Rising Heroes Book Four: The Sands of Ouroboros

Chapter Twenty-Nine: The Lost Night

Disclaimer: I don't own HOO or VE

Chapter Twenty-Nine: The Lost Night

As they sped through the sky, Ciara couldn't help but hold Dustin's waist tighter. They were seated on the back of a pegasi, the rest of their group either on other flying horses or on Artemis's chariot. The broken watch was in James's pocket, although based off of what Lily and Skye had told her about him... she wasn't sure if she trusted him entirely.

"He's really not that bad," Dustin assured her. "He's trying to do better."

When they arrived at the peaks of Mount Olympus, the pegasi holding the Grigori veered towards the ground. Artemis had already made it clear that despite her wishes, they wouldn't be allowed on top of the mountain. They would have to wait in the lobby, and if the gods chose to help them, they could bring the working watch down to them.

Ciara, Dustin, and Bia waited just outside the great throne room as the other demigods presented their case about Kronos. They knew this wasn't their battle to fight, and they didn't want to interfere any further.

Ciara studied her future daughter as she paced nervously. "So you have both light and dark powers?" she asked.

Bia nodded. "I can control light," she said, snapping her fingers so a spark of light appeared. "And shadows." She waved her hand, and a tiny shadow extinguished the light.

"Huh," Ciara glanced at Dustin. "And you're our daughter? And we die in the future?"

Bia nodded. "Yep."

"Well, tell us how," Ciara said. "We can avoid it if we know how it happens."

"Rhea and Leviathan," Bia said. "You have to destroy them before they kill you. Don't capture them, don't let them get away. You have to kill them."

"But surely there's another way," Ciara said.

Dustin shook his head. "I thought that too," he said. "But there isn't, Ciara. We have to... we have to kill them."

Suddenly there was a faint silver glow as the doors in front of them opened- Artemis's signal. "Let's go," Bia said.

When they entered they found the whole of Mount Olympus in party mode. Music was playing, run by the nine muses. Bessie was being thrown about like a watery beach ball. "There," Dustin said, gesturing to Ciara's grandfather, Apollo. If anyone was willing to help them, hopefully it would be the god of prophecy.

"Well hello pretty ladies," Apollo said when they approached, completely ignoring Dustin. "How can I help you today? Want to hear a haiku?"

"No, we really don't," Ciara started, but Apollo wasn't listening.

"Beautiful women," he warbled, his voice hiccuping. "I can't help if they want me. I am awesome, woah."

He looked up at them, pleased, and Dustin gave a half-hearted clap. "Lord Apollo," Bia started.

"Yes, I do signatures!" Apollo beamed. "I can recite another haiku, perhaps about your beauty? Or if you'd like to join me in my private chambers..."

Ciara made a gagging sound, which she quickly turned into a cough. "As much as I wish I could, I'm actually your..."

"Biggest fan!" Dustin broke in. "We heard you're a master of all things, the best of prophecy. We desperately need your help to get home."

Apollo hiccuped. "For you lovely ladies, of course. How may I assist?"

Dustin presented him the watch. "We need a god of direct descent of Kronos to imbue it. You, being the god of prophecy, were naturally our first choice."

Drunk as he was, Apollo was still no fool. His eyes narrowed when he saw the Immortie. "How did you come across this?" he asked.

"Lord Apollo," Bia stepped forward. "The truth is, we are your descendants. I am your great-granddaughter, and Ciara is your granddaughter."

Now Apollo looked like he wanted to gag.

"And we just helped retrieve your sister, Artemis," Bia said. "Additionally, I am one of her huntresses."

Now Apollo looked panicked. "I'll help if you don't tell her about this," he said quickly.

Bia nodded and Apollo placed one hand on top of the clock, grumbling about how he always fell in love with family members or his sister's huntresses. Soon the clock was ticking with golden power.

"You only have a few minutes," Apollo told them. Then he turned back to the party.

They ran through the streets of Olympus, Ciara holding the watch. "Is that true?" she asked Bia when they reached the elevator.

Bia chewed at her lip. "I was considering it," she said. "But now I think I will join. Seeing this quest, all the sacrifices that were made, seeing Zöe and being part of the quest that my namesake Bianca died on... yes, I think I will join."

"You'll be great at that," Dustin said fondly.

The elevator doors beeped and they stepped inside. "I can't believe Apollo was flirting with us," Ciara said, disgusted. "And you two went along with it at first!"

Bia burst into giggles. Even Dustin chuckled. "If this is what it's like when we have kids... consider me warned," Ciara grumbled, making Bia laugh even harder.

"His haiku was terrible too," Bia said, laughing. "I've heard rumors, but nothing like... oh my gosh, nothing could have prepared me for that."

The elevator doors opened, and they jogged out to the lobby. James was in a heated argument with the Lobby host, Raina right behind him. Chessy was leaning against the counter, one hand on her hip, while Rudy raided the drawers.

"We need to go up," James was saying. "It's been too long!"

But then he saw the rest of the group, and his shoulders immediately relaxed. "You're ok!" He said. "They wouldn't let us check on you."

"We got it to work," Bia held out the watch. "Should we go home?"