Page 184 of House of Pain
“Blaze!” Andro’s voice came from behind him, but he ignored it. “Blaze, get off him!”
A pair of hands hauled Blaze off Gabe’s body, and he thrashed against the hold. He whirled, ready to lash out at Andro, but his friend held up a hand.
“You’ll kill him before it’s time,” he said, panting. Blaze regarded the guy on the ground, groaning in pain.
Then, he found Matias a few feet away, in a similar state. Andro’s knuckles were raw and bleeding, and that calmed the beast inside Blaze for a moment.
He cleared his throat, and looked to the lake.
Alecto was a few feet away, perched on that damn boat that was third filled with water, staring at them.
There was blood everywhere.
Blaze stormed forwards, but before his feet could even hit the water, both Jolene and Andro grabbed his arm and dragged him back.
“Have you fucking lost your mind?” Andro screamed into his ear. “You have to turn on your fucking brain and start using it!”
Blaze got a hold of himself and the rage that was threatening to suffocate him.
Andro was right.
Blaze yanked his arm away.
“Did you get the Book?” Alecto called, and they all turned to her.
“Val is on it with the rest of the Snakes. Don’t worry about it,” Andro called back, pacing the shore. “You stupid bitch! You almost died, and what you’re concerned about is the Book? Really?!”
Alecto rolled her eyes.
Blaze wasn’t sure whether he wanted to laugh or grab her and shake her until she realized the severity of the situation.
Alecto could have died.
The boat rocked again, water around it swirling as heads popped up, one by one.
“We need to get her out, now,” Jolene said. “Alecto put up a shield!”
Alecto stared at them for a moment, face blank. Then she blinked, cursed under her breath, and nodded, looking around.
She’d probably forgotten about it in the heat of the moment.
Soon, Alecto pulled up her protective shield, the red tendrils swirling over her skin.
Apparently she had been practicing. Her shield technique was more advanced than any of theirs.
Thanks to me.
Of course, Alecto perfected her shield after he dumped her in the Cursed Forest and left her to die.
The sirens were gathering around the boat, their scaled tails swishing in anticipation.
“Guys,” Alecto called, gripping the sides of the boat. “Tell me you know how to get me out. I can’t row. They’re holding me in place.”
“Yes, don’t worry,” Jolene called. Blaze and Andro looked at her. “I do have a plan. Almost.”
“Care to share it with us?” Andro asked, glancing back to where Matias and Gabe lay on the cold ground.
“Fire will annoy them,” Jolene said. “It’ll keep them away, but it will also piss them off, so we’ll have to be very quick and precise.”
