The Power

by Jennifer L. Armentrout

  “A form of punishment.” One shoulder rose. “I have anger management problems.”

  “Oh,” I murmured.

  She turned sideways. “When my skin turns green, it’s not a good thing.”

  That . . . that made sense. Kind of like the Incredible Hulk. “And . . . um, your eyes? Do they turn people to stone?”

  “You’ll know the answer to that in a few moments.” Turning back to the wall, she waved her hand.

  The air in front of the bare marble wall appeared to ripple. Electricity filled the air, dancing along my skin. The wall warped and then split up the center, peeling back. A wooden door appeared with vertical slats held together by dark metal. Hinges creaked as it opened.

  “Your father told you to find me, because I’m not a librarian, Josephine.” Medusa glided through the door. “My punishment was to become the Guard, what every Guard has been modeled on thereafter. Used to be treasures I kept safe, riches of untold proportions. Sometimes it was an important person, an entity that would be fated to become something great, and now . . . this.”

  Taking a deep breath, I followed her into a large chamber. A shudder rolled down my spine as I looked around. Torches placed every couple of feet along the walls burned, casting a soft, dancing glow on dozens and dozens of stone statues.

  Not just regular statues. But people. Some stood tall. Others cowered. Hands and arms shielded faces on many. Weapons were clenched in hands. All had horrified expressions on their faces, etched forever in stone.

  Yep.

  That part of the myth was true. Medusa’s eyes turned people to stone.

  I hurried past them, not wanting to look at them too long. Medusa walked through an archway and down another hall. The walls in there were covered with the same glyphs I’d seen on Seth. Marks that stood for invincibility, courage, strength, and power.

  And those glyphs shimmered on the marble walls just like they did on Seth’s skin.

  “Come now,” Medusa called as she approached a door that was silver. In the center was a lightning bolt. “It is time.”

  “Time for . . . ?” I trailed off as she opened the door. All I could do was stare.

  Sunlight, beautiful and bright, shone down on a grassy meadow full of vibrant purple and blue flowers. Trees rose into skies as blue as my father’s eyes . . . when he had eyes.

  As if compelled, I walked forward and through the door, into . . . I don’t even know what I was walking into, but I knew it was no longer in the same realm as the library. The air smelled sweet, a scent I couldn’t place, and the breeze was warm, toying with the strands of my hair. I inhaled sharply as I slowly turned around. Energy was heavy here. I could feel it coasting over my skin, seeping into my bone and tissues.

  “Where am I?” I asked.

  “You are at the entrance of one of the gateways to Olympus.” She turned, spreading her arms wide. “This place and others like it must be guarded at all costs. If the Titans or if the God Killer ever discovered this gateway, they’d be able to enter Olympus.”

  “God Killer?” My mind raced through what I knew about the two Apollyons and how a God Killer was created. Alex had become the God Killer, but it was assumed—I guessed—that when she died her mortal death, she was no longer the God Killer. It was why she had to die in the first place. “There is no God Killer.”

  “Hmm,” she murmured. “Is there not?”

  I looked at her sharply, but before I could question her a sudden flash of light cut across the clearing, momentarily blinding me. When it receded, I gasped and clasped my hands over my mouth.

  In the meadow, a couple of feet in front of me, was the most beautiful animal I’d ever seen. Taller than me and broad, the horse shook its white coat as it swished its tail back and forth. It was a proud and strong creature, one I’d never seen before.

  Large and graceful wings arched from the horse’s sides, sprouting just above powerful forelegs.

  “Oh my gosh.” I reached out toward the Pegasus, and then immediately yanked my hands to my chest. “I want to touch it. Can I touch it? I can touch it, right?”

  Medusa looked at me, a single brow rising above the dark sunglasses. “If he doesn’t want to be touched, he will let you know.”

  Probably by kicking me in the face, but it would be worth it. Slowly, as if under a spell, I approached the magnificent creature. My heart pounded as it lowered its massive wings and shook its head, tossing the heavy mane around its neck. Slowly, I placed my hand on its side. Muscles bunched under my palm, but the Pegasus didn’t dropkick me as I ran my hand along its strong back.

  A knot formed in my throat. I don’t even know why, but I wanted to cry. I mean, this was so much better than visiting a llama farm or something. I was legit touching a Pegasus. “He’s . . .” I swallowed. “He’s beautiful.”

  Medusa stayed back. “He is.”

  “What is he doing here?”

  “They always come when there is activity at the gateways,” she explained. “Pegasus are curious creatures, sometimes even social. Their blood has a paralyzing quality to it, used by the nymphs.”

  “I’ve seen it in action.” My voice was shaky as the awe-inspiring creature drifted away from me, walking toward the trees. I wanted to follow, maybe give it a hug, but I didn’t want to push my luck. “Will more . . . creatures come?”

  “I do not think we’ll be here long enough for that.” She waved her hand again and the ground began to shake.

  I spread my legs, bracing myself as the earth trembled. The Pegasus appeared unfazed as it grazed nearby. Pulse picking up, I looked down. Flowers shook. Soil erupted, kicking small pebbles into the air. Twelve shimmery columns appeared, forming a circle around Medusa and me. As the glow faded, there were twelve stone busts sitting on pedestals.

  “These are the Twelve.” Medusa walked forward. “They represent the Olympians. On each embodiment is their icon, what the children of the gods will need to defeat the Titans.”

  Holy moly. I turned, my gaze glancing off each of the busts. This was why Apollo had told me to find the librarian—find Medusa. She was guarding the gateway and the icons.

  Spying my father’s, I walked over to the stone bust. A small golden harp, about the size of my hand, dangled from the neck.

  A harp.

  Not even a legit-sized harp.

  For real.

  Artemis had a bow. Poseidon a trident. A spear rested in front of Athena. An unlit torch stood in front of Demeter. Hades’s bust wore a helmet, and I had a . . . harp. Well, there was a seashell in front of Aphrodite, so I figured it could be worse. But between a seashell and a harp, I had no idea what to do with either.

  Seeing the icons that would never be touched was sad. Zeus’s scepter would never be picked up. Neither would Ares’s shield. I didn’t know their children, but the loss was heavy in the silence.

  “So many lost lives,” Medusa murmured, picking up on the nature of my thoughts. “And many more will be lost.”

  I shivered, not because her words scared me but because I knew they were true. Drawing in a deep breath, I reached for the golden harp. As my fingers neared it, the tips hummed as if my body recognized the importance of the symbol.

  “Now is not the time,” Medusa said, startling me. She was directly beside me. “Once you take that icon, it cannot be given back.”

  “Okay.” I looked at her. “My powers have been unlocked—”

  “And taking the icon will give you more aether than anything that walks the mortal realm.” The curls on her head vibrated and more tiny snake heads appeared. Creepy. “You will be extremely powerful, and even more useful in the hands of the Titans and to others.”

  I assumed she meant daimons.

  “When you have found the other demigods, bring them back here. That is when you must take the icon.” Even though I couldn’t see her eyes, I could feel them holding mine. “You must be careful of who you trust, child, of whom you have given your heart to.”

  I stiffened.
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  “Power is the most alluring of all vices. It corrupts and destroys,” she said, her voice shifting low. “And it is the most hidden of all transgressions.”

  A cold chill radiated down my spine. “You’re talking about Seth.”

  “He is not what he seems,” she said, and a snake snapped at the air. “The Apollyon has committed acts of great treachery.”

  “I know.” My hands curled into fists. “I know what he’s capable of. And I know who he used to be and who he is becoming.”

  Her head turned slightly as an owl hooted from the trees, and Medusa sighed.

  “Of course. She is coming.”

  “Who?”

  Medusa stepped back as the wind picked up. The curls thickened all along her head and then sprang free. I gasped. Snakes of all sizes formed, hissing and striking at the space. I tried not to stare or freak out, but then the owl called out. I blinked and without any warning, a tall woman stood in front at the edge of the clearing.

  Brown hair fell in waves to her waist, covering her chest, which I figured was a good thing. Her white gown brushed the grass and was as transparent as glass.

  She was not a waxer.

  “Athena,” hissed Medusa. “How nice of you to join us.”

  My eyes widened. I might’ve stopped breathing.

  The goddess shot Medusa a silencing glare as she approached me. I didn’t know what I was supposed to do. Bow? Get on my knees? I didn’t do that when Apollo came around, but this wasn’t my father. This was the goddess Athena, who apparently punished victims of sex crimes and turned them into monsters. She was in front of me before I could do anything, and I was staring into all-white eyes.

  “This,” Athena spoke, lifting her hand. She held a vial with a bluish-red liquid in it. “This is for you, child of Apollo.”

  Uh . . .

  Athena held the glass vial out to me. “It is the blood of a Pegasus. You know what it does.”

  This was the most bizarre day of my life, and that was saying something.

  Slowly, I lifted my hand and closed it over the vial. My skin brushed Athena’s and a jolt of electricity shocked me.

  Athena’s lips curled up on one side.

  I glanced down at the vial. This would definitely come in handy, especially since it worked against the Titans.

  “There is something you must know,” Athena said, and her voice seemed to carry on the wind. The sound was everywhere. “Medusa guards this gateway and these icons, but her power to turn man to stone does not work against deities.”

  “Unfortunately,” muttered Medusa.

  Athena ignored her. “She will not be able to stop the Titans or even a demigod, and especially not the Apollyon.”

  My head jerked up. I hadn’t known that. I assumed Medusa’s freaky eyes worked on everything. I also didn’t like the way Athena tacked Seth onto that like he’d be the biggest threat. Seriously? Like, maybe the Titans were the ones they should really be worried about, but I understood their trepidation when it came to Seth. He’d sided with Ares and gone against them in a plot to overthrow the mortal realm and Olympus. That was going to take a while for them to get over.

  “You will need the toxin,” Medusa warned, drawing my attention back to her. Thankfully, her hair had returned to normal. “But not for whom you expect.”

  Chapter 21

  Seth

  Restless, I shifted where I sat on the couch and wondered for the hundredth time how in the world I’d ended up sitting next to Alex and Aiden while they tried to keep their hands in their own laps.

  I’d been sitting here first, when it had just been Solos, Marcus, and Alexander discussing the issue of the breached gate and the attack last night. Aiden had been there also, but he’d done the dark and brooding thing, leaning against the wall until Alex showed up with Deacon and Luke.

  They’d brought lunch.

  Laadan even appeared before heading off with Alexander to do things that would probably traumatize Alex. Of course, once I started thinking about those kinds of things, my mind wandered to Josie and to all those kinds of things I’d rather be doing in that moment.

  And that just made shit real awkward sitting next to Alex and Aiden, because with her this close, I was picking up on what she was feeling. Not as strongly as I used to, when it had gotten to the point where it felt like we were virtually the same person. I could pick up the barest trace of emotions, almost like a word that was forgotten as it reached the tip of the tongue. There was a faint, warm sensation of arousal and the bitter tang of dread. A very odd combination radiating off of her.

  That also meant she could probably feel mine, so I really needed to stop thinking about finding Josie and seeing how many times I could make her scream my name.

  I shifted again, spreading my thighs.

  Alex glanced over at me, her cheeks slightly flushed. Great. I rubbed my finger along my brow as Deacon reached across the round table and swiped a handful of Tater Tots out of Luke’s carton.

  “Do you think classes will resume tomorrow?” Deacon asked, stacking the Tots on his plate. “I guess I should’ve asked Marcus when he was here.”

  “They’ll probably have a service for those who fell during the attack,” Solos said, walking over to the table. He flipped the chair around and sat down, resting his arms on the back of the chair.

  Deacon’s fingers stilled over the Tater Tot snowman he appeared to be building. “Gods,” he murmured, sitting back. “I would like to go just a couple of months without having to go to a funeral service.”

  That didn’t seem likely.

  I glanced at the door. Josie had gone to the library again, but I was thinking she should be done by now. I’d told her where I was going to be, so she knew where to find us. Part of me wished I’d gone to the library with her.

  “It’s weird,” Alex said as she picked up Aiden’s hand. I had no idea what she was doing, but it looked like she was massaging his fingers or something. “We see so many people entering Tartarus on a daily basis, so you think we’d be accustomed to it, you know?” She shook her head as she stared at Aiden’s hand. Her fingers moved over his. “But I’m not. I guess it’s different down there, because you know they’ll be happy, but I’m . . . I’m just rambling.”

  “It’s okay.” Aiden leaned over, kissing her temple. “We don’t have services down there.”

  “Makes sense,” Solos said, lips kicking up. “Everyone’s sort of already dead.”

  Alex rolled her eyes.

  “Do you ever think we could visit?” Deacon asked, grabbing a packet of ketchup. “I mean, I’d like to see—”

  A sudden shot from outside interrupted him, then a loud bang, like a crack of thunder. I shot up, right beside Alex. Aiden made it to the window first.

  “Gods,” he said.

  We were on the first floor, toward the back of the main Covenant building, and the window overlooked a decent portion of the north quad, which gave us a bird’s-eye view of a pretty decent throw-down between groups of halfs and pures. The crashing noise had to have been from the shattered statue closest to the building. They’d managed to knock that thing over.

  “Ouch,” Alex murmured as a half landed an impressive roundhouse.

  My lips pursed as a pure tapped into the air element and tossed one of the halfs into a group of about five others, knocking them over like a set of bowling pins. “Well, that escalated quickly.”

  Solos sighed, dropping his head onto the table. “Gods, is it wrong if I just pretend I have no idea what’s going on outside?”

  Reaching for a Tater Tot and finding them gone, Luke frowned as he glanced over at Deacon’s plate. “Marcus is planning on putting that curfew in place, starting tomorrow, I think, but that isn’t going to stop this.”

  “Nothing is going to stop this.” Alex pressed her hands to the window. Her breath fogged the glass. “This wasn’t what I wanted—what we wanted.”

  Alex and Aiden were pretty much responsible for the Breed Order being
disbanded and the removal of the Elixir. Did they really think everyone was just going to go along with the new way of life?

  Guards began to fill into the quad.

  “I’m going to find Josie.” Pivoting around, I stalked across the room and threw open the door. I turned to the right and took two steps.

  Josie was walking down the center of the lobby, her high ponytail swaying with each step. Relieved to see that she wasn’t out in that mess, I crossed the distance between us, and two