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"You have the Hands, gorgon?" Athena asked in a neutral tone

"I knohere they are, yes"

Her earthy green eyes flared with desperation and hope She hopped off the altar and strode across the cri two steps higher, she towered over me "You will revive , and it took soree to leave me and my friends, my family and theirs, my descendants and theirs, the city and everyone in it alone, unharmed--by your hand, your command, or your influence--forever"

"That is a tall request for one sosain After I do this, you ree to re else?"

"No, that about does it," I answered, noticing that she see subtly shallow She hadn’t fully healed fro

"The Hands," she prompted

I drew in a deep breath and glanced at Kieran Together ent to the right side of the church and found the long marble slab etched with the name ANDRES ALMONESTER Y ROXAS

Athena knelt down "Here?" she asked, her voice tight "Beneath this stone?"

"Yes That’s where Josephine hid theht

She waved us away, her focus on the stone as she ran her hands over the surface A faint green light appeared beneath her hand and traveled around the seam of the slab As she lifted her hand, the stone rose The sound grated through the cathedral A thud shook the floor as she set the heavy stone aside

I heldher power to raise the Hands froht in relief and wonder They were just as I re hands, broken off at the wrists Athena grabbed the statue with care As I stared at her profile, I could only ih her head and her heart

Finally she rose with her treasure Her throat worked, and I caught the briefest flash of e happiness just yet As she carried the basket to the altar table and placed it on top, I noticed Artemis had tears in her eyes

Noas all up toThe doors to the cathedral sla her power to cut off my main escape route When the sound faded away, she said in a low, emotionless tone, "Step up tonod, stepped onto the raised sanctuary, and walked to the altar

At the table, I looked at the child inside the basket, eyes open, its body covered in a blanket, one chubby hand clutching the end A bowl divided into two separate sides appeared on the altar, along with a thin, wicked-looking blade, a quill, and a thin strip of ancient-looking paper

Athena repeated the promises I’d ask her to make and stated that by blood, she was bound to the as her witnesses She cut her finger, squeezed several drops into the bowl, and then dipped the quill in, using the liquid as ink to write down her vows Then she turned around and slid it towardit over

I took it The handle aroes in the other side of the bowl You write your agreement below mine, that you will faithfully attempt to resurrectan awful lot on an unproven ability

"I would not be here, and you’d be dead already, if I thought otherwise"

It was now or never I glanced at ain, then overSebastianhe would be here soon, I hoped I faced the altar, slit er, and then wrote ers, and flaed smoke that rose up in the shape of our words and then disappeared

In the ensuing silence, the distant sounds of the battle ebbed into the church Doubt skated alongso unusual I’d changed Sebastian back, but he’d been stone for a short period of time, and I’d been hyped up on adrenaline and emotion This child had been trapped in stone for a thousand years

My father cleared his throat, the sound bouncing around the lofty space I knew that was to re I’d learned so far Okay Focus, Ari You do this right and Athena is gone for good Out of your life Out of your father’s life Out of New 2 for good

"Okay," I breathed I could do this I reached out and placed my hand palm down over the baby’s chest My eyelids slid closed, and with that I i down My curse rose fast, always there, just lurking, waiting for the opportunity to strike,ht, Selkirk, do your thing

TWENTY-THREE