From within the darkness below, something unleashed a deep, bellowing roar.
Mona’s blood ran cold, her heart stuttering in her chest. Flames rose up from the pit, warming her flesh and making her skin flush.
“What the hell is that?” Trivia cried.
Prue’s grip on Mona’s hand tightened. “Summon your magic.Now!”
Mona nodded in agreement, closing her eyes to call upon her power. The earth magic inside her rose up, but the beast in the darkness roared again, the sound louder than before. Mona’s ears rattled, and her eyes flew open. She couldn’t stifle the fear flooding her body, clouding her concentration.
“Mona!” Prue shouted, clearly sensing her hesitation.
With a loudwhoosh, two large wings raised from within the abyss. They pumped, drawing a massive emerald creature into the air, hovering right in front of them. It was easily as tall as the castle of Elysium, with a long, scaly and serpentine body. It coiled into a twisted shape, its large red eyes fixating on Prue, Mona, and Trivia. Several jagged teeth leered at them, and sparks emitted from its mouth.
“The Colchian dragon,” Mona breathed, half awestruck and half consumed with terror. This was the great beast that had guarded the Golden Fleece. The monster so large and powerful that it had to be put to sleep by witches.
And here it was, hovering in front of them, teeth dripping with saliva. It inhaled deeply, the sound loud and rattling…
“Down!” Mona screamed, tugging hard on her sisters’ arms. They dropped to the ground, barely avoiding getting scorched by the dragon’s flames. The top of Mona’s head burned, and her back felt singed.
A protective dome appeared around them, shrouding them in tree branches. Mona wasn’t sure which of her sisters conjured it, but it, too, was lit up in flames. They screamed, trying to turn away from the flames, but there was nowhere to run. Nowhere to hide.
They were trapped.
Thinking fast, Mona buried herself deeper into theground, envisioning a cavern of dirt. Then, she lifted a hand and doused the flamed with rich soil. It smothered the fire, quickly putting it out.
But the dragon had cornered them, and it wouldn’t stop there.
“We have to get off this!” Mona cried, looking down at the tiny patch of earth they occupied.
“No, we have tokill it!” Trivia shouted, gesturing to the dragon, who was rearing its head, eyes burning with rage. Trivia lifted her hand, conjuring a long, jagged branch. She grasped it tightly, wielding it like a spear.
“Trivia, don’t!” Mona shouted.
The dragon breathed fire again. Mona ducked, but Trivia let out a roar, her scream piercing the air. She threw the spear directly into the creature’s mouth. Its flames cut off as it made a harsh choking sound. It hacked and wheezed, struggling to free the spear from its throat. The dragon twisted in the air, wings flaring. It flew higher and higher, then soared directly toward the three sisters.
It was going to land right on top of them.
Mona screamed, lifting her hands to summon some kind of magic—anythingto save them?—
A gleaming white figure swooped toward the dragon, slashing something into its back. Black blood spurted, gushing like a waterfall.
Mona peered into the sky, her heart thundering in her chest. Her eyes grew wide.
A muscular man with two large wings and long dark hair was flying through the air, his body translucent and glowing.As Mona watched him, he slashed his dagger into the beast again, drawing more blood.
The man’s gaze shifted to Mona and lingered there, recognition lighting his features.
Her heart stopped for a full beat. Her gaze roved over his wings. Sheknewthose wings…
“Typhon,” she breathed in wonder.
Several more winged figures appeared, but these weren’t ghosts. They were sirens. Some of them carried other figures within their talons. A golden arrow shot through the air, lodging into the dragon’s chest. Mona followed the golden glow, finding a dark-haired woman holding a matching gold bow in her arms.
It was Diana, the Goddess of the Hunt.
Mona’s jaw dropped as she made out other gods and goddesses, some she didn’t recognize, all being carried by sirens. They swarmed the dragon, encircling it and blocking its view of the sisters.
They were distracting the beast. This was their chance to finally end it.
