This was the standard operating procedure for blackouts. Fill the bathtub with water and anything else that will hold it. One of the downfalls of living in a tall building during a blackout was the pumps sending water up to the apartments soon stopped. If they didn’t store all the water they could, they would quickly find themselves in a lot of trouble.
She began to fill the bathtub, and then the pots and pans in the kitchen. Just as she finished filling the last big soup pot, the pressure behind the water flow started to weaken. It wouldn’t be long before it stopped completely.
‘Well, it’s better than nothing,’ she sighed aloud as she shut off all the faucets.
While she worked, Emily had managed to forget about the storm for a few minutes. But with the water off, the sound of the rumbling thunder and police and fire sirens from the city took over as the only sounds in the apartment.
Just outside the bathroom window, Emily saw another burst of lightning and heard more thunder. The lightning was so bright it left her seeing flashes, even after she closed her eyes. There was no pause between the light and sound, which meant this latest strike was very close.
As the thunder rumbled angrily, Emily moved away from the window. This time she would follow her father’s advice and stay well clear of them. The storm was now directly overhead – and getting worse by the minute.
2
Paelen stared in shock at the destruction around him. He had never seen anything like it before. The palace lay in ruins, as did every other building around it.
He had tried to keep up with the defenders, but they had left him behind. Now in the far distance, he heard the constant booming of Jupiter’s thunderbolts and saw the flashes of lightning in the sky. The violent battle was raging, but far from this area of devastation.
Paelen’s heart lurched as he saw Mercury on the ground. The messenger was lying on his side, a spear sticking out of his chest. Blood matted his fair hair and his face was covered with bruises. Paelen bent down to see if he was still alive.
Mercury weakly opened his pale blue eyes. ‘Paelen,’ he gasped, ‘is it over? Have they extinguished the Flame?’
Paelen wondered if he should call for help. But there was no one left to call. From what he could see, everyone around him was either dead or dying. ‘I believe it is still lit. I saw the others heading towards the temple.’
‘We must stop the Nirads!’ Mercury reached for Paelen’s arm and tried to rise. ‘Help me up.’
Paelen helped Mercury get to his feet. As he stood, the messenger pulled the spear from his chest. His wound opened and the bleeding increased. His legs gave out and he crumpled weakly back to the ground.
‘The war is over for me. I am finished,’ Mercury gasped.
‘No, you are wrong,’ Paelen said fearfully as he knelt beside the messenger and cradled him in his lap. ‘Mercury, you must get up.’
The messenger shook his head. ‘It is too late—’
He started to cough. Blood pooled in the corners of his mouth. ‘Listen to me, Paelen,’ he panted. ‘You must join the fight. The Nirads must not extinguish the Flame.’
‘Me? Fight?’ Paelen repeated. He shook his head. ‘I cannot. Look at me, Mercury. I have no real powers of my own. I am not big and strong like Hercules and I cannot fight like Apollo. I do not know how to use weapons and I am not fast like you. All I am is a thief. My only skill is to stretch my body to escape prisons and squeeze into tight spaces. And you know how I hate doing that because it hurts too much. I am a coward – nothing more.’
Mercury reached for Paelen’s hand and drew him closer. ‘Listen to me, Paelen. I know you are still very young,’ he gasped. ‘And I know you are not as big as the rest of us or as strong. But you are clever and much braver than you think. It lies in you to make a difference.’
Again Paelen shook his head. ‘You are asking too much of me! I am not the person you think I am. I am nothing.’
Mercury squeezed Paelen’s hand as he struggled to speak. ‘You are special, Paelen. This may be the only chance you will ever have to prove it. I know you have never considered yourself a true Olympian. But you are one – and you carry it within you to be great. This is the time to join your people and defend your home. Show me, Paelen,’ Mercury coughed. ‘Show all of us what you can do.’
‘But I … I …’ Paelen stammered.
‘Please,’ Mercury begged. ‘Help us.’
The approaching battle cry of rampaging Nirads filled the air. It wouldn’t be long before they arrived.
‘A second wave of fighters is coming,’ Mercury continued weakly. ‘You must get away from here. Take my winged sandals. My helmet is lost, but you can still fly with the sandals. Take them and join the fight.’
‘Your sandals?’ Paelen cried. ‘I cannot! They only work for you!’
Another choking cough came from the fallen messenger. His eyes started to glaze over. ‘I am dying, Paelen,’ Mercury said softly. ‘I give them to you. You are their master now. They will obey your commands.’
With a final agonized cry, Mercury closed his eyes and became still.