by Jenna Moreci
FaironclimbedtohisfeetandturnedtoJason.Hisfleshwasdrippingwith
pus,andasingle,brass-coloredboneprotrudedfromhischest,buthe
maintainedhisairofcoldindifference.BeforeJasoncoulddelvefurtherinto
hismelt,Faironswattedhimwithhiswing,knockinghimtothefloorwithout
careorconcern.JasonpulledhimselfuprightonlyforFairontobackhandhim
acrossthejaw,andagainJasontumbledtotheground.
Adeep,throbbingpaincoursedthroughJason’sbody.Heglancedacrossthe
room,firstatFaironandthenatEve,whoseeyeswerepointedfiercelyinhis
direction.Shewasbloodyandbeaten,herbodyshaking,andthevisionalone
sent a swell of adrenalized anger flooding through him. With a hateful roar, JasonboltedfromthegroundandhurledhimselfatFairon,swinginghisfists
asifheedlessoftheconsequences.
Fairondippedandweavedbetweenhisjabs,smilingalmosttauntingly,but
stillJasoncontinued,overcomebyrage.HepoundedhisfistagainstFairon’s
nostrils,andthoughhisknucklestoreandbledfromtheimpact,hewasnumb
tothepain.Again,hepunchedthecreature,andagain,andeachblowfeltmore
satisfyingthanthelast.
But Fairon merely cocked his head, bemused, seemingly unaffected by the
beating.AndasJasonlungedathimoncemore,hedippedtotheground,
pluckedhisbladefromthedirt,andthrustitdeepintoJason’sleg.
Jasonhowled,staggeringawayfromFaironandclutchinghiswounded
thigh.Slowly,heremovedhishands—theywerecoveredinblood,thevision
soominousthathehardlynoticedtheshakingofhispalms.AgainFairondove
in his direction, swiping his blade across Jason’s stomach and then his chest, creatingtwodeepcutsthatsprayedbrightredblood.
Jasonfellbackintothewall,slidingdownitsashysurfaceandlandingina
piteouspileontheground.Hiseyesclenchedshut;hisbreathingwasfastand
arduous,whichonlyamplifiedthestingofhisinjuries,andheheldhishands againsthisgashedchestandabdomen,tryingtoslowthebleeding.
Reluctantly,heopenedhiseyes;Faironloomedoverhim,leaninginclosely
asiftoexaminehisprey,andwithonesharpmovement,hegrabbedJasonby
thethroat,pulledhimfromtheground,andpressedhisbackintothewall.
“Avalianteffort,”Faironutteredflatly.“Butyouareincapable.Yourbattle
waslostbeforeitbegan.”Heleanedincloser.“Youarenotmynemesis.”
JasongrabbedatFairon’stalons,strugglingtoprythemfromhisneck,but
they remained locked and secure, the claws digging into his skin. He tried to melt,butinsteadaspurtofbloodshotfromhisnostrilsanddribbleddownhis
face.Faironraisedhisblade,slowlyslidingthesharpedgeupJason’slegand
acrosshisstomachbeforefinallypositioningthetipdirectlyoverhisheart.He
gazedatJason’sscar,hiseyeslitwithaperversehunger,andthenplungedthe
bladeintoJason’schest.
Jason’shandssprangtoaction,flatteningaroundeithersideofthebladeand
forcingitstilljustasthetippinchedathisskin.
FaironglancedathisweaponandatJason’shands,andhechuckled.
“Youfighttolive?”Hepushedontheblade,grindingitintoJason’schest.
“Yourdeathisfated.Youcannotstopit.Youfightfor nothing.”
Jasonstaredattheblade,watchingasitslowlyandpainfullypiercedhisskin.
Arawpowerpulsedthroughhim,onehehadfeltbefore,butheknewitwasn’t
enough.Faironwasstrongerthanhim,andthoughhehadbeenabletoslowthe blade’sprogress,hisarmswereshakingsovigorouslythattheweaponbegan
todothesame.Thetipofthebladesliddeeperintohisflesh,andwithnoother options,Jasonwrappedhisfingersaroundthesharpenedmetal,usingallofthe
strengthhecouldsummontoforcetheknifestill.
BloodspilledfromJason’shands,tricklingbetweenhisknucklesand
coating his fingers. Fairon stared at the liquid, and a grin spread across his lips.
“Do you feel that?” His eyes met Jason’s. “The pain in your body. In your shatteredbones.Inthebloodthatpoursfromyouropenedflesh.Thatsensation
—that feeling—itisyour weakness.Itisyourhumanfragility.”Hebroughthis lipstoJason’sear.“FEELIT.”
Jasonlookeddownathisbloodiedhands,whichwereslowlyslippingalong
theblade.Hecouldfeelthemetaltipdiggingpasthisribs,couldseetheblood
seepingthroughhisshirt.Hegrittedhisteeth,tryingtoblockoutthe
competingtortureofhisthroat,hishands,hiswoundedleg,andnowhischest,
focusingonlyonthepowerwithinhim.
Thoughhestaredattheblade,hecouldstillseeFairon’svictorioussmileout
ofthecornerofhiseye.JasonknewwhatFaironwasdoing—thathewas
takinghistime,thathewas enjoyingtheanticipation,andthattheonlyreason hewasstillalivewasforFairon’stwistedamusement.AndthoughJasoncould
feeladrenalineflowingwithinhim,heknewhecouldn’twithstandFairon’s
forceformuchlonger.
Hewasgoingtodie.
Astrangenoiseinterruptedthemoment:asoftcracking,likethesoundofice
splittingalongafrozenlake.Along,thinbreakspreadthroughtheblade,
startingatthehandleandclimbingtothetip,splinteringeverywhichwayuntil
theentireweaponshatteredintotinypieces.
Jason’shandsfelltohissides.Hegazed,stunned,attheshardsofmetal,and
thenatFairon,whoseeyeswerefilledwithsomethingunfamiliar:confusion.
Fear.
AnothernoisecaughtJason’sattention—asteadyrumbling—andhenoticed
flecksofgoldfallingfromabove.Fairon’shornsweredissolving,crumbling
intotinyfragments,untilallthatremainedweretwopatheticstumps.
AloudcrackechoedinJason’searsasFairon’stalonsshatteredintopieces,
disintegratingaroundJason’sneckandspillingdownhischest.Frantically,
FaironreleasedJasonandstaredathishands,watchinginhorrorashisonce
dauntingtalonsbecamemerepilesofrubble.
Jasonslumpedagainstthewall,strugglingtocatchhisbreath,thoughnot
oncetearinghisgazefromFairon.Andjustwhenhethoughtthatthespectacle
hadended,Fairon’seyesbulgedwithanewterror—hislipswerespreading
apart,slowlyexpanding,asifpriedopenbyinvisiblehands.
Fairongrabbedathisjaw,tryingtoforceitclosed,buthismouthopenedeven
wider,untilthecornersofhislipsrippedandeachandeveryoneofhis
fangs was exposed. Suddenly, his jaw snapped into place, and after a brief
stillness, a tooth popped from his gums; then another tooth fell, and then another,andsoonallofhisteethwerespringingfromhismouthandclinking
againstthegroundlikegoldenhailuntilhismouthwascompletelyempty.
JasonstaredupatFaironindisbelief.Thecreaturewaspractically
unrecognizable,hismostformidablefeaturesreducedtobrokenbits,hisface
ravagedandbarren.Jason’sgazedartedfromFairon’spanickedeyestohis
openedmouth,andheimmediatelyspottedthesmall,pinklifesourcesittingat
thebackofhisthroat.Suddenly,Faironwhimpered—hebattedathisneck,asif
&
nbsp; tryingtofightsomethingwithinhim,andthenhisgroansturnedintohorrified
howls.
Jason’seyeswidened.Thelifesourcewasswellinglikeaninflatingballoon,
growing so large that it tugged at the lining of his throat. Fairon fell to his knees, his wailing sharp and raspy, and before Jason could even absorb what washappening,Fairon’slifesourceexploded,spewinggobsoffleshand
bloodineverydirection.
Faironcollapsedtotheground,limpandbroken.
Dead.
Jasonfroze.HestaredatFairon,athislifelessbodyandthepiecesofmetal,
bone,andteethscatteredacrosstheground,andhisthoughtsswirledwith
shock.Itwasimpossible—everythinghehadjustseenwasbeyond
comprehension—andashetriedtoconsiderthepossibilities,ithithim.
HeimmediatelyturnedtoEve.Shewaslyingonthefloor,herbody
trembling,herarmoutstretched,andhereyeslockedonFairon,still channelinghermelt.Then,afterasecondofsilence,herarmdroppedandher
head collapsed to the ground, landing with a hard slap in the redness that surroundedher.
Thepoolofblood.
“EVE!”Jasoncried.Herantowardher,slidingthroughthestickypileandthen
kneelingatherside.Heflippedherontoherbackandinstantlyfeltill:her
cheeks,chestandabdomenweresaturatedwithblood,thegashinherstomach
stilloozing.JasonquicklypressedonehandagainstthewoundandshookEve
withtheother,urginghertoopenhereyes.
“EVE!”herepeated.“EVE,LOOKATME!”
Slowly,hereyesflutteredopen.ShestaredatJason,whoseemedtobe
moving in slow motion, his figure hazy and dim. She tried to reach out and touchhim,butherarmrefusedtobudge.Jasonwasshouting—shecouldonly
vaguelyhearhim—andthoughshewantedtospeak,shesaidnothing.Finally,a
waveofexhaustionhither,onesopowerful,so peaceful,thatshecouldn’thelp butcomply.Withonelast,shakybreath,EvegazedupatJason—hisskinwas
pale,hisvoicenowcompletelyinaudible—andclosedhereyes.
“EVE?”Jasonscreamed.“EVE!”
Heshookhershoulders,thistimemuchmoreaggressively,butstillshedidn’t
move.Hiseyesflittedfromherfacetoherhand,onceopenand
tremblingandnowlimplycurledatherside.Hisheartpoundedinhisthroat.
“OhmyGod.No,”hestammered.Hecuppedherface.“EVE?OhmyGod,
EVE!”
Jasonpushedatthecenterofherchestonce,twice,overandoveragain,until
hefeltaribsnapbeneathhishands.Hetiltedherchinbackandbreathed
into her mouth, pausing for a moment to see if her chest had risen, which it did,andthenhebreathedoncemore.Againhepushedatherchest,andagain
hefilledherlungs,butEvewasstillmotionless,andhereyesremainedshut.
Jasonanxiouslyscannedherbody,runninghisbloodyhandsthroughhishair.
“No…NO…”
Anintenseheatcoursedthroughhim,boilingsoseverelythathisentirebody
began to shake. He stared down at Eve for what felt like hours, and the most horriblecombinationoffeelingsenvelopedhim:desperation,helplessness,
and rage. His breathing became heavy, his lungs pounding in his chest with such force that he felt as if they could break past his ribcage, and soon his entire being was lit with a fire, one that took hold of him and urged him to obey—toact.
JasonscoopedEveupinhisarmsandboltedfromtheroom,sprintingwith
as much speed as he could rally. The pain of his broken bones and gaping woundswassmotheredbeneathadeepburning,onethatfueledhimtorun
faster.Evefloppedlimplyinhisgrasp,herheadslumpedforwardandher
bodybobbingagainsthischest,andhegrippedhertighter.Heflewthroughthe
lair, past the long series of portals and into the massive closet, swerving aroundthealiencorpsesthatlitteredhispath.
Timewasoftheessence,andsoonallhecouldseewasthepathbeforehim,
andallhecouldfeelwashisownfeverishpower.Ashespedpastthe
crematorium, a hint of hope crept through him: he could see the light of the
outside world ahead of him, and with one last surge of strength, he burst throughtheexitandbarreledontothebusyCalabasassidewalk.
Shriekssoundedallaroundhim,butJasondidn’tnotice.Heshovedthrough
thethrongofbodies,aspacksofpeoplehadgatheredaroundthealienlair,and
forcedhiswaytowardPercy’scar.
Percy was sitting in the driver ’s seat. JJ was flopped beside him, her feet restingonthedash,andSanchowasnestledbetweenthetwo,anxiouslypeering
outofthewindshield.Asthebackdooropenedbehindthem,theyallflinched
inunison.
“Jesus,waytobeinconspicuous,Jason,”JJmuttered.
They turned to Jason, only to find him plopping Eve’s limp body across the benchseats.
Percy’seyeswidened.“Holyshit—”
“Themedicalward!”Jasonordered.“NOW!”
“Isshecoveredin blood?”Sanchogasped.
“Isaid NOW! ”
Percyslammedonthegas,sendingthecarchargingforwardandhis
passengerslurchingintheirseats.Heglancedbackandforthbetweentheroad
andJason,whowassquattingonthefloor,steadyingEve’sbody.
“Whatthehellhappenedtoyou?”hespat.“Whatthehellhappenedto Eve?”
“Sheexhaustedhergift.”
“What?”JJshrieked.
“She’sdying.”
“OhGod,”Sanchomurmured.
“She’s dying?” Percyrepeated.
Sanchostuttered,“Howisthispossible?”
“It’s notpossible,”JJcutin.“Eveisapro.Shehas totalcontrolofhergift
—”
“Allofyou,just SHUTUP,”Jasonbarked.“There’snotimetoexplain.”
“DidFairondothistoher?”JJpersisted.
“OhmyGod,itwasFairon,wasn’tit?”Sanchomoaned.“Didhefollow
you?Ishecomingafterus?”
“He’snotcomingafterus,”Jasongrowled.
“Howdoyouknowthat?”
“Becausehe’sDEAD.”
“He’sdead?”Sanchowrinkledhisnose.“How—”
Suddenly,thecarbecamequiet.JJ,Sancho,andPercyexchangedglances,
eachofthemwearingthesamebleakexpression.TheylookedbackatEve,at
thebloodstainsalonghercheeks,neck,andchin,andinaninstant,itwasmore
than clear what had happened. Jason breathed into Eve’s mouth and pushed at herchest,anduponnoticinghiscomrades’silence,heturnedtofacethemonce
more.
“Look,shedoesn’thavemuchtime.”
“Well,that’saproblem,becausewe’reinrush-hourtraffic,andit’sgoingto takeusat leastahalfhourtogetbacktoBillington,”Percysaid.
“Shedoesn’t haveahalfhour,Percy.”
“Motherofballs,she’sgoingtodie,”Sanchowhimpered.“She’sgoingto
dierightherein Percy’scar.”
“She’snotdyinginthiscar,”JJinsisted,pullingherscratchpadontoherlap.
“Andit’snotgoingtotakeusahalfhourtogettoBillington.”
Herhandsflewacrossthescreen,sortingthroughmapsandsatelliteimages
ofnearbyroads.Sanchohoveredoverhe
rshoulder,watchingassheworked.
“Whatareyoudoing?”
“Findingashortcut.”
“Dynamic—thecomputergoddesssavestheday!”Sanchobeamed.“Areyou
goingtohackthestoplights?Make’emallturngreenforus?”
“Notexactly.Thismaysurpriseyou,butI’mnotasecretagent,andthisisn’t
a goddamn movie. ” JJ pulled one of her maps from the screen until it was floating in front of her in holographic form. “I’m looking for the quickest routebasedoncurrenttrafficconditions.”
Percyrolledhiseyes.“Great,my carcandothat.Somecomputergoddess.”
Thevehiclelurchedtoanabruptstop,throwingallofitspassengers
forward.JasonstabilizedEveandshotanangryglareinPercy’sdirection.
“Goddammit,Percy,be careful!”
“Ican’t help it!I toldyouthere’straffic!”
“It’saparkinglotupahead.We’renevergoingtomakeit.”Sanchoglanced attheroad infrontof themandthen atJason.“Balls, Jason, there’s a hole in yourleg!”
“Okay,everyoneneedstoQUIETDOWN,”JJbarked,silencingher
comradesinaninstant.“IfyouwantEvetohaveanyshotatliving,you’lldoas
Isay.”SheturnedtoJasonandnoddedatEve.“Jason,doesshehaveapulse?”
“Barely.”
“Buckleherin.Dothirtycompressions,twobreaths,andrepeat.”Shepaused
tomakesureJasonfollowedherinstructions,thensheturnedtowardthe
driver’sseat.“Percy,followmydirection.WhateverItellyoutodo, doit.And Sancho,”sheshrugged,“justbuckleup.”
SanchopromptlyscurriedtothebackrowoftheSUV,stumblingover
Jason’s legs and quickly buckling himself into place. JJ took one last look at Percy,whosestarewasfocusedintentlyonthecongestionahead.
“Youready?”
Percynodded,andJJtookinadeep,calmingbreath.
“Okay.Reverse.”
“Reverse?” herepeated.
“That’swhatIsaid.”
“You’renotserious,areyou?”
“There’sanintersectionbehindus,”Sanchoadded,lookingoverhis
shoulderouttherearwindow.
“Reverse,anddon’tstopuntilIsayso,”JJrepeated.
“We’llgethit!”Percyprotested.
“I said,REVERSE!”
Percyyankedatthegearstickandpoundedonthegas,sendinghiscar
