Page 86 of Bonds of Hercules
The small structure sat plain and unobtrusive, hidden by dense foliage, so it blended in with the rain, almost invisible.There were no windows, just a solid brick facade, reinforced by a thick sheet of titanium.
I kicked aside the welcome mat and gingerly bent down, balancing Alexis and propping Kharon against the wall, as I picked up the silver key.
If for some bizarre reason an Olympian discovered this safe house, they’d look for a more advanced point of entry, like a keypad or finger scanner.
The key under the mat was surprisingly effective.
Hefting Alexis against my chest, I fumbled with the door, shoving the key into the lock. Multiple clicks echoed.
Titanium unlatched.
I pushed my way in, out of the rain, pulling in Kharon and the Titans behind me. Once all of us were inside, I flipped the locks and shoved the steel door jammer into place.
The air was chilly and stale.
It was mostly dark, only a sliver of light came in through the peephole, but I knew where everything was.
All Chthonic safe houses had the same layout and amenities.
A king bed filled the small carpeted room, and there was a galley kitchen behind it. The white door led to a bathroom with a shower and two sinks; the black door led to a cellar.
The three dogs—if the two hellhounds and Alexis’s lumpy protector could even be called that—flopped down onto the carpet.
Gently, I laid Alexis on the bed.
Poco climbed off my shoulders, sitting beside her, chittering as he smoothed curls from her forehead.
My heart clenched.
Kharon groaned. I shrugged him off my shoulder, and he collapsed beside Alexis.
I needed a plan.
Stalking over to the small kitchen, I opened and closed drawersuntil I found the bottle of matches. There was no power in any of the safe houses because solar generators were visible with infrared lenses.
I lit the candles scattered around the room, chains clattering as they stretched.
I yanked open the cellar door, dragging the three chained Titans roughly down the narrow stairwell. They thudded against each step, rolling at unnatural angles with muffled shrieks.
At the bottom, I tightened their gags, checking to make sure they still had the tags pierced through their lips. The two winged Titans I’d given Alexis’s golden tags, because by the time we’d arrived, they were mostly defeated. She deserved the credit.
One by one, I grabbed them by their bound hands. Their shoulders cracked as I wrenched their arms up and back, attaching their cuffs to the titanium hooks bolted into the ceiling.
Once all three of them were secured, I hurried back upstairs and studied Alexis and Kharon.
You need to see the damage. Clean them, then wound care.
I went into the bathroom and turned on the shower, limping slightly. It took a minute, then steamy water sprayed out from the well that was located far beneath the building’s foundation.
I paused before the mirror.
What the fuck.
Blood was still dripping from the corners of my eyes, even though I wasn’t using my Chthonic powers.
My headaches were also getting worse, and my gut was telling me that something was happening to my power. It waschanging—I just had no idea how.
I gripped the cool porcelain sink.
