Page 180
It was a chariot. A flying chariot, pulled by white winged horses that soared on the wind. Another joined it, then another, in formation, until the skies above were crowded with chariots.
It was an extraordinary sight, beyond mortal imagination. The dull, thunderous roar of utmost chaos filled the streets for miles around as Romans fled for the hills.
‘It is Jupiter’s army,’ Claudia said, clutching Gia’s arm in fear. ‘He has come for us.’
His aerial soldiers hurled lightning bolts down at the palace in a shimmering, luminescent rain. They fired indiscriminately, striking servants and soldiers alike with the carelessness of a god for whom all mortals are expendable. Like shining javelins, the bolts pierced each body they hit, cutting through their armour like pins through wool.
Claudia and the others crowded back into the shrine of Venus, where Marcellus still lay bleeding like a sacrifice.
They stood in silence – panting, numb.
As they watched, something fast and fiery appeared from nowhere and struck one of the flying chariots, sending it into a frantic spin. Its rider lost control of the vehicle as it plummeted downwards, striking the ground just beyond the palace with a resounding boom.
They looked up, seeing more chariots moving through the sky overhead. Another red-hot spear sent a second chariot crashing, its Pegasi horses breaking free to save themselves before the vehicle struck the rear palace wall, smashing a hole right through it. Gia and Cassius ran towards it and cleared bricks out of the way, until there was a gap large enough to squeeze through.
‘Go, hurry,’ gasped Cassius.
One by one, they squeezed through. On the other side, Claudia looked up at the sky to see more chariots, red in colour, pulled by black horses. Their archers were firing at the white chariots. Claudia could see the symbols of Mars and Jupiter on their vessels.
Mars and Jupiter were at war.
Gia, Cassius, Dido and Livia successfully escaped the palace garden, piling out through the hole and into the road, but as Claudia looked back, she saw Celadus and Dom being cuffed by Aquinas’s soldiers.
‘Dom!’ Gia cried.
Celadus the Handsome had been recognized, though he was attempting (unsuccessfully) to charm his way out of trouble, smiling broadly and gesticulating, as if there had been a misunderstanding.
‘We have to go back,’ said Claudia.
The soldiers turned, spying the hole in the wall and pointing at Claudia as they charged towards them.
‘No time,’ said Cassius, pushing them on.
Gia stared back with regret for a moment, before following.
Beyond the palace, the city was in even greater disorder as the skies filled with warring gods and their monsters. Spectral red hunting dogs as big as wolves attacked the Pegasi pulling white chariots, as soldiers of Mars battled soldiers of Jupiter, both vying for control of the pantheon at any cost. Meanwhile, the goddesses were nowhere to be seen.
One of the majestic horses fell to the ground, its mighty wings wrapped around it like a chrysalis. Claudia covered her eyes, but she heard the dull impact as a cry of horror resounded.
They pushed on, advancing towards the Forum, as thousands of terrified Romans filled the streets, all gazing upwards at the strange celestial spectacle that filled the sky.
High above, thousands more chariots appeared between the clouds now darkened and bloated by rain, darting back and forth, light as leaves carried on the wind.
‘Where should we go?’ Gia asked.
‘The Pantheon,’ said Claudia. ‘Maybe we’ll be safe there.’
With a lightning crack and a thunderous rumble, another white-hot spear struck the domed roof of the building, just visible in the distance.
‘Or, not,’ said Gia.
Claudia looked around, frantic, as another flaming red chariot hit the ground nearby, pierced with a shining white spear.
They backed away, retracing their steps.
As they rounded the corner, she saw something streaming, waterfalling down from the sky, poured from a giant amphora-shaped craft. It wasn’t water, but stone: stone of every kind and colour, from the dull grey of granite and the pearly shine of marble, to a rainbow of gemstones and hunks of pure gold.
They clumped together as they fell, to form enormous arches and pillars, constructing a colossal temple right opposite the palace.
