The Son of Hades - Born of Fire

William Chapter 57

Minutes turned into hours, days turned into weeks until the month passed into the next, drawing nearer to the last month of the year. William stood on the deck while Silas stood on the upper deck looking down at William as they came nearer to the ruin city that sat at the edge of the Forbidden Mountains and through the River of Everlasting.

"Is this it?" William asked, shouting in the top of his lungs as he stares at the map in his hands staring at the name Arailya sitting on the South East region, just a few days away from Elsinguard, his uncle's kingdom.

As the snow fall increased he saw little to nothing at all. "I'm not sure," Silas shouted back, "it's hard to tell."

Mackenzie then came out from the inside along with Athena trying to see what lies beyond. "What is that?" Mackenzie asked as he stared up into the sky. As they all looked closer they notice a flock of birds coming straight toward them. They had the size of a pigeon but their beaks shined of a dull bronze colour, they had wings of silver that were long and pointed, with their nails of steel.

"They're Stymphalian birds," Athena told them.

As they looked closer they saw the feathers falling out. As it came out from the birds another one grew in its place. The feathers came towards them with great speed and were ten times as sharpened as a single arrow.

"Take cover," William shouted as he pulled Athena down with him. He lied on the ground taking cover under her as the feather dropped near their sides.

"Why must I be cursed to be with you people," William cried as Athena ran away from him. She left the deck and were heading inside the ships hall. William came crawling toward Mackenzie as the fethers began dropping near their heads and feet. Mackenzie pulls it out from the wood and began tossing it up into the air, hitting down a few bird as he does.

Athena came out with a bow and arrow. As she pulled her string and loose the arrows it went toward the sky, as it came near the birds they blocked it with their wings. The arrow was then broken into half and the birds began to release their feathers toward her and the crew. Athena tossed the bow and the sack of arrows toward William before fleeing back inside. Silas ran back inside before the Goddess closes the door.

"What should we do with this?" William shouted. "It's useless."

Athena then opened the door and she rolls out onto the floor a glass bottle filled with black substances. "Lace the arrow tips with the oil and aim for their heads," she shouted before closing the door again.

William grabbed the bottle and he removed the cork. He dipped each arrow head into the bottle while Mackenzie took the bow, trying his best to shoot down each bird that came his way. Each arrow he took from William, he lit the tip on fire with the touch of his finger.

"It's working," said William as he saw a dozen of birds falling onto the deck with arrows stuck between their heads. As the King of Valgorn attempted to dip another arrow in oil, a feather struck it and the bottle broke into half and all the oíl was scattered on the deck.

"We're doomed," William cried as he stared at Mackenzie without a clue.

The bird began vomiting a deep green substance toward them and as it fell upon the deck, it melted the board at once. Mackenzie took the other arrows and with what little green substance that laid on the board, he dipped his arrow head unto it. When he pulled his string and loose, he struck one of the birds in the centre of its chest. The bird tried to shield itself with its silver wings but the arrow went through it and the bird bursted into tiny pieces, scattering like fireworks in all sides. When the birds saw what happened they flew pass the boat to a new direction.

William began picking up the silver feathers, gathering all he could find. Mackenzie stared at his friend as he struggled to pull a few out from the deck. "For charity," the King of Valgorn explained. "Those poor orphans."

"I wasn't judging," the son of Hades told him.

"They're all gone," William shouted. "It's 's safe to come back out."

Athena and the crew came out watching as William hid the silver in his pocket. None fitted in his pants and they all fell and scattered on the deck. All the crew rushed and grabbed as much pieces they could grab for themselves. William stared at them depress while Mackenzie laughed.

"They can consider it their payment," Mackenzie added.