AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Okay.” I took a deep breath and let it out slow. “I can do this. This isn’t even the hard part. I haven’t gotten to the Lethe bath yet. That’s where it gets serious.”
Dropping to my knees, I held the bloody charm out in front of me. It was difficult to think of it as anything else, even though I’d seen it in action. It looked like a cute keepsake given by a friend or someone you loved.
And now it’s going to do some good for someone I love.
Carefully, I placed the charm on the barrier.
Nothing happened.
“How long is this supposed to take? Are we totally sure this will work?” I asked. “All the books said only the witch who created the barrier—”
Craaack.
The barrier was nothing. No more than hardened air. Before my eyes, something thick, shiny, and glass-like appeared over the hole, and then it broke.
Quickly, I plucked up the charm and watched transfixed as spiderwebbing cracks snaked across the surface, and then disappeared.
Slowly, tentatively, I reached into the hole, and nothing pushed back.
The barrier was gone.
“Incredible. Once more I’m jealous and thankful stuff like this doesn’t exist in the mortal dominion. We would horrifically abuse these powers.”
“Jump.”
“What about the Lethe water?”
“We’ve discussed this,” she replied. “Lethe water should have no effect on you. You have mastery over the past, child of fate, nothing shall take it from you.”
“I wish there was a way to test it.”
“The waters of the River Lethe run through Hades. Such a thing cannot be found in some paltry little academy. You know the prophecy, girl. You succeed where all others fail. Trust, Aella Vanda, this is your destiny. Will you truly let some water get in your way?”
“No.” I swung my legs over the rim, letting them dangle. “Too long this nightmare has gone on. It ends tonight.”
I pressed off the rim, leaning forward, and—
“Aaaaghhhhh!”
I clapped my hands over my ears, my eyes popping under ear-piercing wails that tore through my eardrums.
“Look out!”
Wrenching to the side, I rolled out of the way as the sword struck the spot I was sitting in.
Ares roared. His stone face twisted in rage, he tore his feet off the plinth and towered over me, lifting his sword for another strike.
I screamed.
“—girl! Run away!”
Her shouts penetrated. Scrambling up, I shot toward the door.
Boom!
The sword struck the stone floor, and ripped through the mortar. They popped apart beneath my boots—launching me off my feet. Something flashed out of the corner of my eye. I crashed screaming onto stone, but it wasn’t the floor.
The statue’s hand closed around me, lifting me into the air. I huffed, puffed, wheezed, and shook as Aphrodite brought me eye to sightless eye.
