Chapter 16

Zeus advanced on Jeff, his wrath unmistakable. Holding his ground, Jeff unsheathed his sword, willing to face the god's wrath to save his friends. Raising his hand as if to swat a pesky fly, Zeus was about to end Jeff's existence on the earth when a familiar voice spoke up behind the god.

"What are you doing? I know you wanted to win the game, but kidnapping a mortal is simply unacceptable. I think this human showed remarkable courage when he defied you. Don't you dare touch him!" the feminine voice said, distracting Zeus at the last moment.

"But, Dear, I was just..." Zeus began.

"I don't care. What you were doing was despicable. You leave this boy alone and go back to Olympus," Hera continued, her voice rising as she continued berating her husband. With a scowl at Jeff, Zeus suddenly disappeared, leaving Hera and Jeff alone on the deck of the tiny craft. Seeing the god was gone, Jeff sheathed his sword and breathed a sigh of relief.

"You're not done yet. It's time for you to face my challenge. There is a young lady I want you to rescue. I will get Apollo to loan Pegasus to you again to help you on your journey," Hera told Jeff, her expression puzzling the teen.

"Is it okay if I let the others know that I'm leaving?" Jeff asked, not wanting to worry Sara again.

"Of course, but don't be too long. I don't know how long the girl can last," Hera agreed, her enigmatic smile confusing Jeff once again. With Hera's words echoing in his ears, Jeff rushed to the cabin he shared with Sara to let her know of this new challenge.

"I don't know how long I will be gone, but I will get back as soon as I can," he told her as he hurried to get his armor in place. As soon as he had completed dressing, Jeff took Sara into his arms and kissed her, his tongue tracing her lips, giving her a hint of what he had planned for her on his return. Releasing her, Jeff opened the door and stepped out, bumping into Diana.

"What's going on?" the Amazon asked the pair.

"Hera is sending me on another challenge. I was just coming to tell you," Jeff told her, stunned by the tears he saw in her eyes.

"Another challenge? You just got back!" she replied, surreptitiously wiping her eyes as she buried her face in his chest. As Jeff stroked her hair, he pretended not to see the tears on her cheeks, not wanting to embarrass her. Jeff marveled at the change in the Amazon princess since that first day he met her. Smiling at Sara, Jeff kissed the two women once more, enjoying the taste of their lips.

"I shouldn't be gone too long. For some reason I don't think this challenge will be too difficult," Jeff told her. Not wanting to risk Hera's ire, Jeff quickly kissed the worried women, and then rushed out on deck, nearly colliding with the winged horse waiting for him. With a leap, Jeff settled on Pegasus' back, wanting to get back as quickly as possible. With a glance behind him, Jeff saw Hera walking up to join him.

"No, you can't take armor or weapons this time, it is time you began using your psionic powers," Hera told him. Confused, Jeff began removing his armor, wondering what could be in store for him. Once he had disarmed himself, Jeff began reviewing what he had learned from Leandra in his mind. Jeff knew he hadn't used the skills the beautiful teacher had taught him very much, especially lately, but he knew he had to be mentally ready for the challenges that lay ahead of him.

Climbing back onto Pegasus, Jeff began concentrating on the task ahead. But, with Hera giving him no details on what this challenge would be, Jeff was unsure of what he would need to prepare for. As the majestic horse lifted off from the wooden deck of the vessel, Jeff wondered how he would be able to defend himself without any armor or weapons. Once aloft, Jeff decided to relax and enjoy the view of the countryside. The rocky hills and lush meadows showed no signs of the ancient peoples that had traveled through these lands in earlier eras. With a sigh, Jeff felt himself unwind, taking pleasure in the wind whipping over him. All too soon it seemed, Pegasus began descending, landing next to a large castle-like structure.

Warily, Jeff dismounted from the winged horse, looking around to see if anyone had noticed his arrival. Seeing no one, Jeff paused for a moment to concentrate on the task ahead of him. Walking toward the front of the mammoth building, Jeff continued listening for signs of life around the ancient structure. When he reached the giant door, Jeff crept inside, stepping carefully to avoid making any noise that might draw attention to him. Once there, Jeff began using his rusty psionic talents to scan for guards. Finding none nearby, Jeff grew more confident.

Stepping farther into the building, Jeff came to a winding, golden staircase, the steps covered in red carpet. Cautiously, the teen began ascending the stairs, not wanting to alert any guards that might be close. Upon reaching the top of the twisting steps, Jeff paused, once again looking around for guards. Seeing none, Jeff continued until he heard the sounds of a woman moaning in pain. Deciding this would be a good time to use his abilities, Jeff let his mind wander into the room. Looking around in the luxurious room, the first thing Jeff noticed was the apparent distress on her face. The second thing he noticed was her clothing, or more appropriately, her lack of clothing. The light brown nipples on her luscious breasts were erect, even in the warm temperature of the castle. Although she had a superb shape, what captured Jeff's attention even more than everything else, was her fingers digging feverishly in her hairless slit. Jeff couldn't see any danger the girl was in, but Hera had told him to rescue her.

Taking a deep breath, the teen decided to sneak into her room and get her out of any predicament she might be in. Stealthily, Jeff crept into the room, still not fully confident in his abilities. Upon reaching the girl's bed, Jeff knelt beside it, not wanting to talk too loudly for fear that he might draw some unwanted attention.

"Hera sent me here to rescue you," Jeff whispered, not wanting to startle her. Almost of their own volition, Jeff's eyes wandered from the girl's raven hair, and down past her creamy complexion and ruby lips. As his line of sight continued downward, Jeff couldn't help marveling at the maiden's pert breasts and the way her waist tapered in, only to flare out to perfectly shaped hips.