DEMIS (A Clash With Lightning)

31

"Congratulations. You have all completed my trials," Circe beamed. "You all did better than I anticipated."

"How—" Jasmine was feeling disoriented.

"I'm still a goddess, you know." She smiled. "My power might be drained, but I can still do some simple sorcery spells."

"Are you okay, Jasmine?" Rose questioned as she grabbed Jasmine's hand and gave it a firm squeeze.

"Yeah," Jasmine breathed. "That just felt so real."

"It was real," Circe responded matter-of-factly.

"That was real?" Ban slammed his hands on the counter. "Everything?"

"Not everything was real," Circe explained. "But yes, the underworld was real, and the lost souls you saw were real. Rose, your conversation with your father was real. Josh, your battle was real, even though your father may not have been real. Keith, your entire trial was real. If you had not won your battle, you would have perished... And Jasmine, everything you experienced was real. Your trial was perhaps the most important to the journey."

Jasmine was at a loss for words. She had really managed to tame a sea dragon. She stared at her hands for a moment. She had grown so powerful in such a short amount of time. It was as if she was meant to be a hero. She wondered if she could go down in history with the greats like Hercules and Perseus... Clearly, she had it in her.

"I could have fallen to my death!" Keith exclaimed. "I'm never getting on a plane again."

Josh put his hand on Keith's shoulder. "You did it, though." He pointed out.

"Like I care!" Keith looked horrified. "Circe, you are insane!"

Josh hit the back of Keith's head. "Shut up! Do you want her to turn you into a farm animal and eat you?"

Keith shook his head, crossing his arms in a pout.

"Well, I believe I owe you something," Circe said, turning her attention to Josh. "Follow me this way."

She walked to the next room with such grace it seemed like she was floating. She grabbed the armor that was dyed red and black with the crest of Ares on the arm. She presented it to Josh with a bow.

Josh took the armor out of her hands, and it began to glow a bright crimson color and buzzed in his hands. Josh could feel it restoring his energy, and he was beginning to feel like a video game character who had just received a power-up.

"Thank you," he whispered.

"Don't thank me," she smiled brighter. "You have proven yourself worthy."

"It suits you," Rose complimented.

"Thanks, sister," he replied before slipping the armor over his head.

"I would offer you all a place to stay for the night, but I do so love my privacy," Circe said, feigning embarrassment.

As if any of them were sad to get off this island as soon as possible. They truly could not leave faster. There was something beautiful and mysterious about Circe, but also dangerous, fickle, and a little unsettling. It was as if her mood could switch suddenly, and they would be imprisoned on this island like her previous victims.

She gave them a quick goodbye before shooing them out of the front of the castle where they had previously entered. They had made it through the trials faster than they expected. They still had the entire afternoon's worth of daylight left. They were making really good time in getting to the underworld before Alexander released the titans.

They loaded up into Rose's giant hands so she could carry them to the boat. She walked at a slow pace in the same direction they came. She didn't want to destroy the island more than they already had. It truly was a beautiful place.