Текст книги "Face of Death"

Автор книги: Kelly Hashway

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Текущая страница: 16 (всего у книги 18 страниц)

Chapter 31

By the end, he was too weak to give me any more power, so I had to take it from him. I pulled those last traces of Ophi blood to me. I lowered to the ground with Chase. Alex supported his shoulders to keep him from slumping forward on me or accidentally breaking our connection. When it was over, I let go of Chase and nodded to Alex. He eased Chase’s body to the floor. I was proud of Alex for not just letting him fall in a heap. He must have found some sympathy for Chase after all.

“How do you feel?” he asked me.

“Amazing.” I felt guilty for saying it. I’d just taken Chase’s life, but his power was inside me, and I was ready to find Medusa.

“Lead the way.” Alex held his arm out, motioning for me to go first.

I walked out of the entryway and off to the left. That’s where I’d seen Persephone go earlier.

“It has to be around here somewhere.” We passed a few locked doors, but none of them seemed right. Hades loved Persephone, even if she didn’t love him in return. He’d give her the most beautiful room in the palace. We came to a door with a gorgeous, shiny embellishment. It was a swirly design that reflected the light in a way that almost looked like the sun. On instinct, I traced the design. It was an elaborate letter P. “This is it.” I raised my hand to knock.

“Wait! Are you just going to trust what Chase said? Hades could be in there.”

“I killed Chase. I owe him this.” I knocked.

Soft footsteps sounded on the other side of the door. I held my breath, and Alex and I exchanged a look while the doorknob turned. Persephone stared back at us, her long, white gown trailing behind her.

“Are you lost?”

“I don’t think so. We’re looking for Medusa.” I tried to peer around her into the room, but she was blocking my view.

“What do you want with her?”

“Honestly, I want to put her soul inside my body, so we can put your tyrant of a husband in his place.”

She smiled and raised an eyebrow. “Then come in.” She stepped aside, and I saw Medusa’s soul sitting on the edge of the bed.

I rushed to her. “Are you okay? Did he hurt you?”

“No, my child. I’m fine. Persephone has been a very gracious host.” Medusa looked comfortable, like she’d been visiting with an old friend instead of being held against her will. Even her snakes looked peaceful.

“Did they do something to you? You seem awfully calm.”

“Nothing of the sort. But I find Persephone to be very good company. For the moment, I’m almost content. And now that you’re here, I suspect we can move forward with our plan.”

I swallowed my guilt and told her about Chase.

“I suspected the prophecy about you two wasn’t what everyone thought. That it wasn’t even as Hades interpreted it. But this, I did not see.” She placed a hand on my shoulder. “You did the right thing. Do you not know that?”

“I do, but it doesn’t make me feel any better. I killed him.”

Persephone walked over to us with her arms crossed. “Hades was using that boy as a slave. It was awful. I don’t blame him for preferring death over that kind of existence. I’ll see to it that he is fairly judged and receives an afterlife that suits him.”

“You can do that?”

“Sweetie, I’m queen of the underworld. I can do whatever I want. Hades won’t go against me.”

A nervous giggle escaped my lips. “I don’t suppose you want to demand that he free us and leave us alone for good.”

“I rarely get involved in the lives of mortals. Souls are another story.”

“Fair enough. Thank you.” But I couldn’t help wondering if she wasn’t getting involved in our lives. “Why aren’t you with your mother? You don’t have to be down here now.”

“My father asked me to come.” Zeus? “He thought I’d be a good distraction. Hades didn’t question it. He was just happy to have extra time with me.”

“But why would you do that? You hate him.”

“Yes, but I’m not like him. I couldn’t stand how he attacked you. The judges weren’t wrong. You’re a good person, Jodi, human or Ophi. Just because Hades hates the Ophi doesn’t mean the other gods feel the same way.”

Not all the gods were against us? I couldn’t believe it.

“Jodi.” Alex tapped his wrist, even though he wasn’t wearing a watch. “We need to move a little quicker.”

“You must be trying to save your friends, the ones in Tartarus,” Persephone said.

“Yes.” I hated to ask, but I had to. “You don’t think you could buy us some time, do you? I’m not asking you to save us. I just need a little time to unite with Medusa before I—we—can go after him.”

She bit her bottom lip as she thought. “I might have an idea. Let me see what I can do.” She walked toward the door and then disappeared in a silver swirl of smoke.

I immediately turned to Medusa. “Ready?”

She stood. “Ready.”

I knew this would still be painful, even with Chase’s power inside me, but I also knew I could handle it. I wouldn’t let Chase’s death be in vain. I took a deep breath and called Medusa’s spirit to me. Like last time, she fought me as I brought her into my body. I didn’t want to be forceful, but the gentler I was, the more her soul fought.

“Jodi, you have the power in you. Use it,” Alex said. “I can tell you’re holding back. Medusa will understand, and you’ll end the pain for both of you sooner if you just get it over with.”

I hadn’t thought of it that way. I allowed the power to take over and shove Medusa’s soul inside me. It was like being suckerpunched by a giant. All the air escaped my lungs. I fell backward into the dresser, but I kept pushing her soul down. It wanted to find a way out—that or take over. I had to show it I was in control. I pushed it down, sandwiching it between my Ophi soul and my human soul. Finally, it settled in.

Alex reached for me as I pushed off the dresser and stood up tall. “Is she—?”

“Yes. I feel her.” Medusa had said she’d be able to hear my thoughts, so I spoke to her in my mind.

Medusa, are you okay? In any pain at all?

I’m fine. Thank you for making that as quick as possible.

Thank Alex for that. I was trying to do it slowly until he pointed out I was only causing us both more pain.

I’ll thank him later. For now, let’s go save the others.

“Let’s go.” I took Alex’s hand in mine. Part of me wanted to tell him to stay here. I might be all juiced up on the power of not one but three Ophi right now, but Alex was still himself. If Hades attacked him…

“I can handle myself, Jodi.” Damn him for knowing me so well.

“I know.” Total lie.

“Then quit gripping my hand so hard.”

I eased up as we passed the judges. They stared at us knowingly, but they didn’t say a word or try to stop us. Maybe they weren’t exactly happy with how Hades had been running things either.

I really wished I had a swirling cloud of silver or black smoke to carry us to Tartarus right then. Running was too slow. Hopefully Persephone had bought us the time we needed.

“What’s the plan? Run in there and…” Alex waited for an answer.

“Save the others. That’s as far as I got.”

You can stop Victoria’s group from torturing your friends. Medusa’s voice in my head made me jump. It wasn’t like when she appeared in my mind. I couldn’t see her at all. I only felt her presence, and when she spoke, it was like I was thinking in her voice.

What if Hades is there? I mean, he must be, right? He won’t stand there and do nothing while we save the others.

Medusa was silent, devising a plan. It was odd that I couldn’t hear her thoughts. We were nearing the entrance to Tartarus, and she still hadn’t said a word.

Medusa, do you have a plan? What do we do about Hades?

Still nothing. I stopped running and looked down at my body. I hadn’t felt Medusa leave me. She must still be inside my body, but why couldn’t I sense her?

“What’s wrong?” Alex reached for my arm. “Did something happen?”

“I don’t know. I can’t hear Medusa in my mind anymore. I’m not sure she’s still here.”

“Have you tried calling to her?”

I raised an eyebrow. Of course I’d tried that.

“Do you think her soul escaped?”

“I didn’t feel anything. I would know if it had, wouldn’t I?”

Alex shrugged. “I’ve never had another soul sharing my body, so I have no clue what that would feel like.”

“I can’t go in there without her. Even with Chase’s power, I won’t be strong enough.”

“You don’t know that, and we can’t just stand here while the others are in there suffering.”

“What if I fail?” I couldn’t bear the thought, not after all I’d gone through to get here.

“Then we’ll figure something else out.”

I stepped forward, determined to do something—even something stupid—but my head swam with shrieks and screams. I pressed my palms to my ears to block them out, but that didn’t help. “Ahh!”

“Jodi!” Alex grabbed me by my arms before I fell to the ground. “What is it? What’s happening?”

I could barely hear him over the screams. “I don’t know. The screams, they’re awful. So much pain.”

I’m sorry, Jodi. I tried to focus on their pain to block it from you, but there’s too much. I couldn’t shield you from it all.

Medusa was back—or really, she’d never left.

You mean there’s more? You’re experiencing some of this, too?

Yes. I tried to take it all so you could focus better on stopping Victoria and her followers, but I couldn’t hold it all.

How was I supposed to save everyone with this mind-numbing shrieking in my head?

“Hey, can you hear me?” Alex asked, gently touching my cheek.

“Yeah, sorry. Medusa, she’s back.” I struggled to form sentences with everything going on inside my head.

“That’s good, right?”

“Yes, but she can hear the screams, too. They’re hindering both of us. I don’t know if we’ll be strong enough to push through them.”

Alex lifted my chin, raising my eyes to his. “Listen to me. I know how strong you are. You were able to block the sounds of the tortured souls from your mind when you learned to raise them. Remember?”

Yes. When I’d first arrived at the school, I’d felt every emotion and physical pain the souls went through when I raised them. I’d learned to block that out. I’d have to do the same now. “But this is so much more than one soul. It’s all our friends, Alex.”

“Then you have even more reason to do this.” I’d always wondered how Alex could go from caring to serious and disciplined so quickly, but now I was grateful for it. He was keeping me grounded, pushing me to do what I had to.

Medusa, are you ready?

Ready when you are.

Then we’re going in.

I nodded to Alex, and he kissed my cheek. I closed my eyes and pushed the pain and screams out of my head. I forced them away. Once I could think straight again, I stepped into Tartarus. I kept myself positioned in front of Alex, hoping he wouldn’t notice that I was acting as an Ophi shield. Alex’s hands flew to his ears as we got closer to the others. The screams were eardrum-shattering.

His face scrunched up in pain. “That was in your head?”

“Not so easy to tune out, but I’m doing all right.”

I heard Hades’ laughter echoing off the walls. He was enjoying every moment of this. I wasn’t surprised. If only Medusa and I were strong enough to overthrow a god. I would’ve loved to torture him for the rest of eternity. Hades stood in the middle of the group. All my friends were on the ground, writhing in pain. Smoke was actually coming from their mouths, eyes, and ears. They were burning from the inside out.

Don’t focus on Hades, Medusa said. Go for Victoria and the others doing the torturing.

Easier said than done. My blood was boiling, more than it ever had before. My skin was taking on a reddish tone, and it shimmered.

Alex pointed to my arms. “What’s happening to you?”

Tell him not to touch you. You’ll burn him.

“Don’t touch me. My blood is making me hotter than fire right now.”

“Can you handle all this power?”

“We’re about to find out.” I reached my hands forward in Victoria’s direction. I wanted to take her down first. She’d pretended to be like a mother to me. She’d lied to me and stolen Medusa’s locket from my room. She’d ruined Alex’s life and treated him like a worthless stranger. I let my hatred for her fuel me.

I’m with you, Jodi. Simply command your blood to reach her soul.

But she’s alive. I can only reach souls of the dead.

All you need is to touch her. Your power will take her down instantly.

How do I get to her without alerting the others that Alex and I are here? The only thing I could think of was charging at her like a linebacker. Did linebackers charge?

The element of surprise is never a bad thing. Try commanding some souls first. Get them to attack Victoria and bring her down. Then you can charge her like you just pictured. Of course she could read my mind. Hers was a mystery to me, but being Medusa and having her blood in my veins gave her access to all my thoughts.

Got it. I focused on reaching out to the other tortured souls in Tartarus. I commanded them to listen to me alone, to disconnect from the pain they were feeling and come to me. One by one, they stood and walked toward me. Bristol was the first to notice them—and me. She met my eyes, and a small glimmer of hope flashed across her face. She pretended everything was as it should be, and I realized she wasn’t torturing Amber or anyone else. She was faking the entire thing. Tony was on the ground like the others, but he wasn’t in pain.

We will save her, too, Medusa said. She’s worth saving.

Yes, she was, and I hoped that, once I started attacking Victoria and her followers, Bristol and Tony would do what they could to help.

The souls were getting closer and drawing everyone’s attention. Abby turned first, doing a double take. Then Hades narrowed his eyes. He didn’t turn toward the souls, though. He was searching—for me. He knew I was here.

“Come here, Jodi Marshall.” A smile crossed his lips. “Let me see you. I’m sure we can find a place for you among your friends.”

I stayed in the shadows until the souls reached Victoria, who had stopped torturing Arianna and was backing away. She tried commanding them, but they wouldn’t listen. They were obeying me alone.

Hades flung his arm out to the side, sending the souls flying into the black abyss behind them. So much for taking out Victoria. I was on my own.

Chapter 32

Now what? I may have had the power of three Ophi inside me, but I was up against Hades and a bunch of pissed-off Ophi who would love to see me dead.

Hades laughed. “Is that the best you can do?”

Alex stared at me, waiting for my next move.

Now what, Medusa?

I have to make my presence known.

You want to talk to Hades? He didn’t seem like he was in a talking mood. More like a “rip-the-head-off-the-Ophi” mood.

No, I want to show him what we can do. Go for Victoria.

Football-player tactics—that was what we were left with. I felt my body temperature lower and my blood calm, like it was preparing for the biggest battle of all. “Stay here,” I told Alex. “This is going to be crazy, and I need you playing backup, okay?”

“You mean you want me staying out of harm’s way.”

Exactly, but his male ego wouldn’t be able to handle that. “If I fail, our hope rests on you. That’s hardly staying out of harm’s way.”

He grabbed the back of my head and pressed his lips to mine. “Just don’t die, okay?” It was his attempt to lighten the mood.

“What do you think, mac and cheese for dinner?”

“Nah, I’m swearing off the stuff.” His eyes fell on Victoria. “I don’t need any reminders of her.”

I placed my hand on his chest. “Wish me luck.” Without waiting, I turned and sprinted toward Victoria. She saw me and tried to move out of the way, but I had youth on my side. Not that she was that old. I bet she wished she was my mom’s age right then, though. I pressed my left hand to her throat and sent a jolt of poison her way. She fell backward onto the ground, and I went down with her, not wanting to break the connection. After about five seconds, she was unconscious. I stood up and looked around. Everyone was watching me. Hades could’ve stopped me, but he stared, and I couldn’t help wondering if he wanted to see just what I was capable of. For once, I didn’t want to disappoint him.

I lunged at Troy next. “This is for killing your own son, you bastard.” I went for his neck too, but he slapped my arm away. He fought me, swinging his arms and landing a punch to my stomach. I felt Medusa’s soul recoil, but not in fear. She was angry. My blood boiled, bubbling under my skin. Now, it was her anger making me burning hot. I smiled at Troy for a second. He gritted his teeth and swung at me again. This time, I grabbed his wrist. He cried out in pain as my touch burned his skin. Smoke sizzled under my hand.

“You think that’s bad?” I asked him. “Try this.” I sent poison to him in such a concentrated dose that he went down immediately. I turned to see Tony trying to gather everyone, probably preparing to escape.

Hades smirked and raised an eyebrow. “Interesting. I have to say those two were becoming my favorites. They really threw themselves into their work here.”

“Yeah, well, that’s because they’re sadistic—” I stopped, realizing Alex could hear every word I said. Sure he hated them, but they were his parents. He didn’t need me announcing my true thoughts about them right now.

“Go on.” Hades laced his fingers in front of him.

“Gladly.” I walked over to Abby, ready to take her down next, but Arianna looked up at me.

“Jodi, she’s my daughter.” It was the first time Arianna had spoken that way about Abby. Every time the subject had come up before, Arianna just seemed disappointed and even ashamed of the Ophi Abby had become. But she still loved her daughter—still wished Abby would change.

Abby’s eyes widened, and she swallowed hard, not because she was afraid of what I’d do to her but because she was touched that Arianna wanted to protect her.

“See that human weakness?” Hades said. “That’s why you never should’ve returned your human soul to your body. You’d be better off without it.”

I turned to him, stepping closer and challenging him to stop me. I was definitely more confident with Medusa’s soul inside me. “You know, there was a time when I thought you were right. But both of us couldn’t have been more wrong. Emotions fuel our power. My human emotions are purer than my Ophi ones. They give my power something extra. I need my human soul.”

Hades laughed. “You think I didn’t know that?” He crossed his arms. “You forget, knowing souls is my business. Why do you think I wanted your human soul so badly? If it was in Tartarus or even the Fields of Asphodel, you wouldn’t have been able to access those emotions. You would’ve been weaker.”

Damn it! When was I going to stop underestimating this guy? “Then I guess you know what else I’ve done.” I looked around for Persephone, realizing for the first time that she wasn’t here. She’d said she was going to help buy me some time while I brought Medusa’s soul into my body. Had she set me up? Had she warned Hades I was coming and left?

“Looking for someone?” Hades smiled, but it quickly faded. “I sent her away.”

“You sent your wife away? Why?”

“I think you know the answer to that.”

Because she’d helped me. Because Hades realized that Persephone was more than willing to stab him in the back.

“I’ll have to remember to thank her when I see her again.”

“You won’t ever see her again. I’ll see to that. Your soul will stay in Tartarus forever.”

“No, it won’t.” I stepped closer to him and stared into his eyes. “I saw the way you watched what I did to Victoria and Troy. That was actually a trick Chase taught me, and believe it or not, he helped me with it this time, too.”

“Chase.” Hades balled his fists. “I’m going to—” He lifted his head in the air. “He’s dead? How?” Hades’ eyes lowered to me again, but he still wasn’t really seeing me. Anger clouded his vision.

“He’s with the judges. They’re going to see to it that he receives the afterlife he deserves.” Whatever that may be, I still wasn’t sure, and I didn’t think I really wanted to know.

“You killed him?” Hades cocked his head to the side. “You hated him that much?”

“No, he asked me to take his powers. He didn’t want to be your puppet anymore.”

“So you forgave him for everything? You’re dumber than you look.”

“I didn’t forgive him for everything. I’m not naïve enough to think he was innocent in all of this. He played his part. But he didn’t deserve to suffer for all eternity as your puppet either, and I needed his power.”

“Why? You think, now that you have his power, you’re strong enough to defeat me?”

“No, I needed his power for another reason.” I moved even closer, and Hades narrowed his eyes, unsure of why I kept invading his personal space. “Look at me. Really look at me.”

Hades’ lips started to curl into a smile. I knew he was thinking he’d burn me with his stare.

I rolled my eyes. “If you do that, you’ll miss what I’m trying to show you, and believe me, you’re going to want to see it.”

He sighed, blowing his hot breath right in my face. If he wasn’t so freaking hot—like underwear-model hot—I would’ve been totally grossed out. He lowered his head so we were almost at eye level.

Get ready, Medusa. He’ll be able to see you inside me.

I’ll be sure to smile. It was the first time I’d heard her crack a joke, and the fact that it was coming now when we were standing off against Hades just made it that much funnier.

“What?” Hades jerked his head back. At first I thought he was questioning how I’d gotten Medusa’s soul inside me, but then I realized I was laughing. “Is something amusing to you?”

“Sorry. You’ll see what it is in a minute.” I tried to keep my composure, but truthfully, Medusa’s humor was keeping me from losing it and crumpling in front of Hades.

He leaned forward again, slower this time, making sure I wasn’t about to burst out laughing again or try anything else, either. I held perfectly still. He needed to see this. Otherwise he wouldn’t fear me, and then we’d all be screwed.

Recognition flashed across his face. “Medusa?” His voice was soft and low. He stood up and whirled around. “Persephone!” His voice shook the entire underworld, and everyone covered their ears. I was the only one still standing—other than Hades.

We all waited, but Persephone didn’t come. Hades screamed her name over and over again. It was kind of pathetic. Here he was, the king of the underworld, and Persephone was really the one calling the shots. And she didn’t answer to him. My mouth curved into a smile. I thought about how much time had passed since we’d come here.

“She’s gone,” I said.

Hades whirled around. “What did you do with her?” He grabbed the front of my shirt, and Alex was by my side in seconds.

“Let go of her!”

“Alex, stay back. He’s not hurting me.” Yet.

Alex’s chest heaved, and he didn’t move away.

“Boy, I could kill you with one flick of my finger. Don’t be an idiot.”

“Alex, please!” I pleaded with him. I couldn’t lose him now. We were so close to getting the hell out of here. “For me.”

Alex met my eyes and stepped back.

“Smart move,” Hades said. “Although taking orders from a girl is so—”

“Like what you do with Persephone.” The words tumbled out of my mouth.

Jodi, now is not the time to anger Hades, Medusa said.

I hadn’t meant to say it out loud.

Hades let go of my shirt and raised his hand to me.

“She’s gone, you know. Persephone. You thought she’d come back because she was developing feelings for you, but you were wrong. She played you, and she won’t be back until fall, when you force her to be here.”

Hades let out a sound that was almost a roar. His hands burst into flames.

“See what dealing with us has done to you. It’s not worth it.”

“You’re right.” Hades calmed. The flames disappeared. “You’ve just given me all the reason I could ever need to end your lives right now.”

No! That wasn’t my point at all!

Hades looked around. “As much as I’d love to start with you, Jodi Marshall, I think I’ll save you for last. I want you to watch your friends die. I want you to witness their pain. I want to see you suffer.”

Medusa, what do we do?

Before she could answer, Hades disappeared. That wasn’t what I was expecting. We looked around, trying to find him before he snuck up on us. Alex reached for my hand. I squeezed it. If this was the end, I wanted to be with him.

Even Victoria and Troy’s followers looked scared. They may not have been with us right now, but they were still Ophi. And now that Victoria and Troy were unconscious on the ground, they had no one to protect them—not that Victoria or Troy would sacrifice their own lives to save anyone else.

He’s toying with you all, Jodi. He’ll go for the easiest target first. I was so on edge wondering where Hades was and when he’d pop out that I jumped at the sound of Medusa’s voice in my head.

Why? He has the element of surprise. He could take down any one of us.

He could, but he won’t. He’ll start small and make each death worse until he gets to you.

“Anyone see him?” I asked.

Everyone shook their heads, even Abby. Look who was suddenly jumping the Hades ship. If she wasn’t Arianna’s daughter, I’d have taken her down by then.

Medusa, who is the weakest one here?

I think you already know.

McKenzie? She was the sweetest girl I’d ever met, but she wasn’t exactly helpless. Her powers had been coming along before we got here. Leticia? She’d still been struggling to get hold of her Ophi abilities. It must be her. I walked over to Leticia, still on the ground by Quinn. He’d hurt her so much, Tony hadn’t been able to get her up. I remembered how much I’d hated training with Quinn. He couldn’t stand any weakness. No wonder he’d chosen to punish Leticia.

Alex let go of my hand, but he stayed no more than two feet away from me. He even bent down to Leticia with me. “Stay by me, okay, Leticia?”

She looked around, and the color drained from her face. “You think he’s coming for me first?”

I couldn’t lie to her. “Yes, but I’m here and so is Alex. We’ll protect you.”

She nodded, but her lip trembled. I helped her to her feet, and Alex stood on the other side of her. We were shielding her with our bodies. I turned around, keeping my back to Leticia, and Alex did the same.

“Eyes open, everyone. Yell the second you see anything.” I was leading again, and this time, it felt right.

“We’re not going to see him until he’s right on top of us,” Jared said. “The best we can hope for is to scream, but most likely, it will just be the agonizing cry of the life leaving our bodies.”

I shook my head. As much as that was probably true, I had to hope Medusa and I could stop Hades before he killed anyone. Hope was all I had right then.

It was silent for a moment, and then I heard Hades laugh. He appeared right behind Jared and waved at me. I lunged for them, but Hades touched his finger to Jared’s shoulder. Jared’s eyes rolled back, and he slumped to the ground.

He was dead.