Page 51 of Invoking Ruin

It really is over. She’s going to summon her lackeys, and they’ll drag me down to Tartarus, where I will be locked away in darkness until I crack. Nothing and no one will save me.

Ruin, the Moirai had said. I would suffer the ruin I’d visited upon others.

They really made it happen. I hate them so much.

The ground beneath us vibrates.

Eris frowns and takes a step back. “What?”

It’s the only warning we get.

Vines shoot out of the dirt, wrapping around Eris like coiling snakes. They yank her from her feet and pin her against the ground. She screeches in shock as I slip out of range of her, getting to my feet.

Only a few second have passed, but Eris is completely wrapped in grape vines, encircling her limbs, her chest. When she opens her mouth to scream, they gag her.

“Sandro,” I breathe, disbelieving.

No, not anymore. This is Dionysus.

I know he’s there before I even turn around, know him by his footsteps pounding across the hard ground.

No, no, no, no.

He can’t be here. My mind spins with a hundred terrible possibilities. Eris’ allies aren’t here yet, but they should be soon, eager to drag my god back to Olympus. I turn in a wild circle, seeking them out.

Dionysus slides up to me, his arms coming to rest around my waist. “Vita. Are you all right?”

He brushes my hair back, checking my face and head for damage. I grab his hand. This can’t be what it seems like. Sandro cared about me, but Dionysus doesn’t. He can’t.

His purple eyes are brighter, more divine than they were even an hour ago. He’s coming back to himself, and my heart breaks along with the realization.

This can’t last.

On the ground, my mother’s glare promises pain and retribution. Her Apple rests just out of her reach. I kick it out of the way, a satisfied thrill running through me as it rolls across the ground.

A child’s momentary pleasure, right before the inevitable punishment.

I’ve gained no sympathy from Eris with my disobedience, my manipulation. If I had any dreams of convincing my mother to be my advocate, they’ve died today.

“I’m fine. We need to go.” Grape vines won’t hold my mother long. Already, I can hear them creaking as her powers of entropy go to work, wearing away the wood to splinters.

Dionysus stares down at her. “Who is she?”

“You don’t want to find out. Now, run!”

He doesn’t need to be told twice. Grabbing my hand, he takes off, dragging me back across the barren temple and out towards the streets.

His speed is breathtaking, faster than any mortal could possibly run, or anyone who believes themselves mortal. He hadn’t been able to run like this yesterday; a mere bump on the head had rendered him unable to walk. The change couldn’t be more stark.

As we reach the crowds of mortals, I tug his arm to get him to slow down. He does, but he doesn’t stop, weaving us effortlessly through as though the throng of people are nothing more than shadows.

More evidence of the god straining beneath the bonds of his imagined mortality.

He could remember everything about both of us at any moment, and just like that, the man helping could turn me over to my pursuers. I’ve been playing with fire. I’m Icarus at the height of his flight, the moment before he plunged into the sea. It’s never been more clear.

Even more worrying is how I don’t spot any sign that we're being pursued. My mother could have—and likely did—slip the bonds Sandro tied by now, but there’s no sign of her. No sign of Nemesis.

This is too easy.

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