Saving Tally (last Book 6) Jacobs Broken Mercenaries

chapter 10

Jacob

Even I’m not immune to these extreme temperatures. Its negative eighty-nine point six degrees Celsius out here. The climb alone up the ice cap is numbing, but with the added wind, it’s a challenge. 
I made the boat seconds before departure. After the ten day ride. I paid a French scientist a ridiculous amount to drop me at the last deserted Island. Its as close as I could get to the glaciers. From there I’ve done a three-day hike across deserted land. The winds are treacherous and my visibility is limited to the blowing snow. I know I’m close. I can feel it. 
How they manage to live here happily is beyond me. It’s possible they no longer do, and what I sense is their last presence on earth, but I wouldn’t have come all this way if that was what I truly believed. 
A crash in the snow ahead of me shakes the ground. The sound of ice cracking gives me pause.
A man shoots up from the snow, approaching me at a fast speed. No, it’s no man, it’s Apollo, the God of many varied talents. I’ve found them! Or rather they found me.
“Thou shall not pass!” He bellows in an eerie tone. I stand speechless, not at all sure what to say. 
“I’m just kidding! You must be the half-breed. We’ve been expecting you.”
I breathe a sigh of relief. The thought of having to explain everything leaves me exhausted. I’ve been run down for days. I follow him past a peak, amazed by the sight before me.
If you’ve ever seen an igloo, you would know they are usually small and dome shaped.  This is the Taj Mahal of the Arctic. I’ve been around for a long time. Not much impresses me anymore, but this is a whole new level.
“Pretty snazzy, hey?”
I nod, unable to take my eyes off the elaborate structure. Ice sculptures of bears, mountain cats and penguins line the pathway. Each sculpture detailed to the finest hair.
“Who made these?” I ask.
Apollo follows my line of vision.
“That would be Demeter. She’s artsy, always doing something with her hands. If you think that’s cool, wait until you see what she’s carved on the walls inside.”
It’s odd to imagine gods and goddesses with all this spare time doing regular things. It feels out of place, like when you see a farmer sleeping in and you know his entire schedule is gone to shit. That’s the kicker. This whole thing could have been avoided if they had just played their part.
Leaving the angels in charge of the heavens is the equivalent of the humans firing all of their leaders and putting their body guards in charge. They wouldn’t have the slightest idea of what to do.
He’s right. The walls are indeed impressive. Scenes of gods in battle adorn every surface. The likeness is uncanny. I pause in front of an image of Ares God of war; my father. His helmet is clutched in his hand as his hair flows into the clasp of vultures at his side. A snarling wolf is under his palm. At that moment, my mind makes the connection seamlessly. I’m more like my father than I know. 
“Poseidon talks about him all the time. He was a noble being. You should be proud.”
Apollo claps my shoulder, and I tear my gaze from the snow engraved picture following him into the main area. 
Tables of wood line the kitchen in rows, as a fire burns low at the front. The seats are covered in pelts, and the tables have thick runners. The living area holds a beautiful sculpture of a lively tree in the center. Seats made of ice and topped with a fur circle the entirety of the room.
A loud crash startles me, followed by another. I balance myself as the ground shakes beneath me. Apollo doesn’t seem to notice.
“What was that?” I ask him, trying to remain calm. He laughs .
“That’s just Athena and Artemis coming back from the hunt. They’re inseparable, those two, and they work each other up forever, getting into trouble.”
Athena, the Goddess of wisdom, reason, and war. Artemis, the fleet footed goddess of the hunt. Did he say trouble?
“They get into trouble? By whom?”
Apollo rolls his eyes.
“Poseidon and sometimes Demeter, they think their word is final, but everyone tests them. Just because he’s technically everyone’s uncle, well except Demeter, of course.”
I’ve heard of them, knew they existed, but still it’s hard to swallow. Maybe I never truly believed.
“Who is this?” A female voice sounds from behind me.
I turn to see a beauty in gold armor. She’s tall and slim with turquoise eyes. Her sunny hair streaked in the deepest black.
“Mmm fresh meat.” Says the woman behind her. She’s a titillating enchantress covered in furs. Athletic and beautifully curved.
I blush like an adolescent at their straightforward manner.
“Girls! Go easy on him. He’s not accustomed to the likes of you two.” Apollo warns them in a joking manner. 
“Jacob.” 
Ah, this must be Poseidon; my uncle. He stands before me larger than life. 
“Your father wanted to meet you. I know he took a great interest in your affairs.”
That’s news to me. I had no idea he even thought of me.
“You have his jaw. You must take a hit like a mountain?”
I shrug my shoulders, embarrassed by the attention.
“I do okay.” I’m not sure what to say, and I’ve nearly forgotten what I came for. The end of humanity. I remind myself.
“I know why you’ve come Jacob… and there’s nothing we can do.”
My smile drops along with my heart rate. Did he just say he couldn’t help? Why is it so warm in here? I take my jacket off and throw it over my arm with jerky movements.
“So, you know the walls between worlds have been destroyed, and humans are becoming extinct?”
A nod? He gives me a nod!
“And you can’t help, why?”
He takes a moment, placing a hand on his chin, but his face remains dormant.
“Humans are greedy. You do one thing. It leads to another and another before you know it. You’re a slave to their needs, and when you deny them, they forsake you.”
Is he serious? That’s his reason! Don’t help humans because they act like humans.
It’s really hot in here. My temper is flaring. I think it’s giving me brain damage because I’m about to strike a God. My fist is clenched, and my teeth are grinding with undeluded anger. Just as I’m about to test Poseidon’s jaw, a voice from behind stops me.
“I will.”
It’s Hermes, the herald of the gods.
“Of course, the loner volunteers.” Athena adds in a stage whisper. 
“I will aid you, Jacob, and take my rightful place in the heavens. Consider Cael dead meat!”
Demeter!
She flows down the icy stairs. The silks of her dress flowing behind her. Her wildly curling blond tresses are soldered around twigs. Flowers adorn her head like a hallow. She truly looks like a goddess of nature.
“What is the meaning of this sister!” Poseidon gripes.
“I would like to help as well... and take my place. I miss the heavens.” Apollo adds with a shrug. He walks over to Demeter to stand at her side in a show of defiance to Poseidon.  I smile, nodding my approval. 
“What the hell.” Artemis says, throwing her hands up and walks over to join them. Poseidon raises a brow at Athena.
“No way I’m sticking with you, old timer. Where she goes, I go.”
Poseidon’s anger causes a rumble beneath my feet. 
“You all rally against me? Have we not played this game before? Is it not why we’re here?”
Demeter walks toward Poseidon and takes his chin in her hand, placing a kiss on his lips. It’s a touch intimate and a lot uncomfortable.  I never could get over the entangled relationships of the gods. She places his hand in both of her much smaller ones.
“Yes, and we shouldn’t be here. It is us who is wrong. We were created for them… It’s our job. It is us who has forsaken them.”
Poseidon throws his hands in the air. 
“Fine! But first; We eat. I’m hungry.”