No. Because dark means demons, and I can’t risk being out there with them anymore. “You could come over to my place. The girls, too.”
Danielle’s hopeful expression fell. “Never mind then. You make time for soccer, but if hanging out with me and the girls isn’t worth it, just forget it.”
“It’s not that I don’t want to—”
“The bell’s about to ring,” Danielle said. “I’ve got to go.” With that, she spun around and walked away.
Seriously, can this day get any worse?
Mrs. Lewis, the school counselor, poked her head in the open door, interrupting Mr. Ramsey’s lecture. “I need to talk to Persephone Katsaros.”
Every nerve in Persephone’s body went on alert. This was what she got for thinking the day couldn’t get worse. Danielle wouldn’t tell anyone about Gran, would she? Regardless of how mad she is at me, I can’t believe she’d break her promise.
Mr. Ramsey lowered the marker he’d been writing across the whiteboard with. “Persephone, get your stuff. I assume you can get your notes from loverboy later.”
Sputtered laughter filled the air, and several students looked at Jax.
Persephone gathered her books. As she stepped by Jax, he caught her hand.
Forcing a smile onto her face, she said, “It’ll be okay. I’ll catch up with you after class.”
Persephone followed Mrs. Lewis into her office. The plump black woman pointed a finger at the seat opposite her desk. “Go ahead and have a seat.”
The green vinyl creaked as Persephone settled into the chair.
“Why don’t you tell me what’s going on in your life?” Mrs. Lewis asked.
Which part do you want to hear first? That I cheat on my amazing boyfriend with my dream boyfriend? That I fight demons? That they think I’m their queen, and I can’t deny how much I feel drawn to them?
“School, then I play soccer with friends, then I go home.”
Mrs. Lewis leaned forward, placing her forearms on her desk. “And I hear you’ve got a boyfriend.”
Persephone nodded.
“You know it’s never okay for someone to talk down to you or to be physically aggressive, right?”
I can’t deal with this right now. I’ve got real problems to worry about. “Look, I know this is because of Miss Nelson. It’s nice she’s concerned about me, but she’s wrong. My home life is fine, and Jax would never hurt me. This is a waste of time.”
“All the same, I’d feel better if I could talk to your grandmother, face to face.”
“Like I told Miss Nelson, she’s sick. It’s hard for her to get out.”
“Do I need to call someone else to check on things? Someone from the Social Services Department?” The concern in Mrs. Lewis’s eyes seemed genuine. “I know you’re scared, but it’s my job to help you, and if you don’t cooperate, I’m going to have to get some other people involved.”
“Please don’t call anyone,” Persephone said. “I’m sure Gran will feel better next week.”
“Monday then. If it’s too difficult for her to come to the school, I’d be happy to swing by your house.”
The thought of Mrs. Lewis stopping by the house made it hard for Persephone to keep pushing the air in and out of her lungs. “That won’t be necessary. I’ll tell her about Monday.” She stood, focusing all her energy on keeping up her life’s-all-good front. “Until then.”
One shaky step at a time, she made her way out of the office. If only Mrs. Lewis hadn’t met Gran when she’d signed Persephone up for school.
I wonder how good her memory is. Maybe Rose can put me in touch with a replacement grandma for the day.
I’m sure I can find someone to fill in.
But with everything else going wrong in her life, it was getting harder and harder to think that somehow, it’d all be okay.
“What if Rose tells Mrs. Lewis she’s your guardian now?” Jax asked, wrapping his arm around Persephone’s waist. “They’d leave you alone then, don’t you think?”
Persephone leaned her head on his shoulder. “I don’t know. Since Gran didn’t officially sign over guardianship, I’m not sure how it works. What if they try to send me to live with a foster family? I couldn’t protect the dagger if they made me move, which leaves running away, but then the dagger would be exposed, and with all the demon activity, I don’t think that’s a good idea either.”
“Don’t worry. We’ll think of something.”
She’d been telling herself the same thing. For the third time since school let out, Persephone called Carrefour, hoping to talk to Rose.
For the third time, no one answered.
Persephone hung up and slid her phone into her pocket. “Maybe the restaurant’s too busy. I guess we’ll have to drive over and talk to her in person.”
As she was about to get in her car, a laugh caught her attention. Across the lot, Danielle, Eva, and Charlane were piling into Charlane’s blue Explorer, off on a carefree adventure without her.
Persephone jerked open the car door and climbed inside. “Everything’s all messed up. Demons are everywhere, I almost got us killed the other day, and now things with Danielle are falling apart. She and I have never fought before, and I couldn’t even defend myself because she’s right.” She slumped over the steering wheel. “I’m a horrible friend.”
“You’re a great friend.” Jax put his hand on her knee and squeezed. “A great girlfriend, too.”
His words deepened the guilt that had been eating away at her all day. She’d wanted to ask Danielle for advice, but obviously her friend had other priorities. Persephone couldn’t stand it anymore. She had to come clean, no matter how horrible the consequences. “There’s something I need to tell you.” She focused on the keys dangling from the ignition, unable to look at him. “You know how I said I talked to Adrastos?”
He tensed, she could tell that much, even without looking.
“I met him, too. In my dream a couple nights ago.”
“In your dream?”
“That’s where we meet. I told him I was with you, but he…He didn’t take it so well. Then I…he…we kissed.” She swallowed past the lump in her throat. “I’m so sorry.”
“It was just a dream,” Jax said. “I’d like you to dream about me, sure, but—”
“Does this look like a dream?” She yanked down her shirt, and finally turned her gaze on him. “This isn’t from a curling iron, it’s from him.”
An angry muscle flicked his jaw. “How can that happen in a dream?”
“I don’t know how, all I know is it does. I swear it won’t happen again, though.”
He narrowed his eyes. “I don’t know why you think you need to lie to me. That’s not something you get from a dream. If you met him, just tell me.”
“I didn’t, I swear. Not that it makes it any better, but—”
“Just drive,” he said, throwing a hand up. “Drive to the restaurant so you can talk to Rose.”
“Jax, please.” She reached for him, but he jerked away.
“Just go.” He lay back in his seat, crossing his arms. “I think I’ll take a nap on the way over and see if I can get some dream action.” He closed his eyes, but every muscle in his body was still tense.
Hot tears formed in her eyes as she stared at him, going back and forth on what to do, what she could say. But there was nothing to do. Nothing more to say.
She was a bad friend, an awful girlfriend, and a horrible Sentry.
Tears spilled down her cheeks as she started the car. She clamped her lips together, stifling a sob, and drove toward Carrefour.
With Jax sitting right next to her, choosing not to look at or talk to her, she felt lonelier than she ever did when she truly was alone.
Persephone pulled the Mazda into a parking space a few blocks from Carrefour. Jax kept his eyes closed, though she was sure he wasn’t asleep.
“If you need space or whatever, I understand. Just meet me at Carrefour in like thirty so we can get home before
sundown.” She exited the car and slammed her door behind her.
Once she hit the sidewalk, she glanced back, thinking Jax would be getting out of the car.
He wasn’t.
Every step suddenly took great effort.
He doesn’t believe me.
Pain radiated from where her heart was, her lungs felt heavy and wrong. Earlier today, she’d assured Mrs. Lewis that Jax would never hurt her. But this hurt worse than any injury she’d ever gotten fighting. Instead of stinging and receding, the pain was deepening, ripping her from the inside out.
This time, I’ve finally pushed him too far. Far enough he’s going to leave and never look back.
She sniffed, trying to pull it together so she could go face Rose and tell her she’d screwed everything up at school, just like she’d screwed up everything else in her life.
The outside lights that usually lit up Carrefour were off, and the closed sign hung in the window. A bad feeling crawled across Persephone’s skin, making the hairs on the back of her neck rise. “Something’s not right.”
Dusk was approaching, but she still had some daylight left. She slowed her steps. I should go back and get a sword, just in case.
A torment-filled cry came from inside, muffled, but not enough to miss the pain behind it.
Persephone sprinted to the doors of the restaurant and burst through them. Tables and chairs lay in pieces; one of the hanging light fixtures swung around, bouncing a spotlight around the dim room.
“Rose?! Where are you?” The remains of a broken chair leg caught her eye. She picked it up and held it in front of her, sharp end out.
Stepping over the debris, Persephone crept toward the bar. A pool of dark liquid seeped from behind the end. The swinging spotlight danced across it, and her stomach lurched as she registered the color red.
She rounded the bar. Rose lay on the ground. Puncture wounds ran up and down her arms, and blood ran from two giant holes in her neck. A neck that looked twisted and wrong.
Persephone dropped to her knees. Hands trembling, she searched for a pulse. “Rose? Can you hear me?”
But she already knew she couldn’t. Someone—or more likely some thing—had killed the only family she had left. The only anyone she had left.
A hiss sounded overhead.
Persephone looked up. Two amber eyes stared back at her. While the eyes didn’t look human, the head and top half of her body did. At her waist, the woman’s body morphed into a thick green serpent tail that was wrapped around one of the support posts.
“Lamia,” Persephone whispered, recognizing the woman from the stories she’d heard when she was younger.
Lamia grinned, revealing her fangs. “Lucky me. You’re just the girl I’ve been looking for.”
Chapter Thirty
Mouth hanging open, Persephone stared back at the mutated creature. She gripped the broken chair leg, terrified her wimpy weapon wasn’t going to be near enough.
Arms reaching for Persephone, Lamia dove.
Persephone threw her hands over her head.
And was shoved out of the way, seconds before Lamia landed.
Jax swung his sword at Lamia, and she jerked back with a hiss. As tall as he was, she—using her tail—had a couple feet on him. She dodged his blows, her tail twisting behind her.
Cackling laughter filled the air. “I can’t believe my good fortune,” Lamia said, rubbing her hands together. “The girl I’m supposed to find and the Warrior I’m supposed to kill. Guess I didn’t need to torture that poor old woman to death to get the information I needed. Oh well.”
Persephone leapt to her feet and hurled herself at the creature.
The end of Lamia’s tail caught her mid-jump, knocking Persephone backward. Glass shattered and a sharp, tearing pain bit into her back. Alcohol poured from the broken bottles, soaking her clothes and scenting the air.
Sword out, Jax charged. Lamia wove one way, then the other, her movements quick. He swung again and again. One of his blows hit her arm. She shrieked and recoiled, looking down at the blood running from the gash. Then she sprung at him. They crashed to the floor and Jax’s sword skidded across the wood, out of his reach. Out of Persephone’s reach, too. Ignoring the pain in her back and the glass embedding itself into her hands, she pushed herself up.
Surely Rose kept weapons around here.
Persephone ducked, looking under the bar. There, a few feet down, a double-edged short sword was fastened to the underside.
Jax and Lamia rolled on the floor, a blur of copper hair, tail, and flailing limbs. Lamia bit at Jax, but he jerked away and came across with a hook. His fist connected, and Lamia’s head whipped back. Jax jumped to his feet, sent another punch to her nose, and caught her in the stomach with a kick. He grabbed a chair and brought it down on her head.
Lamia shook her head and then swung her tail into him. Jax flew across the room, into one of the tables. He skidded across it and hit the ground.
Persephone grabbed Rose’s sword. Placing one hand on the bar, she boosted herself on top of it. Then, blade out, launched herself at Lamia.
Just before impact, Lamia grabbed a serving tray and used it like a shield.
Metal clanged against metal. Persephone swung again and again, but Lamia was fast.
A plate flew through the air and crashed into Lamia’s head. The distraction gave Persephone enough time to jam her blade into Lamia’s side. It didn’t slide easily through the tough hide, but stuck half in, half out.
“Argh!” Lamia’s amber eyes glowed. “You bitch! I don’t care what He says! He’ll have to make do with mostly alive.” She shot forward and wrapped her hands around Persephone’s neck.
Using her grip, Lamia lifted Persephone off the floor.
Persephone’s legs swung through the air, searching in vain for purchase. All the blood rushed to her head and pressed against her eyes, making them feel like they were going to burst.
Jax leapt onto Lamia’s back.
She dropped Persephone, whipped around, and sank her fangs into Jax’s neck.
“No!” Persephone yelled.
Seconds elongated, taking minutes, amplifying every one of her senses. She smelled the alcohol, saw the fangs lodged in Jax’s neck, heard Lamia sucking the blood from him.
And still the last of the “no” she’d yelled hung in the air.
Eyes wide, Jax’s hand moved to the short sword still sticking from Lamia’s side. He gripped the hilt and yanked up.
Lamia tightened her grip, keeping her fangs in his neck.
Persephone scrambled to her feet. She scooped Jax’s sword off the floor, sprinted forward, and thrust it into the side of Lamia’s neck. Her head rolled back, her fangs slowly withdrawing from Jax’s neck. Blood ran down her chest, and a gurgling noise escaped her throat as she slumped to the floor, limbs limp.
Persephone stumbled over Lamia’s tail, desperate to get Jax. He was leaning against an upturned table, knuckles white from gripping the edge, his head hanging like a rag doll’s. All color had drained from his face; two bloody holes pierced his neck. He lifted his eyes to hers. Dull eyes, with so little life left in them. “Persephone, I…” He coughed, a thick, liquid cough.
Tears lodged in her throat. “We’ll get help. You’re going to be fine.”
“Dizzy.” He leaned into her, nearly tipping her over. “Something I…Make sure you’re safe…I…” His knees buckled and she carefully lowered him to the floor.
“You have to be okay,” she cried. “Please, Jax. Please be okay.”
His eyes closed and his breathing slowed.
Persephone shook him. No response. Tears streaming down her cheeks, she tugged her cell out of her pocket. Her fingers tripped across the keypad, but she managed to enter in the number.
Pick up, pick up.
“Hello?”
“It’s Persephone. I’m at Carrefour, and I need you to get over here right now.”
“Lamia’s venom is very powerful,” Mara said, studying Jax.
“If his lungs remain paralyzed—”
“Just help him,” Persephone said past the giant lump in her throat. “Do whatever it takes.”
“I’ll do everything I can.” Mara dug bottles out of her bag. She covered the wounds in Jax’s neck with a thick paste. Eyes cast up, she chanted, starting out quiet and getting louder.
Persephone gripped Jax’s hand, trying not to think about how cold it was. Or how pale and lifeless he looked. I shouldn’t have told him about the dream. Guilt or not, at least we wouldn’t have been in a fight. If I never get the chance to tell him how I really feel about him…
More tears broke free.
Mara stopped chanting, and it suddenly seemed way too quiet. She glanced back at Lamia’s body. “If I hadn’t seen her myself, I would’ve never believed it. Half snake, half woman, usually eats children. All because she fell for the wrong guy and his wife found out about it.”
Hera had cursed Lamia to punish Zeus for cheating, but right now, Persephone was hoping He would take her side. She turned her eyes to the heavens. “Zeus, Asclepius, Athena—whoever’s listening, please, please, spare his life.” She returned her attention to Jax and whispered another, “please,” under her breath.
His fingers twitched, but his eyes remained shut.
Persephone placed her other hand over his. “Jax? Can you hear me? Come back to me. I need you.” Even after her awful confession, he’d nearly killed himself to save her. Her heart hurt so badly she wished it would stop beating altogether. She kissed his cheek and moved her lips near his ear. “I love you.”
Then she waited for him to miraculously wake up.
But he didn’t.
Chapter Thirty-One
Mara looked at Persephone, her expression grim. “His heart and lungs are seizing, and he’s lost a lot of blood. I got out the poison, but it already did so much damage, and I’m afraid…” She reached across Jax and squeezed Persephone’s hand. “I’m afraid it’s too late.”
Hysteria rose up in Persephone, turning her insides cold and hot, all at the same time. “It can’t be too late.” She shook her head, refusing to believe it. “We’ll get his heart and lungs moving again, and we can get some blood in here, do a transfusion, and he’ll be just—”
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