Argamus's Arc

Chapter 2 of 2

Argamus set his hand against the iron door, but the lock held. He pulled. He struck it with his fist. The metal did not move. The old prisoner watched through the slot with burning eyes. "Iron does not break for pride," he said. "You need a key." Argamus stared at the lock and knew the man was right. His strength meant nothing here. Then he remembered the guards above. He turned and ran back up the twisting halls, past a hundred cells, until he reached the two men he had left cold on the stairs. He tore through their belts. On the second guard he found a ring of black keys. He grinned and climbed back down. He tried each key in the lock. The third one turned. The door groaned open. The Titan stepped out, huge and gray, chains still hanging from his wrists and chest. He stood a head taller than any man. "A hundred years," the Titan said, flexing one massive hand. "You have my thanks, son of Persephone. Call me Iapetus." He looked at the torch in Argamus's grip. "That small fire will die in the deep pits. Your mother lies where no light reaches." "Then how do I find her?" Argamus asked. "There is a flame that does not die," Iapetus said. "Hades keeps it in his own chamber. Without it, you walk blind forever." Argamus did not hesitate. He wanted his mother free, and this was the road. Together they climbed out of the maze and crept toward the heart of the Underworld. Hades's chamber stood behind a black arch. Inside, a dark torch burned on a stand, its flame roaring gold and red, throwing light on every wall. Argamus reached for it. A shape moved from the shadows. A general of Hades stepped forward, taller than Iapetus, over eight feet, armored in bone-black plate. "Thieves," the giant said, and drew a sword the length of a door. The general swung. Argamus dove under the blade and slashed at the giant's leg. His strike glanced off the armor. The general backhanded him across the room. Argamus hit the wall and tasted blood. Iapetus roared and grabbed the giant's sword arm with both hands. The two titans crashed into the stand. The torch toppled. Argamus lunged and caught it before the flame touched the floor. "Hold him!" Argamus shouted. Iapetus wrapped his chains around the general's throat and pulled. Argamus drove the burning torch into the giant's face. The general screamed and staggered. Iapetus twisted, and the huge body dropped. Argamus stood, chest heaving, blood on his mouth. In his fist the undying flame blazed steady and bright. He had the light now. He could find the deepest pit. But the fight had made noise, and somewhere above, the whole Underworld had heard it.