Olympian Reckoning by Astrid Arditi

Author:Astrid Arditi [Arditi, Astrid]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-10-02T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 20

When Kieron returns a few hours later, I’m watching Persephone coax out purplish gray vines from the gray walls of the cavern. Somehow in the past weeks, she has managed to make her magic mingle with her son’s, and odd plants bred from shadows now dot the place. These plants are a miracle, just like the fact that she was left standing after her heart to heart with my mother. The bloodshed and screams never came, to my immense relief.

Instead, the Spring Goddess turns from her work of art and smiles at me as if we shared a secret. I return her smile, my lips barely quivering, before focusing my attention on Kieron and Heath.

Persephone walks to her son, nudging him in direction of the laden table. “Come eat. We were waiting for you.”

Kieron dodges her hands, his fists tight at his sides. “No time. I only stopped by to fetch Hope.” His dark eyes find me across the room. “We’ve been summoned by Hephaestus.”

“Why do you need her?” Demeter asks.

I’m already moving toward him, driven by his magnetic pull, when he explains. “Athena has joined Hephaestus, but she wants to meet with Hope before making a decision on siding with us.”

Demeter squares her shoulders. “Why her?” Her tone betrays her bruised ego. As a goddess, one of the Olympians nonetheless, she’s growing tired of sitting on the sidelines.

Kieron stomps the ground impatiently. “Hope is Hebe’s descendant. She’s the cog that set this whole thing into motion.”

Demeter throws her hands in the air. “She’s human!”

“She’s a demi-god. Both human and divine.”

My mom nods appreciatively at the way Kieron defends me to his grandmother. I wish it meant what she thinks it does, but I know Kieron—he’s levelheaded and never loses track of his goals. He could feel nothing for me, and still defend me because I’m key to controlling the gods.

Eros comes out from the bedroom he’s created for Gabriel and himself in one of Kieron’s caves. “We’re coming with. I’m fed up with all the gray.” Gabriel, never far behind, pinches his side. Eros coughs awkwardly. “No offense, Kieron.”

Kieron’s lips curl into a half-smile. “None taken.”

Heath puffs his chest. “I’m coming too.”

Kieron winces. “Not today, Heath. I’m sorry, but we don’t want to overwhelm Hephaestus and Athena by showing up in numbers.”

Heath respects Kieron too much to argue further. He manages to school his expression to hide his disappointment. “You’re right. I’ll wait here.”

Kieron grasps his forearm. “Thank you.”

Heath nods. “Of course.”

My mom trots to where I stand and begins fussing over me. “Will you be warm enough? Maybe you should take a coat—”

“I’ll be fine.” I’m wearing leggings and a long tunic, more than sufficient for March weather in New Zealand.

She nods slowly before looking at Gabriel. “What about you, honey? You need a sweater over that tank top.”

Gabriel’s eyes go round at becoming the center of my mom’s attention. “Do I?”

“You’ll be fine,” Eros answers.

Lost without a cause, my mom takes in the two gods that will accompany us.

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