Pegasus and the Origins of Olympus Read Free Page A

turned to Emily and bowed respectfully. ‘Thank you, child.’
    Pegasus had his head bowed as he stood before her. As did Chrysaor, the giant and even the Cyclops.
    ‘Would someone please let us in on the secret?’ Joel asked, confused by the odd behaviour of the Olympians.
    Their reactions troubled Emily. They were all looking at her like she was something strange, dredged up from the bottom of the sea.
    ‘What is it?’ she asked. ‘Pegs, stop bowing and tell me what’s going on? What’s so special about Xanadu?’
    Jupiter righted himself and a reverent smile came to his lips. ‘As Earth has its ancient myths about us, we Olympians have our own ancient myths and legends.’
    Vesta took over speaking. ‘Our oldest legend says that from the time before time, long before the Olympians, and even the Titans, there was Xanadu. It was said to be a precious and sacred place protected by the Xan; a great and powerful race that benevolently ruled the universe. But something happened and the Xan disappeared.’
    Diana continued, her face radiant. ‘It was because of that legend that we took over as guardians of the Solar Stream. We have been visiting the many worlds searching for the Xan and evidence that Xanadu really existed. This, at last, is the proof we have sought. We have finally found Xanadu.’
    ‘But what does that have to do with Emily?’ Her father asked.
    Diana put her arm around Emily’s shoulder and started to walk her around the room. ‘Take a look at these artifacts we have brought back. Do you recognize anything here?’
    As they moved from table to table, Emily stared at the items. They all looked so familiar to her, as though she knew what they were, but had somehow forgotten. She reached for what looked like a dull piece of flat, round metal and recognized its weight and shape. She touched the bottom of the piece and it burst into brilliant light.
    ‘I know this,’ she whispered. ‘It’s used like a flashlight.’
    As the light blazed through the room, Jupiter ordered that the doors to the chamber be closed and the windows sealed. He called everyone forward. ‘Listen to me. This does not go any further. It would shake the very core of our foundation if Olympians were to learn that the one we have called Flame of Olympus, is not Olympian at all.’
    Jupiter knelt down before Emily and dropped his head. When he lifted it again, he reached for her hands. ‘Child, I do not understand how it is possible. But it is my strongest belief that you are neither human nor Olympian, but are in fact, Xan.’

2
    Emily’s mind was spinning as she and Pegasus flew hard and high above Olympus. After Jupiter’s announcement, the room burst into excited discussion. Plans were being made to create a permanent access link between Olympus and Xanadu. But the more they talked about the origins of the Flame, the worse Emily felt.
    Unable to take any more, she asked to be excused. With Pegasus loyally at her side, she begged the stallion to take her away from the palace. It didn’t matter where, just away from the proof that she didn’t belong anywhere.
    Emily always felt better when it was just her and Pegasus. But this time, soaring high with the magnificent stallion wasn’t helping. She felt so lost. Like no one in Olympus would understand how she felt – and then she remembered.
    She leaned forward on the soaring stallion. ‘Pegs, can we please go and see Alexis and Agent T?’
    Pegasus whinnied once and changed direction. Before long they were passing over a different kind of landscape. It was not as green and blooming as the surroundings of Jupiter’s palace. Instead there were fewer trees in an area of smooth golden earth. The terrain turned rocky with high sharp mountain ranges. A few buildings dotted the area, but it was basically isolated. Up ahead, Emily saw a tall, lush, willow tree standing alone and looking strangely out of place in the desert-like area.
    It had been a long time since Emily had