Prue pressed her fingers into the dry concrete, just to check. She summoned her magic and waited for it to surge forward, to plunge into the earth and seek out the energy around her.
But nothing happened.
Panic bloomed in her chest, and she tried again, drawing more from her well of power.
But the well… was empty.
Beside her, Mona was gasping, breathing in ragged and uneven breaths.
“No magic,” Mona choked. “Prue, there’sno magic here.”
Prue squeezed Mona’s hand, searching for the right words to comfort her. But she, too, was spiraling.
What were they supposed to do without magic?
And what kind of place was this, that completely blocked their powers?
“Don’t waste your energy,” said a deep, familiar voice.
Prue shrank away from Hyperion’s hulking form. The dark-skinned Titan loomed over them with a feral smile. She carefully edged herself so Mona was behind her.
“What do you mean?” Prue asked, portraying a confidence she did not feel. Without her magic, she felt weak and exhausted. If Hyperion attacked, there would be nothing she could do.
Hyperion’s grin widened, his black eyes glinting. “There is no magic here. At least, not magic foryourkind.”
“Where ishere?” Prue demanded.
Hyperion chuckled and shook his head at her. “All in good time, little goddess. We cannot share all our secrets with you. Follow me. I will show you to your room.”
Hyperion turned and strode toward the dead trees.
Prue faltered and exchanged a bewildered look with Mona. Follow himwhere? What room? There was nothing visible for miles except dead trees and sand.
“Would you prefer to sleep out here on the concrete?” Hyperion called over his shoulder.
Prue was probably tired enough to do just that, but she stood and tugged on Mona’s arm to help her up.
Mona’s fingernails dug into Prue’s arm as she hissed, “We can’t follow him.”
“But we can’t stay out here, either,” Prue said. “It’s not safe. Not without our magic.”
Mona chewed on her lip but made no argument.
This place could be in Elysium, but Prue suspected it was somewhere in the mortal realm. Especially since Elysium was allegedly being rebuilt by Pandora and Sol.
The Titans would not have taken them to their allies.
And the Realm of Gaia was the biggest realm of the three. From what Prue knew, there were plenty of dark spots where one could hide from unwanted witnesses.
Unfortunately, beyond the tiny island of Krenia, Prue didn’t know much of the Realm of Gaia. She’d traveled through plenty of places with Cyrus, but none like this. The dry, dead landscape was very different from the icy mountain they had climbed together.
That felt like a lifetime ago.
Prue linked her arm with Mona’s as they trudged after Hyperion. She cast a quick glance at the barren landscape around them, but it seemed that Hyperion was the only Titan with them. Where had the others gone? Had the portal deposited them somewhere else?
“Does any of this look familiar to you?” Prue whispered to Mona.
Mona’s green eyes were wide with fear, but as she surveyed their surroundings, a familiar gleam of interest sparked in her gaze. Prue knew her sister needed something to draw her away from her all-consuming terror.
