Pegasus and the Origins of Olympus (2 page)

Pegasus pressed his head to hers.

She looked up into his beautiful face and combed his long mane away from his eyes. ‘Something’s changed. I can feel it. I’ve changed and it really scares me.’ Emily lifted her smooth leg. ‘Look, there’s no trace of the scar. All I had to do was imagine it gone, and it was gone. I sent you and Alexis away without really thinking about it and I destroyed the CRU facility at Area 51 without any effort at all. Doesn’t it scare you that I can do all that?’

Pegasus snorted and shook his head, then pressed closer to her.

‘Thanks, Pegs,’ she said gratefully. ‘But it scares me. What if I make a mistake? What if I really hurt someone? I just don’t have enough control.’

Pegasus and Emily walked along the silver beach all night. When the dawn started to rise over Olympus, she climbed on the stallion’s back and they made their way home to Jupiter’s palace.

Flying through her large open window, Emily barely had time to change into her tunic before there was a knock on her door.

‘You ready to see Jupiter?’ Joel asked as he entered her room.

The winged boar, Chrysaor, was standing beside Joel and nudged his hairy snout into Emily’s hand for a pat.

‘I’m ready,’ Emily said as she gave the boar a good-morning kiss on the head.

They met up with her father in the corridor and made their way along the wide marble steps leading down to the main floor.

As always, there was a lot of activity in the palace as people came and went about their business. Bouquets of unusual, fragrant flowers were being delivered and the statues that adorned the palace were being cleaned by a group of young male satyrs. The half-goat, half-boys saw Emily and Pegasus and greeted them excitedly.

Cupid was at the base of the stairs, chatting with a young centaur. When he saw Emily, his face lit up with a bright smile.

‘Oh, great,’ Joel muttered to Paelen. ‘Just what we need, Cupid here to cause trouble.’

‘Good morning, Flame,’ Cupid said brightly as he approached Emily and bowed elegantly. He reached for her hand and gave it a light kiss.

‘Hi, Cupid. What brings you to the palace?’

‘My mother is in a meeting with Jupiter this morning,’ the winged Olympian explained. ‘I came along hoping to see your lovely face.’

Emily blushed at the compliment. Though her crush on him was long over, he still managed to charm her in an instant.

Beside her, Joel made an exaggerated gagging sound. ‘Give me a break, Cupid.’

Paelen was standing on Emily’s left. From the corner of her eye, she watched him use his Olympian powers to stretch his arm. While Cupid was distracted with Emily, Paelen’s elongated arm slid past her back and then Joel’s until it looped around, unseen, behind Cupid.

Emily poked her elbow in Paelen’s side, but his hand had already reached Cupid and caught hold of a handful of feathers from Cupid’s wings. Paelen gave a mighty pull.

‘Ouch!’ Cupid cried as his wings flashed open. He spun around to see who had attacked him and didn’t see Paelen’s arm retracting. What he did see were several feathers falling to the floor.

‘Paelen!’ Cupid accused. ‘I know it was you.’

Joel and Paelen were lost in fits of laughter at the rage on Cupid’s face. As the Olympian charged, Paelen called down to the winged sandals at his feet. They had been a gift from Mercury, the messenger of Olympus and now served only him. ‘Take me up!’

The tiny wings flashed acknowledgement and then lifted Paelen high in the air over Cupid’s head.

‘Come down here, you coward,’ Cupid roared, jumping up and trying to reach him. ‘You know I can’t fly indoors!’

‘Come and get me, pretty boy,’ Paelen teased as he dropped Cupid’s feathers one by one.

Emily’s father stifled a grin and raised his hands to calm the room. ‘That’s enough, boys. We’ve got work to do.’

‘But you saw what he did to me!’ Cupid cried. ‘He pulled out my feathers.’

‘I did not,’ Paelen teased, still hovering overhead and releasing feathers.

Footsteps on the stairs behind them stopped the argument.

‘Good morning, Emily, Pegasus and everyone,’ Juno called as she descended the steps. Beside her, her pet peacock fanned open its large tail and a hundred eyes blinked at them in unison.

She looked up at Paelen. ‘Have I missed something here?’

Paelen ordered his sandals to land. He bowed before Juno.

‘No,’ Emily’s father said, also bowing. ‘The boys were just having a little fun.’

Emily bowed respectfully to the wife of Jupiter. ‘Good morning,

Juno,’ she said. ‘Do you think it’s possible for us to see Jupiter sometime this morning?’

Juno was much younger-looking than Jupiter and stunningly beautiful. She wore a long white gown of flowing silk that had thousands of pearls woven into the fabric. There was a delicate gold belt tied at her waist and fine sandals adorned her feet. Her eyes were dark chocolate-brown and were the same colour as her hair, which was elegantly styled high on her head and dressed in a ring of pearls.

‘Of course, child,’ Juno said as she led them across the foyer and into one of the large side chambers. ‘He is in here with his council.’

Emily’s father stepped forward. ‘If he is with the council, we don’t want to disturb him.’

Juno paused and smiled radiantly at Emily’s father. ‘My husband will always have time for you, Steve. You need not ask.’ She pushed open the double doors to the council chamber and invited everyone in.

Behind Emily, Paelen and Joel were still chuckling at Cupid as the winged Olympian followed further back and muttered threats.

Jupiter was standing with his two brothers, Pluto and Neptune, as well as an odd assortment of councillors. Among them was the Big Three’s half brother, Chiron, the centaur and closest advisor to Jupiter. There was also a giant – so massive in size that his head nearly touched the ceiling of the tall chamber. Yet despite their size, the giants in Olympus were some of the gentlest citizens. A one-eyed Cyclops stood beside the giant talking softly.

Emily looked at the gathering in awe. After all this time in Olympus, she still marvelled at the wondrous assortment of mythical creatures that now formed part of her everyday life.

Across the chamber, Emily spotted Diana with her twin brother, Apollo. Vesta was also there, locked in deep conversation with Cupid’s mother, Venus. Hercules was standing further back with his arms crossed over his broad chest talking to Mars, the head of the war council, and looking very disturbed.

Emily had only seen Mars on two other occasions and had never spoken with him. He was tall, handsome and muscular like Hercules, but seemed perpetually angry, with a scowl that always darkened his fine features. Yet despite his angry exterior, Mars was a bit of a heartthrob in Olympus and was often seen out with Venus. His presence in the council room meant something big was happening.

Paelen stood beside Emily and nudged her lightly. ‘Vesta is not on the general council, neither is Hercules, Mars or Venus. I wonder what they are doing here.’

‘Husband,’ Juno called as she strode in, ‘Emily and her family would like a word.’

Jupiter looked up and his face lit with a broad smile. ‘Of course, of course, come in!’

Since the events at Area 51, where Emily had been forced to challenge Jupiter for the protection of Earth, they had grown closer. It frightened everyone to realize how near they had come to fighting over the fate of the world. They now talked often and Jupiter, Pluto and Neptune had become more like beloved grandfathers than the most powerful leaders of Olympus.

‘What may I do for you?’ Jupiter asked as he put his arm around Emily.

Before anyone could speak, Pegasus started to whinny.

Jupiter’s smile faded. ‘You have been having bad dreams?’

Emily described the recurring dream. As she spoke of the jungle world, the other council members crowded around her. When she finished, Vesta turned to Jupiter. ‘I believe it is time we showed her what we have found.’

‘Indeed,’ Jupiter agreed. He swept his arm wide to include everyone. ‘All of you, come with me.’

Jupiter led them through a second set of doors into an even larger marble chamber. It was filled with artifacts. Strange items sat on tables and on the floor. But it was the large slate chalkboard in the centre of the room that immediately caught Emily’s attention. The board was filled with strange writing and symbols.

‘There are millions of worlds along the Solar Stream,’ Jupiter began, ‘though we have only catalogued a small number of them. But recently, thanks to Emily sending both Pegasus and Alexis there, we have discovered a world at the very start of the Solar Stream.’

Chiron stepped forward, his horse’s hooves clicking on the marble floor. ‘Until now, we never knew the Solar Stream had a starting point. This is a very exciting time for us. We have much to discover.’

‘Are you talking about the jungle world?’ Emily asked.

‘Indeed we are,’ Jupiter said. ‘Around this room are just a few of the artifacts we have found there. But among the most interesting was a stone slate mounted on the wall of a large temple.’

Jupiter invited Emily forward to get a closer view. ‘We have transcribed the words from that stone slate here. I’ve had my best scholars trying to decipher it, but as yet, they have failed.’

Emily studied the chalkboard. There was something familiar about the symbols. As she stared at the strange writing, the symbols seemed to blur and swim before her eyes. Suddenly dizziness overwhelmed her and she started to stagger back.

Joel was at her side in an instant. He put his arm around her and steadied her. ‘You OK, Em?’

Emily leaned heavily into him. ‘I – I’m fine,’ she said. ‘It’s just that …’ When she looked back at the chalkboard, she sucked in her breath. ‘I know this writing!’

‘What?’ her father gasped.

Emily approached the board. ‘I can understand it. All of it.’ She pointed to each symbol and started to read aloud.

Gentle travellers –

Welcome to Xanadu.

We ask only that you venture here with peace in your hearts and respect in your minds. For ours is the oldest world and much beloved. Yet we offer it to you as refuge. That which is ours is now yours. But be mindful of our home and honour our laws.

• 
Xanadu must be respected. It will feed you, if you do not abuse it
.

• 
Our ways are the ways of peace. Do not break that peace or we will defend our home
.

• 
All life is precious. You will not kill anything here or you will be for ever cast out.

We are the Xan, creators of the Solar Stream.

Guardians of the universe.

Xanadu is sanctuary.

Emily turned back to Jupiter. The leader of Olympus had his hand over his mouth and his eyes were the widest she’d ever seen them. He looked at her like he was seeing a ghost.

Vesta looked from the chalkboard back to Emily in shock.

‘Xanadu,’ Diana and Apollo both breathed reverently.

‘Is it possible?’ Chiron asked softly. His golden eyes were huge and filled with admiration. ‘After all this time, we have finally found it?’ The centaur turned to Emily and bowed respectfully. ‘Thank you, child.’

Pegasus had his head bowed as he stood before her. As did Chrysaor, the giant and even the Cyclops.

‘Would someone please let us in on the secret?’ Joel asked, confused by the odd behaviour of the Olympians.

Their reactions troubled Emily. They were all looking at her like she was something strange, dredged up from the bottom of the sea.

‘What is it?’ she asked. ‘Pegs, stop bowing and tell me what’s going on? What’s so special about Xanadu?’

Jupiter righted himself and a reverent smile came to his lips. ‘As Earth has its ancient myths about us, we Olympians have our own ancient myths and legends.’

Vesta took over speaking. ‘Our oldest legend says that from the time before time, long before the Olympians, and even the Titans, there was Xanadu. It was said to be a precious and sacred place protected by the Xan; a great and powerful race that benevolently ruled the universe. But something happened and the Xan disappeared.’

Diana continued, her face radiant. ‘It was because of that legend that we took over as guardians of the Solar Stream. We have been visiting the many worlds searching for the Xan and evidence that Xanadu really existed. This, at last, is the proof we have sought. We have finally found Xanadu.’

‘But what does that have to do with Emily?’ Her father asked.

Diana put her arm around Emily’s shoulder and started to walk her around the room. ‘Take a look at these artifacts we have brought back. Do you recognize anything here?’

As they moved from table to table, Emily stared at the items. They all looked so familiar to her, as though she knew what they were, but had somehow forgotten. She reached for what looked like a dull piece of flat, round metal and recognized its weight and shape. She touched the bottom of the piece and it burst into brilliant light.

‘I know this,’ she whispered. ‘It’s used like a flashlight.’

As the light blazed through the room, Jupiter ordered that the doors to the chamber be closed and the windows sealed. He called everyone forward. ‘Listen to me. This does not go any further. It would shake the very core of our foundation if Olympians were to learn that the one we have called Flame of Olympus, is not Olympian at all.’

Jupiter knelt down before Emily and dropped his head. When he lifted it again, he reached for her hands. ‘Child, I do not understand how it is possible. But it is my strongest belief that you are neither human nor Olympian, but are in fact, Xan.’

Emily’s mind was spinning as she and Pegasus flew hard and high above Olympus. After Jupiter’s announcement, the room burst into excited discussion. Plans were being made to create a permanent access link between Olympus and Xanadu. But the more they talked about the origins of the Flame, the worse Emily felt.

Unable to take any more, she asked to be excused. With Pegasus loyally at her side, she begged the stallion to take her away from the palace. It didn’t matter where, just away from the proof that she didn’t belong anywhere.