Hunter, Kyle, and Marina walked to the street and busily tried to avoid the eyes of mortal law enforcement. They needed to get on their pegasi and get out as fast as they could. They walked into the middle of the street and in a few moments they heard a soft clip clop behind them. They turned to see their pegasi landing behind them. Hunter ran to Ulysses and hugged him. “I’m glad you’re okay, buddy.” He said patting him on the neck. Ulysses let out a happy whinny and patted Hunter on the shoulder with his chin. Hunter swung onto his back and took off into the sky, Kyle and Marina close behind. Hunter breathed a sigh of relief as they climbed higher and higher.
“Where do we go?” Kyle asked. Hunter wasn’t sure. He wasn’t positive of where to go. They had come this far only to get stuck again.
“What does the prophecy say?” He asked. Kyle reached into his pocket and produced the piece of paper Chiron had written it down on. He read it out loud again.
“We got the bow. We got the blessing.” Marina said calmly. They had slowed down to a casual cruising speed. “Keep the sky bound? Weaken Atlas’ might? How could they even do that?” Hunter stopped and turned toward San Francisco.
“I don’t want to wait around and find out.” He said before kicking Ulysses toward San Francisco. Hunter was already nervous about the Maniae showing up again. Now he was nervous of the sky falling. Today was not a good day.
“How would you even drain a Titan? It’s not like a human. You feed them some warm milk and they want to take a nap. You can’t do that with a Titan.” Marina said with a nod as they rode toward Mount Tam. “At least, I don’t think that you can do that with a Titan.” Hunter chuckled quietly at the idea of making a Titan fall asleep with warm milk.
It wasn’t a very long ride until they had reached the bottom of Mount Tamalpais. They landed and from the bottom of the mountain they could hear loud moaning. Hunter slid off Ulysses’ back and turned toward the mountain. “Guys, keep your eyes open. Every time the Maniae show up, things go wrong.” Hunter drew his bow and notched an arrow. “Let’s start the hike, then.” Hunter started the climb up the mountain. As they got closer and closer to the summit, the moaning from Atlas got louder and louder. They finally reached the peak with not problems. Hunter walked forward and what he saw made his stomach clench out of nerves. Atlas, barely holding up the sky. His legs were shaky and his body seemed drained. Hunter rushed forward toward the Titan. He looked exactly how he did in Hunter’s dream. Hunter looked more closely to see a small ring hung around Atlas’ neck. Hunter reached forward to grab it and could feel himself getting tired.
“Uh-uh-uh. I wouldn’t touch.” Hunter turned around to see the Maniae floating behind them.
“That’s ours.” Lily said with a devious smile. Kyle stepped forward and slammed his scythe down and vines shot up from the ground and began to wrap the Maniae.
“Tsk tsk tsk. Be nice, now.” Odessa said before waving her hand. Kyle flew off to one side. He slammed into the ground and fell unconscious. The vines disappeared.
“Hunter! Look!” Marina shouted. Hunter turned around to see Marina pointing at Atlas. He was down on one knee and his arms were shaking. Hunter could tell that he was moments from collapsing. Before Hunter’s eyes, Atlas let out a cry of agony before falling. He ran forward to catch the sky, but Marina beat him to it. She let out a choked scream as the Sky crashed down on her shoulders.
“Marina!” Hunter shouted and drew his bow. He notched a venom arrow and turned around. He fired at where they were, but they weren’t there. Hunter swore under his breath and sighed.
“You would hurt your friends like that?” Hunter turned to see Philippa place a hand on his chest. He shot backward and landed next to Kyle. Hunter stood up with a groan and turned to Kyle.
“Kyle! Kyle! Wake up!” Hunter shook him and finally Kyle woke up. He shook his head and stood up on shaky legs.
“That sucked.” He said quietly as he drew his scythe again. He glanced around for a moment before letting his eyes rest on Marina holding up the sky. “Marina!” He ran over to her. Hunter followed with bow drawn. Hunter notched an arrow of Eros and looked for any sign of activity. Hunter turned around to see Odessa right behind Kyle with a knife drawn.
“Kyle, look out!” Hunter shouted as he took aim. He couldn’t waste the arrow. He needed a perfect shot. Kyle turned around and dodged Odessa’s first swipe. He drew his scythe and blocked another. He swung his scythe and Odessa dodged. Kyle dodged another attack and managed to knock the knife out of her hand before hitting her in the stomach. She stepped back a little giving Hunter the perfect shot. He fired and the arrow flew through the air, leaving Hunter with the smell of lavender and cinnamon. She saw the arrow and was about to dodge away, but the arrow moved to fast. It entered into her body and shot out the back. Hunter watched as a pale, old woman seemed to be impaled on the arrow and fly back as the arrow flew off the side of the mountain. Odessa floated into the air and glowed silver. She glowed brighter and brighter before dimming and falling to the ground, unconscious.
“Madness!” Lily flew up and watched as her sister flew off the mountain. She turned to Hunter and glared. “Today, you die!” She said before lunging after Hunter with a bow drawn. Hunter dodged an arrow, causing the arrow he had drawn to fly out of his hand and skid along the ground. Hunter cursed under his breath and drew his knife. He thought for a second and drew his Nemean lion claw. She landed and drew her knife. Hunter needed to get that arrow back. Hunter blocked attack after attack as he backed toward the arrow inch by inch. Hunter turned to see the arrow just as Lily knocked him off his feet.
“I told you two to stay away from there.” Lily turned to see Philippa appear. Lily left her spot above Hunter and walked to Philippa.
“They caught the sky, Frenzy. They ruined our plan!” Philippa glanced at Hunter and then glanced at Kyle. Hunter slowly stood up without them knowing and drew another arrow of Eros. He quietly notched the arrow and waited for a shot.
“Why must you continue to disobey my orders? The ring of Aergia would have made them fall asleep either way.” She said. “Come, sister. Let’s kill these two and then be on our way.” Philippa snapped her fingers and Kyle flew backward. She flew after him as Lily turned to Hunter.
“Insanity doesn’t suit you, Lily.” He said before firing. The arrow zoomed through Lily and impaled another old woman with crazed hair and large black eyes. She zoomed off the side of mountain. Lily glowed like Odessa did and fell to the ground. Hunter looked toward Philippa who was fighting with Kyle. “You’re sisters are long gone, Frenzy!” Hunter shouted. Philippa turned from Kyle and glared at Hunter. She vanished and reappeared right in front of Hunter.
“You’re not very good at dying, are you, Hunter?” She said before wrapping her hand around Hunter’s neck. She lifted him into the air. Hunter’s feet swung and he clawed at her hand, but she wouldn’t let him free. Hunter could slowly feel his brain becoming sluggish as his eyes became foggy. “You’ll regret hurting my sisters, Mortal.”