Description: Olympus at War 1 OLYMPUS WAS UNLIKE ANYWHERE EMILY had ever been before. It was a magical fantasyland filled with people and creatures beyond imagination. A place where rain didn''t fall but the lush green gardens never wilted. Flowers bloomed constantly, filling the air with their intoxicating fragrances. The air itself seemed alive. It was honey sweet and warm and enveloped you in a blanket of peace; it was rich with the sounds of singing birds and filled with insects that never stung. If a bee landed on you, it was only because it wanted to be petted. The buildings in Olympus were as beautiful and unique as the land itself. Most were made of smooth white marble with tall, intricately carved pillars reaching high into the clear blue sky. There were open theaters where the Muses danced and sang for the entertainment of all. The wide cobbled streets were lined with statues of the strongest fighters and heroes. There were no cars or trucks pumping pollution into the air. The Olympians walked or flew wherever they needed to go. Occasionally they would ride in a chariot drawn by magnificent horses. Then there were the libraries, more than Emily could count, containing the texts from the many worlds the Olympians visited and guarded. Some of her favorite books were in the library at Jupiter''s palace, brought in especially for her. Emily could never have imagined a more perfect place. But living in Olympus, amid all this splendor, Emily was miserable. She missed her father. She spent every waking moment thinking and worrying about him. He was back in her world, a prisoner of the Central Research Unit. The CRU was a secret government agency obsessed with capturing aliens and anything out of the ordinary to use as weapons. She had been their prisoner for a short time and knew how single-minded and cruel they were. But they still had her father. What were they doing to him? Were they punishing him because of her escape? Had they killed him? So many fears and unanswered questions tore at her heart that she could never be completely happy or stop worrying about him. Even spending time with Pegasus didn''t ease the pain. Emily was desperate to get back to New York to find her father, but Jupiter wouldn''t let her go. He insisted her place was here among the other Olympians. And with the invading warrior race of Nirads still posing a threat to Olympus, Jupiter couldn''t risk sending any of his fighters to Emily''s world on a rescue mission. No matter how much she pleaded with the god, he refused to allow her to leave. Emily paused as she walked through the gardens of Jupiter''s palace. She raised her face to the sun and felt its warm rays streaming down on her. Was this the same sun that shone in her world? Was her father allowed to see it? From her own experience as a prisoner in the CRU''s deep underground facility, she doubted it. Emily felt even more determined. If Jupiter wouldn''t let her go, she had no choice but to run away and rescue her father herself. Walking along the stream that coursed through Olympus, she saw a group of beautiful water nymphs splashing on the shore. They waved and called their strange greeting. Moments later they slipped beneath the surface, and the water calmed as if they''d never been there. Lost in thought, Emily wasn''t paying attention to where she was walking and tripped over a small rock. She cursed and righted herself. On top of everything else, she was still getting used to the new gold leg brace that Vulcan, the armorer of Olympus, had made for her. He had constructed it using the same gold as Pegasus''s bridle. A very special gold that was lethal to Nirads. With one brief touch they were badly poisoned. Longer contact proved fatal to the ferocious warriors. With this brace Emily could not only defend herself against the invaders, she could walk and run once again. But learning to get around with the strange device had taken time and effort. Now she could almost move as well as she had before her leg was permanently damaged by the Nirads in New York. She walked toward Jupiter''s maze, a large labyrinth built in the middle of a garden and consisting of tall green bushes grown in complicated patterns. It took a lot of practice to navigate it, but Emily and her friends had discovered that the maze was the perfect place to hold private conversations. Emily found her way through the labyrinth, where Pegasus was waiting for her beside the pedestal at the center. The magnificent winged stallion always stole her breath. Standing quietly in the dark of the trees, he glowed brilliant white. His head was high and proud, and his coat shiny and well groomed. There wasn''t a feather out of place on his neatly folded wings. When Pegasus saw her, he whinnied excitedly and nodded his head. Beside the winged horse stood Emily''s best friend from New York, Joel. Joel''s Roman features, black hair, and warm brown eyes always reminded her of the classic Italian paintings she''d seen in the art museum. He was no longer the violent, angry boy she had first met. Spending time in Olympus had softened his outer shell of rage and hurt due to the loss of his family. Now he let others see that he had a deeply caring heart and a ready laugh. Joel spent his days working with Vulcan in the Olympus armory. He had even helped design the brace on Emily''s leg. Emily looked around. "Where''s Paelen?" "He''ll be here in a few minutes. He had something to pick up." Joel reached for her elbow. "Em, you''re absolutely sure you want to do this?" "What choice have I got?" Emily answered. "Joel, all I think about is saving my dad. There''s nothing else I can do. We wouldn''t have to sneak around like this if Jupiter would help!" She threw her hands up in frustration. As she brought them down, brilliant flames flashed from her fingertips, hit the edge of her good foot, and scorched the ground around it. Emily howled and hopped in pain. "Emily, calm down!" Joel warned. "You know it gets worse when you''re upset." "Nuts!" she cried. "Being the Flame of Olympus is one thing. But constantly setting myself on fire is another!" "You''ve got to calm down," Joel insisted. "Remember what Vesta taught you. You can control the Flame if you remain calm." "That''s easier said than done," Emily complained as she sat down and rubbed her singed foot. Ever since she emerged from the Temple of the Flame, she was discovering powers she couldn''t control. Powers that continually set things alight. Joel sat down beside her. "We''ll get your dad out of there. I promise. But you can''t help him if you can''t control the Flame." "Joel''s right." Paelen emerged from the trees behind them. In contrast to Joel, he was small and wiry, and he was able to get into the tiniest of spaces. Paelen had a notorious habit of getting into trouble, but with his crooked grin and dark, sparkling eyes, he always found a way to make Emily smile. "And if I were you, I would lower your voices. Half the maze can hear your conversation." He sat down beside Emily and gave her a playful shove. "Set yourself on fire again I see." "No, I tripped," Emily answered, shoving him back. Paelen smiled his crooked smile. "Of course you did; which is why your sandal is charcoal and still smoldering." In the time they''d spent in Olympus, Emily had really grown to like Paelen. Between him and Joel, she couldn''t have asked for better friends. Paelen was also one of the few Olympians who understood what they''d been through as prisoners of the CRU on Governors Island. "Speaking of sandals"--Emily changed the subject--"you didn''t steal Mercury''s again, did you?" She noticed the winged sandals on his feet. "Me? Of course not," Paelen said in mock horror. "You know I''m no longer a thief. Mercury just gave them to me. He is having another set made for himself." Paelen paused and frowned. "He said the sandals prefer to stay with me. I do not understand what he means, but I''m not going to say no to such a useful gift." He petted the tiny wings on the sandals. "These flying sandals saved our lives in your world and helped us escape the CRU. There is no telling what else they can do." He leaned closer to Emily and eagerly rubbed his hands together. "So, tell me. When do we leave for New York?" Pegasus stepped forward and started to nicker. Paelen nodded and translated for the others. "Pegasus heard Jupiter, Mars, and Hercules talking. They are going on an expedition to see if they can discover how the Nirads entered Olympus in such large numbers without being seen. Until they know and can secure the route, we are still in danger. Pegasus suggests if we are going to go to New York to rescue your father, we should leave once they''re gone." Emily rose and kissed the stallion on his soft muzzle. "Thank you, Pegasus. That''s a great idea." She turned to Joel and Paelen. "It''s settled, then. The moment Jupiter leaves, we''re out of here!" * * * Quietly they discussed their plans as they strolled through the maze. Emily rested her hand on Pegasus''s neck as he walked beside her. "We''ll need some human clothes," Joel mused aloud. "We can''t a

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