The Grace Curse

Chapter Nineteen

I HAVE TO SAY, I ALWAYS HAD A PROBLEM WITH COWS. I mean seriously, they smell like crap and just contaminate everything with their multiple stomachs. Well, imagine giant immortal solar cows. Yeah, now you know how I feel. The hillside was loaded with them, orange and white ones everywhere. Leto's plaza was far gone now, nothing but just a single spec in the distance. It was weird to be in Las Vegas one minute, then Greece the next.

Bethany looked sick. "I feel fine—!" A cow hiked up its tail and a nasty vapor emitted from its rear-end. "BRRT!" She gagged. I was pretty sure Bethany was rendered unconscious, because the fumes made me nauseous. My head throbbed and spun, I felt like I was seeing triple. Despite the smell, my stomach rumbled and realizing I hadn't eaten in a day these cows suddenly looked so...delicious. Maybe if I ate just one I'd be OK. I stepped over the cow poop and reached for one of the cows; maybe the Oracle could...wait a little bit. As I reached for the cow, it instantly turned into a perfectly cut plate of steak. I was pretty sure that wasn't supposed to happen.

"What the heck?!" My mouth drooled at the pieces of steak. Maybe just one little nibble. My instincts kicked in and I carelessly shoved the warm fleshy pieces into my mouth quite gluttonously. Flavor exploded into my taste buds like a water balloon. It felt so invigorating and delicious, my senses sharpened exponentially. I looked down at Bethany and tapped her.

She groaned and woke up. "W—what happened?"

"You got cow pied," Bethany made a face, and looked disgustingly down at her clothes.

"These stupid cows belonged to Helios, have you ever read Homer's Odyssey?"

I rolled my eyes. "Once, a while ago..." "Where's the Oracle?" I asked unsure of what she was talking about.

She shrugged her shoulders. "Probably up there," I turned my head in the direction she pointed. Apollo's Temple was standing tall and fully lit up on the top of a small mountain. In all honesty I didn't want to go anywhere near it, but knew if we wanted to speak to the Oracle I had little choice. Maybe the Oracle could tell me how to break the curse?

"How are we going to get up there?"

Bethany twirled her arm and vines formed out of the ground. "Ready?" She asked. I shook my head violently. The vines moved and formed a slingshot.

"Wait we're not actually going to—!" Bethany latched onto me and fired.

"AHHHHHH!" We were both flung into the air as human cannonballs. I could see the immortal cows look up as we sailed across the grass into the side of the mountain, they looked like—BAM! I crashed into the side of the mountain; luckily, I managed to maintain my footing so I didn't fall down. Bethany was further up than I was. Great! Nothing ever comes easy, does it? My arms weakly struggled to support my body weight. My feet started sliding slowly down the mountain.

"No!" I yelled loudly, I tried throwing myself higher. Come on Chase! Dammit! You're the son of freaking Zeus for god's sake, figure it the hell out! I tried to maintain a positive attitude. I could hear Bethany yelling to me.

"Come on Chase! You can do this!" That really wasn't that supportive as I looked down at our altitude, I wished I was physically stronger. I struggled to lift my body weight higher, and higher. I am very light for my height, but for some reason it was so difficult. I let out a loud cry of anguish and forced myself higher, I was almost there. Come on Chase! Get those frigging legs up! I could feel my animalistic instincts kick in giving me new found strength. My muscles bulged as I clawed my way up the side of the mountain. COME ON!

I froze in place as I felt something whisper into my ear. "Give up," I shuttered as I listened to the voice of Apollo wring through my ears. "Just let go, and allow me take you with me,"