Page 19 of Poseidon's Trident
“What is that?” I choke out. “It wasn’t that hot before.”
“Something’s wrong,” Kira says. “I think there’s lava in the main forge.”
Thad races inside with the rest of the Hephaestus students and I take one step in the door before sweat drips into my eyes. Crying fills my ears in the quiet space and I recognize Claud’s sobs.
“Where’s Claud?” I cry. “He’s in there.”
Thad’s cooling water magic rolls over me and I sigh as I race into the forge. I don’t have a clue how he did it, but I’m nowhere near as hot as I was when we first stepped inside. I take a cleansing breath and glance at Thad as loud sobs meet my ears.
“Claud?” I call out to my friend.
Raven rushes up behind me with Jayden and Adrian hot on her heels. “Is he okay? Why is he crying? I thought the lava couldn’t hurt him.”
“It can’t. I have no idea why he’s crying,” I yell.
“Didn’t do it.” Claud’s voice breaks the silence.
I skid to a stop as I go into the workroom. Claud is under his workbench. His hands are covering his single eye as he breaks down in soft cries.
“Claud, why are you crying?” I crouch in front of his workstation.
“Beth, there’s lava there,” Jayden warns.
“I see it, but Claud is scared, saying he didn’t do it. I need him to know that I know that.” I turn to Jayden.
Thad steps forward with his head cocked to the side. “Is he a cyclops?”
“Yes,” I growl. “One of the ancient ones.”
“So, not a son of Poseidon.” Thad nods.
“Definitely not. He was in Tartarus longer than your father has been alive,” Raven says.
Thad nods and I turn my attention back to Claud. The poor guy’s so childlike in his cries it breaks my heart.
“Claud, what didn’t you do?” I ask softly.
“I didn’t do it. I not shake the ground. Don’t send me back.” Claud wails, never looking at me.
“Claud, we would never send you back. What’s wrong?” I try to coax him out, but he won’t budge.
“Hey,” Jayden says. “We’re friends, right?”
Claud uncovers his eye and blinks at Jayden.
“Friend.” Claud nods.
“Well, we don’t send our friends to Tartarus because of things that aren’t their fault,” I pipe in.
“No? Not my fault,” Claud whimpers.
“Not your fault. It was an earthquake, Claud. It was Poseidon weakening, not you. Can you come out, please?” I hold a hand out to him, but he shakes his huge head.
Kira runs in from the volcano with wide eyes. “I don’t know what to do. The volcano is no longer stable. It could blow at any minute. What do we do?”
Any headway we had with Claud only seconds ago is gone as the cyclops wails again. “I didn’t do it. Forges safe. I’m safe.”
“You’re safe, Claud.” I smile and hold out my small hand for him to take in his huge one.
