Total pages in book: 74
Estimated words: 69923 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 350(@200wpm)___ 280(@250wpm)___ 233(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 69923 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 350(@200wpm)___ 280(@250wpm)___ 233(@300wpm)
My rumbling stomach told me where to go. Instead I stepped to the side, hanging back to let others pass. “You guys go ahead. There’s something I have to do.”
They nodded like they knew what that was. When almost everyone was gone, I approached the silent figure standing before the plaque. Alexander looked up from his conversation with Calix. They both stopped talking as I tapped Ajax’s shoulder.
“Ajax?”
Facing me, the taller boy’s red-stained orbs beheld me without a hint of recognition.
“I’m Aella Galanis,” I offered. “I was with your brother the night he—”
Alexander snapped to our side. “Leave it, Galanis.”
Though it was hard not to look at him, I went on like Alexander hadn’t spoken. “The night he died,” I finished. “This offers no comfort, but I’m sorry for the part I played in his death. If I had recognized the demon for what it was none of this would’ve happened.”
Ajax’s expression wiped blank. I couldn’t be certain he was hearing me.
“If there is anything I can do for you or your family, please let me know. He spent his last day on earth showing kindness to me. I will never forget that. The name Galen Teresi will always live in my heart.”
I waited.
And waited.
And waited.
Ajax did not twitch a muscle.
“Okay,” I said in the end. “Thank you for hearing me. I’ll leave you in... peace...”
Ajax raised his hands. Slow and coordinated, he waved them in a mirrored dance—holding them apart and as high as his chest. Within his swirling fingers, a tiny water droplet took form. Before our eyes it grew—an undulating watery orb that held my shifting reflection.
“Beauti—”
He jerked and the orb flew at me, swallowing my head. Water gushed into my nose, eyes, and mouth.
“Hey!”
Gasping, panic overwhelmed my senses—choking me faster than the liquid rushing into my lungs. I thrashed, swiping desperately at the bubble. My hands passed harmlessly through the water.
Shifting, moving, shouting. All of it tried to reach me as Ajax’s dragged me to hades. None of it penetrated, but the black bleeding into my vision did.
No. No!
My feet tangled and I crashed to the dirt. Dull pain prickled my toes and nail beds. I was dying... and I was afraid.
Flipping onto my back, I had half a clear thought to hide my blackening fingers under me. Strong hands grabbed and flipped me back—slapping at the water and pumping my chest.
“Change! Change!” the goddess shrieked. “Kill them! You cannot die, my pet. My pet.”
I stopped flailing. Ceased gasping. Giving into the dark, I let go.