Queen Of Hell & Paradise (Immortal gods: Book 1)

Chapter 32- Athena's Suspicion

Athena

Ichor.

I could smell it from a mile away. The odor was so strong, it led me to a wealthy gated community. I had been searching the grounds of the high school Helios had directed me to in search of any clues of my uncle's location. I wanted to bring him the gifts I hadn't been able to give him during my last trip to the mortal realm.

I knew no one would be on the campus grounds, it was late at night- but I thought perhaps I could find my way to him. I knew he wasn't on Olympus after the meeting was over, I asked around. And with his abilities seriously depleted, I knew he couldn't have gotten to the Underworld quickly.

I could hear voices as the sweet smell of golden blood intensified. One voice in particular seemed familiar to me, its tone and deepness would lull me to sleep as a little girl.

"Partón," it commanded.

The sound of shuffling and groaning followed the voice's command. I narrowed my eyes in the darkness- I couldn't see anything yet, but I could hear. Hoping with every fiber in my body that it wasn't who I thought it was, I reached for an arrow in my satchel. I gave my eyes a moment to adjust before I brought it out from behind me. Quietly, I slid it into the bow's serving and arrow's rest, positioning myself to aim it at my unsuspecting targets.

"Do you guys feel that?" another voice pipes up suddenly. Silence ensues for the next fews seconds as I try my best not to give away my position. Moving to hide myself in the darkness, I hear another scuffle of movement before a third panicked voice answers the first.

"Ichor! Someone's coming!" it shouts frantically. I manage to catch the faces of the people involved as they scramble to make their exit. The street lights flicker on and illuminate their figures and features, causing me to hold back a gasp. With narrowed eyes, I force myself to sit through the entire scene before me.

I didn't want to believe it before, but now there was no denying it.

Smack in the middle of the small chaos was my father, and he had three of his minions holding onto my uncle as they materialized a velvet cloth to muffle his protests. In all my years as a goddess, I have never been so torn between making a decision to start a fight or not.

On the one hand, I couldn't just let them take him away. I wouldn't be able to live with myself if I let them kidnap him while I did nothing. On the other hand however, it would be much more wise to alert his council of his disappearance and create a thought-out plan to retrieve him.

If I gave away my position and identity, there was sure to be a violent confrontation and then my uncle's situation would only worsen. I wouldn't be able to hold off four gods -especially not my father- and then we'd both be in trouble with no one as our witness.

I lower my bow and arrow, thinking against drawing out a weapon and inciting a scuffle. I watch silently as the four men open up a portal to an unfamiliar place and cross it with Hades on their shoulders.

For the first time in my life, I was rendered speechless and immobile - there wasn't much I could do. I have experienced the blood and horrors of war - to this day, I am still haunted by certain memories of battle. But not once did I ever feel the fear that was currently traveling its way up my spine. It wasn't fear for my own safety, it was for my uncle's.

I couldn't be sure those men meant him harm, but their actions told me that if they did- they'd feel little to no remorse. Reaching behind me, I scan the surrounding area before positioning my bow and arrow again. If I could just get a glimpse inside the portal, I might be able to tell where they're headed.

Making sure no mortal eyes were watching, I let the tension build between the arrow and my grip. Just as the men were about to close the vessel, I let it fly and pierce through the air. It successfully makes its way through the giant orb, managing to scrape the surface. Hopefully, it might bring back some kind of evidence or clue of the unknown place.