Page 44 of Medusa

“You have nothing to be sorry for,” Maddie said fiercely as she thumbed open her phone. “I’m going to get your brothers to come and get you. I don’t think you can walk home on your own.”

“They didn’t give me another dose of that stuff tonight. It should wear off soon enough,” Jaden said, putting one heavy hand on hers. “No need to bother them.”

“They were worried about you.Iwas so worried.” Maddie swallowed back her tears again.

“How long have I been here?” Jaden asked.

“You were taken last night, so about twenty-four hours,” Maddie told him.

“Not so long, then,” Jaden said with a half-smile of relief. “Time felt interminable in that room.”

Maddie shuddered. “I bet.”

Chloe came back just then. “Have you reached Hera yet?”

“He won’t let me.”

“Bullshit.” Chloe glared at Jaden. “Let her.” To them both, she showed a vial of clear fluid.

“I think this might be the drug that they used on him. There are crates of this stuff in one room, another is set up like a chemistry lab. What does it do?” she asked the question of Jaden.

“Inhibits powers, increases sensations. Pain, pleasure, everything.” Jaden sounded exhausted.

“How many doses were you given?”

“Two, maybe three, I guess? I don’t remember. It all blurred together. Do you have anything to eat?”

Chloe handed him a protein bar, which he gobbled and washed down with a gulp of water from the glass that Maddie refilled.

“Thanks. They didn’t give me anything other than that drug and beatings.”

“You’re safe now,” Maddie reassured him, running her hand gently through his black hair. It was matted with what she assumed was sweat and blood. She found the contact for Hera and dialed quickly.

“Hera, is Augustine with you? Can you reach him? I found Jaden and I need help getting him home.” She gave Hera the address and hung up after her friend told her that Augustine would arrive soon.

“No, notAugustine,” Jaden groaned. “He’s been so smug lately.” He tried to get to his feet and turned gray. A second later, he crumpled to the floor in a dead faint.

The two women stared at him.

“Well, that’s one way to get out of seeing his brother,” Chloe remarked dryly. “I guess we should make him more comfortable.”

Maddie made a sound that fell somewhere in between a laugh and a sob, something she didn’t want to analyze overmuch, and helped Chloe straighten Jaden out. Running her hands along his ribs, she felt several that were broken. So were his jaw and nose. She could only imagine the colors that must be covering his skin.

A loud thump shook the house, and then there was a pounding on the front door.

Chloe pulled out her gun and approached the door carefully.

“Jaden? Chloe? Maddie? Let me in!”

“That’s Augustine,” Chloe said with relief. She put her gun away and unlocked the door for the big man.

He burst into the house, his presence immediately making the small room feel smaller. He whimpered deep in his throat when he saw his brother motionless on the floor. “Is he okay?”

“He’ll be fine once the drug wears off,” Chloe said. “Then his body can heal the usual way.”

“We can’t bring him to a hospital?” Maddie asked.

Augustine shook his head. “Not a good idea. His physiology would cause some problems.”

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