Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 83786 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 419(@200wpm)___ 335(@250wpm)___ 279(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83786 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 419(@200wpm)___ 335(@250wpm)___ 279(@300wpm)
18
Zeus
“There are reports of gunshots on the River Styx.”
I look up from the bag I’m currently throwing things into in preparation for a quick trip out to the countryside. Poseidon’s warning from yesterday still rings true in my head. He’s right about Circe being three steps ahead of us this whole time, which means he might be right about her doing something in the mountains. I intend to go out there with my sister and see for myself.
It takes several long moments before Ares’s words penetrate. “What did you say?”
“Gunshots.” She looks a little too freaked out for it to be a generic shooting. She keeps glancing at her phone, which beeps with a spattering of incoming text messages. “Oh, fuck. Perseus…”
I go cold. “Tell me.”
Ares looks up, her hazel eyes too wide. “There are four people injured and being rushed to the hospital.” I actually take a step toward her as she sputters. “Two are Hades’s people. Persephone is there, too.”
What the fuck was Persephone doing on our side of the river? I’m already heading for the door. “I’m going to call Hades on the way to the hospital. We can’t have him rampaging through the upper city. We’ll stand guard over her until he arrives and I’ll do my best to minimize the chance of this spiraling.”
“Perseus.”
I glance over my shoulder to find my sister ghost pale. “What?”
“There were four victims.” She clears her throat. “The fourth person is Hera.”
My thoughts fall to perfect silence. Hera has been shot. Callisto has been shot. My fucking wife has been shot.
“I want Patroclus and Achilles on this personally,” I say softly. Calm. I’m too fucking calm. It feels like there’s a barrier between me and the rest of the world, but it’s just as well because I can barely control the hurricane of emotions threatening to split through my skin. “Tell them to find whoever did this and bring me their head. You and I are going to the hospital now.”
To Ares’s credit, she doesn’t even try to argue that we had different plans for the day or that Circe is likely behind this attack and using it to distract me and Hades. She simply follows me to the parking garage. When I head for the driver’s side, she plucks the keys out of my hands. “I’ll drive while you make your calls.”
The first person I call is Hades. I barely let him answer the phone before I cut in. “There was an incident on the banks of the River Styx involving both of our wives and two of your people. I don’t have the full details of what happened, but they are alive and being rushed to the hospital. I’m heading there with Ares right now to provide personal security. I highly suggest you make your way there as well. I’ll let the hospital staff know to let you through.”
His shocked inhale is the only external reaction he allows. “I’ll be there as soon as possible.” Hades hangs up before I can say anything else, which is just as well. I have nothing else to say. This happened on my side of the river; therefore it’s my responsibility. I’m not certain why Persephone was here in the first place, let alone what my wife was planning that brought her here, but that matters less than the reality. They were here. They were shot on my watch.
Helen dials her phone and puts it on speaker. A small courtesy I would appreciate if I could appreciate anything in this moment. Achilles’s charming voice answers. “Hey, princess. I thought you were headed out to the country with—”
“We have reports of shots fired and four victims. No deaths to my knowledge, but Hera and Persephone were both among those injured.”
Instantly, all flirtation is gone from his tone. “Why am I just hearing about this now?”
“Because of the people involved, the reporting security force called me instead of going up the proper chain of command. It was the right thing to do.” She glances at me and then returns her attention to the road, flying through a yellow light in the process of turning red. “I need you and Patroclus to go over the site with a fine-tooth comb to figure out what the fuck happened. I want the gunman, Achilles.”
There’s movement on his side of the line: he’s obviously already in the process of obeying her orders. “We’ll get the information, princess. And then we’ll bring you their head on a platter.”
“Thank you.” She swallows hard. “Be careful and keep me updated.”
“Always do.”
She hangs up and shoves the phone into the pocket of her jacket. “We’re almost there. Just hold on for a few more minutes.”
I am holding on. I think. There is a yawning emptiness inside me, deep and dark and ready to devour. This fucking city. It demands its price in blood again and again, never satisfied. And for fucking what? The thankless task of ruling?