The Battle for Sanctuary: The Titan's Legacy: Vol: 2 (Volume 2) (33 page)

“
Prometheus
warned you about Dominic?” Aaron asked in amazement. “Wow.
Why didn't you tell us?”

“
Because
I didn't believe him, Aaron. Dominic was one of us; we trusted him.
And the old man did say that it was only a feeling. I should have
listened to him,” he finished bitterly.

“
Don't
blame yourself, Justin,” Maria said, still shaken. “If
it's okay with you, I think we should each chance a look into the
chamber, one at a time. Without Dominic scouting, we need to get a
feel for the place and see what we're dealing with.”

Justin
was reluctant, but agreed. He realized that they had to see for
themselves, but he urged them all to be as quiet and inconspicuous as
possible.

Maria
went first; creeping along the wall and staying low as she looked
through the door and checked out the area. As she returned, she
motioned for Aaron to take his turn.

Finally,
all of them had taken a look at the main chamber and had seen what
kind of trouble they were really in. Maria still seemed to be in
shock over Dominic's seeming betrayal and Justin remembered how she
had defended Dom and his moods several times. He wondered if she felt
guilty for missing signs that Justin didn't really think were there.

“
Maria,”
he said quietly. “If you are blaming yourself for any of this,
don't. We don't know for sure if Dominic took off on his own or not.
Or if he's really a traitor, or not. But whatever the truth is, none
of this is your fault.”

Maria
stared at him. For a moment, her face became cold and distant, unlike
any expression he'd ever seen on her before. Then she breathed deeply
and nodded.

“
Yeah,
I know, Justin. And thanks. I don't know what to think or believe.
But that isn't important now. What is important is that we have to
get up that ramp, unnoticed if possible and see if that really is the
exit from this horrible place.”

Justin
nodded with a grim smile. He looked at everyone. “We need a
plan, guys, and we need it fast. If we sit here too long, we may be
spotted by one of those things or a snake and that would be, well,
bad.” Several of them laughed quietly. Justin looked at Maria.
“Any ideas?”

Maria
thought for a moment. “I think so. From my quick look at the
place, there don't seem to be any gorgons or their pets near the
doorway. We might be able to creep along the wall to the left,
staying low, and get up that ramp without being spotted. If we do,
Justin, I think that's where your talent could come in.” He
nodded encouragingly and she continued.

“
You
could block the ramp partway up. Put up a wall or something that they
couldn't get by easily. That way, if we are seen, it will slow them
down and give us a chance to make a run for it.”

“
Sounds
good. Anyone have anything to add?” Justin asked. No one spoke
up. “Okay then, it's as good a plan as anything I can come up
with. Maria, could you take the lead? I'll follow at the end and
block the ramp.”

“
Okay,
Justin. Guys,” she looked at each of them in turn, and gave
Julia a little shake of encouragement, “we can do this. These
snake people have been down here a long time. They probably haven't
seen another living soul in all that time and I doubt that they are
expecting to. So, keep low, keep slow and keep moving and we'll make
it through, right?'

She
tightened the straps on her backpack, smiled one last time at Justin
and crept back toward the doorway.

Julia
and Yolanda followed Maria closely, and Richard and Jason went after
them. As Jason set off, Justin stopped him a moment and whispered
“Keep that lightning handy, just in case.”

“
Always,
Justin,” he answered seriously and then continued after
Richard.

Aaron
watched the others as they approached the exit. “I think some
fire might be an unwelcome surprise to snakes as well.” He
grinned at Justin. “You know, just in case.”

Justin
laughed quietly as his friend repeated his words. “No doubt
about it, bud. Now, let's get the hell out of here.”

Aaron
moved after the others and Justin followed.

They
clumped together near the doorway and Maria took another cautious
look around. Then she nodded once and slowly exited to the left,
keeping as low as she could. The two girls followed, Julia again
looking petrified. With a quick glance at Justin, Richard went after
the girls with Jason on his heels.

Aaron
muttered “This is it,” and headed off as well. Justin
waited a moment, to allow them to get ahead a few yards and then he
followed.

The air
in the main chamber was moist and warm. The many fountains occupying
the different terrace levels were probably the cause, Justin thought.
Those and the many plants and flowers. He was relieved to see that no
trees or shrubs lay along their path to the ramp. They didn't need a
snake dropping on anyone, especially Julia, who would probably scream
at the top of her lungs. Maria had already reached the bottom of the
ramp and started slowly ascending, constantly looking over to where
the gorgons were going about their business.

Her pace
was slow but steady and Justin was encouraged to see that even
through her fear, Julia was staying low and kept moving steadily.

He let
Aaron get a few yards ahead and crept after him. The pace was
agonizingly slow but they were moving and not drawing attention, so
Justin kept his impatience in check.

No
mistakes, he thought to himself. No mistakes. Please, just let us get
out of here in one piece.

Finally,
he was at the bottom of the ramp. He climbed even slower than the
others, trying to decide where he should block the path. Too low on
the ramp and he had no doubt that the snakes, at least, would be able
to slither around a barricade. But if he waited too long and they
were spotted, he might not have time to block their retreat at all.
He kept going.

Maria
was about fifty yards along and maybe thirty feet up now. The slope
of the ramp was very gentle and, as Justin noted her position he
thought, that's where I'll block it. He noticed a discoloration in
the rock wall to Maria's left and used that as his marker. Then he
just kept on moving.

Amazingly,
for a group of seven terrified teens, they were moving with
practically no sound at all. No talking, the occasional scuff of a
sneaker on rock, but Justin thought that if he was down on the floor
and looked up, they would be almost impossible to see. And the higher
they climbed, the more the ramp itself would block the view of anyone
looking up. It was an encouraging thought.

He
reached the site of the marker. The others were still moving along
and Justin passed the point where he wanted to make the barrier,
walked several paces and turned. A last glance down at the floor
confirmed that they still hadn't been seen and so he closed his eyes
and placed both palms on the ground.

Ah, he
thought, that's why that part of the wall is discolored; it's a
different type of rock, softer, lighter. Now, the floor beside it.
The barrier will be across the entire path, maybe six feet wide.
Connect it to the wall for stability. Make it how high? Ten feet?
Sounds about right. Feel your way into the stone, will it to rise,
become part of it and make it happen...now.

He
opened his eyes and watched the barrier start to rise from the ground
in front of him. Slowly, he thought. Quietly. There were some
grinding noises, a few pebbles chipping off and bouncing on the
ground, but the process was surprisingly silent.

Six feet
high. Eight feet. There, ten feet. The path was completely cut off
now. Unless they could fly, there was no way to get around the
barricade. He had made sure that both sides were as smooth as
possible, with nothing to grab on to. He sighed. Best I can do, he
thought and turned around to follow the others up the rest of the
way.

“
Visitors?
We have visitors? Well, well, how lovely.”

A voice,
speaking Titanian, reverberated through the entire chamber. Justin
gasped in shock and he heard Julia up ahead give out a squeal of
fear.

From
below he heard a chorus of hissing and, peeking over the edge of the
ramp, he saw the gorgons and snakes swarming together into a writhing
mass. The gorgons were looking in all directions and the snakes were
crawling over them by the hundreds.

“
Did
you think I would not feel your power?” the voice continued.
Justin thought it sounded female but it was deep and powerful as
well. “Titans, yes? How nice. We get so few visitors. Did you
think that those of us who share your blood would not feel your
presence? Oh yes, we are of Titan blood, as are all of the 'monsters'
who inhabit this Sanctuary of yours.”

Justin
stayed low and hurried to catch up to the group. They were huddled
together, looking around frantically for the source of that voice.

“
What
do we do, Justin?” Maria whispered, sounding a bit panicky.

“
We
keep going while whoever that is, is talking. Come on, guys,”
he said looking at all of them. “Let's go!”

Maria
set her jaw determinedly, nodded once and headed back up the ramp.
Yolanda gave Julia an encouraging poke and they both followed after.
Everyone else continued on in turn.

“
I
am disappointed that you did not make yourselves known to us. You
must be young. We are not your enemies, children. Truly we are not.”

The
voice's tone had become lighter, friendlier, more persuasive.

“
Come,
stop and rest. Get to know us. We are an old race with many things to
teach you. We will soothe you, embrace you, heal you and then, send
you on your way.”

Justin
ignored the voice but as he watched, alarmed, the group ahead slowed
and then stopped. He quickened his pace and caught up to them.

“
Maria,
what's going on?” he asked her. She turned and looked at him
calmly.

“
Didn't
you hear her, Justin? They aren't dangerous. They want to be our
friends. We could all use a rest, don't you think?”

“
What?
Are you nuts? Dominic was almost killed by one of their snakes! They
have the body of a human in their kitchen, for God's sake!”

Justin
looked around for support. The fearful expressions of a moment ago
had been replaced. Everyone now looked relaxed. Julia was smiling
slightly. Aaron looked puzzled.

“
Dominic
made a mistake, Just. The snake probably just bit him as a reflex.
And he probably made up that story about a body. He's a traitor,
right? That has to be it.”

Justin
could not believe what he was hearing. “Guys, what is the
matter with you? These are gorgons! They don't want to be friends;
they want to eat you!”

Julia
rolled her eyes. “Don't be so dramatic, Justin. Honestly, you
don't trust anyone, do you?” She looked at Yolanda and they
both giggled as they watched Justin sputtering, trying to think of
something to say.

“
Well,
I think we've snuck around long enough, right guys?” Maria
asked. She stood up and everyone else did as well, except Justin. He
was still crouched down, staring at them in disbelief.

“
Come,
children,” the mysterious voice continued in a friendly tone.
“Continue to climb the path to my home. I am waiting to meet
you. I am waiting to...embrace you.”

“
You
coming, Justin?” Maria asked indifferently. He shook his head
vehemently and she just shrugged. “Okay then. When you're tired
of all this sneaking around, we'll see you up there.”

She set
off, walking steadily. The others followed, except for Aaron. He
looked undecided.

“
Justin,
what's the problem? You heard her; we're safe here. Obviously we were
wrong about them. I think Dominic was trying to make us all paranoid
so we'd fight them and he could take off and leave us. Makes sense,
doesn't it?”

Feeling
foolish crouched against the wall, since the gorgons obviously knew
where they were, Justin stood up and looked into Aaron's glazed eyes.

“
Aaron,
don't you remember Ghelena? How she could mesmerize everyone with her
voice? Everyone except me? It's happening again! Whoever that was who
was talking has used her voice to suck you all in.” He grabbed
Aaron by the shoulders and shook him in frustration. “Snap out
of it, man! She's tricking you!”

Aaron
just stood there. Justin could almost see the struggle behind his
eyes as he fought to see the truth through whatever power the voice
was using against him. He was, Justin thought, at a tipping point and
a little nudge could push him either way. Before the voice spoke
again and totally ensnared Aaron, Justin realized he had to do
something drastic. He took a deep breath.

“
I'm
sorry, Aaron,” he said.

“
Huh?
For what?” his friend asked dully.

“
For
this,” Justin answered and he punched Aaron in the face as hard
as he could.

Aaron
slammed back into the wall and his head snapped back, hitting the
stone and bouncing off. He crumpled to his knees and then fell
forward to land on his hands.

He's a
Titan, Justin reminded himself, feeling guilty. He'll be fine.

“
Hey!
What the hell was that for?” Aaron staggered to his feet and
stood there scowling at Justin.

“
You
okay, bud?” Justin asked tentatively.

“
No,
I'm not okay. You punched me!” Aaron blinked rapidly and looked
around. “Hey, where's everyone going?” he asked as he saw
the group confidently walking up the ramp. “Aren't we supposed
to be sneaking out of here?” Then his eyes widened as he seemed
to remember the last few minutes. “Oh my God. Justin. I was
almost convinced by that, that...whoever that was that was speaking.
How could I have believed her?” He shook his head at his own
gullibility.