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Applause broke out, making me jerk in my seat.
“Well said, Alex.”
“Thank the gods for Alex.”
“He’s so right. If it’s possible, we must try.”
“Alex is so wise.”
“I love him.”
Disbelief crumpled my face at the Titans and Sisypheans cheering him alike—Sirena loudest of all. Two seconds before, they scoffed at the mere idea there could be an end to war. Now, they were looking at Alex like he was the chosen one, destined to bring peace.
“That’s a load of Stymphalian bird shit—to borrow a phrase.”
Everything stopped.
Sebastian leaned back in his seat, balancing on two legs.
Alex glanced his way. “Problem, Barba?”
“Why would I have a problem with you spouting trash you don’t actually believe? Peace between monsters and demigods?” Sebastian laughed. “Cirillo said it perfectly. Being clever enough to set a trap for prey doesn’t mean you’re capable of changing your nature.
“Owls conceal in the darkness, lie in wait for scurrying, scampering mice, but they’d no more stop tearing them apart than you council spawn will stop saying anything and everything to make us peasants believe you’re on our side. Working for our interests when in reality you’re always working for your own.”
I flicked to Alex—wide-eyed. What would he say in response?
A slow, bland smile stretched Alex’s lips. “I understand why you’d feel that way. There have been more than a few times that the council has held the needs of nobles above commoners. It’snot a history I’m proud of, so I’ll make you this deal, Barba,” he said. “In ten years’ time, we’ll come back to this very spot and compare my decade using my powers to both hunt down monsters that won’t change and lead the council in new reforms for education, wage, and equality... with your decade of hiding in whatever hole you’ve been in, whispering to your dead friends.
“We’ll see which one of us has done more for the people, and if by some miracle that’s you, I’ll surrender my seat to you on the spot. But until then, you can stop pretending like you know me.”
“Oooh,” someone crowed.
It was me.
I couldn’t help myself. Usually, when someone was beaten down like that, there was more cursing and bruising involved. Credit to Alex for needing neither.
The look on Sebastian’s face as applause sounded for Alex again was terrible.
“I know you, Damien.” Sebastian’s hiss halted Alex midturn. “Better than anyone and so much more than you’d like.”
Alexander didn’t respond.
“Well,” Madame Remis said, recapturing our attention. “Despite that odd turn we took at the end, an interesting point was brought up. Nature. Is it in the nature of monsters to hunt and kill demigods? Did your sister, Mr. Marinos, truly prove that violence isn’t an inherent part of sirens, or is what happened no different from how one domesticates an animal? A wild cat will scratch you. A house pet will not. This does not change the fact that it’s in the nature of cats... to scratch.”
“I think there are more monsters that could be reasoned with.” Marinos spoke louder, finding his voice. “I actually started studying this ever since the sirens spared us.” He flipped open his pack, rooting around inside. “Sphinx, for one. If we— Ow.
“Ahh. Ahhhh!” Marinos flew back, crashing to the ground.
His hand flew out of his pack—a tight fist clutching... what? I could almost see when bodies jumped in front of me, blocking my view rushing to him.
“Ahhh!”
“Step back. Get back!” Remis shoved everyone out of the way.
“Holy hell!” I cried, clapping my hand over my mouth.
Marinos’s skin peeled, bubbled, and blistered. He screamed his torment as he was boiled alive.
