‘Em, honey, please, you’ve got to wake up.’
Even before she opened her eyes, Emily felt the nagging headache – a deep ceaseless pounding in the centre of her skull. She opened her eyes and squinted. The light in her room was too bright and hurt her eyes.
‘Dad?’
‘Em, what’s wrong?’ he asked. ‘You’ve slept for almost two days. We’re really starting to worry. Vesta said you needed rest after what you did for Tom, but this doesn’t seem right.’
‘What? Two days?’ Emily frowned. ‘I couldn’t have. The last thing I remember was Tom and Alexis telling us about their engagement . . .’
‘That was yesterday morning.’ He hovered close and pressed his hand to her forehead. ‘You’re still very pale and have a temperature.’
Emily rubbed her temples. ‘It’s this headache. I can’t shake it. I think Riza overdid it a bit when she turned Tom into a Sphinx.’ She swung her legs over the side of the bed and rose. Waves of dizziness overwhelmed her and she leaned into her father for support.
‘I– I’m all right now,’ she said, steadying herself. ‘I might have picked up a bug or something.’
‘From whom?’ her father asked. ‘No one here in Olympus ever gets sick. Especially not you.’
Emily nodded. ‘I know. But don’t worry; I’m sure it will pass.’
The headache didn’t pass. In fact, there were times when it became excruciating. Emily soon linked the pain to her powers. If she tried to use them, the pounding in her head worsened to the point of crying out. The only time she wasn’t in pain was when she slept. And she seemed to be doing a lot more of that lately.
Pegasus could feel her pain and hovered close. He would press his muzzle into her and lick her cheek.
‘Really, Pegs, I’m OK,’ Emily said, stroking his muzzle. ‘It’s not so bad when I don’t use my powers. I figure it’s like a pulled muscle. Riza used a lot of energy to change Tom. I’m sure it will take time for my head to get back to normal. Then maybe I’ll hear her again.’
Between the headaches and tiredness, Emily stayed close to the palace and kept her activities to a minimum. Her friends started to notice the change in her and pressed her for answers, but Emily had none to offer.
Her teacher, Vesta, started to visit daily. When Emily told her how she felt, Vesta suggested she needed more time and plenty of rest. But there was something in her expression that worried Emily. Did Vesta know something she didn’t?
A week later and Emily was still feeling weak. She was so tired that she had to turn down an invitation to a concert being given by the Muses. Joel offered to stay at home with her, but Emily insisted he go with the others, saying she planned to retire early and, after a bit of arguing, Joel reluctantly left for the concert.
With Pegasus at her side, Emily headed to her bedroom. She was just about to change into her bedclothes when she noticed activity outside her window. A crowd of night dwellers were approaching the palace.
‘Pegs, look down there . . .’
The winged stallion joined her at the window. As they looked down, the crowd was growing.
‘Do you know what’s going on?’
Pegasus whinnied and nodded his head.
Once again, Emily regretted not being able to understand him. As she looked at the approaching crowds, her eyes picked out the three night dwellers she’d met several nights ago. Fawn, her brother Dax and their sister Sapphire were approaching the palace and walking around the side towards the back gardens.
Emily’s curiosity soon overcame her exhaustion. She reached for her tunic. ‘I promised Dad I’d go right to bed, but let’s see what’s happening first. I’m sure we won’t be long.’
Pegasus carried Emily out of the palace and into the gardens. Earlier in the day, she’d noticed more activity around the palace as large bouquets, banquet tables and chairs and a front podium were being erected. As there was always celebrations of one kind or another going on in Olympus, Emily hadn’t paid much attention.
When they entered the gardens, she saw tables laden with food and drinks and musicians were playing merry tunes.
Emily gazed around from the height of the stallion’s back and was sure that most, if not all of the night dwellers were gathered together in some kind of celebration.
‘Excuse me,’ Emily asked a middle-aged night dweller as he walked close to them.
His black eyes settled on her and his grin showed off his sharp, pointed teeth. He bowed his head in respect and spoke softly. ‘Flame, it is a great honour to see you here this night. How may I be of service?’
‘Would you please tell me what’s happening?’
‘Of course,’ he said. ‘We have just held our selection for the next Rotation and are here to celebrate the chosen before they go. I hope you might stay and join us. Jupiter is going to give his speech, then there will be a banquet and later we will all dance.’
Emily was about to ask more when she spied Fawn standing alone at the back of the gathering. She was staring down at the ground and looked like she’d been crying.
Emily leaned forward on the stallion’s neck but couldn’t see Dax or Sapphire anywhere near Fawn. ‘Thank you, but I can’t stay. I hope you enjoy your party.’
The night dweller beamed as he bowed again and walked away. Emily slid down from the stallion’s back and walked over to Fawn.
‘Fawn, what is it? What’s wrong?’ Emily asked.
‘It is nothing,’ Fawn said, wiping her eyes. ‘I am just being foolish. Please do not concern yourself with me. You have more important things to consider.’
‘Don’t be silly,’ Emily said. She took Fawn’s hand and led her from the crowds. ‘Now tell me, what’s wrong?’
‘I cannot, it is silly.’
Emily turned to Pegasus. ‘Would you please tell her that she has no reason to feel silly talking to me?’
Pegasus nickered softly and Fawn’s eyes lit up. ‘Really? Tonight?’
The night dweller focused on Emily. ‘Pegasus has invited me to take that flight. But I am sure you must be tired. I heard that you have not been well.’
Emily actually felt exhausted, but instead she nodded. ‘I’m fine. It’s been awhile since Pegasus and I have taken one of our flights. Please join us. We have this amazing spot by a calm lake that we like to visit. You’ll love it.’
5
Lorin paced the tight confines of the small cell she shared with her guardian, Phoebe. Since waking, her mind was developing, as was her speech. She learned to walk again and had explored every inch of the cell. In five short steps, she could cross from one side wall to the other. In four steps she could move from the back to the wall of bars at the front. There were no windows and the only light came from torches in the corridor outside the cell.
There was no privacy – life was lived in the open behind the cage bars. The prison keepers could peer in at any time to see what the occupants were doing.
What Lorin still couldn’t grasp was why they were there. She had been a small child when the flame crashed into her house. Since then, she had been unconscious. She had done nothing wrong, and committed no crime. Neither had Phoebe – all she was guilty of was caring for her while she slept. So why had Jupiter locked them away in this place of horrors?
As she leaned against the bars of her cell, she could hear the other prisoners around them talking, fighting and, in some cases, crying – all trying to live what small life they could.
She turned back to her guardian, sitting on her small bed. ‘How long have we been here?’
‘I do not know,’ Phoebe admitted. ‘We have no means to measure time. Though I am sure it has been a very long time.’ She patted the bed. ‘Come, sit beside me. I am so joyous that you have finally awoken. I cannot tell you how lonely I have been, tending to you while you slept. B
ut all that ended the moment you opened your eyes.’
Lorin took a seat. ‘How long must we stay here?’
‘I do not think Jupiter ever intends to release us. He won the war. It is his right to keep us here as long as he desires.’
‘Who started it?’
‘The war?’ Phoebe shrugged. ‘I do not know. I was too busy caring for you after the disaster. But it was not long after the flame struck your home that the violence started. Saturn did his best to protect us, but then Jupiter and his brothers attacked. Before long, Titus was at war with Olympus and we were forced into hiding while Saturn fought for our freedom.’
‘Saturn cares for us?’
Phoebe nodded. ‘So much so, he created an army of Shadow Titans so we would not have to fight. These Shadow Titans were a powerful and fierce army and were completely loyal to Saturn. Unfortunately they were defeated by Jupiter’s secret weapon. None of us could stand against it.’
‘What was the weapon?’
Phoebe looked as though she wanted to say, but then held back. ‘It does not matter now. They defeated us and Jupiter sent us here.’
‘I hate Jupiter,’ Lorin said.
‘As do I, my child. But let us not talk of the war. We have much to celebrate, with you waking.’
Lorin nodded. ‘I dreamed while I slept.’
‘You did? Of your family and the fun you had playing with your friends? Your best friend was a satyr called Dyn. Did you dream of him?’
Lorin shook her head. ‘No, I do not remember Dyn. I dreamed about a place so different from here. I do not have the words to describe it. But it was filled with gentle people who were very tall. They had no hair and moved like they were floating. They never raised their voices or cried. There were strange, large animals there too, that the people protected.’
‘It sounds rather frightening,’ Phoebe said, taking her hand.
‘Oh no, it was not. It was peaceful. The people cared about everything – not just their world, but all the other worlds. They especially cared for the animals they brought to their world for protection. They called it Sanctuary.’ Lorin dropped her head. ‘But they grew tired of their endless existence, so one day they gathered together to release themselves into the stars. But one of their kind did not make it to the gathering in time and was left behind. She tried to follow the others, but failed. She was left alone, lost and scattered across the heavens. It was so sad.’
Phoebe smiled gently. ‘I understand the meaning of your dream.’
‘You do?’
She nodded. ‘You dreamed of your own life, before the disaster. The Titans were a very peaceful, gentle people and Titus was a paradise – filled with all manner of life. But then the star fragment arrived and struck your home. Somehow, even though you were unconscious, you must have known your family had been killed and you wanted to follow them. But you could not. You, like in the dream, were left behind. But you are not alone, my love. I am here with you and always will be.’
Lorin nodded. But Phoebe’s explanation didn’t feel right. There was more to the dream, she was sure of it. She just couldn’t remember enough of it to piece it all together.
‘I dreamed of something else too – there was a girl.’
Phoebe smiled. ‘What girl?’
Lorin looked into the deep, sunken eyes of her guardian. ‘I cannot remember much – only that it is important that I find her because she has taken something from me.’
‘And who is this thief who has taken something from my precious girl?’
‘Her name is Emily.’
6
Emily sat behind Fawn as Pegasus carried them over the buildings and palaces of Olympus. The night dweller’s celebration back at Jupiter’s palace was in full swing and looked as if it would continue through to dawn.
With her arms around Fawn’s slight waist, she could feel the night dweller trembling every time Pegasus turned.
‘It’s all right,’ Emily called, giving Fawn a light squeeze. ‘Pegasus won’t drop us. I promise you’re perfectly safe.’
‘I do not fear he will drop us,’ Fawn called back. ‘I have never been this high before and it scares me.’
Hearing her words, Pegasus dipped lower in the sky.
‘Is that better?’
Fawn nodded. ‘I never imagined flying would feel like this. It is both terrifying and exhilarating.’
Emily smiled. No matter how long she had been with him, soaring on the back of Pegasus still excited her more than anything and actually managed to drive the headache back a bit.
Before long they were gliding over their silver beach. Pegasus tilted his wings and lightly touched down in the sand. Emily was the first to slide off his back and helped Fawn climb down.
‘How was that?’
In the starlight, her face was flushed. But instead of pink, she had turned a darker shade of grey. ‘It was beyond words.’
Fawn stepped up to the stallion’s head. ‘Thank you, Pegasus. You have made me feel so much better.’
Emily touched Fawn’s arm. ‘Now will you tell us what’s wrong?’
Fawn dropped her head. ‘It is time for the Tartarus Rotation, and Dax has been selected to go. Sapphire and I will be left all alone.’
Emily shivered at the mention of the ancient prison. She knew what it was like to be imprisoned there by Saturn, the malevolent leader of the Titans – in Tartarus she had been locked in an Energy Void and then almost killed in a violent confrontation with the Titans. But she had never heard of the Tartarus Rotation.
‘I don’t understand. What is that?’
‘It is when all the guards posted at the prison return home and a new set of guards are sent in. They ensure the prisoners are fed and cared for. Each rotation lasts two full cycles.’
The Olympians had no formal means of measuring time. Being immortal, it hardly seemed necessary. But Emily had discovered that a full cycle was almost like a very long year.
‘Two cycles,’ she said. ‘That’s too long for him to be away!’
‘It is a great honour to be selected for the rotation and Dax is very excited about it. But we wanted to go together. We asked if he could wait until Sapphire and I are old enough to go with him, but they said no. We will each be eligible in our own time.’
She knew Tartarus was still a prison, but she hadn’t thought of the Olympians who would be sent there to guard the prisoners.
‘What about your parents? Can’t they do anything?’
Fawn lowered her head. ‘They entered the Solar Stream when I was very young. Something bad happened to them and they were lost. Now it is only us. When Dax goes, Sapphire and I will be all alone.’
There was silence as Emily searched for words to comfort the young night dweller. ‘Maybe I can speak with Jupiter,’ she offered. ‘See if I can get Dax excused from rotation until you are old enough to go together.’
Pegasus nickered and shook his head.
‘You’re right, Pegasus.’ Fawn’s voice trembled. ‘My brother must go. All the night dwellers are eligible for rotation but very few are selected. It is how it has always been.’
‘Just the night dwellers go? That doesn’t sound fair.’
‘We are chosen because of what we are. Night dwellers can stand living in the dimness of the prison. We do not need daylight, and rarely venture to the surface. It does not hurt us to work there, but day walkers really suffer.’
Pegasus nickered again and Fawn nodded. ‘That is true also.’
She looked to Emily and explained. ‘Night dwellers cannot be influenced by those prisoners who have the power to manipulate minds. That is our power – that and our ability to communicate with family members over great distances. When Dax is gone, we will still be able to hear and speak with each other. But it is not enough. Sapp
hire is still very young. She needs both Dax and me.’
Emily recalled just how dark and miserable Tartarus was. They had gone there during the day, but it could have been night. It would be a horrible place to have to stay for any length of time. ‘It still doesn’t seem fair.’
‘The prisoners must be guarded and fed. It is our obligation to them. Dax and I knew he would be eligible for rotation this year. We just hoped it would be when we were all old enough to go together.’
‘I am so sorry,’ Emily said. ‘When does he have to leave?’
‘In two days.’
‘What will happen to you and your sister?’
Fawn shrugged. ‘I do not know. We will still work in the nectar orchards. But . . .’
‘You’ll be alone,’ Emily finished for her.
Fawn fell silent as they spent the night walking together along the silver lake. Pegasus had said there was no altering the rotation, but it didn’t seem fair. Fawn and her sister were too young to be left on their own. What fate awaited them? Emily knew she had to do something. She just wasn’t sure what.
In the distance, the sky was slowly lightening to pre-dawn grey. ‘The sun will soon rise – we must go,’ Fawn said. ‘I cannot be caught in the sunlight.’
Emily helped Fawn climb back on to Pegasus and then settled in behind her. ‘What happens if the sun touches you?’
‘My skin will blister and burn. I will become weaker and, finally, if I am out in it too long, I will burst into flame and it will kill me.’
‘But Olympians can’t die. Ambrosia and nectar heal their wounds and make them immortal.’
‘Yes, but if we burn completely, there is nothing left to heal. Ambrosia does not work on ashes.’
Just like vampires, Emily mused. ‘We won’t let that happen, will we, Pegs?’
The stallion whinnied and put on more speed as he winged his way towards central Olympus. As they drew near, Fawn called instructions to Pegasus to help guide him to her home.
‘Yes, over there.’ She pointed. ‘To those mountains on the other side of the Temple of the Flame. We live in the caves beneath them.’