The Trials of Aphrodite

♦ Chapter Thirteen ♦

"No, you're doing it all wrong," Hylla snarled.

We'd been sparring for an hour. I discovered that I had as much skill as a retarded seal. I bet I looked like a retarded seal, swinging a spear like I knew how to use it.

I didn't.

Before I could come up with an intelligent response, the Queen of the Amazons slammed the shaft of her spear into my stomach.

I groaned and fell over, my body aching. I hated pain. It was something I hadn't experienced since yesterday.

"Go easy on me," I begged.

She looked at me coldly. "'Easy' doesn't exist. Only 'I will try harder, Hylla.'" She snorted. "Which is a horrible lie. But say it anyway."

"I will try harder, Hylla," I muttered.

"No, 'I will try harder, Your Majesty, Queen Hylla' sounds better. Say that."

"You're insufferable," I grumbled.

"You're annoying and conceited," Hylla shot back.

"Why are you pushing me so hard? It's not like I'll ever learn to fight. This is boring. I'd rather have eggs and toast with Reyna. I'm starving!"

"Because when we confront the goddess Khione, you'll trip and impale yourself on your own spear."

I was silent. You can't argue with a valid point, no matter how humiliating.

"You're right," I conceded, sighing heavily. "I do fight poorly."

"That's an understatement," she commented. "Well, if we're going to make you a decent fighter, we'll have to train and train. Which means you'll need to stop slacking off."

Hylla twirled her pilum like a baton and sent a smirk my way, and I knew she was toying with me. Then she charged.

Faster than I could comprehend, I jerked my spear sideways and blocked the attack. Hylla regarded me, eyebrows raised. "That was the most improvement you've shown all day."

I brushed a lock of hair behind my ear and lowered my spear. Sweat collected at the nape of my neck, and it was a sensation I'd never experienced before. I never wanted to experience it again.

"We can take a short break," Hylla allowed. "You look like you're about to die from sweating too much."

"Thank you," I puffed out, staggering to our campsite. Reyna was sitting on a log, chewing a slice of toast with jam. She looked like she was enjoying herself immensely, partly from her breakfast and partly from watching me get beat up by her older sister.

Reyna caught my eye. "Finally realized how much better Hylla is at fighting?" she said cheerfully.

"Shut up." I took a piece of toasted bread from Reyna's stash and spread butter over the top. "I'll get better."

The Roman praetor smiled. "Stop telling yourself a lie. You have no promise whatsoever."

"You have so much faith in me," I muttered.

Reyna rolled her eyes and pointed to the log beside her. "Sit down. You look ready to pass out."

I took the offer gratefully. Gravel shifted with the movements of my feet.

"I am ready to pass out," I said. "Hylla is relentless."

"Took you long enough to figure that out."

I smiled and had breakfast with Reyna.

The three of us mounted Guido and took to the skies.

Sadly, I was put in the back, and it was all I could do not to slide off the bony pegasus. I was extremely uncomfortable and out of my element.

Sadly, I had a terrible fear of heights. Vertigo overwhelmed me, and a wave of nausea overcame me whenever we passed through a cloud or the sharp, cold wind nipped my skin. I tried to focus on Guido's steady wing-beat.

Sadly, I was screaming my head off.

"This isn't safe!" I shrieked over the howling wind.

"Our lives aren't safe!" Reyna shouted back from the front. "Get used to it!"

I didn't fall off Guido, thankfully. He glided to a stop and set us down on the snow. I was glad I was wearing layered clothing.

The city was beautiful, every building dusted with snow. More snow fell lightly to the ground around us, and the many-colored sunset was a stark contrast to the white. Forget the beach, go to Quebec City in winter!

The buildings looked ancient. They were older than any I'd seen, with tall spires and steep slopes. They looked less modern and more medieval.

In the center was a building resembling a castle-and I would know, having seen several myself-with enormous red brick walls and a light green gabled roof. I loved it. I needed to spend a vacation here.

"One of the oldest cities in North America," Hylla said, her breath fanning out in the cold. "Founded in 1608. It's gorgeous."

"So what's that castle over there?" I asked.

"I believe that's the hotel where Boreas lives."

My jaw dropped. "Hotel? No."

"Hotel, yes," Reyna said, walking toward it.

When we came closer, I admitted it did look like a hotel. Doormen, valets, and porters taking bags moved outside the grand entrance. The elegance was something to behold; with sleek black luxury cars and fine, tailored suits. I had to book a stay here sometime.

Staying in this hotel was everything to me. Finishing this quest and saving the world was a close second.

"How do we get inside?" Hylla inquired.

"I don't know," Reyna said, "but I think we'll have to get past them first."

"Them?"

Two figures with large angel wings were heading toward us, one of them holding a dangerously pointy sword.

Guido was not fond of the angel men. He cantered nervously, whinnying and tossing his head. Before Reyna could stop him, the pegasus spread his great wings and took off.

"There goes our ride," I muttered.

The angels swooped to the ground and landed swiftly on their feet. They looked angry.

They appeared to be regular teenagers, aside from the massive purple wings on their backs. They had icy white hair, a pale complexion, and one of them had a bronze sword that was as jagged as an icicle. The other didn't have a weapon. They looked to be twins, but not quite. Brothers, probably.

Angel #1 had a bulky, ox-like physique. He was wearing a bright red hockey jersey, baggy sweatpants, and black cleats. Both eyes were an ugly purplish-black color, and when he opened his mouth, several teeth were missing. I winced.

Angel #2 needed a fashion consultant pronto. He had a nasty case of acne, his white hair was feathered into a mullet, and his silk shirt was buttoned much too low. He wore tight designer pants that looked almost suffocating. The pointy leather shoes did not help. He was in need of immediate makeup care. My body was humming like I was about to go in full superhero mode and break out the makeup kit.

"We've been waiting for you," Angel #2 said, in a French accent so horrible I knew it was fake. The love goddess herself couldn't translate the language of love very well in his tongue. It was one of his many issues.

Angel #1 grunted. "Sister wants you. Don't know why."

I was surprised he could speak in nearly complete sentences. He seemed to be unable to pronounce a word longer than two syllables.

"Your sister? Are you the Boreads?" Hylla prompted.

"Stop asking questions, silly girl," Angel #2 snapped.

"Destroy them?" Angel #1 asked helpfully.

Reyna ignored that comment like she'd heard it all before. "I need to know who wants to destroy me first, boys. Introduce yourselves."

"I am Cal," Angel #1 said proudly, like he'd been rehearsing. "I like pizza. And hockey."

"Short for Calais," Angel #2 sighed. "Please excuse my brother's speech. He isn't the best at talking. But I, on the other hand, am a smooth talker." He wiggled his eyebrows in my direction. I wrinkled my nose.

"I am Zethes," the angel continued. "Which is short for Zethes. And you, my lady" -he winked at me, but it looked more like his eye was shutting and opening several times- "can call me anything you like. Perhaps you'd like to go on a date before my sister destroys you?"

"Um, no," I said sweetly, fully aware of the lethal sword Cal was holding. "I'm afraid I'll have to decline."

Zethes was unperturbed. "Well, if you ever want a man in your life, talk to me. You remind me of the last pretty girl I talked to. She took my sword."

He said it like it was the best thing that had ever happened to him. Now, this kind of love is beyond me.

"Call me," Zethes said to me. "I'm always available. We're a very romantic people, we Boreads, I assure you."

I seriously doubted it.

"No time for talk," Cal said.

"My brother is right," Zethes said. "We'll have to take you to our sister now. She sends very cold regards."

Cal snatched up Hylla and Reyna, bearing their weight easily. Zethes grinned and grabbed me, and the Boreads lifted us into the sky.

Uh, it's sort of like kidnapping, but I don't think so. It's more like taking someone to their destination. By taking them against their will. Like that.

We're about to wrap up the quest, guys! The showdown with Khione is approaching!

Thank you so much for reading this story. This is been a lot of fun.

The second book will be out shortly after, so I hope you're excited for that. I know I am.

Trivia Question: In Tartarus, Percy and Annabeth encountered a certain goddess of misery that helped them make their way to the Doors of Death. What was her name?