CHAPTER 24
We stood just inside the servant’s entrance, the hall splitting into two directions. Gray stains smudged the walls, as if there’d been a small fire.
I couldn’t move or speak for several seconds. “I can’t believe it!” I exclaimed. “That son of a—”
Soldiers poured into the entrance. Their camouflage uniforms were so noticeably mortal, but the armbands with Ares’ symbol were anything but mortal. Their guns were raised, and they were ready to fire.
Crap.
Throwing out my hands, I tapped into the element of air. Wind gusted in behind the soldiers. Their boots skidded over the tile floor. The guns shook in their hands. Seth got in on the game. A few soldiers went down. Guns misfired, and one by one, the weapons flew from their hands, sliding across the floors. The soldiers scrambled to their feet as the winds died down.
Can we let them go? I asked.
Seth shook his head and started forward, withdrawing his daggers. They’re under compulsion.
I wanted to argue, but the soldier closest to Seth engaged, swinging his arm out. There was a wicked-looking knife in his hand, the kind I imagined serial killers would covet. Anyone in their right mind would’ve run from us, but those under compulsion would fight to the death.
There was nothing we could do.
Seth dipped under the attacker’s arm and sprang up, slamming the hilt of one dagger into the back of a soldier while catching another in the chest. Vaulting over the body of the fallen soldier, I dipped down low and spun, taking the feet out from underneath another man. He sat up, impaling himself on the waiting dagger.
I pulled it free, the fleshy suction sound echoing in my head. Wincing, I ignored the stirrings of guilt and threw myself into the fray.
These soldiers were highly trained, no doubt strategically kept inside the Covenant to be the last line of defense if anyone made it inside. Rolling into a kick, I welcomed the sharp slice of pain, then sprang up, arcing the dagger to catch the soldier under the chin. Whipping around, I saw Seth grab one by the head and twist. The crack was lost in the punch thrown at me. I ducked, catching the attacker in the stomach.
Without any warning, my legs were taken out from under me with a brutal swipe, and my training kicked in. Allowing myself to fall, I twisted at the last second and rolled, bringing the soldier around so he was under me.
I saw his face for the briefest second. He was young—too young. Barely out of high school and with his whole life ahead him. A deeper pain, more intense than any kick or punch, sliced at my heart as I brought the dagger down on his chest, ending his life in seconds. Wet warmth hit my face.
Springing up, I breathed heavily as I wiped the back of my hand under my chin once and then twice. I didn’t want any of the boy’s blood on me. I turned as Seth caught the last soldier by the neck, slamming him into the floor with enough force to crack the tile, and the man’s spine. His last breath gurgled out a moment later.
Seth looked up, his eyes meeting mine. Standing slowly, he hooked his daggers to his thighs and then motioned me forward.
Keeping my eyes off the floor, I followed Seth into the hallway on the right. This close, the aether in us acted like a silent guide, pulling us to where Ares was located. We crept down the wide corridor, silent and watchful for any more surprise attacks. It was the same hall that Seth and I had run down once before, except this time it wasn’t littered with bodies. It was disturbingly empty, but there were scuff marks on the once-pristine floors and walls and patches of rust-colored stains every so many feet.
Seth saw me looking at the stains. “It was bad here, when Ares first occupied the Covenant. A lot of people put up a fight.”
I raised my gaze, wondering how Seth slept at night.
He seemed to read the question from my thoughts because he looked away, a muscle thrumming along his jaw. “I don’t sleep, Alex. Not very well or very long.”
Part of me wanted to say something reassuring to him, but what could I say? Who knew how many innocent people Seth had ended? And for what? I had no idea how he could atone for that. Or, if he ever found forgiveness in other people, would he ever find it in himself? Drawing in a shallow breath, I moved in front of him.
We’d taken a few steps when words echoed down the hall. Familiar ones.
I heard Perses’ deep voice taunting Ares, and I almost fell to my knees and started praising every god there was, maybe even a few random celebrities and fictional characters. The relief was that palpable.
He didn’t abandon us.
Seth gave a curt nod. I never thought he did.
I rolled my eyes. There was a moment when you did. Admit it.
Whatever.
Creeping closer, I stuck to the wall. They were in the ballroom, the very same one where I’d faced off against the furies and killed the pureblood.
How fitting, Seth remarked.
I shot him a death glare, and he grinned—that cocky, insufferably arrogant grin that had been absent for weeks. My lips twitched in response, but I focused. I was happy that Seth had found his mojo or whatever, but I really didn’t have time to pat him on the head.
Five doors, all open, lined the hall before the entry to the ballroom. Fingertips tingling, I peeked inside the first room. Nothing. I inched forward, resisting the urge to bum-rush down the hall.
“You can’t beat me, Olympian.” Perses’ voice stopped me for a second.
Ares laughed, but it sounded off. Rattled. “Need I remind you that it was I who wrapped the chains around your wrists?”
“Only with the help of your brethren,” Perses responded. “The very ones outside this wall, raging a war on your army. I doubt they will help you this time.” He paused. “You’re a fool, Ares. An arrogant fool. Make war for the pure bliss of it, but never make war in order to take control.”
What the what?
I glanced back at Seth, who shrugged. Why Perses had run off just to lecture Ares was beyond me. Apparently he wanted to get the last word in or something. With gods, it was anyone’s guess.
Now two doors away from the ballroom, I was a second from checking the room, when a Sentinel unexpectedly stepped out, startling me.
He opened his mouth, about to give away our location. I didn’t stop to think. Springing forward, I grabbed the dagger off my leg with one hand and placed my other over his mouth. Our eyes locked for a brief moment. His blue eyes were unfocused, hazy—a sign of a compulsion. Remorse pricked at my chest, but I slammed the dagger into his chest, above the heart, to the hilt.
Seth caught the body, easing it into the floor as I sheathed the dagger. He quickly surveyed the room and motioned me to continue. I stepped carefully around the body, inhaling deeply.
It had to be done, Seth said.
I know.
He glanced over his shoulder, eyebrow arched as if he didn’t believe me, and he was right. Killing a Sentinel under compulsion sucked as bad as killing the mortals who were under Ares’ control.
All right, I’ll tear myself apart about it later, but for right now, I’m fine.
That’s my girl.
I frowned. That’s twisted.
Letting Seth check the next room, I slid around him. My heart pumped fast. The ballroom was next. Somewhere, the imaginary clock stopped ticking.
Seth caught my hand, spinning me around and into an empty, dark room. He pressed me back against the wall, his breath warm against my forehead. Raising my free hand, I was about to punch him in the face when his voice in my head stopped me.
Do it. Transfer the power now.
I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t worried about this moment from the time Seth had suggested it. Even before it, when Apollo had said it was the only way, I’d worried. Seeing how Seth struggled with the allure, with the need that existed between us, I was prepared to knock Seth out and then transfer the power, if necessary.
He bent his head quickly, kissing my forehead. Do it, Alex.
Full of surprise, I hesitated as I stared into eyes that were identical to mine. I’m not going to fail you, he had said, and he hadn’t been lying.
Now, he said again, closing his eyes as he let go of me.
My hand trembled as I reached between us, gripping his right hand. “Θάρρος.” Courage.
A shock rippled across my hand and shot up my arm, followed by a wealth of warmth. Seth jerked, but remained there, his eyes closed. The tingling ended at my shoulder, and I felt it then, the collapse of fear in my chest replaced by fiery determination. This was right. I would not be stopped.
I cupped my hand around his right hand, squeezing it. “Δύναμη.”
Strength.
A tremble rocked Seth, and another jolt skittered up my right arm, faster than the one before. The warmth turned to heat, and it spread across my shoulder blades. My body hummed. A thousand little pulses hit my muscles, tearing them down and rebuilding them. I felt like I imagined Aiden did—he was the healthiest person I knew, since he lived off of granola, chicken, and working out.
I pulled up his shirt and placed his hand over the mark on his flat, hard stomach and whispered, “απόλυτη εξουσία.” Absolute power.
Seth gasped, and his eyes flew open. Their amber hue glowed vibrantly, locked onto mine like laser beams. The rush of pure power almost knocked me back against the wall. Every cell in my body fired up, and the marks on my skin burned.
“One more,” Seth said in a low, hoarse voice.
My entire body trembled as I reached up, cupping the back of his neck. “αήττητο.” Invincibility.
The air expelled from my lungs at the same moment it did from Seth’s, and then it happened. Static charged the room as the amber cord appeared around Seth’s upper arm. It spiraled down, entwining over his skin, reaching mine. The blue cord crackled, brighter and more intense than his. The two cords spun, overlapping, buzzing and spitting licks of blue and amber into the air. My hand fell from his neck, but otherwise I couldn’t move. Neither could he.
Inside of me, at the base of the cord, something shifted and pulsed. Behind my eyes, a blinding light burst into an array of vibrant colors, receding quickly.
Under my feet, the floor moved. My lungs seized as Seth’s head kicked back, the veins in his throat protruding. Afire lit me up from the inside, rushing through my veins at dizzying speeds. It burned sweetly, cool and hot at the same time. Power poured into my chest, causing my heart to sputter and then speed up.
Shadows danced over the walls as the cords flared, twisting and becoming one, turning into a brilliant, intense white. My other hand slipped away from him, and my arms rose at my sides as the marks on my skin seeped away and reappeared. The now-white cord pulsed once more and then snapped back toward me. Seth lowered his chin, his amber eyes shiny as he met my gaze, and then his gaze dropped.
My feet weren’t on the floor.
Nope.
I was floating again.
There was at least four feet between my shoes and the floor, and well, I felt damn good.
“Wow,” I said, grinning.
Seth’s throat worked. “Wow, indeed.”
Moving my hands in front of me, I watched the glyphs slide over my skin. The color seemed sharper.
You gonna come down from there? He reached up, catching my hand.
Strangely, the cord inside me didn’t jump. I willed myself down. How do you feel?
He cocked his head to the side. Okay. I don’t feel different, really.
Which meant he was probably still craving akasha, but at least he wasn’t hurt. For a moment there, it hadn’t looked fun for him.
How about you?
It was hard to describe—the power. I wanted to run straight into a wall because I was pretty sure I could take it on, but I didn’t feel uncontrollable since I wasn’t running into that wall. I feel…great. I feel…
There was no fear in my heart, at least not the paralyzing kind. The strength made my muscles twitchy, and I felt ready in a way I hadn’t before. Hours ago, I’d known I had to take on the God Killer power. I’d known I had to face Ares and destroy him, but had I really been ready? No. It had been something I knew I had to do—a duty.
Now I was truly ready.
I smiled up at Seth, my fingers curling into fists. “Let’s do this.”