Chapter 5

5

Alcides

T wo Amazons maintain vise-like grips on each of my arms as I’m escorted to Hippolyta’s quarters, still zip tied. I take in as much of my surroundings as I can on the way. This place is not new to me, but it’s undergone such transformation I barely recognize it. But the power permeating it is the same as ever.

Up a gravel path, through a garden gate, stopping at a heavy wooden door of a whitewashed stone building set at the far corner of the compound. They only pause long enough to knock.

“Enter,” comes her call.

Perhaps I should react more strongly to the sound of this woman’s voice, but I only feel the same sense of weary anticipation I had the first time we met. I’m here to ask something of her, to make my case and hope she’s as reasonable now as she was then. She’s within her rights to turn me away, but I will stand my ground regardless, appeal to her as family, if nothing else, because I am far from the only child of a god who has had to weather the dysfunction of our family’s machinations.

One of the Amazons produces a knife and cuts my bindings before opening the door and shoving me through it.

Hippolyta’s quarters are warmly lit with electric lamps. Bookshelves line the walls, and plants occupy every surface remotely near a window. The space exudes an understated opulence—modern and comfortable, yet undeniably rich. A large mahogany desk dominates the room, a sleek computer perched atop it like a technological centerpiece. Despite the contemporary trappings, the aura of ancient power is even stronger the closer I’m pushed to her, until I’m finally urged down into the chair opposite her desk.

Hippolyta rises from her own chair, fixing me with a piercing gaze. Even in simple jeans and a cotton shirt, she commands the room with a presence befitting a demigoddess. Our eyes meet, a flicker of familiarity sparking between us—a reminder of the bond we once shared. She is still as beautiful and domineering as ever, her dark hair a wavy cascade over her shoulders, the faint lines at the corners of her eyes only making her seem more powerful.

“Alcides,” she greets, her voice even, but carrying an undercurrent of unspoken emotion. “I did not expect to see you here. Or anywhere in the mortal world, for that matter.”

I incline my head respectfully. “Hippolyta. I come seeking your aid and council.” I won’t broach the topic of our last encounter unless she wants to. But suffice to say we parted on somewhat strained terms.

Her brow arches delicately. “Does the great Hercules require assistance? And what will you bargain with this time? I have little to offer in the way of magical treasure.”

Bristling inwardly at the use of my Roman name, I press on. “I am here on behalf of the girl, Nemea. She is… special. I will return Ares’ girdle to you in exchange for your help to protect and train her.”

I reach around my back and unlace the belt I’ve worn every day since I parted with Hippolyta. It feels strange to place the heavy golden object with a thunk onto her desk, but it’s as if a burden is lifted when I release it.

She stares at the golden belt, her mouth falling open. “You would really return my father’s gift to me for a mere girl?”

“Ares’ magic has served me well all these centuries. But there is more at stake now, and the gift of this belt is nothing compared to what Nemea means to our world.”

She heaves a sigh, still eyeing the belt as if picking it up represents too heavy a commitment. “We were done getting tangled in the pantheon’s wars when I gave it to you, otherwise I never would have let it out of my grasp. I have no desire to fight the petty battles of the gods again.”

“Neither do I, but what is on the horizon is no mere battle of the gods. The Titans have broken their bonds and escaped Tartarus. They are loose in the mortal world and must be subdued. We need Nemea at full strength, and we may need you and your warriors ready to come to our aid when we face them.”

Hippolyta settles back into her chair, gaze still fixed on me, assessing and perceptive as always. “I’ve heard the whispers about the girl—a human with fated ties to Tartarus himself. What could you possibly want with such power?”

I meet her gaze steadily. “You know I am bound to him too, which means she is my fate as much as his, Hippolyta. How she came to be that is uncertain.”

A derisive snort escapes her lips. “Fate? You know as well as I do how Fate gets their threads into everything they can. They’re a blight; an insidious fungus. But Chaos is behind this every bit as much. Perhaps he isn’t directly responsible for the Titans’ escape, but you can’t deny the connection. The very moment a girl with powers of Chaos appears, Fate has to get involved. But I suppose if it weren’t the two of them at odds, it would be two other gods or primordials butting heads and crushing the rest of us in the process.” She pauses and grimaces, then sighs. “But please do share more about this precious girl you’ve brought to me.”

Drawing a fortifying breath, I begin to recount all that has transpired—the Titans’ escape, the curse they placed on the dragons and the bargain they’ve made to lift it, and Nemea’s crucial role that we have yet to fully grasp. Hippolyta listens impassively, her expression betraying nothing.

“...which brings us to now,” I conclude. “Will you help? She is untrained, both in combat and control of her magic, which can be quite devastating if left unchecked. But what she holds inside her may be the key to subduing the Titans once and for all. Their powers were stripped from them in the prison and have regenerated over the centuries, but have not returned in full. They seek the kernels of their souls that were taken when they were captured, stored within the Temple of Olympus. If they reclaim those kernels, they will be unstoppable. You know as well as I do the consequences of leaving them to roam free.”

Hippolyta drums her fingers against the desk. “You speak of events that could unravel the fabric of our world. And you believe this human girl is the key?”

“Yes,” I admit. “And I believe you are the best person to help her.”

A heavy silence stretches between us, laden with unspoken history. Finally, Hippolyta sighs. “Very well, Alcides. The girl may remain here. Training will begin tomorrow.” Her gaze sharpens. “But in return, you must make time for family.”

I furrow my brow in confusion. “Family? What do you?—”

“Our daughter, Eleutheria,” she interjects, her words like a thunderclap. “She’s craved to know her father all her immortal life.”

The breath leaves my lungs in a rush as the revelation crashes over me. A daughter...with Hippolyta. Ancient memories of fatherhood stir, from long before I met Hippolyta. Hushed, reverent whispers in the presence of the miracles that were each of my three sons, from their first newborn cries to watching them grow into sturdy young men, only to be crushed and bludgeoned to death by my hands all those thousands of years past. It’s an image I force myself to recall, if only to remind myself to stay humble. I may be the son of a god, but it was a goddess who made me commit those atrocities.

But now, a daughter? And if she’s been here all this time, I have no doubt she’s as much of a wonder as her mother.

Hippolyta’s expression softens just slightly. “Hold onto the belt for now. We can sort that out later. But if you wish for the girl’s sanctuary here, you must make an effort to connect with Ele. She deserves that much from you.”

I can only nod mutely, still reeling from the revelation of my daughter’s—Eleutheria’s—existence. Hippolyta seems to accept my stunned silence as my agreement, continuing in a firmer tone.

“Very well then. Nemea will be welcomed and sheltered among my Amazons for as long as she wishes. You may stay for a week, during which I expect you to spend time with Eleutheria. Get to know the woman she has become.”

Drawing myself up, I meet her unyielding stare. “You have my word, Hippolyta. I will embrace this opportunity.”

A faint smile plays across her lips at that. “We shall see, Alcides.” She pauses, studying me carefully. “Now, tell me truthfully—what are your intentions toward Nemea?”

I hold her gaze. “She is my fated mate, Hippolyta. Our bond has yet to fully form, but it is inevitable that we will join. For her own good, and the safety of humanity, I must be there to guide her burgeoning powers.”

Silence hangs between us, heavy with unspoken thoughts. But even though what love we shared has faded to barely more than a memory, the respect we had for each other remains strong. Finally, Hippolyta gives a curt nod of acceptance.

“Then we have a bargain. Stay true to your word, and the compound will offer sanctuary.” Her eyes glint with a hint of challenge. “Do not squander this chance, Alcides. It may be your last.”

With that parting remark lingering in the air, I take my leave, my mind spinning with the revelations of the past few days. A daughter… a mate… and a precarious future bridled only by my ability to walk the paths set before me.