Unbelievable.
* From Greek sbennymi (σβ?νει) =“to extinguish,” or “to fade gradually.”
Chapter 23
Charisma
In ancient times, Cronus, a Titan and powerful celestial being who ruled over the Kosmos before the Olympian gods, and his spouse, Rhea, gave rise to four children: Demeter, Hera, Poseidon, and Zeus. Driven by the prophecy of his downfall at the hand of his offspring and compelled by a thirst for power, Cronus incarcerated three of his infants in a dungeon, nulling their magic. Rhea, a remarkable woman and a mother of great devotion, fought to protect them all. However, her efforts were merely enough to save one of them before Cronus executed her for treason.
For years, Zeus was nurtured by nymphs, who raised him as their own. His powers amplified at an impressive speed, and it was only a matter of time before he freed his siblings.
Overtaken by wrath but not lacking intelligence, Cronus spared their lives, forging three relics from within Zeus’s siblings that would cause his demise. The god of the sky, thunder and lightning was damned to die at the hands of those who he had striven to save.
A single relic could nullify his magic. In the possession of two, one could coerce him to their will. Three relics were the promise of his imminent demise.
However, Zeus was no fool. He cared for his brother and sisters, but he did not trust them. As he could not destroy them, he transformed Posideon’s relic into Charon’s staff, Hera’s into Pandora’s box, and Demeter’s into Prometheus’s chains.
As of this date, the artifacts have been concealed in a location that rises decennially for mortals. There, the presence of any god not under Zeus’s command would alert him of danger.
My lungs expanded as I rushed air inside, my fingers tightening over the book.
. . .a location that rises decennially for mortals.
The trials. I had little knowledge about the etiquette of humans in the gods’ world, but there were two reasons that made me think my hunch might be correct.
1. During the opening ceremony, Zeus had mentioned the Gods’ Gambit emerged every ten years.
2. During my week in Elythra, almost every interaction with another god was solely to serve the purpose of the game. Otherwise, no deity was present among any of the humans.
The trials had to be where Zeus chose to hide the relics.
Despite his incessant arrogance and narcissism, his strategy was ingenious: transforming the objects that could kill him into guarded artifacts and positioning them where no one would consider searching. It was this way of thinking that led him to be crowned king.
I let out a breath. If I were right, this was my chance to bargain for my freedom. A jolt of relief, excitement and exhaustion flowed from the tip of my toes to my throbbing head.
I could return home. To my mother.
Before the reality of the situation swept in and settled into my mind, I tried to push the thought away. I was going to celebrate when I had a reason to, and until that time came, I was going to ensure my plan would succeed.
As I waited for the four gods, I recalled all the moments Eros had tried to convince me to abandon the idea of escaping. Not once did he give it away that he was plotting to put an end to the games. Not for me, I knew, but for all the innocent people who suffered because of Zeus. And that, strangely, ignited a thread of appreciation for him within me.
“I know you’re here. Show yourself,” I urged, smelling the peony scent covering the room.
Born from particles of darkness and scarcely illuminated by the weak candles, Shadow began to transform into an ebony figure. I could’ve sworn he’d be smiling if he had well-defined features.
“I must confess I’m flattered that you finally demanded my presence,fylachtó.I’m curious, what is it that you plan to do?”
Charm,he called me. My fingers drummed a beat on the wooden table, eyes squinting at the tendrils of smoke surrounding him.
It inched closer to me, sensing my hesitation. “What leads you to believe the gods will refrain from striking you down the moment they see you?” The Shadow trailed behind me with wisps of darkness following it, my gaze not once leaving his shape. He reached my left shoulder, where he laid his next words. “You uphold valuable information now. You represent a risk to their vicious plan. Perhaps you should flee while the option still stands.”
I was aware of the point he was making, but I wouldn’t run. Not whenifI played this carefully, it could bring me what I wanted most.
“They need me.”
“Needyou?” His tone held no trace of amusement. “What use would a mortal be to four remarkably capable and powerful gods?”
My teeth grit together. “If they don’t want their plan to be compromised the second they attempt it, trust me, theywillneed me.”
