“I’ll never let her go.” His tone was spiteful and full of hatred. It was a reminder that sometimes, evil beings can’t change their ways. “The stones you took from me, they won’t have any effect anymore,” He continued. “I used up the power. It’s useless. I’ve won.”
The proud look of triumph on his face made me want to throw up. That’s what you think, asshole. I held up five fingers. This was our signal to run to the portal. Hephaestus had given me the words I needed to hear. My mom was safe, somewhere, and that was all that mattered. I would come back for her with Hades, but right now I needed to get everyone out of there. “Do you know what happens to those who use others to get what they want? They tame the flame and take what’s theirs. You made me who I am today. I’m going to show you exactly what I can do.”
Fire blasted from my hands as we backed away, reaching for the tunnel. The others were waiting for us by the portal. That was the plan. It wasn’t easy when the ground shook like the last time, mimicking Hephaestus’s anger and hearing his words echo throughout the cave. I felt like I was swallowed up inside his chest, feeling the vibration of his evil laughter. You can run, but I will find you. I’m your king now. When we reached the end, Tara was the only one left besides Mason by my side. “Everyone is through. Hurry, Sky. I can’t hold it that long.”
I was just about to enter when I heard the loud, painful, angry roar and the walls started to shake again.
“He’s changed back to himself,” Tara said. “I’ve released him. He knows now.” Tara looked scared.
“Let’s get the hell out of here.” Mason didn’t waste any time. He tugged me through with him before anything could have a chance to fall on us.
Step six of our plan, meet at the lake house. When Mason, Tara, and I got there, Dad was lying on the coach, spiked with fever. Zara held a cold cloth over his head while performing some kind of spell.
“Is his fever going to go down?” I stared at my dad’s pale face.
His eyes were closed, his teeth were clenched, and from the way he shivered, he looked like he was in pain. Every few seconds, his body would shudder worse, most likely due to the shock from the temperature. By the time I had melted the iron, he was completely drenched. It was the only way to keep him from being burned.
Dad’s clothes were now dry. I couldn’t remember what he wore that day, but I knew Zara’s magic had dried his clothes. It was bad enough that I didn’t get the chance to rescue my mom, but seeing my dad like this was torture. I had to think of the bright side; at least one of my parents was out of that hellhole.
“I’m doing the best I can. I’ve never experienced this before,” Zara said, looking offended.
As I wondered if Ian’s mom was experiencing the same effect, I glanced around the room. “Where’s Ian?”
“He went to New Olympus. Aaron, Colin, and Sarah went back with him,” Noah explained. “I’m wondering if Ian’s mom is having a similar experience as Victor; and how about everyone else that we released?”
“I don’t know, but I need Hades. Hephaestus will be coming for us with his army of vultures,” I reminded.
“I can’t help your dad and help you with the portal.” Zara looked at me, tormented by her duties.
I was just about to tell her I had another way in, when I saw a movement from my dad. As anticipation filled me, I kept still, hoping he would open his eyes or say something…anything.
“Sky….” My dad called weakly.
“Dad.” I dropped down to my knees and held his hand in mine.
I was so overwhelmed with happiness to hear his voice that I couldn’t help the tears that formed in my eyes. There was so much I wanted to say. I wanted to thank him for always watching over me, and I wanted to apologize for the way I had behaved. I knew he would understand, but now, knowing he was drugged to kill
The proud look of triumph on his face made me want to throw up. That’s what you think, asshole. I held up five fingers. This was our signal to run to the portal. Hephaestus had given me the words I needed to hear. My mom was safe, somewhere, and that was all that mattered. I would come back for her with Hades, but right now I needed to get everyone out of there. “Do you know what happens to those who use others to get what they want? They tame the flame and take what’s theirs. You made me who I am today. I’m going to show you exactly what I can do.”
Fire blasted from my hands as we backed away, reaching for the tunnel. The others were waiting for us by the portal. That was the plan. It wasn’t easy when the ground shook like the last time, mimicking Hephaestus’s anger and hearing his words echo throughout the cave. I felt like I was swallowed up inside his chest, feeling the vibration of his evil laughter. You can run, but I will find you. I’m your king now. When we reached the end, Tara was the only one left besides Mason by my side. “Everyone is through. Hurry, Sky. I can’t hold it that long.”
I was just about to enter when I heard the loud, painful, angry roar and the walls started to shake again.
“He’s changed back to himself,” Tara said. “I’ve released him. He knows now.” Tara looked scared.
“Let’s get the hell out of here.” Mason didn’t waste any time. He tugged me through with him before anything could have a chance to fall on us.
Step six of our plan, meet at the lake house. When Mason, Tara, and I got there, Dad was lying on the coach, spiked with fever. Zara held a cold cloth over his head while performing some kind of spell.
“Is his fever going to go down?” I stared at my dad’s pale face.
His eyes were closed, his teeth were clenched, and from the way he shivered, he looked like he was in pain. Every few seconds, his body would shudder worse, most likely due to the shock from the temperature. By the time I had melted the iron, he was completely drenched. It was the only way to keep him from being burned.
Dad’s clothes were now dry. I couldn’t remember what he wore that day, but I knew Zara’s magic had dried his clothes. It was bad enough that I didn’t get the chance to rescue my mom, but seeing my dad like this was torture. I had to think of the bright side; at least one of my parents was out of that hellhole.
“I’m doing the best I can. I’ve never experienced this before,” Zara said, looking offended.
As I wondered if Ian’s mom was experiencing the same effect, I glanced around the room. “Where’s Ian?”
“He went to New Olympus. Aaron, Colin, and Sarah went back with him,” Noah explained. “I’m wondering if Ian’s mom is having a similar experience as Victor; and how about everyone else that we released?”
“I don’t know, but I need Hades. Hephaestus will be coming for us with his army of vultures,” I reminded.
“I can’t help your dad and help you with the portal.” Zara looked at me, tormented by her duties.
I was just about to tell her I had another way in, when I saw a movement from my dad. As anticipation filled me, I kept still, hoping he would open his eyes or say something…anything.
“Sky….” My dad called weakly.
“Dad.” I dropped down to my knees and held his hand in mine.
I was so overwhelmed with happiness to hear his voice that I couldn’t help the tears that formed in my eyes. There was so much I wanted to say. I wanted to thank him for always watching over me, and I wanted to apologize for the way I had behaved. I knew he would understand, but now, knowing he was drugged to kill
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