From Titans (Book 4) Read Online Free Page B

’ t seen the last time I ’ d been there. Each white,
pristine throne, made from marble, had been decorated with swirls
and intricate designs.
    Out of respect, we stood.
    “ Good afternoon,
everyone,” Zara said. Being the eldest, she conducted the meeting
and always spoke first, while Tara and Cara radiated warm smiles
and spoke when asked for their opinion. “Thank you for coming.
Please, have a seat.”
    “ Since
you ’ ve called the meeting, I can only conclude you have good news
for us,” Hades said, his tone sounding hopeful.
    Zara gingerly smoothed a hand over her red
hair as if to buy some time. “I have both good and bad news.”
    Mom placed her hand on my shoulder. She must
have seen me stiffen and sit up straighter.
    Zara paused to gape at
Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades. “You ’ re wearing human clothes.
It ’ s
very fitting.” Her lips slightly curled. Was that a
smile?
    “ We ’ re trying.” Zeus
arched his eyebrows.
    “ What ’ s the news?” my father
asked, bringing us back to our purpose there.
    Zara
inhaled. “My people from New Olympus have
been scouting everywhere, on Earth and in godly realms. As you
already know, when Mount Hem crumbled under Hephaestus ’ s evil,
there was motivation behind it. Hephaestus made sure to
continuously give us grief should he fail. Destroying Mount Hem
caused a ripple effect to neighboring Mount Othrys, where the
battle took place between the Titans and gods, right where the
Titans had been imprisoned in the underworld, Tartarus. The damage
freed Cronus and who knows how many others.”
    Nick curled his fingers into a tight ball.
“Zara, we already know this.”
    One thing about Zara, she enjoyed telling
stories before the punch line. She glared at Nick and continued.
“Eris, goddess of chaos, has joined Cronus. Cronus has not given us
demands, but Eris has.”
    “ What is she demanding
from us?” Poseidon leaned forward with his elbows on the
table.
    Again, she ignored the question. “Mason is
well.”
    As if there were finally air in the room,
everyone sighed with relief.
    “ Where is he?” Everett
asked softly, concern in his tone. “Why aren ’ t they letting him go?
Obviously this is about Cronus and his revenge on his children.” He
glanced at Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades. “What do they want with
Mason?”
    “ I
don’ t know, but we ’ ll find out soon.” Zara
answered calmly, but from her creased brows, she was getting
annoyed. “I have something to show you. When Zeus sent Hermes to
search for Mason, word got around. Eris approached
Hermes.”
    “ Where is Hermes? Why
hasn ’ t he informed me of this?” Zeus growled, his ocean-blue eyes
darkening in disapproval.
    “ Because I stopped him,”
Zara said.
    “ Why would you do such a
thing? Hermes is under my authority, not yours.” He slammed the
table with his hand.
    “ Zeus, anger
won ’ t get you anywhere. Calm down.”
    “ Calm down?” He huffed.
“Remember who you are talking to, Zara. So where is he?”
    Poseidon ’ s hand on Zeus ’ s shoulder seemed to
tame his rage. Zeus ’ s shoulders relaxed
somewhat.
    Zara stood, ruffled her dress, and took
several steps down from her throne. “Please, allow me to explain. I
stopped Hermes from going to you so I could examine the
authenticity of this ridiculous invitation. At first I thought it
was a trap, but the rumor is spreading.” She rolled her eyes. “Eris
started it first, and there is evidence this party will take
place.”
    “ What invitation?” I
gulped. My stomach twisted in knots. “ I don’ t doubt she started the
rumors.”
    “ My child,” the Oracle
said. “I ’ m sure Mason is not himself. I want to warn you,
you ’ re not going to like what you see.”
    “ Please, Zara,” my mother
begged, holding my hand. “My daughter is strong.
We ’ re all supporting her. Let ’ s see so we can make a decision.
We ’ ve been waiting so long for any news about
Mason ’ s whereabouts.”
    Zara nodded and