Page 65 of Soul Keeper

Iris’ brows furrowed into a deep scowl, while her hair turned a deep shade of green. “Oh, you don’t have to worry about me. I’ll be leaving soon, anyway.”

Zephyr spluttered in surprise. “You will?”

“That’s right. I have a score to settle with some tiny Irishmen, who seem to think they can help themselves to the pot of gold at the end of my rainbows.” But Iris’ steely glare softened as she turned to Zephyr. “Unless… you wanted… to join me?”

Zephyr’s heart soared in his chest at the prospect, like a bird catching the most glorious of breezes. But before he could respond, Calliope stepped between them, her eyes narrowed into a menacing glare.

“Of course he doesn’t wish to join you. Zephyr is a hero of Olympus now, and he can’t be seen cavorting with the riff-raff.” Calliope sneered at the hurt in Iris’ eyes, before she took Zephyr’s hand with a pincer-like grip, and pulled him towards the Heroes Bar. “This way, Zephyr! This is the beginning of the rest of your life. A better life…”

Zephyr glanced between the two women. “Iris, I…”

But the light that had once sparkled in Iris’ eyes faded, until only darkness remained. Her hair turned to a dull gray, before she lowered her gaze to the floor.

“She’s right. I wouldn’t want to cramp your style, hero.“ Zephyr flinched as Iris spat out her words like poison. She looked at him with hurt in her eyes, before she turned her back on him, and on Olympus. “See you around, wind man.”

“Iris, wait, I…”

But Zephyr cursed as Calliope pulled him through the crowds with the strength and determination of a Minotaur. His mind tossed and turned like winds at sea, while his heart sank with every step. This was supposed to be everything he ever wanted. He’d returned to Olympus a hero, and had finally gained the attention of the Muses. And yet, with each passing second, it felt like a big mistake. There would be no more harebrained, daredevil adventures. There would be no more meat buns. And there would be no more Iris.

A deep rumble shook the marble floors, shaking the delicate fairy lights hung above. Calliope paused, and glanced at her surroundings warily.

“What was that?”

“Probably my stomach.” Zephyr glanced at the food-laden tables hungrily. “I’m positively ravished.”

“No, look!”

Zephyr followed Calliope’s gaze, to the hearth of Olympus. His eyes widened as the flames spluttered out, until the golden light that had once bloomed now faded to darkness. The shadows lengthened and extended, consuming everything they touched, until a terrible roar shook the foundations of Olympus.

“I don’t understand.” Zephyr turned to Hera as she raced from the dancefloor. “What’s happening?”

“The light of love doesn’t burn brightly enough.” Hera’s face paled as the shadows advanced, while fear shone in her eyes. “We failed… and Olympus will fall.”

Zephyr drew a startled breath as the darkness lengthened and solidified. A pair of claws emerged from the shadows, followed by a long reptilian body with wings that stretched into the sky. Zephyr looked in horror as a vast obsidian dragon prowled from the darkness, its reptilian skin made from the most twisted of shadows, before it released a flame of darkness into the air. But as its eyes narrowed at the party-going Olympians, Zephyr knew that this was no ordinary beast. It was a Titan.

At once, the party erupted into pandemonium. Zephyr watched in bewilderment as the Minotaur charged through food-laden tables in fear, sending pyramids of champagne flutes shattering to the ground, while Aphrodite and Athena played tug of war with the Helmet of Invisibility. Where once the party had been filled with merry-making and mirth, now chaos reigned. And as Olympians fled for their lives from the sight of the fearsome monster, Zephyr knew he had no time to waste.

“We need to get out of here!” Calliope tugged Zephyr across the dancefloor, while her retinue cowered behind an elaborate ice sculpture. “Quickly, to the Heroes Bar!”

But Zephyr studied the crowds fearfully, sensing something was amiss. He searched through the sea of panicked party-goers, only for his stomach to lurch as he noticed one person remained missing.

“Wait, where’s Iris?”

“Oh, who cares where that rainbow-making ruffian is?” Calliope shook her head in disdain and tugged Zephyr towards the safety of the bar. “The best thing we can do is to sit in a bar, drink champagne, and wait until the danger passes, like true heroes.”

“But she could be in danger!”

“Then we’ll write a moving ballad about her untimely demise.” Calliope tugged Zephyr towards the Heroes Bar once more, before she fixed him with a furious scowl. “I won’t ask you again, Zephyr. Either you come to the Heroes Bar this instant, or you’ll lose your chance to step foot in there, forever.”

Zephyr met Calliope’s gaze, knowing that if he followed her, he could finally live the life he’d so desperately wanted. A life where he would finally be noticed, and treated as a hero of Olympus. He looked longingly at the Muses, and the cloud-covered Heroes Bar, knowing they were just a step away. And he realized he’d made his decision.

“All my life I’ve wanted to fit in with the heroes of Olympus. It’s why I agreed to find the Sons of Olympus and set out on this adventure. I did it all to impress you. To finally feel like I belong here.” Zephyr smiled, before he shook his head. “But I was wrong. I never needed to fit in here, and I never needed to impress you. Because I’ve found where I belong. And it’s with that rainbow-making ruffian!”

“You’re going to choose her over us?“ Calliope turned to Zephyr with fury in her eyes. “Think about this, Zephyr! With us, you could have everything you ever dreamed of. You could be worshiped across Olympus. You could fill entire vaults with riches and treasures–”

“If I’ve learned one thing from the Sons of Olympus, it’s this.” Zephyr smiled as he turned his back on the Muses. “The greatest treasures in life are those of the heart. And I’m going to save mine!”

“Zephyr, come back here this instant!” Calliope stamped her foot with rage, her usual melodic voice now tainted with fury. “Where do you think you’re going?”

---