Page 65 of Heroines of Olympus

Cadmus?

“Here!” Medusa says, careful not to be too loud.

Cadmus pauses to light a torch, then walks over to her door. Medusa does not miss the limp in his gait or the way he winces as he raises the torch.

“Is anyone else over here with you?” He asks.

Medusa shakes her head. “No one conscious, anyway.”

No one alive.

“You’re hurt.” Medusa says gently.

Cadmus shrugs his shoulders. “I heard her screams. Even when she wasn’t screaming anymore, it was all I could hear.”

He does not need to say who.

Medusa nods in response, and neither of them needs to say more about it.

“Step back,” Cadmus informs her, raising the sword in his left arm, and bringing it down on the lock once she complies. The lock falls apart and drops to the ground. Cadmus places the torch in a holder on the pillar near her cell and opens her door. He uses the sword to cut the ropes from her hands and she throws her arms around him.

“I’m so sorry, I rushed to assumptions,” Medusa says before she can lose her nerve, determined to end the erroneous cycle of anger and hatred.

Cadmus chuckles and wraps his free arm around her waist.

“I didn’t hold it against you. In your shoes, I would have done the same.”

Medusa releases him and steps back, composing herself.

“Do you know where Psyche is? Is she okay?” Medusa asks, heart in her throat.

“I don’t. You’re the first I’ve found. I covered a lot of ground, though, so we should find them soon once we head that way.”

“Alec? Hestia?” Any good news at all?

Cadmus shakes his head no, and her shoulders slump. It is better than bad news.

“What’s the plan?”

“We have to make our way around and find Cyril and Ajax if we can. They can help with any heavy lifting if we need to carry anyone out. Hopefully, we will cross paths with Alec, but he knows how to take care of himself.”

“Ok.” The thought of leaving Alec does not thrill Medusa, but they still have time before that would happen. Best to focus on finding everyone.

Darkness descends as Cadmus puts the torch out, and Medusa grabs his forearm.

“One more thing,” Medusa says. “Don’t forget the promise you made me on the ship. Psyche leaves here. No matter what.”

“I would rather die than see Psyche trapped here, but don’t think for a second that sentiment doesn’t apply to you as well.” Cadmus’s voice swims with an emotion that surprises her.

Medusa repeats, “You have to—,”

“No.”

“Please. Promise me you’ll do what it takes to get her out of here?” Medusa pleads. Psyche cannot pay for her mistakes.

“I promise.”

41

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