“This is for me!” I slam the whip down on his head before redirecting it into a burning cage. I’ve never done it before, but I’ve watched Aetos turn his fire into a living sphere hundreds of times. At first, it wobbles and is more egg-shaped than round. Then it encases Otis as I gradually draw it down toward his feet. He shouldn’t be able to burst through. Only the creator of the sphere can break it. The magic originally came from him, though, so I’m not sure where that leaves us. In a gray area, to say the least.
I detach myself from the flames as soon as Otis is contained and look around. Kato is up again and still fighting, but his mobility is undermined by the serious injury to his leg. Carver is next to him, his blade moving so fast that no one can get too close. He’s intact, but tiring. Flynn is bloody, and his left arm is hanging uselessly at his side, but he’s still swinging with his right.
I don’t see Beta Sinta anywhere, and the way my stomach drops makes me ill.
Something crashes behind me, and I whirl. Beta Sinta is fighting like a madman and coming straight for me. Our eyes collide. He won’t reach me, not before the Fisans do. There are more than a dozen of them left, and there isn’t a spark of magic among them. Only swords, men, and muscle, and I don’t have enough fire whip to overcome more than a few. I have three minutes, maybe four, before they massacre the Sintans and are on top of me.
Someone darts around Flynn’s bad side and grabs my sword arm. I slam my other hand into his nose along with Otis’s magic. I let too much out at once, and the last of the fire whip leaves me. The Fisan’s face melts under my palm, leaving my hand hot with gore. I wipe the sludge on my pants and turn in uneasy circles, waiting for the next attack. My heart pounds as our situation sinks in. There are too many Fisans. The odds are impossible. The Sintans can’t win.
An idea takes hold. If Beta Sinta dies, I can go back to the circus. There will be no binding vow. No one who knows about me. I don’t have to fight. I could turn invisible. When it’s all over, I could slip away.
The thought presses on my chest like a lead weight. Not stopping to question why, I push it aside and fall to my knees, raising my hands to Olympus.
“Cat!” Beta Sinta roars.
I glance over my shoulder, my eyes narrowed.
“Get up! Fight!” His eyes are wild. His face is stark and splattered with blood.
I squeeze my eyes shut and turn back around. I block him out. I block it all out—clashing metal, roaring men, the stench of fear and blood, and the feel of dust turned to thick, reddish muck sucking at my knees.
“Help me,” I whisper, not knowing what will happen. If anything will happen. “Please.”
The world drops away. My stomach heaves as I tumble down a long tunnel and then land with an icy splash, sinking deep into black water. My ears hurt and my lungs burn by the time I figure out which way is up and start kicking.
I break the surface and gulp down air, slapping water out of my eyes. I’m adrift on a vast ocean. It’s a dusk of shadows and gloom. The water is gray and churning where a storm brews on the horizon. Waves roll in—powerful, angry, dark.
“Poseidon!” My God Father might not be listening. He might not care.
I swim, looking frantically around. The waves are monstrous, and there’s no land in sight. I rise up on a swell and then plunge back down on a stomach-churning ride, salt spray stinging my eyes and nose.
The rough surf suddenly splits, the slippery back of a giant sea serpent slicing the water only an arm’s length away. I gasp and flail back. Its tail thumps my leg, and I let out a shriek. I know exactly where I just landed, and Poseidon’s Ocean Oracle isn’t known for its tolerance. It’s either going to help me or eat me. Right now, that’s anyone’s guess.
The creature circles me, closing in. I spin in the water, its long, sinewy body creating an eddy that whips me around. Red, serpentine eyes with tall, narrow pupils study me, unblinking. There’s a nudge in my head, insistent. My instincts scream to shield myself, but I can’t. Not now. Gritting my teeth, I force myself open and bare my mind to the Oracle’s scrutiny. It filters through my thoughts and memories. My dark deeds. My sacrifices. My fears.
The long look it gives me reminds me of the Lake Oracle, taking its time to decide if I’m worthy. After what feels like an eternity, a forked tongue snakes out and licks my cheek. It’s smooth and icy and leaves a trail of numbness across my face. I shiver, hoping I taste like mercy instead of dinner.
Giant reptilian jaws unhinge and open wide, revealing two enormous fangs dripping seawater, saliva, and venom. The Oracle’s breath stinks like the bowels of the Underworld. My heart sinks, and I cringe. It’s going to swallow me whole. I squeeze my eyes shut and wait for the inevitable. It was arrogant and stupid to call on Poseidon like this. I’m surprised the Gods even let me live this long, knowing what I’m destined to destroy.