Zeus and the Skeleton Army by Joan Holub

Author:Joan Holub [Holub, Joan]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Aladdin
Published: 2021-09-21T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SIX A Blast from the Past

Zeus didn’t move. The last time he had seen his father, they had battled for control of Mount Olympus. Zeus had pushed his father into a portal that had sent him to the Underworld to be imprisoned forever. And before that, their relationship hadn’t been a great one.

For years Zeus hadn’t even known who his father was. Zeus had been raised by a nymph, a goat, and a honeybee. Then he’d learned the truth: Cronus had swallowed (yes, gulped down) Zeus’s brothers and sisters because of a prophecy that said one of his children would defeat him. Zeus had escaped the fate of his siblings because his mom, Rhea, had fed Cronus a stone instead of baby Zeus, and had given Zeus to the nymph and animals, to be raised by them.

But Zeus had discovered his destiny, and his magical weapons, and had released his brothers and sisters from Cronus’s big belly. Then the war for Mount Olympus had begun. And now…

The fog cleared, and Zeus found himself in front of an enormous stone cube. It was as tall as a Titan and just as wide.

“Cronus?” Zeus asked.

My son! Cronus said. Have you come to free me?

Zeus heard the voice in his head again. He figured that somehow Cronus was trapped inside the huge block of stone.

“Why would I do that?” he asked.

You have proven yourself to be a worthy warrior, Cronus replied. I would expect nothing less from a son of mine. But how are you using your power? You roam the land like a vagabond while your sister sits on your throne!

“I’m roaming the land to avoid a war!” Zeus shot back.

There is no honor in running from war! Cronus replied. Free me, my son, and we will smite your enemies together. We will reclaim your throne…

Zeus squeezed his eyes shut, willing the voice in his head to go away. Cronus had always wanted Zeus to join him, and Zeus had never given in. But Cronus was great at filling Zeus’s head with doubts. This errand with Hercules had been nothing but trouble. And Hera was getting very comfortable on his throne.…

“GET OUT OF MY HEAD!” Zeus yelled, and his voice boomed like thunder. A tiny crack appeared in the stone block.

That’s it, my son. Release your anger.

“I said, GET OUT OF MY HEAD!” His voice boomed again, and another crack appeared.

Zeus felt a hand on his shoulder—a regular-size hand, not a giant one. Athena pulled him away from the stone.

“We’ve got to get back onto the path, Zeus!” she said.

“Path-hoo!”

They broke into a run and arrived back at the path, panting. Zeus paused, listening. But his father’s voice was gone.

“Thanks,” he said. “How did you find me?”

“Glaukopis has amazing senses,” Athena replied. “She found you through the mist. What was that all about?”

“Cronus,” Zeus replied. “But that’s behind us now. Let’s go find those ghostberries!”

He started to charge ahead, but then stopped. “Wait, where’s Hercules?”

Athena shrugged. “I lost him in the mist too, but Glaukopis says she can’t see or hear him.

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