The Immortality Trials Omnibus

by Eliza Raine

  She gripped the rail and closed her eyes. There was always another way. There was always another option. She just needed to find it. Her eyes fluttered open as a thought struck her.

  It was a risk, taking the longboat, but she was sure she could come up with some sight-seeing explanation if she was caught.

  It took her no time at all to find the massive Zephyr floating almost directly above the Palace of Elis. Knowing now where Eryx’s chambers were, it was easy to draw her longboat alongside his rooms. There he was, shirtless and scrubbing at his face with a flannel over a small bowl in the corner of the room. His dark hair was out of its knot and hung to his broad shoulders. She watched him a moment then rapped on the glass, his jump of surprise making her smile. He hurried over to the window, which was a porthole bigger than she was, but she supposed small for a giant, and swung it open.

  ‘What are you doing here?’ he hissed.

  ‘What kind of greeting is that? Aren’t you going to invite me in?’ Evadne cooed. She cocked her head at him and folded her arms under her chest, knowing what it did to her breasts. His eyes flicked down, his cheeks reddened and he stepped back.

  ‘Please don’t make me regret this,’ he said as she stood up in the boat, put both hands on the porthole rim and pulled herself through the hole. She landed relatively gracefully, then straightened, brushing herself off needlessly. ‘Why are you here?’ Eryx demanded, gathering his hair back up and tying a band around it quickly.

  ‘I just… I just needed to get off the Hybris for a while. I didn’t know where else to go,’ Evadne said quietly. It was the truth, she realised as she spoke it. Whether or not she would find a shot at immortality on this ship instead of Hercules’s, she really didn’t have anywhere else to go.

  Eryx’s scarred face softened. For a moment he looked like he would step towards her but then he seemed to change his mind, his foot lifting and falling back into place. She saw the long pink scar on his chest and reached her own hand out towards it.

  ‘This is healing well,’ she said. He grunted, eyeing her hand warily.

  ‘Your crew were the only ones who were going to leave Busiris to die,’ he said abruptly.

  Evadne let loose a long breath and sat down heavily on the end of Eryx’s bed. ‘I know. I… I misjudged my captain,’ she said and put her head in her hands.

  Eryx stepped towards her. ‘So you would not have left him to die?’

  She looked up at him. ‘I asked Hercules to go back. I asked him to help. He punished me.’ Anger flashed across the half-giant’s face and something sparked inside Evadne. It had been a long time since anyone had felt indignation or anger on her behalf.

  ‘He punished you?’

  ‘Yes. He made me scrub the decks.’

  Eryx barked out a laugh.

  ‘We have to scrub the deck on the Orion as a daily chore, not a punishment.’

  Evadne shrugged. ‘What can I say? I was brought up a princess.’ She gave him a sarcastic smile as he gaped.

  ‘A princess?’

  This time Evadne laughed and stood up, shaking her head. ‘Not a real one, you idiot. I just meant I was spoiled as a child. I didn’t do much scrubbing.’

  ‘Don’t call me an idiot,’ growled Eryx.

  Evadne was about to tease him more but the look on his face stopped her.

  ‘You’re not an idiot, Eryx. It’s just the way I speak. I’m the idiot,’ she said softly. ‘You can read all the books in the world, learn everything there is to know about Olympus, chase fame and fortune your whole life, but you can’t control the people around you.’

  Eryx stared at her. ‘Why are you here?’ he asked her quietly.

  ‘I told you, I just needed to get off the Hybris. Talk to somebody.’

  Eryx pushed his hand through his dark hair, loosening the knot he had just tied. His honest open face was so starkly different to her captain’s that for a moment Evadne questioned her resolve. Should she use this man? She had to.

  And she needed to play her move carefully. Swiping her hair casually back behind her ears, she turned her head under the pretence of looking around the room, knowing it would expose the bruises still on her neck.

  ‘He hurts you, doesn’t he.’ It wasn’t a question. Eryx’s face darkened and his fists clenched at his sides and she found herself distracted by the muscles rippling across his chest as he tensed.

  ‘It’s nothing I can’t handle. The Hybris is just not a nice place to be at the moment. Lyssa winning is not good for him.’

  Eryx said nothing, just flexed his balled fists.

  She stared at him, thinking. She had done what she needed to do. Should she ever need refuge from Hercules, Eryx would be prepared to help her, she was sure of it.

  Then why didn’t she want to leave?

  ‘Do you have any dice?’ she asked him.

  His eyebrows shot up. ‘Dice? You want to… play dice?’

  ‘Sure.’ She shrugged and sat back down on his bed. ‘You got anything better to do?’

  A small smile crossed his face.

  ‘I have dice. But I don’t know how to play much.’

  ‘I’ll teach you,’ she said.

  They played for the best part of two hours, before Evadne began to worry that she would be missed. The flash of disappointment on Eryx’s broad face when she announced that she was leaving caused that spark within her to fire again. He wanted her company. The feeling was nice.

  ‘You should have left ages ago,’ Eryx said, the words conflicting with his expression. She walked to the window, which at head height for him was high for her. He crouched beside her, creating a cradle with his hands, and she put one boot into it, resting both her other hands on his shoulder. His head was now level with her abdomen and she felt him stiffen before he lifted her easily up to the porthole.

  ‘Thank you, Eryx,’ she said as she pulled herself through the window and landed lightly in the longboat. She leaned back through and touched a hand to his cheek, surprised by the real emotion she saw and felt when she did so. She wouldn’t hurt this man, she decided. If he could help her, she would use him, but she wouldn’t hurt him. She pulled her arm back and willed her boat forwards, not turning back to look at him.

  As she rounded the hull of the boat, though, she saw Busiris standing by the railings. His glittering black eyes were fixed on her as she sailed past.

  7

  When Eryx awoke, Evadne’s face filled his mind. He had dreamed of her.

  He groaned and buried his face in his pillow. This would get him nowhere; he had to stop thinking about her. Why would a tiny, young thing like her be interested in a big old brute like him? Eryx knew there were a lot of folk out there who were smarter than he was, but he wasn’t stupid enough to believe that she didn’t have ulterior motives. But that touch… The look in her eyes. It felt so real.

  ‘Eryx, the announcement’s in less than half an hour. You should be up on the quarterdeck.’ Antaeus’s voice thundered through his thoughts and he swung his legs out of bed quickly, grateful for the distraction.

  ‘Who do you think it’s going to be?’ Eryx asked the group in general. They were once again huddled around the flame dish, waiting to find out what they would be facing next. Nobody answered him. ‘Well, it can’t be as bad as the last one,’ he said. Antaeus grunted. After two particularly bad Trials they were due a break, Eryx thought.

  The flames suddenly leaped, flashing white, and everyone breathed in and leaned forwards.

  ‘Good morning, Olympus!’ The irritating blond announcer beamed. ‘So, we have a crew out in front! Captain Lyssa and the Alastor have now won two Trials. All the other crews have one, and there’s still plenty of time to catch up.’ Eryx frowned at the small man. ‘So let’s give you that chance with no further delay! Here’s your next host…’ He faded away, then the image refocused on a hulking, stooped, oily figure with dark hair and a creased face. Hephaestus.

  A thrill ran through Eryx. Although they were all sons of Poseidon,
giants were one of the few races allowed in Hephaestus’s forbidden realm, Scorpio. It was known as a haven for giants, cyclopes and other brutish species that could work in his forges. Eryx had never had trouble finding work fighting as a boxer but the knowledge of that potential haven had carried him, and many like him, through doubtful times.

  ‘Heroes,’ Hephaestus grunted, his bushy beard lopsided on his ugly face. ‘I have designed and built a new monster for you to tackle in Scorpio. It is called a stymphalian bird. If you can disable three of these birds you will win. If you can reach the birds’ nest and take one of their eggs you may keep it.

  ‘As you are aware, my realm is under water, so you will be given the ability to breathe water for the duration of the Trial. I will only grant this to two people on your crew, however. When all ships have reached Scorpio you will be transported to the starting point.’ The image shimmered and Hephaestus disappeared.

  ‘More water,’ said Antaeus, quietly.

  ‘It won’t be cold this time,’ said Busiris. ‘I have visited Hephaestus’s forges before and the ocean surrounding them is temperate.’

  Antaeus looked at the gold-skinned giant. ‘Do you want to partake in this Trial?’ he asked him.

  Busiris stared back a moment, then shook his head. ‘No, Captain. I do not believe I am best placed for this. There is little water in the desert and my swimming will not be the strongest on this crew.’

  Antaeus sighed. ‘Eryx?’

  Eryx’s heart started to pound and he raised his eyebrows hopefully as his captain looked at him. ‘You swim both well and fast. Are you up for another Trial?’

  Eryx nodded enthusiastically.

  ‘Of course, Captain.’

  Scorpio was only half a day due south of Taurus, and Eryx spent the time exercising. He moved and twisted, rolled and jumped on the huge Zephyr deck, taking great care not to let any discomfort from his chest wound show when any of his crew-mates were about. Neither Albion or Bergion liked being in the water so there was no resentment over Antaeus’s choice of partner. Rather, they both clapped him on the back and wished him luck.

  It was easy to spot Scorpio in the vast ocean, due to the huge spiralling pillars of steam erupting from the water’s surface. Unsurprisingly, the Zephyr was the last ship there. The Hybris, Virtus and Alastor were already hovering ten feet above the glittering ocean.

  ‘Are you ready?’ said Antaeus as the boat came to a halt with the others.

  Eryx nodded. There was a flash of light and they were no longer on the Orion.

  Eryx’s mouth fell open as he took an involuntary step backwards and gaped around him.

  They were inside a volcano. A towering structure made up of spires, bridges and rocky platforms, all carved from a dark rough stone, lined the inside of the hollow mountain. Fiercely bright, deep orange liquid poured in rivulets down channels in the rock, pooling in huge vats or running all the way to the bottom, where they were standing on the banks of a pool of the molten lava. Eryx looked up, and though he could just see the top of the volcano, billowing white steam made it impossible to see the ocean beyond. Sweat trickled down into his eyes as he peered up. The hot air was filled with metallic clanging and hammering, then Hephaestus’s voice boomed and echoed through the volcano.

  ‘Find your way out of the forge. There are many exits in the sides of the volcano. Kill the birds.’

  With wise Athena Hephaestus taught many creatures amazing crafts, creatures who before lived in caves on mountains like wild beasts. Since learning skills from Hephaestus the metalworker though, they have a peaceful life and somewhere to live for good.

  EXCERPT FROM

  Homeric Hymn 20 to Hephaestus

  Written 7–4 bc

  Paraphrased by Eliza Raine

  8

  Lyssa grabbed Epizon’s elbow, pulling him back as the others raced towards the rock steps behind them.

  Epizon raised his eyebrows at her. ‘What’s wrong, Captain?’

  ‘There’s a smaller set of steps over there,’ Lyssa said, pointing to their right, where a huge arching bridge jutted out over the pool of lava, far above them. Concealed in the shadow of the tall foot of the bridge it was just possible to make out a small staircase.

  They jogged towards it, Lyssa wishing dearly that she’d worn a sleeveless shirt. It was almost unbearably hot in the forge. Sweat was pooling in the small of her back already.

  They reached the stairs and found that the steps were carved into the bridge itself. As they began to make their way up, Lyssa realised that it wasn’t rock that they were walking on, but hardened lava, the surface glittering in the flickering orange light. By the time they reached the barrier-less bridge sweat was dripping down Lyssa’s face and neck.

  A thundering clank made her jump as she paused for breath, and she turned in the direction of the noise. Flush with the wall of the volcano was one of the massive vats collecting the liquid fire that ran down the walls. Out of the vat jutted a series of flat, dull anvils and at each of them worked a telkhine. She had seen the creatures before, in books and also at the feast, but the sight of them here in the forge made her stare.

  Although they were mostly reminiscent of human-sized dogs, they had weirdly webbed hands that seemed like they would be clumsy. Yet telkhines were famously Olympus’s most magnificent smiths. Instead of back legs and a tail like a dog’s, they had something more like a fish tail, short and squat. The four telkhines Lyssa could see now were propped up on the base of their tails, their webbed hands either heaving massive hammers or manipulating lumps of metal, still glowing from heat.

  Was Tenebrae related to the telkhines? Lyssa cocked her head, wondering. Tenebrae’s tail looked nothing like theirs, though, and her head was more humanoid than their canine ones.

  A pair of glowing white eyes locked on hers, and the telkhine’s fast fingers paused. Lyssa looked away and began to hurry across the bridge.

  ‘Aren’t they amazing?’ breathed Epizon.

  ‘They’re ugly as sin,’ answered Lyssa.

  ‘But, Captain, the things they can create—’

  ‘Concentrate, Epizon. We need a way out of this volcano,’ Lyssa cut him off. If they could win one more Trial, they would be comfortably in the lead.

  ‘Yes, Captain.’

  She tried not to look down as they raced along the bridge. Rising above them on either side were curved spires of lava rock, orange light glowing through holes dotting their surface. Were these the homes of the creatures that lived in the forge?

  They reached the other side of the volcano and Lyssa’s heart sank as she saw another vat of lava surrounded by working creatures, this time three cyclopes.

  ‘What did Hephaestus mean, there are plenty of ways out of the sides?’ she snapped, slowing down.

  ‘Check the walls,’ said Epizon, his head moving from side to side as he scanned the rock.

  ‘The only holes I can see from here are the ones the lava’s flowing from.’

  Epizon looked slowly at her. She shook her head. ‘No way.’

  Epizon shrugged. ‘Maybe. It wouldn’t be the worst thing we’ve experienced on a Trial so far.’

  She stared at him. ‘How is climbing through a hole filled with running lava not the worst thing we’ve experienced so far?’

  ‘OK, it is pretty bad,’ her first mate conceded.

  Lyssa huffed angrily. ‘Right. I guess we’d better go and look at one of these holes, then,’ she hissed, and jogged towards the next set of stairs embedded in the rock wall.

  They had only got up to the next platform when they saw Hercules, running with Evadne towards them. They all slowed, crackling tension cutting through the humid air.

  ‘Captain,’ Epizon mumbled a warning behind her. ‘Concentrate, remember,’ he said. But Lyssa didn’t hear him. Hercules’s cold grey eyes had locked on hers and anger was already bubbling through her.

  ‘Daughter,’ he said as they reached each other.

  ‘I told you not to call me that,�
�� she spat, her fists clenching and her skin stinging.

  Hercules tilted his head at her.

  ‘But you are my daughter, it’s obvious now. It is clearly my blood in your veins, and you have an extraordinary amount of luck, or you would already be dead,’ he said icily, stepping closer to her.

  ‘Keep telling yourself that, and I’ll keep winning.’ Blood was pounding in her ears and fear was hammering at the anger, threatening to make her step back, away from him. She forced her legs to stay still, forced her heaving stomach to settle. She didn’t need to be afraid of him any more.

  His lips curled up in a sick smile and her composure faltered as memories flashed in front of her, unbidden. She took a ragged breath and he laughed softly, close enough now that she could feel his hot breath on her face.

  ‘I’m not only going to beat you, daughter, I am going to win. I will be immortal, and you will die.’ His voice was like a million knives ripping through her. He would kill her. He had been ready to four years ago. He had already killed her family… Fear froze her muscles, the Rage pounding against a wall of terror inside her.

  He laughed again and stepped back. ‘Poor little Lyssa,’ he said, and strode past her.

  Hot tears pricked her eyes as she stood stock still, not daring to move yet.

  ‘Has he gone?’ she whispered.

  ‘Yes, Captain,’ Epizon said and laid a hand on her shoulder. She flinched and he tightened his grip. ‘He’s gone.’

  She turned to him, frustration and anger overwhelming her.

  ‘How can I beat him like this? How? I’m still so bloody scared of him!’ The admission burst from her mouth and she immediately hated herself for saying it out loud. She fixed her stare on the rock at her feet, willing the angry tears not to spill from her eyes.