Chapter 20 #2
“Last I saw her she was in the courtyard. The monsters that were left retreated when we arrived with Hephaestus and his army.”
We have much the same interactions with everyone else we rescue from their stone prisons, and I slump into a chair, staring up at Jayden. “I’m so tired but we still need to check out the academic building. Which monster got through the line and torched it?”
“I’m not even sure if it was a monster or a demigod. I was fighting on the front the entire time.” Jayden crouches on the floor in front of me. “You need to rest.”
“Not yet. I need to make sure everyone is okay.” I rub my tired eyes.
“Fine. Let’s go to the academic building and see if Cross and the Naiads have the fire under control.” He holds out a hand to help me up and plasters me to his side.
“We also need to check on the enemy demigods. Sara said they were knocking them out and tossing them in the dungeon, but with the academic building on fire, what has become of them?” I lay my head on his shoulder as we walk out of the dorm building.
Black smoke still curls into the sky across the courtyard where the academic building still smolders. Flames lick the windows as Professor Cross and a few Naiads spray water at the magical fire.
“Where did Thad go?” I ask. “He can help with this.”
I let go of Jayden, jogging over to Professor Cross. His clothes are singed and ashes either from dead monsters or the roaring flames are smudged along his skin and clothes.
“It’s magical fire, probably what you were burned by when you faced the Chimera your first weeks at the academy. My water magic isn’t working.” Cross blasts a stream of water at the crackling flames.
“Where did Hephaestus go?” I spin around in a circle.
There’s no sign of the god of fire so I grip my charm and call an automaton to me. Several more than I expect answer my call in a matter of seconds.
“I need the fire god’s help to put out the flames. You.” I point to one of the sentries who tried to kill me. “Go get Hephaestus. The rest of you help contain the flames until he arrives.”
The automatons move in perfect sync to do what I command while the asshole sentry moves away from us to find Hephaestus.
“Why do you think Hephaestus can help with magical fire?” Jayden asks, suspicion in his tone.
“Umm, he’s the fire god?” I say, not meeting Jayden’s gaze.
“What happened?” Jayden growls, gripping my hips and pulling my body flush with his. “Tell me, Beth. Now.”
“The volcano was about to erupt, and the sentries wouldn’t allow us to get to Hephaestus to give him the hammer. I got a little burn from some lava when the ground opened up beneath me after pushing Greyson out of the way of a falling boulder. Hephaestus healed me. No big deal.” I smile at him.
“Gods, baby, I’m gonna wrap you in bubble wrap and hide you away from the world for the rest of our lives.” Jayden’s grip tightens on my hips.
“No, you won’t. Never again, remember.” I kiss his chin.
“Daughter of Zeus,” Hephaestus calls, materializing in front of us.
“You can call me Beth, Hephaestus.” I shake my head. “You remember Jayden?”
“Son of Hades.” Hephaestus nods. “How can I help?”
“Magical fire. They think it was the Chimera. They can’t put it out with water. Can you use your fire magic?” I ask.
“Of course.” Hephaestus steps away to walk over to Cross who bows to him with formality and steps back from the fire.
“Hephaestus hates formalities.” I giggle. “He was more than amused when I said he needed to get his head out of his ass and come help us.”
“Hades, Beth. You’re lucky he didn’t set you on fire.” Jayden shakes his head.
“Nonsense. He wouldn’t set me on fire. The gods on our side are used to my mouth by now, don’t you think?” I wrap my arms around his waist and turn to watch Hephaestus snuff out the fire in a blink. “See? I told you he could do it.”
Jayden nudges me toward the building. “Can we go inside now and check on the prisoners? We need to assess who is here of their own will and who is being controlled.”
“I don’t think it’s safe right now. The fire was just put out. The structure isn’t sound,” Cross says.
“If the structure isn’t sound, then they aren’t safe in the dungeon. We need to figure who needs to be moved to the gods’ detention facility and who we need to help with mind control.” I step around Cross who grabs my arm.
Jayden growls, “Let go of her, Professor. We aren’t without our own resources much stronger than you.”
Shadows pulse and writhe around Jayden as he stares the professor down until he takes his hand off me.
“Apollo gave me a way to tell for sure who is under control and who is actually on their side and then save them from the control.” I shrug and stalk past Cross with Jayden at my side.
As we walk into the building, I’m immediately assaulted with the scent of smoke. It’s mostly cleared out, but the scent lingers. The stone groans closer to the site of the fire, but we veer to the left toward the entrance to the dungeons.
“Do you know how many demigods were knocked out and tossed down here?” I take the steps tentatively.
“Not a clue. I sent maybe five myself. But I couldn’t take my focus off the biggest monsters that most of the students haven’t faced before.” Jayden opens the door to the dank dark dungeon and a chorus of groans fill the space.
“How the fuck did she get here?” I snarl as a certain blond bitch comes into view.
“What? You’re supposed to be dead.” Mia shrieks in the cell farthest from the door. “Mother promised you wouldn’t leave that mountain.”
“You all are too arrogant for your own good. I mean, look at you in a cell again because you thought you could fight. Your mom thought she could fight me too and she was the one who ran when shit got real.” I flip my hair over my shoulder and turn to the other prisoners.
“It doesn’t matter. You’ll be dead soon enough. Hera has a trick up her sleeve that none of the gods on your side will survive.”