“Welcome, athletes,” a booming voice says behind me.
I spin on my heel, recognizing that voice, and sway on my feet and I gag. Shit. Don’t do that either if you want to keep food down. How am I supposed to do battle like this?
That couldn’t have been his plan all along, could it? Get us to agree to the race and then disorient us so we would lose and get ourselves killed. That would do the queen’s bidding for her nefarious plot. They know by now that I won’t send others into danger and sit back on the sidelines.
Taking deep breaths, I will my stomach to calm. Apollo stares at us from his spot on a chariot in the middle of the outdoor arena. He nods to me almost imperceptibly and my stomach instantly calms. Did he do that with his healing magic? I glance at the others who all slump in relief at the same time.
He healed us, but why? Is this more of his games with fate? Is he still pushing fate to his advantage?
“Welcome to the Olympian games,” Apollo roars. “We haven’t held these games in millennia and we’ve brought back our fiercest competitors over the centuries to compete for the prize. Pandora’s Plinth or as some know it as Pandora’s box. It holds the hope of humanity.”
“He’s saying this for our benefit,” Draven whispers. “So we don’t hold back. They’re already dead. We won’t be responsible for their deaths.”
“Yes, but they are also the fiercest warriors over centuries. It’s not going to be easy.” Raven calls her sword.
“All weapons and powers are in bounds in this race. There is only one rule,” Apollo shouts over our muttering. “If you touch the ground outside the chariot, you cannot get back in. Your team goes on without you.”
I glance between Draven and Raven. “Don’t fall out of the fucking chariot.”
“To be fair, B, you’re the one who usually falls out of moving vehicles.” Raven chuckles.
“One time. I nearly fell out of the car one damn time.”
“It was spectacular how you got rid of the demon pigeons, though.” Raven pats my shoulder.
I shoot her a glare for the patronizing tone. I did get rid of them and it had been fantastic. So she can shut her patronizing mouth. I glance around the gathered warriors from centuries past, not recognizing any of them by looks alone until two figures step out of the crowd.
“Shit. Jayden, Raven, look who they brought,” I say.
“Ohhh, this is going to be fun.” Raven bounces on her toes.
The others glance around, not knowing who we’re talking about because they weren’t in the underworld with us on that mission. This is, in fact, not going to be fun as Raven claims.
“Who is it?” Kira asks.
“Heracles and Theseus. We met them in the underworld and helped save them from some demons.” I run a hand down my face. “This just got exceedingly more complicated.”
“Hello there, little sister,” Heracles says with a smirk. “Ready for a little friendly competition?”
“Friendly competition? You realize we’re not dead, right. We are the only ones here who aren’t dead.” I grip the shield charm and call the sword Claud made for me.
“You weren’t dead when you helped us battle those demons and won. I sense even more power in you now. This is going to be interesting indeed.” Heracles nods.
Theseus tilts his head to the side. “Not just Bethany but all three of them are exceedingly more powerful. So we will be competing against the three of you, then?”
“Not Jayden. We needed someone who’s driven a chariot before as none of us has.” I shrug.
“Never driven a chariot? How is that possible?” Theseus asks, aghast.
“Dude,” Raven says. “It’s been millennia. We have cars now and the concept is vastly different than driving a chariot.”
“Strange customs in this new world.” Theseus shakes his head.
“What are you doing here?” Heracles asks. “We came at the request of Hades to secure the plinth.”
“We are trying to save the world… again. This is just another obstacle along the way to Arcadia. The queen can’t get her hands on that plinth.” I adjust my grip on my sword.
“Obviously, that’s why we’re here. I propose an alliance of sorts. We work together until the end and then battle it out to see who succeeds in their task.” Heracles holds out a hand to me.
