From Titans Read online

  Nick growled, and light shot from his fingertips. Everett held him back. When Zeus gestured with his hand, Nick stilled.

  Zeus focused on Eris again. “Where’s Cronus? Tell him to show himself.” His calm tone sounded confident, but I knew he feared his father.

  “Cronus isn’t here.”

  “Liar!” Zeus sent the lightning from his staff. It flashed into the invisible wall and burst in brightness, blinding us, but it didn’t penetrate the wall.

  Eris laughed, like Zeus had told the funniest joke. “I’m the goddess of my domain. You can’t hurt me here. I call the shots, Zeus. Funny how the roles are reversed. I kind of like that. But don’t worry. You’ll see him soon enough—or not. When I say so. So, would you like to come to my party, or are we going to argue all day?” Eris brushed the side of her hair, smirking. “It’s funny how Zeus is begging to come to my party. It was the other way around before.”

  “I’m not begging,” Zeus growled, his eyes crackling with electricity. His rage shook the ground. “You’re forcing me to come. Get this over with before I do something I won’t regret. And to clarify: It wasn’t my wedding. I didn’t send out the invitations, but if I had, I wouldn’t have invited you anyway.”

  Eris threw a daggered glare at Zeus and waved her hand. As the invisible wall started to disintegrate, a new world materialized. Willow trees lined a long path. The lavender leaves drooped, waving in a gentle breeze. To my left, we approached a vast apple orchard. To my right, water shot out from all around the fountain adorned with a statue of Eris. How vain. But where was Eris? She had vanished when we entered.

  “Over there.” Poseidon pointed ahead. “Under the trees.”

  The gentle murmur of the stream faded into soft instrumental music. We walked cautiously toward the trees, where a large banquet table filled with food awaited us—a whole roasted chicken, a huge chunk of beef, assorted vegetables, cheese and crackers, fruits of all seasons, all kinds of dessert, and red and white wine. More apple trees surrounded us.

  Eris smiled genuinely, appearing again. “So happy you could make it. It’s so nice to see the three brothers finally made amends. Forgive and forget. I hope one day I can forgive the gods for not inviting me to that wedding, but I don’t think Hades was there. Oh, that’s right, he was locked away in the underworld by his own brothers.”

  Zeus growled. Electric current snaked around his staff from top to bottom as a warning.

  Eris had changed into a blue strapless gown the shade of her eyes, and she’d even crowned herself with a gold tiara, sparkling in the sunlight. Embellished with gold rings on her fingers, countless gold bangles around her wrists, and a thick gold necklace in a shape of a tree, she made a statement that she loved gold. The gorgeous tree pendant extended its roots outward, covering her chest.

  “I don’t think you have enough gold,” Hades commented. “Perhaps you should hook up with King Midas, or we could place you in a solid gold cast with Hephaestus.”

  Eris ignored Hades and focused her attention on Zeus. “The meal is a replica of Peleus and Thetis’s wedding. It’s exquisite. Isn’t it Zeus?”

  Zeus rubbed his face in annoyance. “We’re not here to eat and chat, Eris. Get to the point. Give us your demands. I don’t have time to play your games.”

  Eris cut her eyes at Zeus sharply, her eyebrows pinching at the center. “You do not get to throw orders in my domain. Just for that, you don’t get to eat.”

  Zeus slammed his staff once against the grass. The ground cracked around him, creating long, spidery lines. “Bring me Mason, or I will call upon the thunder and the lightning with my staff, and it won’t be pleasant. Your choice.” He planted his fist on the table and leaned over. “If you choose wrong, I won’t be sorry, and no one will miss you.”

  Eris took a step back. Her shoulders tensed and her eyes twitched. “Fine,” she snapped. “Fair warning. He’s not himself. Mason wouldn’t behave, so I had to do what I had to do.”

  My heart squeezed, and I gasped for air. Any second, my eyes would set upon Mason. He had been gone so long, and I couldn’t wait to jump into his arms, to tell him we were taking him home. My body stiffened, and the anticipation ate at me. I had no idea what he had been through and what condition he was in. All those sleepless nights I imagined him being tortured and in pain. Please, don’t let my nightmares be true.

  Eris took a step back and gazed behind the nearest tree. “Mason, come out and show yourself,” she commanded.

  My heart leapt, and joy coursed through me as Mason appeared from behind a tree. He had been hidden behind the thick trunk? Handsome in his debonair suit, he swept me off my feet. His hair was slicked back, and the tie matched Eris’s dress, but why would he wear…

  I clasped my hands to keep me together. Tears pooled in my eyes. “Mason.” My voice came out hoarse and broken.

  “Mason!” Nick snapped.

  “What’s wrong with him?” Hades growled, reaching for him, but Eris raised her hand to stop him.

  “No, no, no. He’s still mine. I will put up the wall again, or better yet, you’ll never see him if you continue to attack me.” Eris linked her arm with Mason’s. She peered up at him and caressed his cheek. “Isn’t he dreamy?”

  Mason gazed beyond us as if he didn’t see us. His stoic expression, his posture so still and robotic, worried me. I concluded he had been drugged or hypnotized. It was so wrong on every level.

  “Release him. He’s not your property. You have no right to take him,” I spat, my heart thundering uncontrollably.

  I didn’t care what happened to me. Needing to wrap my arms around Mason outweighed the consequences. Fury took over, and electric light sizzled from my body. Eris was going to get it. I bolted straight for her. Instead of colliding with her, I slammed into an invisible wall and dropped to the ground.

  Hades picked me up as I tried to gain control. “Don’t be stupid, little sis. You’ll only hurt yourself. I understand your pain.”

  I didn’t heed his warning, nor did I care. Pounding on the invisible wall, I let it all out. “Let him go! He’s not yours. You can’t! You can’t…you can’t…” Tears dampened my eyes as I punched the wall over and over, taking me back to the Bella Amore kitchen wall where Mason had been taken from me. It tortured me to have him in reach and unable to do anything.

  “He doesn’t know you, silly girl.” Eris’s lips spread widely, stroking Mason’s arm. “Like I said before, he’s mine.”

  “What are your demands? What do you want in exchange for Mason?” Zeus asked, placing his hand on the shield.

  Eris stepped away from Mason to the banquet table. She picked up a cherry, ate it, and spit out the seed. After a long stretch of silence, she finally answered. “I thought you would never ask.”

  Chapter 8

  Mason

  Sunlight glistened across Sky’s beautiful face as her hair danced with the light wind. Her eyes settled on me lovingly, and I came alive with recognition. My heart thundered, and every cell in me burst from missing her. Sky, it’s me. You found me, baby. I knew you would. I’ve missed you so much.

  Why didn’t she answer?

  Sky, Sky, Sky. No response. I tried to run to her, but like before, I couldn’t move. She couldn’t hear me. But could she see me? She dipped her head low for a second, and when she looked back up, sadness filled her eyes. Then blistering fire filled them, and her fingertips sparkled with electricity. Like a wild animal, she pounded her fists in midair. Then it all became clear. An invisible wall separated us. She yelled an unfamiliar name, Eris, who must have been the goddess holding me hostage. My heart sank, and the little bit of hope crushed, shattering my heart to a thousand pieces.

  I closed my eyes to pacify the gut-wrenching pain, but no matter what I tried to do, seeing Sky and then having to let her go again was torture. After Sky came closer, I could clearly make out her face. Her eyes were sunken with dark circles underneath. She too lacked sleep. My poor Sky. I knew exactly how she felt, for her
pain was mine. Then Everett and Nick came into view, lips contorted and foreheads creased. Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades even came to my rescue. They studied me as if I were some kind of novelty. That made me wonder what was wrong with me and what I’d been forced to wear. If the gods couldn’t take me home, then it was hopeless.

  I wasn’t the type to easily give up, so I urged my body to fight. But it did not respond. How do I gain control of my body? Is there even hope for me? I never cried, but the thought of being trapped with Eris for who knew how long, and then seeing my Sky without touching her, killed me. A hot drop of liquid streamed down my face.

  Sky, I know you can’t hear me, but it’s so good to see you, baby. You look so tired and ill. Please take care of yourself. I wish I could be with you. I miss you so much it hurts to look at you. I think of you every day and night. You’re all I want to dream about. Thinking about our time together keeps me from falling apart. I know you’re trying to find a way to bring me home, and I promise I’ll do everything I can to go home to you.

  The sound of Eris’s voice broke me away from Sky, but not for long. Between my limited view and the immobility of my head, my eyes could only focus on Sky. Eris liked to play games, and she made it clear something would happen to Sky if I didn’t cooperate.

  “What are your demands? What do you want in exchange for Mason?” Zeus’s voice echoed in my mind.

  After a long silence, Eris finally answered, “I thought you would never ask.”

  Skylar

  Hades leveled his burning eyes at Eris, still blocked by the invisible wall. “You’re crazy. Why can’t you get it yourself?”

  Eris gazed at her long nails, adorned with rhinestones, and then rolled her eyes as if she was bored. “What would be the fun in that? I like to create chaos. You’re an idiot, Hades. Midas has been dead a long time. Why else do you think I asked you to get the gold from the river? I’m only asking for a cup of the gold river. Do you think you can manage that?”

  The invisible wall blazed with fire from Hades’s hands, but the fire quickly died. “Stealing gold from the river is suicide. I’m no idiot,” he sneered. “We might turn to gold ourselves.”

  Eris grazed the tree roots along her necklace with her fingernail. “That’s not my problem. If you refuse, then you might as well say goodbye to Mason and leave.”

  “Why do you need the gold water?” Poseidon asked. He’s been the calmest of all three gods so far.

  Eris rolled her eyes. “Stupid god asks stupid question. Why do you think? I don’t have any more gold apples. It’s my signature.”

  “That’s it?” Poseidon threw his arms in the air. “Not to cure a sickness or help others? You want us to risk our lives so your apples turn to gold. Forget it.”

  “Wait. I’ll do it,” I jumped in. I hated Eris with every cell in my body, and I wanted to give her pain as much as she had given me, but she had my Mason. I’d do anything to set him free, even if it meant risking my own life.

  If I agreed, others would follow. Listening to the gods talk to each other was like overhearing a conversation about who had the bigger ego. The conversation would go on and on, and although the gods might have sounded as if they didn’t want to meet Eris’s demand, they would do the right thing.

  Eris gazed at Mason adoringly, rubbing his biceps. “I knew you would, Sky. I see why you would for him. Just look at him.” She eyed him lustfully, running her hands down his chest. “He’s so sexy.” She moaned and licked her lips.

  Disgusted, I turned away.

  “Where is this river, and how do we find it?” Nick jumped in with the question before I had the chance.

  She took a step in front of Mason and wrapped his arms loosely around her neck. Snuggling her cheek to his hand, Eris said, “Well, I really don’t know.”

  “What do you mean you don’t know?” Everett huffed. He’d been patient and quiet until then.

  We were all losing our tempers.

  Eris slipped away from Mason and slammed her hand against the invisible wall. No sound rang, but her blue eyes hardened in pure rage and turned black for a second. “Don’t you know the story of King Midas?” She shook her head. “Tsk, tsk, tsk. Let me enlighten you, idiots.”

  The three gods growled, and Eris snickered. She loved attention, but she seemed to love troubling their emotions and playing with their minds even more.

  “No, thanks.” Nick crossed his arms and fake yawned. “We don’t have time for this.”

  “You’ll make time. Listen carefully, and you might find your answer. I’m going to make this short. Once upon a time, a satyr—half man and half horse—gave King Midas a gift. The satyr offered Midas anything he wanted, all for being nice. Greedy King Midas only thought of himself, so he asked that whatever he touched would turn into gold. King Midas became the richest King of his era. But when he touched his daughter, she too turned to solid gold. Distraught, he begged the satyr to reverse his gift. The satyr told him to go to Phoenix River and wash his daughter and himself. As the gold peeled off his daughter and his hand, it floated with the current and settled by the bank. When King Midas was himself again, he promised never to be greedy again. He ruled his kingdom with kindness, was generous to his people, and gave his gold items to whomever he thought deserving.”

  “You still didn’t answer my question. How do we find the river?” Everett sighed, rubbing his face as if to rub the anger away.

  Eris shook her head disappointedly and creased her brow. “Did you not listen to the story?”

  Enough! “Where do we find this being?” I asked.

  Eris’s eyes lit up. “We finally have a smart one. But of course she’s a girl. Women are smarter than men. Do you know why, Skylar?”

  “I don’t care,” I grumbled, my shoulders slumped. My legs ached from standing, and my mind had been numbed by nonsense rambling.

  Eris frowned. A stiff breeze brushed against us. It tousled her blonde hair and almost knocked her tiara off. “Because we listen. I believe Hermes knows where he is. You should ask him. Or not.” She laughed, but it sounded fake.

  I gazed at Mason as despair pierced my heart. He was an arm’s length away, and I couldn’t touch him. The agony ate at my soul. I would do anything for him, but how did I know Eris would let him go after we brought what she wanted? I couldn’t trust her. Someone as devious as her might ask for something else, and the list could be endless.

  “We need a contract,” I said out of the blue. I had no idea if gods signed contracts and if they would be bound to it, but I had to try.

  “No,” Eris hissed. “I’m above that. My word is good. I don’t sign—”

  Before she could say another word, Zeus had magically presented a contract in front of her, big as her invitation, behind the invisible wall. How fitting. The floating, 3-D words popped out.

  “If you can’t read, I can read it for you,” Hades mocked.

  Eris glared.

  “Sign it,” Zeus commanded in that deep, gruff tone.

  Eris scowled. She got closer to read it. “Very well. This is a contract between Eris and Skylar. Upon her fulfillment of her duty, bringing a cup of gold water, Mason will be free to go. Blah, blah, blah, yeah, yeah, yeah…whatever.”

  Her arm went through the invisible wall, and with her finger, she signed her name. “There, satisfied? Now stop wasting precious time and go. If you don’t come back in three days, Mason and I will have to wed without our family.” She wrapped her arms around his shoulders. “We will be so sad, won’t we, love?” She kissed his cheek.

  I closed my eyes to wipe the image of that kiss away. There was nothing I could do, so I brushed it aside and kept calm. I would get my revenge when I fulfilled the contract. Eris would get it from me.

  “It’s time to go, Skylar.” Hades tugged my arm, but I held fast to my stance. “I have to…” I stared at Mason, memorizing his face, memorizing all of him. I had to capture the happy feeling of seeing Mason with my own eyes. I had been so worried he’d been hurt
or tortured. Perhaps he had been, mentally, but from the outside, he looked oh so divine.

  “I’m coming back for you,” Nick said with conviction and then shifted his attention to Eris. “You better not touch him. So help me, gods, I will kill you myself.”

  Eris tilted her chin high, dismissing Nick. He was nothing to her.

  “We’re not resting until you’re home with us,” Everett added with his fists tight and jaw clenched.

  “Mason.” I paused, blinking back the tears. “I promise I’ll come back. And when I do, you’ll come home with me. The dogs are well. They miss you too. Mason sleeps with me.”

  “Oh, how sweet. You’ve replaced Mason with a dog.” Eris’s lips spread into a wicked smile, so fake and conniving.

  My eyes sparked, and my hands blazed. “Shut—”

  Hades picked me up and twirled me around before I could finish. Still holding me in his arms, he strode forward, long quick strides. “Enough of her insults. We stay there any longer she’ll make me want to rip off my own ears. Not only can I not stand the sight of her, but I also hate her annoying voice,” He growled out loud.

  “Now what? What’s the plan?” Poseidon asked when we reached the first invisible wall.

  “When we cross over, we should be arriving at the meeting room in New Olympus,” Zeus replied. “Just make sure to think of that room and nowhere else. Everyone ready?”

  I wanted to say no. I wanted to tell them that Mason needed me. Instead, I said yes. We slipped through the wall together.

  Chapter 9

  Mason

  Sky’s eyes pooled with tears. She wiped them before they fell. “I promise I’ll come back. And when I do, you’ll come home with me. The dogs are well. They miss you too. Mason sleeps with me.”

  The word home hit me hard to the core of my heart and I choked up. My words wouldn’t leave my head, but I needed to say them for me…for her. I hear you, baby. I know you’ll come back to me. I’m glad the dogs are keeping you busy. And Mason is one hell of a lucky dog. When I come home, I’m the only Mason you’ll hug at night in our bed.