A Spark of Death and Fury by Nicole Bailey

Author:Nicole Bailey [Bailey, Nicole]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Nicole Bailey Publishing LLC

22

Artemis

The moon sank towards the earth, and the blush of morning blossomed across the horizon that stretched above the cliffs we moved through. We’d walked all night, and everyone’s postures drooped. The young gods had remained quiet since Nero’s death. Orion had lit memoriams for him and offered prayers for his soul. The three deities had remained close to him since.

I’d spent the night tapping into my magic, focusing on the moon.

My muscles trembled, and I felt nearly faint as exhaustion whipped through my body.

Orion had chatted on and off with me, sometimes making verbal jabs when he could tell I was discouraged, other times remaining quiet when I needed to concentrate.

Having someone at my side who could read me so well was a comfort amid all the chaos we’d encountered.

He ran a large hand over his face and smoothed it down his beard. Dark circles under his eyes contrasted against his pale skin.

“Apollo,” I said. “We should stop. We all need to rest.”

Apollo turned, his eyes shadowed and void of expression. Whereas everyone else in the group had huddled together, shared tears over Nero’s death, and drew closer, Apollo had pulled away, shoving his emotions down.

“I think we should try and make it out of this valley we’re in.” He lifted his face to the cliff edges. The ones that had given Helios an advantage.

I looked at Orion and he took a deep breath that raised his shoulders before he nodded. “We’re probably less than an hour from reaching the mountains and getting out of this gulf.”

Mia shuddered and Kama rubbed her shoulder. Chares didn’t react, but his body wilted. Everyone was exhausted and discouraged, but we could make it an hour and we’d all feel better to be out of the craggy path Nero had died on. “All right,” I said. “But then we stop for sleep.”

Apollo continued forward. He stepped with a confidence I’d never seen on him before, his shoulders rolled back, his fingers grazing the edge of his weapon.

Like he had nothing holding him back anymore.

I worried that was true, and what it would mean for him.

A quiver rippled through the chasm, and I stopped walking. Orion paused as well and placed a hand against the trembling cliffside.

Kama pulled Mia tight to her side. “You okay?”

“It isn’t me.”

The shaking of the earth picked up and rattled our feet. Orion crouched down and pressed his fingers against the earth to balance himself. The shimmer of magic that had slowly returned to Apollo’s form glowed brighter as he pulled his bow free.

Mia’s forehead furrowed, and she closed her eyes.

The crackling of the earth picked up until we all shook and struggled to keep our balance.

“I… I can’t stop it,” Mia said.

“Is it Gaea again?” Kama clenched her tighter, like she’d keep her safe.

“I don’t know.”

Apollo swept around and parted his lips like he might speak. A roar swallowed whatever he intended to say.

A chunk of the mountain ripped away and fell towards us.

Orion pounced and yanked Mia and Kama back from where they stood.

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