Last Shadow || Deception Book III

Prologue

The hot, dry air whistled through the cave, the firelight flowing off the river of lava illuminating the figures braced against each other. One's shadow arched up into the shadows of the opposing cave wall, emitting the breath of frost and dark winter, the other unflinching in an aura wreathed with magic and something unplaced. Despite the heat of hell and the river of lava mere feet away, the air was cold, filled with the icy wrath of the Titan of the North

"What plans are you scheming up with that sharp mind of yours?"

"Nothing that will hurt you," the girl replied, returning the stare of the hulking figure in icy armour without flinching, "Besides, you do want someone to go explore the labyrinths, right? Might as well save you the energy to visit me to tell me to go and just do it."

"You left without telling anyone."

"Luke was sleeping, I didn't want to disturb him."

The titan stared shrewdly at her, his cold blue eyes searching for any cracks in an equally cold face. Great-granddaughter indeed.

"Am I right or am I right? My lord," she added after a moment's pause, almost an afterthought.

It was daring of her, he supposed. Anyone else would have been dead already, Would have been dead the moment they stalked into this cave with that air of cool detachment and apathy, He preferred his subjects . . . meeker. But that same confidence made her an indispensable soldier and an even more valuable lieutenant to his Lord's growing army.

"Very well," he conceded gruffly. "You have your assets. Though next time," he glared at her sharply, "run it by me first. And inform your superior."

She dipped her head in a show of submission, and he grunted in slight satisfaction. "Regardless, you've made good progress through the labyrinth and not much of importance has happened on Mt. Tam. So I will bypass this fault. But next time . . ." He let the empty threat hang, feeling another flash of satisfaction as a fleeting spark of fear appeared in her green eyes, though they were swallowed quickly.

"Yes, my lord," the girl replied, bowing. "I expect to be done by the end of April, although I cannot give you an exact date since space and time work differently inside the labyrinth."

"Yes, yes," he waved. "You may go."

The girl bowed again, her blond hair sliding down over her shoulder to cover her face, and the small, victorious smirk she wore on her lips. It was gone as fast as it came, her face a careful mask of indifference as she raised her head and walked away, disappearing into the shadows that sang a secret song through her blood.

"Remind you of yourself?" the Titan said into the empty cavern after a brief pause. "Hecate?"

The goddess of magic emerged from the shadows, wearing an identical facade that her daughter had on barely a minute ago. "Is that why you called me here again? To gloat about how my blood has turned against me?"

"You're my blood," the titan replied. "And so is she." He smiled sharply. "I merely wanted to speak with you. But forgot and summoned her."

As if, Hecate's eyes expressed.

Koios' grin deepened. "So, what do you think?"

"If you think I am going to humour you, you're sorely mistaken."

"Wasn't expecting anything else," Koios sighed. "I do have a few questions to ask you, though." He narrowed his eyes at Hecate. "I know you're technically my enemy, but blood comes first, does it not?" He smiled knowingly at her and continued, "so, granddaughter, what, exactly, has your blood been up to?"

Hecate stared at him. "What?"

"Don't play a fool, goddess of magic," Koios' voice hissed through the cavern. "Betrayed you she might, but you're her mother. I know you have an eye on her at all times. What has she been up to?"

Hecate lifted an eyebrow. Do you think I'd answer that question?

If she hasn't been doing anything . . . off, it wouldn't matter, would it? Kois conveyed back.

"Everything she's done is off," Hecate snorted a moment later, seemingly reluctant. "Running through the labyrinth at the beck and call of you ruthless, cruel immortals is off in all seven directions of this world." She fixed him with a glare. "She constantly puts herself in danger for your Lord and you. Is that not OFF for you?"

Koios chuckled. "My Lord has recently raised his suspicions of your daughter to me. I vouched for her. It seems my faith was not misplaced. Sometimes, skill and talent just walk through our door. What can I say?" he smiled cruelly. "Pity you won't be joining us, granddaughter. The end is coming, and you'll soon see why you're fighting on the wrong side.

"Day by day, I'm reminded of why I'm fighting against you," Hecate said coldly. "Monsters are running rampant through the streets, butchering mortals and causing destruction everywhere they go. I'm on the wrong side?"

"You've grown soft," Koios said nonchalantly. "Pah. As if the lives of a few mortals matter. They'll die eventually anyway. But for us immortals? We've languished in the depths of Tartarus for millennia, suffering in our chains which we've broken free of and at the hands of our jailors-"

"Whom you jailed first," Hecate thought.

"So it's only right that we bring about an end to this age and restore the glory of this world in a new Golden Age."

"Why do you keep summoning me?" Hecate asked flatly after a moment. "I've already given you my answer. It's not changing."

Koios looked at her and something like sympathy flashed through his eyes, though it instantly was replaced with cold calculation. "Because, granddaughter, you're my blood. Family. Can you blame me for wishing that I won't have to face you on the battlefield? For wishing you free of the chains the Olympians have around you?"

"Don't make me laugh," Hecate replied, turning around and walking away into the shadows of the cave. "If you cared about family, this war wouldn't be happening." She stalked away from the dim glow of firelight and the piercing glare of the Titan of the North, forcing herself to keep her pace unhurried and calm. As soon as she emerged into the dry, scorching air of open Tartarus, there was a flash of white mist and then she was gone, her apparition fleeing back into her body in Hades palace. Hecate opened her eyes, once again surrounded by shimmering black stone, and stood up from the chair she'd been sitting in. After a moment of hesitation, she left the room and headed in the direction of the garden, where she knew Persephone would be.

What she was about to go ask Hades for was incredibly risky, but if anyone could get through to him and convince him, it would be the goddess of spring, which was soon approaching. Yet all knew that the new growth would only hide the layer of death and decay spreading through the world. After Koios' question, she had a growing fear that they were planning something for this summer, something that would be the beginning of the end.