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Ava’s wind chih the air "You won’t ever win You deserve worse than fading You deserve to have your na to make sure that happens You’re pathetic now, but just wait--once I’"

With everyone distracted, I skirted around the glowing goddesses, searching for the dagger It wasn’t in Calliope’s hands, whichit in a pocket, but with the way she and Ava were going at it, she would’ve taken a stab at her by now if she’d had it nearby

Come on, come on, it had to be around here so on the ground near the edge of the roof, where I’d stood only round, I turned toward Calliope It was now or never

I raced across the roof, holding the dagger like an ice pick Calliope was so wrapped up in her argu, and I slalow disappeared as she cruround hard

I pinned her in place withri as horror in her eyes I raised the dagger This time, I wouldn’t hesitate

"Father!" she screamed the instant I thrust the weapon toward her neck Even as the as still leaving her lips, a wisp of fog appeared, and tiot, the harder it was to er stopped completely half an inch froe

"Nice try, Kate," said Calliope with a sneer "Pity that’s all you’re ever capable of"

A gust of wind hitthe blade froh the air and landed hard onsliced through the wound in roaned

"So this is how it ends," said Calliope, and she scooped up the dagger "I’d say so witty, but you’re just not worth it"

I squeezedwith the crash of the ocean until I could no longer tell one from the other This was it This was the end

One second Two seconds

The pain never cah the sky, as if the entire world had drawn its breath at the same time Finally I had to look Calliope stood near one

And between us crouched Ava, the handle of the dagger buried directly above her heart

Chapter 19