Page 63 of The Tribrid Princess and the Taste of Chaos (The Rossi Legacies #7)

Jayce

M y blood is swallowed by the sand the moment it touches the ground as dazzling light explodes from the ground, tearing through the sky.

Claps of thunder follow, and I feel a pull within me, like something tugging me forward.

The ground rumbles violently, but it doesn’t affect me as I stand there, staring into the sky as bolts of lightning crackle through it.

Zeus… he is the one who has favoured me, as well as Selene, of course.

Sand swirls like a storm around us as the ground parts, and the wind whips through my hair.

The sand begins pouring into the opening, and then it clears, revealing a large entrance that unveils stone steps leading down into another large opening in the ground.

A small line of writing, in the same language as the book that gave us the location of this place, glows slightly as I read the words.

“Let none but the blood of Deimos, proven and true, cross this sacred threshold,” I say out loud.

“Then that’s not me,” Ahren replies, folding his arms as the others reach us. I glance at Sienna. Fuck, but her wolf form is gorgeous, too. Under the blazing sun, her fur is a vibrant red. Her green eyes are also vibrant as her tail swishes around her. My wolf purrs in my head, and I cock a brow.

Really, is he distracted at this time?

“Alright then, Carter, Theo, Kataleya, and I will go with Jayce. The rest of you stay here and stay vigilant,” Dad orders once he’s shifted back. His suit is dark grey.

“I have Deimos blood, too,” Alessandra says in a gloomy tone. “And I know that place is probably full of age-old germs, but I still want to come, too.” She steps forward, hands on her hips.

“I don’t know. Stay with Dante,” Dad commands.

I look back at Sienna for a moment as she shifts back, and her eyes meet mine. She gives me the smallest smile.

‘Good luck,’ she mouths. I give her a small nod before casting one final look in her direction and then, turning, I step over the threshold.

Power pulsates beneath me as I slowly begin the descent.

Carter follows, and then Kataleya, but a blinding barrier blanches, and she’s thrown back with immense power. I turn sharply as Dad shouts out.

“Kat!”

Enrique catches her. “Are you ok, Mi Amor?” he asks, brushing a strand of her hair back. She nods, smiling softly.

“I’m fine.” She brushes her skirt and looks confused.

Dante frowns. “You lost any ability of the Deimos line when you came into power. I guess it doesn’t really mean just blood,” he says.

“So does that mean I shouldn’t risk being bitch slapped by a flight of steps?” Alessandra asks, making Sienna smile.

“That’s your choice. I’m all for you trying,” Theo says as he massages his jaw. “Mind if I just stay out here?”

“Really? You’re my son. You will be of Deimos blood,” Dad says with a frown.

“Yeah, but maybe I’m more like my mama, you know? I mean, I get my good looks from her.”

Dad shakes his head. “Do what you want, but this kind of behaviour on a mission won’t get you far.”

Theo grins and waves a hand in a dismissive gesture. “Ok, now, chop chop, Deimos Prince, you better get moving.”

Dad frowns as he steps past the threshold, and the three of us make our way down. The place is dark, sand seeping down the stairs, and the light from above soon disappears.

“Theo is an idiot,” Carter remarks.

“I do agree,” Dad grunts with disapproval.

“Well, I’m sure we won’t need him down here, and they might need him more out there if anything happens,” I say, wishing Sienna were with me.

“Let’s just hope they aren’t here, and we are in and out by the time they realise,” Carter remarks.

“And now it makes sense why they needed us. Only those of Deimos blood can enter,” I remark as the stairs fade away and we are on flat ground.

Torches on the wall suddenly blaze to life, spreading further down the hall. We all tense, readying for anything, but I sense nothing dangerous. Symbols and runes cover the walls that are now glowing in the light.

Carter takes pictures on his Schattensicht as we keep walking until we reach what looks like what once was a pillared temple. Stone steps lead up to it, and I can feel a hum of power.

“We’ll hold back,” Dad says.

“Yeah,” I agree. Something tells me this is my journey from here.

The moment I place my foot on the first step, power blasts around us, the sconces on the walls of the temple erupting into fire, forming the symbol I kept drawing. Something very similar is also carved above the entrance.

I glance back at Dad and Carter before I keep walking into the temple. Pillars pass me, and time seems to shift in here. The feeling of something ancient and undisturbed fills the air.

There is nothing but pillars and engravings on every wall of this place. I look over my shoulder, but I can no longer see Dad or Carter, even though I know they are out there.

I keep walking, slowing down when I spot a huge statue of a man wielding a lightning bolt.

It’s not Zeus… this statue is looking to the heavens, one hand crossed over his chest. But it’s the fact that it looks eerily like me that makes me observe it carefully.

There are engravings along his right arm, and there on his nose is a ridge. I touch my scar.

The future isn’t set in stone, huh? I guess this part was.

The temple of Zeus’ favoured. The time has come for you to take your place, a genderless voice whispers, resonating inside my head. My heart thumps as I step back and place my hand on my chest, as if I know exactly what I’m doing.

A moment later, the sound of rock scraping fills the room, as the base of the statue begins opening and reshaping, and there inside, sitting on a dark slab of stone, something gold glints.

“The relics for the Deimos King…” I murmur, realising what they are.

I pick up the first item, power humming through me, and my wolf surges forward, my eyes blaze brilliantly.

It’s a shoulder plate, an ornate masterpiece of gold, so finely yet strongly wrought, it’s as if it’s made and manipulated by magic itself.

Its edges curl and weave like the branches of an ancient tree, each line shimmering with a subtle, otherworldly glow as they intertwine to make a powerful armour.

My lips part as the words that I didn’t even know I knew leave my lips, “I swear to uphold the laws and will of Zeus and Selene, the gods who stand with our people.” My voice, albeit soft, rings through the temple as I fix the armour plate onto my right shoulder.

Power surges around me like a chaotic storm, and I feel the mark of the ruler tingle along my back.

The next item I pick up is the helmet. It gleams like moonlight, its surface etched with sharp lines that look like they were carved by lightning itself.

Two curved wings sweep up from either side.

The visor narrows into a sharp point over the mouth, forming a helmet that looks like something from a superhero movie, one that would belong to the most powerful warrior on the battlefield.

“I vow to carry out judgement in their name and to protect in their name. I swear to act with clarity and purpose, to forsake pride and recklessness, and to embrace wisdom and strength.” I place the helmet over my head, and it fits so fucking perfectly.

Then I pick up the gauntlets, their surfaces gleaming like dawn’s first light.

Crafted from the same gold, they are etched with intricate patterns that pulse faintly with power, as if alive beneath the metal.

Deep purple jewels, smooth and radiant, are set into the knuckles, and a few are embedded with the runes of the Deimos symbol on the top of my hands, glowing like they are on fire.

I slip them on. The fingers don’t restrict my movement, and I know if I punch something now, they will do a lot more damage than without them.

I look up at the statue as I speak the last of my oath, “And when the storm breaks and darkness falls, I shall be the sword of the people. I will ride behind the Adonai to strike down any who bring harm upon us, and kneel to the gods who have blessed me. I swear it.”

The entire temple explodes with light, as far above us thunder roars, and I know the sky will be illuminated with lightning. The ground trembles, and I step back as it parts, but this time I’m not expecting what I see beneath my feet as a square area reveals itself.

Tomes. Thirteen tomes, which bear the symbol of the Deimos bloodline on every single one.

What are these?

I kneel, lifting one; beneath the Deimos symbol is written in the same language. THE BOOK OF BEASTS – Knowledge is Power .

I flip it open; the pages are aged, yet they are in meticulous condition.

The page I opened shows a drawing of some kind of monster…

frowning, I skim the language – it’s the one I can read.

It’s not a monster I know of, but it breaks down the monster’s abilities, what advantages they have, how to kill them, and how to cure their poisonous bites.

My heart thuds as I flip the page and skim the next one. I place the book down and pick up the next book. THE BOOK OF GODS – The Key to the Immortals .

I open it, flipping it with my gauntleted hand. Surprisingly, it isn’t hard to do. There’s a drawing of a woman.

“The Goddess Hecate…” I turn the page, Apophis… Placing it down, I pick up another book. My heart is pounding as I realise I’m standing on the very key to everything we need.

My eyes dart over the titles.

Books on the gods, prophecies, monsters, the veil, the pillars. My hands tremble as I stop, taking a moment to look at the tome in my hand.

The small subheading stands out. “ To Hold Secrets is both a Blessing and a Curse. ”

This… this might be- no, I know this is what we need. These books will have the answers.

I pick up one book, THE HISTORY OF WOLF BLOODLINES , and a piece of parchment falls out. I pick it up and read it.

“To the one who holds my bloodline, I entrust you, the Deimos King, with the knowledge I preserved. For a great calamity will one day arise. May these hold the key to the past that I know my people will one day forget. – Andronikos”

“Hmm… isn’t he the one in that story about Helios?” I muse.

I pick up a few of the books, but quickly realise I won’t be able to balance them all. They’re heavy and thick. “Dad!” I call, my voice ringing in the emptiness around me.

“Shall we enter?” Dad asks.

“Yeah, I need some help to carry these.” Instinctively, I place my hand on each book, and they glimmer with my power before it fades. Dad and Carter appear, and suddenly a wave of uncertainty fills me.

I look between them, trying to make sense of it as Carter whistles.

“That stuff is impressive. Think you got the coolest stuff.” He smirks.

“Are you ok, Jayce?” Dad asks, more concerned as he looks me over.

I nod, looking at the books. “I need to carry these myself.”

Carter cocks a brow before scanning the temple. “Alright then, we have our bags.” He places his down and starts taking stuff out of it. “They should fit two.”

I nod, frowning at my sudden possessiveness over the books. “What are these books?” Dad asks as he leans over. Before I can even ask if he can read them, he’s already reading the titles.

“The answers to everything, I think,” I murmur.

Dad nods. “Then we need to get these-”

The entire temple shudders violently as rocks begin to fall.

We’ve got company, Theo’s voice comes through the mind-link. So, unless we’re all in the mood for a group trip to Hades – one-way, no return, and tragically early, I’d suggest getting the hell out of there. Now.

Shit.