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Chapter Twenty-Three

Hebe

I watch in horror as Sia’s illusion is set ablaze. Sweat beads on my temple as though I am trapped within the flames. “Wh-what is that?”

“Well, Zeus called it ‘Fire,’” Sia offers.

Prometheus tears his focus away from the flames to roll his eyes at his fellow Primordial. “Yes, we all heard that. It’s the part where dirt became combustible that confounds my bride.”

I’m not sure which of us Prometheus is mocking more, but it doesn’t matter. All I see are flames and Shadows melting in their attempts to put the fire out.

Hades purses his lips, studying the carnage. “The mortals have no defense against such power.”

“Exactly.” A wide grin stretches across Zeus’ face. “So, if I were to gift this to a few tribes here and there, they will be able to annihilate their enemies with ease. Then they’ll turn on each other, as mortals are prone to do.”

“And then there won’t be any mortals left to slay our kind and become Ascendants?” Hades looks bored and his tone is flat.

“Now you’ve got it.”

Hades sniffs. “As though mortals are worth such effort or our fear. And as though I have time to deal with the slaughter you’d like to initiate.”

Zeus drops his himation back over the jar containing Fire. “Very well, brother. Remember that I gave you a chance to be on the victorious side.”

“Winners, losers, what does that matter to me?” Hades shrugs and eases back onto his throne. “Losers perish faster, but in the end they all come to the Underworld.”

“Primordials should never perish!”

“Yet you are already here in my domain for fear of it. Does that make you the losing side, then?”

Fury broils in Zeus’ eyes, but whatever his response is to that, I do not see it because the scene vanishes.

But the power of Zeus’ Fire remains etched in my mind’s eye. Over and over, I see the harmless-looking dirt instantaneously become an inferno. There was no way to detect it, no way to stifle the flames before it became a full-on blaze. Even Hades’ Shadow creatures perished because of the Fire.

We mortals are defenseless against such power, just as Zeus boasted. My people are about to be wiped out in a war my village is ignorant of. And can I really think they will be hidden away from Zeus’ wrath when he found us traveling as a company of three?

“Zeus will no doubt store the Fire in his temple residence at Olympus,” Atum says.

“Obviously he’ll store it where he’s at his strogest,” Prometheus agrees. “But why concern ourselves with that just now when we’re on the brink of uncovering our own power?”

The memory of Zeus’ power has me slowly lowering myself to the floor before my legs can give out.

Has the scourge already begun? How many lives have been lost? Are Puraltas and his family still alive? Did I forsake them right before their greatest trial?

I should have died as one of them. Instead, I’m wrapping my arms around my knees and holding myself. Some valiant warrior I have shown myself to be.

We don’t even know what an “Ascendant” is, but now we will die for their sins.

“Peace was only an option when we were at a draw,” Atum mutters. “Now that Zeus has a superweapon, what does he care about mortals being compatible with Primordials?”

As long as he has this superweapon— this “Fire”— we’re all doomed.

“We don’t know that,” Sia offers like he hadn’t witnessed this horror directly.

“We should definitely go through with the bonding ritual just in case,” Prometheus agrees, edging toward the Tablet.

“It will be for naught while Zeus has the upper hand.” Atum sags against the altar, and the High Priestess hurries to his side. He doesn’t even notice her. “I’ll have to bargain with him.”

“For what?” Prometheus snorts. “You have nothing worth him giving up his prize.”

My entire body is shaking. Did I really survive a storm and slay a lion just the day before? I’m too cowardly for such things.

“He still has to bargain, though.” Atum’s expression is grave as he turns to my husband. “And Zeus may accept sacrificing the Fire . . . If I give him my power in exchange.”

“You can’t do that!” Sia cries.

“ Why would you do that?” Prometheus recoils in horror.

“The mortals need your power over life,” Sia adds.

Atum hangs his head. “It will mean nothing to them if they’re all dead.”

“Zeus doesn’t deserve that power,” I whisper. “Not the power over life or this power over death. It should be taken from him.”

Prometheus snorts as he picks up the Tablet, not glancing back. “You can let the Creator know that, little wife. Mayhap he’ll listen to you better than the one He charged with the impossible task of protecting you lot.”

I lower my face between my knees to hide my shame as panic overcomes me.

“Prometheus,” Atum snaps. “Your wife.”

My husband must finally glance back and see how wretched I have become, because his tone softens. “Hebe?”

I’m too busy trying to breathe to force myself to look at him. Prometheus doesn’t seem concerned at all about my people. That’s the only way he’s being brave right now.

I’ll take my cowardice over his heartlessness.

Suddenly, arms are reaching beneath my knees and wrapping behind my back. They yank me into the air.

I glance up just as Prometheus sets me on the altar.

My blood turns to ice. At least the last time I was set on an altar, I had a hope that my sacrifice would save my people. Now, on the verge of what I thought would deliver them, I learn it was I all for naught.

I married Prometheus in vain. I suffered his presence for no purpose. I kissed him for nothing more than a fleeting feeling of desire that has been reduced to ashes in the wake of Zeus’ Fire.

Prometheus pulls my head against his chest and runs his hand up and down my back. “Zeus can’t hurt you. You’re mine now, and I won’t let him touch you.”

But I won’t be soothed. Not until I know I won’t out-survive the people I sacrificed myself for.

Sia and the High Priestess are both trying to calm Atum like Prometheus is attempting to soothe me. Only, the High Priest is the one rubbing his arms while Sia talks to him.

“We’ll find another way,” Sia says. “We just need to consider this from all angles. Zeus won’t act alone, and Hades obviously did not align with him.”

“But those already loyal to Zeus will be more swayed by his new Fire than a mortal-Primordial bond! After everything we’ve done, we’re out of time.”

“Zeus stole time,” I whisper, my emotions subsiding so I feel only the cold stone beneath me and the chilly countenance of my attempted comforter.

Prometheus stares down at me. “What was that?”

“Zeus stole time . . . Couldn’t we?”

My husband snorts. “There is a considerable difference between you and Zeus, my precious burden. Hades is the only Primordial more powerful than Zeus right now.”

“Then let’s steal from Zeus.”

“ What ?”

Pulling away from Prometheus’ touch, I turn to face him more fully. “Atum said he’ll have it in his temple on Olympus. Does Atum have a temple residence on Olympus?”

Atum nods. “All Firstborns do. It is the source of our power.”

“Then it could serve as our refuge after we flee from infiltrating Zeus’ temple. It will be safe there, won’t it?”

Rubbing his jaw, Atum continues to nod. “I have the appropriate protections in place. Dionysus will no doubt invite himself for a banquet once he realizes I’m in residence, but no other Primordial will be able to enter. He gets lonely despite all the Nymphs he has staying with him in his temple at the base of Olympus.”

Prometheus shakes his head and tries to tap my nose, like that will silence me somehow. “You forget— Zeus’ temple will be also shielded against enemy Primordials, no matter what form they take.”

“And you forget that I am not a Primordial.”

“What are you saying, child?” Atum whispers.

Looking beyond my husband, I find that Atum has come to stand beside me. He— one of the most powerful Primordials— looks upon me like I am all that he has ever hoped for. Like I am the hero he needs.

“Nothing,” Prometheus counters roughly, trying to step between Atum and me. “She’s hysterical and can’t make decisions at this time.”

But I’m no longer hysterical, nor am I shaking. I push myself to my feet, standing on top of the altar and looking down at all in attendance. My gaze finds Atum’s. “I am saying that, to save my people, I will steal Zeus’s Fire.”