Page 132 of Until the End of Ever
"Twelve times," Apollo snapped, following me on foot. "That's how many times you died. Because you always assume you can help, you shouldhelp. You're always self-righteous, certain your way is the right thing to do. And you always die. No other Olympian has been killed half as often as you."
I stilled, letting the words sink in. And all of a sudden, I knew. There was only one reason why the great Phoebus Apollo would care. Why he’d stick his neck out against Zeus.
"I'm Artemis." I should have sounded shocked. I didn’t. He didn't even need to answer."I'm your sister."
Apollo kicked some dirt. "Sort of? Not really. You don't have her power; she doesn't have control of your body. You're at your weakest."
It was hilarious, come to think of it, when I didn't know anyone stronger than me.
The god sighed. "It's over. Your friend prevailed. There's a little disruption, but Father has returned home, and commended the others to follow. They'll need you to rebuild the walls."
"What about you?" I found myself asking. "Zeus—he called you traitor. Won't he be after you now?"
The man shrugged. "Wouldn't be the first time."
I hesitated. "You could come with us. If we can rebuild the walls, wouldn't it be safe from Zeus again?"
"Until he convinces another bastard to let him through a temple. Nah, I have my hideouts."
Annoyed as I was at him for taking me away from Kleos when she needed me, I hated the thought of letting him leave. "You could offer to bring me back."
He snorted. "Like you couldn't run that distance in, what, ten minutes?"
I glanced back to the city. "You're overestimating me. By a lot."
His smile was somewhat wistful. "Never."
And then he was gone.
Ten minutes? Right. It'd take an hour, which was saying something because I wasn't sure a Ferrari could get there that fast.
I grinned.
I'm Artemis. Apollo's sister. Sort of.
“Sort of” was good enough for me.
I lowered myself to a crouch, then set out at a run, pushing myself faster than ever, calling to that part of me I summoned when I crossed the chasm over the dark underworld river.
I made it in nine.
59
KLEOS
The destruction continued in the vale, though the gods were all gone. They'd left behind their many mindless drones, blue eyed, enthused with power, and intent on continuing the orders they'd been given.
I'd been mistaken when I assumed Hercules, Vance, Castor, and Thimotee were the extent of it. There were dozens of them shooting arrows from the ramparts they hadn't yet blown up, razing everything they could, only sparing the temples.
They were returning the vale to what it had been before new blood had been brought thirty years ago, I realized.
"Here!" I screamed at Zazel, finally spotting Lucian sparring against Hercules himself.
Still not certain whether we were actually talking abouttheHercules , I doubted I could call a time-out to ask him.
Zazel hopped between the two men, showing his fangs to the giant, who stumbled back.
He was too focused on the clawed paw coming at him to notice me jumping down from Zazel's back, aiming a golden javelin right between his eyes.
