Pegasus and the Rise of the Titans (Pegasus #5) Read Online Free

right? Has something happened?’
    Emily shook her head. ‘No, she’s fine. She just misses you. Juno has commanded her to return to the palace but she doesn’t want to.’
    ‘I don’t want her to go either,’ Tom said sadly. ‘The days and nights will be endless for me. But it is her duty. If Alexis understands anything, it is duty.’
    ‘Tom, do you remember Riza?’
    ‘Of course I do. Hello, Riza.’
    ‘ Hi, Tom ,’ Riza called through Emily’s mouth. ‘ I’ve had an idea that could help you both stay together. But we need your consent .’
    ‘Really?’ Tom said, sounding more hopeful now. ‘Tell me, please.’
    ‘ Well ,’ Riza started. ‘ For many millennia, my people knew how to manipulate matter. Not unlike Jupiter did with you. But he was unable to repair your human body, so he did the best he could and made you as you are now .’
    ‘And I am grateful to him,’ Tom said. ‘I wasn’t much of a human, if I’m perfectly honest.’
    ‘You were fine,’ Emily said, taking over.
    ‘And you’re a terrible liar, Emily Jacobs,’ Tom chuckled. When he laughed, his long leaves rustled gently, with a pleasant brushing sound. ‘Emily, you know as well as I do that I’m better now as a tree than I ever was as a man.’
    ‘But you’ve changed,’ Emily argued.
    ‘I’d like to think so.’
    ‘ Tom ,’ Riza said seriously. ‘ Jupiter didn’t have the power to restore your wrecked body. We do. But only if you want it .’
    ‘You can really do that when Jupiter couldn’t?’
    ‘ Yes ,’ Riza said.
    ‘You mean it?’
    ‘ Yes .’
    There was a long pause. Finally the willow tree asked hesitantly, ‘If you have the power to restore me, could you turn me into something else instead?’
    ‘ That depends on what you want ,’ Riza responded.
    ‘You want to be a Sphinx,’ Emily guessed.
    ‘Yes,’ Tom agreed. ‘So I can be just like my Alexis.’
    ‘ No problem ,’ Riza said. ‘ It will be so .’
    ‘Are you sure we can do this?’ Emily asked.
    ‘ Yes ,’ Riza said aloud. ‘ But we need something from Alexis. Something that will help us replicate her pattern with Tom .’
    ‘You mean like her DNA?’
    ‘ Exactly ,’ Riza said.
    ‘Like hair?’ Tom offered. ‘Her hairbrush is up here on her platform.’
    ‘ Perfect! ’
    Emily climbed up the small ladder leading to the platform that Alexis called her home. Overstuffed satin pillows were scattered in one corner where Alexis lounged. On the other side of the platform was what looked like a dressing table with a mirror. Laid out in a neat row were different-sized combs and brushes that Alexis used to groom herself.
    Emily frowned. ‘How does she use these with her big paws?’
    ‘It’s not easy,’ Tom answered. ‘It takes her ages, but Alexis is very determined.’
    Emily lifted one of the brushes and pulled out strands of long, dark hair. ‘Will this do?’
    ‘ Absolutely ,’ Riza said. ‘ We’ll also need a handful of new leaves from Tom .’
    Emily looked up and saw some opening buds. ‘Is it OK for me to take some of these new leaves?’ she asked Tom.
    ‘Take as many as you need.’ He sounded excited. ‘I can’t believe this. You’re sure you can do it?’
    ‘ We are ,’ Riza said.
    ‘You are, you mean,’ Emily corrected. ‘I’d have never thought to try.’
    Riza chuckled softly. ‘ That’s because you still don’t understand the depth of our powers .’
    Emily climbed down the ladder and stepped away from the tree. With Pegasus at her side, she looked up at the tall willow. ‘So what do we do now?’
    ‘ Emily ,’ Riza said seriously. ‘ You must let me take full control of us. This will take a lot of concentration – we can’t risk a mistake. Will you give me your full cooperation? ’
    Emily didn’t hesitate. ‘Sure. How do I do that?’
    ‘ As I rise to the surface, I want you to relax. Don’t speak and try not to think. Just imagine yourself floating in a peaceful lake  . . .’
    Emily