Page 42 of Salt & Blood

Prue gasped, inhaling a shuddering breath as she massaged her throat and stepped away from the Titan. “You… will pay for this,” she rasped, stretching her arms and summoning more power. Grass sprang from the ground, followed by bushes and shrubs. More brambles emerged, latching onto Hyperion’s arms and ankles until he was properly restrained.

But the Titan didn’t even struggle. Instead, he grinned, the flash of teeth making Prue’s blood run cold.

“Youarepowerful, little goddess,” he said.

Prue gasped as Hyperion tugged at the vines surrounding him. Black shadows poured from his fingers, engulfing the vines completely until they turned to ash. The particles floated in the air, and then Hyperioninhaledthem.

Prue staggered back in horror as he did the same to the other vines that were wrapped around him. One by one, he destroyed her earth magic and drank it in, absorbing it inside him.

He shoved his arms toward her, palms out, and a blast of her own earth magic exploded from him.

Prue threw up a shield, but she wasn’t quick enough. A burst of power slammed into her chest, and she flew backward, head cracking against the stone wall.

Darkness clouded her mind. She willed herself to wake up, toget up nowbefore Hyperion killed her. But she couldn’t move. Her body was limp, her mind foggy as pain coursed through her.

A moan sounded nearby, and Prue blinked rapidly, trying to see through the haze.

“Prue,” Lagos groaned. Glass tinkled as he tried to move. “Prue, you have to get up!”

Heavy footsteps drew nearer. Gradually, her vision cleared and she made out Hyperion standing above her, a sinister smile on his face. With one hand, he grabbed the front of her dress and lifted her until she was at his eye level. Her arms hung limply, and she was too wounded to stop him. Warm blood trickled from her head.

He was going to kill her.

No… he was going todrainher.

“Your magic belongs to me now,” he whispered. The fabric he’d gathered in his hand was blackening, slowly turning to ash.

Soon,shewould be nothing but ash.

A kernel of energy burned within Prue’s chest. She clung to it, reminding herself she was a goddess, and she was powerful. She had the strength of Gaia in her veins.

She could overcome this bastard.

She closed her eyes, letting her body relax in Hyperion’s grip as if surrendering to him completely. But inside, she focused on her magic. Branches stretched along the floor, working their way toward the Titan.

Hyperion chuckled, then leaned in, his face close to hers.

In a flash, a sharpened branch buried itself into Hyperion’s chest, spearing completely through him. Black blood spurted, coating Prue’s face.

With a roar, Hyperion dropped her, and she crumpled to the floor. Lagos was by her side, his head and arm bleeding, but he still wielded the dagger from before. With a swift movement, the demon dragged the blade across Hyperion’s throat.

Prue scrambled backward as the mighty Titan fell to the ground, choking on his own blood.

She grabbed Lagos’s hand. “Come on!” She tugged him forward, and he stumbled, one leg dragging. Prue glanced down to find his left trouser torn and bleeding. His ankle jutted out at an odd angle.

“I’m fine,” he panted, squeezing her hand. “Let’s go.”

He managed to hobble forward, and Prue helped him up the stairs, one arm wrapped around him as they fled the vault before Hyperion could siphon more of her magic.

ECHOES

MONA

Mona’s bloodturned to ice from Midas’s words.Demons were coming.For a moment, she stood there, frozen in place, terror numbing her completely.

Why? Why were they here? What were they after?

Most demonic creatures are drawn to power,she thought, remembering what she had studied. She lifted her hands, which were caked in dirt, and stared at them in horror.

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