The Trials of Aphrodite: Righting the Wrongs

I Meet the Goddess of Suck-I Mean Snow

The Trials of Aphrodite

♦ Chapter Fourteen ♦

I thrashed in Zethes's vise-like grip, but he was surprisingly strong for someone that weighed a maximum of ninety pounds, which was mortifying considering I was thirty pounds heavier. Cal could handle both Hylla and Reyna, which was a feat I didn't think anyone but him could accomplish. Reyna kicked and squirmed, and Hylla cursed like a sailor and landed forceful punches on the Boread. But Cal's skin was close to impenetrable.

"Put us down!" I screeched, writhing like a snake.

Zethes glanced behind him. "I'm sure you're a very smart lady, mademoiselle, but I hope you understand that if I drop you from this height, you would make a very pretty grease stain on the streets of Quebec."

I looked down at the ground and whimpered. People milled about, small as ants, and vertigo made the world a spiraling void of color. I envisioned my body limp and bent at a wrong angle on the pavement and quickly dispelled the image. I concentrated on the hotel, also my impending doom.

As we neared the tower, I feared we would crash. "Wait!" I yelled.

The Boreads ignored me, and I braced for impact. But it didn't come.

A section of the slanted green roof slip open, revealing a massive entrance that easily accommodated all four of us. Icicles as jagged as Cal's sword jutted out from the entrance.

The angels set us down in what appeared to be a penthouse, but it looked like a blizzard had blown past. The entry hall had high vaulted ceilings, large windows draped with velvet that was frosted over, and lush carpets just as extravagant. A staircase at the back of the grand room led up to another beautiful hall, and several other corridors connected to rooms equally as spectacular. I really needed to ask Athena and her children if they could redesign Olympus like this. I would certainly enjoy it.

But not exactly like this room. This room was freezing cold and laden with sharp icicles and snow-coated furniture. I would slip and break my neck, or possibly impale myself on an icicle. Forget swords-those icicles could run me through. The windows were open, unfortunately. A cold draft blew in my direction, and I shivered. My teeth began to chatter.

"I don't like this place," Reyna murmured. "It feels hostile." She rubbed her shoulders and shuddered.

"We can't turn back now," I protested. "I didn't risk my life on so many occasions for nothing!"

"You do not have a choice, pretty girl," Zethes said cheerfully. "My sister must meet special guests before they leave. Well, most don't leave."

"What does that mean?" I squeaked.

"They are an addition to our ice statue collection," he said nonchalantly. He paused. "You would make a beautiful ice statue," Zethes mused. "I could look at you whenever I wished. Surely you would like that?"

My insides twisted with revulsion. I did not want to spend eternity with a disco dude with a terrible accent. Especially the accent. If I had to hear his poor French all my life, I would go insane.

"Sister must see you," Cal rumbled. "No friends come with you."

"I'm going with my friends," I insisted, my heart warming a little in this cold place at the word friends. Hylla and Reyna were my...friends.

"I don't-" Zethes started, but I cut him off.

"No," I said. "Hylla and Reyna are coming, too. Or I will put up a fight."

Zethes smoothed his feathery white mullet as if pure junk could become less junkier. "Hmm. I'm afraid we'll have to take you against your will, then."