Separate
TRIVIA
The sight of the giant Cyclops towering over Sol—large enough to crush the sun god in his massive fist—should have struck Trivia with fear. She should have been cowering from the monster before her.
But instead, she felt nothing but rage, raw and untethered.
Pandora had dabbled in these same dark powers, conjuring all manner of foul creatures and beasts, intent on unleashing chaos on the three realms and watching everything burn. And even after Pandora had been silenced, her soul still lived on—along with the dark forces of her box.
And Trivia was done with it. She was finished with these deities who believed they could wield powers beyond their capabilities. She was fed up with those who sought to control others, who created monstrous nightmares just for the sake of power.
She was sick of people trying to use her as a puppet, as a pawn in their game.
Atlas thought himself to be the puppet master, pulling strings and organizing chaos over the realms, just like Pandora.
And, just like Pandora, Trivia would destroy him, too.
While Atlas leered at Sol—clearly relishing the way the sun god’s face paled, his eyes wide with fear—Trivia closed her eyes and summoned her mental construct.
Just like Midas had taught, she envisioned the beach in Elysium where she and Sol had gone swimming.
The waves lapping. The sun beating down on her. The warm sand between her toes.
Within the safety of her mental construct, Trivia drew on her power.
It burst forth, eager and ready. She spread her hands, and vines coiled around her wrists and forearms, climbing up her body.
The ground trembled, and roots and branches sprang forth.
She pulled more power, more energy from the earth, calling on every drop of magic.
Bushes and shrubs appeared. Thick and sturdy tree trunks rose, climbing higher and higher until they provided a canopy of shade above her. Their branches stretched on and on.
When Trivia was surrounded by a lush jungle, the evidence of her power, she blinked, bringing herself back to reality. Atlas turned to face her, clearly sensing the magic emanating from her. Her hands glowed white, and with a shout, she thrust them toward the Titan.
Power slammed into him, sending him careening backward. The ground trembled when he fell, but Trivia didn’t stop there. She conjured vines as thick as ropes that slithered around Atlas like snakes. They coiled tightly around his wrists and ankles.
He roared, thrashing against the restraints. They snapped easily, but Trivia was relentless. Vine after vine encircled him. When one broke, three more tightened around him.
Atlas’s single eye was blazing with fury as he snarled. A jet of gold light speared directly into his face, blinding him. Atlas howled, his eye closing, tears leaking from it.
Trivia glanced at Sol, who stood next to her, wielding his own magic. He nodded at her, his jaw tense and his face determined. He was still pale, the fear in his eyes evident. But he was here with her, and he was fighting.
Just like they promised.
“We don’t stop,” Trivia vowed to him. “Not until this is over.”
“Together,” he agreed.
They closed in on Atlas, assaulting him with their magic.
His shrieks of pain rang in the air, echoing around them.
Trivia pushed and pushed, drawing more of her power.
The ground split. Roots climbed forward.
One of them impaled Atlas’s shoulder, the tree growing straight through his body.
Black blood oozed, spilling onto the ground like ink.
Trivia gritted her teeth, feeling the strain of pushing too far. She wasn’t accustomed to so much magic flooding through her so quickly. She was going to burn out soon.
But it wasn’t enough. Atlas needed to die. This wouldn’t be over until he was destroyed.
“Do you have enough power to fully blind him?” Trivia asked Sol, pausing to wipe sweat from her brow.
“I—I don’t know,” he panted. “Hold him down, I’ll get closer.”
“Be careful!” she called as he inched around the massive body tied to the ground, still struggling against the vines.
He was too strong. And Trivia couldn’t keep conjuring vines forever.
Atlas shifted, making the ground tremble. Sol cried out, and Trivia’s heart seized in her chest. She flexed her hands, calling on more power, thickening the vines and wrapping several around Atlas’s throat.
“Sol?” she called, squinting through the fog that lingered in the air. Atlas’s body was so large that she couldn’t see his head. After a moment, she made out Sol’s brilliant magic, piercing through the fog.
“I’m all right,” Sol answered, voice echoing. “The bastard tried to bite me.” More light flooded through, and Atlas roared. “Trivia, shut your eyes.”
Trivia obeyed, turning to bury her face into her shoulder. Streams of light shot through the air, burning against her skin. She groaned as the heat scorched her, causing sweat to pour down her body in rivulets.
Atlas’s scream was devastating. It filled the air, shrill and resonant, making Trivia’s ears numb. The sound rattled through her, making her bones quiver. It seemed to ring forever, an endless echo of torment. She wouldn’t be surprised if it even reached Elysium and the Underworld.
It was never-ending. She would hear that sound for the rest of her existence.
With a groan, Trivia sank to her knees, slamming her hands over her ears. Gods, she would never hear again after this. Atlas might be blind, but she was deaf. Even after his scream faded, her own ears continued ringing with the sound. It haunted her, forever imprinting on her brain.
Warm hands grasped her arms, and she shrieked, the sound muffled as she struggled against her assailant. When her eyes opened, she found Sol before her, saying something she couldn’t understand. It sounded like he was underwater, his voice mangled and distorted.
She shook her head, not understanding. Sol jerked his thumb toward Atlas, then covered his own eyes. “Blind,” he mouthed with a sure nod.
Trivia managed a grin, despite her still ringing ears.
Something heavy slammed into her, sending her flying.
Her stomach dropped, her body weightless for a moment before she crashed to the ground, arms scraping and shoulder colliding with the hard earth.
Her head struck rocks, making her vision darken.
She slumped over, pain ricocheting through her body in sickening waves.
She tried to move, to shake her head and climb to her feet, but her body was broken.
Her foot was jutting at an odd angle, and when she tried to move it, fresh pain shot up her leg.
“Trivia!” Sol bellowed, his voice distant. Gods, how far had she fallen? And what had struck her?
In answer, Atlas’s rasping laugh boomed. His foot sank to the ground with a deafening crash.
He had managed to kick Trivia.
“You fools,” he snarled. The ground trembled as he moved, no longer restrained by Trivia’s vines. “You think blinding me changed anything?”
Trivia was gasping, struggling to draw air. She needed to move. But something pressed on her chest, cutting off her breaths. Hot liquid ran down her side—blood.
Sol’s sun magic burst in the air, igniting the sky. The ground shook, and Sol cried out.
“No!” Trivia screamed, blood bubbling from her lips.
“Come on!” she growled at herself. She managed to roll, her shoulder throbbing and agony making her limbs quiver.
When she was on her stomach, she tried drawing her legs up to rise on all fours.
But gods, her leg… It was surely broken.
She couldn’t even stand, let alone walk.
She couldn’t get to Sol.
Tears streamed down her face. “Sol!”
She waited for him to answer, to assure her he was still alive. But there was nothing but silence. Until—
Another scream echoed, but it wasn’t Sol or Atlas. It was a woman, and her voice was familiar.
Trivia stilled, her eyes growing wide. She knew that voice.
It was her sister, Mona.
“Mona?” Trivia called. Then, louder, “Mona!”
Atlas moved, and the earth quivered, making Trivia slide sideways. Her head lolled, and she couldn’t stop herself from shifting in the dirt. Her head met something hard, and she groaned as that same darkness threatened to take over, to pull her under.
Stay awake, she commanded. Stay awake!
“Be silent, witch goddess,” Atlas snarled, his voice closer than before. His foul breath stung her nostrils, and she knew his head was close by. Maybe she could grab a branch and shove it down his throat.
Then, his words sank in. Be silent.
He didn’t want her calling out for Mona. But… why?
Trivia spat blood onto the ground, then barked, “Where are your other Titan friends? Fighting you is too easy, and I need a challenge.”
Atlas growled, the sound rumbling through her. Oh yes, he was definitely close now. Even blind, he could easily follow the sound of her jeering voice and crush her.
But she had to keep going. She had to know…
“Well?” Trivia challenged. “Where are they? Or are they already dead? I wouldn’t be surprised.”
“I am not alone!” Atlas bellowed. “My brothers are here. But I am strong enough to defeat you on my own.”
“Liar,” Trivia said with a wheezing laugh. She spit out more blood, then crooned, “Where are you, Titans? Show yourself before I cut off Atlas’s head!”
A crash echoed, and cracks spread from the ground. Atlas had slammed something heavy into the earth—his fist, perhaps?
“I do not need them!” Atlas shouted. “Besides, they have better things to do than argue with a dying goddess.”
“I don’t believe you!” Trivia said. “I bet my sisters killed them.”
“No!” Atlas roared. “It’s impossible. Without you—” He stopped abruptly, but a triumphant smile spread across Trivia’s face.
That was it. The Titans were keeping her apart from her sisters.
Gods above, Trivia realized. The power of the Triple Goddess…