nervously. I carefully grabbed the wire and waited for him to nod. I lifted Gungnir to help me cut the wire, but Carl swatted it down, shaking his head. Then he touched my hand with his and nodded.
I grimaced. “You want me to rip it out?” I asked.
He nodded.
I took a deep breath, trying not to imagine the sensation I was about to
give him. Then I yanked it—hard and fast like a bandage.
It slipped out of his flesh with no resistance, and Carl didn’t even blink. “You okay?” I asked uneasily.
He stretched his mouth open, revealing black teeth, and then he licked his lips with his forked tongue. “Better than Peter Fireman.”
I blinked at him, confused. “Who?”
He pointed a claw behind me at where Prometheus had been. “The one who called you Tainted Nipple. I refuse to use his real name since he mocked yours. I wish him to survive the fall and break every bone in his body. Then he can die in eternal agony at a later point.”
I arched an eyebrow. “I think his ears were damaged, Carl.”
He shook his head. “He heard the rest of your conversation without any problem. He was being an asshole purse.”
I cocked my head, trying to wrap my head around the last comment. Then I chuckled. “Bag of assholes?”
“Yes,” he rasped.
I wrapped my arm around his shoulder. “Good to have you back, Carl. Let’s go kick Zeus’ ass.”
We walked for about ten minutes before coming upon a marble pavilion on a cliff. I’d been here before—or they all looked the same.
It was where I had killed Athena.
A buff older man stood in the center, watching us. He had long gray hair, a white skirt, and a wide golden belt. The buckle of the belt showed a clenched fist above a lightning bolt, and I froze, glancing down at my palm.
I felt an icy shiver down the back of my spine. It…was identical to my family crest.
I looked up at him, scowling. A suspicious thought entered my mind, and I shoved Gungnir into my satchel, not wanting him to be able to take it from me.
Because this situation looked way too easy. Zeus was just hanging out, waiting for me? Right.
Then I made my way over until we stood face-to-face.
“I wore my favorite shirt for you,” I said, pointing at my chest. “Show-Me Your O-Face. O—like Olympian,” I explained. “You can have it if you want.”
He narrowed his eyes but did not comment.
Ascension: Nate Temple Series Book 13 Page 28
