Page 18 of Crown of Olympus
Hermes stepped back, and Apollo silently took his place at the forefront of the grand chamber. He raised his hands, and words formed between his graceful fingers in quick, fluid signs.
Your first challenge will test your grit. It will be gruelling. It will demand every ounce of determination you possess.
“Wonderful,” a snide voice breathed to my right.
Apollo’s eyes narrowed at the son of Poseidon, as though he had heard the remark — which was impossible. More likely, he was just very attuned to the habits of Olympians.Someonewas going to complain about it.
Your objective?he signed.Find your way to me. This will be imperative, not just to your continuance in the Rite, but to your general health and wellbeing.
I raised my brows. What exactly did the sun god have in store for us?
“Wait, but doesn’t he have to compete too?” A different male voice whined. Hermes’ son.
His father frowned at him, then addressed the room at large.
“Apollo will complete his own trial, entwined with yourown. His perseverance will also be tested. His fate tied to yours,” Hermes declared cryptically.
Shall we begin?Apollo questioned.
Hermes nodded and led us to the gleaming marble arch at the far end of the hall. Apollo placed his palm against the white stone and a wavering red image appeared between its pillars. Heat blistered through it, dragging with it tiny red particles of sand.
Wonderful, I repeated the earlier sentiment.A desert.
Apollo strode calmly through and vanished before our eyes.
“Well then. Let us begin the Ascension Rite,” Hermes decreed.
One by one, champions filed through the gateway, leaving their Primals behind, if they represented one.
Unsurprisingly, I was last.
Hermes gripped my elbow roughly before I could step through, yanking me around to face him. I acted without conscious thought, conjuring a dagger of shadow in my unobstructed hand and driving it deep into his offending bicep.
Hermes screeched and staggered back, his face twisted in a picture of horrified outrage.
“You would do well to remember this, demon,” he hissed, his voice pitched so low no other could hear him. “Hades will not wear this crown too. Surrender to the trial, and I might let you live.”
I couldn’t help it — I laughed. Lethal and cutting.
Yanking the blade free, I let it dissolve between my fingers and watched as his ichor vanished along with it.
“Touch me again, and I’ll ensure the only afterlife you see is Tartarus.”
I left the sputtering god on the threshold of the arch, striding through with fury raging through my veins.
With my resolve newly sharpened, I braced for the scorching winds I knew would greet me on the other side, and stepped forwards.
Part Two
TRIALS & TRIBULATIONS
“The gods, in their mercy, test those who would rule with torment, to see if they are worthy of the crown.”
— SENECA,HERCULES FURENS
CHAPTER 7
Nyssa
