1 | Gods & Monsters ✓

Chapter 37

"I knew I should never have trusted you—an Ama," Caterina sneered. "You will burn for this Crown Prince! I will see to it that you do!"

Her left hand engulfed in flames. Fire licked her fingers, enchanting those who watched. Gio held her back by. She refused to flee, but Gio refused to let her go. He covered her with his body as a bright light crashed next to the barrier. Black swords clashed with a white blade. It was so blinding at first, it took a moment for Ava's eyes to re-adjust.

The air quickly chilled and nipped Ava's skin. Her hair rose, her whole body shivered. She never felt so frightened before in her life from just staring at a sword. Yet, it was the most beautiful sword she'd ever seen. It was intricate and fragile, the thin blade of an angel's wing.

Darious held the white blade steady, pressing it further into Marc's swords, hoping he'd give into the pressure. The Crown Princes' curse mark slithered its way up Marc's shoulders to his face, and cloaked his right arm in thorny vines.

He easily pushed Darious back with his new strength. "You told me to let her go."

"I didn't tell you to kill her!" Darious snapped back.

Darious overcame Marc's strength. The swords slid up his blade. He kicked Marc back into the dome and stabbed the tip straight into his shoulder, centimeters from his neck. A sharp noise pricked Ava's ear, she flinched.

Marc strained to keep Darious back. He caught the white blade before it sliced off his neck. Darious applied more pressure. The sword inched further into his skin.

"Go ahead and kill me," he grunted. "It won't matter. The spell is set in motion. It won't stop until she's dead."

The blade dug deeper into his neck, but even then Darious didn't finish him off. A dark laughter bellowed from Marc. "The god of life is useless in a fight if he can't kill his own opponent. I guess it's not my time to die."

"Why I haven't killed you, yet, has nothing to do with my abilities as a god. It's because I have a heart. And locking you up would be much more entertaining."

Josh appeared with a giant hammer and struck hard where they stood. Marc dodged the attack. Rocks burst into smithereens, shook the ground under a miniature earthquake. A horn blared into Ava's eardrums. It didn't damage the dome wall at all, instead showed the wall curved deep underground. I'm trapped in a fucking ball.

Ava hacked and coughed onto the glass floor. More blood disappeared into the spell. She was nearing the end. She didn't know how much more she could take. The pain was so excruciating. I might die at this rate.

There was a knock on the wall to her right. Shocks zapped her body under a faint pulse. When she turned her head, she found Mika standing there. He searched the exterior wall—but like Ava he found nothing. But he was here. She pulled herself together.

Using her forearms, Ava crawled over and forced herself to sit upright. She pressed her hands on the wall. Mika crouched to meet her level and laid his palms flat over hers. It was faint, but she felt his heat. It made her smile.

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry," he said. "I knew the risks, and I still left you alone. I should have stayed... This is all my fault. I'm sorry."

Ava shook her head. "It's not your fault. I thought I could trust Marc. I never thought he would..."

She stopped talking. She still couldn't say the words out loud, because even now, she wished this were a nightmare. It all felt too unreal, too dream-like. But it wasn't. Ava was really going to die. I'm so stupid. So stupid.

Caterina and Gio sat at Mika's side. Behind them, Sam moved his finger and created a barrier of his own as the fight against Marc continued on.

Caterina was exhausted—sweat covered her entire face and labored breathing came out in heavy waves. Gio helped her sit up or else she'd been lying down. The Reaper still hadn't come back yet, and Ava wasn't sure how much time she had left.