Page 66 of Blood of Hercules
Riveting. Sounds like an average menstrual cycle.
Not that I’d had many. Because of starvation I could count on one hand the number of times I’d had my period, but each one had been highly traumatic.
“So—to be clear,” Patro paused and breathed roughly. “You haveno powers, no training, no House backing, and a history of broken bones? That’s what you bring to the table?”
I also have a blind eye and deaf ear, and Tim-Tom once told me that I had the build of a sick giraffe—I was still not sure if he meant “sick” in the “cool” or “physically ill” sense.
Patro’s eyes twitched like he was having an aneurysm.
I waited with anticipation.
Sadly, he did not drop dead.
There’s no justice left in this cold, cruel world.
After long drawn-out moments of uncomfortable eye contact, I sighed and offered, “I do well in school. That could be something I use to my advantage.”
Patro sliced his hand through the air like a knife. “Spartans areknownfor their intelligence. Do you think anyone in the crucible is going to be dumb?” His eyes widened with horror. “Do you even know what the crucible is?”
I knew a trick question when I saw one.
My lips stayed closed.
He covered his mouth. “Youdon’tknow—you have no clue what’s in store for you.” He turned. “She’s dead.”
Achilles nodded in agreement.
“That’s what I always say!” Nyx called from the other room.
I pressed my fingers into my forehead and prayed a meteor would fall from the asteroid belt and strike me dead.
Please, God, hit me with your best shot. I’m ready.
“You’re pathetic. Even for an Olympian, you’re an embarrassment,” Patro snarled. “And that’s saying something.”
God did not, in fact, hit me with his best shot.
“I never asked for any of this,” I said, my unused throat burning from the force of my outburst. “I thought I was fully humanlastweek.”
“Oh yes.” Patro waved his hands in the air. “It must have beensodifficult, growing up as a pampered human withnoresponsibilitiesother than going to school and living a charmed life. Cry me the River Styx.”
I fisted my hands so I wouldn’t punch him.
You should have never spoken.
Nero glared up at me from the ground and bared his teeth.
He reminded me of Fluffy, just with razor-sharp fangs, red eyes, a mammoth size, and the ability to rip out my throat with one bite.
Also, unlike Fluffy, heloathedme.
It hurt.
The quiet stretched as Patro and Achilles seemed to be having another silent conversation.
I leaned back on my lounge chair and sunned myself (dreamed of death and tried to make a bigger target for the asteroid).Fingers crossed.
Patro stood up abruptly and left the deck.
