This was a trap.
This entire time, it was a trap.
How could I have been so stupid?
I know why—because I was driven by my need for vengeance, by my need to avenge Landon and all the others who these twisted motherfuckers have harmed. A part of me always knew it was dangerous to come here tonight, but I’d overlooked the danger, choosing to believe that we’d be able to outsmart The Divine One.
The plan was supposed to be simple. Find Fischer. Convince him to help us. Grab The Divine One’s little black book. Destroy the organization. Take down The Divine One once and for all.
And now…
The Divine One stalks forward, her steps preternaturally quiet, and moves until she stands directly in front of me. Dominic begins to struggle in earnest, throwing his body from side to side. Another member of POP stands behind him,holding him still, though he simply throws his head back, cracking the asshole’s mask, though he doesn’t release him.
The Divine One ignores him and keeps her focus on me.
“Ellie.”
The air feels heavy, fear pressing on my chest. But I refuse to allow that emotion to show on my face. Not even for a second.
“Aria,” I greet her, smirking when she stumbles a little bit. It’s apparent she wasn’t aware that I knew the truth of her identity.
She gathers her composure quickly and brushes a hand down her robe before shifting her masked face toward the man behind me.
“You did good, Harvey. You’ll be rewarded.”
More guards have surrounded Dominic, pulling at his arms and waist. My golden god bares his teeth at his father, his features etched in fury.
“You’re going to fucking pay for this! I’m going to murder you—” Dom’s threat is interrupted by a guard placing his gloved hand over his mouth. The guard immediately drops it when Dom bites him.
Dom’s rat bastard of a father puffs out his chest, practically preening under her praise, ignoring Dominic completely.
“Blessed Divine One.” He lowers his head subserviently. “If I would’ve known that the goddess has been with us this entire time, that she has been right under my nose, I swear I would’ve?—”
“Silence.” The Divine One doesn’t yell the word, but then again, she doesn’t have to. Harvey stops babbling immediately, though he doesn’t yet lift his head. “You may leave us now.”
Harvey nods erratically. “Yes, of course.” He turns toward me, his voice taking on a reverent tone that makes revulsion slither across my skin. “Goddess.”
Is he being serious? He has to know that this is nothing but a ploy by The Divine One—one last attempt to get me under her control. She tried brainwashing me, recruiting me, and even selling me, but none of that worked. Now, she has played her final card, and it was one that none of us were expecting. We don’t have a solution for this.
My stomach attempts feebly to displace my lungs as I heft my chin imperiously in the air, turning from Harvey to focus on The Divine One—Aria—once more.
“What’s your plan here?” I ask her, my voice scathing and bitter. “You can’t seriously believe?—”
“Come. Let’s talk privately, goddess.” She pivots on her heel and moves toward a door located in the back corner of the ballroom.
What the hell is her plan?
Is she going to kill me? Sacrifice me? That won’t stop my guys. Nor my uncle, for that matter. They’re all hell-bent on taking her down. Does she think I’ll willingly join her and this organization if I don’t have a choice in the matter? Maybe, but that doesn’t feel right either. There’s something I’m missing, some piece of the puzzle I haven’t quite collected yet…
Thoughts form in my mind like chemicals mixing together, creating a toxin so pungent, so vile, it could obliterate entire populations in seconds.
“Ellie!” Dom growls, lunging for me. He must’ve broken free. Two masked men pull him back immediately, though that doesn’t stop him. He simply rocks his body from side to side, freeing one arm and throwing a punch at the bastard’s face.
“Stop the senseless fighting,” The Divine One says, having stopped a short distance away, the crowd around her parting like Moses in the Red Sea. “And bring the boy.”
No!I want to scream.Don’t!
Who knows what they’ll do to him?
