I left the metal behind. I groaned as the nurse pulled the band aid around my shoulder. I was lucky it was only an arrow to the shoulder. Queen Hera‘s forces were none too underestimated. I learned that the hard way.
I pulled a black shirt over my head. Anyone would think a mage queen challenging a kingdom of gods was foolish. Hera was determined to bring down the Olympiad. Zeus‘ army was equally determined to destroy her. Hera better pray she died in battle because nothing could be worse than the wrath of Zeus.
The woman with long golden hair bowed. She gathered her things then vanished. I had been summoned by the goddess herself. I took the stairs to Zeus‘ personal floor, where only his legitimate wife and son lived. I walked the hall lined with tall women dressed in white satin, holding bowls of fruit.
Each maiden flawless with hair that caressed the floor and a blank stare. Never to be touched by any man, simply to stand and be awed by all men. The royal family sat in dim light. The war drained them with each blow thrown at us.
‘Orion,’ Sophia stood. Zeus and Apollo glanced at me.
I was the son of Sophia‘s handmaiden. She took pity on me when my mother ran off with a man. She had me taken care of and I found favour in Zeus’ eyes when I joined his army.
I bowed. She took my hands and fought the urge to pull them back. My body stiffened knowing Zeus could kill me for her actions.
‘You must find Artemis.’ She ordered.
Her once smooth spotless skin turned pale. Her brown hair lost its shine, dark bags formed under her eyes. The goddess was weak. Hera sucked the power out of her with each attack. Not having Artemis, had to steal life from her too.
I turned to Zeus. He nodded. ‘You are the only one we can trust.’
Apollo had volunteered to travel to earth to search for his sister, it would make more sense since he‘s the only one with a unique connection to her. He would find her easily. Then we discovered Hera killed an Olympiad god. That’s how she gained enough strength to breach out defences. How much more powerful would she be with the blood of a descendant of Zeus on her hands.
Artemis needed to be back at Olympiad before Hera knew she was missing. Hera wouldn‘t gain much power from me. I was only a demi-god. I couldn’t refuse. I nodded.
Zeus gripped his wife‘s shoulders. ‘Orion will return our daughter. Now rest Sophia. The battles will only get worse, I need you to be strong.’
‘Not until Orion returns with my daughter.’
Zeus caressed her face. ‘It’ll be a long time before he returns. Without you, the Olympiad's lights will fade and my kingdom will die.’
There was one thing I knew for sure Zeus truly loved Sophia, despite his other extracurricular activities. He led his beloved out of the room and to their chambers. The door slammed behind them.
‘Tell me where she is.’ I stared at Apollo.
His entire left arm was wrapped in a white cloth. He‘d been burned by a phoenix. He’d heal fully, eventually.
‘What are you talking about Orion?’ He murmured. His good hand covered his eyes.
‘Your sister Apollo. I don’t want to waste time playing babysitter while the Olympiad falls!‘
Apollo sat up and ripped off the white band aid. ‘Temper, temper Orion. Why didn’t you tell the goddess that?‘ He grinned.
‘And devastate her even more?’
He rolled his eyes. ‘She was with a man yesterday.’ He smirked.
‘Where?’
He reclined on the sofa. His arm was fully regenerated. ‘On earth, somewhere east. That’s pretty much all I can give you.‘
‘I’ll take it.‘ I turned to leave. It was going to be like finding a needle in a maize mill.
‘I’m warning you Orion.‘
‘About what?’
‘Artemis is a goddess and my sister. Sleep with her and I’ll murder you myself.‘
‘I wouldn’t want it any other way, your highness.‘
It was only expected of Apollo or any Olympiad god to remind a demi-god of their place. I marched back to my chambers to prepare for my trip. I couldn‘t use my powers. Earth was oblivious to gods or all sorts of magic. If Artemis had used her power in any situation there had to be a trace.
‘This is the mage dimension?’Stella and I stepped out of a rat-infested alley. No squeaky-clean streets, no golden lanterns. One flickering lamp post lit up one street.‘Well, the more rugged part of the dimension.’‘You’re telling me,’ I muttered. ‘So, where do we start?’The roads were lined with hut sized brick buildings, each one with steps leading up to the front door. Most of them were double storey.‘Mom said to go to Calista’s saloon. Difficult people to deal with, they don’t take anything seriously.’ She rolled her eyes.‘What is it like?’ I rubbed my shoulders.‘It’s a ghost plaza, but they always have information if you can get them to take you seriously.’Great, at least we had a place to start.‘How come you never told me about this place? It isn’t much, but why didn’t yo
Rubble rolled off me. What the hell was that? Hera’s soldiers are getting stronger, this one chose the wrong challenge. She peered her head to see where my body landed in the building. Without drawing my wings, I shot into the air. Landing behind her, I grabbed her hand.She growled. Her fist burned bright amber. I pulled back, the scent of burning flesh smacked my face. She thrust her legs forward. I hurled a ball of light that flew into a building. The two-storey apartment blew up, bricks and wood collapsed into the alley.She turned around her brown eyes fixed on me before she slammed her wrists together. Another flamed arrowed shot at me. I raised my shield. The arrow cracked the centre of my protection. The collision sent my feet sliding in the gravel.‘Stop! I haven’t done anything wrong.’I stared at the building she hurled me through and cocked my head to the side. She bit her lip. I fisted the soil beneath me and pulled my
The one time I use my powers I land myself in shit. Thank goodness Daylen and Marcus didn’t rat me out. I didn’t come here to end up in jail the more time I wasted the more the more ground I lost on Rocky. I still couldn’t put my finger on why Daylen helped me he seemed intent of getting rid of me earlier. I hoped I wasn’t getting into something worse with these two.After the door slammed shut and a few more minutes of hiding I emerged from the room. Daylen slouched on a stool by the bar with a glass in his hand and Marcus seemed to be pondering something in the living room.Daylen looked like any washed up sailor after whatever confrontation he had. His pearly white suit was ripped and brown, yes that was my fault. He unbuttoned his shirt, revealing his defined caramel toned chest. He had the brightest shade of brown eyes I’d ever seen.He looked up when I fully set foot in the living room. His hair wasn’t as curly as
Thousands of creatures lived in the mage dimension, others more populous than the next. Artemis could be a rare creature from the sea. I wanted her out of my head.Her hair stuck in my mind like her baked blueberry scent. Her hair had tiny loose curls, it was so dark it almost looked blue. She held power I couldn’t let Hera possess. I couldn’t allow myself to get sloppy and let her fall into my bed either. Things got messy when sex coupled with obligation.Artemis needed to stay away from my head. I had a court meeting to attend and all my attention had to go to the situation at hand. I was either early or got the wrong date. No one was ever late for these things. Solaris would have their heads.I tucked my notepad under my arm and pushed the door in. No guards stood outside and no voices came from inside. Although, a single woman stood staring at the tallest throne on the wall.‘Only the strongest ever sat on that
‘Look at the time where is he?’ Stella tapped her foot.I groaned, ‘I have no idea.’‘We can’t keep waiting. It’s getting late.’Her foot tapping was playing on my nerves. We’d been waiting for Daylen to show up for hours. The sun was setting and not even a letter of explanation popped up.I shook my head and paced to the door. He played me. He promised he’d help me find my sister and he wasn’t anywhere to be found now. Something more flashy must have popped up and he decided I was as good as a carton of expired milk.‘We should just go. We’ve wasted enough time as it is.’‘Yes, first you need a disguise.’‘Why?’‘You’re not from here and you need to look like you fit in. We’re not chopping your hair, but it has to go in a braid. You need leather lots of it. If anyone asks
‘How much do you trust this guy Stella?’ Alfie asked the second we walked out of the bar.‘He’s insane!’ I stalked ahead of them.‘I was told he’s a very reliable source and it makes sense. Arti! You’re special, you’re not a mage, you’re goddess! It’s so cool.’I shook my head. It couldn’t be. I couldn’t be, what did that mean for Rocky?‘No, Stella it’s not. It’s confusing and we didn’t get anything on Rocky.’She scratched her head, ‘Right. We should go back.’‘No, it doesn’t feel safe. There are places I hear kidnapped victims are held. Not nice places of course.’ Alfie said.‘No, kidding, but that will take forever.’‘Have you tried a locator spell?’Stella and I exchanged glanced.‘Would it work?&rs
Who would have thought she was in the mage dimension? Of course it was the work of lovely queen Hera. It excited me to think how the mad queen would suffer when I overtook her. Because I now had what she needed to fuel her war! I’d work faster than she ever could.After I left Artemis and Stella I went straight to my castle in Hemingway. Very soon the dusty forsaken castle would be the most feared fortress in the mage world and Olympiad. I burst into the throne room I claimed months ago. It was also the military room.‘Your highness, Hera’s soldiers have been defeated in the Fae Kingdom. The dark Fae are still putting up a wall.’ Turner my general said.‘Bring them down they’re either with us or against us. They had their chance.’I reclined in my throne. I wanted my seat to be greater than my mother’s. She’d pay the most for everything. For my fall, for her sins as well as mine!‘Tu
The bar Stella worked at reminded me of the bar I worked at. At least I wouldn’t be heading back there when this was over. I couldn’t wait for then. To have Rocky back and never again see the darkness of the mage dimension skies. Every time I stared up at the sky that held the sun captive heaviness settled on my chest and I struggled to breath.Stella dried glasses, made cocktails and slid beers across the counter. I nursed the same glass of water until Alfie showed up.‘I thought I was late,’ He adjusted his glasses.He smiled at me. I smiled at the ground. As much as I was falling for him before Rocky was kidnapped there was someone else developing in the picture. I hated that he was in the picture.‘No, Stella's connection is a no show.’ I eyed her out of the corner of my eye.‘He’s coming, he’s just busy.’ She crossed her arms.‘Another elf?’ Alfie asked.