Chapter 7

7

Nemea

M y eyes snap open in the pitch-black room, the chill of pre-dawn air nipping at my skin. I’ve slept fitfully and my covers are tangled around my legs. The dregs of strange dreams still coat my mind in sticky residue, making it difficult to separate them from reality. My heart hammers from the abrupt awakening, and it takes me a moment to orient myself to my location.

A female silhouette materializes in the darkness. “Rise and shine, Nemea,” Eleutheria says. “Training starts at five.”

Grumbling, I kick off the covers and swing my legs over the edge of the bunk. The floor’s cold bite is a sharp contrast to the warmth of the bed. “Already? I feel like I just closed my eyes.”

“Trust me, you don’t want to be caught sleeping in.” Ele’s voice is a mix of amusement and sternness.

I dress fast, yanking on the clothes Eleutheria hands me—a sports bra, a snug-fitting tank, and black athletic shorts that don’t restrict movement. The boots are a pleasant surprise, fitting as well as my own boots do. I lace them up, still grasping for the ambition to justify being awake at this ungodly hour.

Hunger gnaws at my belly, prompting me to ask, “What about breakfast?”

“After training. Eight o’clock.”

My stomach lurches in protest, a silent scream for food. “I’ll starve by then,” I mutter under my breath.

Other residents are in various states of rousing and dressing as we pass through between the bunks.

We step outside with the trickle of other women, into the cool morning air, stars still clinging to the sky as dawn prepares to break. Not all the women are dressed for training; some wear jeans and T-shirts, others are in comfortable shorts and tops as they stride purposefully toward various buildings. It’s a bustling hub of early morning activity, with more women than I expected, some originating from a second building down the hill from where I slept.

Ele leads me down a path toward a somewhat flat field dotted with contraptions obscured by morning mist, which resolve themselves as pieces of an obstacle course when we draw close. An oval dirt track circumscribes the area, giving me rude flashbacks of gym class in high school. They’re far from my least favorite memories, but definitely not my best, either.

“Mel should be here soon. You’ll do great today,” Ele says, squeezing my arm.

“Wait, you’re leaving?” I blurt, eyes widening. That’s when I take in her more business-like attire of crisp linen trousers and a white top that accents her tan skin.

“I run marketing for our winery and brewery. I have to go to work. I just wanted to make sure you made it to the training ground. You’ll be in good hands with Mel.”

A knot forms in my throat as I face the prospect of navigating today alone.

Seeing my unease, Ele sighs softly and calls over another Amazon—a tall woman with wide shoulders and eyes that could cut glass. “Tell Mother I’m going to miss the morning meeting. I’ll catch up with her at lunch.”

The woman nods once before disappearing up the misty path.

“You didn’t have to do that,” I say, though I’m secretly grateful that she decided to stay.

Ele shrugs. “It can’t hurt to sharpen my skills a bit. Just let me go change. I’ll be back in a blink.”

Other women gather, some sitting on nearby benches to wait. I chew on my lip, answering the occasional morning greeting with a nod and a forced smile. They don’t all look like Amazons at least. Some appear just as unathletic as me, so maybe I won’t be alone in my imminent failure to pass whatever test I’m about to undertake.

Ele returns at a jog, dressed in identical black tank and shorts, though her boots are more worn and scuffed. She holds something out to me, and it takes a beat for me to realize it’s a hair tie.

“You’ll want to put that up before we start,” she says.

“Thanks.”

I fumble with the small elastic, dropping it once before shoving it between my teeth to try gathering my sleep-tangled hair. This should not be as difficult as it is, but my hands are shaking. I’m just grateful that my power is solidly tamped down deep inside me for the time being. It’s probably hiding just the way I want to hide right now.

“Here, let me,” Ele says in a gentle tone, retrieving the hair tie from the ground where I’ve dropped it again. “Sit.”

I obey, plopping my butt onto the end of the nearest bench. She steps behind me and deftly gathers my hair between her fingers, weaving the strands into a French braid that trails down to the center of my back.

“Thanks,” I mumble when she’s done. Having another woman show me any kind of consideration is an alien feeling. Even my girlfriends back in school behaved more like casual buddies who would joke and share secrets, but reserved their affection for their partners more so than me.

Ele gives me another warm smile that makes me wonder if this is what it would have felt like to have a big sister, or even a mom who was halfway present in my life. My grandmother didn’t even show this much affection. I was foisted onto her by child protective services, and she did her best, but she’d only ever raised the one boy who’d abandoned her as quickly as he abandoned my mother. Girls were too much work for her, I guess.

I’m still absorbing the strange sensation of sisterhood when a hush comes over the group and the other women begin to stand. I peer over my shoulder and my heart jumps into my throat. A trio of intimidating Amazons march toward us, Mel taking the lead with two others flanking her to either side.

Mel reaches us, and the crowd parts for the trio to pass through. They pivot on their heels in an easy synchronicity, like they’ve been doing this for ages.

When Mel finally speaks, her voice carries easily through the mist, and her gaze tracks over the crowd, resting on me for only a second before moving on.

“All newcomers to the Boxing Club are required to undergo a physical assessment to determine where you fit within our community. This is not a pass/fail kind of test, so don’t worry if you can’t hold your own against your fellow residents. Not all of you will be cut out for combat, and that’s okay, but those of you who have any affinity for it at all will be expected to train to maximize your skills in order to protect the compound and its residents, or to protect yourself in the event that you choose to leave.

“I shouldn’t have to tell any of you why this is necessary. Many of you already know there are predators out there more powerful than the average human man. As such, running is often the only option. So with that, let’s get started! Run as many laps around this track as you can until the whistle blows!”

The woman on Mel’s left pulls out a stopwatch, raises it, and then inserts a whistle between her lips, emitting a shrill, piercing bleat.

Ele nudges me once, then breaks into a jog. “No snoozing, Nemea! Let’s go!” she calls over her shoulder.

My heart races as I catch up to her. We jog together, my legs pumping in time with hers. I expect to feel winded quickly, but something’s different. With each stride, my lungs seem to expand, drawing in more air than I thought possible. The burn in my muscles is there, but distant.

Ele shoots me a grin. “How are you feeling? Can we step it up?”

I chuckle and shake my head. “I should warn you I’m the least competitive person alive. But I think I’ve got more to give, sure.” I grin back and push a little harder.

The endorphins flood my body like a drug, though it isn’t an entirely new sensation. I felt this that first day in the prison, in the midst of being taken to my very limits while cradled on a hammock of Typhon’s mass of writhing snake heads. The obvious difference is I’m not being fucked right now. This is all me, pushing my own body to its limits just for the sake of finding out what those limits really are.

Limits I haven’t truly tested until now, I realize. I’m not clouded by a haze of desire, hyperfocused on mine or my partner’s pleasure. The only time I’ve had the chance to test my physical strength was the morning after the ritual, revisiting the wrecked cabin and finding I could easily move entire hardwood beams with one hand and not get winded.

I’m not winded now, either, so I push myself even harder, drawing ahead of Ele only to have her match me a moment later. She’s red-faced and puffing now, but her eyes are bright with excitement.

“Come on!” I taunt. “I thought you could keep up with me!”

I have no idea how far ahead we are until we come up behind the rear of the group and pass them easily. Some women let out laughs and surprised curses as we blow by. The mist clings to my skin, cooling me off as my body heats from the exertion.

This is the freest I’ve felt in my entire life, and I barely register the whistle blowing as we round the far end of the field for the third time. It’s a matter of seconds before we reach the starting line again and slow to a stop. A round of applause and hoots and whistles greet us from the handful of women already stopped, more congratulations coming for the rest as they make it back.

“Fuck, I haven’t had a run like that in decades,” Ele says. “Now I want to see what else you can do.”

“Me too,” Mel says, looking impressed. “Nice work, everyone!” she calls. “Who here enjoyed that?”

I raise my hand, along with a handful of the other women. Most offer good-natured “fuck-thats,” though.

“Well, this is just the start. Before you get comfortable, let’s test your strength! Everyone drop to the grass and give me as many pushups as you can until the whistle blows!”

After the pushups, we do sit-ups, then jumping jacks. Then she sends us down the small obstacle course in the center of the field, which includes a tire run followed by a climb up a rope dangling from a steel framework high above. Somehow, I surprise myself again by making it to the top within seconds, then dropping easily into a crouch on the ground again. It isn’t until I hear the gasps of the observers that I look up and realize how far a drop it was. No one else, including Ele, makes it that far.

I find myself more grateful for these tests than annoyed. I wouldn’t have tested myself otherwise, and wouldn’t have had such a clear understanding of my limits.

When we’re finished, Mel is conferring with her two fellow trainers. After a moment she nods, then steps toward the group again.

“You all did amazing. We’re going to split up now. When Thalestris and Areto call your name, line up with them. Nemea, you’re with me today.”

My mind races—amazement mixed with trepidation—as Mel’s expression shifts from impartial to something almost gleeful.

“Prepare yourself,” she warns with a hint of mischief in her tone. “Training with me is no walk in the park.”

I nod silently, understanding dawning on me that this is only the beginning—the threshold of what promises to be a grueling, but empowering journey into discovering just how deep this newfound strength runs.

A nudge at my side makes me turn to see Ele grinning. “See? I knew you’d kick ass. But I think it’s time I left. I’m not about to let Mel put me through my paces.”

“Way to instill confidence,” I gripe, even though I’m feeling up to the challenge for once in my life.

But Mel raises an eyebrow. “Giving up so soon, Eleutheria? I thought you had more mettle than that.”

This makes Ele stiffen, and her jaw sets, making me wonder how often she was met with this particular taunt. As an Amazon princess, she no doubt had to prove herself over and over.

“You know I can run this course in my sleep, Mel.”

“I know you used to be able to. Can you still, or have you grown soft sitting in that cushy office and traipsing around the world in first-class cabins all these years?”

“I can still take anything you’ll throw at me. Don’t fucking hold back.”

“You got it.” Mel smirks. I glance at Ele, who is still flushed from our tests. She definitely looks more determined.

I face Mel again. Her clipboard is gone and she stands with hands on hips.

“Are you ready?”

“Do I have a choice?”

Her expression softens. “You always have a choice. It may not always be an easy one, but you always do. If you’d rather stop here and go find food, you can. It’s entirely up to you. Ele, however, has to put her money where her mouth is, so if you leave, she’ll just suffer alone.”

I chew on my lip for a second, then shake my head. “I need to know how far I can go.”

She nods. “Then follow me.”

Mel leads us off the field to a path through a grove of olive trees. We reach the wide, straight corridor amid the grove that Alcides led me through when we snuck into the compound last night. The one with all the nightmarish obstacles.

Mel points to a row of steel beams suspended crosswise over a pit filled with water. “You’ll start here,” she says, her voice cutting through the morning air like a knife. The rising sun glints off the metal, and the water below is a murky green with algae growing on top. The beams are placed far apart—too far to easily step across.

I swallow hard, feeling the first tendrils of doubt creep in. Sure, I’ve discovered newfound strength and stamina, but this? This requires a finesse I’m not sure I possess.

“Take it one step at a time,” Mel advises, her eyes locking onto mine. “Don’t rush it.”

Except there’s no way to take this slowly if I want to get it right. Running will give me the momentum to leap far enough to span each gap.

I nod, settling on my course of action, and eye the first beam. Taking a deep breath, I back up, then take a running leap, my foot landing squarely on the metal. Without missing a beat, I launch to the next, then the next. I lose my balance a little by the fourth, and the next few steps are shaky, my arms flailing. Ele follows behind me, her movements more practiced, but visibly strained. She at least doesn’t look like a balloon man flapping in the wind, though.

We progress from the beams to a series of ropes dangling from tall poles. The task is to swing from one to the next without falling. I grasp the first rope and swing forward with too much force, barely managing to grab the next one. My coordination is definitely off, but I push through it, adapting to the rhythm by the third swing.

Next comes a climbing net stretched up a steep incline. My hands and feet tangle in the ropes at first, but as I climb higher, my movements become more fluid. Ele is right behind me, her breathing heavy, but determined, though she is definitely more focused on proving herself this time than on shoring up my crappy self-esteem.

We finally reach what looks like an obstacle from an action movie—a narrow plank suspended between two platforms over a pit that smells suspiciously like manure, complete with buzzing flies. One misstep could send us plunging into the stinky, murky depths below.

My heart pounds as I step onto the plank. It wobbles beneath me, and for a moment panic sets in, only exacerbated by the stench. But then I remember Mel’s words: “Take it one step at a time.” I focus on each step, finding my center of gravity. By some miracle, I make it across without incident.

Ele crosses next, her every muscle tensed with effort. She’s clearly pushing herself to keep up with me, and though it’s obviously a challenge for her, she does it without faltering.

Finally, we stand before the last challenge—a towering stone wall with ropes dangling just out of reach from the top.

“Are you serious?” My voice comes out as more of a squeak than I’d like.

I stare up at it, feeling small and insignificant. The idea of scaling this wall seems ludicrous.

“You don’t have to go over if you can go through,” Mel says.

“You want me to go through the wall? What, like a wrecking ball?”

Mel nods firmly. “We haven’t truly tested your powers beyond your endurance and strength. Let’s see if you can draw from it to do more.”

I look at Ele beside me; she’s catching her breath, but watching me intently.

Taking several steps back for a running start, I hesitate only for a moment before dashing toward the wall. My legs pump beneath me as if powered by engines and my heart thunders in my chest.

Drawing on my power feels like tapping into an electric current that courses through my veins and gathers in my palms. Doubt flickers—can I really do this?

With a deafening yell that rips from my throat and echoes off the surrounding trees, I thrust my hands forward just as I reach the wall.

The impact is monumental; power explodes from me in waves and the stone wall shatters into dust and rubble before my eyes. I skid to a halt before I trip over the resulting chunks of stone and cement, nose tickled from the cloud of dust filling the air.

Breathing heavily, I stand there in shock at what I’ve done and slowly lower my trembling hands. I’m not sure how I feel about this. On the one hand, I’m ecstatic that I can focus my power enough to do something like this on purpose, but I just tore down a fucking stone wall. What else could I break?

The dust gradually clears as the morning sun breaks through. When I can finally see past where the wall used to be, Alcides stands on the other side. His dark eyes are wide with something akin to awe or hunger, and next to him stands an imposing woman whose presence demands attention even without saying a word.

Alcides opens his mouth as if to speak, but nothing comes out. He shifts his gaze between Ele and me like he’s caught between two worlds colliding.

Ele stands awkwardly beside me, as tongue-tied as her father.

The silence stretches until it’s almost unbearable. I can’t take it anymore.

“Jesus, you two. Alcides, meet your daughter, Eleutheria. Eleutheria, meet your dad. Now, can we go get some food? I’m fucking starving.”