Page 101 of Flame and Fury

“That is the case for many,” Hades says, a hint of sympathy lacing his words.

Petals fall from the canopy of flowers over his head, floating to the ground where they crumble and sink into the soil. There are so many that it looks like snow. No. It is snow. Huge fluffy flakes tumble around us, turning the tips of the verdant grass white. As I watch, the snow accumulates until there are several inches of it. I'm not cold, even though my brain tells me I should be.

“We're running out of time, Wren.” Hades sighs, shifting forward in his chair.

“Time for what?” I move to my knees, the snow nearly a foot deep now.

“Only once have I let someone enter my territory and then leave.”

My mouth gapes. I stare at the god of the Underworld; certain I'm misunderstanding him.

“You should count yourself very lucky. Or maybe it's a curse.” Hades shrugs a shoulder, as if he can't decide and then stands up. My head tips back as he approaches. He walks through the snow as though it's just an illusion.

“You have too much to do yet. Don't waste this favor.” Hades reaches out and drags a finger down my forehead.

I frown up at him, ready to ask a million questions about his cryptic words. I don't get a chance. Collapsing into the snow, I’m unable to move. The flakes blanket me, covering my body as Hades walks away, leaving me alone as the world turns white.

CHAPTER50

ATLAS

My vision dims, and my hearing goes out. In the distance, there’s a faint sound that reminds me of an animal in pain. Then I realize it's me. My roar of agony at watching the woman I love die. My soul feels like it's ripping in two.

I dive for Aphrodite. It's too late to save Wren, but I rip the knife out of the goddess's hand and slam it into her chest. She moves at the last second and the blade sinks into her shoulder. She falls back with a look so shocked it would be amusing if Wren wasn't dead at my feet. My face is wet. I drag my arm across my cheek, thinking it's Aphrodite's blood. It doesn't matter that I’m caked in dirt and dried blood.

Only it's not Aphrodite's blood. It's my tears.

“You will pay for this, son of Zeus.” Aphrodite pulls the blade from her shoulder. Her virginal white gown is stained with a growing patch of crimson. Funny how it's just as red as any human's. Her husband's blade won't kill her, a full-blooded god, but it still hurts like hell.

“These are your benevolent gods,” I shout out to the crowd.

Wren, the others, me, we all came here to accomplish something today. The crowd is so massive that there's no way to know who supports the gods and who hates them. I know there are members of the Underground in the mass of people because I see their masks dotted through the crowd. If I die trying to fulfill this last action, then so be it.

I'd take it all back if it meant Wren was breathing once again.

When I first met Wren, I would have said that no one life is worth more than saving many. My laughter at the thought rings out. It’s the sound of a man who's lost his sanity. I was so wrong. I'd let every person in this crowd be cut down if it meant Wren was back. They say love makes you a better person, but I think it's made a madman out of me.

“Aphrodite cut down this woman because she offered hope. She would have set us free from the tyranny of Zeus and Hera. Taking away their control means taking away the clerics' permission to do whatever they feel entitled to do. She sacrificed her life to give you all the chance for freedom. What will you do with that honor?” This is not an encouraging, rousing speech. It's pure rage, shouted at the crowd. I want them to wake the fuck up. To fight for themselves. Even if we don't live to see tomorrow, at least we’ll die fighting for something worthwhile.

I fall to my knees, lifting Wren's shoulders from the ground. Bile rises in my throat when her head flops back. I prop it in the crook of my elbow and carefully untangle the amulet from around her neck.Her eyes are open, but the fire that burns so fierce is gone. The pain in my chest steals my breath. No. This can’t be real.

“You have signed your death warrant,” my father snarls at me, picking up my discarded sword.

Clerics form a circle around us, Nathaniel Rogers watching from a safe distance with a pleased smile on his face. He doesn’t lift a finger to do any of the dirty work, but he’s enjoying watching it all play out in front of him.

Zeus lifts my sword just as I spot a woman snaking her way through the crowd. Our eyes lock and she nods. I throw the amulet, hurtling it over the heads of the screaming crowd. Nyx catches it, her fingers snatching it out of the air. Behind me, Zeus swings my blade down and I bow my head, pressing a kiss to Wren’s forehead and closing my eyes.

The clang of metal clashing sounds over my head. The strike never hits. My head snaps up. Ares’s grinning at me like a maniac.

“Giving up so quickly? I knew there was a reason I didn’t pick you as my champion.”

“Are you really fighting to save my pathetic offspring?” Zeus and Ares have swords locked, a contest of brute strength. Sparks of lightning zip around Zeus’s sword, but Ares lifts a leg and kicks my father in the stomach, sending him reeling backward.

“You never could think big picture, Zeus. Always stuck on being the top dog. You never understood how much power the little guys can accumulate when they’ve been pushed too far.”

“So, you’re turning on us then? Betraying the gods for what? Another war?” Hera snarls, stepping up beside a fuming Zeus. The crowd greedily watches the drama unfold with rapt attention. The gods hold themselves so far above humans, but really, they’re all just a bunch of sophomoric drama queens.

Greer steps behind me, watching my back while I lift Wren off the ground. I don’t know where I’m going, but I won’t leave her body here. Nathaniel and the other clerics will hang her from the Shrine as a warning about what they do to Furies.

---