Invictus

Chapter 6

LIU

The room we were ushered into by Tyger was larger than the anteroom. It bothered me. He hit a panel on the wall and the lighting changed. Rows and rows of weapons lined up on the wall. The floor stretched out lengthways,pushing all the machines to the far end. huge wooden ramps and bars assembled.  A dummy flipped into place and bullseye boards emerged from the walls. The room had doubled in size.

Mulan vibes, anyone.

He looked at April's flames again, " Come here" He said, she walked to him and put out her arm, he ran his fingertips from the source of the flame in the middle of her wrist down to where it petered out close to her elbow. The flame responded to his touch, flickering.

He looked at me and quirked his eyebrows, I showed him my mark, Denise showed the waves and Lyanna, unlaced her boot and showed him, the flowers sprouting from the rock that was on her ankle, the creepers around her foot,

"The chosen ones" He sighed, pulling off his t-shirt, I had seen this many times. April's jaw dropped in awe. On his back, was as a huge image of a blazing chariot.

"I present to you the half son of Apollo."

Now it was my turn to gape. The god of archery, Tyger is a freaking demigod. I've been working out with a demigod.

"We cannot linger anymore, you report here daily for training" He looked me over "Liu, you're in good form, but you need more upper body strength "

He walked and held Lyanna and Denise's upper arms " Interesting muscle mass, you work out?"

"We're gymnasts. "April said.

"Well you make it easy for me, we need to check endurance and speed" He said, pulling on his shirt "you've gotten your weapons?"

"We have weapons? " Denise asked, a small smile on her face, that disturbed me.

"Apparently, Hepaesthus is still at work, or you need to train first " He said, running his hand through his hair. "Thank you for all you will do, a lot is counting on you."

We left to April's place, as she got to the door, the flames on her wrist turned a bright blue.

"Fireball is asleep" She muttered, checking her bag for her keys.

"Who's Fireball? " I asked

"Her flame dog" Denise answered, " He's made of fire, his eyes as blue as bunsen burner flames , but when he comes into the open, it's black fur "

We went in, wondering why April's TV  was on.

On our entrance, a tall lady in a brown dress sat on the couch, Fireball curled up asleep in her lap, a bow and a quiver of arrows by her feet and she was watching Game of thrones.

"This Tyrion Person" She laughed, wiping the corner of her eyes, Fireball blinked, the blue flame becoming dark red, then orange and yellow. He bounded off the lady and ran to April. She rose to her feet.

"I'm Artemis" She said, slinging the quiver over her back "your dog is quite the hellhound"

"Goddess of the hunt." Lyanna breathed. "you can help me with the animal thing"

"Gaia knows all, she created all this anyway" She chuckled and looked at us slowly " so, you're the chosen ones?"

She stood up and reached for my arm, stroking the cloud that had begun to float around on my skin. It tingled, warmth trailing behind her fingers. She looked at me then at her quiver, she pulled one arrow and presented it to me.

The head was intricate and heavily designed, the shaft light and silver and had wings for hair.

"I give you this" She said "may your aim be true. This will never leave your quiver"

"thank you" I managed,  she smiled at all of us and faded out.

"So we're basically gonna have to get used to the gods and goddesses pop in to our homes like this? " I ask, looking at Fireball, he or she thumped his or her tail against April's legs

"That doesn't hurt?" I asked cynically "not even a little?"

She shook her head, reaching for my arrow. Lyanna strolled out in search of the kitchen.

"I'm trying to be a good friend, April and not raid your fridge, so please come and feed me."

Denise looked her over "where does it all go?"

Denise kept a strict diet, something I can't do.  That's why I even work out.

Lyanna motioned to the ceiling "I am a portal into outer space, by eating I feed the aliens on Planet Lili'itezoid" Her face was deadpan.

I burst out laughing, shaking my head in the process.

Well hello there, how dyu like Element so far?
Tell me in the comments section. And that's Liu!