Page 69 of Salt & Blood

Immediately, an explosion of darkness burst forth, shrouding everything in inky black shadows. Pandora cried out, back arching, and tried to withdraw her hand, but Gaia clung to her fingers, tightening her grip.

“Hold on to those emotions!” Gaia cried out over the screaming shadows that filled the room. “You are in love with Sol. Don’t hide from it any longer. You love him, and you hate me. You hate me for hurting him.”

Pandora threw her head back and roared into the darkness, tears streaming down her face. A mixture of rage and grief, sorrow and doubt, regret and longing coursed through her so violently she thought she might faint.

“That’s it, daughter,” Gaia urged.

White hot anger flared in Pandora’s chest, and she screeched, “Don’t call me that!”

“You are my daughter,” Gaia went on. “Regardless of how much you hate me. I birthed you. I loved you. I still love you. No matter what happens or who tries to take you from me, I will always love you.”

“No!” Pandora screamed as sobs tore through her, ripping from her chest. “Please, stop!”

“I wanted to search for you,” Gaia continued. Around her, the shadows began to flicker. “But I was so afraid that if I found a way to reach you, Apollo would find out. He would take Prudence and Pomona from me, and I would be alone.”

The shadows continued swirling, but they were fainter now. Light bled through the darkness, illuminating the shape of Gaia before her.

“It was selfish,” Gaia said, her voice breaking. “I will never forgive myself for not trying harder. I should have done more for you, daughter. And I am so terribly sorry.”

“I don’twantyour apologies!” Pandora cried. “They mean nothing to me! And they can’t take away the suffering you caused.”

“I know,” Gaia said. “That is a burden I will carry for the rest of my existence.”

“No, it’smyburden, too! You think I care that you feelguilty? That you got to live your life on that island with my sisters, free to do as you pleased, while I rotted away in the Underworld? You think I care that it tore you up inside? It doesn’t makeanythingbetter to know you feel badly about it. You aren’t apologizing for me—you’re doing it foryouto assuage your guilt. So shut the hell up and leave me alone!”

She screamed the last words until her throat was raw, until tears filled her eyes, blurring her vision. When she blinked rapidly to clear them away, she gasped, dropping Gaia’s hand in shock.

The shadows had completely dispersed. And in their wake, a bed of vines and leaves lay at her feet, covering the carpet completely.

Gaia wiped tears from her eyes, her face suddenly more haggard than before. Her voice was strained, but her eyes gleamed with pride as she said, “Well done, daughter. Well done.”

SIPHON

CYRUS

At the sightof his people rallying to support him, Cyrus’s chest was in knots, his thoughts cloudy with shame and guilt. He did not deserve this. He wasn’t worthy of their loyalty. And they shouldn’t have come to this place to watch his defeat.

But now, at the sight of those eleven Titans alongside Apollo, Cyrus’s stomach roiled, and panic flared within him.

“I should thank your lovely wife,” Apollo taunted, his expression full of glee. “Were it not for her, I never would have found the Book of Eyes. The power within it proved strong enough to allow the remaining Titans access to the Underworld.”

No,Cyrus thought, numb with disbelief. This couldn’t be true. Surely, this was only a nightmare, and he would wake at any moment to find Prue next to him in bed and the Titans still safely locked in Tartarus.

But no. The Titans werehere.He was too late. Even if he could defeat Apollo in the challenge, how could he possibly send all eleven Titans back to Tartarus?

Dread and despair filled him, dragging his heart down to his stomach. He couldn’t do this. It was futile. Why should he even bother? Apollo had won either way.

“Cyrus!” Prue called, jolting him from his thoughts.

With weary eyes, he looked at his wife, who still stood several paces away. She looked at him, and her lavender eyes flared wide. Fear shone there, but also a resolute determination that he envied. He had always admired that about her. She was relentless. And she never faltered.

She nodded at him, then pressed her hand to her chest. He remembered her words from that night:No matter who you are, or what you are… I am yours, Cyrus. Always.

Cyrus’s eyes burned with emotion as he stared at her, inclining his head to show he understood. His gaze shifted behind her, to the crowd that had come to support their king.

They had come forhim.Prue was here for him.

He wasn’t alone. And he wasn’t just fighting for his own life; he was fighting for theirs, too. For his kingdom. For the future of his people.

---