Marcus DimascioThe Hurricane Throne

CHAPTER NO.3

"It's about time you showed up!" Proculus barked.

We were herded into the throne room, which gleamed with shiny black stone. Pillars supported the dome of the room, which was about fifty feet tall. Imagine a glossy black Yamaha piano, and you can visualise just how shiny the room looked. Right in front of us was a dais made of obsidian, and on top of the dais was the Hurricane Throne.

Maximus gave Chloe a book, two days after we were kidnapped, about the Throne. The Throne was the seat of power for the Storm Prince, which is what Proculus was. The Throne is made of platinum and abalone stone from the sea floor. Poseidon made the Throne himself, since he was the Bringer of Storms. Zeus attempted to take the Throne once before and it didn't go well.

Proculus, who sat on the Throne, pointed at Chloe and me. "On your knees," he ordered.

The soldiers who stood next to his Throne marched forward and kicked us in the back of our legs, making us cry out in pain, forcing us on our knees.

Proculus stood up from the seat of power and crossed over to us. He wore a tombstone grey tunic and jeans, and had a blood red cape on. He had a dagger at his belt. His face was as pale and gaunt as ever in the firelight of the hearth, which was placed right in the middle of the throne room.

"You must be thinking that I'm wasting my time on you two," he said in a calm voice.

"You're probably right," I snarled.

The Storm Prince tilted his head at me, like a confused dog. "Oh, but I'm not. You see, all of us have been testing you..."

He pulled out a booklet of crumbled up notes, which made me confused. Why he'd keep something like that, I had no idea.

Chloe gave me a nervous look. I shrugged in confusion. At this point, I can only wonder what Proculus was playing at - which was useless.

Proculus read through several notes with his finger. "Ah, here it is: 'Subjects have shown incredible endurance to weapons, such as swords, spears and daggers, in battle training that have lasted for over three months. They have also acquired water resistance and can be able to breathe underwater. Their brain patterns suggest that they can also speak telepathically with each other and can see more clearly at long distances. Maximus, our general of the army, has reported them as growing stronger and have gained more agility than before. Subjects should be ready for the final trial in a matter of days, but should be more cautious about the candidates.'" He looked up at us and smiled. "You see? You've impressed us with your...uh, how do you say it - rebel attitudes."

Chloe suddenly lunged at Proculus and punched him in the face. Several of the soldiers who escorted us in, including Maximus, grabbed her and reined her in. Proculus held his mouth like it was about to drop off. He then looked at Chloe.

"You're spirited," he laughed, "I'll give you that."

"I'm not impressed after everything you've done to us!" Chloe screamed. "You've treated us like cattle for slaughter - putting us through tests, forcing us to do what you want. You've killed our mother..." Her voice broke and she lowered her head.

Proculus reached out and yanked her hair back, forcing her to look at him. Chloe yelped.

I struggled against the guards hands. "Don't touch her!"

"Calm down," the soldier behind me whispered. "We'll get you out."

Proculus still gripped Chloe's hair in a vice grip.

"You know what?" he sneered. "Let's just get it over with."

He looked at the soldiers holding us and nodded.