“We had no choice,” Emily said. “Not if Olympus is to survive.”
Agent B agreed. “This war must be won by the Olympians, and that Titan weapon must be destroyed, or there is no future for any of us.”
Vulcan nodded. “And so it will be. Now that I know what is at stake, I will do everything I can to see you all safely back home.”
Stella looked down at her hand. She pulled a ring off her finger and held it out to Emily. “Paelen asked me to give this to you right before he . . .” Her voice trailed off. She looked up at Emily. “He told me to tell you he loved you. He always has.”
Emily took the ring. It was a blue sapphire set in a beautiful silver band. Paelen knew her favorite stone was sapphire. “Where did he get it?”
Vulcan chuckled softly. “He stole it from Minerva. I made it for her ages ago.”
Emily offered him the ring. “Here, please give it back to her.”
Vulcan shook his head. “No, you keep it. Paelen wanted you to have it. I am sure Minerva will understand.”
Emily put the ring on her finger. She’d always known Paelen cared for her, but she’d never realized just how much. “Oh, Paelen . . .”
Stella nodded to Vulcan. “I think you should show them.”
Vulcan produced a sword. It was elegant in design and made of gold. A deep channel ran down the center of the blade.
“This is it,” he said softly. “This is what Paelen died for. Stella’s sword. Even in the heat of battle she kept it with her and protected it. If this works, we may stand a chance against the Shadow Titans.”
“But the forge is gone,” Stella said. “Even if it does work, we can’t make any more.”
“We can build a new forge,” Vulcan said. “I know the formula to this metal, and we have your mold. If it works, we can start producing swords immediately.”
“We still need to test it,” Stella said.
“Indeed we do.” Vulcan approached Emily. “I understand you are grieving. But we need your help.”
Emily stood, but without enthusiasm. She felt like something inside her had died with Paelen.
“Come on, Em.” Joel put his arm around her. “Paelen wouldn’t want us to be defeated by this. We’ve got to keep going.”
Emily nodded. “I’ll try. What do you need me to do?”
After some failed attempts, Emily found a way to use her powers to keep Stella’s sword design burning. She discovered if she cut her finger and wiped a tiny amount of blood down the central channel, it would fuel the sword.
“Okay, so it’s burning,” Emily said softly. “Now what?”
Vulcan grinned triumphantly. “We use it to burn up the Shadow Titans.”
Joel shook his head. “Fire doesn’t destroy them. We’ve already tried. It’s only Emily’s Flame that can do it. So even though your sword is burning, it’s still just fire.”
“This is not simply a fiery sword, Joel,” Vulcan said. “It is very special. Tell me, what do you need to destroy a shadow?”
Joel frowned. “I’m not sure.”
“To remove a shadow, you need light,” Agent B answered.
“Exactly,” Vulcan agreed. “Not fire, but light. The Shadow Titans are created from the shadows of the original Four Warriors. Vesta tells us that Emily contains the power of the sun. You are the only one who has been able to destroy the Shadow Titans with ease because you use your sun’s power. You use light.”
“We thought this sword could contain some of your sun power,” Stella explained. “If it works, it should be able to destroy a Shadow Titan as easily as you do.”
Agent B took the burning sword from Vulcan’s hand and inspected it closely. The flames along the shaft continued to burn brightly without destroying Emily’s blood. “You think this could win the war?”
“It could help,” Vulcan said.
Agent B swiped the sword in the air. No matter what he did or how he tried, the flames would not extinguish. “All we need now is to capture a Shadow Titan to test it.”
“Already done,” Vulcan said. “Stella and I wish to invite you to the test.”
29
AS THEY WALKED TO THE test site, Joel pulled Emily aside and told the others to go on without them. He held up Emily’s hand and looked at the ring Paelen had given her.
“I knew how Paelen felt about you. I’ve always known.”
Emily shook her head. “Why didn’t he ever say anything?”
“Because Paelen was my best friend.” Joel choked on the words. “He knew my feelings for you, so he said nothing.”
“Paelen knew?”
Joel nodded. “He said we both came from the same world, so we were meant to be together. He said he would have to be content just being your friend.”
“Oh, Paelen,” Emily whispered. “I should have told him how I felt.”
“What do you mean, how you felt?” Joel’s voice sounded strained.
“No, Joel, it’s not like that. I wasn’t in love with Paelen. I cared for him as a friend. It’s you that I . . .” She paused.
“What?”
Emily dropped her head. The war was taking so many people away from her. She couldn’t let this moment pass without Joel knowing how she really felt. Finally she lifted her eyes. “I love you, Joel.”
Joel pulled Emily close. “I love you too.” And he kissed her.
It was long and tender and filled with many promises.
When they arrived at the test site, they were surprised to see the Big Three. Emily heard that Venus had just returned from Tartarus, where she was looking for the Hundred-handers, but not if she had found them or not.
“I was sorry to hear about Paelen.” Jupiter walked toward Emily. “His was a great loss for all of us.”
Neptune nodded. “I think when this war ends, we should build a statue to him and Brue. I believe he would like that.”
Emily swallowed and nodded. “He would.” Beside Emily, Pegasus nickered softly.
“Pegasus says he is aging faster,” Neptune translated.
“Saturn must be nearing completion of the weapon.”
“We’ve got to destroy it before you all get older!” Joel cried.
“Have you not noticed?” Neptune said. “We are already aging.”
Jupiter gave Emily a wide grin that deepened his dimples. “Yes, I am losing my youthful glow! Do I not look older to you? More mature?” He flexed his arms and puffed out his broad chest. “I am not as handsome as before.”
Emily chuckled at what he was trying to do to cheer her up. There was something about him that so much reminded her of Paelen. A cheekiness that constantly surprised her. “You look fine, Jupiter.”
“Stop it, Jupe,” Neptune said. “Leave the poor girl alone.” He looked at the others. “This is why we have gathered together here. The time has come to make our final move on Titus before Father launches that weapon on us.”
Vulcan held up the flame-sword. “This is the weapon we spoke of. Emily worked out a way to light it. We are about to test it on the Shadow Titans you brought in.”
“This should be fun,” Jupiter said, rubbing his hands together. “Bring them forward.”
A gigantic crab ambled sideways on multiple legs toward them. Two large nets were suspended high in the crab’s front claws. Trapped inside the nets were Shadow Titans. The warriors were silent as they tried to fight and cut their way free.
“These represent the four types of warriors,” Jupiter said. “Vulcan, test your sword.”
Inside the nearest net were a Minotaur Shadow and a Turtle Shadow. They were thrashing and struggling to get out. When they saw Vulcan approach, they tried to reach through the net to grab him.
“They’re just like zombies,” Joel whispered to Emily. “Not frightened for themselves. All they want to do is kill.”
&n
bsp; “I hope this works.” Emily was standing with Pegasus and could feel him shivering as though he were cold. But it was a warm day. “Are you okay, Pegs?”
The stallion nodded and leaned in closer to her. There was something about the way he moved that frightened her. She was reminded of old Chiron right before he . . . Emily stopped the thought. Paelen’s loss was too fresh and painful. Instead she focused on the test.
With the flaming sword held high, Vulcan slashed at the net. The ropes gave way and the two Shadow Titans crashed to the ground. The crowd gasped as the Shadow Warriors advanced on him.
With the skills of working with weapons all his life, Vulcan dodged the Shadow Titans’ attacks. With a single, quick slash he cut the Minotaur Shadow in half. The hollow armor collapsed to the ground in pieces and became still. With a second swipe the Turtle Shadow followed the first.
The Olympians went wild. They clapped their hands and roared as Vulcan made quick work of the Blackbird and Dragon Shadows.
“Pegasus, it worked!” Emily cried as she threw her arms around his neck. “I wish you could see. The Shadow Titans fell apart when Vulcan touched them with the sword.”
Pegasus whinnied and nodded.
Vulcan waved the flame-sword in the air triumphantly. He called Stella forward and told everyone that it was her design that had defeated the Shadow Titans. While Stella’s name was being chanted by the crowd, Vulcan called to his workers. “Build me a forge; we have weapons to make!”
Vulcan’s new forge burned night and day as the workshop produced flame-swords. Stella worked closely with Vulcan, supervising the construction of more molds. Soon they were being produced in the thousands.
Emily charged each blade with a small amount of her blood. As soon as a sword was finished and lit, it was given to an Olympian and they were sent back out on to the battlefield.
While the main battle continued, Jupiter and his war chamber gathered together and requested that Emily, Pegasus, Joel, and Agent B join them. First to speak were Venus and Minerva as they gave their full reports on what they had learned on their spy missions.
The good news was they had found where the Hundred-handers were being held on Tartarus. It would be difficult and dangerous to free them, but not impossible. Thousands of Shadow Titans guarded the prison, but with the new flame-swords and enough fighters they stood a chance of breaking in.
An unexpected bonus was that they had discovered the Four Warriors were also in Tartarus. They were kept locked in the deep underground prison. It was from this location that Shadow Titans emerged in a steady stream of fighters.
Then the bad news came in the report from Minerva. She stood before the group.
“In the short time we were on Titus, we could not find where the weapon is being created. But we all felt its awful effects. It stripped us of our powers and made us all gravely ill. We could not remain there long without risking our lives. Even now I feel weak and aged from the short exposure to it.”
“What about the Titans?” Agent B asked. “Aren’t they affected by their own weapon?”
Minerva shook her head. “We do not know. We could not find one living Titan there—though there were thousands of Shadow Titans. Whoever, or whatever, is working on that weapon is either immune to its effects or is the living dead.”
Minerva finished by warning that an assault on Titus would be nothing less than a suicide mission for those who went. She sat down, looking drawn and exhausted. Her short visit to Titus had taken a heavy toll, and she and her team needed time to recover.
Jupiter faced his war council. The youthful smile left his face, and Emily saw a hint of the man he was becoming.
“We have no choice but to go back to Titus. That weapon must be captured before it is completed. The only way we can hope to achieve this is with the help of the Hundred-handers. We will gather our best fighters and go to Tartarus to free them. From there we will journey to Titus to take on the Shadow Titans. While our fighters and the Hundred-handers engage the Shadow Titans, a select group of us will move on the weapon and secure it.”
30
WHILE THEY PREPARED FOR THE first assault on Tartarus, Vulcan began working to create the golden box that would house the weapon. Having seen the box for herself in the future, Stella volunteered to help with its design and construction.
Emily delighted in watching the young Jupiter, Neptune, and Pluto train. They were showing many more powers than she’d known they had and mixed using them with the flame-swords. They could fly, levitate things, and move impossibly fast. They were stronger than she’d ever imagined. She finally understood why they were called the Big Three.
But as each day came and went, Emily’s concern for Pegasus grew.
The stallion was growing weaker. His natural glow faded and then stopped completely. He no longer ate solid food. The most Emily could get into him was soft chocolate ice cream mixed with nectar.
“Come on, Pegs, eat,” Emily said softly as she held ambrosia cakes before the stallion’s mouth. But Pegasus turned away.
The stallion never stopped shivering. Emily made sure he was always draped in several blankets, but it didn’t help. All his feathers had fallen out, and the hair covering his body was now baby fine.
The only relief from training and worry for Pegasus came when Stella would visit their camp to show off a crazy new addition to her superwheelchair, Maxine. It could now fly and also carried several hidden weapons, including a silver dagger with a marble handle and green jewel. Stella and Vulcan had made it together, and Stella laughed, knowing it was the same dagger her parents would find in the future. Best of all, the wheelchair also included a place for her very own flame-sword.
Two nights before they were to leave for Tartarus, Neptune entered Emily’s small camp and asked to speak with her and Pegasus privately. Instead of moving the resting stallion, Joel and Agent B excused themselves.
Neptune took a seat before the fire. He stroked Pegasus’s side and wouldn’t meet Emily’s eyes. “We need to talk,” he started heavily. “It is about Pegasus.” His manner and tone caused a flutter of fear in Emily’s stomach. “What about him?”
Neptune sighed heavily. “Pegasus knows it is time for him to go.”
Emily’s hand shot up to her mouth. “No . . .”
“Yes, Emily,” Neptune said. “He has remained alive for as long as he can—perhaps longer than he should have—because he could not bear to leave you. But now he is old and so very tired. Pegasus knows the battle you are facing. You will need all your wits about you, and must not be worried about him.”
Emily was shaking her head. “No, please. Pegs, I can fight fine with you beside me. I always have. We’re a team. I need you. . . .”
“Look at him, Emily,” Neptune said. “Look and really see him. See how he is suffering.”
Emily gazed at her beloved Pegasus. He was blind and painfully thin. He had no teeth, and he was always cold. The stallion was in terrible pain. She knew it. But the thought of letting him go was unbearable.
“Please, Pegs,” she whispered desperately.
Pegasus’s head was lying in Emily’s lap, and she could feel him struggle for each breath.
“It is time for Pegasus to rest. He has earned it.”
“I can’t let him go.”
“You must,” Neptune said. “Emily, your love for him is keeping him here. But it is not fair to either of you. You must release him.”
“How can I lose him?”
“You will not lose him, not really,” Neptune said. “Once you destroy that weapon, everything will go back to the way it once was. He will be waiting for you on Xanadu. Just like Paelen and Brue. He will be there, Emily. Just as young and powerful as you remember him. When you go back there, the two of you can finally visit all the places you wanted to see.
“That is the Pegasus you know,”
Neptune continued. “Not this suffering, blind old stallion. Let him go, Emily. Let your love for Pegasus free him.”
With shaking hands Emily stroked Pegasus’s head. She couldn’t bear it. This was Pegasus. Her Pegasus. “I can’t . . . ,” she whispered.
Pegasus raised his head from her lap weakly. He nickered softly and licked her hand.
“He is begging your forgiveness for leaving you, but he must go.”
Deep sobs poured from Emily. She used her embroidered handkerchief to collect her tears before they could fall and hurt the dying stallion. “Oh, Pegasus . . .”
Emily kissed him on his closed eyes. “I don’t want you to hurt anymore. Go to sleep, Pegs,” she spoke softly. “Just know that I love you. I have always loved you and I always will. Go now and be free.”
Emily collapsed over Pegasus as grief overwhelmed her. Beneath her she could feel his labored breathing even out. Moment by moment it was becoming more shallow. With a final soft sigh it ended.
“Pegasus!” Emily howled.
Neptune was beside her, murmuring softly. But Emily couldn’t hear him. She couldn’t feel Mike beside her, whining and putting his paw on her. She couldn’t see anything or do anything but howl over her loss. This wasn’t like when he disappeared at Area 51. This time there was no mistake. His head rested in her lap, silent and still.
Joel heard her cries. He crouched beside her. His hand rested on the stallion’s featherless wing. “Pegasus?”
“He’s gone, Joel,” Emily whispered.
Joel didn’t try to hide his tears. Pegasus had meant almost as much to him as he had to Emily. Losing Paelen and Pegasus in such a short time was unbearable.
Agent B knelt down on the ground behind Emily.
He rocked her gently in his arms. “Let it out, Emily,” he soothed softly as she broke down. “Just let it all out.”
31
PEGASUS IS DEAD. . . .
Emily wanted to write more in her journal, but failed. Each time she tried, tears threatened to fall and she had to stop.