10. Caelus #2
Athena sighed deeply, clearly unprepared for my friend’s drunken honesty. Or his drunken libido.
She turned her full attention to me, her gaze sharp, waiting for an answer.
“No,” I said.
“Why not? You could have everything your father did. Wealth, power, women?—”
“That’s exactly why I don’t want it,” I cut in. “I’m not him, and I’m tired of living in his shadow.”
Apparently, the liquor has loosened my tongue too.
She pursed her lips, then nodded sharply once. Her head snapped towards the god at my back — the one I thought I’d struck earlier. He pulled back his hood, revealing the glint of gold I’d detected. But it wasn’t ichor — it was the eerie golden gaze of Apollo.
I’d always had immense respect for the god of healing — even more so after his trial — so I immediately felt awful for lashing out at him, whether he was restraining me or not.
“Sorry about earlier,” I said gingerly, enunciating each word. With my hands still cuffed behind my back, I was unable to sign.
Apollo’s expression morphed into one of amusement. He nodded to the third assailant, who followed suit and lowered his own hood, revealing a familiar god with an unfamiliarly broken nose.
Archimedes grimaced, rubbing the back of his neck. The lower half of his face was painted gold with blood. I was torn between satisfaction and mortification at the sight. I hadn’t intended to break his nose; however, I had intended to cause damage.
“Sorry,” I murmured.
“My fault! Sorry about your head, too.”
Apollo chose to break the awkward silence by raising his umber fingers.
The prophecy spoke of a new ruler — one who would either save the realms or doom them.
“What prophecy?” Aros asked, exasperation filling his tone.
Apollo’s fingers recited the words .
“Beneath the eyes of the sleeping Titan,
Where Selene does not dare tread,
The heir of death shall rise,
And life shall soon be bled.
Kings and kingdoms shall fall,
After the eagle takes its last breath,
Many hands will reach for the crown,
But its bearer must be death. ”
“Nyssa,” I breathed.
“Yes,” Athena confirmed. “We have watched her since birth. She has been raised well, despite her upbringing being rooted in tragedy. She may be selfish at times, but not enough to sacrifice entire realms.”
Hers is the head that must bear the crown. Hers are the shoulders that must carry the weight of all our futures. Fate has predetermined it, Apollo signed.
“As I said before, we have already infiltrated the Rite.” Athena gestured to the others, and the remaining nine figures revealed their faces.
Some were familiar, if unexpected: Hephaestus, Hestia, Demeter, and Thallo.
Others I recognised only by name: Nike, and Dionysus.
And some I had recalled seeing earlier that night, though I had no idea who they actually were — the satyr who played his pipes in the tavern, and the demigod who accompanied him.
And lastly, a creature I had never seen with my own two eyes: a cyclops.
They were a strange collection of beings, all bound by the same goal: getting Nyssa’s perfect ass on the Olympian throne.
That was a goal I could get behind.
“What do you need from me?” I asked, lifting my chin.
“From us ,” Aros corrected.
Athena’s lip tugged into a small smile. “Whatever it takes.”
“You’re going to want to add someone else before the next meeting,” Aros warned. Athena raised her brows, waiting for the name. “Aphrodite.”
“The goddess of love?” Demeter exclaimed, her face twisting in confoundment.
We both nodded.
“They’re friends,” Aros explained. “Your trial showed me that much.”
“Alright. I’ll speak with her,” Athena agreed. “The more Primals we have on board, the easier it will be to overcome the others. While we cannot cater our trials to Hades’ champion — she must pass them the same as any other, or the crown won’t choose her — we can offer her our help in other ways.”
The group continued planning for another hour, while the alcohol buzzed through my body, calling me to sleep. At some point, we were uncuffed, and my lightning zapped Athena who’d done as she promised and removed them herself.
I winced in apology, but the goddess only shook her head and laughed quietly. The same happened when she released Aros, except his flames singed the sleeves of her cloak.
“You’d best be off before anyone notices you’re missing,” she said quietly.
“I wouldn’t worry about that,” I replied, matching her tone.
“Remember — you can’t trust anyone outside of the faces you’ve seen tonight.”
We nodded in unison, making our way to the exit.
“Wait, how will we contact you?” I asked, pausing at the door.
Apollo pursed his lips.
You don’t. We will contact you.
He lifted one side of his cloak, revealing a small golden brooch I hadn’t noticed earlier. It was in the shape of a sword, with a crown dangling from its tip.
We call ourselves the Xifos tis Moiras. The Sword of Fate.
With those words bouncing around inside my skull the whole walk through Aetherion, it was a wonder I didn’t blurt them out the second my mother demanded to know where I’d been.
“Tavern. With Aros,” I told her.
She moved to come closer, but with a sudden flare of her nostrils, stepped backwards instead.
“Honestly, Caelus,” Hera whined. “You need a bath. And less disgusting friends.”
“He’s Ares’ son. I thought you would have approved,” I snapped back.
“He’s not like the others. That one is different,” my mother sneered. “You’d be better off with someone like Leander.”
At the mention of Poseidon’s arrogant heir, my lips turned down. My mother noticed instantly.
“Ally with him. You and Aros, both. Do not test me, son.” Her voice dropped as she levelled her threat, eyes narrowing furiously.
“Whatever you say, Mother,” I sighed, dragging myself up the grand staircase one step at a time.
Why did my bedchamber have to be so far away?
“Heed the warning, Caelus — or you’ll be sorry.”
I rolled my eyes. My mother had a flair for the dramatic, but in this instance, I suspected she’d already set other plans in motion. If one thing about Hera remained true, it was that she was devious and had a talent for scheming.
I wondered if I could somehow warn Apollo or Athena — but they were probably suspicious of anyone not already part of their rebellion.
In the meantime, I did need a wash. And sleep. Lots of sleep.
My problems weren’t going anywhere overnight.