Page 133 of Bonds of Hercules
“Breathe, Alexis,” Nyx hissed into my ear as she slithered around my neck. “You can control this—you’re in the driver’s seat. It doesn’t control you.”
Kharon and Augustus inhaled shakily, their fingers stilling.
I held my breath.
“Stop fighting against yourself.” Nyx tightened. “Some of us are lethal, and that’s okay.”
Just like when Patro had coached me with Theros—the pain in my chest receded as I calmed myself down—I gathered control, and the poisoning stopped.
I don’t want to hurt them anymore; they’ve been hurt enough.
Tingles climbed up my fingers to my palms.
I was in command of my powers.
A strange white light emitted from my fingers—my hands glowed brightly; the skin lit from within.
I don’t want to kill them. I want the three of us to figure this out.
A loud wheeze echoed.
“Alexis,” Kharon said hoarsely as he pushed up from his chest onto his knees, and wiped at the cut on his face.
My right knee spasmed.
Eyes still glossy with the remnants of pain, he slowly crawled across the floor toward me.
He bowed his crowned head—I gripped my chair—he kissed the tops of my feet. “Angel,” he whispered.
I reached down for him with glowing hands, gently touching his head.
He stared up at me like I was his deliverance.
The brilliant light intensified until it hurt my eyes, and a strange feeling washed over me.
Nyx hissed something, but I couldn’t hear her.
The warmth flared brighter, light becoming pain.
I was boiling alive.
Kharon shouted something and pulled away, breaking our connection.
The light under my tingling fingers faded, as stars receded from my vision.
Kharon sat back on his haunches, still looking up at me with awe.
Augustus laid weakly on the floor, his chin lifted. “Are you … okay?” he whispered to me.
I wasn’t sure. Long seconds passed as I struggled to process what had happened.
“Did … you … see that?”
Both men nodded.
In high school, we’d watched a historical early 2000s documentary about deep-sea anglerfish—A hideous creature, it lures prey in with its glowing bioluminescent antenna light, then eats them. It also exhibits extreme sexual dimorphism.
Dread sank its talons into my chest.
