Chapter 9

9

Nemea

I make my way to the amphitheater at dusk, muscles humming with the sweet ache of exertion, my belly full of another delicious meal shared with new friends. My optimism has increased by a huge margin since this morning, though I’m still apprehensive about whether I will be ready when the time comes to help defeat the Titans. I don’t even know how long I have to prepare.

But with every new challenge, I reach deeper and deeper into my well of power, so deep I’ve become painfully aware of the fact that there is a limit. One that may find me coming up short when the time comes to perform. Those few days I spent in Tartarus showed me that with every new bond I form, my well grows deeper, but today has only shown me that it is still not deep enough.

Perhaps running away was the wrong plan. Was I a coward for making Alcides help me escape? I was able to bond with six of the guards. The other three linger in my thoughts every time I reach for my magic to use it during training. How much more will I be able to use once I’ve bonded with all of them?

Destruction wasn’t my only lesson, but it turns out it was the easiest to learn because it was something I could easily do without thinking. After breakfast, Mel took me back to the wall I blasted and made me rebuild it, brick by brick, without a single tool to help.

My knuckles are scraped and raw, my fingers blistered, but after hours of hard labor, my visit with Benedetta came back to me. She’d explained that the power of chaos wasn’t just destructive, but it took far more effort to channel it for creation.

It took an hour of concerted effort for me to recall the creative flow it took when I first crafted objects using the glass I found on the shores of Bear Island. But it turns out that using my magic to manipulate mundane materials is even more difficult than using it on the glass.

The glass, which wasn’t glass at all, but shards of Tartarus himself. Of Vesh. My affinity for him as a medium was so much stronger than any other medium I’d tried at the school. But I still found enjoyment in all of them. So when I finally found that core of creative energy, it became easier to rebuild the wall, and by suppertime I finally completed it, down to the last spec of crushed stone merging back into a smooth, hard surface.

It tapped me, and for the first time since arriving, I’m entirely spent of magic, to the point that even my tattoo lies dormant on my skin.

The lack of worry over whether I’ll inadvertently damage my surroundings allows me to relax for once. To feel like a normal woman, just chilling with other normal women who could be friends if I stay long enough.

Good-natured chatter and laughter rings out from the slowly gathering group. The women I arrived with are still joking over a conversation we had at supper about how a particular actor we loved had played roles as both a romantic lead and a serial killer in different movies, and how the romantic lead was the scarier of the two. “So many red flags,” one woman says.

Did I miss something when Vesh came to spirit me away from the island? Actually, if I backtrack to the day I lost, those disjointed memories suggest some level of dysfunction between him and Pan. Whether it’s only about Pan’s unwillingness to return to servitude, I don’t know. The only obvious red flags were Vesh’s lies and perhaps neglect, though under the circumstances, I can’t blame him for being distracted.

None of the others can be accused of abuse, though. Only one stood in my way when I tried to leave, and Alcides ultimately took my side and helped me escape.

My attention is only half on the conversation now as I scan the growing crowd to find him. As the amphitheater fills, I’m more and more astonished at how many women live here. There are at least a hundred, and Mel wasn’t lying when she said there were no men.

I looked for Alcides at mealtimes and found him easily, usually deep in conversation with Eleutheria. I hope they’re finding some common ground, some bridge over the years they’ve lost. But a territorial urge has risen inside me. I want him back.

Maybe it’s selfish of me, especially considering I’m bound to all of them, so he has no choice but to share. But that doesn’t mean I have to share him.

I finally spy the pair descending the moss-covered stone steps. Alcides looks more relaxed compared to how he was at breakfast, and Ele is smiling. I offer my apologies to the women I’m with and meet the pair at the bottom row, heart in my throat and feeling a little shame over my wish to have Alcides to myself.

“How’d your day go?” I look between them, hoping my jealousy isn’t apparent. Ele was the first friend I made here. I’d like to keep her.

Alcides’ eyes crinkle with genuine contentment. “Ele’s shown me just how much heart she pours into this place. It’s impressive.” Pride swells in his tone, and it warms me to see this softer side of him.

We settle on the bench together, me on Alcides’ left, Ele on his other side. He continues to rattle off all the impressive things Ele shared with him today, while the abashed look on her face suggests she’s not used to such overt praise.

Meanwhile, acute inadequacy sets in deep. I try to tell myself she’s had centuries to become as awesome as she is, but that doesn’t stop my sense of shrinking into myself.

Blessedly, Hippolyta arrives, and the noise of the crowd dulls to a low murmur. She makes her entrance from above, her commanding presence silencing any remaining whispers.

In that silent moment before she speaks, Alcides’ hand brushes mine on the edge of the bench. Electricity jolts up my arm, the sensation warming me through. I glance up at his profile, but his gaze remains fixed to the front. Even as he stares at Hippolyta, he turns his hand and grazes his knuckles deliberately along the side of my bare thigh, then rests his big palm over the back of my hand, threading his fingers between mine.

I let out a shaky breath, my body hot with awareness of his proximity, that small feeling obliterated by the heat of his skin on mine.

I’m so hyperconscious of his touch I almost miss what Hippolyta is saying. Her voice carries through the amphitheater, calm, yet commanding. I turn my hand under Alcides’ so our palms press together, then direct my focus to the dais in front of us.

Hippolyta’s eyes shine bright when she glances at us, then our clasped hands. The smile she offers is satisfied, a silent blessing if there ever was. Then she spreads her arms wide.

“We stand on the brink of a conflict that will test our strength, our unity, and our very survival. The Titans threaten not just us, but the balance of power in the world, as well as the realm of the gods themselves.”

She pauses, her gaze sweeping over the gathered crowd. “But we are not without allies or resources.” Her eyes find Alcides. “One such ally has returned a treasure of great significance to our cause.”

Murmurs ripple through the crowd as Alcides rises from his seat beside me. He gives my hand one last squeeze before releasing me. His movements are full of purpose as he descends to join Hippolyta on the dais in the center of the amphitheater.

When he reaches her, his hands fall to his waist to unbuckle his belt, a girdle of hammered gold gleaming even in the dimming light. He presents it to Hippolyta with reverence, and she accepts it with a solemn nod.

The air seems to thrum with anticipation as Hippolyta fastens the girdle around her waist. The moment it’s secure, a hush falls over us all. It’s like she grows taller, more formidable—if that’s even possible.

“Sisters,” she says aloud, her voice strong and clear. “This girdle was forged by Hephaestus himself for Ares, god of war. It embodies his strength, his skill in combat, and his indomitable spirit.” She turns slowly so everyone can see her. “With this girdle, we will amplify our might and sharpen our awareness on the battlefield.”

To demonstrate, she motions for her sisters to join her on the dais.

Hippolyta’s voice fills the amphitheater, ringing with authority and promise. “Now, let us see the true power of unity and strength combined.”

She beckons toward the newer members of the club, including me. I hesitate for a second, but then I stand, heart racing. There’s a buzz of excitement as others join me in stepping onto the dais.

Mel, Antiope, Penthesilea, and Alcides take their places opposite us. Mel gives me an encouraging nod, her eyes telling me to trust in what’s about to happen.

I face off against Mel. She’s taller, broader, a seasoned warrior whose presence alone should intimidate me. But something shifts inside me as Hippolyta approaches. She places a hand on my shoulder and another on Mel’s. I feel a surge of warmth, a connection that’s both comforting and empowering.

“Let the demonstration begin,” Hippolyta commands.

Mel attacks first, a swift strike meant to test my defenses. But my arm moves as if guided by instinct, blocking her effortlessly. Our eyes meet in surprise; mine wide with disbelief, hers sparkling with approval.

I counterattack before she can recover, my movements fluid and strong. It feels like I’m dancing, every motion in perfect harmony with Mel’s. We’re evenly matched—each parry met with a block, each thrust with a dodge.

The crowd gasps and cheers as we go back and forth. Neither of us gains the upper hand; it’s an exhilarating stalemate that has us both grinning despite our exertion.

Beside us, Alcides faces off against another newbie. He moves with his usual grace and power, but finds himself matched at every turn. His opponent is smaller, but just as quick and fierce under the girdle’s influence.

The other club members are equally astonished by their own abilities—every new member holding their ground against Amazons who have not only trained for centuries, but also carry the blood of a god.

When Hippolyta signals for us to stop, there’s laughter and panting breaths as we all step back. The energy is electric; we’re united by a shared sense of strength we didn’t know we had.

Hippolyta steps forward again, her eyes shining with pride.

She raises her arms high above her head, the girdle around her waist catching the last light of day and gleaming brilliantly. The murmurs fade as she concentrates, her expression serene yet focused.

Suddenly, I hear her voice inside my head—a clear message that resonates through my very soul: “Together, we are unstoppable. Together, we are Amazons.”

It isn’t just words; it’s a feeling—a connection that binds us all together in that moment. A sense of belonging washes over me. I am part of something much larger than myself.

The amphitheater erupts in cheers and applause. The energy is palpable as every woman present feels the conviction settle into their bones—the undeniable power of the girdle uniting us in purpose and strength.

I find myself cheering along with them, caught up in the wave of excitement and hope. For once, I don’t feel like an outsider or someone who doesn’t belong; I am an Amazon now, connected to these women by something extraordinary.

I glance over at Alcides; he’s clapping loudly, his eyes meeting mine across the space between us. There’s pride there too—a shared acknowledgment that we’re part of this incredible force together.

As the noise subsides and everyone starts to mingle again, talking excitedly about what just happened, I feel lighter than I have in days—maybe even years. With this newfound power and these allies by my side, maybe there’s a chance we can actually win this fight against the Titans after all. Maybe freedom isn’t the end-all, be-all if it doesn’t come with community.

Alcides approaches me with a piercing focus I feel to my marrow. When he reaches me I look up into his eyes, suddenly breathless with anticipation.

In a low, gruff tone, he says, “Ele told me of a place we can be alone up in the hills—a hot spring set apart from the one everyone else visits. Will you come with me?”

“Lead the way.”

He takes my hand and we disappear into the shadows, leaving the revelry of the night to echo behind us.