Page 47 of The Brothers Bane

“Could you even go? You can’t look human outside of this dimension, can you?” I ask Typhon.

Ty’s expression is oddly impassive when he says, “My brother’s flesh is protean. When he uses Pan’s power to clone himself and we inhabit a clone, we can take any shape we like in the mortal world. They’ve all been called on to help at the Pandemonium, many times. I have never joined them, since my task is always to oversee the prison in their absence.”

“Who is overseeing the prison now?” Alcides asks.

“Asterius remains in charge, as he has a deeper link to the prison’s inner workings and is not participating in the heist. The Furies have also been promoted while we focus on recapturing the Titans,” Campe says. “And while the brothers are having their spat.”

Erebus has drifted back so silently I almost don’t notice him, but makes a face when he hears Campe’s assessment of his fight with Vesh.

Typhon’s explanation makes me wonder if I could do the same thing for them, if I had Pan along for the ride. At the thought, I feel the barest shift inside my mind, almost like a window opening and letting in light. Pan’s presence is like a shadow just beyond the opening.

“I’m sorry, we can’t join you. The big guy has an agenda today. We’re at the Pandemonium, helping with security preparations for the party tomorrow.”

“Pan says he’s at the Pandemonium. Is that another pocket dimension like this? And what party, and why wasn’t I invited?”

My four mates who are with me exchange glances. Finally, Campe turns to me.

“We’ve been remiss when it comes to keeping you informed. You know Vesh is planning a heist to retrieve the key to Olympus. We hope to secure it and use it first, to gain an advantage over them. They have already terrorized a group of archaeologists north of here and have cursed four dragons, leaving an impossible bargain for their leader—we must produce the key if we want the Titans to lift the curse.”

I sit back and wave for her to continue. I struggle to obscure the churning worry from our bond. None of this would be happening if not for me. I’m the reason the Titans escaped, and evidently, I was the price Chaos wanted for the key, which Vesh refused to pay. But I don’t want them to know these thoughts haunt me at every turn.

“Vesh has been running around trying to make that happen,” Campe says.

“That’s what he was doing when he wasn’t with me in the prison before, isn’t it?” I ask.

She nods. “He was bargaining for the key, which has two pieces, secured separately. One was guarded by Fate, which he was able to acquire. The other by Chaos.”

“Who is in some place called the Pandemonium, which you still haven’t explained to me. Is it like the realm outside the gates of Tartarus? Is it dangerous?”

Campe squeezes her eyes shut, finally realizing how far we’ve diverged from my original question. “Sorry, I was getting to that. The Pandemonium is a casino in Las Vegas. It is the seat of Chaos’ power. His mate Sybil is throwing a party tomorrow, which we will use as cover to steal the key, right out from under Chaos’ nose.”

21

Nemea

“Who wants to take a trip to Las Vegas?” I hop up off the bed, looking around at the four of them.

Campe looks impressed. Alcides is clearly about to object. Typhon’s non-reaction is as transparent to me as glass. He can’t go and is numb to the constant disappointment of being left behind.

“Vesh will be there,” Alcides warns, but I’m already up and walking to Typhon. There’s something more important we need to tackle first.

Ty stands up straighter when he realizes I’m focusing on him, his gaze hopeful again. When I reach him, I grab his face between my hands and press a hard kiss to his mouth that leaves him blinking and dazed.

“Let’s see if we can teach you how to shift.”

“Have you ever done it?” he asks skeptically.

“No, so it’ll be new to me too. But supposedly I have powers similar to Vesh, and if he can do it, I figure so can I, right? And so can you. Any tips?” I turn to face Campe, who is looking on in amusement.

“He needs to let go of the dream form he’s taken on here, first of all. Nothing but the truth to start with. The chosen shape comes from your power, not from your mind. It is your essence transformed, not a wish made flesh. Once you have a grasp on controlling your essence, you can make it look however you like.”

“Right.” I look back at Typhon. “Let’s see you in all your glory, big boy.”

He takes a breath and backs up several paces. In a blink the lovely, strapping young blond is gone, and in his place is the three-stories-tall, scaled beast with one hundred heads who made me come so many times I forgot who I was. My core heats and throbs at the memory. All his tongues flick out, tasting the air, and his big head makes a low rumble, dipping close to inhale the air around me.

I place a hand on his snout and step back. “I’ll let you have your way with me when we get back. Right now, focus your power on making yourself the shape you were before.”

In a deep, resonant voice, he intones, “I do not have the same well of power inside me that you do. Iampower.” To illustrate, he sweeps his immense tail across the landscape behind him. The temple is in his way and crumbles like it’s made of sand. It reforms when he stills again, but is enough of a demonstration of his meaning.

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