The Xan nodded his head. “Very true.”
“So please, Yird, can you help us? Even a little bit of your power is a lot more than we have. You could end this whole thing in a second.”
“I told you, I have no power left.” He paused and tilted his head to the side. “I gave it all to you.”
Emily frowned. “No, you didn’t, because I can hardly do anything!”
“Believe me, child, I did. But I hid it from you. Only now is it starting to awaken. You felt the first change when Riza was unable to stop Rhean from being destroyed in the Solar Stream. You called upon the power and it was there for you.”
“I don’t understand.”
“You, Emily, stand on the threshold of a new beginning. But the choice must always be yours. When I was building your new body, Riza shared with me all that you had both been through. She said you were young but you were growing. She believed you could control your powers and use them for good. She had absolute faith in you and told me you were worthy of them. I must admit, I did not hold such faith in you.
“But as there was only one opportunity to do this, Riza begged me to try. While you slept, I put all the powers that I possessed into you. But I locked them away behind two psychic doors. In your fear for the Rheans, you broke down the first door and accessed some of the power.”
“I felt it!” Emily said. “When we were in the Solar Stream, I really felt it.”
“Yes,” he said, and then frowned again. “I still find it perplexing that you did not use those powers to save yourself on Earth when the Titan consumed you. But you did when the Rheans needed you most. Your concern for their safety over your own convinced me that you are ready.”
“Do I really have your powers?” Emily asked softly.
“Some, but not all are available to you yet,” he said. “There is one more door yet to open. But the moment you do, you will change irrevocably. You will no longer be Emily of Earth, or even Emily of Olympus. You will truly be Emily—a full Xan. You may look as you do now, but nothing of you will be the same. You will become as Riza is. You will have all the powers of the Xan at your command. But you will be expected to take up the duties of the Xan. You will work with my daughter to protect Xanadu and to seek out dying worlds and bring their inhabitants here. This is an enormous responsibility, Emily, and not one to be taken lightly. Once you agree, there will be no going back.”
Emily inhaled deeply. “Do I have to decide now?”
He smiled gently. “I would rather you didn’t. This is too large a decision to be made hastily. But if you decide you do not want this, you must tell Riza. She and Arious know what they must do to neutralize the power.”
“Will it kill me?”
“No. Riza will see to that. But should you choose to accept this offer, the second door will not be opened so easily. You must ask for it. I have set a special lock in place, a lock that can be opened only in time of great need. Then you must call out your mother’s full name and tell her to open the door. She is the guardian at the door to eternity. She is the one who will free the power and set you on your course of final metamorphosis.”
It all seemed so impossible to take in. Emily looked at the Xan before her, standing so calm, as if they had been talking about the weather on a sunny afternoon and not the monumental decision she had to make.
He smiled at her a final time. “It is time for you to go back,” he said lightly. The tall Xan leaned down and kissed Emily on the top of her head. “I am sure you will make the right decision.”
When he straightened, he gazed up. “We are finished, Arious. Cease communication.”
Emily staggered backward out of the consul. Pegasus was waiting for her and came forward. He nickered softly.
“I—I’m fine,” Emily said. She walked over to the computer. “Arious, did you hear all that?”
“Yes, Emily.”
“May I tell the others?”
“You are not forbidden to. But as you know, ultimately, the decision must be yours.”
Emily walked back to Pegasus knowing she could never tell the others. This was too big to put on them, and it would only confuse her. But there was one that she knew she could always trust with everything. As she gazed up into the stallion’s beautiful eyes, she smiled. “Pegs, I really need to tell you something. . . .”
17
EMILY AND PEGASUS WALKED OUT of the chamber of Arious. The moment the large door opened, she found Joel, Paelen, and Chrysaor waiting in the corridor outside it. Joel jumped to his feet and ran over to her.
“Em, Em, I’m so sorry. I’ve been such a jerk and I hurt you. Please forgive me. It doesn’t matter what you look like—tall, short, fat, slim—just as long as you’re okay. That we’re okay.”
Emily was stunned by his reaction and could see the sincerity in his eyes. “You hurt me, Joel,” she said softy. “You turned away from me just because I changed. Do you have any idea how that felt?”
“I know, and I feel terrible about it. The problem was with me, not you. I’ve been so insecure that I just didn’t handle the change very well. When I saw the new you, I thought I lost you because you were so much better than me. Beautiful and powerful. I didn’t think you would care for me anymore.”
“So you decided to hurt me first and push me away before I could hurt you—as if I ever would.” Emily knew this wasn’t the time to confront him with all the bigger issues happening. But somehow, all the hurt came pouring out. “What would you do if I changed again? Give in to your insecurities and walk away?”
“No, never. I know I’ve been stupid.” He looked over to Paelen. “Actually, I had a lot of help being shown how stupid I’ve been. Paelen and Cupid were right. How you’ve changed doesn’t matter. What does is that you are still the same wonderful person. It’s you whom I love. Not just your pretty face.”
“You what?”
“I know I should have said this long ago. . . .” He paused. “Actually, I did say it a very long time ago, but I should have kept saying it. I love you, Emily Jacobs. I love you more than anything in my life, and I couldn’t bear to lose you. Please, please forgive me.”
Emily hesitated. “I—I don’t know, Joel. After everything we’ve been through, you turned away from me just because I physically changed.”
“I know,” he cried. “It was dumb and selfish and stupid, and I’ll regret it for the rest of my life. But please, Em, please forgive me. It was a terrible mistake. . . .”
“You hurt me, Joel,” Emily repeated. “Badly.”
“And I’m going to spend the rest of my life making it up to you.”
Paelen cleared his throat. “And speaking of that life, it may not be very long if the Titans have their way.”
“Emily, listen to me,” Joel implored. “We are going into our biggest fight yet. But I can’t face it if I don’t have you with me. Please don’t leave me. Not now . . .”
Emily looked back at Pegasus and he looked away—telling her the decision was hers alone. Finally she reached forward and slapped Joel hard across the face. “Joel DeSilva, if you ever do that to me again, I swear I will send you so far across the universe that not even Riza could find you!”
“I swear I won’t!” Joel promised. “Does that mean you forgive me?”
Emily sighed. “All right, all right. I forgive you.”
Joel’s eyes flew open wide, and he scooped her up in his arms. “I love you, Emily Jacobs, and I don’t care who knows it!”
Emily put her arms around him and felt all the hurt and anger melting away. When he released her, she frowned. “But, Joel, how do you know about the past?”
“Those mutant Titans showed us—they showed us everything.”
“But how did you know about them?”
Paelen started to speak. “After the silver beach, I felt so bad for what happened I went to see you. Tom told us where you had gone, and we had to follow you. But we never expected to find what we found under Charing Cross. Those creatures were terrifying.”
“What about Earl and Frankie? Are they all right?”
“They’re here,” Joel said. “We freed everyone, including the clones.”
Joel and Paelen went in to details of their time under Charing Cross Station. Emily was shocked to hear that Vulcan had gone as well. “Is he here? Has he seen Stella?”
Joel shook his head. “He took the clones and went back to Olympus to warn Jupiter. We came here to see if you were all right. Arious told us about Rhean.” He grinned at her. “My Emily, superhero and savior of worlds.”
Emily shook her head and smiled. “Not quite.”
“So we’re all right?” he asked hesitantly. “I mean, you and me?”
Emily could feel his guilt and shame for turning away from her. But she wasn’t going to make it easy for him. She turned to Paelen. “Should I forgive him everything?”
Paelen nodded. “Please. He will be impossible to live with if you do not.”
“Hey,” Joel protested.
Emily smiled at him. “All right, I’ll forgive you, but only to save Paelen.”
Joel grinned and pulled her close. When they parted, Emily turned to Paelen. “I’m sorry about Lorin.”
“She gave her life for me,” Paelen said softly. At the mention of her name, tears sparkled in his eyes, but he refused to let them fall.
Emily took both his hands in hers. “She loved you. I know that. But I must tell you something that I hope eases your pain.” Emily wondered how best to tell him. Finally she said softly, “Paelen, Lorin was dying.”
He nodded. “I know. She told me . . . at the end.”
“What?” Joel cried.
“When Riza’s father removed most of her Xan powers,” Emily started, “her body couldn’t cope. Mine couldn’t either, but Riza gave some of herself to me, so we could be sisters, and it saved my life. Lorin didn’t receive any and had very little time left. She gave up what she had to save you.”
Joel lowered her head. “She was dying and I was so mean to her.”
“Me too,” Emily said. “I should have tried harder to be friends.”
Paelen dropped his head. “She was jealous of you because of Pegasus—she did not want to be your friend. But even so, I loved her. . . .”
“I know you did.” Emily reached for Paelen and held him tight. She whispered in his ear, “I also know you’ll find someone special who will see you for the wonderful person that you are.”
Paelen shook his head. “No. I think I have had enough of love. Right now, all I want to do is destroy those Titans who killed Lorin.”
“And I’m going to help you,” she said softly. “We just have to figure out how. They have so much power. They nearly absorbed me. If it hadn’t been for Riza’s ring, I would be dead too.”
“Lorin’s Flame couldn’t hurt them,” Paelen said.
“Mine couldn’t either. Nothing I tried worked. If I’m honest, I’m not even sure they can be destroyed.”
“Perhaps the Big Three can do it.”
“I hope so,” Emily agreed. “I did kinda have another idea, but it’s a really bad one. But fighting those mutant Titans is like trying to wrestle with a bag of water. We’re going to need all the help we can get.”
“What’s your idea?” Joel asked.
Emily walked over to Pegasus for reassurance. “Now, don’t hate me for suggesting this. But we know those three Titans—”
“Two,” Paelen corrected.
“There were three mutant Titans under Charing Cross.”
“Yes, and when one of them consumed Lorin, the other two consumed it to take his power and Lorin’s. They are even more powerful now.”
Emily dropped her head. “Then my bad idea may be the only one left to us.”
“Emily, stop waffling and tell us,” Joel said.
“All right, we know those two mutant Titans exist because of me. If I hadn’t fired on them in Tartarus, they would never have been created.”
“And . . . ,” Paelen said.
“And I think we should go talk to Saturn to find out who they were and if he can help us.”
Joel nodded his head. “You are so right. . . . That’s the worst idea ever! Saturn is the one who started the war, remember? He wants us dead. Now you want to go ask him for help?”
“Yes,” Emily said. “Look, those mutant Titans aren’t really Titans anymore. They’re monsters. Creatures that have absorbed so many beings they don’t even have real bodies—just that gelatinous goo. They told me their plan. They are going to absorb all the Olympians and then go after the Titans. Individually we can’t defeat them. But maybe united we can. It’s in everyone’s best interest to work together.”
“She’s right,” Agent B said.
Joel turned back to him. “That is just like a CRU agent! Creeping around and spying on people.”
“I’m not spying, Joel. I came for an update on Emily and Riza.” He approached Emily. “I’m relieved to see you up and around. How is Riza? Is there any news?”
Emily nodded. “She’s recovering; it’s just going to take time. Maybe more time than we have, considering the three Titans are now two and that much more powerful.”
Agent B nodded. “I heard.”
“How was the arrival at Xanadu? Were the Rheans all right?” she asked.
He laughed and combed his fingers through his long dark curly hair. “It was a bumpy ride, that’s for sure. But thanks to you and Riza, we all made it. Arious transported us down here.”
“What?” Emily cried. “Arious can do that?”
Agent B nodded. “Very quickly too.”
Emily stormed up to the supercomputer. “Arious, is it true? You can transport people?”
“Yes.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Technically, you never asked.”
“Em, if you’re still thinking of going to Titus to speak to Saturn, you’re crazy. He’ll kill you.”
“No, he won’t.” She paused and frowned. “At least I don’t think so. Pegasus and I saw him in a magic well that Urania has on Mount Helicon. It showed Saturn sitting all alone in his throne room. Urania says she’s been watching him. He’s changed. They all have. The Titans are more focused on living than attacking the Olympians.”
“What makes you think Saturn can help us?” Agent B said.
“You saw him from my memories. He’s Jupiter’s father and has a lot of power. If we can get him to agree, he might join with his sons. With all the Olympians working with the Titans, there is a chance we could defeat the mutants.”
“There’s also a chance he may attack us.”
Emily nodded. “I know. But we have to risk it.”
“There is one other problem,” Paelen put forth. “Riza’s father banned all travel between Titus and Olympus. Even if Saturn agreed to help us, he could not come to Olympus to do it. Nor could the Big Three go to him.”
“Oh, that’s right,” Emily mused. Then she remembered. She held up her hand with the ring. “Arious, this ring that Riza gave to me, it had the power to transport us across the universe. Does that mean you can create gemstones to open the Solar Stream like the ones we used to have?”
“This is not something I should be doing,” Arious said. “Yird was very clear on that.”
“Who’s Yird?” Joel asked.
“That’s Riza’s dad,” Emily said. She looked back at the supercomputer. “But you know what will happen if we don’t get the Titans to help us. Please, tell me. Can you create the gemstones for the Solar Stream?”
“Theoretically, yes, I can. But I dare not make them portable. I will make a deal with you. . . .”
“Wait,” Joel said. “You’re a computer that makes deals?”
“I am more than that,” Arious said.
“He is,” Emily agreed. “So, what’s the deal?”
• • •
Sometime later, they walked out of the temple toward the camp. Earl, Frankie, Stella, and Cupid were seated before a fire. Brue was standin
g over Frankie, washing him with her two tongues.
Emily ran forward and embraced her friends. When she hugged Earl, she said, “I can’t believe you guessed it was me. How soon after we arrived in the cell did you know?”
Earl grinned and walked over to Pegasus. “I knew from the moment you opened your mouth. You might have changed on the outside, but on the inside, you are still the same.”
“So you knew right away it was me.”
“Course. Any kinda fool could see that.”
Emily shot a look at Joel and raised her eyebrows.
“I know, I know,” he said. “So shoot me!”
“Don’t tempt me,” Emily said.
The two Pegasus clones whinnied loudly to Pegasus. Emily looked at Pegasus and then to the clones. All of the stallions had flared nostrils and wild, angry eyes.
“Oh, no, Pegs, not again!” Emily warned. “You know they’re just clones. Ignore them, no matter what they say to you.”
Emily crossed the clearing and approached the two winged stallions. “Both of you will stop that this moment!” she chastised. “He is not your enemy.”
The two clones’ nostrils continued to flare, but the whinnying stopped. They snorted, pounded the ground, but stayed where they were.
“Don’t know how long that truce will hold,” Earl said. “Them stallions sure wanna tussle.”
Frankie joined Emily by the two clones and started to pet their muzzles. “Calm down, boys. Just calm down.”
Emily raised her eyebrows at him.
“That boy sure has some talent,” Earl said. “If it ain’t computers, it’s critters. Even big old Brue likes him.”
“I like animals,” Frankie called back.
“That’s a great thing,” Emily said. “Please, would you keep them calm if you can?”
“So,” Earl said, rubbing his hands together. “What’s the plan?”
“Emily’s come up with a suicide mission,” Joel said.
“It’s not suicide,” Emily said, walking back to the fire. “And you don’t have to come if you don’t want to.”
“Oh no. I nearly lost you once. Never again!”
Paelen stepped forward. “Emily would like us to speak with Saturn to ask for his help going against the mutant Titans.”