Olympus Academy: The Complete Series

by Raine, Eliza

‘Why aren’t you welcome here?’ I asked as the ship slowed as we approached one of the long piers. ‘Do I need to try and park this thing?’ I added, nervously.

  ‘No. The ship knows what to do.’

  I nodded, trying not to hold my breath as we dropped lower, almost in line with a whirlwind ship on our left. The sails rippled, blue light shimmering and swirling across them, but I felt no breeze.

  ‘Sea nymphs are not allowed in Corinth.’

  ‘Why not?’

  ‘It is a long story. I shall tell you another time.’

  I thought about arguing, but the Tethys was now drawing up beside an empty section of pier and my attention was drawn to the Whirlwind we were docking next to. A creature looked up from coiling a heavy piece of rope and I blinked in surprise as its black eyes locked on mine.

  ‘Is that a minotaur?’

  ‘Yep. Big one too,’ said Arketa, then without another word, vaulted over the edge of the Tethys.

  ‘Wait!’ I shouted, but then I saw that she had landed harmlessly on the pier just a few feet below the railings and was now striding towards a man wearing a toga and carrying a heavy wad of paper.

  ‘She’s paying the dockmaster,’ said Zali quietly. I gave her a grateful look. I was beginning to worry that I had overestimated how much I knew about Olympus.

  4

  I resisted the urge to grip Zali’s hand as we waited for Thom to climb over the railings and join us on the pier. I could just hear the jungle over the sounds of the crews on the ships around us, hooting birds cutting through men’s shouts and the sound of cargo being hauled around. Curiosity burned inside me, and I longed to ask how we got the capital city of Corinth from here, but I was still loathe to show my ignorance. So when Vronti began striding purposefully down the pier towards the beach, I hurried after him, doing my best to look indifferent. Arketa was waiting for us a little way further down the pier.

  ‘I paid for four hours,’ she said. ‘That should be plenty of time.’

  ‘Thanks,’ I mumbled. She didn’t reply.

  ‘How far is it to Corinth?’ Zali said, and I could have kissed her for asking the question I wouldn’t.

  ‘About a twenty minute walk. There’s a bridge through the jungle if we keep walking down here.’

  ‘A bridge?’

  ‘Yeah. The people of Gemini built artificial waterways along with their weird square pyramids, and there are loads of wild creatures here. The bridge is the only safe way into the city.’

  When we reached the end of the pier it merged with the others along the shore, coming together into a wide bridge with intricate metal railings. The pattern was a square spiral and I traced it with my fingers as we walked. The light got dimmer as we left the beach, dense foliage starting to spring up around us, hanging from tall trees that towered over the bridge. Before long we were completely engulfed by the jungle. Ropey vines snaked down the tree trunks, and massive palm fronds that were bigger than me shone green when shafts of light hit them. The air became hot and damp quickly, and the cawing birds were joined by a constant rustling, scuttling noise. There were other people on the bridge, walking in both directions, many carrying large bags.

  ‘So, we have our shopping list?’ Zali said next to me, her voice overly chirpy. She was nervous too, I realized.

  ‘Yes, we do. We need-’

  ‘As long as it’s not stew,’ Vronti cut me off mid-sentence.

  ‘Then how about you buy something to cook with,’ I snapped back.

  ‘No. I have business to attend to,’ he said.

  ‘Business?’ I stared at him. Who did he think he was? This kid had some serious ego issues. ‘What business?’

  ‘None of yours.’

  Anger leapt inside me.

  ‘Vronti, we need to work as a team if we’re going to do this. This isn’t some school trip, this is serious. Real lives are at stake, we’re seeking out one of the most powerful beings to have ever existed!’

  ‘I’m well aware of that,’ he hissed, coming to a stop and glaring at me. I glared back. ‘And you’d do well to keep your stupid voice down. I know people that you do not. I have been to Corinth before. I am going to see somebody who might be able to help us.’

  ‘Who?’

  ‘I’ll tell you if it works out,’ he said, then resumed his stride along the bridge. I bared my teeth at his stuffy, self-righteous, spoiled back, clenching my fists. So much for me being captain. There was no way I’d ever be able to get him to do anything I wanted, even if my life depended on it.

  I marched along the bridge behind him and Arketa, silently seething, until I realized that the canopy of trees around us was thinning slightly, and the bridge was narrowing. Then I caught sight of pale yellow brick in the distance and I quickened my pace, eager to see more. When Corinth came into full view my anger was temporarily forgotten, replaced by wide-eyed wonder. I’d seen pictures, but only drawings, of jungle cities like this in history class back home when we learned about the Aztecs and Mayans. A towering pyramid dominated a raised clearing in the distance. But rather than being a smooth triangular pyramid, like the ancient Egyptians had built, this one was made up of lots of flattened squares stacked on top of each other, getting progressively smaller. It was covered in tall, geometric statues of creatures I’d never, ever seen before and even from this distance I could see that they were made of gold, glinting as they caught the dappled light. Small waterfalls cascaded down all the levels of the pyramid, funneled in the right direction by cleverly carved stone channels. Lots of smaller stone bridges jutted out from the bottom level of the pyramid, leading to smaller structures built in the same style, all on different levels of the uneven jungle floor. The water from the waterfalls ran into streams that weaved between the buildings and I felt my power hum to life as my attention was drawn to the flowing liquid. I could sense many, many fish in the rivers, packed tightly together in dense shoals. There was something similar to barracuda in there too but as I began to sense a large squid-like creature, Zali’s voice snapped my attention away from the water.

  ‘Dora, isn’t it beautiful?’ she breathed.

  ‘It’s incredible,’ I agreed.

  ‘And there are so many people!’ I squinted and realized that she was right. There were hundreds of people of all different species moving around on the bridges and bustling in and out of the buildings. ‘Do you think the whole city is a marketplace?’ She asked.

  ‘I’ve no idea. That main pyramid looks too important, surely somebody rich lives there?’

  Our feet seemed to move quicker of their own accord as we hurried towards the grand city. I was desperate to see more. I wanted to see inside the huge pyramid, to see what sort of wares were available for sale in such a place, to see more of the citizens of Olympus and how incredibly different they were from the folks back home. We had to walk another ten minutes before the bridge curved around and down towards the main pyramid. It was even more breathtaking up close. I could see now that the many, many statues had gleaming gems set in their eyes, and that they were definitely made from gold. The precious metal seemed to be threaded into the bricks of the buildings themselves, gleaming like veins running through the stone structures. The whole city oozed a sense of wealth.

  ‘Right. I’ll see you back here in an hour,’ said Vronti as we reached a tall archway bustling with people. ‘This is the main entrance to the city. If you get lost just ask anyone how to get back here.’ I hated that he sounded like he was in charge, but the truth was that I knew so little about where we were that I had no hope of giving orders.

  ‘Fine,’ I muttered. ‘See you in an hour.’ He didn’t look back at us as he strode through the archway and I rolled my eyes as I looked at as Zali and Thom. ‘Do you think we should split up?’

  ‘It’ll take a bit of time to find somebody selling ambrosia.’ I looked at Arketa as she spoke.

  ‘OK. Why don’t I go with you to get that, and Zali, Thom, you guys can get the food we need and see about some new cl
othes.’ We had decided as a group that more traditional style clothing would help us fit in if we needed to move around certain parts of Olympus, and although I thought it was likely there would be clothing in the cargo deck of the Tethys, it wasn’t like we were short on drachma. It made more sense to buy things that fit us here on Gemini.

  ‘Why do you have to come with me?’ sneered Arketa. The truth was, although I trusted her more than Vronti, I still wanted to be sure that if she was going to give Icarus anything, it was what she said it was.

  ‘I’m just curious, that’s all.’ She gave a big sigh and folded her arms.

  ‘Fine. Whatever.’

  I turned to Zali and gripped her hand.

  ‘I’ll see you back here in an hour?’

  ‘Sure thing. We’ll get everything we need.’ Thom nodded next to her, throwing regular nervous looks at the citizens stamping past us. It pained me to see him so different to the confident, friendly boy I’d made friends with last month. I really hoped we could help him.

  ‘Great. See you soon.’

  We all headed through the archway together, then Zali and Thom took a bridge on the right, towards an open courtyard filled with stalls. The sight of so much glinting jewelery and brightly painted pots, and the wafts of delicious smelling food almost made me change my mind and go with them, but the thought of Icarus pulled me back on course.

  ‘How many times have you been here?’ I asked Arketa as I followed her across a narrower bridge to the left of the arch.

  ‘Once.’

  ‘Oh. Did you come with your family?’

  ‘I’m doing this to repay your stupid boyfriend for saving Kiko’s life, not to make friends with you,’ she snapped.

  ‘Right,’ I said, through clenched teeth. ‘For a moment I forgot that you were a prejudiced bully.’ I said the words under my breath, but I was fairly sure she heard them because her purposeful steps faltered slightly. We walked on in silence, parallel with a trickling stream, past three small, geometrically carved buildings made form the same gold-weaved stone. I wanted desperately to touch it, but all of the buildings looked like homes, with bright fabric hung up in the windows, and patterns painted onto the wooden doors. There were fewer people here, and most of the ones we passed looked human. There was the odd satyr, and quite a few beautiful tall folk who I thought were dryads, but they all wore a mismatch of ancient and modern clothing, and I didn’t feel at all out of place in my hoodie. I did feel hot though. The air was almost claustrophobically damp and oppressive.

  Arketa stopped abruptly and I saw her frowning as she looked around herself.

  ‘There should be a staircase around here somewhere,’ she said. I looked around too. Corinth felt like a bit of maze to me, and although I was sure that the main pyramid would be visible where-ever you were in the city, I had no idea how I’d get to it. There were so many different stone levels carved form the uneven ground, and buildings and huts scattered everywhere.

  ‘Do you need help?’ an older voice rasped, and I jumped in fright. A hunched woman stepped out of the shady doorway of the stone building beside us.

  ‘We’re trying to get to the-’ I started, but Arketa cut me off.

  ‘We’re looking for an apothecary.’

  ‘What is it you need?’ the old woman answered, tilting her head. She was wearing a toga in a deep, leafy green that matched the jungle, with purple embroidery around the edges, and her hair was black, shot through with shining grey.

  ‘ambrosia,’ Arketa answered. The woman’s helpful expression stiffened, and her eyes flicked to mine.

  ‘You know ambrosia is not cheap?’ she asked sternly, and she reminded me of professor Fantasma.

  ‘Yes, of course I do,’ Arketa drawled, rolling her eyes and folding her arms in what I was starting to see as her signature move. The woman visibly relaxed, the friendly smile reappearing.

  ‘Come this way, then. I know someone who can help you.’ She set off up the path and we followed close behind her, until she turned to what looked like a grass covered rockface. ‘Here we are,’ she mumbled, and laid her hand on a carving of something that looked a bit like a monkey, poking through the hanging vines covering the rock. A deep rumbling began, then a dark doorway began to open in the rock. I took a step back in surprise, but Arketa barely reacted. As the doorway got wider, I could see the flow of firelight inside, and I moved closer.

  ‘Vromikos? I have customers for you!’

  ‘Send them in,’ a deep voice rumbled back. We stepped inside, and my eyes began to adjust to the light. There was a large fire in the center of the room, which had a pot hanging over it, and every wall was lined with shelves holding bottles and vials and jars. The contents of some sparkled and caught the light, whereas another few seemed to suck the light from the room completely the longer I looked at them. ‘What can I do for you?’ asked the male voice, then a satyr emerged from a dark doorway amongst the shelves. He was about four feet tall and had much bigger horns than Gida, back at the academy. The fur around his face was grey and thin and his hooves clopped loudly as he moved closer to us.

  ‘We are looking to buy some ambrosia,’ said Arketa. I waited for the same warning about it being dangerous, but the satyr said nothing.

  ‘How much?’

  ‘Enough for one.’

  ‘Shouldn’t we get some extra? Just in case?’ I asked. They both looked at me, Arketa with daggers in her eyes.

  ‘Shut up,’ she hissed, then turned back to the satyr.

  ‘You can pay?’ he asked, after a moment’s hesitation. Arketa motioned for me to give her the little pouch of drachma, so I did. She made a show of opening it and sifting through the coins inside.

  ‘Yes,’ she answered eventually. ‘If you are priced reasonably.’

  The satyr gave a soft little snort.

  ‘If you’re after something as valuable as ambrosia, then I’m afraid you’ll have to pay what I’m charging,’ he said slowly.

  ‘Then we’ll take our business elsewhere,’ she said, putting the pouch in her pocket and turning around.

  ‘There are only a few sellers in Corinth. They will all charge the same as I.’

  ‘We’re in no rush. I’ll confirm that for myself,’ she said, striding towards the door confidently. She was so bold, I thought, admiration creeping over me. That haughty, rich girl attitude that I hated about her now seemed grown-up and worldly and totally necessary. Enviable, even. I mean, in this dingy place, alone, and with no idea of the value of what we were buying, I would have paid him whatever he’d asked.

  The satyr chuckled.

  ‘You won’t even be able to find the others.’ Arketa turned and glared at him.

  ‘I wouldn’t be so sure about that,’ she hissed, and I recognized the venom in her tone. It was how she usually spoke to me. ‘I know exactly where Therapeftis is.’ The satyr raised his eyebrows.

  ‘You’ve bought from him before?’ She didn’t answer him, just span on her heel and stamped out of the room.

  ‘Um, thanks!’ I said, and hurried after her, blinking in the bright light as we got outside. The old lady was leaning against the rockface and looked surprised to see us.

  ‘Did you get what you needed?’ she asked, but Arketa was already marching back the way we’d come.

  ‘No, but thanks anyway,’ I said as we passed her, and I saw fleeting panic cross her face. I frowned.

  ‘Wait, wait, won’t you? I’m sure we can find it,’ she said urgently. Distrust trickled through me, and I picked up my pace.

  ‘No, thank you,’ I said, then began to jog down the stone path, catching up with Arketa.

  ‘I think you were right to leave,’ I said under my breath as I reached her. ‘I don’t trust them.’ She didn’t answer me, or even look at me, and I realized her lips were pinched closed, and her eyes were narrowed. ‘Are you alright?’ I asked hesitantly.

  ‘Fine.’

  ‘You don’t look fine.’

  ‘And who’s fault is that?’
she spat, turning to me. I put my hands up defensively.

  ‘I’m guessing mine, although I don’t know why you’re upset,’ I said and she let out a growl of frustration and came to a stop, kicking at loose stones on the side of the path. I heard them drop into the stream below us as I faced her. We were nearly back at the narrow bridge, where I could see more people.

  ‘The last time I was here, trying to buy ambrosia, it was for my sister,’ Arketa said, her voice barely audible. I could see tears shining in her eyes, and I thought of Mandy.

  ‘I’m sorry. Was she sick?’

  ‘No. She was almost killed in an accident,’ she answered, hatred taking over her sad expression. She glared into my eyes, and I resisted the urge to take a step backwards. ‘An accident at the academy many years ago.’ My heart began to race as I realized what she was about to say next. As I finally realized why she hated me so much. Why she hated Titans so much.

  ‘The Titan who nearly burned down the school... It was your sister who got hurt.’ My voice shook as I said the words.

  ‘The ambrosia didn’t work. She died the following day.’ A tear slid down her cheek and my stomach felt like it was twisting into knots.

  ‘Arketa, I’m so, so sorry. That must have been terrible. Coming back here to buy more... this must be really hard for you. I’m sorry,’ I spluttered, not knowing what to say or how to make it better. It explained so much though, her fear and hatred of me, all those times she told me I was dangerous.

  ‘You opened that stupid box and now, because of you, another Titan, I’ve lost my best friend. I don’t need your sympathy,’ she spat. ‘I need you to fix your mistakes. Now shut up and let me find Therapeftis.’

  5

  I didn’t say another word as we made our way through the maze of stone pathways, streams and gold-bricked huts. I was still reeling from what Arketa had said. A Titan had caused her sister’s death. I tried to imagine how I would feel if that had happened to me, but it was simply too painful to think about. I could understand her believing that Titan powers could be dangerous now though. I thought about my own fire magic, crackling under my skin when it came to life, erratic and fast and restless. An uneasy feeling settled in the pit of my stomach as the question I didn’t want to answer got louder in my head. Could I control my power? Was Arketa right to fear and hate me? Could I burn down the school and hurt, even kill, someone? The thought made me feel sick. No, I told myself firmly. I was doing as much as I could to learn how to keep a grip on my power. The fact that I was working with fire as much as water was proof of that, I wasn’t suppressing the dangerous energy - I was harnessing it. I made a silent resolution to practice more, whilst we were on this journey. I didn’t know how long we would be on the Tethys and it wouldn’t do to let my control slip in the absence of my classes.