Page 146 of Blood of Hercules
“You’re funny,” I said to Nyx as I wiped the tears off my cheeks.
I stopped laughing.
How did Kharon know what happened at the library?
My heart skipped a beat, and I felt sick.
Is he stalking me? Waiting to make good on his threat? Waiting to kidnap me to some lair where he’ll torture me for?—
No.
Stop it.
I slammed my fist into my forehead to dislodge the insidious thoughts.
Kharon had said that everyone in Sparta knew about it, so one of the initiates had probably said something.
But we just left the academy?
I pulled my fist away from my head and slumped over further. My limbs heavy, gravity crushed me.
My sanity was fraying.
Suddenly, I understood exactly why that horrible book had said the crucible was a mental test.
I couldn’t trust my thoughts.
It’s fine. You’re just paranoid. You’re better than this. You’ve lived through hell already and kept your mind intact. You can do it again.
Determination coursed through me.
I was going to make a change.
Starting now.
With painful slowness, I hobbled over to the piles of fresh-cut food laid out along the kitchen. Chewing slowly, I ate until I couldn’t eat anymore, then gulped down a pitcher of ice water, which tasted divine.
Unplugging the shiny radio that sat on the kitchen counter, I grabbed an entire wheel of cheese and carried it back to my bedroom.
With music playing, and a chunk of fresh cheese in my mouth, I walked into the Ionian Sea for a night swim.
The moon glowed magically. Warm water lapped softly against the rocky shore.
It was peaceful.
Calm.
I swam leisurely, like I would at the lake in Montana, like I would if I wasn’t in a fight-or-flight state and was just having fun.
After the swim I took a long hot shower, scrubbing off four weeks’ worth of dirt and grime as I hummed along to the radio. I used every bottle of soap, on all parts of my body. Nyx swayed with me.
Then I flipped my hair over and gave another revolutionary speech.
It was my best one yet.
When I finally crawled into the silky sheets, I pulled her close to my chest. “I’m so grateful for every single day we get to spend together. You’re my best friend,” I whispered.
I wasn’t going to let this place make me mean.
