Page 60 of Crown of Olympus
A circular arenaopened before me, its walls gleaming and smooth, unmarked by time. At the far end, directly opposite, was a narrow pathway sliced through the stone. But standing between me and the exit was a creature I recognised on sight.
Of course Hermes had found — or bribed, or stolen — one for his trial.
Unblinking gold feline eyes tracked my entrance into the arena. She made no other move. The gaze in her human-like face was sharp and intelligent, weighing my every step. She sat poised in the arena’s centre, her lion’s body, muscular and lithe, lay still. Feathered wings draped gracefully across the dusty floor, and pools of fresh golden blood surrounded her.
A low groan broke through the trance of her stare and snapped my attention left. Sprawled haphazardly in the dirt were the ravaged and discarded bodies of Leander and Tychon, barely breathing. Their weapons lay discarded beside them.
The sphinx finally stirred — to lick her gold-stained claws clean. A subtle warning perhaps. Most likely, a threat.
Idiots.
It didn’t take a genius to see their brawn had overpowered what little brain they possessed. They’d tried to fight their way through the pathway’s guardian.
This was not a test of physical strength. It was one of mental tenacity.
I shifted to take in the rest of the arena again and noticed three others had made it out of the never-ending maze.
Caelus stood a few feet to my right. Aphrodite just beyond him. And Aros lounged lazily on the floor, recovering from the Aros-sized hole he’d hacked through his section of wall.
I ignored the males — and what their presence did to my traitorous body — opting to greet my friend. Aph had been sorely underestimated by the other champions, and if I was being honest, by me too. She’d moved through these trials with ease. She would make a magnificent Queen of Olympus. If only that didn’t make her my rival too.
I longed to throw my arms around her. But my habitual aversion to touch, and her instinctive aversion to death, had always kept us apart in that regard. Instead, I smiled warmly, not giving a fuck about the two gaping witnesses to my unusual pleasantness.
“Hey, Nyss. It’s good to see you in one piece,” she teased, grimacing briefly at Leander’s broken form slowly knitting itself back together.
“Aph.” My grin deepened. “I didn’t realise the goddess of beauty title came with a self-cleaning feature,” I teased, gesturing to her impossibly immaculate ivory gown, clasped daintily at one shoulder with a gleaming, golden pin. It was not one I’d seen her wear before — an odd change from her usual dainty jewellery designs.
It was fashioned in the shape of a longsword, with a crown dangling from its blade. A subtle nod to her sharp wit in the trials, perhaps.
Her ensemble was a far cry from my black and bronze armour. With Charon’s help, I had selected a black tunic, leather breeches, and ankle-high boots. Over it all, a bronze-and-leather cuirass and matching vambraces.
If Ares had drawn the card for today’s trial, it could easilyhave involved hand-to-hand combat. There wasn’t a chance in Tartarus I’d be caught unprepared for that one.
Aphrodite winked slyly. “Magic.”
“Not to break up the unexpected reunion,” Aros cut in, “But do either of you have any idea as to how we get past Whiskers over there?”
“Yes, actually,” I began, hoping the Sphinx hadn’t heard him. “I was told stories as a child. I never put any stock into them being real. But betweenherand the hydra in Artemis’ trial, I have been forced to reconsider.
“There was once a creature,” I recited, “born not of love, nor war, nor even the whims of gods. A creature born of riddles and ruin. It was said she was sent by Hera.” I looked up at Caelus, his expression unreadable, but eyes fixed on me with that trademark intensity.
“The Sphinx waited on the road to Thebes, blocking the way forward. No blade could cut her down; no brute force could move her. Only wit could overcome her challenge. If a traveller wished to reach the city, they must first answer her riddle.”
“What was the riddle?” Caelus spoke gently, his voice lacking the fervour his eyes carried.
“Fuck that, what was theanswer?” Aros scoffed.
“It doesn’t matter,” I answered both. “She never asks the same riddle twice.”
Wanting to get it over with before my mind whirled away from me, I took a steadying breath and approached the guardian.
My footsteps were slow, stopping a respectful distance. I raised my chin, unsure how to proceed. The sphinx tilted her head, and an amused smile played across her eerily human lips.
Well met, daughter of Hades.
Her rich, velvety voice reverberated inside my skull, thoughher mouth remained closed. Disorienting, but I managed a nod of greeting.
“Well met, Sphinx.”
