Page 61 of Ares' Shield
“Shit,” Jayden says and reaches for me again. “She’s been mind-controlled. We need to stop her.”
Don’t let them stop you. Come to me, daughter of Zeus.
I shake my head to clear it but nothing helps as my feet keep moving away from my friends.
My hands push open the door at the end of the hall leading to the quad without my permission.
This feeling of being trapped in my own body and unable to stop what I’m doing is even scarier than facing off with Typhon or any of the other monsters we’ve battled.
What if I never get this voice out of my head and they use me against my friends? What if they turn me against Jayden?
That’s probably the scariest thing.
“Jayden,” Raven shouts. “You may have to use your chains on her.”
“I can’t,” Jayden chokes out.
Rain pelts my skin as my feet move through the quad without my permission. How the fuck am I going to get myself out of this?
What the hell is going on? What is this voice in my head telling me that I need to go?
My legs move without me even meaning to and I’m out the door to the sounds of the others yelling behind me. I have to go.
I have to leave the academy.
12
“Beth,” Jayden bellows and my arm swings back as he yanks me to him. “Fight it, Beth.”
My feet keep moving to the tree line even as Jayden tries to pull me back. I’m headed to the same wards that Dax went to and no matter how hard I try to wrestle control, it doesn’t work.
Fighting me is futile, daughter of Zeus. Come to me.
Jayden jogs in front of me and puts both hands on my shoulders to push me back. “You have to fight, Beth.”
“No.” The word tumbles from my lips without my permission. “I must leave, now.”
Jayden wraps his arms around me and presses his lips to mine in a kiss I can’t return. It breaks my heart and a single tear trails down my cheek.
What’s going to happen to me? What’s going to happen to Jayden and the others if I can’t figure out a way out of this?
Are they going to use me against my friends and the academy or is there something more sinister at play here?
Jayden breaks the almost kiss and hangs his head.
Hell no. I can’t let them use me.
I refuse to be a puppet for them.
You already are my puppet.The voice cackles and my hand flies out to swat Jayden away from me.
No. Do not hurt Jayden.
It’s a struggle but I regain use of my arm and pin it to my side.
Think, Beth. How do you keep people out of your head?
Still not the weirdest thought I’ve had since coming to the academy. Focus, dammit.
