Tempest

Twenty

[vincit omnia veritas / truth conquers all]

Coming back to life hit Tessa like a bus. As soon as her eyes fluttered open, even the dim light of the cavern seemed like a spotlight shining directly on her. She felt her heartbeat pulsing normally, in time with the pounding in her head. Water was dripping down her body, which didn't make any sense to her.

"Tessa, oh my gods," A voice croaked.

Tessa sat up and saw Kaden leaning over her. His green eyes were puffy and bloodshot, tear stains on his face. His shirt was torn in some places, and he had scrapes and cuts up and down his arms.

"Kaden," Tessa managed, her mouth feeling like it was made of cotton.

The son of Aphrodite looked at her in astonishment. "You're alive." He reached up to cup her face in his hands. "Thank the gods, you're alive." He leaned forward and kissed her forehead.

Tessa felt herself blush, but she needed to focus. "Where are the others?" She asked, sitting up. She glanced around and noticed she was near the edge of the cavern, on the banks of the pool.

That's when she noticed the battle raging on around her.

Kaden and Tessa were in their own little bubble away from the central fight, where Dale, Mark, and Reese were waging war on the god of terror and his army of monsters. Dale was glowing green, arcs of her natural energy soaring around her as she strangled various monsters with vines. Reese was positioned nearby, serving as a guard to Kaden and Tessa. He was firing his golden arrows at a vanguard of hellhounds. Meanwhile, Mark stood, fighting with his katana against a duo of dracenae. All the while, Deimos sat on his stone throne, gripping his spear of power.

"We need to help them." Tessa tried to stand, but her limbs felt weak. She remembered what both her father and her uncle said; her injuries upon revival could cause her ultimate death.

"Oh, no you don't." Kaden tried to force her back down. "You literally just died, you are not hurting yourself again."

Tessa met Kaden's gaze sternly. "My backpack. Ambrosia. Give it to me," she said quickly.

Kaden sighed, but got to work. He unzipped Tessa's backpack and dug out the packet of ambrosia, crushed from constant impact in the past week. He broke off a piece and held it out to Tessa.

Gingerly, Tessa plucked it from his grasp and stuffed it in her mouth. It was a fairly large piece, and she could feel the impact of the godly power surging through her veins. Her strength was rebooting, which was all she needed to know.

Slowly, Tessa stood. Kaden rushed to help her up, and as she stood, Reese ran over to them.

"Tessa! How are you awake?" He asked in amazement.

Tessa waved her free hand. "I'll explain later. How's the battle looking?"

Reese fired another arrow as he spoke.but she was centered on one thing: Tempest.

"Where is it?" She asked anxiously. "Where's Tempest?"

Deimos cried in defiance, making Tessa wince as the cavern rumbled in response. She looked around wildly for her beloved bronze sword, but it was nowhere to be seen. "Kaden, I need Tempest!" She pressed.

Kaden looked around frantically, but his gaze fell when it landed on the battle in the distance. "Tess," He nudged her and pointed.

Tessa whirled around and found herself staring at Deimos in the distance. While he gripped his spear of power, Tempest stood in the stand at the foot of the throne. Tessa cursed under her breath. She couldn't afford to go grab it now, not while her friends needed her. She needed a backup plan, quick.