When the fourth one came into view, Trivia’s blood chilled. It belonged to a purple-faced demon, who leered at her. A dozen inky black eyes dotted his face like that of a spider.
This was no ordinary chimera. Tentacles extended from its torso. Gryphon wings stretched from its sides.
Four heads. Spider eyes. Several various animal appendages.
This was a mutation. An abomination. Anightmare.
“What—What are you?” Trivia breathed, drawing back a step. Her ankle throbbed, and she lifted it slightly, trying to alleviate some of the pain.
“I am Prometheus,” said the creature. “And I have a gift for you, little goddess.”
His long tentacle stretched forward, wrapped around a limp figure. Trivia’s heart lurched at the sight. It was Gaia, and she was unconscious. Silver blood surrounded a wound on her temple.
“I will give her to you,” Prometheus said, “if you leave this realm and never return.”
Trivia’s throat tightened. She couldn’t tear her gaze from her mother. Gaia looked so weak. Her skin was wan, her eyes red-rimmed and lined with shadows.
No,Trivia thought, her body numb with dread.
“But, if you don’t,” Prometheus continued, “I will kill her.” The tentacle tightened around Gaia, and her body went rigid.
“Stop,” Trivia said quickly, and Prometheus obeyed. Gaia’s head lolled slightly as the tentacle loosened its hold.
Trivia needed time. She needed him to believe she was considering his offer.
“Where is Sol?” she demanded.
“The sun god? I do not know. The last I saw, Atlas crushed him with his foot. He is likely dead.”
No, no, no…
“I’m not leaving without him!” Trivia snarled. “Give him to me.”
Prometheus bared his teeth, revealing fangs as sharp as a shark’s teeth. “You reject my gift?”
“If you give me Gaia and Sol, I swear I’ll leave. But not without both of them.”
The Titans were hiding something. If they were truly as powerful as they claimed, they would have killed her by now. Something was stopping them, and Trivia needed to figure out what it was.
Prometheus exhaled a long sigh before calling into the mist. “Atlas! Where is that wretched sun god you disposed of?”
Trivia closed her eyes.No. It’s not true. Sol is alive.
A rumble rippled over the earth as Atlas shifted. “He is here,” the Titan said before depositing another limp form on the ground between Prometheus and Trivia.
“Sol!” Trivia cried, hobbling forward. He, too, was unconscious, his face covered in blood. She sank to her knees next to him, brushing strands of sticky hair away from his face. “What—What have you done to him?”
“He got in my way,” Atlas growled.
Trivia leaned closer, pressing her ear to Sol’s chest.
There it was—a heartbeat. It was faint, but it wasthere.
Relief spread through Trivia. But she wasn’t free yet.
“Leave,” Prometheus hissed at her. “As you promised.”
Think, think, think,Trivia said to herself. She was injured. Gaia and Sol were unconscious. What could she do?
