Bonds of Hercules (Villains of Lore, #2)(118)

The metal was cool in my hands, barely weighing anything.

The guards marched to a stop in front of me. They parted in unison, revealing a wide gate. Titus stepped forward and turned a lever. “I’m sorry,” he said. “For everything.”

“Shut up.” I tried to ignore him. The gate slowly lifted.

Terror cracked my ribs, one by one, until my chest was concave.

Fuck me.

It was the worst-case scenario—the day was dark and stormy. Wind whipped and clouds churned across the sky.

Discussion buzzed around the packed stadium.

“GO!” A guard shoved me forward.

I staggered out, Nyx tensed around my shoulders, and Fluffy Jr. raised his head high.

Whispers traveled through the stadium.

“HERCULES—TWELVE LABORS!” Zeus stared down at me from the end of the podium, long white toga whipping. He held his unholy scepter, the golden eagle sparking atop it.

You’re in grave danger.

Zeus’s lion roared beside him; cheers thundered.

In a trance, I walked until I stood in the center of the arena.

The stadium was staticky and warped on the other side of the force field—neon-green lines shimmered—my skin prickled.

The whispers morphed into a chant that spread until all of Sparta was shouting, “Angelus Romae … Angelus Romae … Angelus Romae!”

I hurtled into the past, the coliseum disappearing.

Augustus carried me against his chest as he walked through a Roman street. Rain splattered across my face and humans chanted, “Angelus Romae,” as they reached out and touched my head. Kharon snarled at them, his head bleeding, as he hung on to Augustus. Bound Titans screamed behind us.

Augustus stared down at me—midnight eyes intense as he cradled me.

I blinked.

The present came back into focus.

I was standing in the middle of the Dolomites Coliseum with a spear clutched in my fist. The gate was rising again, and Sparta was screaming for blood.

Out of the dark, multiple shadows moved.

One, two, three, four, five …

“Oh, come on.”

Eight oversized Nemean lions prowled out onto the hot sands—an entire pride.

The first round was only supposed to be four.

The Chthonic section erupted with outrage, but their shouts were drowned out by the growing stomps and chants. “ANGELUS ROMAE!”

Zeus stood at the edge of the podium, watching calmly.

I made the sign of the cross.

A hair-raising growl echoed and my gaze snapped back to the sand.

The Nemean lions were creeping closer, fanning out on both sides in a big circle as they got ready to attack me from all sides.

I gripped my spear with both hands and pointed it forward.

So this is how it ends.

Nyx slithered around my shoulders. “You stab them,” she hissed. “I’ll bite.”

Fluffy Jr. growled back at the beasts, the sound as deep and terrifying as theirs. He stood about a head taller than them.

A Nemean lion tipped back its maw and roared.

Two charged forward; one at my back, and one at my front.

Fluffy Jr. sprinted to meet the one at my back.

Squatting, I raised my weapon.

I fought the urge to run for my life as a lion headed straight toward me—it leapt, flying through the air.

“NOW,” Nyx screamed.

Crouching low, I raised the point of my long spear straight up into the air, arms shaking as I held it steady against the resistance.

Blood and guts rained down.

The lion’s momentum carried it over my head and the spear split it from neck to navel.

It slumped onto the sand, twitching, gore everywhere. Nyx leapt off my neck—and the lion fell still. It was dead. “Sorry,” I whispered down as I clutched my spear until my fingers cramped.

The crowd went wild.

I hope it doesn’t have a family who are going to be sad— YOWL.

I turned—Fluffy Jr. had ripped out the throat of the lion and was standing over its dead carcass, his maw dripping blood. He pranced with glee atop it, pulverizing it to pieces. The hump on his back was also glowing. Is it … moving?

Another roar echoed.

Scales slithered around my ankle as Nyx returned to my side.

“Two down, six to go,” she hissed. “Easy.”

As if they heard her, three lions charged forward together. “I call the left one!” Nyx shouted, sounding excited. I turned to the middle one and Fluffy Jr. sprinted at the one to my right.

This time, the lion didn’t leap.

It came to a stop in front of my spear and roared.

Internally, I was screaming in horror. Externally, I lunged forward at the beast. The lion stumbled back, fangs flashing.

In my peripheral vision, a lion dropped dead, convulsing. Nyx. There was a murmur of confusion from the crowd.

Roars and grunts sounded from across the sand as Fluffy Jr. fought.

Movement flashed and I scurried backward, waving my spear. A buzzing sensation scoured my hands. It was hard to grip my spear.

Oh god. The four remaining lions stalked forward, sensing the weakest prey—me. Golden coats gleaming, their maws were open and ready.

Backing away, I kept waving the spear back and forth.

They followed, playing with their kill, waiting for an opening.

This was how I died.