Page 102 (2/2)

It happened so fast

I’d seen the dagger in Apollo’s hand I saw hio, but I didn’t understand as a fiery pain knocked the air out of ainst the wall Had Hyperion hit led sound parted er was buried in my chest, to the hilt A swath of red stained the front of

I lifted my hands, but I didn’t knohat to do with them I tried to take another breath, but it was like there was a plug in the base of er like a furnace

My pulse pounded erratically in aze collided with Seth He was staggering toward me, his face pale and aht about what had happened before This wasn’t right This was so wrong How could Apollo do this to hiain? How could he do this to me?

Only seconds had passed froers curved around the handle of the dagger I had to get it out of me In the back of my head, I knew that was probably a bad idea, but I couldn’t breathe and I wanted it out

My legs felt detached as I gripped the handle of the dagger So forward I yanked--yanked hard My body jerked as a screaer clattered off the wood floor A buzzing, a low-level hum, filled …soy pain and breathed in fire I was on fire Worse than when I was tagged and fed on, the blaze was ineverythe ability to think around it, but I knew this wasn’t death

Death could not be this painful

A great and terrible force started at s, beyondas my head kicked back My mouth opened but there was no sound Air seeuely aware ofthe floor I was in the air,out to my sides

I could feel it

A coil of power that had slu that had always been there but had been at rest, built insideth It was so warm, so incredibly hot I heard a thousand voices--a thousand prayers uttered throughout the es

My eyes peeled open, and I saw Hyperion

A stranger inup

The heat inside iant wave fro a shockwave Furniture lifted up, toppling over The scent of burnt ozone filledas it reached Hyperion The light burst, capturing his hoarse shout and sucking it in before the hirled its way back, sla into me