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After just being dropped on her backside by another novice, I let the hostility pass. I took my place across from her and ran through my options.
How do I defeat someone with such incredible speed? My true power let me go back in time—a cool one for someone who actually knew how to control it.
“Ready?”
The only way is to be clever in the millisecond I have before she’s upon me.Hunching down, I nodded. “Ready.”
I flung out my arms as she disappeared—swinging like a top.Be clev—
A hand seized my wrist. There was barely a chance to scream before Catherine sent me flying over her shoulder. I bounced off the limestone and landed smack on my back—dazed.
Sirena and her crew laughed uproariously. “What did you think you were doing, Sisyphean? Trying to swat her away like a buzzing fly?”
I pushed myself up and a blur streaked across my vision. I was flying through the air again to the tune of Sirena’s delicate, snotty laugh.
Catherine waited for me to be ready once, but all mercy was rescinded once she left her mark. I skidded across the limestone, tearing the sleeve off my shirt and groaning as a layer of skin went with it.
Clutching my shoulder, I gasped, “Please, give me... a minute.”
“The traps surrounding my prison won’t give you a minute. Get up. Learn. Win. Fight!”
I tried to rise and a kick in the stomach threw me to the sky. I collapsed—heaving and wheezing—and the threads appeared.
Swimming eyes widened, taking in the vast and endless world. Voices, people, and noise disappeared. There was nothing and no one in this place except for me... and the threads.
They were everywhere. Surrounding me on all sides. I couldn’t see where they began or ended. Reaching out, I touched one—
“Please, give me—”Wait. I’ve said this. I just did this. Which means—
I snapped my head around just as Catherine’s boot connected with my ribs for the second time.
I screamed, choking on pain. I used my power. I did it. And all I accomplished was getting my ass kicked twice.
This place was worse than the psychiatric hospital.
It was a nightmare.
Come on, Aella. Think of something clever. Think of something!
Flicker of movement out of the corner of my eye. Clenching my teeth, I swung my aching body around—sweeping my legs. Catherine appeared five feet from me, stumbling to a stop in front of Alexander.
“Almost, novice,” she said, flashing a grin. “You didn’t trip me, but you forced me to veer off course. A point in your favor that you can carry with you to Asphodel Meadows.”
Sirena’s giggling grated on my ears. Asphodel Meadows was the realm of hades dedicated to ordinary people who lived ordinary lives. There were worse places she could’ve sent me, so I didn’t take it personally.
“You’re done for the day,” Catherine continued. “We’ll pick this up tomorrow. But just know, that trick won’t work twice.”
I scraped myself off the ground, hugging my chest tight. My unwanted limestone back-scrubbing tore holes all throughout my tunic. I felt as exposed as Sirena after a shift.
And I’ll have to do this all over again tomorrow. And the day after that. And the day after that, until I defeat a woman who runs faster than I breathe.
“Gods, you’re pathetic.” Sirena crashed into my musing. “What are you even doing here? Deucalion is for warriors and heroes. Useless fucking weaklings like you can skip into the mundane dominion.”
I tripped over my feet.Does she—?
No,another voice said.She couldn’t possibly know. She’s just sending me to the worst place she can think of.
Straightening, I flashed Sirena a beaming smile. “Sirena, I just want to say, and I mean this from the bottom of my heart, go fuck yourself.”
