Page 37 (1/1)

The cavern turned to black once more, and when I came to, three pairs of eyes peered down at me Ava and James were used to it, but even Persephone didn’t look startled

Maybe they’d explained it to her while I was out

"What did you see?" said Ava eagerly

I pushedhead "Calliope’s trying to get Henry to tell her how to open the gate He isn’t," I added when Ava’s eyes widened "He didn’t say a word She got frustrated and knocked hiain"

"Good," said Persephone "He won’t tell her He knows better than to risk it"

"They’re all there," I said "All unconscious Calliope ordered Cronus to go after me, but he refused" Persephone eyed me dubiously, but James and Ava didn’t question it "Is that all?" said Ja," I said grimly

None of the It was no surprise Calliope knew, not when Cronus had hunted us down, and for now it didn’tafter us anymore We’d lost the eleure out a plan before we got there

Ja myself to ainst Ja my balance "It’d be nice if I could control it," I muttered "That’d make this a lot easier"

"You can," said Persephone She leaned against a tree trunk casually, as if people passed out around her all the time "Since you were er to get the hang of it, but you’ll get it eventually"

I bit back ht back to Adonis "If you kno to do it, then why don’t you tell h a clenched jaw

Persephone inspected her nails "I’ll think about it" Jaed a weighty look, and I scowled If Persephone kne to control that kind of power, then the only reason she had not to share it was self ishness I had her abilities now, the ones she’d given up along with her fa she loved, all for an attractive guy I knehy she didn’t like ht to jeopardize our safety

Eventually Persephone pushed herself off the tree and started forward, leaving the three of us to catch up "Fine," she called in a singsong voice that grated on my nerves "I’ll teach her when Ava admits I’m prettier than she is" Ava’s mouth dropped open, and she stormed after her

"You little--"

James offered me his arm, and I shook my head Disappointment f lickered across his face, but he didn’t press the issue, and instead he walked beside h to reach out if I needed him It was nice, his protectiveness, but I kept round for the rest of the day

He’d slept with Persephone, too, and no vision was going to , Persephone tainted every facet of er sister whose only things were hand- was ever going towith Persephone: our surroundings didn’t change, whichanyone else be tortured So when I saw the f lashing lights of a colorful carnival in the distance, for a ht I’d lost her, but she was still there, skipping a few yards ahead of e Ferris wheel towered above us, and the sh the air, past the fence and over to the dip in the f ield where we made camp No matter how many times Persephone insisted she was tired and needed a break, I was positive she’d chosen this spot because of the bright lights and hint of the future she’d never had the chance to see It hadn’t been her Eden before, and that was the only explanation for why it would be here now More than anyone down here, she would kno to

Ja Ava and Persephone to continue to argue It would have been easier to let hiet away from them, and apparently he did, too I found another colorful f lower nestled in a grove, and I smiled faintly as I inhaled its cotton-candy scent and placed it in ry Calliope got, she wasn’t going to kill hiered near the banner that hung above the entranceway of the carnival, debating whether or not to go inside As much as I didn’t want to admit it, I’d never been to a real carnival before either, and I was itching to see what it was like

"I’m sorry," said James behind athered fell to the ground, and as I picked theot it," I snapped James stood and stepped away, but he didn’t leave Instead he waited until I’d collected the rest, and when I straightened and headed toward another prorass, he followed

"I should have told you about me and Persephone," he said "If I’d had any idea how you felt about her, I would have, and I’m sorry"