Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 92232 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 461(@200wpm)___ 369(@250wpm)___ 307(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92232 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 461(@200wpm)___ 369(@250wpm)___ 307(@300wpm)
“How can I—”
He points out to the smoking field. “He will lead you to them.”
Reaching into his pocket, he pulls out an amulet. It flashes with a green light.
“Take this. It will help you travel quickly and keep you hidden from him. When you find the others, it will bring me to you.
“If you try to run, I will know. If you try to get rid of it, I will know. You are bound to me and this work. Nod if you understand.” I nod slowly. “Good, I will send soldiers to collect your son. He remains with me until the deed is done.”
“Ho…how do you know—”
“You are the only one flying blindly here. The price has been set. You missed the negotiations. Now take this. Go on, be quick.”
I take the amulet with a shaky hand. Before it can settle into place, he is gone. I turn in a circle, looking around the field.
The bishop is gone, as is that superbeing. All that’s left are piles of ash that were once living men. I stumble back and fall onto my behind.
Not my son.
How did I get here? What have I done? This isn’t right. I know it isn’t.
“Annabeth, please forgive me.”
You Must Stop
I rub my temples and groan. I’m hungry, but I haven’t been able to pull myself away from reading these scrolls. The crackers in my satchel have been holding me over.
I can’t move because I think I’m onto something. Since Kendrick left to train in his favorite place, new scrolls have come to me. I am taking this time to read through them. These are older, more ancient ones.
At first, I didn’t think I would find what I was looking for, but I had to look closer. The answers are scattered, but I’ve been reading for so long the words have started to bleed together. That’s when the answers begin to jump out at me.
“Yes, yes, this is it,” I mutter to myself.
I look at my notes and then back at the scrolls. There is a way. A spell that doesn’t use dark magic.
“No, no, no,” I whimper as I keep reading.
The resources I need to do this are not within my reach. I would need to be on sacred, immortal ground. This would also require five others in my bloodline.
I cannot ask my sisters to do this. Zandra and Annaniah aren’t ready. This spell would risk too much, and I would still be short two others. There aren’t any more of us.
Suddenly, a breeze fills the cave, blowing out the sconces and the oil lamp before me. I look around. This is not the warning system that lets us know when someone is above. I shiver and stand.
A pulsing begins within my womb. I cover my stomach with my hands and pray to the gods that all is well. I’m going to have to tell Kendrick the truth soon. I don’t think I can keep this up much longer.
“Venus.”
My name is called as if a whisper in the wind. I startle and look around wildly. My power isn’t at full strength, but I’m prepared to fight. I will protect my child at all costs.
I weave my hands before me and a bow and arrow forms within my palms. I pull the bow taut and try to find the intruder with the illuminated tip of the arrow.
“You cannot continue on this path, my child. You are affecting the baby.”
“What? Who’s there?”
A beam of light appears before me. Then, a woman seems to step from it. The light disappears, but the woman has a glow of her own.
Her dark-brown skin has a gold tone to it, as if she bathes in a sea of gold each day. Her hair is in big wavy curls that look like finely spun silk.
“Put the weapon down, my child. I mean you no harm. I am here to help. You will learn to trust me in time.”
She pauses and her brows furrow. I lower the bow, still watching her closely. Her mouth hasn’t moved once, although I can hear her speak to me clearly.
There’s something about her voice. It’s melodic and soothing. Almost as if she could lull you to sleep.
She tilts her head to the side. A smile comes to her lips. Suddenly, the feeling of warmth falls over me.
It’s as if the weight of the burden I’ve been carrying has been lifted. Then, in the blink of an eye, the woman is standing right before me. It feels like she’s reaching into my womb. My bow and arrow vanish as I lose my hold on my powers. I look down and gasp.
“I am not hurting you. The child needs my help. Your spell is changing his essence. Ah, yes, there, that’s better.”
She pulls her arm back and takes a step away from me. I palm my belly with trembling hands. Tears slip down my cheeks.