The Protector

CHAPTER 3

Erebus began to stir on the ground. They gave Lyda a final look, we all knew this would be the last time we would ever see each other. This battle with Erebus will be the one she has been prepared to make since the day she first held Alessa. Being entrusted by a powerful goddess to protect her child was one the greatest honors ever bestowed on a meager forest nymph. The high gods of Olympus will whisper tales of her sacrifice. This is the beginning of the great standoff with Hades and it starts with her, now doing what she has done for 25 years. Fighting for these girls, protecting balance.

Lyda kicked the leg of the metal table and began to walk to Erebus. He was now making his way to stand. As she neared Erebus the façade of the old woman she wore for 25 years began to melt away to revel and Ebony haired woman with sun kissed skin. She didn't look to be a day over 30, how is that possible? Her clothes transformed into knee length white toga that was draped over on shoulder and bound with a copper colored cord. She gripped the leg of the table tightly, the muscle in her forearms up to her shoulder bulged with power as she swung and connected with Erebus head. We stood in awe as once again Lyda sent him to the ground.

"Why are you still here," she never turned back to look at us. Her eyes, her killer instinct was focused on Erebus. "Get the book and leave."

"Where Lyda, how do we get to Athens? We don't have passports." I said nervously wanting to move but unsure as to how or where.

"Dear child there is much to this world you not know. Get the book and head south. Find yourself on the shores of the oldest port. There you will your way across. Read the book. GO NOW!" Her voiced echo with the ring of thunder in the distance.

The thunder shook us to our senses and we raced inside. Mom, well Lyda, always stressed the need to keep an emergency bag packed. Both of our bags hung in the closet by the front door, I raced to grab them. It had been about a year since I last checked the bag so hopefully all is in order. Behind the bags on the wall was my staff, my knife set and the shot gun Lyda keep along with ammo. I grabbed all of it and tossed it in the back of the covered bed of Ol' Faithful. Cora came outside with water and what looked like a stash of canned goods. She also had her bow on her back. We were both trained in various martial arts and weapons. The bow fit Cora well because she could use it at a distance being effective while I get up close and dirty. I doesn't take as much energy as the staff that I arm myself with. As isolated as Lyda kept us, she always made sure we had the ability to defend ourselves.

We climbed in the cab of Ol' faithful and the truck roared to life. A fire ball rolled from behind the house where Erebus and Lyda battled.

"We should slash his tires. Cut his battery lines too." As sweet as Cora is she has an evil destructive streak in her. Not a lot of people of seen that side of her. It might be more potent than her loving side. The Hades coming out in her now I'm sure of it. "If this fucker is after us, we aren't going to make it easy for him. I'll do it, give me your knife."

I reached in the pocket of my boot and grabbed out the knife that never leaves my person. I am always armed. She grab the knife from my hand and jumped out of the truck. She flipped the knife open with one hand as she stalked her way to the shiny blue BMW. She dug the knife into the tires, she didn't just stab them, she shredded them the whole way around. She closed the knife and started to walk away. She stopped and looked down at the knife. She sent me an evil grin as she made her way back to the car. She hit the butt of the knife on the window and it shattered.

"Good girl." Cora reached in and popped the hood of the car. She was doing something under the hood but I could not tell what. She made her way back.

She climbed back into the cab. "I cut the radiator hose. I figured he can try and drive on those tires but if I cut the hose lines the car will overheat somewhere out along the road and be stranded."