Page 35 of Crown of Olympus
“Athena? What’s going on? Is this about the trials?”
“Shh. We just want to talk. Then we’ll let you both go,” she whispered. “Help them up.”
Large hands hooked beneath my armpits, pulling me to my feet. I turned, trying to identify the male behind me, but all I caught was a glint of gold beneath the hood. It could have been anyone — we all bled the same. I just hoped I’d been able to hit him as hard as he’d hit me.
“What about these?” Aros growled, thrusting his cuffed wrists in the goddess’s face.
“Precautionary measure, I’m afraid. Once we get where we’re going, and you prove yourselves trustworthy, I’ll remove them myself,” she replied.
“What are they, and why have they severed my powers?” I scowled, abhorring the destitution I was faced with for the first time since I’d come of age.
“A new invention. As long as the metal is in contact with your skin, your powers will remain unavailable to you.”
Athena led us through a maze of side streets, her feet landing silently on the stones. She moved like a predator — soundlessly prowling towards her destination. I suspected she was leading us in circles to confuse us. I recognised the same dilapidated house, with its garden statue of a pegasus, as we passed it a second time. The tail had snapped off but was placed neatly next to its hind legs, like somebody had once intended to repair it but never got the chance.
Eventually, we arrived at a large, empty theatre.
Correction: almost empty.
As Athena led us down the steps and to the centre of the stage, cloaked figures emerged from the shadows and slipped into seats near the front. I counted twelve in total, including Athena and her two lackeys.
“Caelus and Aros. You have been brought here—” she began.
“Against our will,” Aros muttered.
The goddess levelled him with a sharp glare before continuing.
“As I was saying, you have been brought here because we have been watching you. Since the Ascension Rite was announced, ourgrouphas monitored all major players and their champions.”
I frowned, wondering how extensively I’d been monitored — and how I hadn’t noticed.
Athena’s gaze shifted to me. “The Crown of Olympus choosing a new bearer has been anticipated for centuries, I’m sorry to say, Caelus.” Sympathy softened her features, unaware I wasn’t grieving the former king the way she expected.
“A prophecy foretold it. And so, we have been preparing, waiting for Fate’s chosen bearer to emerge. Our group has grown steadily as whispers of the prophecy spread. We’ve even managed to infiltrate the Rite itself, as you have likely already deduced.”
“What’s that got to do with us?” Aros grunted.
“Both of you have acted in ways that are complementary to our goals. You’ve chosen to ally with those our enemies despise. We believe you can help us.”
She paused, looking each of us in the eye.
“Do either of you really want the crown?” she asked quietly.
Aros scoffed. “Of course not. Do you really think a king could drink and fuck the way I do?”
I huffed a laugh. “Actually, yes. How do you think my father spent the last millennia?”
He paused, then shrugged. “My answer is still no. But I couldn’t very well refuse my father and have him give the glory — and therefore, all the glory fucking — to one of my horrid brothers, now could I?”
Athena sighed deeply, clearly unprepared for my friend’s drunken honesty. Or his drunken libido.
She turned her full attention to me, her gaze sharp, waiting for an answer.
“No,” I said.
“Why not? You could have everything your father did. Wealth, power, women?—”
“That’s exactly why I don’t want it,” I cut in. “I’m not him, and I’m tired of living in his shadow.”
