Total pages in book: 107
Estimated words: 101264 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 506(@200wpm)___ 405(@250wpm)___ 338(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 101264 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 506(@200wpm)___ 405(@250wpm)___ 338(@300wpm)
The temptation to argue for the sake of arguing is nearly overwhelming, but I press my lips together and nod tightly. He shoves the door open and heads through it. I follow closely. I’m not about to let him out of my sight.
The detached garage is huge enough that I spare a thought to what the fuck Hermes had in here before she sold the place. It certainly wasn’t cars. She owns one, which is one more than I have or need, but she isn’t the type to have a garage filled with vehicles she’ll never drive. Minos doesn’t seem to share the sentiment, because there are five vehicles in here. Aside from an expensive-looking red convertible, they’re all nondescript SUVs and town cars in a uniform black similar to the ones every other rich family in Olympus drives.
Across from the neat line of vehicles is a set of shelving filled with various shit that seems to be in all garages. Apparently the rich also like to store their tires and miscellaneous tools just like normal people. Rich people, they’re just like us. I bite down a hysterical giggle that is entirely spurred by exhaustion and stress.
Apollo slows and looks around. The lighting is relatively dim in here, thanks to the small windows overhead, but we can see clearly enough that it appears to be empty. He glances at me and jerks his chin in a clear command to stay close.
He has nothing to worry about there. I might have volunteered to split up to warn those who might be in danger, but I’m no hero. I have absolutely no desire to get myself killed for some member of the Thirteen who wouldn’t piss on me if I was on fire.
A soft thud sounds somewhere nearby.
Apollo sprints in the direction of the sound, leaving me to do my best to keep up. When I round the corner of the farthest SUV, I wish I hadn’t.
Theseus straddles Hephaestus’s chest, his big fists descending in a steady rhythm as he beats the other man. I can’t tell if Hephaestus is alive, but he’s not fighting back. And there’s…so much blood. I press my hand to my mouth and take a step back.
Apollo doesn’t hesitate.
He throws himself at Theseus, taking him to the ground in a flying tackle. A normal person would respond to being attacked by surprise or freeze up. Not Theseus. I’m hardly trained in combat, but he looks like he simply switches the momentum of his punches from Hephaestus’s limp form to Apollo. I can feel the impact of his fist striking Apollo’s ribs from here.
I’m nearly certain I hear something crack. No, that has to be my imagination. It has to. I stand there helplessly as they whale on each other. For several seconds, it seems like Apollo will win. He’s strong and he’s trained and he’s furious enough to have the upper hand.
But Theseus’s punches have an impact.
Every time he lands a strike, Apollo crumples a little bit more. From here, I can see the precision in Theseus’s attacks. He’s aiming for Apollo’s ribs and side. The next time he goes in with one of those nasty attacks, Apollo lowers his arm to block.
And then Theseus hammers his fist into Apollo’s face. He takes advantage of Apollo appearing dazed by rolling them, coming up to straddle Apollo’s chest the same way he straddled Hephaestus.
Hephaestus who still hasn’t moved.
My heart stops as Theseus lifts one of those massive fists.
He’s going to kill Apollo. Hephaestus might be a powerful title, but Apollo is arguably more powerful. If Theseus kills them both, he’ll have his pick. From the bloody grin he gives Apollo, he knows it, too.
I don’t make a decision to move. I blink and I find myself spinning to look for a weapon. My attention snags on the shelves with the tires, all perfectly stored in bags. Surely there must be something there.
I rush to the shelves and haul one of the tires down. It’s heavier than I expect and I lose my grip on it immediately. “Fuck!” I risk a glance over my shoulder. Apollo still has his arms up, protecting his face from Theseus’s attacks, but who knows how long that will last. He’s bloodied and hurt.
I spin back to the shelves. “Come on, come on, come on!” There has to be something there that I can use. There has to be.
A gleam of metal catches my eye. A tire iron. I grab it and immediately have to shift my grip because my palms are so sweaty. I don’t let myself hesitate. Apollo’s life hangs in the balance. I simply act.
I sprint to where Theseus continues to beat him. No warning. I can’t afford one. I plant my feet and swing the tire iron with all my strength. He must see me at the last moment because I don’t hit his head like I was aiming for. He gets an arm up and grunts as the blow lands. It barely moves him.