Free Pegasus and the New Olympians by Kate O'Hearn Page A

lounging on her back in an overflowing bathtub.
    ‘Did your father not teach you to knock?’ Alexis demanded.
    Too stunned at the sight of the Sphinx in the bath, Emily backed out of the room and shut the door quietly behind her. Paelen was awake and smiled at her.
    ‘She’s been in there half the day,’ he whispered.
    Irritated by the need to use the toilet, Emily muttered, ‘I thought cats hated water.’
    ‘I heard that, Emily!’ Alexis called from the bathroom.

    Hours later, everyone was up and moving around. Joel was introducing Paelen and Chrysaor to the joys of cable television. Paelen held the remote and was learning to channel surf. ‘Pegasus, move out of the way, you are blocking my view!’ he complained as he tried to see around the large stallion. There was just so much to watch, he couldn’t settle on one station for more than a minute or two. ‘This is amazing,’ he cried as he started to follow a science-fiction movie. ‘We must get this in Olympus!’
    Chrysaor squealed loudly in protest when Paelen changed the channel again. He tried to snatch the remote from Paelen.
    Joel looked at Emily. ‘Do you think Jupiter would go for satellite or cable TV?’
    ‘Neither,’ she laughed as she watched her friends enjoying their first television experience.
    On the bed behind them, Agent T was counting out his remaining money. ‘Earl, how much cash do you have left?’ he asked.
    Earl opened his walled and pulled out two ten-dollar bills. ‘Twenty bucks, that’s it.’
    Agent T looked at Emily. ‘Did you bring anything from Olympus we can sell?’
    ‘No, we didn’t expect to be here this long. The plan was to get a close look at Tornado Warning and then go right back.’
    Agent T sighed. ‘We have ninety-seven dollars left. That won’t get us another room, let alone a lot of food.’
    ‘Well, we can’t go back to Olympus for more,’ Emily said.
    Alexis finally emerged from the bathroom. Her dark hair was up in a towel and she was struggling to pull on a T-shirt with her paws. As Emily helped her finish getting dressed, the Sphinx’s eyes settled on Paelen. ‘It is lucky that we have a very good thief among us.’
    Paelen looked up. ‘I am not a thief any more,’ he complained. ‘Why will no one believe me?’
    Agent T rose from the bed. ‘Because we need a good thief right now and you’re elected.’
    Paelen handed the remote to Chrysaor and came closer. ‘What do you need?’
    ‘Money,’ Agent T said.
    ‘And food,’ Earl said. ‘We can’t all eat the ambrosia, you Olympians need that.’
    Paelen nodded. ‘I will go. How do I find money? The last time we needed it, Cupid won a costume competition. I do not know if there is another such competition around here.’
    ‘I’ll come with you,’ Joel volunteered. ‘Your sandals can carry us both. And if Alexis will let me, I’ll use Pluto’s helmet to stay invisible while you use your talent to stretch yourself out and fit into whereever we need to go.’
    The Sphinx carried the helmet over to Joel. She smiled warmly. ‘Anything for you. You just ask and it will be my command.’
    Emily balled her hands into tight fists. As she did, the ceramic lamp on the table beside her exploded.
    ‘What the hell?’ Earl cried as he jumped away from the flying pieces.
    ‘Sorry,’ Emily quickly said. ‘My hand accidentally hit it.’
    ‘That wasn’t your hand,’ Joel challenged. ‘That lamp blew up!’
    Emily was shaking in fear as her new powers surfaced again. She couldn’t let the others know about them. Not now, when the world was at stake. ‘No, Joel, it was me, I hit it. Now, are you going or not?’
    He nodded, but continued to inspect the remains of the lamp. ‘Yeah, we’re going.’ Finally he looked at Agent T. ‘Do you know how much money they keep in bank machines?’
    ‘More than enough,’ the ex-CRU agent said. ‘But they are built tough. I doubt you’ll get into one before the police catch you.’
    ‘I’ve