palms over the stones. I know what I’m looking for. Well, Prometheus does. The secret seal, that when its broken, will throw these doors open wide. “It’s time they were set free. The land needs them. That’s why it’s dying. The monsters within will restore this place. They’ll revitalize the soil.”
“And the people here?” Ladron asks, striding to my side. He peers down at me, his blue eyes filled with a deep concern. “You saw the damage the manticore wrought on the village, Lily. And here, as well.”
“Homer will rule them well,” I reply. I’m a bit distracted, looking for the hidden seal. I recall a distinct memory of Prometheus standing here, in precisely this place, pushing the seal into the stones to hide it until one day, he would break it. And today is that day, I just know it with every cell in my body.
“Who is Homer?” Mirk queries.
“The cyclops we saw in Mount Olympus,” I explain, still focused more on my search than anything else. “Clay riled him up, drugged him so he didn’t know what he was doing. I met him when I escaped in here and got my spear back.” I nod at the Spear of Truth leaning against the rocks. “Trust me, Homer will rule the monsters as wisely as Hailey does the people. There has to be a balance here. The land belongs to everyone, and we have to share.”
As I say the words, something gives beneath my hands and the cliff face begins to vibrate.
I step back and grin.
I can see that Ladron is filled with questions and I plan to answer them, but right now, the sight of those massive Dungeon doors coming to life and opening after centuries thrills both the Lily and Prometheus inside me.
Finally, freedom. After all this time.
The ground rumbles as the cliff’s face begins to split. Showers of pebbles and debris fall from above as a crack appears, growing wider by the second.
There’s no more talking now. It’s too loud.
I fall back with the men at my side and Cerberus behind us as the Dungeon doors creak and swing wide open.
A blast of air rushes out over our heads as light falls onto the cavern floor coming into view. These stones haven’t seen the sun for centuries. Far too long.
Then the enormous doors finally grind to a halt. “Follow me,” I say. I eagerly stride forward as Nefeli swoops in before me.
Once inside, Ladron grabs one of Hailey’s lamps, strikes the flint and lights the wick as I head off toward a passageway leading to the levels below.
I lead the men and Cerberus deeper underground, and by the third twist, I hear the sound of skittering feet overhead. Golden Beetles. They’ll burrow into the soil and eat the rot. They’ll turn my lands green. The thought fills me with hope for the future—if I succeed in stopping Clay, that is.
“We have an army here,” I say, taking the passage to the left that leads to Homer. “The monsters have a system, a society here just as we do. They have farmers, artisans, and soldiers, soldiers we can ask to accompany us to stop Clay. It’ll be an army like he’s never seen.”
“I imagine so,” Ladron says, keeping close behind me.
A few feet more and we’re in the large cavern where I’d met Homer. He’s not here now, but as we leave, I see him enter from the opposite door.
“Homer,” I call out.
The cyclops turns his head my direction and smiles. “Is it time, my friend?”
The word brings an image of Prometheus and Homer sitting at a table over hot tea and books. They’d spent so many hours planning the reopening of the Dungeons, when it was safe to let the monsters free again.
“Yes,” I say. “But it’s going to be dangerous. Not the peaceful return we’d wanted.”
“As I have ever expected, my friend.” Homer chuckles and then, he pauses to sniff. “Hermes.”
“Homer.” Ladron bows politely.
“Is that Mirk? Torak?” Homer tilts his head to one side.
“Yes,” both men reply.
Homer gives a small laugh and then his face falls. “Apollo told us Epimetheus’ plans. We’re ready to help. We want to help.”
“It’s going to be dangerous,” I warn. “I’ll need to lead the army into the Underworld and take him on. We’ve got to stop him.”
“We understand,” Homer promises me. “Trust me. We’re ready.”
Less than an hour later, I’m standing with Nefeli on my shoulder, surveying the monsters before me.
They’re a terrifying army, but to Prometheus, they were