Helen Brave and The Sun Titan
Chapter 19: Sacrifices

We arrived at a mostly empty park; the late sun setting in the distance would have looked pretty if this was a real vacation. I shook my head before leading the others deeper into the park and to a mostly secluded area, tugging the box from the inside of my armor. I opened it and was knocked off of my feet, hitting the ground hard as the box threw the three brothers out. They landed in a heap and I forced the top closed, letting Amanda tow me to my feet while Elei and the twins checked on the brothers. “What now? We just wait for Helios?” Amanda asked. I nodded before giving her the box and smiling slightly.

“We need to trap him and get him back to Elysian. If we can do that then Atlas will be down one warrior,” I said before swallowing nervously. “I think I can hold him still when you open the box,” I said in a rush. She nodded before her eyes widened and she looked to me with a pale face.

“Helen....” she began in a low warning tone, but I grabbed her hands and gave her a small smile.

“We need to stop him and get the brothers to safety,” I said before squeezing her hands softly. She frowned down at me and I grinned up at her. “Look it’s not forever. I’m going to be in the box,” I said before moving back. She surged forward and swept me into a tight hug before sighing weakly.

“I know, I know, but you’re going to be trapped with him,” she said softly before moving back. I nodded and looked back at the others, who were still helping the brothers.

“I’ll be okay. I can handle him now,” I said, tapping the circlet on my head before turning to walk towards the brothers.

“Wait Helen!” Amanda hissed, tugging me back around. I frowned up at her and her pale face began to grow red as she looked down at me. “I love you,” she said quickly. I opened my mouth to repeat the sentiment until I realized how she meant it. Suddenly everything made a lot more sense and I felt my own face heat up.

“Oh! Oh you mean in the gay way right?” I asked in shock. She scowled down at me before nodding stiffly and I felt my face heat up more before I weakly laughed. “Amanda...I can’t say I like you like that. I love you, but like a sibling would,” I began, but she nodded and waved a hand.

“I know. Trust me I know...as a hero of Aphrodite I can see love,” she grumbled before shaking her head roughly. I felt bad and gently patted her hand before turning back to the others, who were helping the confused looking brothers up- Personal drama later.

“Why did you release us?” Brontes snapped, heading over to me, but I waved him off.

“We have a plan, we need the three of you as bait unfortunately,” I said, watching as the brothers looked to one another before nodding to us.

“What is your plan?” Arges asked. I quickly explained the trapping him part, leaving out my sacrifice and the brothers looked to one another before nodding to me. I looked up as the sky finally darkened fully before creating a large fire. I could feel some kind of dark energy and shivered before looking to Amanda. She nodded to me and I turned to the brothers, waving them towards a lake.

“Take a deep breath and sink,” I ordered, looking back up and at the approaching group of harpies. Helios was leading them and I scowled before giving the others a smile. “This time we’re going to win,” I stated, the others grinning. I looked back and he landed swiftly, the harpy’s diving for the others while Helios moved forward.

“Finally revealed the brothers? What are you playing at demi god?” He growled. I summoned my weapon and ran right at him, swinging the hammer and spinning with it. He ducked under it and I roundhouse kicked him across the face, throwing the hammer and watching as it killed two harpies. I jumped towards him and grabbed his throat, trying to crush his windpipe as he attempted to recover. He grabbed my wrists and tugged me off before harshly yanking me up and kneeing me in the side. I hissed in pain and kicked forward, catching him in the jaw. He dropped me and I rolled back before summoning my shield and bringing it up when he front kicked towards my head. He knocked me back and I rolled slightly before dispelling the shield and running at him.

He roared in anger before waving his arms and I slowed, stopping when Polyphemus fell out of the sky, his head lifting before he turned towards me. “You will regret taking my sight demi god. I’ve been blinded before,” he growled out before running right for me. I rolled out of the way and stumbled back when he turned, swinging his large arm out and tossing me towards the lake. My heart leapt into my throat and I summoned my wings, flipping and shooting up into the air. I quickly flew over and dived, summoning my hammer and slamming it down on the top of Polyphemus’ head. He stumbled back and roared in pain before grabbing me out of the air and tightening his fist. Pain ran through my body like an electrical current and I yelled out, squirming as I attempted to escape.

Polyphemus laughed before tightening his hand around me then lifted it and threw me right into the ground. I hit the grass hard and slid, groaning when I stopped. My head was pounding in tempo to my heart and I slowly pushed myself up before looking to the others. Elei was nursing a broken arm and trying to snap a chimera’s neck while Amanda cut through three harpies. Zoey and Ginger were providing cover fire and I slowly stood before turning and glaring at Helios. I used my energy to fling Polyphemus away from me before glancing at Amanda. “Amanda!” I yelled before running for Helios. He looked to me in confusion and I jumped towards him, tackling him to the ground and straddling his hips. I slammed my fist into his face and he yelled out in pain trying to grab my arms. I glanced over to Amanda, who was fumbling with the box and Polyphemus stood and turned towards me. I was yanked close to Helios and head-butted him, wincing at the pain that went through my forehead. I grabbed his throat and tightened my fingers, looking to Amanda, who was running towards us with the box.

Elei and the others were yelling at her and I grinned before leaning towards him. “I hope you like dark places Helios,” I said lowly before I was tugged off of him. I grabbed onto his chest plate and looked over at Amanda, who was holding the box open. We slowly lifted and began sliding towards the dark blue vortex, Helios screaming and trying to pry me off.

“NO!” He screeched, but I felt my good leg become very cold very fast. I looked back and found both of my legs were beginning to disappear into the box and tightened my grip. He screamed in terror and Polyphemus moved to grab him, but I let go of part of Helios armor and shot a blast of fire at his face. He stumbled back and I grabbed Helios chest plate again, wincing when I felt my chest begin to get cold. I shivered, letting out quick pants as I was pulled into darkness, dragging Helios in after me.

As soon as his lower body appeared within the darkness, the light disappeared and I let go of him, drifting back in the black abyss. I could hear him scream and shivered harder, my teeth chattering as cold seeped through my armor and into my bones. I blinked in the darkness and tried to create a small bit of fire, but nothing happened. I sucked in a quick breath and shivered hard, closing my eyes as I tried to make the cold go away, rubbing my arms. “What have you done?!” I heard screamed from somewhere to my right.

“Welcome to hell. Population two,” I called, laughing weakly before shivering hard. My teeth began to chatter harder and I shut my eyes, curling it myself and shaking. It was so very, very cold.

I don’t know how long I stayed curled into myself, my breathing slowing as I fought to stay awake. Unfortunately it was a loosing battle and I slowly drifted off into a fitful sleep, listening to Helios scream and cry. It was disorienting to wake up to darkness and for a moment I thought I had gone blind until I realized I was within the box. After that I spent my time either fighting sleep or the chill around me. Moving around only helped so much and after awhile I grew annoyed with Helios. “Shut up! I get it you don’t like the dark! Neither do I!” I yelled out into the darkness, listening to Helios calm. It took a moment before I saw a spark of something in the distance and pushed myself away from it.

“You are nothing but a demi god-,” he snarled, but stopped when a tremor went through the box. I looked up and winced as a bright light blinded me for a moment. “Th-They’re opening it,” he said softly before I felt a tug around my waist. I was forcefully yanked out and I yelped in shock, hitting the ground and looking up when I heard a scream and something slam. Blinking away the dark spots from my eyes, I looked around and froze when I realized I was back at the Forge. Hephaestus sat in front of me and gave me a wide smile before holding out his hand. The three brothers stood behind him with wide smiles on their faces and I took the offered hand, slowly getting up and rubbing my eyes.

The windows were dark and I frowned before rubbing my arms to get the chill to leave. “Wh-What happened?” I asked in confusion, watching as Hephaestus relaxed back and placed the box in Arges’ large hands.

“You were trapped within the box for two weeks Helen. The others managed to return with the brothers safely. You completed your first quest successfully,” he said with pride in his voice. I frowned in confusion before looking to the three brothers, who were grinning down at me.

“I.... I really did it?” I said in shock. Hephaestus nodded before leaning over the side of his chair and grabbing a golden blanket, passing it to me. I tugged it around my shoulder and sighed in relief when heat began to seep into my bones. “So now what?” I asked as he headed for the door.

“We inform your grandfather that we were able to pull you from the box and keep Helios contained. If we make more we can lock the other away when you fight them,” he said. I nodded and looked down at my scuffed armor before sighing softly.

“Can I take a shower first?” I asked. He looked to me in confusion then blinked and nodded, giving me a small smile.

“Of course. Go shower and change then head to the Pantheon council room,” he said before wheeling himself out of the room. I sighed tiredly before shuffling out and looking around the darkened campus, relaxing a bit as I walked to the cable car stop. I stood in the moonlit stop for a few moments before the cable car arrived and I climbed onto it. I relaxed back in my seat, pointedly ignoring the look that the driver tossed me. When we got to the dorm, I jumped out and thanked the driver before heading into the dormitory then up to my room. I paused in my doorway when I found Zoey, Ginger, Elei and Amanda scattered about, all of them sleeping and grinned tiredly. As tempting as it was to join them, I really needed a shower. I quickly gathered up my nicer looking pajamas and a towel, draping part of my blanket over Amanda and the other over Elei, who were sleeping close together.

I headed to the shared shower area and took a moderately long shower, washing off the grime from the fight before. After the water stopped running black, I slipped out and dried off then tugged on my pajamas and headed back up to my room. I placed my armor on the ground near my closet and tried not to yawn, looking around for some socks before replaceing some under my desk. I took a seat and tugged them on, leaning against my desk chair as I tried not to fall asleep. Yawning, I slowly got up before shuffling back over to where Elei and Amanda were sleeping. Biting my bottom lip, I looked to the door then shrugged before taking my cover back and curling up at the foot of the bed, sighing softly in relief and falling asleep.