Page 224 of The Games Gods Play
I’m on the ground, coughing up blood. The metallic taste of it in my mouth is the only thing that seems real. I don’t even feel the pain yet.
Vaguely, I’m aware that the blast knocked me into Cerberus. My constricting throat makes every tortured breath an agony. I don’t have to look at my stomach to know it’s bad. Hands over my belly, I can feel the wide gash, the blood surging out of me with every pump of my heart—too fast. I’m losing too much blood. Weakness and heaviness invade my limbs and slow my mind.
Hades. Where are you?
“Lyra…”
Cerberus.
“I’m…still…here,” I manage to whisper. I think I do. I’m not sure if my voice is working.
I’m still clutching the pearl. I close my eyes, scrunching them hard. I’m dead. I already know it, but maybe I can help him before I go. Even the Styx can’t heal me from this one. Not fast enough. Not without more of Hades’ blood first, and we don’t have time for that.
Cer noses at me weakly, then falls back. And that’s when I shove the pearl in his mouth, my hand coming away covered in thick, sticky drool. “Think of the Styx.”
“No—”
But he’s already gone.
I go limp on the ground. That took everything I had left. Now…I’m just going to lie here and die. At least I did something good with my last precious seconds of time. I stare up into the brightening sky and picture the Underworld. I’ll be there soon enough.
Hades.
He’s going to blame himself for this when he finds out. A tear squeezes from the corner of my eye.
Then Zeus’ feet come into view directly in front of me. Probably to finish the job.
Honestly, I’d rather go fast than sit here and bleed anyway.
I smile. “Bring it, asshole.”
109
The God Of Death
Maybe I’m a coward, despite my bravado, because I close my eyes as I wait for the final blow.
“Don’t. Fucking. Move.”
My already struggling heart stutters. I know that voice. That sinful voice of darkness and soot.
Hades.
I’m in love with him.
Persephone isn’t dead. I’m about to be. And I’m in love with Hades.
What a stupid, horrible, gods-awful time to figure that shit out.
I force my eyes open, and even through the spots still trying to steal my vision, I can see Hades standing behind Zeus. He’s dressed in his liquid armor, his bident in his hand, the murder in his eyes as sharp as cut steel.
I squint, trying to make my spotty vision clear.
I don’t have time to force my fuzzy mind to focus. Rage contorts Zeus’ face a heartbeat before he launches himself at his brother.
I think I scream.
But what comes next happens so fast, my already dwindling mortal senses can’t track it. One second, Zeus is rushing Hades. The next, he’s on the ground, bleeding from the ears, and Hades stands over him, bident at his brother’s throat.
