《Scion of Shadows》Chapter Sixteen: Battle of the Gods

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Maddie landed in the Temple of All Gods, in front of her mother’s altar. Beside her, the key hit the marble floor with a ringing sound. She collapsed on her knees, breathing hard from the exertion and the anxiety. This was the first place she thought of; she was meant to meet Tereus back at the house. She looked down at the floor and saw blood dripping from her tunic. The black fabric didn’t show the blood, but she could see that it was wet. Her mother, still in the form of a child, appeared before her.

“Child, what has happened to you?”

Maddie couldn’t speak. The breath had all left her body and it seemed that she couldn’t draw any new air in.

“I knew that something would happen! I warned you! I will destroy that upstart child of Ares for this!”

“Unfortunately, that is something I cannot allow,” a booming voice said. It reverberated throughout the whole temple. Brigantia jumped to her feet and stood in front of her daughter.

A man walked through the middle of the temple. He was armored much as the statue of Mars, but his spear was not symbolic -- it was meant to kill. Brigantia ran at him. Black wings sprouted from her back and a giant sword appeared in her hands. It looked like a six-foot-long blade of pure onyx. In Brigantia’s childish hands it looked almost ridiculous. She remedied that by transforming, growing into an adult. Her wings lifted her off the ground as she attacked Ares. Her sword came down and he parried with his spear, sending her twirling away. The blade of her sword hit the statue of King Gradlon, bisecting it. Ares stepped to the side as tons of bronze crashes to the floor, cracking it.

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“You will never best me in a fight, sister. Perhaps you should stick to stealing souls from the bodies of the helpless.”

Brigantia responded by swinging her sword again. Ares moved his spear in a complicated maneuver that Maddie could not follow. The sword flew from Brigantia’s hands and landed in the marble floor next to Maddie. Ares followed up with a stab of his spear that pierced the winged woman's chest. She gasped.

“Take the sword. Protect yourself!” Then she vanished.

Ares waved his hand and the walls of the temple cracked. Maddie tried to step through shadows, only to find Tereus standing right behind her. He grabbed her neck roughly and forced her to the ground. He picked up the key.

“You managed to do it. I'm impressed and surprised. I thought you would need much more help but you managed to get the key and wound Gradlon in the process.”

He turned to the sword and pulled on the handle. It didn't budge.

“Ah, well, I suppose you can't get a souvenir from the gods so easily.”

He bowed to Ares. “Thank you, father. I will carry out the plan as you instructed.”

“Take the girl,” the deep voice growled, “Use her as you wish. Train her if desire.”

Ares looked at Maddie and she felt his gaze literally pierce her soul. The blaze of dark fire was almost extinguished and she felt her mind grow fuzzy. She realized she couldn't breath, and had been gasping for breath for the last few minutes. Finally Ares allowed her to breath. She gasped. She tried to look up at him, to challenge him, but she couldn't move. She reached for the sword and slowly drew it from the stone.

Ares gestured again and the ceiling exploded outwards, the walls tumbling down. Maddie could see the city. Soldiers were fighting in the streets. The Market was on fire. The sky was filled with black clouds. Thunder boomed and lightning lashed out at some of the fighters. Ares was gone but Tereus remained. He held up the key.

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“Only one thing left to do.”

They stepped through shadows to the floodgates. Tereus fit the key into the lock and turned. He threw a lever and the gates began to rise. The sea poured into the city.

He started running toward the Academy. Maddie had no choice but to follow him. Her legs would obey no other command.

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