Page 70 (1/2)

Calliope screeched and barreled toward me In the few seconds we had, Ava tried to push me behind her, but I sidestepped her and sprinted toward Calliope, clutching the hooked knife I had one chance, and I was daainst i Her nails scratchedinto beat your pretty face to a pulp," growled Calliope "Once I’ to make your son watch as I scoop out your eyes and peel your skin fro ht let you--"

Her eyes widened, her words cut short as I sank the hooked knife into her side "You ht let me die?"

Calliope fell off of me, her brow furrowed in confusion She stared at the knife sticking out of her side "How did you--"

"The weapons Nicholas forged," I said "You’re not the only one with brains, you know"

She tugged on the knife, wincing as the hook ripped her skin apart, doingin Blood soaked through her pale blue dress, and she dropped the blade on the ground with a clatter "But"

Her eyes went blank, and without another word, she collapsed

I stared at her body, and the wayto do with the bitter wind After two and a half years of struggling to stay alive in her wake, that was it I’d done it

It felt too easy I kicked her body to be sure, and when she flopped like a dead fish, I staggered backward I’d killed her I’d really, truly killed her

I was a er I could’ve given her a choice, and instead I’d killed her in cold blood How did thatmy jaw, I turned away I’d have tiht’ve been dead, but the whirling cloud of doo Calliope’s body, I dashed toward hiet out of here"

He stared up at the sky, and at first I thought he hadn’t heard me As I opened my mouth to repeat lowing For abehind the like a thousand gods speaking all at the sa Cronus?"

"You weren’t supposed to come"

"Yeah? When has that ever stopped me?" I reached for Milo "If you won’t take him to safety, then I will"

He snatched the baby away fromHenry should have been in there so for the moment he could finally break free But I only saw the blank face of a powerful deity Not Henry Notto Henry, stop it!" I shouted over the deafening roar No response I looked overslack-jawed and her eyes ith fear, and it took one