Pegasus and the Fight for Olympus (22 page)

‘Wait!’ Steve rose stiffly from the sofa and reached for a shirt. ‘Can he carry two of us? I’m coming with you.’

Paelen saw the fierce determination on Emily’s father’s face. He’d seen that same determination in Emily enough times to know there would be no talking him out of it, despite his wounds. ‘Chrysaor says he can take you both. But we must go now.’

Just as they were about to leave, Cupid stepped forward. ‘Chrysaor is going to have to carry three of us. If you are going to fight the gorgons, I am coming with you.’

‘But there are Nirads,’ Joel warned, ‘millions of them.’

‘Then you had better not have lied to me, Joel. You say the Nirads are on our side? I will trust you.’

‘Cupid, no!’ Agent T howled. ‘Your wing is broken and you aren’t well enough! You can’t go to the Nirads, not without me!’

Cupid dropped his head and swayed on his feet. ‘Agent T,’ he said slowly, ‘come with me.’ He escorted the CRU agent over to Earl. Cupid closed his eyes and turned on his charm. Power flowed out of him towards Agent T. ‘You want nothing more than to stay here and help Earl. He means more to you than me, more than anyone. Use your CRU skills to keep him safe. Do this for me and do it for him.’

Cupid turned towards Paelen. ‘I have never tried that before. I hope it works.’

Agent T stood beside Earl’s stretcher. He was looking down on Earl and stroking his hair gently. His eyes shone with brotherly love for the wounded man.

‘That was kind of you, Cupid,’ Joel said.

‘Kindness has nothing to do with it,’ Cupid said gruffly. ‘I could not have him trying to follow us and raising the alarm. At least now, Earl may be safe while he recovers. Now may we please go before I change my mind!’

On the other side of the Solar Stream, they found themselves in a cave filled with huge orange Nirads. Despite Joel’s assurances, Paelen still had doubts and Cupid was noticeably terrified.

‘It’s all right,’ Joel assured as he, Steve and Cupid climbed off Chrysaor. ‘They’ve been waiting for us.’

The Nirads parted and a strange creature stepped forward. He looked like a Nirad, but was smaller than the others, with intelligent grey eyes and features that were fine and sharp. His skin tone was dark pink with a black marbling effect, making him stand out even more from the other orange Nirads in the cave.

Chrysaor approached the pink Nirad and started to squeal. When the pink Nirad responded, Paelen was shocked to discover he understood.

‘I am Paelen,’ he said as he bowed to the pink Nirad.

‘Who is he?’ Joel asked coming forward. ‘He’s the same colour as the queen.’

‘That is because he is her brother,’ Paelen explained. ‘This is Prince Toban. His sister sent him and these royal guards to help us defeat the gorgons.’

The prince closed his eyes and lifted his head. He looked back at Paelen and made several strange sounds.

‘He can speak with his sister silently, just as the queen can communicate with all her people through the power of thought,’ Paelen explained. ‘That is what makes her queen. Segan says the gorgons are still asleep, but does not know for how much longer. Joel must return quickly.’

Joel approached Chrysaor. ‘Will you take me back to the palace?’

The boar opened his wings and invited Joel to climb on his back. ‘I’ll tell Emily you are here,’ Joel told Steve. ‘That will calm her down.’

Steve patted Joel on the back. ‘Be careful, son, don’t let them catch you. Please tell Emily I’ll be there as soon as I can and that I love her.’

‘I will,’ Joel promised. He looked over to Paelen. ‘Stay safe and watch out for the gorgons. They have killer eyes!’

‘You also,’ Paelen said as he watched Chrysaor carry his best friend to the front of the cave, spread his wings and take off into the dull night sky.

Paelen walked out of the cave and into the dark, arid world. In the distance, he could make out stone structures. There was a glow of green coming out of most of the windows, but very few Nirads were walking around the area.

Cupid emerged from the cave with an expression of doubt on his face. He looked at Toban and then at the huge Nirads surrounding them. ‘If you are siding with us, why did you hand over Diana and Apollo to the gorgons? They could have helped us defeat them.’

The prince sighed before he spoke. Both Paelen and Cupid nodded.

‘Well?’ Steve asked.

Paelen translated, shaking his head sadly. ‘Toban says it was Diana’s fault, not the Nirads. When she and Apollo emerged from this cave, they started to attack the Nirads in the village. The villagers were unable to explain the situation and were forced to defend themselves. The fight caused such a stir that the gorgons were alerted. The queen had no choice but to order their capture or the gorgons would have killed more of their people.’

‘Do you believe him?’ Steve asked.

‘With Diana’s temper?’ Paelen asked. ‘Absolutely. You have met her. She is not one for negotiating or waiting to hear details. Apollo will follow his sister in everything. Had they paused for a moment, they would not have been captured and would have been here with us.’

The prince spoke again. ‘Toban has offered to take us to a safe place until we are ready to go after the gorgons. We cannot remain near this cave as the gorgons check it regularly after Diana and Apollo’s arrival.’ He looked at Emily’s father. ‘You need to rest.’

‘I’m all right,’ Emily’s father said. ‘Besides if Jupiter is coming, we should wait here to warn him.’

But Paelen could see that he was far from all right. Though the ambrosia had helped greatly, Steve was still very weak and was swaying lightly on his feet. He needed more time to heal.

The prince shook his head and spoke urgently. ‘Toban says the gorgons have made a fatal mistake,’ Cupid translated. ‘They are unaware of how powerful or intelligent Queen Segan really is. Once she realized Emily’s abilities and that she could heal their dead, she called across the Solar Stream to her warriors. They have already alerted Jupiter to the danger he is facing and from whom. The Nirads are no longer bringing him here as their prisoner. Jupiter is leading them.’

Paelen was seated on a smooth rock in a Nirad home, deep inside the village close to the cave. The furnishings were sparse and all made of carved, black stone. There were pots of moss scattered throughout the small room. The living moss was giving off the bright greenish glow that was the room’s only light source and had been what he’d seen from the cave. In his hands was a stone bowl of foul-smelling, slimy black goo – he couldn’t bring himself to eat it.

Across from him, Steve lay on a marble slab. A different type of dark-green moss was growing on the surface and worked as a kind of living mattress. A large female Nirad was applying a very smelly paste to Steve’s bullet wound and tying clean bandages around his chest.

When she finished with Steve, she approached Paelen. She forced the bowl of black goo up to his mouth and grunted loudly, showing a wide row of sharp, pointed teeth.

‘I think you should do as she says and eat,’ Cupid warned as he leaned against a wall. His wing had been set and bandaged and most of his wounds were healed.

‘I am not hungry.’

‘It is actually not bad,’ Cupid said as he shovelled handfuls of the black food into his mouth. When his bowl was empty, he crossed to where a large stone barrel was stored. He refilled his bowl and continued eating.

After he downed his second bowl, Cupid said, ‘It would not be wise to offend our host in her home. She has two children being held at the palace and her nerves are raw with fear. It will not take much to enrage her. If she wants you to eat it, you must eat it.’

Paelen knew the female Nirad was upset. But so was he. His two best friends were in the palace as prisoners of the murderous gorgons and there was no obvious way to help them. Reluctantly he lifted the bowl to his lips and tasted the food. As she watched him, he was forced to swallow the sticky black goo. Cupid was right. Despite how bad it smelled, it really was quite good.

‘Delicious,’ he said, smiling up to the huge female Nirad. ‘Thank you.’

That seemed to satisfy her as she nodded and lumbered out of the room.

When they were alone, Steve sat up slowly. ‘All right everyone. Jupiter is on his way here. But Emily and Joel don’t know that he’s been warned. We’ve got to get in there to let them know. Emily must not use her powers against him.’

‘She would not,’ Paelen said. ‘She would never hurt Jupiter.’

‘Can you be so sure?’ Steve asked seriously. ‘Paelen, you know my daughter. Answer me truthfully. Whom does Emily care more for: Pegasus and Joel, or Jupiter? Who would she save if it came down to a choice?’

Paelen paused and thought back to everything he knew about Emily. She cared for Jupiter. But in truth, if their lives were at stake, there was no question who she would choose. Paelen quickly stood. ‘We must get in there before Emily kills Jupiter!’

‘So we are agreed?’ Steve asked. ‘We let the Nirads capture us and take us into the throne room.’

‘I do not like this plan,’ Cupid said. ‘It will get us all turned to stone.’

‘Perhaps,’ Paelen said. ‘But we have no choice. Toban says there is only one way in and out of the palace. We must get into that throne room. If you two distract the gorgons, I can sneak in and get the message to Emily and Joel. We must let Emily know Jupiter has been warned and that he is coming to fight the gorgons.’

‘Yes, it’s risky,’ Steve agreed. ‘But we don’t have much choice.’ He stepped up to the young prince. ‘Toban, your sister knows the plan, right?’ When the prince nodded his pink head, Steve continued. ‘Good. Tell her to let the gorgons know you have just captured two more people at the cave and are bringing us in.’

The prince closed his eyes. A moment later he nodded and grunted.

‘OK, boys, let’s get moving.’

Emily couldn’t keep her eyes off the marble statues of Diana and Apollo standing at either side of the thrones. The pain of transformation was carved on to their stone faces, reminding her of the horrors yet to come.

She looked over to Pegasus and her heart constricted. Her beloved stallion was leaning against the bars of his cage. His heavy stone leg was still raised in the air. Every few minutes he cried out as the stone hoof grazed the floor.

‘It won’t be long now, Pegs,’ she promised softly. ‘You’ll see. Joel will let everyone know what’s happening. Jupiter and the others will be here soon. Then I can heal you.’ Emily said the words as much to reassure herself as to help Pegasus. It seemed like ages since Joel left. She prayed that Chrysaor hadn’t betrayed them again and hurt Joel or even handed him over to the gorgons.

Just when she thought she would go insane from waiting, Tange moved from his post. He came forward and opened the door to Emily’s cage.

‘What is it? Is Joel back?’

Tange nodded. He looked back to the entrance of the throne room. Emily followed his eyes and heard the sound of running footsteps. In the front cage, the queen sat up and made several urgent calls.

Joel finally appeared. He dashed towards the cage. Tange held open the door and locked it after him, then returned quickly to his post.

Emily threw her arms around him as he collapsed to the floor beside her. ‘I was so scared,’ she said. ‘I thought Chrysaor might have betrayed you.’

Joel was panting heavily and covered in a light film of sweat. ‘No, he didn’t,’ he gasped. ‘But when we got back here, we heard the gorgons coming down the stairs. So Chrysaor had to leave me to find my own way in here. We couldn’t risk him being seen.’

‘Did you reach Olympus?’

Joel nodded and wiped down his face. ‘But everyone was gone. Olympus is deserted and we don’t know where Jupiter is.’ As he caught his breath, Joel quickly explained what had happened.

‘So my dad is actually here in this world?’ Emily asked. ‘Is he all right?’

‘He’s fine,’ Joel said. ‘He won’t be running any marathons this year, but he is up and moving. So is Cupid, though his wing is still broken.’

Emily sat back against the cage bars, stunned. She had always feared that her policeman father would one day get shot in the line of duty. But to hear he’d been hurt fighting the Nirads … It terrified her to think what could have happened to him. Now they were in the same world and facing the terrible gorgons.

Before she could find out more, the gorgons flew into the throne room. Their expressions were darker and even more threatening than the day before. Their tempers were up and they were ready to blow.

‘Where are your warriors with Jupiter?’ Stheno demanded as she flew over to the golden cage. ‘They should have been here by now!’

The queen looked up at Stheno and spoke softly.

‘I do not care what he does!’ Stheno spat. ‘Tell them to strike him. Knock him out! Tear his arms off if they must. Just get him here. This is why we chose you to fight our battles – because Jupiter’s powers are useless against you.’

Euryale moved closer to the braided gold bars of the queen’s cage. Her bronze hands hovered threateningly before them. ‘Segan, you will command your warriors to get moving or I will have more children brought in here. You will watch their suffering as we slowly turn them to stone!’

Dark tears trailed down the queen’s pink cheeks. She closed her eyes and raised her head. After a time, she opened them again and spoke softly.

Stheno smiled in satisfaction. Her tiny gold wings flapped as she flew off the dais and landed before Emily and Joel’s cage. ‘It will not be long now, Flame of Olympus. Jupiter has just entered the Solar Stream.’

The tension in the throne room was intense. The gorgons paced impatiently in front of the dais. ‘What is taking so long?’ Euryale demanded of the queen. ‘One Olympian against all your warriors should be easy to contain. What is happening?’

The queen grunted softly and held up her four arms.

‘Excuses, always excuses!’ Euryale roared. ‘Tell them to hurry or you will feel my wrath!’

The queen closed her eyes and raised her head.

‘Calm, sister,’ Stheno said. ‘Our time is nearly here. Soon Jupiter will be dead and we will rule Olympus and all the worlds along the Solar Stream. The murderers of our beloved sister will know our pain and rage. Medusa will be avenged.’