Chapter 27
Charisma
In a blink, Zeus pressed the large heel of his palm on my back, shoving me down to the ground.
My knees hit the unforgiving floor, and my bloodied palms braced my body from collapsing face-flat on the concrete.
I let out a grunt, ignoring the throbbing pain in my head and the narrowing edges of the world as I fought to keep my eyes open.
“From whom did you obtain the information regarding the relics?”
I gritted my teeth, not answering. If anything, it seemed to amuse Zeus.
“I have no objections if that’s the path you intend to take.”
As his foot pushed on my backbone, I tasted the dirt on the ground as my chin knocked against it. The grinding of my teeth echoed with a spine-chilling keen. I was sure some had chipped from the fall when my tongue curled around the incisors and tasted the metallic tang of my blood.
Once again, I locked the thoughts away. I’ll mourn them later. If there was a later.
The bond was meant to protect me, but it now seemed to only give Zeus a chance to torment me without end.
He was going to tear me apart slowly. Taking his sweet time. Enjoying every scream and grunt.
I kept my breathing shallow, not wanting to give him the satisfaction of my pain. I would not panic, nor show him how easy it was to hurt a mortal—given my condition and the spinning in my head, two more hits could send me into a blackout.
“Who wishes for my demise?”
More blood coursed through my lips, landing with a splatter on the ground. I turned my head over my shoulder, eyebrows frowning as I urged him to come closer, letting out a whisper of indecipherable words.
His eyes squinted. “Speak clearly, mortal, and your suffering shall end.”
A huff almost released into the air. As if I’d be so stupid to believe him.
With a dramatic groan, I clutched my abdomen, shaking my head slowly and mouthed again.
“Are you under the impression that I am a fool?” Zeus laughed, eyes darkening as he inched closer, lowering down on his knees and lifting my chin with his fingers.
“No . . .” I murmured, grasping the dagger under my shirt, not moving my gaze from his.
Before he could pull back, I drove the knife above his knee, feeling the resistance and then the slickness of blood as I dragged the blade out.
Zeus’s lips twitched and hot fluid splashed on my face.
“But I know you’re arrogant. Full of yourself. ”
With a swift move, I inched it toward his throat, intending to cut it open. I knew a god couldn’t die, but perhaps it would immobilize him enough to give me a chance to escape.
I lunged, but he caught my hand, his smirk widening as he brought the blade to his neck, the sound of the slice echoing in the tense silence. He didn’t flinch. His smile didn’t tremble. Within two seconds, the torn skin knitted itself together.
Two seconds. That was how long it took for a major injury to heal.
“Feisty little thing, aren’t you? Your attempts to harm me are futile, mortal.
Let this serve as a lesson for you.” Zeus stood up, taking the dagger with him, eyes pointed at the weapon.
“This belongs to me. Clever of the person who gave this to you—they provided you with a means of self-defense, but not one that could be traced to them.” He threw the knife away, and the metal clanked on the floor.
His eyes glistened with primal satisfaction when he took note of my rounded gaze.
I swore he could feel the shiver travel down my spine.
“Who wishes for my demise?” Leg in the stomach. “Who enlisted you in this undertaking?” Hair pull. “Who?” Punch in the gut. “I am able to continue indefinitely, but I am certain you are not.” Punch in the face.
My teeth sank into my lip, the sting of my wound mixing with the blood of his blows. He was waiting for a reaction from me. My vision swam. Zeus watched, a predatory gleam in his eyes, anticipating a flinch, a gasp, a surrender. He wished to see me break. But I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction.
I bit down harder. My jaw ached, my head throbbed, my stomach curled, but I held his gaze between the weary blinks.
“Very well.” He nodded, wiping his hands with a kerchief that appeared in his hands. His movement was almost ordinary, as if he was simply brushing off some dirt. “If physical torture cannot coerce you to speak, it’s possible that something else will suffice.”
My muscles tensed as I pushed onto my palms, the rough ground scraping my hands as I dragged myself away, desperate to find a wall to lean against. It was the only sliver of time since Zeus veyrithed us here that I had to analyze my surroundings.
In the large concrete room, my shallow breaths echoed in the otherwise silent space. Across from me, furniture lay still under white sheets, dust motes dancing in the dim light.
Two couches. One window. Three chairs. One wardrobe.
Nothing around me gave insight into where I was. Nothing was helpful. Were we still in Elythra?
The bond pulled at my chest and mind, as if someone fought to get in, but the second I blinked the sensation disappeared. I had no choice but to wonder if it was just a figment of my imagination.
As a daze washed over me, my head lolled from side to side and my chin sank to my chest.
“What was the reason for your tardiness?” Zeus’s voice snapped me back awake.
“Pardon me, my King.” The woman bowed so low her nose almost touched the ground. She adjusted the mantle to fit more snugly, her hands clasped under the material of the sleeves.
Zeus extended his hand. “Proceed.”
My eyes fluttered, trying to focus on her face as she approached. She kneeled, lowering her hood. Her human features, though pale, were at odds with her mirror-like eyes—so polished I could see my reflection in them.
My hair was a mess. My lips split open with dried blood in the corners. I winced at the sight of the wound on the crown of my head and at the redness across my skin.
“I am an emissary of the Oracle,” she stated, the weight of the pronouncement settling upon the room.
Emissary of the Oracle. Her presence was a danger to Eros.
To Artemis. To Hades and Athena. My jaw clenched.
She had the power to compel me to tell the truth against my will, and I, no doubt, knew that if Zeus found out who was behind the plot against him, he’d take considerable measures—whether that meant finding a way to kill them or destroying their magic.
The woman squinted at me. I squinted back.
“Do not attempt to resist, if anything—”
“Cease the introductions.”
“Yes, my King.” She nodded her head, pursing her lips. Her eyes locked onto mine in a flash, too quick for me to even shut my own.
My limbs locked as if a string had wrapped around them, preventing me from moving. Even my eyes remained unblinking, unmoving.
“You may ask your questions, my King.”
“Who wishes for my demise?”
“I do.”
The emissary nodded at the king of them all, confirming my answer was truthful.
“Who recruited you for this plan?”
“I did.”
Once again, the woman offered Zeus a curt nod. I smiled, my teeth stained red from the blood he drew. Zeus lifted an eyebrow, edging closer with a smirk. He crouched down, supporting his elbows on his knees.
“It is possible that my questions weren’t properly phrased.” He tilted his head, and the look on his face was victorious.
“Who else is involved in this undertaking?”
I bit my lip, shoving their names out of my mind. He couldn’t find out.
The emissary frowned. Zeus glanced at her.
“F-f-f—” I began, struggling to keep the answer within the depths of me.
Their eyes widened slightly, anticipating the reveal.
“—uck y-y-ou.”
He laughed. Laughed.
“Repeat the question, my King.” As the woman spoke, her features settled into a concentrated expression. My head throbbed with a rhythmic pulse as tears welled in my eyes.
“Who else is involved in this undertaking?”
I took a deep breath to stop the words from escaping, my teeth grinding as they fought to be released.
“Impossible,” she breathed.
“Leave,” Zeus’s voice thundered.
The emissary’s eyebrows lifted as she took in her king. “My King,” she began, but before she could finish, a violent gust of wind from Zeus threw her against a wall.
She dropped to the ground with a thud. Zeus didn’t need to repeat himself—the woman disappeared as soon as her body met the floor.
“You seem determined to make me work for the responses I need.” Zeus nodded to himself, pacing inside of the room and grabbing a chair.
He returned, planting it in front of me.
“As you wish; though I doubt the experience shall be pleasant for you.” Zeus leaned back, crossing his arms over his chest as if he had all the time in the world.
“Provide an answer to this one question, and I might perhaps consider using a more lenient approach.”
I let my head hit the cold, rough wall behind me. My limbs and eyelids were heavy, demanding rest, but the beast in front of me wouldn’t stop trying to force the information out.
“It is evident that you agreed to join this plan to return to your family, and I harbor no judgment regarding this matter.” He planted a hand on his heart—as if he had one. “I, too, would make any sacrifice for my family.”
A huff rolled past my tongue. “If it fits your purpose.”
The son of a bitch didn’t even try to hide his smile.
“Correct. I am, however, rather confused that someone of your intelligence would have faith in a god. Whoever you have made an agreement with will not risk my discovery of their actions to protect you. You are doomed, Charisma Sinclair. You are, of course, conscious of this, correct?”
“Is that your question?”
“Indeed.”
My lips formed a straight line. Yes, I was aware of it, and I was glad no one was foolish enough to jeopardize their cover to save me. I wanted them to succeed, and with the guarantee that Zeus wouldn’t kill me, I didn’t care how long it took them to negate his powers and stop the games.
Instead, I said, “I know no one is going to save me, but not because I plotted with anyone else, as you presume. But because no one knows I’ve been planning this.
” I flicked my gaze to the side, biting my already ripped lip.
“So, you see, since no one knows, nobody can come after me. It’s pretty simple to understand, actually. ”
Zeus puffed. “Your intellect is quite impressive, mortal, though it is not enough to accomplish such a feat. Attempt to mislead and deceive me as you wish, yet the truth will be revealed.” He brought his face closer to mine.
“Had I not known better, I would have suspected your lover, Eros, of being responsible. Yet, I am aware he does not possess the darkness necessary to have done this.”
I kept my face blank.
“Though I was indeed surprised to learn he bonded with you. Quite unexpected for someone who grieved for centuries, wouldn’t you say?”
“Are you done?” I snapped. “If you’re done torturing me for the day, I’d like to get some sleep.”
Zeus sat up, a glint in his eyes. He surveyed me, his gaze lingering on the bruises and wounds across my skin. “I am not done for today. Consider this the appetizer.” A cruel smile spread across his lips, and then he delivered the final blow, and I was out cold.