Page 58 of Merciless
"Youdid it,Mariposita." Jandro squeezed around me quickly, smiling wearily as he pulled away. His eyes were back to normal, the beautiful hazel color shining brightly.
Just as he spun me around and pushed me into Gunner's arms, I heard Freyja's voice in my head.
I must leave your vessel, child, before my occupation does irreparable damage to you. I've healed you all that I can.
"Wait!" I barked out loud, quickly releasing Gunner to bring my hand to my aching temple. "I need you a little longer, Freyja. We have to heal Reaper and Shadow."
I will leave you with some in reserve, but I'm afraid it's not much. I must go, daughter.
Something about that final statement felt awfully permanent, and an odd pang wracked through my chest.
Will we ever speak again?I asked the goddess in my head.
Oh yes, daughter.Freyja sounded like she was smiling.Perhaps not with language, but I am always with you. You can always speak to me and I will answer. You only need to listen. I am so very proud of you, dearest Mariposa.
With that, I felt Freyja's presence simply leave my body. I turned to my guys, the question on the tip of my tongue, but they already knew.
"Horus has left." Gunner cupped my cheek and lowered his forehead to mine. "But I know where Reap and Shadow are."
"Hades is gone too," Jandro confirmed. "But we'll do a proper farewell party later. Let's get our boys back."
Gunner pointed to another set of doors at the right side of the room, and together we took off running toward them.
I prayed to all the gods that brought us this far that we weren't too late.
Twenty-Three
SHADOW
Dread consumed me like a sickness while I watched Emma hover over Reaper’s still body. She pressed her ear to his chest for a long time, and checked his pulse in several places. When she finally looked up, her gaze hit me like a kick to the chest.
“I’m sorry,” she said. “I can’t detect anything.”
“Can’t you breathe into his mouth?” I pleaded weakly. “Do chest compressions to restart his heart. Do anything. Please.”
Emma shook her head, pulling her mask down to reveal her downturned mouth. “I don’t know CPR, I could cause further damage. I’m…I’m so sorry.”
“The snake god,” I tried next. “Have you heard anything from him?”
Another slow, apologetic shake of her head.
I was grasping at straws and she knew it. Reaper’s chest hadn’t moved for hours. I couldn’t hear any breathing besides my own since yesterday.
My president was gone.
I slumped back against my wall with a clatter of chains.
These fucking chains.
A ball of anger and grief expanded in my chest, and I slammed the back of my head against the brick wall with the little remaining strength I had.
Pain, now. Please.
Anything to take the edge off these emotions consuming me from the inside. I didn’t know what to do with any of this, couldn’t hurt myself or the people who did this to Reaper.
Emma just stared at me quietly, listening to my weak, wheezing breaths now punctuated by wracking sobs of grief.
“Have you made a decision?” she asked during a quiet moment, referring to the last conversation we had.
