To Save Olympus

Chapter 21-The Freed Dove

The forest whispered with the sounds of animals and possibly monsters.

Clara closed her eyes to zone out in her own little world, sleep.

Mira laid down near her, eyes closed the second her head hit the dirt.

Joseph continued to stare at the amulet, tired but not able to sleep. The lovely blue stone didn't make a noise no matter how much he wanted it to.

Finally, it glowed.

Joseph shook the girls awake. "It's glowing!" he whispered. They instantly awoke despite being so tired and peeked over his shoulder.

"Hello," said Rhea, "Look around yourselves. What do you see?"

Clara glanced around a bit. "Yosemite."

Rhea rolled her eyes in the image. "More than that!"

"Trees?" Mira asked.

"Dirt!" said Joseph.

"No!"

"A waterfall!" Clara said.

"Yes. I couldn't say it to you because someone might hear me. Only I can hear what you three say." Rhea turned around again. She picked up a nearby sword with pearls on the handle. "Go!" she yelled before slicing something in the dark.

'What is going on there?" Mira asked.

"Kronos, most likely." said Joseph.

Clara started walking toward the waterfall. "We better get a move on." she said.

The group carefully leaped across rocks to get across a river toward the waterfall.

"Couldn't t-they have locked-d a g-god to a TREE?" Clara complained through shaking teeth.

Joseph lit some fire in his hand. "Stay close. I'll warm you." he said while making it bigger.

The girls crept closer to feel the heat. "We are here now." said Clara. She led Joseph and Mira to the base of the waterfall. Spray was coming up, making them even more damp and grumpy.

Mira raised her hands and parted the falls like a curtain. "Let's g-WHAT THE F-"

"Hush!" Joseph shouted. He had a look of shock too.

Laying before them was Aphrodite, her magic gone from the chains on her wrists. They glowed a brilliant yellow, sucking up her power. The ghastly thing about her was that she was the ugliest old woman they had ever seen.

Aphrodite looked up. "Ignore my looks for once! Help me!" she said with yellow teeth.

Clara raised one of her daggers and began to cut one of the chains. "Stop staring, guys. Freeing her will make her nice again."

Joseph began to burn out the other chain while Mira just stood there, not being able to help.

The chains snapped after a lot of effort, and the goddess stood up. "Thank you-TURN AWAY!" she shouted.

The demigods turned the backs to her just in time to avoid her true form. All they could see was a glow and her silhouette.

"Look back now." Aphrodite said sweetly.

They turned again, and gasped. Aphrodite was as beautiful as the myths say, looking different for each.

Joseph made strange noises. "Squooooooooowwww whaaaabopop lololaplago DOLPHIN!"

The women stared at him. "Boys..." Mira muttered.

Aphrodite looked at Joseph. "You know, Joseph, you are my nephew, so....sorry." she said, then shrugged.

Clara crept forward. "Er, miss, we must rescue the other gods." she said.

Aphrodite stared, then determination formed on her face. "Of course." she said. She picked up the demigods and grew. Clara, Mira, and Joseph say on her palm as she stepped out of the cave and began to walk around. "I'm the goddess of beauty." said Aphrodite. "But, I can definitely fight!"

Mira looked out over the trees. "Where are the other gods?" she asked.

"They are all in one place. I know where because I saw them get locked up. If the twelve of us are together, we will be able to free ourselves, so I was kept away." Aphrodite explained while walking. "Sleep now. The walk will be a bit long."