leading as their great king. Zeus ensured they would have a way to plunder Earth for their own use and, with his dying thunderbolt, created a Lightning Gate for each realm and a Lightning Road to travel between our lands—and between Earth and our new world. And so the Greek gods left their home, never to return or be immortal again. Or so we new people thought.
The Greek god’s super powers faded forever, and over the years the powerless heirs of the original twelve Olympians squabbled amongst themselves while the lesser Greek gods blended in with the conquered people and quickly became lost in our new culture on Nostos. A select few of mixed blood held ancient powers and immortality and were forced to serve the heirs in any capacity. Many of these few came to hide their powers to remain free from enslavement. Chaos soon reigned across Nostos, and our land was plunged into the darkest of ages, leaving thousands starving and dead. The Olympian heirs believed their time had come to an end, when one discovered that mortal children of Earth had powers to fuel their world. And so began the stealing of these children for vile purposes. In time, a deep hatred of these mortals grew inside the Olympian heirs, for these Earth beings held power they now needed to survive.
Yet before this tale of woe and oppression was set in place, the Greek Ancient Ones foresaw what would become of the Olympians. Angered by the corruption their people would come to embrace, the Ancient Ones prophesied an Oracle would arise to save their world. Today the Secret Order of the Ancient Ones hides on Nostos, watching and waiting for the Oracle to come forth and redeem their people. They will protect him at any cost to save their lost world, if an immortal Ancient Evil One doesn’t kill—
I flipped the page, lost in Leandro’s words, when air moved across me and the book was snatched from my hands.
“What are you doing?” Leandro thundered over me, blocking out my light. He shoved the book into his bag and tossed it on the floor away from me.
“Sorry, I just want to find out who you are.”
“Sneakery won’t get you that. You’ll know who I am when, and if, I tell you.” He pulled me up, his strong hands pressing like a vise around my arms. His piercing eyes stared into mine and I leaned back, fearful he would kill me. “Don’t ever go in my satchel again, Reeker. There’s plenty in there to kill you with. You were afraid of the Takers? They are nothing compared to the wrath I bring.”
I believed it. “Okay.”
His narrowed eyes widened and he shook me loose. I staggered back and fell on my slab.
“You like to take things that aren’t yours, don’t you, boy?”
I shook my head and dared a glance at Sam and Charlie. Lucky them, still sleeping.
He thumped a fist to his other hand, his shape outlined against the gleaming rock walls. “You stole that lightning orb.” It wasn’t a question, and his fierce eyebrows furrowed in sharp lines.
I rubbed my eyes. “I borrowed it from my grandfather. He told me it had powers.”
“Borrowed. Hmm. So you thought it might be useful to have on a rescue mission without knowing its purpose or the danger behind it?”
Good thing he couldn’t see my cheeks burning with shame in the low light. “Why is it so dangerous?”
“It’s a powerful weapon. And power in the hands of those who don’t understand it is a very dangerous thing.”
I sure didn’t understand its power, even though driven to use it, but I kept that to myself.
Leandro crossed his arms. “So tell me, thief, why you possess ancient Olympian powers.”
“You mean talking to animals? No idea. It never happened back home.”
Leandro waited for more. I looked away, uncomfortable under his gaze.
“A rare number of my people carry the ancient power of malumpus-tongue which enables them to speak to animals,” Leandro said.
“Great, but why do I?”
His words cut through me. “You must be from Arrow Realm, too,
The Greek god’s super powers faded forever, and over the years the powerless heirs of the original twelve Olympians squabbled amongst themselves while the lesser Greek gods blended in with the conquered people and quickly became lost in our new culture on Nostos. A select few of mixed blood held ancient powers and immortality and were forced to serve the heirs in any capacity. Many of these few came to hide their powers to remain free from enslavement. Chaos soon reigned across Nostos, and our land was plunged into the darkest of ages, leaving thousands starving and dead. The Olympian heirs believed their time had come to an end, when one discovered that mortal children of Earth had powers to fuel their world. And so began the stealing of these children for vile purposes. In time, a deep hatred of these mortals grew inside the Olympian heirs, for these Earth beings held power they now needed to survive.
Yet before this tale of woe and oppression was set in place, the Greek Ancient Ones foresaw what would become of the Olympians. Angered by the corruption their people would come to embrace, the Ancient Ones prophesied an Oracle would arise to save their world. Today the Secret Order of the Ancient Ones hides on Nostos, watching and waiting for the Oracle to come forth and redeem their people. They will protect him at any cost to save their lost world, if an immortal Ancient Evil One doesn’t kill—
I flipped the page, lost in Leandro’s words, when air moved across me and the book was snatched from my hands.
“What are you doing?” Leandro thundered over me, blocking out my light. He shoved the book into his bag and tossed it on the floor away from me.
“Sorry, I just want to find out who you are.”
“Sneakery won’t get you that. You’ll know who I am when, and if, I tell you.” He pulled me up, his strong hands pressing like a vise around my arms. His piercing eyes stared into mine and I leaned back, fearful he would kill me. “Don’t ever go in my satchel again, Reeker. There’s plenty in there to kill you with. You were afraid of the Takers? They are nothing compared to the wrath I bring.”
I believed it. “Okay.”
His narrowed eyes widened and he shook me loose. I staggered back and fell on my slab.
“You like to take things that aren’t yours, don’t you, boy?”
I shook my head and dared a glance at Sam and Charlie. Lucky them, still sleeping.
He thumped a fist to his other hand, his shape outlined against the gleaming rock walls. “You stole that lightning orb.” It wasn’t a question, and his fierce eyebrows furrowed in sharp lines.
I rubbed my eyes. “I borrowed it from my grandfather. He told me it had powers.”
“Borrowed. Hmm. So you thought it might be useful to have on a rescue mission without knowing its purpose or the danger behind it?”
Good thing he couldn’t see my cheeks burning with shame in the low light. “Why is it so dangerous?”
“It’s a powerful weapon. And power in the hands of those who don’t understand it is a very dangerous thing.”
I sure didn’t understand its power, even though driven to use it, but I kept that to myself.
Leandro crossed his arms. “So tell me, thief, why you possess ancient Olympian powers.”
“You mean talking to animals? No idea. It never happened back home.”
Leandro waited for more. I looked away, uncomfortable under his gaze.
“A rare number of my people carry the ancient power of malumpus-tongue which enables them to speak to animals,” Leandro said.
“Great, but why do I?”
His words cut through me. “You must be from Arrow Realm, too,
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