Pegasus and the Fight for Olympus Read Free Page A

red beam stopped. She panted heavily and studied her hands. There were no burns, blemishes or pain. She looked up and what she saw made her suck in her breath. Pegasus’s whole face and neck was a burned bright red. Worst of all, his soft white muzzle was burned black and blistering. It was Pegasus who had knocked her over and stopped the flames. But in touching her, her power had singed his beautiful skin.
    ‘Pegasus!’ Emily ran over to him. ‘I’m so sorry. I swear I didn’t mean to do it!’
    She felt sick as she inspected his wounds. Her powers had done this to him. ‘Please, forgive me!’ Without thinking, Emily reached forward and gently stroked his burned face. At her touch, the black and blistered skin started to heal. Soon, Pegasus was completely restored.
    ‘I can’t do this, Pegs,’ Emily sobbed as she stepped away from him. ‘I just can’t. I hurt you. What if I’d killed you? I’m just too dangerous to be around.’
    Emily hated herself as she dashed out of the Temple. Tears rose to her eyes as she ran down the tall steps. She cringed as she replayed what happened and worse still, what could have happened.
    At the base of the steps, she looked up and saw Pegasus and Vesta emerging from the Temple.
    ‘Emily, stop!’ Vesta called.
    Emily turned and ran further away. She couldn’t face Pegasus again, knowing she had almost killed him. She ran past other Olympians on the street, ignoring their curious stares and concerned queries. She had to get away. Away from Pegasus and anyone else her powers could hurt. She was just too dangerous to be allowed in public.
    Emily finally ran into an open amphitheatre. The Muses weren’t performing today so the thousands of seats sat empty and alone. The perfect place for someone as dangerous as her. She ran down the steps towards the centre stage, and threw herself to the ground. It was over. Her life was over. There would be no trip back to New York, no rescue of her father.
    All there was now was pain.
    Heaving sobs escaped her as she finally realized all the things she’d lost. She wished she’d never emerged from the flames at the Temple. Olympus and Pegasus would have been better off without her.
    Tears blinded Emily as she looked around in misery at the beautiful marble theatre encircling her. She wiped them furiously away. As she flicked the tears off her fingers, there was a blinding flash and terrible explosion.
    Her world went black.

2
    Emily awoke in her bed. For an instant, she feared she was back at the CRU facility on Governors Island. But as her eyes slowly focused, she saw that she was in her beautiful room at Jupiter’s palace. All the windows were open and the sheer curtains were blowing gently in the sweet, warm breeze.
    ‘Welcome back.’
    The Great Hunter, Diana, was standing beside her bed. The two had formed a tight bond after their time together in New York. She was the daughter of Jupiter and everything Emily hoped to grow up to be like. Diana was strong, brave and caring. She came to New York and risked her life to save Pegasus. When they entered a stable to get a carriage to help hide Pegasus, Diana had shown great compassion for the suffering horses there.
    The tall woman took a seat on the edge of the bed and lightly stroked Emily’s forehead. ‘That was quite a shock for us.’
    Emily frowned and tried to remember what had happened. She was stiff and sore, with a pounding headache. She knew that it was something big, she just couldn’t remember what. Finally she recalled the events at the Temple. ‘I hurt Pegasus,’ she whispered miserably. ‘I burned him.’
    ‘Pegasus is fine,’ Diana assured her. ‘You are the one we are all worried about.’
    Emily raised her head and looked around the room. They were alone. No Joel, no Paelen – and no Pegasus. Her friends were staying away from her because she was dangerous. Her powers were uncontrollable and now she had to be locked up.
    ‘What happens now?’ she asked softly,