Chapter Thirty
Blood soaks Draven’s shirt around the wound. Someone screams and I’m not sure if it’s in pain or anger. Draven is going to die if we can’t get to him.
“The elixir, Beth. The elixir can still save him if we hurry.” Thad shakes me and it takes me a moment to realize I was the one screaming.
“We have to get to him, now.” My voice is a hoarse whisper.
Despite everything we’ve been through and everything he’s done, Draven has become a friend, and I won’t let him die if I can save him.
“What about the hydra?” Jayden asks.
“Hell fire, Jayden. That should keep the wounds cauterized long enough to kill the beast.” I glance back at Draven; every second we waste is a second he could die. “I have to get the elixir to Draven. It’s his only hope.”
“I don’t want you wading through monsters on your own.” Jayden pulls me into him.
“I’ve got her, Jayden,” Thad says. “You two are the only ones who have the means to kill that thing and she has the elixir.”
Kira’s scream is bloodcurdling as she stares at Draven in the doorway. I teleport to her across the field and plant my hands on her shoulders. She stares right through me, not seeing me.
“I can save him, but I need you to snap out of it and fight.” I grip her tighter.
Kira blinks at me and nods, pulling something mechanical from her pocket.
“Let’s do this.” She rolls her shoulders back.
We wade through the monsters, the metal thing in Kira’s hand glowing with her magic transforms to a sword as she hacks at the monsters in her way. It’s taking too long though, and a frustrated grunt escapes as I slash my glowing blade through more fog. A shriek fills the air and then more ash coats my body as the fog recedes just barely.
There are too many of them, but no matter how hard I try to teleport us to Draven, something is blocking me from getting us close to him. “I can’t get to him. I think it’s the caduceus blocking me from getting close.”
“We can get to him. We have to get to him,” Kira growls.
Touching the charm for Ares, I stow my sword in the ether and let electricity flow from my hand instead. It blasts out of my fingers into the fog and cries fill the air as the foggy mist finally clears. We’re only fifty feet from the entrance when Pelops steps in my path.
“Here, Kira.” I toss my medical pack to her and call my sword again. “You’re looking for a fight instead of just stabbing people in the back?”
“Hera will reward me for bringing her your head.” He brandishes a sword and a spear.
“You see? I keep hearing that, but my head is still firmly attached to my shoulders.” I glance at Kira. “Go, I’ve got this.”
Kira nods and jogs off, slashing at demons and lizard things as they attack her.
“You can’t save him or his father from the inevitable,” Pelops says.
“I can and I will. The queen won’t win.” I flip my hair over my shoulder.
“You refuse to even say her name for fear that she will appear from Olympus.” Pelops laughs.
I keep an eye on Kira’s progress from my peripheral. She crashes to her knees next to him, holding his head in her hands. She needs a shield, but Pelops has my full attention.
“I’m not afraid,” I snarl. “I just don’t want her knowing my plans.”
“She’s always known your plans.” Pelops swings his sword at me.
I block the jab at the same time I leap over the swearing spear aimed for my ankles. He’s acting like I’m an amateur or something and it’s insulting.
“Go ahead and underestimate me. She’s always known? So was it her plan to lose to me every single time?” I ask, swiping my blade out. When he blocks, I flick my whip so the crackling lightning wraps around his leg.
Pelops screams and lunges forward, his sword narrowly missing my side as I yank at his leg trapped in my grip and he falls on his back. He throws his spear like a javelin. Searing heat grips my shoulder as the spear stabs through muscle and bone, sticking out the back.
