The Five Demigods Who Saved Olympus | Book 1, 2, & 3

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Typhon roared as he began to rise from below Earth's surface. Each second that the group stood there, trying to devise a plan, Typhon would continue to grow larger and to his well-known size of over a thousand feet tall.

"I just don't see why you can't throw some thunderbolts his way and end this!" Polyphemus exclaimed, growing more and more anxious by the second. He wasn't sure of what could be done, and he knew he'd be of no use to his group. He thought Zander would be more than capable of taking control and being a true leader, like Zeus.

"I just can't, Polyphemus!" Zander said, shaking his head as he watched Typhon grow.

"Well, why can't you?!" Polyphemus asked impatiently.

"Because, though he may be the son of Zeus, he is not of Zeus's caliber. Same with me and my mother, same with them and their parents." Amara explained, pointing at Noelle, Heath, and Donovan.

"Well, somebody better think of something, because Typhon is almost at his full size! Any minute now he could break free from the chains keeping him bound to the world below." Ares said. Zander turned away, feeling overwhelmed. He had been given the title of being a leader, and yet he couldn't think up a plan for his team. Noelle noticed his worries and frustrations and turned to him. She rested her hand atop Zander's shoulder, giving it a light squeeze.

"Zander, it's okay." Noelle cooed, making Zander shake his head once more.

"It's not though, Noelle. I should be leading you all. It's my duty as a God. And yet, I stand here just as lost as the rest of you are." Zander said, lowering his head. Amara slowly approached him and rested her hand on Zander's cheek, caressing it softly. Zander looked up at her, not expecting the contact from her. She gave him a soft smile.

"Zander, you've been leading all along." Amara said. Zander furrowed his brows, wondering what she could've possibly meant. Zander had thought he hadn't been doing much to help the group throughout this journey. But, he had been entirely wrong. Zander had unwittingly looked into the minds of his friends. Their minds reminded him he had encouraged them at times when it was needed. That he knew where to go next and what step they needed to take. That he had been leading them to this point all along. He knew at that moment that this was the place each of them needed to be. He turned around and looked up at Typhon who began breaking at the chains that bound him.

"Noelle and Heath, go to the Underworld and find a way to bring him back to where he belongs. Amara and Ares, we will weaken him to the best of our ability so that they have an easier time getting him back down there. Donovan, when he's below, you'll need to repair Earth." Zander said. He went to continue, but Donovan cut him off.

"Zander, do you know what kind of power that takes?" Donovan asked. Just as Zander was about to answer, the group heard footsteps approaching them. They turned to see Aphrodite and Helios standing there.

"Persephone can help you." Helios said. The group all glared at Aphrodite and Helios, wondering why they were there and why Helios had given up the location of one he held captive.

"Look, despite us believing Olympus could be ruled by another, we hadn't had Typhon in mind. Not once. That was Melinoe's mad doing, not ours." Aphrodite said.

"So, for the time being, we are aligned." Helios continued.

"How do we know if we can trust you?" Heath asked.

"By trusting me. I can't promise that our alliance will continue once Typhon is gone, but I can promise that right here, right now they can help us put him away." Donovan said, feeling that he could trust them, or at least Helios. Heath still felt unsure. Noelle then took Heath's hand in hers, knowing how he was feeling about the situation.