Athena the Wise Read online

  READ THE OTHER BOOKS IN THE

  GODDESS GIRLS SERIES

  Athena the Brain

  Persephone the Phony

  Aphrodite the Beauty

  Artemis the Brave

  coming soon

  Aphrodite the Diva

  This book is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events,

  real people, or real locales are used fictitiously. Other names, characters,

  places, and incidents are the product of the authors’ imagination,

  and any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons,

  living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  ALADDIN

  An imprint of Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing Division

  1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020

  www.SimonandSchuster.com

  First Aladdin paperback edition April 2011

  Copyright © 2011 by Joan Holub and Suzanne Williams

  All rights reserved, including the right of reproduction

  in whole or in part in any form.

  ALADDIN is a trademark of Simon & Schuster, Inc., and related logo

  is a registered trademark of Simon & Schuster, Inc.

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  Designed by Karin Paprocki

  The text of this book was set in Baskerville Handcut Regular.

  2 4 6 8 10 9 7 5 3 1

  Library of Congress Control Number 2010938957

  ISBN 978-1-4424-2097-7

  ISBN 978-1-4424-2098-4 (eBook)

  For Sabrina Hanson,

  who is smart like Athena and as curious as Pandora

  —S. W.

  For Madison and Skylar Stekly

  —J. H.

  CONTENTS

  1 THE NEW MORTAL

  2 ON TRAIL

  3 REVENGE-OLOGY

  4 A MYSTERIOUS FIGURE

  5 TOO MANY HEADS

  6 THIRD LABOR

  7 GONE HUNTING

  8 POOPED

  9 BATTLING THE BIRDS

  10 MISSING HERACLES

  11 THE CONTEST

  12 LAST LABORS

  13 FINDING FAVOR

  The New Mortal

  WHO’S THAT?” ATHENA ASKED, GESTURING toward an unfamiliar boy as she plunked her tray onto the table where she and her goddessgirl friends always sat for lunch. The entire cafeteria at Mount Olympus Academy was buzzing with excitement over him. Usually she didn’t pay much attention to boys, but even she couldn’t help noticing this one. Dressed in a lion-skin cape—its jaws fit his head like a helmet—he was tall with dark, curly hair, and bursting with muscles like Atlas, the school’s champion weightlifter.

  Aphrodite arched a perfectly shaped eyebrow. “You haven’t heard? His name’s Heracles. He was admitted to the Academy only this morning.” A look of disapproval came into her lovely blue eyes as she glanced at him. “I’ll admit he’s cute, but he has absolutely no sense of fashion.”

  Athena took a bite of her hero sandwich. A lion cape was perhaps overkill as a fashion statement.

  “I heard he’s a skilled archer,” said Artemis. “But I’ll believe it when I see it.”

  She frowned in his direction. “Word is that he’s mortal, just like Orion. So maybe he’s a liar, too.” Orion had been her disappointing first crush, too stuck on himself to notice anyone else’s feelings—especially hers. Now she tended to look upon all boys with suspicion, particularly those who reminded her of Orion in any way.

  Persephone took a sip from her carton of nectar. “So he’s mortal and he dresses weird. That doesn’t mean he isn’t nice.” She was sensitive about stuff like that. Probably because her crush, Hades, had often been misunderstood just because he came from the Underworld.

  A burst of admiring laughter came from the table where Heracles sat, drawing the girls’ eyes. He seemed to have wasted no time in making new friends among the godboys. Several of them, including Hades; Artemis’s twin brother, Apollo; Ares; and Poseidon were hanging on his every word. Athena couldn’t quite hear what Heracles was saying, but whatever it was probably involved weapons, war, sports, or hunting. In her experience, those were the topics that interested godboys most. Sure enough, moments later Heracles passed around his big, knobby club, which the boys oohed and aahed over. Not to be outdone, Poseidon showed off his trident, and Apollo, his bow.

  Aphrodite nudged Athena. “So, what’s your opinion?”

  Thinking she must have missed part of the conversation, Athena asked, “About what?”

  “About Heracles.”

  Aphrodite, Artemis, and Persephone leaned toward her, as if anxious to hear what she had to say. Athena hesitated. She could well remember how nervous she felt when she first came to MOA less than a year ago. Most of the godboys and goddessgirls here, including her three best friends, had been together for years by then. They were all so beautiful, handsome, gifted, and amazing. If she’d suspected at the time that they were discussing her—sizing her up and making judgments—she would’ve felt way more nervous.

  “Maybe we should try to put ourselves in his sandals and wonder what he’s thinking of us, instead of the other way around,” she suggested. “He’s probably wondering if we’re all going to like him. Perhaps he’s trying to impress those godboys.”

  Aphrodite blinked. “I never thought of that.”

  Persephone smiled at Athena in admiration. “That’s beyond brainy thinking, even for you.”

  “Words of wisdom from the goddessgirl of wisdom herself!” added Artemis.

  “Thanks,” Athena told them. The praise was nice, but honestly, although she knew she was brainy, she wasn’t so sure she deserved the title of goddessgirl of wisdom. If she were truly wise, she wouldn’t have made all the mistakes she’d made since she’d been here at MOA—like flooding the Earth with inventions, taking on too many classes and extracurriculars, and turning Medusa’s hair into snakes. Besides, words meant nothing without action. So far, she hadn’t done anything herself to welcome Heracles. Well, she could change that.

  She finished off her hero sandwich, hoping it would make her feel a little more heroic. Then, gathering her courage, she stood up from the table. “I’m going over to say hi to him. You know, welcome him to the Academy.” She hesitated a moment. Putting herself forward like that didn’t come easy to her—especially with boys. As her friends looked at her in surprise, she hinted, “Anyone want to come with me?”

  Before the others could reply, the school intercom crackled to life. There was a tapping sound, as if someone was repeatedly poking at the button. Then Principal Zeus’s voice boomed out of the speaker over the cafeteria door, making everyone jump. “IS THIS THING ON?” Tap tap tap. “MS. HYDRA?” Tap tap tap. “YOU SURE?” After some more crackling, he finally thundered out his message: “CALLING ATHENA! REPORT TO MY OFFICE. PRONTO. ON THE DOUBLE!” A pause. “OH YEAH, AND BY THE WAY, THIS IS PRINCIPAL ZEUS, YOUR DEAR OL’ DAD, IN CASE YOU DIDN’T GUESS!”

  Every eye in the cafeteria swung her way. Athena gulped. Zeus was never one to say please, especially if he was displeased about something. After all, he was King of the Gods and Ruler of the Heavens, so manners were not his first priority.

  “Change of plans, everyone. I’ll see you later.” Leaving her tray on the table, Athena hurried out the door. Even though—or maybe because— Principal Zeus was her dad, she worried about pleasing him more than anyone else at MOA did. Her stomach did acrobatic flips as she rushed down the hall to his office. She racked her brain trying to think if she
’d done something wrong. She was making straight As, so surely none of the teachers had complained. But her dad wasn’t big on friendly fatherly talks or idle chitchat, either. So what could he possibly want?

  On Trial

  ALL NINE OF MS. HYDRA’S HEADS LOOKED up as Athena entered the front office. “Hello, dear,” said the orange head as all the others went back to scanning paperwork, adding figures, or whatever else they’d been doing. “Principal Zeus is waiting for you, so go right in.”

  “Thanks,” said Athena. She started toward Zeus’s door, then turned back for a moment. “Ms. Hydra?”

  The administrative assistant’s green and purple heads swiveled to look at her.

  “I was just wondering if—”

  “Yes?” interrupted Ms. Hydra’s impatient purple head.

  “—if you could tell me what kind of mood he’s in?” Athena finished.

  “Can’t say. He’s been holed up in his office all morning.”

  Just then Zeus threw open his door, knocking it from two of its hinges—something that happened quite often, actually. So often, in fact, that not one of Ms. Hydra’s heads batted an eye over it. She just rang a little bell on her desk marked “hinges” to summon a custodian to repair it.

  Athena stared up at Zeus’s massive head with its wild red hair and curly beard as the principal filled the doorway. “Hi, Dad,” she said. “You wanted to see me?”

  “You bet I do!” he bellowed. “So what are you doing standing around out there jawing with Ms. Hydra?” He moved a few inches to let her inside. He was almost seven feet tall, with bulging muscles, so he towered over her like a giant as she squeezed past him into the room.

  Zeus shut the door behind them, and it swung crazily from its one good hinge, creaking. As usual, her dad’s office looked like a tornado had swept through it. Files, scrolls, maps, random pieces from an Olympusopoly board game, and empty bottles of Zeus juice were scattered everywhere. Half-dead plants perched atop dented file cabinets, and several chairs with scorch marks on their cushions sat tilted at odd angles, making the path through the office one big crazy maze.

  “Sit!” Zeus commanded as he crossed the room to the huge golden throne behind his desk. As he lowered himself into it, Athena dragged a green chair with a scalloped back to the other side of his desk. She had to empty the scrolls and O-racle-o cookie wrappers from it before she could sit, however.

  Then she pointed to several huge sheets of papyrus on top of Zeus’s desk. They were covered with sketches. “What are those?” she asked, leaning forward to get a closer look at what seemed to be designs for a new building of some sort.

  “Plans for a new temple,” Zeus said proudly. “The people of Olympia are going to dedicate it to little ol’ me! Naturally it’s being built to my specifications, so I’ve been gathering all the newest architectural ideas,” he went on with growing enthusiasm. He pointed to a stack of Temple Digest magazines piled up on the corner of his desk. The cover blurbs read:

  • CORINTHIAN, IONIC, OR DORIC? WHAT YOUR CHOICE OF COLUMNS SAYS ABOUT YOU

  • HOT NEW TRENDS: DECORATE YOUR TEMPLE WITH AWESOME MORTAL DEEDS

  • WOW YOUR WORSHIPPERS WITH WALL-TO-WALL MARBLE!

  “I tell you this temple is going to blow every other temple in Greece right out of the water!”

  “Impressive,” said Athena. “And congratulations!” She was surprised at how excited he was. It wasn’t like this was the first temple built in his honor. He was the biggest, baddest god of them all, so people on Earth practically fell all over themselves to win his favor.

  The flat, golden bracelets that encircled Zeus’s wrists flashed as he shoved the drawings and magazines onto the floor so he could prop his sandled feet on the desktop. “But enough chitchat. That’s not what I called you here to talk about today.”

  Warily, Athena sat back in her chair. “Is it about my studies? I’ve been getting all As, so I don’t see how—”

  Zeus waved away her concern. “Not at all. Your teachers have told me you’re doing brilliantly.”

  “Oh, good.” Athena felt her shoulders relax.

  Suddenly a funny look came into Zeus’s eyes. He thumped the side of his head with the palm of his meaty hand. Tiny thunderbolts shot out between his fingers, scorching the wall to the right of his desk, and setting his beard on fire. Zeus blew on his chest quickly to put out the flames. “Thanks a lot, Metis,” he grumbled, speaking to Athena’s mom, who was a fly inside his head. “I wish you could see what you just made me do! Okay, okay,” he said after a pause. “Don’t get your wings in a twist. I know it’s no picnic for you, being cooped up inside my head. Yes, I’m sure she understands, but I’ll tell her.”

  “Tell me what?” Athena asked. Having a fly as a mother was just plain weird. Plus she couldn’t even see her mom. Sometimes she wondered what it would be like to have a real mother, one who—besides looking a lot like her—could cook and sew and comfort her with hugs. Or at least talk to her!

  Zeus glanced at her. “Your mother says she’s sorry she can’t play a more active role in your life. She hopes you know she loves you just the same.”

  Athena gulped. Had Metis read her mind somehow? “Yes, I know,” she said guiltily.

  “Good,” said Zeus. “Now kindly buzz off.”

  Startled, Athena rose from her chair.

  “Not you!” Zeus said hastily. “I was speaking to your mother again.”

  “Oh!” Athena sat back down.

  Zeus’s big feet thumped to the floor, making everything in the room jump. He clasped his big hands together on top of his desk and leaned forward. “You must be wondering why I asked you here.”

  “Well, yes, actually,” she admitted.

  Her dad’s eyes strayed to the drawings he’d knocked aside for a moment, then his gaze returned to her. “I’ve invited a new boy to MOA,” he began.

  “You mean Heracles?” interrupted Athena. What could the new boy possibly have to do with her?

  Zeus nodded. “That’s the one.” He paused. “The thing is, he’s here on trial.”

  “On trial?” Athena repeated. What was that supposed to mean? And why was he telling her?

  “I’m giving the boy a week to prove himself,” Zeus said. “To find out if he truly belongs here.”

  “I see,” said Athena, but she didn’t. Why require this of Heracles when MOA’s previous new mortal student, Orion, had been admitted without trial? On the other hand, Orion had caused a lot of trouble at MOA, so maybe that’s why Zeus decided to change the rules.

  “Heracles has more brawn than brains,” Zeus confided bluntly. “And he’s hotheaded. At times he goes off like an out-of-control chariot that’s about to lose a wheel.”

  “Really?” Athena said. “You know that for sure?” Maybe her friends weren’t the only ones quick to judge the new boy.

  Zeus nodded grimly. “I have a report from his former school. Seems he and the music teacher had a run-in. Sour notes were exchanged. The long and short of it is that Heracles wound up smashing a lyre over the teacher’s head.”

  “Godness!” Athena exclaimed. She wondered why he was he telling her this. Did he want to warn her away from Heracles? If the boy was a problem at his other school, why had Zeus even invited him here? If she, like everyone else at school, weren’t just a little bit scared of her dad, she’d ask.

  “Here’s why I’m telling you all this,” Zeus said, as if he, too, could read her mind. “I want you to keep an eye on Heracles for me. Befriend him. Offer him some guidance.”

  Athena’s gray eyes widened. “What? Why me?” This wasn’t at all what she’d expected him to say.

  Zeus grinned at her, practically blinding her with his white teeth. “Who better than my favorite daughter in the whole wide universe? Besides, you are the goddessgirl of wisdom, right?”

  Ye gods. It was the second time in an hour that someone had reminded her of that! “Well, yeah,” she said uncertainly. Half of her was worried that she’d fail t
o live up to the title, but the other half felt flattered that Zeus had chosen her—that he thought she could help Heracles. She guessed he must not think there was any danger of a lyre getting smashed over her head.

  “Come on, Theeny,” Zeus wheedled. “Pretty please with nectar on top?”

  Athena smiled. How could she resist when he asked so nicely? And she did want to please him. “Okay,” she said. “I’ll do it.”

  “Excellent!” boomed Zeus. Jumping up from his throne, he reached over the desk, scooped her out of her chair, and gathered her up in a big bear hug.

  “Oompf,” said Athena, struggling to breathe. Electricity fizzled from his fingertips, zapping her.

  Finally he released her and plopped back down onto his throne. As Athena sat catching her breath, he reached for the temple designs and began to study them once more. “Um . . . are we done here?” she asked after a minute.

  Zeus glanced up, looking surprised to see that she was still there. “Oh, hi, Theeny. Did you want something?”

  “Um, no, I’ll just be going, I guess.” Standing, she began sidling out of the room. As she stepped over a stack of files, she accidentally flattened an empty can of Zapple. Crack! The sound must’ve drawn Zeus’s attention because when she was almost at the door, his head popped up over one of the file cabinets behind her.

  “One more thing,” he said, as she pushed the broken door aside.

  She looked over her shoulder at him. “Yes, sir?”

  “Don’t tell him I asked you to help him.”

  Her brows rose. “But—”

  “Oh, and one more thing,” he interrupted.

  “Yes?” she asked again.

  His piercing blue eyes bored into her gray ones as he gave her his King of the Gods, Ruler of the Heavens–look. “Don’t let me down,” he commanded.

  “Okay,” she said, because really, what else could she say? Then she skedaddled before he could come up with one more thing.

  Revenge-ology

  WHAT HAVE I GOTTEN MYSELF INTO NOW? Athena wondered as she left Zeus’s office. She started down the gleaming marble-tiled main hall, so busy thinking that she hardly noticed the beautiful golden fountains and murals illustrating the glorious deeds of gods and goddesses as she passed by them.