11

Caleb struggled against his restraints and glared over at this new version of himself.

Nola's hands shook as she flipped them over. "Kronos. Wh-what's going on? This wasn't part of our deal! You never mentioned this!"

Kronos cocked his head. "I never mentioned it because you'd say no." he turned toward the cloaked figure. "Do you have it?"

Caleb glowered at the figure as it held out a paled hand, it was holding a silver snake bracelet with glowing green eyes.

The snake slithered down toward Nola who stood frozen with fear.

"What are you doing?" Caleb snarled.

Kronos waved him away. "Relax, lad. It won't hurt…" he smirked. "Much."

The snake had reached Nola and wrapped itself around her wrist. It raised its head and bit her. She screamed and tried to pull the creature off but it had taken the shape of a silver bracelet with two green gems.

"What-what is that?" Nola stuttered. She used her teeth to try and pry it apart. "Get it off of me!"

"That is sort of a communicator if you will," Kronos said, ignoring her complaints. "It will also prevent you from speaking a word about this."

Nola turned toward Caleb. "Caleb, listen to me. He's going to try and-" her eyes widen and her hands went up to her throat.

"What are you doing?" Caleb cried. "Stop it!"

After a moment, Nola started coughing. The cloaked figure swirled his scythe. "It was made with dark magic. It prevents you from turning on us and giving away our secrets. Try to resist and you'll chock to death." he hummed and turned toward Kronos. "Shall I send her back?"

Caleb started struggling again. He looked over at Nola. "You wouldn't do this! You're better than this, Nola!"

"I have no choice, Caleb." Nola's chin trembled. "I'm sorry."

A long black tentacle-like thing reached toward Nola and lifted her toward the dark hole in the ceiling. The marble statue that stood in the temple above them fell through and Nola disappeared into the hole.

The statue put itself back into place when she was gone.

Kronos got to his feet, and Caleb growled. "And where do you think you're going?"

"I am going to find my weapons. Blade, prepare for us to leave."

"Us?" Caleb frowned.

"Yes, us." Kronos brushed dirt from his clothes. "But you will stand by and watch as your world crumbles before you."

***

The ground shook underneath him and Keith turned toward the statue that was sinking into the ground.

A few moments later, Caleb appeared.

"Caleb. Are you ok?" he went to help him up. "Mason and Vanessa told me you were dragged down there. Did you see your mom again?"

Caleb nodded. "Yeah."

Keith pointed toward the doors. "Come on, everyone is waiting for us."

They left the temple to find Typhon standing over Kampe's body. Typhon turned toward them and hissed.

"Hey, Typhon. Caleb came back, can you give us a lift?"

"In a moment, young one."

Keith looked down at Kampe's body and saw it starting to glow. He covered his eyes and when the glow was gone, all that remained was a pile of ash.

Caleb's eyes widen. "You-You killed her?"

"No. She will reappear in time." he crouched before them. "Climb on, then."

Keith and Caleb clamber up Typhon's back.

He sniffed the air. Then went back in the direction they came from.

Emerson, Mason, and Vanessa were waiting by the caves with frowns on their faces. Mason looked up and waved.

Typhon bent down, letting Keith and Caleb slip off.

"Caleb, are you alright?" Mason asked, getting to his feet. "Do you know what that was that dragged you into that hole?"

Caleb shook his head. "No. But it sure did give me a scare."

"What's that?" Emerson asked, pointing toward the silver bracelet around Caleb's wrist.

Keith glanced over and saw him hesitate before answering. "It was something..my mom gave me."

"Oh! Do you think it'll help find Kronos's weapons?" Emerson chirped.

"No. It's just a family charm. Nothing special."

Vanessa pointed toward the box. "There was nothing in that thing but the name Hephaestus."

"The blacksmith God?" Keith asked, confused.

Mason scratched his neck. "I thought it was strange, too. But it makes sense in a way, right?"

"Maybe." Caleb shrugged. "But why would he have helped Kronos make anything?"

Before anyone could answer, Hades appeared with a grin on his face. "Hm. You've found it, have you? Did it give you a clue?"

Mason nodded. "The blacksmith God."

Hades frowned. "That's strange." he frowned over at Caleb. "Everyone, hold on to me."

He created a portal, taking them back to Olympus.

Zeus and the other gods were waiting for them when they appeared. Keith collapsed on the ground.

Owen jumped onto him, squeezing him in a hug. "You're back! I missed you so much! Did you guys find the box?"

Xander pulled Owen back. "Hold on, kid. Give him some breathing room."

"It's alright, Xander. I missed you too, Owen." Keith pushed himself to his feet. "Yes, we were able to locate the box, and it gave us a very confusing clue."

"Keith!"

Felix and Milana pushed their way toward him.

Felix opened his arms and then dropped them awkwardly. "How-?"

Before he could finish his sentence, Keith gave him a hug. "Hello to you too, Felix."

"Brother love!" Milana squealed. "So sweet!"

Hades reappeared again with Typhon and some of the Gods pulled out weapons, and the children screamed.

"I do not mean to scare or hurt any one of you," Typhon said. "If that were my intentions, these young children would be dead." he pointed toward Keith and his friends. "I've come to try and help defeat Kronos."

Emerson held up her hands. "Don't hurt him, please! He swore his loyalty to me. And gave me his weapon. I trust him."

The other Gods share a nervous look with each other. Ares held up his weapon. "I say we take the beast down!"

"NO!" Keith shouted. "Typhon helped us while we were in there. While we were looking for the box he distracted Kampe. And besides, if he wanted to kill us all he would have done it already, and claim the world his."

Poseidon folded his arms. "The last time we trusted him, he turned on us and tried to destroy us!"

"Just give him a chance, please!" Emerson begged.

Zeus held up his hand and the other Gods stopped talking. "We shall take this into consideration, Emerson. In the meantime you and your friends need rest."

Keith looked around for Vanessa and his face fell. He forgot that she was a ghost.

When the square was cleared out, Zeus approached Keith. "You too need rest. We shall talk about your discoveries once you wake."

Keith nodded and left toward the building without complaint. Hestia was sitting at the desk, flipping through a fashion magazine she looked up when he entered.

"Hello, Keith!"

Keith waved and went toward the elevator. He pressed his floor button.

When he arrived on his floor he went into his room and plopped down on the bed. His bedroom door creaked open.

"Hey, Keith." Owen popped his head in. "Can I ask you something?"

Keith sat up. "Sure thing, Owen. What's the problem?"

Owen stepped into the room and sat next to him on the bed. "Do you like…boys?"

Well, that's random!

"How do you figure that, Owen?"

Owen folds his arms. "I see how you and Mason look at each other."

"So, you don't want to be friends? Are you homophobic?"

"Of course not!" Owen shook his head. "I guess I was wondering how come you didn't tell me?"

Keith blinked at the boy, wondering how in the world he was so observant. He turned away from him and folded his arms.

"Back on earth, the kids in my school would tease and make fun of me. I was afraid you guys wouldn't accept me."

Owen sighed. "That's a silly thought, Keith." he wrapped his arms around his waist and buried his face in his shoulder. "I want you to know that you're my best friend and you can tell me anything, ok?"

"Alright." Keith ruffled his hair.

"I'm going to let you sleep now." Owen jumped down from the bed. "Sweet dreams!" he closed the door behind him.

After struggling to fall asleep for half an hour, Keith slipped out into the hall and walked down to Mason's room.

He knocked, and after a moment it was opened. Mason was standing in front of him wearing a t-shirt and jeans.

Mason's eyes widen. "Hey, Keith. Is everything ok?"

"I can't sleep."

"Oh." he opened the door giving him room to step through. "Come in then. I'm sure Cinnamon will be pleased to see you."

Keith stepped into the room and closed the door behind him. Mason's room looked like his but he had a wall full of medical supplies.

Cinnamon was curled up in the corner playing with a ratty ball. When she saw Keith she jumped up and tackled him to the ground.

"Hey Cinnamon." Keith laughed. "How've you been?"

Cinnamon licked his face and then padded over to her corner and picked up her ball. She came back toward him and dropped the ball in front of him.

"She wants you to play fetch," Mason said.

Keith picked up the ball the threw it back in her corner. She chased after it.

Mason sat down next to him. "Why can't you sleep?"

Keith threw the ball again when Cinnamon returned it. "I guess I'm thinking about the box. Wondering how the blacksmith God ties into this. It doesn't make sense."

"I suppose."

Cinnamon dropped the slobbery ball in Keith's lap, then climbed into his lap and curled into a ball.

Mason laughed softly. "She wants you to pet her."

"I thought she wanted to play catch." Keith pouted. He scratched her behind the ear.

A few minutes later she was snoring. Mason picked her up and took her to her little bed in the corner.

Keith got to his feet and sat on the edge of Mason's bed. It was bouncier than his.

Mason climbed into his bed from the other side and peeled off his t-shirt. Keith tried his best not to stare at his abs and muscular arms.

He turned away, face hot. "Why'd you take off your clothes?"

"Is my physic intimidating?" Mason teased.

Keith's cheeks were bright red. He enjoyed making him squirm. Keith kicked off his shoes and sat on the bed with his knees pulled against his chest.

Mason sat up on his elbows. "What?"

"I miss my family."

"What do you mean? Your mom and dad are-"

Keith shook his head. "I'm not talking about Zeus and Hera. My mortal family. I just want to see them." he laid on his back, staring up at the ceiling. "Do they even know I'm missing?"

"Of course they do." Mason turned toward him. He hesitated then bit his lip. "I might know someone who can help."

"Really?"

Mason nods. "Yeah. I'll take you to her later." he stared at Keith for a moment. "Come here."

Keith cuddled up next to him and hid his head on his chest.

OK. His chest is firmer than I thought.

Mason gave him a soft peck on the forehead. "Now go to sleep."

Keith sighed and closed his eyes, falling into a dreamless sleep.

***

Nola waited until everyone had gone off to bed before slipping out of Caleb's room and out into the cool air.

She walked into the forest and held up the bracelet to her mouth but before she could say anything she saw a dark figure off in the distance.

Nola got the feeling that it was watching her.

The figure stepped out of the shadows and she stumbled back. Hades glowered down at her.

"Nola. I figured that was you. What have you done with my son, Caleb?"

Nola blinked. "I don't know anyone by that name."

"Don't play games, I recognize dark magic when I see it. And right now you're wearing it. Now I'll ask you again before I lose my patience."

Nola balled her hands into fists. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Fine." Hades stepped toward Nola and grabbed her by the wrist before she could run. He placed a hand on her forehead and she let out a shriek.

"What are you doing!"

The snake slithered off her wrist and Hades pointed his finger at it, making it disappear. "I guess this was Blade's work. Hm?"

Nola trembled under his touch. Her skin had gotten its tan back and her hair reached down to her shoulders.

Hades pushed her into the trunk off a tree. "Now, where is Caleb?"

"Why would you care?" Nola sneered. "You killed his mother. You wanted to kill him. Why would it matter if he were missing?"

"Because he is my son." Hades' right hand erupted into black flames. "I know who you work for and will not hesitate to tell Zeus what I know. Of course, this betrayal will get you either kicked out of Olympus or killed. Take your pick. Now tell me where Caleb is you no longer have the bracelet to hold you back."

Nola covered her face with her hands. "I can't. He said that he'd hurt my family."

"He who?"

"Kronos," Nola whispered.

Hade's eyes widen. "No. He has my son?" he scowled. "Your best option is to run, Nola. If you're working for Kronos, you need to get as far away from here as possible."

With that, he vanished, leaving Nola alone with her tears.