Then he saw Hypnos. He was crumpled and broken; his golden ichor flowed from him, and his chest barely moved. One wing was torn halfway off, hanging by sinew and bone.
And Iliana—
He saw her in the rubble, arm outstretched, frozen with fear. Alive.
The relief lasted only a moment. A massive creature writhed amid the destruction, its body coated in slime and black blood. The floor sizzled and dissolved where the blood dripped. It was spewing toxic venom, a pale green stream arcing through the air directly toward Iliana. Before Anubis could move toward her, Hermes flashed in, scooping Iliana out of the destruction. The venom missed her by inches as he flew her away.
“Get her out of here!” Thanatos roared.
Iliana fought her rescuer, letting out a haunting cry. “Hypnos!”
Her scream splintered something in Anubis’ chest, but he forced himself to focus. Thanatos was already in motion, his wings fully extended, his sword drawn as he launched himself at the worm. Every instinct made Anubis want to put himself between Iliana and the threat. But Hypnos was hurt. And the worm still lived. If he didn’t kill it now, Iliana wouldn’t be safe.
Anubis flanked the beast, ignoring the venom that splashed onto his arm and burned straight through his skin. He bit back a snarl as he switched his blade to his left hand and struck low. The creature withdrew. Its black blood splattered across the remains of the yurt, and quickly ate away at whatever it touched.
“Do not touch its blood,” Anubis warned Thanatos.
Thanatos grunted, then cleaved the worm nearly in half. The beast collapsed, causing the ground to shake.
Hermes returned a moment later, dragging Hypnos from the debris. “I’ve already called Panacea.”
Anubis forced down the bile rising in his throat. Muscles and bones were visible on Hypnos’ cheek. His blood flowed heavily from the wounds on his back, chest, and legs. The venom had turned Hypnos’ veins black, causing the network to stand out on his pale skin.
He wasn’t healing as fast as he should have. And he was unconscious.
“If he does not get ambrosia soon…” Anubis began, his words ominous.
Thanatos crouched next to his twin, worry in his eyes. Anubis paced around the dead creature, his sword still drawn, and waited for another attack.
Hermes ran his fingers through his hair. “I think I’ll return to Iliana. I don’t want her getting too lonely in the cave.” While he sounded like his usual arrogant self, the strain around his eyes gave him away.
Panacea arrived, shooing Thanatos away from his brother. “I’ve got him.”
While she was tending to Hypnos, the ground shook, and two more worms shot out of the earth, smaller than the other but still dangerous.
“Shit,” Anubis cursed, switching his sword back to his dominant hand. Pain shot up his arm.
Hermes barely reacted. “This is getting repetitive.”
Anubis launched himself at the creature nearest Hermes, barely dodging the spray of black blood from Hermes’ sword as he decapitated the worm.
“Watch it,” he growled at the messenger.
Hermes winked before vanishing again.
Anubis moved to Panacea, leaving Thanatos to fight the other worm. “How is he?”
The healer had already counteracted the venom. She brushed her hair out of her eyes and answered. “He’s weakened until the ambrosia takes effect, but he’ll live.” She scanned the yurt as she got to her feet. “Where’s Iliana?” Concern and panic laced her question.
“She is safe. Hermes took her to Hypnos’ cave.” He watched the fight, seeing Thanatos dodge an acid spray. “Are you sticking around?”
She placed a hand on Anubis, drawing attention away from the action. Her powers soothed the acid burn on his arm, healing it without thought or hesitation. “I’ll wait around and see if the rest of you need more healing.”
After the last worm lay shuddering on the floor, Thanatos moved to his brother’s side. Hypnos groaned when he was helped to his feet.
“Are you okay?” Thanatos asked.
Anubis didn’t wait to hear his response. “We need to go.”
