Chapter 26 #2
My power surged forward and flooded my veins, burning through my body like a poison.
It was like a rubber band snapping back into place after being stretched for far too long.
I felt it taking over every single one of my veins, turning my blood from powerless to overflowing with the strength of the gods.
It was like standing too close to the sun.
My skin felt like it was scalded with acid, my inside turned liquid, and I dropped to my knees.
I held my arms open wide and my back bowed from the pain.
Blue and black sparks exploded out from my body and sizzled across my skin.
I fell forward to my hands. Pieces of my clothing fell away in singed scraps of fabric.
When I rose to my feet, so much power flowed through my body that my blue and black sparks lit the room.
When I looked down at Anastasia, calm washed over my body.
I narrowed my eyes at Hades, then disappeared only to reappear a moment later with another witch in tow.
I shoved her toward Anastasia’s bed. “Fix her.”
“Oh, dude, this is gnarly.” Ophelia’s eyes widened. “I’d like a list of what was done so I can study and replicate later.”
“Ophelia,” Nova chided her with a warning tone.
I disappeared once more. I grabbed my brother and dragged him back to the hospital. “Make them forget.”
When everyone stared at me not moving, I raised my voice at them. “Move! Now!”
“Good to see you back.” My brother held his hands up and warm light flowed from him and around the room. Every human in the room stopped what they were doing and slowly filed out of the room, leaving us there.
Ophelia pulled a vial with hot-pink liquid from the pouch on her hip and dumped the contents between Anastasia’s bloody lips. Hades moved to my side and clapped me on my shoulder. “Good to have you back.”
I turned and threw my fist across his jaw.
He flew back and smacked into the wall, cracking it.
He dropped to the floor, then shot to his feet.
The muscles in his jaw ticked and he jabbed a finger in my face.
“I’ll give you that one. Nothing more. And when she does indeed die, I will still be the one to take her. You can only fight this for so long.”
He disappeared a moment later and I turned to face the others. “You will do this for me.”
Nova nodded and held her hands over Anastasia’s.
Purple sparks flew from her hands and bounced over Anastasia’s body.
The glow of her spirit seeped back into her skin.
It settled deep within her body and the lifeline above her head turned from crimson to a darker shade of brown.
Ophelia pulled two more vials from her pouch.
She popped the lids on both. She looked at the one in her right hand, shrugged, then threw it back like a shot.
She swished her hips, singing, “Work, work, work, work, work. Something, something, more work, work, work, work, work.”
She dumped the other potion over Anastasia’s torso, and the deep bruising disappeared. The pale pallor of her skin grew warm and rich, her cheeks pinkened, and her breaths grew deep and even. Ophelia spun around in a circle, still dancing. “Bibbidi bobbidi. She’s better, bitches.”
I groaned. “I am in your debt.”
“Oh, I’m sure I’ll collect at some point.” She shrugged. “But not right now.”
She turned to Nova. “Want to come home?”
“Home?” Nova’s eyes widened and she hesitated. “You mean back to the Evermore Academy?”
“Yeah.” Ophelia pulled a dagger from thin air and pointed it toward Liesin. “I’m pretty sure dead-boy over there can actually die. Which means if I kill him, I can take you home with me.”
My eyebrows shot up. I might’ve been angry at Hades right now, but I wouldn’t let anything happen to Liesin. Before I could step in, Liesin gave a dark chuckle. “You reach too high, little witch. I can’t be killed by one like you.”
“Oh, so you can die though. Noted.” She winked at Nova. “Food for thought.”
Nova gave an awkward chuckle and glanced between Ophelia and Liesin. “Rain check?”
“Good idea,” Liesin muttered.
“No one asked you,” Nova snapped. “Now take me ho—back to the Underworld.”
“As you wish.” The corners of Liesin’s lips curved and he waved his hand. White light crackled over the floor beneath her, then she dropped into the hole just as Liesin fell into his own. The floor closed, swallowing them as if they’d never been there.
Ophelia blinked at the spot where Nova had just been standing. “Interesting.”
She pulled another bottle from her potion pouch and shook it up. “This will do.”
I didn’t have the words to thank her. As if she knew, she winked at me and threw the potion on the floor. A second later she too was gone, leaving me alone with my brother and a sleeping Anastasia. Hypnos turned to face me, and I saw my own sadness reflected in his eyes.
“I am sorry, Brother.” His voice was low and calm.
“Perhaps it is our destiny to always be worlds apart.”
He shook his head. “I refuse to believe that.”
“All evidence is to the contrary.” I placed my hand over Anastasia’s.
“It will be well.” I knew my brother well enough to know that tone. He didn’t think so, but he was trying to sound positive.
Anastasia took a deep breath and her fingers twitched. Hypnos gave me a tight-lipped nod. “I will leave you to have your time with her.”
Silence fell around me, and all I could do was gaze at her beautiful, delicate face.
Memories of the first time I set my eyes on her assailed me.
She was softer in that life, delicate with her words and actions.
Like a butterfly in a jungle, she stood out to me amidst the chaotic world.
She was peace and light in my eternity of death.
Her eyes fluttered and she peeked up at me.
My heart stopped in my chest and sadness like I’d never known overtook me.
“Thanatos.” My name was like a prayer on her lips, and that just made the hurt sink even deeper.