Turmoil: Book Three of The Shadow Goddess series

Chapter Nine

The titans all agreed to go with me, to help me. Mostly because they all wanted some type of revenge on Zeus. I didn’t blame them. And I wouldn’t blame them if they went after Poseidon. As long as they didn’t touch Hades, everything would be peachy keen. The idea of him being hurt or killed because of a decision I made, made my chest feel like it was being split open like coconut. That’s why I wanted a blood oath. With that, they had to obey. They had to stick to our arrangement. Otherwise, they would suffer a long and painful death. Even titans weren’t immune to the affects of a blood oath.

“Are you ready baby goddess?” A brown-haired titan asked as he stepped forward beside Cronus. I studied him a minute. Like all the others he was insanely beautiful. Shoulder length brown hair, chocolate brown eyes, almond shaped eyes. Like the others he was tall, standing above all the others except two. The titan had a swimmers build, lean but muscular. The muscles far less noticeable than the one with the stunning cobalt eyes.

“As ready as I’ll ever be.” I released a heavy breath as I looked over the seven titans before me. “I guess we will do this one at a time. Who wants to go first? I asked, pulling a dagger from the sheath at my ankle.

“I will go first.” Cronus stepped forward; a cocky smirk plastered on his face.

“Fine.” I stepped closer to the gate, closer to him and swiped the blade down the palm of my hand, then reached forward and did the same to his. We clasped hands and my eyes met his green ones. “Cronus. Do you swear to fight by my side, stay loyal and true? Do you swear no harm will come to anyone within our ranks or any human outside the battle field? Do you swear Hades is not to be harmed by you or any other titan? And do you swear after this battle is over, to rule in Zeus’s place with honor, dignity, fairness and respect?’

Cronus eyes widened in shock. I knew why. He hadn’t expected me to leave him out of his prison. He expected me to send him and the others back. And maybe I should have. Maybe I was being stupid and naïve. But someone had to take Zeus’s place and it wasn’t going to be me. I didn’t want it, didn’t need it. But Cronus knew how to lead. He knew how to help bring this struggling realm back from the chaos that has descended upon it. And he would know how to bring us back from all the bloodshed we are facing.

“You intend to let us free?” He asked.

“I do. Now do you swear to all I have spoken?”

“I swear on my life, on my soul to all you have spoken.” His words came as a vow, strong and sure. And not a second after he spoke, a ripple of power poured from our clasped hands, knocking into the other titans making them stumble backwards.

“It is done.” I murmured, my eyes turning to the next titan. As my eyes roved over them, they began to form a line. Krios in front. The excitement in her hazel eyes shining like a beacon. But there was also hope and fear. Again, I knew why. She was hoping I would leave her free as well, and fearful I would send her back here. Unbeknownst to them, I had a job for each of them in the outside world. They can agree or disagree and be sent back here. I guess I should tell them. “Okay, everyone. Like Cronus I will have a job for each of you. A purpose outside this prison. You can agree or disagree. Though if you disagree with the task, I have set for you, you will be sent back here immediately after the battle is over. Win or lose. Any complaints?” A resounding no, echoed through the empty landscape. “Very well.”

I sliced through our hands, and clasped hands with her. “Krios. Do you swear to fight by my side, stay loyal and true? Do you swear no harm will come to anyone within our ranks or any human outside the battle field? Do you swear Hades is not to be harmed by you or any other titan? And do you swear to watch over the supernatural creatures of the realm and keep them safe from hunters?”

“I swear it.” Krios vowed, nodding her head at me. The power that sealed our vow.

Next was the brown haired, brown eyes titan. “Who are you?” I asked, lifting the knife to cut my already healed palm.

“I am Atlas titan of strength.” He puffed his chest proudly.

I sliced our palms and clasped hands with him. “Atlas, titan of strength. Do you swear to fight by my side, stay loyal and true? Do you swear no harm will come to anyone within our ranks or any human outside the battle field? Do you swear Hades is not to be harmed by you or any other titan? And do you swear to be general and lead and train our army to the best of your ability?”

A bright smile lite up his face. “I swear it.” He beamed, ignoring the pulse of power that rippled through us and the land around us. I inclined my head at him as he stepped away and joined Cronus and Krios. The silver haired titan from earlier was next. Excitement lite his features as he waited for me to slice our palms and see what his job will be.

“And you are?” I arched a brow.

“I am Hyperion, titan of power.” He inclined his head to me in a show of respect. We were the same after all. Him titan of power and me goddess of power. I kind of wondered which of us was more powerful. Not that it mattered.

“Hyperion, titan of power. Do you swear to fight by my side, stay loyal and true? Do you swear no harm will come to anyone within our ranks or any human outside the battle field? Do you swear Hades is not to be harmed by you or any other titan? And do you swear to help me, my mates and Cronus lead our realm into a time of peace and prosperity?”

“I swear it.” Delight lit up his eyes as he swore his vow and moved to stand with the others. Next was the other female. She had the perfect hourglass figure women paid thousands to obtain. Her sandy hair reached her waist in slight waves. Her heart shaped face held hope and excitement, her blue eyes blazing with a renewed fire.”

"And you?” I asked.

“I am Iapetus, titan of pain. She said her voice strong and sure.

“Iapetus of pain, do you swear to fight by my side, stay loyal and true? Do you swear no harm will come to anyone within our ranks or any human outside the battle field? Do you swear Hades is not to be harmed by you or any other titan? And do you swear to be our executioner, and punish those who break our laws to the best of your ability?”

“I swear it.” She beamed at me. I guess she really enjoyed the idea.

“I am Helios, titan of sun.” The next titan bowed as he faced me. He had a rounded face and topaz eyes that bore into mine like he could see straight through me.

“Helios, titan of sun, do you swear to fight by my side, stay loyal and true? Do you swear no harm will come to anyone within our ranks or any human outside the battle field? Do you swear Hades is not to be harmed by you or any other titan? And do you swear to be guardian of the realm protecting humans from all supernaturals that may cause them harm?”

“I swear it.” He vowed, determination blazing in his eyes. Once the power faded, Helios inclined his head to me and stepped to the side and leaving the last titan to stand before me. This titan, who I knew was Prometheus was beautiful beyond compare. He had ear length black, almost blue hair. His strong heart shaped face held almond shaped cobalt blue eyes and the body of a body builder. This titan stood a head above all the other titans, his bulk outshining the others. “Prometheus.” I inclined my head before slicing my hand and then his.

“Prometheus, do you swear to fight by my side, stay loyal and true? Do you swear no harm will come to anyone within our ranks or any human outside the battle field? Do you swear Hades is not to be harmed by you or any other titan? And do you swear to be the eyes of our realm’s future, keeping the realm safe from future threats?”

“So, the realm’s equivalent to an oracle?” He furrowed his brow, but his eyes alight with excitement.

“Yes.” I nodded towards him.

“Then I swear it.” He stood taller, squaring his shoulders as his cobalt eyes bore into mine.

The last wave of power echoed through me, as the vow was sealed. I looked over the seven titans, hope forming in my chest. We may actually win this. Even if Zeus recruited the other gods, we had three maybe four gods should Nyx join us, and seven titans. That didn’t even count the army of supernaturals ready and willing to step forward and fight. And we had a hydra and my own children that are willing to stand against Zeus.

I stepped back away from the gates, not really sure if I could open it. But I didn’t want to open it and break the wards on it anyway. There was however something I could do, something I’ve been working on. I closed my eyes and called my shadows to me. I allowed them to billow and snake across my skin as I infused the shadows with some of the power of the goddess I had become. With a deep breath I pushed them away, sinking into the earth before they reached out and completely surrounded the seven titans. I dragged all of us into the shadow realm. Magic didn’t work the same here, so the gates held no power.

I walked straight through the gates, reaching the seven titans. The wraiths screeched and wailed around us. They knew the titans were off limits, so they didn’t approach. It didn’t stop them from staring at them hungrily though. I couldn’t imagine the strength they would get from consuming a titan. And I really didn’t want to fins out either.

“Come on.” I said, motioning them to follow me. Their eyes flickered from me to the gates then back to me. “Don’t worry. The gates power does not reach the shadow realm. You can all just walk straight through with no problems or pain.”

Iapetus stepped forward first. Probably because she was the titan of pain and could handle more than the others. She hesitated as she reached the gate. Stopping before taking a deep breath, then stepping through. Nothing happened, as I knew it wouldn’t. A smile lit up her face as she turned to face us. I had to hold back a laugh as the other titans rushed forward ready and willing to get out of tartars.

When they all reached the other side, you’d think they were kids opening a Christmas present. Excitement and relief so strong in their eyes it was hard to look away. I stood there a good minute just watching them. It was hard to believe these titans were once hard asses who only wanted power. I guess endless lifetimes locked away could make anyone second guess their decisions. It seemed they certainly did.

“Can yall shrink?” I asked, allowing my own body shrink back down to my normal size as I approached them. They all looked at each other before shrinking down to more my size, though they each still stood taller than me. Beggars couldn’t be choosers I guess; it was better than the giants they had been a second ago.

With just a thought I brought us all back to the real world, allowing the shadow world to fade around us. “Now everyone grasp hands.” I told them, holding my hands out to the closest titans. Cronus and Prometheus both grasped my hands as the other grasped theirs, all of us forming a circle. I called my power to me again, urging it to take us back to my island. An island I will once again have to expand. Just like the different clans, the titans will need their own space. However, they may have to handle their own housing. Unless they can stay in their shrunken form that is. Then it would be easy to summon them a home.

The underworld shimmered and fell away around us, leaving us all but suspended in the in-between. We were there only a second before the island started to shimmer and form around us. We kept our hands clasped until it fully formed and my magic fell away. I was tired after all the magic I’d used. I felt like I needed a nap. Like I needed to recharge. But I knew I couldn’t, not yet. I had to expand the island and give the titans their own space. Not to mention the fact that I literally can’t freaking sleep.

“Where will we be staying?’ Cronus stepped forward and asked.

“Just follow me.” I groaned, running a hand through my hair. All seven titans followed me as I led them to the back end of the island. It was big, don’t get me wrong. I had plenty of space to house them with the way the island was right now. But I wanted common ground where we could all mingle and have some semblance of a life. We need the training grounds, though now I think I’d need to expand it to accommodate the titans. As we approached the back edge of the island, I allowed the waves to crash over the shore and around my ankles.

“There is nothing here.” Krios wrinkled her nose at me.

“Just wait.” I admonished, before allowing myself to levitate a good thirty feet in the air. Alethea surged forward, her power mixing with the power of my goddess. Like before, I pictured the island expanding. Spreading another mile long and a mile wide. Forests and meadows surrounding a large clearing. A waterfall with a river against a small mountain off to the side. Seven homes dotted the clearing, all of them two stories tall and holding two bedrooms with two bathrooms. I left the interior as simple as I could. I didn’t feel like going into too much detail. I was too tired.

Once the image in my mind was complete, I slowly floated back down to the ground. I stumbled when my feet touched the ground, my knees struggling to keep my weight held making me grasp the closest thing to me to steady myself. A large arm wrapped around my waist helping steady me. I honestly didn’t care which titan it was, only that I was grateful they helped me.

“You used too much of your power too quickly baby goddess.” Hyperion’s voice rumbled in my ear.

“I didn’t have a choice.” I chuckled tiredly. “I’ll be fine once I get to my cottage and rest. For now, all of you pick your home and go rest. We will begin training tomorrow.”