Pegasus and the New Olympians Read Online Free Page B

all of that just to punish the CRU for doing something stupid.’
    Diana sighed heavily. ‘I am sorry, Steve, but he would.’
    ‘Apollo has also seen the photos,’ Pluto added. ‘He came to me quietly voicing his concerns. I discouraged him from telling his father. But we are all loyal to Jupiter. If the CRU have done this thing, we have no recourse but to tell Jupiter and let the punishment fit the crime.’
    ‘Destroying Earth is too great a punishment!’ Steve argued. ‘Especially if it’s just a few people who have done this – and we aren’t even certain that they have done anything at all!’
    ‘Which is why we’ve got to go to see for ourselves,’ Emily added.
    ‘Emily is correct,’ Pluto said. ‘We must let them go see if this racehorse is real or an unnatural creation of your people.’
    Her father started to pace the area. ‘All right, but I’m coming with you.’
    Pegasus nickered softly. He approached Diana and made a long series of sounds.
    ‘Pegasus does not agree,’ she translated. ‘He says you must remain here. You and I are scheduled to make our full report to my father following our trip. They will only be gone a very short time. I can make excuses to my father about why Emily and the others are not here, perhaps tell them that they have gone to the Nirad world to visit the queen. But if you leave as well, it will draw my father’s suspicions; especially so soon after our return. With all that is at stake, we must not risk that.’
    ‘But it’s too dangerous,’ Steve insisted.
    ‘Dad, please,’ Emily said. ‘We’ve got to go. We’ll be really quick. You must keep Jupiter occupied and stop Apollo from telling him about Tornado until we figure this out.’
    ‘But how can I protect you?’ her father said as he pulled her into a tight embrace and kissed the top of her head. ‘The CRU separated us once. I couldn’t bear that to happen again.’
    ‘It won’t,’ Joel promised. ‘This isn’t like before. We’re not breaking into a CRU facility. We’re just going to go see Tornado Warning at a race track.’
    Steve sighed heavily. ‘I really wish I was coming with you.’
    ‘So do I,’ Emily agreed as she held her father. ‘But we’ll be careful. I promise. You just keep Jupiter busy so he doesn’t notice we’re gone.’
    As the sun started to rise, the meeting was called to a halt by Pluto. They agreed to meet at the Temple the following evening to prepare for departure.

    The next day, Emily, Joel and Paelen packed up their new clothing and a good supply of ambrosia and nectar for the trip. Emily barely got to see her father as he spent most of the day with Jupiter, Diana and Apollo, presenting their report. She ached to speak with him, to talk about her fears for their world if Jupiter ever found out.
    Until now, everything Emily had done was to protect and defend Olympus; first from the Nirads and then from the gorgons. But now, as she checked and rechecked her backpack, she realized that she, the Flame of Olympus, may be forced to protect Earth from the Olympians.
    As night arrived and Emily’s father returned from a long day with Jupiter, they waited for Olympus to go to sleep before heading out to the Temple of the Flame.
    For the short journey, Emily’s father rode with her on the back of Pegasus. She felt his reassuring arms around her and silently wished he was coming with them. But Pegasus was right. He had to stay to keep suspicion away from Jupiter.
    Diana and Pluto were waiting at the Temple. As they climbed down from Pegasus, Emily noticed that Pluto was holding a package in his hands.
    Diana came forward. ‘I have told my father that you are all going to the Nirad world to visit the queen. He has no cause to question it. But you must be swift. My father understands your need for independence and freedom, but he does not like it when the Flame of Olympus is away from here.’
    ‘I understand,’ Emily said grimly. ‘We’ll be as quick as we