“Indeed, magic will not facilitate your escape, mortal, and you must remember it is not possible by any means. You would not be the first to attempt it and fail.”
My teeth dug into my bottom lip. As if I’d believe him. Any captor would say that to keep his hostage subdued.
“Good night,” I murmured, my eyelids falling shut as I turned.
Soon enough, the light inside the room extinguished and only the creak of the bed as Eros sat down gave away his presence. With or without his help, I’d find a way to access my powers. Maybe I could start with his library? Through all of those books, there had to be something of use.
A wave of calmness washed over me, starting in my toes and spreading upward, melting the knots in my shoulders and the tightness of my jaw. My eyelids grew heavy and there was a subtle shift as my consciousness began to drift.
“Under different circumstances, I would have ended his life. Perhaps a broken hand would suffice for the time being.”
I stood there, frozen. Listening.
I didn’t miss the sharpness in his voice, a subtle but unmistakable change, a stark contrast to his usual calm demeanor. It wasn’t just the words themselves, but the manner in which they were said; each word punctuated with a dangerous promise.
Internally, I shook my head. Only moments ago, I’d sworn off trusting anyone, and even though Eros’s words were soothing a part of me, I knew I shouldn’t change my mind.
And I wouldn’t.
The bed rustled quietly in the dead of night, the mattress sighing as Eros slipped out of bed, his bare feet padding softly againstthe floor as he left the room. My eyes snapped open, searching the darkness as the door clicked shut. I threw the blanket off me, throwing my legs over the edge of the bed.
Where is he going this late?
Chapter 22
Shadow
As previously pledged to you, my esteemed gods, I shall remain present to observe your schemes unfold.
I am so eager to watch over every one of you.
At the end of a dimly lit alley that linked the center of Olympus to the eastern part of the city stood the house of Athena. The faint light of flickering lanterns cast shadows on the aged stone, making the building seem timeless and veiled with the caution that was so characteristic of the Goddess of Wisdom.
As Shadow made his way toward the dwelling, an increasing curiosity began to brew within him. He couldn’t help but wonder why all three gods would visit Athena’s house in the middle of the night.
There were only two possibilities arising inside his void. One scenario involved the Goddess of Wisdom perhaps not being able to decipher the ancient book they’ve previously talked about or her uncovering the secret plot to assassinate Zeus.
While these two scenarios exist, only one will bring destruction to their world.
After Shadow moved through the thick walls of her house, the surrounding air seemed as if it hummed with quiet intelligence—serene and all-knowing—like the solemn pausebetween the holy hymns that reverberated each year during the gods’ festivities.
The hallway, long and dimly lit, led to a vast chamber made of golden marble, where the shadows were touched by moonlight. As he moved effortlessly across cleaned floors, he could sense the impact of Athena’s strategies and philosophies etched deeply into the walls that surrounded him. While he considered her to be the most organized and well-centered goddess he had met, he also knew she had a tendency to be the most chaotic whenever she had to connect the dots and come up with solutions.
At the end of the hallway, the vague though potent voice of Hades seized his attention, prompting a swift change in his direction as he turned around and followed the chattering sounds.
Where are you all hidden?
A question arose inside his void as he vividly remembered when he had followed Eros behind the shelf wall at Artemis’s house. It was plausible that Athena possessed a similar chamber. But where?
In an effort to locate the room where they had been secretly meeting, he took a moment to listen to the sounds of the house.
Despite the quiet, a faint sound emerged, resembling the rustling of papers as they were tossed upward. A flurry of gentle, uneasy whispers arose as the sheets began to shake and come together, ultimately collapsing down onto whatever was situated beneath. Then came the sound of the clatter of pens striking a wooden surface.
Shadow slid farther down the hallway, reaching a set of stairs that lead to a closed mahogany door. He had anticipated loud voices, certain that the Gods were hiding in that chamber, but as he went through the door, he found nothing but anold, unfurnished room, where spiders had created their forever homes.
“So, how do you plan on showing us?” Artemis’s voice caught his attention.
He immediately began moving toward the right wall, covered by aged celestial maps, complete with red inscriptions and various annotations.
