Rising Heroes Book Four: The Sands of Ouroboros

Chapter Four: Once Upon a Time

Disclaimer: I don't own HOO or VE

Chapter Four: Once Upon a Time

It took ages to get everyone caught up, and it was almost dark by the time they had explained everything about Leviathan and Rhea to each other. Evan kept glancing at the door, which wasn't very comforting either.

"Expecting someone?" Griffin asked.

"We kind of... left without telling our parents," Dustin admitted. He explained how their parents wouldn't let them help, and but how since they were the only ones who could touch the stones they had retrieved, they had to fight.

Griffin nodded. "They're telling the truth."

Violet pursed her lips. "We'll talk to your parents," she said. "In the meantime, how can we help?"

Maverick glanced at Lily. "Mrs. Grace- uh, Skye's mom- mentioned there might be one of you who could look at what happened the night everyone disappeared."

"That would be me," Chloe said. "But if you were unconscious... this might be tricky. And painful."

"Try anyway," Maverick suggested.

Chloe sat behind him and placed her hands on either side of his head. Closing her eyes, she concentrated.

While she let Chloe work, Lily stepped off to the side, gesturing for Spence to follow her. "What is it, kid?" he asked.

"I need you to gather James, Andi, Beth, and Seb," she said. "I have a feeling this is going to take all of us."

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

By the time the rest of the Grigori arrived, Chloe had just finished. She sat back, pale and exhausted.

James reached for Andi's hand as they walked in, but she shook it away when she saw Lily. "I'm so sorry!" she exclaimed, hugging her friend. Then she looked down at her stomach. "Lily..." she trailed off.

"I'm sorry I left," Lily said, addressing James, Andi, Beth, and Seb. "I thought I wasn't wanted here, but I should have asked for your guys' forgiveness instead of running. But Rhea and Leviathan are still out there, and I need your help."

Seb put a hand on her shoulder. "We shouldn't have blamed you for Gray," he admitted. "We were hurting. We're all sorry." he elbowed Beth. "Right?"

Beth nodded reluctantly. Even James looked less chagrined.

There was another knock on the door, and Lincoln opened it to reveal Phoenix. "Dad?" Roc asked, surprised.

"Son," Phoenix said.

"I thought you were lost?" Lily said. "We didn't find you on Santorini."

"I was being chased by Leviathan," Phoenix said. He turned to Roc. "I didn't want them to find you."

Roc looked miffed, but Violet stepped forward. "I contacted him," she said. "He mentioned finding something I didn't understand at the time, but now... I think I do."

They all sat down in the main area, pulling up chairs or sitting on the floor. "So what happened?" Maverick asked Chloe.

"Rhea was using the Immortalities to try and travel back in time," Chloe said. "Your friend Skye broke one of them, and a vortex opened that sucked all of them inside."

"So they're back in time!" Dustin exclaimed.

"Hold on," Reid said. "How are we supposed to rescue them?"

Beth flipped open her phone. "What did you say their names were?" Carmen listed off the names, and after a minute Beth sighed. "I only found one thing," she said. "Skye, Adrian, and Addie, members of the original Argo."

The demigods glanced at each other. "That's definitely them."

Suddenly Violet clutched at her head. "What's wrong?" Lincoln asked.

Violet gasped. "I'm... making new memories, somehow. I think... I think some of you go back in time... to the battle we've already fought."

"What?!" James sat bolt upright. "How??"

"That's where I come in," Phoenix said. "While I was... travelling, I came across a unique watch made out of a glowing orange stone." he pulled the device out of his pocket, the clock making a whirring noise. "I told Violet, and she didn't know what to make of it... until now."

"It's an Immortie!" Carmen exclaimed, reaching forward to hold it. She examined the stone. "But of which god?"

"Not a god," Evan realized. "A titan. The titan."

"Kronos," Dustin said. "So maybe... I mean, maybe we could use this to go back in time!"

Just as he said the words, the walls of the warehouse began to shake. Phoenix leapt to his feet, and the rest of the group followed. "He's found me," Phoenix said.

"Leviathan?" Lily asked. Phoenix nodded.

"It could be Rhea, too," Carmen said. "But why wouldn't she just try and get the watch in the first place, instead of all the Immorties?"

"The watch was under the protection of dark exiles," Phoenix said. "They didn't know what they had, but their power masked its presence from anyone other than an exile."

The walls continued to shake, and Violet started pushing the young demigods and Grigori towards the door. "Go!" she said, gesturing to the watch in Carmen's hands. "Bring your friends back. We'll hold her off."

"Mom," Lily said helplessly.

"It's ok," Lincoln said. "Just come back to us this time."

Lily nodded, and before she could stop herself, they turned and ran.

They sprinted and turned corners until the warehouse was out of sight. "What now?" Seb asked, panting.

Carmen held out the watch, turning the dials. "There's slots for dates," she said. "Anyone know when the Argo launched?"

Suddenly the watch started to shake and glow. "What's happening?" Maverick asked.

"I don't think the watch likes you!" James said.

"I'm not Kronos's daughter!" Carmen said. "I'm his great-granddaughter! I'm not close enough to be able to control it!"

The watch started to glow, forming a yellow ish portal above them. It pulled at them with wind, forming a miniature tornado that sucked in Beth and then Seb. "Grab the watch!" Andi shouted.

But it was too late. The whirlpool pulled them in, and one by one they went through. At the last second as he was sucked in Dustin scrabbled for the watch, and it followed them into the portal.

But something else followed them too- shadows which snuck inside after them, carrying a message that would change time forever.