Drained
DRAINED
PRUE
Cyrus was fast asleep when Prue crept out of his chambers. But she had allowed herself a moment to gaze upon him without interruption. Since his transformation, every time she had looked at him for too long, she had feared he would lash out at her or think she was staring only because she was horrified by who he was now.
But it wasn’t true. He was still utterly and devastatingly beautiful. From his thick black lashes fanned out on his cheek to his fit and sculpted body. His inky black hair, mussed from sleep, had fallen around his face, partially obscuring one eye. His skin was smooth and pale, and although there were no tattoos, Prue couldn’t help but admire the muscles lining his arms and chest. The way her hands and tongue had explored those muscles…
She shook her head before the heat pulsing between her thighs became unbearable. She had exhausted them both last night. With his human form, Cyrus’s stamina wasn’t the same, but he had still managed to completely satisfy her. Afterwards, she had wanted to do the same for him. She wanted to show him how much she adored this new body of his. And she hoped that when he woke, he would remember that.
After pulling her dress back on, Prue slipped out of the room, checking to ensure the hallway was clear before she tiptoed back to her own chambers. She heaved a sigh and pulled on a fresh dress, this one a brassy gold, then tugged her impossible hair into a messy knot at the top of her head. She couldn’t send for a maid for fear word would get to Apollo that Prue hadn’t spent the night in her own chambers. This secret needed to stay strictly between Prue and Cyrus.
After ensuring she looked at least somewhat decent, Prue emerged from her chambers and made her way downstairs. With the Underworld in its broken state, she didn’t know what time it was. Ordinarily, an enchantment had the sun rising and setting every day, and, although it was only an illusion, it had always brought Prue a sense of comfort, reminding her of home.
Home. Goddess, what was home for her anymore? For a long time, it had been Krenia. But even there, Prue had felt a sense of restlessness, a desperation for a thrill or an adventure.
She supposed the Underworld was her home now, although it wasn’t the same as when she had first come here. Still, it felt empty and lonely without Gaia or Mona to support her. Cyrus was on her side, or so he claimed. She couldn’t help but harbor doubts about his allegiance, especially given his past behavior. Back and forth, they seemed to dance. And she wasn’t sure what was real and what wasn’t.
Even if he was on her side, they could only be together in secret. Apollo had to believe Cyrus was loyal to him, so, outside of their chambers, Prue was completely alone.
“My queen,” said a voice, startling Prue from her thoughts.
She jumped and turned to find Lagos bowing before her. They stood at the bottom of the staircase, and Prue’s hand was absently resting on the bannister. She wasn’t sure how long she’d been standing like that, lost in her confusing thoughts.
Prue found herself smiling, realizing she wasn’t as alone as she thought. She still had Lagos, who had proven his loyalty to her on more than one occasion. “Lagos, it’s so good to see you. Are you ready to get to work?”
“There’s no need, my queen. I have found what you were looking for.”
Prue’s pulse quickened, and she pressed a hand to her chest. She and Lagos had been searching for days for answers to the question of the realm’s magic. She wanted to know if what Apollo said was true, or if there was a way to reconnect her magic to the Underworld once more.
“Show me,” Prue said breathlessly.
Lagos nodded and turned to stride down the hall. Prue hurried to match his pace, her heart thundering in her chest. But as Lagos led her down another set of stairs, her chest tightened for an entirely new reason. He was leading her to the lower vaults of the palace—the same room where Cyrus had brought her back to life, then awakened and spat those hateful things at her. This was the place where Prue had broken her mother’s curse, but it was also the place where her husband had shattered her heart.
His anger and venom toward her had been so potent, so raw, so powerful … She had believed nothing could bring him back from that.
She had truly believed he was lost to her.
Swallowing around the knot of emotions in her throat, Prue took a steadying breath and followed Lagos down the stairs.
He is on your side, Prue, she reminded herself. He said as much last night.
But he also said other things, another part of her whispered. How are you to know what’s real?
Shaking her head, Prue followed Lagos across the room, past boxes and crates and furniture covered in white sheets. Prue’s fingertips drifted over a dusty set of shelves upon which rested various jars and vials of potion ingredients. The smell of sage and earth magic whispered in the air, strangely reminding her of her home back in Krenia.
“Here.” Lagos crouched low to the ground before hoisting a hefty book from the bottom shelf and setting it onto a dusty end table. Prue coughed as dust particles floated in the air before her. Then, she squinted at the book Lagos had found. Power thrummed through it, and as she scrutinized the book, she had the strange feeling it was watching her in return. And there was something familiar about that leather cover…
With a yelp, she jerked backward, her blood chilling as panic and alarm raced through her. She stumbled, barely catching herself before falling. “L-Lagos, where did you find that?”
Lagos straightened, glancing from the book to Prue and back again. “It was here, my queen. It must have been here for ages.”
Prue shook her head, hands trembling as she covered her mouth. “No. No, it was not here. This book was once in Krenia with me when I used it to summon Cyrus. After that, it showed up in Faidon when I resurrected Mona. That—That’s the Book of Eyes. ”
A dozen memories assaulted her at once. Her and Mona opening the book. Darkness seeping out of it, devouring their village. Mona, stepping into that darkness, sacrificing herself to save everyone else.
Pomegranate seeds and candles surrounding the book as Cyrus appeared in the sarcophagus. And then, in Faidon, when Vasileios had stabbed her and she’d been bleeding out, Prue had used the book to reunite Mona’s body and soul.
Blinking rapidly, Prue rubbed her chest, struggling to calm her racing heart. Goddess, it was too much. This book had been involved in so many dark and dangerous spells. And now it was here again.
“How did it end up here?” Lagos asked, as if reading Prue’s mind.
Prue shut her eyes against the storm of her thoughts and emotions, trying to think logically like Mona. What would bring the book here?
In a flash, awareness hit her, and her eyes snapped open. “Cyrus. His powers are gone. His magic was linked to this book. It must have returned when he lost it.”
Lagos grunted in surprise, turning to look at the book once more. Prue kept her distance. Even from across the room, she could still feel the book reverberating with power. She felt like it was watching her, eager to devour her magic. Now that she had the power of a goddess, she feared the book would be even more drawn to her, hoping to suck everything out of her.
“Do you think his magic returned to the book?” Lagos asked thoughtfully, clearly unaffected by the book’s power. Perhaps it wasn’t a threat to him, since he was a demon.
Prue inhaled deeply and straightened, staring hard at the book that had caused her so much pain and suffering.
But… it had also brought her to Cyrus. Without it, they never would have met.
Light bled through the uncertainty fogging her mind, and she chewed on her lower lip as she considered this. “Perhaps. This book is how he got his powers in the first place.” Her eyes flared wide as she looked at Lagos. “Do you think… Is it possible he could get his powers back from this book?”
Lagos turned to her, the movement quick. His dark animal eyes narrowed, but she couldn’t tell if it was in concentration or warning. “Even if he could, would his body be able to handle it? He is still a mortal.”
Prue’s heart sank. This was true. What if the intensity of that power ended up killing him? She nibbled on her fingernail, struggling to come up with an idea, something she could bring to Cyrus. He would be thrilled to know there was a way to get his magic back. And perhaps that would mean he wouldn’t have to put on a show for Apollo anymore.
“Prue,” Lagos said sharply.
She frowned at him. He rarely used her given name. But the alarm in his voice set her on edge. His head was turned toward the staircase. Prue whirled, her heart lurching in her throat when she found Hyperion standing at the top of the stairs, watching them.
Oh, shit. How long had he been there? Had he heard everything?
“What are you doing here?” Prue demanded.
Hyperion said nothing as he slowly descended until he stood before them, his dark eyes sweeping over the contents of the dusty room. “Fascinating,” he murmured, his voice strangely accented.
Prue didn’t like having a Titan here in this vault, where all manner of powerful and enchanted objects lived. She drew closer to the man, then faltered when his body seemed to ripple with a foreign energy. Her own earth magic rose to meet it, forming a transparent shield between them both.
Hyperion chuckled, the sound low in his throat. “Clever goddess. Gaia has taught you well. But… she is not here, is she?”
Prue went rigid but refused to back down as he drew closer. She reinforced her shield of magic, holding it in place for whatever attack was coming.
Metal clanged loudly, and then Lagos stood between them, a dirty blade in his hand. He must have grabbed it from the shelf.
“You will not harm my queen,” Lagos growled, baring his teeth. A low growl rumbled from within him. He had the face of a bull, but this sound made him seem more like a feral tiger than anything. Prue had never seen him like this.
Hyperion did not even glance at Lagos. His dark gaze was still fixed intently on Prue. Lagos raised his blade. Prue cried out, reaching for her friend, but she was too late. With one lazy sweep of his hand, Hyperion sent Lagos flying backward until the demon collided with the shelves. Jars and glass shattered, and he fell to a crumpled heap on the floor.
“No!” Prue shrieked, surging toward Lagos.
Hyperion was in her face, his movements startlingly quick, like a blur of motion. His arm lashed out, and he caught her throat, his fingers wrapping tightly around her. In her haste to help Lagos, she had neglected her shield.
Now, Hyperion was choking the life out of her.
Pain split through her, her neck burning and her lungs straining for air. She couldn’t breathe. Spots danced in her vision. She choked and gagged, fingers clawing at Hyperion’s hand, but he was too strong. His hand was thick and meaty and her thin fingers could do nothing against his strength.
You are a goddess, she reminded herself. Not a mortal. You can stop this!
Fighting past the pain, Prue summoned her roots. The earth cracked, and several vines wrapped around Hyperion’s feet. They tugged, and he cried out before sinking to his knees.
Prue gasped, inhaling a shuddering breath as she massaged her throat and stepped away from the Titan. “You… will pay for this,” she rasped, stretching her arms and summoning more power. Grass sprang from the ground, followed by bushes and shrubs. More brambles emerged, latching onto Hyperion’s arms and ankles until he was properly restrained.
But the Titan didn’t even struggle. Instead, he grinned, the flash of teeth making Prue’s blood run cold.
“You are powerful, little goddess,” he said.
Prue gasped as Hyperion tugged at the vines surrounding him. Black shadows poured from his fingers, engulfing the vines completely until they turned to ash. The particles floated in the air, and then Hyperion inhaled them.
Prue staggered back in horror as he did the same to the other vines that were wrapped around him. One by one, he destroyed her earth magic and drank it in, absorbing it inside him.
He shoved his arms toward her, palms out, and a blast of her own earth magic exploded from him.
Prue threw up a shield, but she wasn’t quick enough. A burst of power slammed into her chest, and she flew backward, head cracking against the stone wall.
Darkness clouded her mind. She willed herself to wake up, to get up now before Hyperion killed her. But she couldn’t move. Her body was limp, her mind foggy as pain coursed through her.
A moan sounded nearby, and Prue blinked rapidly, trying to see through the haze.
“Prue,” Lagos groaned. Glass tinkled as he tried to move. “Prue, you have to get up!”
Heavy footsteps drew nearer. Gradually, her vision cleared and she made out Hyperion standing above her, a sinister smile on his face. With one hand, he grabbed the front of her dress and lifted her until she was at his eye level. Her arms hung limply, and she was too wounded to stop him. Warm blood trickled from her head.
He was going to kill her.
No… he was going to drain her.
“Your magic belongs to me now,” he whispered. The fabric he’d gathered in his hand was blackening, slowly turning to ash.
Soon, she would be nothing but ash.
A kernel of energy burned within Prue’s chest. She clung to it, reminding herself she was a goddess, and she was powerful. She had the strength of Gaia in her veins.
She could overcome this bastard.
She closed her eyes, letting her body relax in Hyperion’s grip as if surrendering to him completely. But inside, she focused on her magic. Branches stretched along the floor, working their way toward the Titan.
Hyperion chuckled, then leaned in, his face close to hers.
In a flash, a sharpened branch buried itself into Hyperion’s chest, spearing completely through him. Black blood spurted, coating Prue’s face.
With a roar, Hyperion dropped her, and she crumpled to the floor. Lagos was by her side, his head and arm bleeding, but he still wielded the dagger from before. With a swift movement, the demon dragged the blade across Hyperion’s throat.
Prue scrambled backward as the mighty Titan fell to the ground, choking on his own blood.
She grabbed Lagos’s hand. “Come on!” She tugged him forward, and he stumbled, one leg dragging. Prue glanced down to find his left trouser torn and bleeding. His ankle jutted out at an odd angle.
“I’m fine,” he panted, squeezing her hand. “Let’s go.”
He managed to hobble forward, and Prue helped him up the stairs, one arm wrapped around him as they fled the vault before Hyperion could siphon more of her magic.