Chapter 17

CHAPTER 17

A islinn

My gaze skittered around the lab, searching for the other goddess. Initially, it sounded as if Nyx had gone behind Metis's back and was planning on taking her power. But her comment just now sounded like she was working with Metis. The contradictions made me wary.

The flickering torchlight cast eerie shadows on the rough-hewn walls, giving the chamber an evil ambiance that sent a chill down my spine. Fiona's hand tightened on my shoulder as we looked around. Her grip was reassuring in the face of the looming uncertainty ahead. Violet was on Fiona's other side, expression set in a grim line. The tension in the room was enough to make the toughest nut crack. I had to hold it together. Normally, I channeled my friends' confidence, but in the face of Nyx's power, it was challenging.

My gaze caught on something in the corner. It looked like a huddled figure. "I don't like the look of this," I murmured to Fiona. My voice was barely above a whisper, and I jerked my chin at what I'd seen.

Fiona nodded in agreement, her eyes darting nervously around the chamber. "It feels... wrong," she replied. Fiona still looked bad and she wasn't standing on her own yet. That, more than anything, made me more nervous. She was our de facto leader and usually talked our way through situations.

Violet shot us a sidelong glance. The horror in her eyes matched mine and made it a million times worse. "We need to tread carefully," she said out of the corner of her mouth.

My heart hammered in my chest when I saw where Nyx was headed. She drew closer to the heap I'd just noticed. I swear my heartbeats were so hard and fast they echoed through the cavern like a warning of impending danger. With each step the tension in the air grew thicker until it was suffocating us with its palpable malevolence.

Suddenly, Nyx stopped short, her gaze fixed on the figure huddled in the shadows. With a swift movement, she reached out and seized the woman by the hair. I could tell it was a woman when she yanked her head back with brutal force. The woman cried out in pain, and then her features contorted in anguish and rage as she met Nyx's cold, unforgiving gaze. Holy freaking shitballs. It was Metis!

My breath caught in my throat at the sight of the goddess. It became difficult to breathe as my fear ramped up to full-throttle. How had Nyx caught and held a powerful goddess like this? Metis looked so small and vulnerable in her current condition. It was clear her spirit had been battered by Nyx's cruelty. We'd been hunting Metis and I was pretty sure she wanted Artemis dead, but I hated seeing any being like this. I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms as a surge of righteous anger washed over me. It could very easily be me or my friends in those shackles.

"You thought you could outsmart me, didn't you?" Nyx taunted. Her voice dripped with malice, and it took me a second to realize Nyx wasn't talking to us. "Well, you should have known better. I'm stronger than you, Metis. And now you're going to pay the price for your arrogance. I will find out what you did to the shield and undo it. There is no way out for you."

Metis's eyes blazed with defiance, despite the cuffs and thick chains that bound her to the wall. "You may have the upper hand for now," she spat. Her voice held more bitterness than a cup of burnt coffee. "But you won't always."

Nyx's laughter echoed through the chamber. It was a chilling sound that sent shivers down my spine. "We'll see about that," she sneered. I almost collapsed when Nyx's gaze turned to us. "The novelty of encountering Artemis's precious middle-aged huntresses has worn off. It's time to finish what I started."

The underground chamber felt like a tomb. The air was heavy with the weight of centuries of secrets and betrayal. And Nyx was about to end our existence. Violet and Fiona's power built around us then, giving me a spark of hope. I had no idea how their protective spells would stack up to Nyx's power, but it would buy us some time. I hoped.

Coming up with a way out of this predicament was near impossible, with Nyx's presence looming over us like a dark cloud. It was made worse that her every movement was calculated and menacing. Nyx was sauntering back toward us when she flicked her wrist. A surge of dark magic erupted from her fingertips then and sliced through the air with deadly precision. My heart raced as I watched the lethal energy hurtling towards Fiona, who had taken a step forward. She was severely weakened by her injuries, but she was there trying to protect us anyway.

"Fiona, watch out!" I called out. My voice was filled with the urgency I felt. I pushed as much power as I could at the protective barrier that she and Violet had cast. My energy left me like a rocket being shot from a cannon. The force of it made me rock on my heels.

When their different magics clashed, the chamber filled with a deafening roar. A surge of adrenaline coursed through my veins, but there wasn't much I could do to help them. I conjured elements and threw wind, fire, and water at Nyx. When all it did was piss her off more, I switched to giving what I could to my friends. Thank the gods Fiona had shared her nicotisa power with us, or this wouldn't have been possible. It was funny how the Fates worked at times.

With each passing moment, the strain of the battle seemed to grow heavier. It threatened to overwhelm us. And Nyx was relentless. Her attacks came fast and furious as she sought to break our defenses. With a snarl of frustration, she launched another volley of magic at us. Her eyes blazed with fury the entire time.

"We can't keep this up forever," I muttered, my voice tight with strain as I continued giving to them so they could maintain the protective barrier.

Fiona gritted her teeth. Her face was green and she was leaning heavily on me now. I worried she would push herself to the point of no return. I didn't know if there was such a thing with witches, but I did know magic was relied on balance. And there was nothing balanced about her right now.

"We have to hold on," Fiona insisted. It was reassuring to hear her resolve. "We can't let her win."

"We should try combining our various powers," I suggested as the possible answers popped into my mind.

Fiona and Violet nodded in agreement. I felt when they gathered their power. I summoned my Fae powers and joined them with their witch and phoenix. Together we channeled them into a powerful counterattack against Nyx's relentless assault.

"We can do this," Violet said.

We nodded and pushed back against Nyx's onslaught. Our magic burned bright against the darkness. Nyx's power seemed to be unyielding. Her attacks grew stronger with each passing moment. That had been our Hail Mary, and it hadn't worked. Bollocks.

"We can't give up now," Fiona shouted over the din of battle. "We have to keep fighting!" Her words shook me out of the despair that started pulling me down.

Violet nodded, her eyes shining with determination as she poured more energy into our collective assault. "We're not backing down," she snarled defiantly.

For a brief moment, fear flickered in Nyx's eyes as our combined powers pushed back against her. Victory seemed within reach when we burned her with the searing intensity of our efforts. That fright was quickly replaced by rage. Nyx's features contorted with fury as she unleashed another wave of magic.

When each of us poured part of our souls into the effort, the room erupted in a dazzling array of colors and energy. Fiona's Fae magic shimmered with an emerald glow, entwined with the swirling currents of her witchcraft. My elemental power surged forth in a torrent of raw energy fueled by nature's ancient forces. Violet's phoenix flame blazed with an intensity that seemed to consume everything in its path.

Seeing all of that wind together was mesmerizing. There was no way I would be able to keep this much output up for long, but it was stunning while it lasted. Our streams of energy lashed out, and the room filled with the scent of ozone. The fabric of reality seemed to warp and bend under the sheer force of our magic for several seconds

Despite all of that, it seemed as though Nyx's defenses might hold strong. Her power pulsated with an almost tangible force. But then, with a final surge of determination, our combined attack broke through her barriers. It shattered them like glass and engulfed the goddess in a blinding cascade of light.

The impact was deafening and sent shockwaves rippling through the laboratory. Nyx staggered back. Her body was wreathed in flames as she let out a primal scream of agony. Her once-regal demeanor crumbled, and her features contorted in pain as she struggled to maintain control. But just as quickly as the flames had appeared, they went out.

Nyx shot us a look of pure hatred and vanished into thin air. She left behind nothing but the lingering scent of smoke and ozone. The laboratory fell silent once more. The air was heavy with the weight of our victory.

Nyx's dark energy crackled through the air as we hurried over to where Metis lay. Her once-glorious form was now marred by burns and the cruel shackles that had to be forged by Hephaestus. I winced when I saw evidence that our battle had reached her too.

The shackles dug cruelly into Metis's flesh, leaving deep gashes that oozed with dark ichor. Combined with the burns, my stomach revolted at the sight. My heart was heavy with anger and pity for the broken goddess before us. What role did she play in all of this? She had plans to steal Artemis's power with the shield, but how far did her culpability go beyond that?

"What happened, Metis?" I asked as I knelt beside her.

Metis groaned in pain. Her voice was barely audible above the last crackles of dark energy that filled the room. "The shackles... they drain my power... feed it to Nyx," she managed to whisper. Was that pain and regret in her eyes?

Fiona leaned heavily against a table. She'd used all her energy clearly, although she didn't look as green around the gills anymore. "We have to find a way to break these shackles," she told us.

"But how?" Violet asked. Her frustration bled through our bond. "They look like they were made by Hephaestus. Our magic will not be enough to break them."

Metis's eyes flickered with a hint of sadness as she spoke again. "I thought the shield would protect me... I never imagined Nyx would find a way to twist its power against me."

I practically jumped out of my skin when I heard Artemis's voice echo through the chamber. "Fiona! Violet! Aislinn! Are you there? I don't know if I managed to reach them. I told you I finally felt their power."

"Artemis?" I called out. "Where are you?"

"Oh, thank the gods. I hear them," she replied. "I'm being badgered by your mates. Next time you decide to drop off the face of the Earth, let me know so I'm not in a position to hear their whining."

Fiona perked up and moved closer to me. "We're here with Metis. Nyx has been holding her captive. We need to find a way out of this mess fast."

"Let me see if I can sharpen our connection. It will help to see where you are," the goddess replied. "Why couldn't I find you before? It was like you vanished without a trace."

"It's a long story," Violet replied. "Help us get out, and then we will tell you everything."

A soft, ethereal glow filled the chamber. It bathed us in a warm, comforting light. I glanced up to see a mirage-like screen shimmering into existence before us. A second later, the image of Artemis materialized within its depths. Her presence was both commanding and reassuring. She would get us out of here. She needed us.

"Looks like you've gotten yourselves into another mess." One corner of Artemis's lip curled as she looked around. "As has Metis. You will not be able to remove those cuffs without the key."

I took a deep breath and told myself to remain calm. "Any ideas on where Nyx might hide a key? Or can you pop over here and free Metis?"

Artemis's gaze hardened as she met my eyes through the shimmering screen. "How should I know? I wasn't there when Nyx hid the thing."

Artemis stumbled, making us frown until Bas, Grams, Thanos, and Argies all pushed their way into view. My heart skipped a beat when I saw them. My gaze met Argies's, and I smiled at him.

Bas's expression was a mixture of concern and determination. "Where are you? What happened? And why haven't you called?" His eyes narrowed on Fiona, and a growl left his throat. "You're injured. Tell me where to make this bitch take me. You need Zreegy."

Fiona met his gaze with a steely resolve, her eyes reflecting the fire of her determination. "We're holding up, and I'm going to be fine," she assured him. Her unwavering confidence didn't seem to sway him. "We're trapped in Nyx's evil laboratory. We need to focus on freeing Metis and getting out of here."

"I cannot teleport into Nyx's lab. If I were already there, I could get them out," Artemis interjected. "As much as I hate to say it, their best bet is freeing Metis."

Grams's features softened as she looked us over. "You can find one little key," she assured us. Her belief in our abilities went a long way to making me believe it.

"Violet," Thanos cut in. His voice broke through the conversation as he pushed his way to the front of the group. The longing in his eyes spoke of how much she meant to him. "You be careful. Remember, goddesses are tricky. Never take anything at face value. Be careful and get home safely. I love and miss you so much. Every moment apart feels like an eternity."

Violet's gaze softened as she met Thanos's intense stare. "I won't forget," she promised. "I miss you too, more than I can put into words."

Argies turned to me with a gentle smile as their tender exchange unfolded. "Kalli and I have been thinking about you, love. She has five stories for you to read to her and I will have a bubble bath waiting."

I returned his smile. Warmth spread through me at the thought of spending time with them. "That sounds perfect, Argies. I love you."

"As touching as this is," Artemis's voice cut through the moment with a note of urgency. "They have work to do. Nyx won't stay away for long. You need to act quickly." We nodded in response, and she ended the transmission before another word could be said. Or perhaps Nyx had done that.