AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Wow. Displays of magic were so few and far between. But these past 24 hours, I have seen all sorts of tricks.
Shit, he knows about the passages. Judging by how nimbly he traversed them while utterly sloshed, I’d say that he is highly familiar with the tunnels.
These dark hallways look like the ones I use. Wooden floorboards and windowless. Only the occasional torch dimly lighting a small patch. Cobwebs hang over the ceilings except for near the torches. Those have long since burned away or the arachnids have learned to avoid those areas.
“Brother, when did you find these passageways?” Artemis questions from behind me.
Apollo shrugs. “Our old friend showed me. How she ever knew is beyond me. After all, she was only here for half the year.”
They were talking about her.
Persephone.
Persephone walked these hallways. Perhaps she used them when she went missing. Perhaps they need a closer look later.
When in doubt, blame Persephone.
“What I’m more curious about,” he hiccups. “Is how Pandy found them here in such a short period of time and she’s been here less time than our old friend.” The god gives me side eye. Waiting for an explanation.
“Oh…” I stumble through my words. I can’t tell him that I saw this naked woman in my vision who showed me the way. Gods, I would be mortified. Nope. That will be a secret that follows me to my death. “I felt a draft while I was pacing my room. After that, my curiosity took over.”
Whether the gods believed me or not, they said nothing.
Thankfully they weren’t challenging me.
Scaling a set of familiar stairs, I watch Apollo who stands tall, prepared to fight.
Stopping outside of my door, he pushes on the panel of the wall. Staring at my quarters, my mouth drops. It looks like Typhon had come through.
Clothes are scattered on the floor and flayed into slices. Feathers from my pillows cover the ground like a dusting of snow. The furniture is all upended other than the bed. Which has deep slash marks and… blood?
“Gaia,” I whisper, “What happened?”
Ari leans into my ear, “I told you. Danger was a foot.”
I can see that.
The amount of blood looks like someone died, “Did you think—”
“Yes,” he replied breathlessly. “A human couldn’t survive that.”
Looking at the puddle, I can see what he means. There was blood everywhere.
Whatever came to find me, wanted no one to search for me… or they truly aimed to kill me.
“No, I don’t suppose so,” Artemis chimed in. “Were the culprits apprehended?”
The Sun God shakes his head, “No. No leads even. But it gets worse. Artemis, Pandy, take a seat.” He slurs his words.
Looking sideways at the Goddess of the Hunt, I watch her roll her eyes, “I'm fine. Don’t be a drama queen. Just say it already.”
He gulps before stating, “Ov is missing.”
My eyes go wide. “Ov? But how?” I ask.
“And the room is covered in ichor. Chiron fears the worst. He was in a state of regeneration,” Apollo explains as he looks from me to his sister.
I ask, “Regeneration?”
