Page 46 of Goddess of Storms

My fingers wrap around the bolt from my father and I wait until I hear that whisper from him, telling me it is time to unleash not only it but my power.

As I round a corner and shooters come into view it comes, "Daughter, now. Be careful."

I gently pull the bolt from my neck and it transforms into a lightning-bolt-shaped sword. My own lightning arcs on the edges of the blade. It is beautiful, but I have to get back to the task at hand.

My legs keep pumping as I cut down each of Hermes's men that are firing on my guys. One quick slash of my blade and they fall to the ground, cradling their arms, the burns visible where my sword glanced at them.

With each howl of pain, I am a step closer to them. As they come into view, I notice that Stone and Nile are in the lead with Phoenix weaponless behind them. They still advance. Stone is swinging his hammer, blocking all the bullets as Nile uses his trident to maim the shooter but not kill them.

Phoenix's eyes are the first to meet me and he breaks their little march and comes running to me. I get the shooter aiming at him just as the bullet leaves the chamber. I strike the gunman and run to Phoenix as he falls.

"You idiot," I scolded him. "You're lucky this is a flesh wound, or I'd go to the underworld and drag your ass back to the land of the living to kill you myself."

I forgot about the madness just for a moment and it was just the two of us.

Strong hands clasp my shoulders, pull me from Phoenix, and into a chest.

"Stone, my love, I knew you'd come for me." I smile into his chest.

"Did they hurt you? I saw blood on your leg. What did these sick fucks do to you?" Worry is written on his face.

"Nothing, really. It's my brother, Hermes. He is the fucker behind all this. I know my family is full of sick fucks, but my own brother? Maybe I was better off not knowing who I was."

Stone pulls me back just enough to see my face. "No, that was torture for me. You are more powerful then he ever has been. It's time you show him that and fight for what's yours. Us," he tells me. Pointing at himself, then Nile and Phoenix.

"Even Nile?" I laugh. "You hate him."

"If you love him, we will figure it out. I'm not losing you again," he vows.

"Deal," I agree. "Let's go kick my brother's ass and get out of this town. It's a little too much for me and creepy."

"You got it," Phoenix agrees as he picks up a gun from one of the shooters.

"Phoenix, use this. I want it back, but I think you can wield it better than I can," I say, tossing him the bolt blade. "I mean you don't get the light show with it, but it will be handy in a fight."

He catches it with ease and I notice that he is testing the balance of the blade, then his blue eyes meet mine. "If you give me your weapon, what will you use?"

"I am the weapon, don't you worry about me." I wink. "Now let's see if Hermes is hiding in his mansion. He was never much for fighting. Why else do you think my dad made him a messenger."

Leading my men, we head back to where I just came from and as we come back to the main road, there stands Hermes with a row of men.

"Oh, so you do take after our father, huh? Seems you have a double standard. I see you standing with not only Stone but two more demi-gods. My little sister is a slut," he states with disappointment in his tone.

"First of all, you are a sick fuck, wanting to mate with your sister. The fates are the ones that gave me three mates. So, call me a slut if you want, but I choose love and my destiny to be with these men. Maybe you're just bitter that fate didn't give you a mate, so you try to take what's not yours. Tell your men to drop their weapons. Have you ever seen what happens to a gun once lightning hits it?" I taunt.

"You are bound, that..." he stammers when he notices that I no longer have the pendant on.

"Your cheap jewelry didn't do its job. I was able to zap it. So, men, I repeat, drop your weapons. With lightning hitting them, the plastic will melt but the powder will still explode, raining molten metal all over you. I mean if you don't value your life by all means keep them."

More than half of the men throw their guns away, but they are quickly replaced with swords that they had hidden behind their backs.

I glance at my men, they all silently nod that they are ready for this fight. Hermes and I take a step towards each other as his men run towards us. My men give me a wide berth as I call upon my powers. Lightning arcs around me and the wind starts to pick up. I surround myself with a tornado that blows all his attackers from my path as I keep my eyes focused on Hermes.

The clang of swords and hammer have me a little on edge but I know that Stone and Nile are skilled fighters, Phoenix is a son of Ares, he’d better be able to handle himself.

As my wind tunnel gets near to my brother he is having more and more trouble standing his ground.

"It didn't have to come to this, brother. I will make you pay for the years I have lost with Stone and Nile. I will not let up until our father, himself, makes me. I will no longer live in fear. I have my men and no one will take them from me. Do you understand that?"

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