do. Not the ones that are free. Like her.'
'And the woman who looks like a body-builder?'
'Definitely an Amazon warrior. But they never leave their tribe in Ares' realm so she must be an outcast.' I raised my eyebrows at the fierce looking woman as she examined her weapon.
'Amazon warriors? Is there anything Olympus doesn't have?'
'Not really. Most history from your world is based on Olympus. What Athena planted as Greek mythology.'
The woman noticed me staring at her before I could answer, and bared her teeth at me.
'Are you ready to face the sting of my bolts?' she called, lifting the crossbow threateningly toward me. My old instinct would have been to flinch away or look to Hecate to help, but my power crackled and hummed in response to the threat and before I could stop myself I lifted my hands.
'Just try it,' I shouted, and black vines whipped from my palms, stopping just short of her and flicking back. The woman's eyes narrowed, but she kept her mouth shut and lowered the weapon.
'Save it for the race, Sanape,' said Minthe, tugging her elbow. Sanape glared at me, then turned away.
'I'm glad to see so much of the old Persephone survived the mortal world,' said Hecate quietly. 'You can't get by in Olympus without a decent dose of courage.'
'You call it courage, the rest of us call it attitude,' said Morpheus with a grin. 'Are you both ready?'
I nodded, and the chariot rose slowly into the air, my stomach lurching with it.
This was it. The final time I would have to fight for my life and the right to marry the man I loved. The man it turned out I had always loved. The man I had been waiting for my whole life, without even knowing it.
Hades' face filled my mind, and strength coursed through me, my power crackling under my skin.
I was going to win this, and become his Queen.
Twenty
Hades
Not being able to watch Persephone was torture. But even if something terrible did happen, I wouldn't be able to help her, I was bound by the rules of the Trials.
I snarled as I looked out over the rocky landscape to where I knew she was. Perhaps if the chariots got high enough I would be able to see them from here. I knew I was too far away, but I clung to the thought all the same.
Something was going to happen, I was sure. There was no way that whoever was trying to punish her or get to Cronos was going to let their last chance go without trying again. At the thought of Cronos I looked along the flaming river, flowing into the mouth of the cave that led to Tartarus. Where Persephone had come back, and stopped me walking into Tartarus while the darkness had control of me. Where she had saved me.
Movement caught my eye and I froze, only relaxing when I realized it was the flickering flames of the river Phlegethon against the rock walls. I was still holding the onyx trident, a relic I rarely used any more. It had been made for me by Hephaestus, to celebrate the three brothers taking their roles in sky, sea and earth. A trident for each of us. Poseidon hardly went anywhere without his, but I no longer needed the amplification of power it could give me. If anything, I needed less power, not more.
Except today. If anyone was coming for Persephone, they would have to get past me, and I'd take all the strength I could get. I tipped the trident towards the cave mouth.
'You hear that, Cronos? You're not getting your hands on her today, or any other day,' I said, then blew out a frustrated sigh. Being stuck here was 'bullshit', as Persephone had called it.
'Where's the fun in that?' purred a voice.
I had the trident in both hands, pointed directly at the cave mouth in a flash, my form growing fast as a small figure sauntered out of the cave. Nothing should ever be coming out of Tartarus without my permission. The monster reared up inside me, fear and strength swelling me as my heart began to pound.
Ankhiale stepped fully out of the cave, and gave me a low bow. Her red hair burst into flame as she straightened and smiled at me. My blood ran cold as I stared at her.
'How? How have you escaped?' If she was free, did that mean... 'Where is Cronos?'
'King Cronos is safe and sound,' she said. 'My