Pegasus and the Rise of the Titans (Pegasus #5) (8 page)

16

Lorin stood before the leader of the Titans. They were in a large chamber near the surface of Tartarus. She had been up to the surface with Phoebe and they had tasted their first few moments of pure freedom.

What Lorin discovered was that Tartarus was a terrible place cloaked in dark, scudding clouds. Heavy, freezing winds battered her and the rain quickly soaked her to the skin. Mud was everywhere, as though it never stopped raining. Even though it appeared to be day, there was very little light. Tartarus was, in a word, miserable. In fact, she preferred being inside the cells on the lower levels of the prison. At least they were warmer and dryer than up on the surface.

‘Where is she?’ Lorin demanded. ‘Saturn, you promised to give Emily to me if I released everyone from their cells. I have done as you asked – we are all free.’

‘You will have her.’ Saturn patted her head. ‘But you must be patient. Jupiter and his people are as clever as they are conniving. They will do anything to protect their “Flame” and keep her from us. But do not fear, I promise I will give her to you. And when I do, your powers will finally be complete.’

‘Listen to Saturn, Lorin,’ Phoebe said gently, placing her hand on Lorin’s shoulder. ‘We have time. Look around you. Everyone here has been trapped in this prison for an eternity. A few more days will not make much difference.’

‘But I need her,’ Lorin insisted. ‘I need to be made complete and only Emily can do that.’

‘And you will have her,’ Saturn promised. He smiled, but it didn’t reach anywhere near his ice-blue eyes. His tone was fatherly, but it was not natural to him. ‘However, we may need your assistance to get her.’

‘What can I do?’

‘My warriors have started entering Olympus, but they are encountering great resistance. They have captured prisoners and are bringing them back here. When they do, I want you to join me for their interrogation. We want to learn everything we can about Jupiter’s plans.’

‘How can I make them tell us anything?’

Saturn smiled. ‘You have great powers, powers that are growing. Show them what you can do, and what will happen if they refuse to talk.’

‘You want me to hurt them?’

His hand patted her head once more. But again, Lorin felt it wasn’t a natural gesture for him. ‘If necessary, yes.’

Lorin paused. She needed Emily. The girl had taken powers from her and she wanted them back. But her fight was with Emily, not the Olympians. Was she prepared to hurt strangers? ‘Perhaps if I went to Olympus, I could find Emily.’

‘No!’ Saturn shouted. Then his voice calmed. ‘No, I prefer you to stay here where you are safe. I do not want you to meet her until you are stronger. Stay here and learn to control your powers. We will bring Emily to you.’ Saturn paused and his face darkened. ‘Now, tell me. Are you prepared to do what you must to get hold of Emily? To help free us from this wretched world and to reclaim what has been taken from us? To finally give us back Olympus?’

Lorin considered for a moment longer. How far would she go to finally feel complete?

She would do whatever she had to.

‘Yes, Saturn, I will help. To get Emily, I will do anything.’

17

All through the long day they journeyed over the vast ocean. The singing tapered off as they became too hoarse to continue. As the sun started to descend, Emily could feel the strain Pegasus was under from carrying Chiron. She prayed that they reached land soon so that he could rest and regain his strength.

Long after sunset they continued. Stars shone above them and the sliver of a moon was rising. Emily yearned to use her powers to light a Flame to guide them, but with just that small thought, Riza sent a painful warning in her head that drove it quickly from her mind.

The benefit of flying at night was that Fawn could finally push back her hood. ‘I hate that thing,’ she complained.

‘It’s keeping you alive,’ Emily reminded her.

‘I know, but I do not have to like it.’

They continued in silence for many long hours until Fawn lifted a finger and pointed. ‘What is that over there?’

Emily squinted but could only see darkness. ‘I don’t see anything.’

‘But it is right there,’ Fawn insisted. ‘It is a very big man standing at the top of a mountain.’

‘Pegs, can you see what Fawn is seeing?’

Pegasus whinnied, but it was weak. Emily reached forward and felt his strong neck. It was burning hot and covered in a film of sweat.

‘He cannot see anything.’ Paelen swooped closer. ‘Neither can I.’

‘But it is right there,’ Fawn insisted.

‘Night dwellers have powerful night vision,’ Chiron explained from below. In the absolute darkness, Emily could no longer see the Centaur, but they could hear him. ‘If Fawn says there is a large man on a mountain, he is there.’

‘Tell Pegs where to go,’ Emily instructed Fawn. ‘We need to land soon – Pegasus is exhausted.’

Fawn nodded and gave them directions. Emily hoped the night dweller was right. Pegasus couldn’t take much more.

‘Wait, I see something!’ Paelen shouted. ‘She is right. There is a giant man on a mountain. His arms are outstretched and there are lights shining on him.’

‘There are no giants on Earth,’ Emily said.

‘It is not a giant,’ Chiron called. ‘It is a very large statue of a man. I can see him too.’

As they headed towards the man on the mountain, the sky around them began to get lighter. ‘The sun is coming up.’ Fawn pulled her hood back up. ‘I hope we reach the man before it rises fully.’

As the minutes ticked by, Emily and Joel first saw what looked like a star on the water. But as they flew closer, and the sky lightened further, they were finally able to see what the others saw. A massive statue, standing at the top of the mountain. Lights from a large city were blazing beneath him. His arms were outstretched, as though offering protection to the people below.

‘I know where we are,’ Joel called excitedly. ‘We’re in Brazil!’

‘Brazil?’ Emily asked.

‘Yes! Look, that’s Christ the Redeemer. It’s a huge statue overlooking Rio de Janeiro. My mom and dad took us there when I was a baby. We have pictures of my mom and me at it.’

‘The shard is in Brazil?’ Emily called. ‘Riza, is it true?’

When there was no answer, Emily realized she’d phrased the question wrong. There was no way Riza could answer it. ‘OK, can you give me one pound for yes, and two for no. Is the shard near here?’

There were two brief flashes of pain in her head. ‘No,’ Emily said. ‘Does it still feel far away?’

One pound let her know the Flame-shard was still a long way away. Emily called to the others. ‘We still have a long way to go. Pegs, when we’re over land, find somewhere quiet to land. You need to rest and we need to keep Fawn out of the sun.’

‘In Rio?’ Joel asked. ‘Have you never heard of it? It is a busy city!’

‘So is New York,’ Emily called. ‘But we found places to hide there. Besides, look at Pegs – he’s exhausted. We need to land now.’

With each wing-beat, the sky lightened. Emily could soon see Chiron suspended beneath them in the vine harness and Joel on Chrysaor and Paelen beside them.

Just as the first rays of dawn lit the horizon, they approached the shoreline of Rio. Small, rugged, peaked islands poked out of the water and lush green mountains rose in the distance. The islands beneath them were closest, but they all looked as if they were fully inhabited and offered no protection for the Olympians.

‘How about there – in the rainforest?’ Joel pointed to a large area of dense jungle, nestled on a mountain range directly behind the Christ statue. It was surrounded by city and homes. It wasn’t ideal, but with Pegasus straining to stay airborne, they didn’t have much choice.

‘It’s up to you, Pegs,’ Emily called. ‘Do you want to land down there?’

In answer, Pegasus started to descend and manoeuvre towards a small opening in the green forest canopy. Chiron touched down first, and then Pegasus flapped his wings to avoid hitting the Centaur.

Emily was first off Pegasus and then helped Fawn down. Pegasus was panting and his eyes were half closed with exhaustion. The powerful muscles in his shoulders around his wings were twitching and he was covered in foaming sweat.

‘You did so well, Pegs.’ Emily stroked his face, hoping that her touch would restore him, as it always had in the past. But her powers remained dormant. Pegasus’s torso had deep red welts where the harness was cutting into his skin and he was too tired to lift his head. ‘I’m sorry my powers aren’t working to heal you.’

Joel and Chrysaor came up behind her. ‘Let’s get some ambrosia into him – that should help. Just as soon as we are fully undercover, we’ll make sure he and Chiron have plenty.’

Chrysaor squealed softly. Joel bent down and stroked the coarse, wiry hair on the winged boar’s head. ‘And you, my friend, will have more than you can eat.’

Emily reached into her tunic pocket and pulled out the leather pouch. It was an ancient Xan relic with the capability to create whatever food it was told to. ‘So don’t worry, Chrysaor, you’ll all have enough ambrosia and chocolate ice-cream to make you sick!’

Emily looked back at the Centaur. Just like Pegasus, the vine harness had cut deeply into his skin. Paelen was helping him step free of the vines. ‘You too, Chiron. You must eat.’

‘Thank you, Emily, I will.’ As he stepped clear of the harness, he looked at it as if it was a deadly enemy. ‘I dread the thought of putting that thing on again. I cannot remember a time when I was more uncomfortable.’ He trotted up to Emily. ‘Do you have any idea how much further we must travel?’

‘Not really. All we know is it’s still a long way away.’

Chiron gazed around the clearing. ‘Then we had best find cover and get as much rest as possible. I do not relish the thought of being captured and ending up in a zoo.’

‘You’d be lucky to end up in a zoo,’ Paelen said. ‘The CRU caught me the first time we were in New York and I still have nightmares about what they did to us there.’

‘Don’t remind me,’ Joel said. ‘Let’s go.’

They entered the trees and Emily gazed around. ‘I always dreamed of seeing the Brazilian rainforest. I just never imagined it would be like this.’

‘Me neither,’ Joel agreed. ‘It’s a shame there’s no time for sightseeing. I would love to visit Rio.’

They waded deeper into the jungle and found a place to settle. Dawn arrived with the sounds of birds singing to greet the day, while animal noises filled the trees around them. Within minutes, Pegasus was resting with Chrysaor close beside him. Chiron sighed in contentment as he settled down next to them.

Emily produced a banquet of food from her pouch. She gave five scoops of chocolate ice-cream to Fawn. The night dweller’s black eyes shone as she discovered the taste of the sweet, cold treat.

While the sun climbed higher overhead and filtered through the canopy, the exhausted Olympians drifted into much-needed sleep. Pegasus fought to stay awake with Emily but, soon, he too was lulled into a sound sleep. Fawn was wrapped up in Pluto’s cloak and nestled under the cover of the stallion’s large wing. A place usually reserved for Emily. But there would be no sleep for her – she couldn’t risk it.

She stood with Joel, keeping vigil over the exhausted Olympians. ‘It’s all right,’ Emily said to him. ‘I know you’re tired too. Go get some sleep.’

‘I’m fine,’ he argued. ‘What about you?’

‘Me? Sleep? Are you kidding? If I sleep, Lorin will be able to access me and there’s no telling what might happen then.’

‘But you need to sleep – everyone does.’

Emily shook her head. ‘I’m tired now because I’m getting weaker. It has nothing to do with me
needing
sleep. Ever since I became the Flame of Olympus, I haven’t needed to sleep. I did it because I thought I should, and I enjoy my dreams.’

Emily hated to admit the truth, especially to Joel. It was just one more sign that she wasn’t human any more. ‘Riza says sleeping is a throwback to my human days. All I am now is energy in the shape of Emily.’

Joel reached for her hands and held them tight. ‘No offence to Riza, but you are more than just energy. I can feel your hands in mine. Smell the perfume in your hair. You are Emily, and you’re a part of me. I couldn’t love a ball of energy, but I love . . .’ Joel seemed unable to continue.

Emily’s heart started to pound. ‘You love . . .’ she gently prodded.

He looked down at her hands in his and dropped them abruptly. He shuffled on his feet and wouldn’t meet her eyes. ‘Nothing . . .’ His voice had lost its softness. ‘But you are not just energy and you know it. You’re not going to fade away, I won’t let you.’

Emily tried to hide her disappointment. He had told her how he felt so long ago. Why was it so difficult for him now? ‘I may not have much choice. Riza is trying to keep us together, but she’s getting really tired.’

Joel walked away from her and for a few moments seemed to find the leaf of a nearby tree particularly interesting. He turned to face her again. ‘Are you scared?’

Emily nodded. ‘When I first entered the Temple of the Flame and sacrificed myself, I believed I would die and, in truth, I did – well, at least my body died. I never imagined that I could become what I am now. I was frightened, but I knew I was protecting Olympus and Earth. I was sad to leave my dad. But you and I had only just met. I cared about you and Paelen and Pegasus, but what I felt then was nothing compared to how I feel about you now. You are all the best part of my life and I can’t imagine a day without you in it. And whatever I am now, I don’t want it to end. It terrifies me to think I’m fading away . . .’

‘Then don’t!’ Joel insisted. ‘You have powers, Emily. Powers I can’t even imagine. There’s gotta be something you can do to stay alive.’

‘There is – and that’s finding the shard. The power in that Flame-shard is to me what food is to you. Without it, I’ll die.’

‘Is there no other way?’

Emily shook her head and looked at the ground. She knew that if she looked up into Joel’s eyes she would start to cry, but she had to keep strong. Joel pulled her into an embrace and held her tight. He kissed the top of her head. ‘Then we’ll find that Flame-shard and end this.’