had burned to scraps around my body. I called upon my magic, donning my usual armor. “Let’s go.”
We raced from the cavern, dodging the flames. I kept my senses alert for any attack, but we made it out of the torture den without incident.
“This way.” Zeus took the lead, and I followed, making sure to keep Seraphia at my side.
We reached a cavern full of water, and Poseidon drove it away with his trident. Seraphia called upon the weeds at the bottom to aid our journey. Within minutes, we were on the other side. They moved unerringly through the passages, and their certainty told me they’d passed this way before.
At the front of the line, Zeus summoned his lightning. The rocks began to move, and he hit them with a bolt.
“We met these monsters on the way in,” Seraphia said. “We’re nearly to the exit.”
A few minutes later, we reached the part of the tunnel where the escape must be. I could feel a breeze and detected the scent of earth.
Three Titans barred our way.
Our party skidded to a stop.
“Shit,” Seraphia whispered.
I eyed the Titans, unable to determine at this distance which ones they were. The three of them stood beneath the crack in the ceiling, inspecting it. They were at least ten feet tall, but I knew from experience that they could grow if they so desired.
Zeus raised his lightning bolt, and Poseidon conjured his trident. I called my bident from the ether, pointing it toward the ground to call upon my army.
The Titans turned, and we attacked. Lightning rippled from Zeus, the searing flashes driving one of them back. Poseidon directed powerful jets of water at another one, slicing into the Titan’s body with the knife-like spray. Blood spattered, and the wounded Titan screamed.
I called my army from the earth. The skeletal figures rose from the ground and charged. The cold wind of death followed them, and they hurled themselves at the Titans, forcing them back. As the Titans retreated from the crack in the ceiling, they launched their own attack.
One blasted us with a wind that made us stagger. Poseidon blocked the punishing gusts with a wall of water. Another Titan roared, a noise that nearly split my head in two. My knees buckled, but one of my army launched a ferocious attack. The noise ceased.
“Come.” I called upon my wings and grabbed Seraphia’s hand, pulling her toward me. “We need to get out while they are distracted.”
She wrapped her arms around my neck, and I swept her into my arms, hurtling for the crack in the ceiling.
“What about Zeus and Poseidon?” she asked.
I didn't want to leave my brothers there—not after they’d helped save me—but Seraphia was my first priority. “I’ll come back for them.”
“It could be too late.” She closed her eyes, and I felt her magic surge. “I’m going to see if I can help them.”
We reached the opening and soared up the dark passage.
“I’ve almost got some roots,” Seraphia said. “Almost.”
As we flew, thick roots burst from the ground and shot into Tartarus, forced by Seraphia’s magic to grow to unnatural proportions.
“Hurry,” I said. “We’re nearly to the portal.”
“I’ve almost got them.” Her magic flared. “I can feel their life force.” A moment later, she gave a cry of victory.
We reached the portal, and the ether sucked us in, dragging us to the surface. We shot out of the hole and onto the dead grass. We rolled, and I curled myself around Seraphia to protect her.
We came to a stop, and I climbed off Seraphia and helped her to her feet. A moment later, the portal spat my brothers out. They tumbled onto the grass and leapt gracefully to their feet.
Seraphia knelt and fed her magic into the earth, closing the gaping crevasse that led to Tartarus. When she was done, she stood.
I turned to Zeus and Poseidon. “Thank you for your help.” I looked at Seraphia. “What of Chronos? Have you defeated him?”
“No,” Seraphia said. “And we must do that immediately.” She looked at Zeus and Poseidon. “Will you help?”
Zeus nodded. “Yes.”
“Good. I’m going to call my friends, then we’ll go to the Crown of Destiny.”
“Call us when you need us,” Zeus said, then disappeared.
Poseidon followed, leaving Seraphia and me alone. Seraphia pressed her fingertips to her comms charm and arranged a meeting with her friends. My mind raced as I watched her talk.
She’d saved me. Stormed right into Tartarus and dragged me back out.
She finished her call and looked at me.