Emily waited. For how long, she was uncertain. All she knew was that somehow, she was still herself. She could think, feel and hold on to all the love and memories she had. She remembered everything about her life. The happy years with her mother and father in New York. Her mother’s illness and finally, death. And although there was pain at the memory, Emily knew it wasn’t as bad as it had been before. But then again, she also knew her mother would be waiting for her just outside the flames.
Emily thought of Joel. Sweet, angry, hurt Joel and that first endless climb up the stairs of her building. It all seemed such a long time ago. She promised herself she would find his family and tell them what he had done for her. She recalled Paelen’s crooked smile and cleverness. Then there was Diana – beautiful and strong Diana crying over the death of a New York horse and the body of her fallen brother. But most of all, Emily remembered … Pegasus.
Thoughts of the stallion brought a smile to her burning lips. Of all the new friends in her life, Emily knew that in death, she would miss him the most.
After the briefest of moments, or perhaps the longest of eternities, Emily felt something change. The flames were drawing back. Soon, she could see again and somehow she knew it was time to leave the flames.
A new journey spread out before her. She felt certain her mother would be there waiting for her.
As she moved to the edge of the bowl, she could see between the flickering flames. And what she saw gave her more joy than she could imagine possible … Pegasus
He was no longer brown and black. Pegasus was glowing brilliant white again. Not a feather stood out of place on his beautiful folded wings. Majestic and proud, he was perfect.
Emily bent down and grasped the edge of the bowl for support. When she did, she noticed the crack in the marble was gone. Not only that, but it was no longer lying on the floor of the Temple. Somehow, it was back on its tall plinth.
Crawling over the top edge, Emily lowered her good leg down to the ground. When she put her wounded leg down, she felt no pain. It was true! She thought. When you died, all the pain stopped.
But when Emily added more weight, she found her leg still would not support her. Losing her balance, she fell heavily to the marble floor.
Pegasus was instantly as her side.
‘Pegs?’ Emily said in confusion as she looked up into his warm brown eyes and felt his tongue on her cheek. ‘Can you see me?’
‘We all can, child,’ Diana called.
Emily looked over and saw Diana standing at the entrance to the temple, dressed in a stunning white tunic. Another beautiful woman stood beside her. Emily felt she should know her, but she couldn’t think of her name.
Diana rushed forward and helped Emily to her feet. She handed her a set of Olympian robes and hugged her tightly. ‘We are all so proud of you.’
‘But I died,’ Emily said. ‘I don’t understand.’
‘You have been reborn,’ said the other woman. She came forward and embraced Emily. ‘My beautiful child, my Flame. I am Vesta.’
Emily’s eyes flew wide. ‘You’re Vesta? Really? And I’m alive?’
Both women smiled. Finally Diana nodded to Pegasus. ‘Ask him if you do not believe me. He never left your side. He has waited here all this time for you to return to us.’
Emily turned to Pegasus and the stallion pressed closer. She touched his glowing muzzle. ‘Pegs?’ she said, still hardly believing the truth. Finally she threw her arms around his neck. ‘Pegs, I’m alive!’
‘We all are,’ Diana said, ‘with grateful thanks to you. Because of what you did, your sacrifice, Olympus has been restored.’
‘How?’ Emily asked. ‘What did I do?’
‘Get dressed and come see for yourself.’
Emily pulled on the robe and tied it at the waist. She clung to Diana and Pegasus for support as they made their way to the entrance of the Temple. Behind her, the Flame continued to burn brightly on its plinth.
Emily’s eyes flew wide in disbelief. Standing at the base of the temple steps were thousands of people. When they saw her emerge from the temple with Diana, Pegasus and Vesta, they raised their voices in cheers and salute.
‘These are your people, Emily,’ Diana said, ‘All alive because of you. My brother is down there, waiting to thank you himself. Soon my father will join us and offer his gratitude.’
‘Jupiter?’ Emily gasped in shock.
Diana smiled and nodded.
It was almost too much to take in. But as Emily’s eyes scanned the huge and endless crowd, they came upon Joel and Paelen, standing side by side at the foot of the steps.
‘Joel!’ Emily cried as she started to wave frantically. ‘Paelen!’
Both started to race up the steps to greet her. Paelen arrived first and wrapped his arms around her and gave her a brutal embrace. Joel was right behind him. With a tight hug, he swung her around in the air.
‘I don’t know what the heck you did in there, or how you did it,’ Joel laughed as he swung Emily round again. ‘But it worked!’
Emily was left speechless. ‘I don’t know either,’ she laughed.
Pegasus nudged Emily playfully.
‘He wants you to get on his back,’ Diana explained. ‘He is going to carry you down the steps.’
Joel helped Emily climb on to Pegasus. When she was settled, the stallion neighed gently.