The Royal Peril

Chapter 14-Mount Olympus

Marilyn stepped onto the clouds in the sky, stunned.

She was walking on clouds! Sure, she could have been upset over what had just happened with Amphitrite. But she'd realized that crying won't bring her snakes back. There were other, funner ways to get them back. Ways that may or may not have involved bloodshed.

Behind her, Uma appeared. She looked just as amazed. "This is so cool."

Alex and Miranda stepped out after Uma. "Phil said he'll be staying inside in case you come back injured," Miranda told Marilyn.

Marilyn nodded, barely processing what she'd said. She stepped forward, still in amazement of the ground she walked on. She heard Alex laugh at her wonder.

"As great as this place is, I think you should focus on getting to Athena in time."

Marilyn nodded again, this time looking up at Alex. Before she could respond, she felt a sharp sting in her left arm. "Ow!" She looked over at the source of the sting and saw... an arrow?

"Marilyn! Wait!" She looked up and saw Phil rushing out of the ship towards her. "You forgot your sandals! I'm sure Athena would be a lot happier to see you in sandals over boots."

Marilyn felt her heart stop. She hadn't realized it before, but Phil had the most beautiful brown eyes. And his voice was amazing. She could listen to him talk for hours. She felt herself smile.

"Thanks, Phil. I love sandals. They're so pretty. Just like you. You're a sandal. I looove sandals." Marilyn grinned.

"Uh..." Phil looked confused.

"Marilyn? What's that in your arm?" Miranda asked. She was staring at Marilyn's arm with horror.

"Oh, this?" Marilyn glanced at her arm, then quickly back at Phil. "Just an arrow. No biggie." She let out a breathy giggle.

Alex stepped forward, inspecting the arrow. "Is that... Oh. Oh, no."

Marilyn felt annoyed at Alex. He was so close to her. Why'd he have to be so close? She pushed him away, stepping closer to Phil. "Hey, Phil, I think I'll need you to check me out."

"What?"

"My arrow, I mean."

Phil inspected the arrow just as Alex had, and let out a quiet gasp. "Ohhh, that explains it. You've been struck by Eros's arrow." Phil plucked the arrow out of her.

Uma glared at her cousin. "Gross. Can she be fixed?"

Phil stood there, unsure of what to say. "Well... I can try to come up with something. But, if all else fails... she'll have to stay like this until the spell wears off."

Then, suddenly, Eros appeared beside Phil, plucking the arrow out of his hand.

"Who did this strike?" Eros questioned.

Phil looked over at Marilyn. Marilyn giggled, excited by his eye contact.

"Meee!"

Eros looked horrified. "Athena is going to kill me."

Miranda made a face. "She can't do that. You're immortal."

Eros turned pale. "She's going to torture me!"

Uma turned to the god. "Well, maybe you can be of some service and deliver Marilyn to Athena's temple. I'm sure the goddess is already frustrated enough that we've kept her waiting."

Eros gulped, then nodded. "Yeah, I can do that. I can do that..."

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Marilyn skipped into Athena's temple. Normally, she'd be cautious and quiet, and definitely scared out of her mind. This lady was about to take her life, for all she knew! But Marilyn ignored those thoughts, instead thinking about the love of her life.