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“Get the fuck out of my house,” I hissed through gritted teeth, not knowing what else to say to him. I had to go see her. I was pissed he didn’t seek us out earlier, but in the back of my mind, I reminded myself Hades probably used the time with her to grieve, to have alone time with Elyse while she recovered. The thought didn’t ease the burning fire in my chest.
He lowered his gaze and sauntered out of my house as if nothing was wrong. As if nothing had ever been wrong. The son of a bitch had to stay out of my way if he wanted me to be civil toward him at all. Because there was no way I’d able to hold back a second time. Sure, he cared for Elyse, but it pissed me off that he acted so nonchalant when Elyse’s life was in peril. And he should make it his mission to eradicate X but didn’t.
I left the house immediately after Hades did and transported to Elyse’s place. As soon as I knew she was all right, I’d check in on Ares and Poseidon.
Heracles arrived at the same time as me.
“Elyse died,” I said.
He nodded.
“How did you know?” I asked.
“I was visiting Zeus. He told me. So, I came straight here to check on her.”
I told him about X trapping me and the other two. But I was furious as to why the fuck Heracles hadn’t told any of us about Elyse right away either. A burning blaze tore through me. Together, Heracles and I hurried toward Elyse’s front door. We didn’t bother knocking; we just reappeared inside.
Elyse wasn’t in the living room. Heracles rushed to the bedroom with me on his heels. Elyse lay on her bed sleeping. She wasn’t dead anymore; she was breathing.
“She’s awake already.” Heracles pointed out the obvious. “Zeus said the third death would bring her back fast, but this is incredible.”
“Nice to know it’s entertaining you.” I sat on the edge of the bed and ran my fingers through her hair, not caring how long it took her to reawaken, just that she was alive. The strands were still matted with blood. I didn’t even want to think about how she’d died. It looked as if it’d been painful.
“Hey, Elyse,” I said softly.
Her eyes rolled behind her eyelids, and her face looked younger in a way, but she didn’t wake up yet. I went on stroking her hair, gently nudging her until her eyes fluttered open. She looked as if she didn’t want to come back to reality.
“Are you okay, sweetheart?” I asked, my heart aching at finding her in this state.
She looked from me to Heracles. “Where were you?” she croaked.
“I came here as soon as I heard about your death from my father. Apollo didn’t know,” Heracles explained.
“Hades just told me,” I added.
Elyse touched her temple while closing her eyes for a brief moment.
“Do you want to talk about it?” I probed.
Elyse looked at me, and her voice wavered. “Oh, Apollo,” she whispered, and her eyes filled with tears.
In all the time I’d known her, I couldn’t remember ever seeing her so lost. I collected her in my arms and held her against me while she fell apart. She’d always been incredibly strong, but today she was still just a human. And she’d been through so much. Not just for the sake of the other humans, but in part for all our sakes as well.
Heracles came closer and hugged Elyse also. I let her go long enough for him to embrace and hold her. He’d trained her from a young age and watching her in such pain, losing life after life, would have to be difficult.
“You’re going to be okay,” he said. Then he looked at me. “Take care of her. I need to go talk to our dad again.”
My mouth opened to ask him what he was seeing Zeus about, and if it was related to the shitstorm X was causing, but he’d disappeared. Elyse curled her body against mine again, shuddering. I held her as she cried, trying to shake everything that had happened.
“I don’t know how I’m going to do this anymore,” she finally admitted, her voice thick with tears. “I don’t think I’m the right person for the job. Zeus chose wrong.”
I shook my head. “Zeus doesn’t make mistakes,” I reminded her. “And I’m sure after Heracles goes to speak to him, he’ll come back and tell you the same thing. You’re a warrior, stronger than anyone I’ve ever seen before. And that includes us immortals.”
She kept her head against my chest. She didn’t believe me. And I understood why. She’d been to hell and back three times already.
“How am I going to save her?” Elyse wondered, and she was talking about Catina. X still had the human girl. He’d taunted Elyse, and the fucker needed to be stopped.
“We’ll do it together,” I said, holding her tight, wanting more than anything to scoop her into my arms and take her to a place no one could find her again. A place I knew didn’t exist, but if it did, I’d whisk her away in a heartbeat. She didn’t deserve everything happening to her.
