Part 27 (2/2)

”He's a spy. Hades can see everything he can.” Alex was fuming, and he jabbed his finger in Chase's chest.

Chase held up his hands, showing he wasn't going to fight back. That was different for him. ”Hades can only see through my eyes when he's tuned in. He's not right now.”

”How do you know?” I asked him.

”I can feel it. It's like he takes control of me.”

I wondered how many things Chase had done since we'd gotten here that weren't actually his actions, that were Hades'.

Chase focused on me, pleading with me to listen. ”You need a power boost. You didn't fail last time just because you were worried about Alex. You were weak. Splitting your soul took a lot out of you, whether you feel it or not.”

That made sense. Still, this was Chase talking. I couldn't exactly trust him.

”Take my power. All of it.”

I narrowed my eyes at him. ”That would kill you.”

”I know.” His voice was soft and low. ”I can't live this way. I was supposed to die a long time ago. If my mom hadn't bargained for my life, I wouldn't be alive. She's dead because of me. Hades took her, and he isn't going to give her back.” He shrugged. ”Let me do this. I owe you all a lot for what I've put you through. Let me make up for it-at least some of it.”

This wasn't just sacrificing himself for the good of the Ophi. He wanted to die. ”You'd get to be with your mom again.” That was his real endgame.

He smiled. ”I can't fool you. Yes, I do get something out of this. You had to know I would.”

Yes, because he was Chase. He never did anything without getting something in return. ”You're really ready to die?”

”Can you call being Hades' puppet living? I died a long time ago. I'm just not at peace.”

”What makes you think you will be after the judges get through with you?” Alex asked.

”I guess I don't know for sure, but I think they might go easy on me, considering my actions weren't all my own.”

Maybe. Maybe not. I knew the judges were fair. They'd know what to do with Chase. Still, could I go through with this? Could I kill Chase to save Medusa? If I didn't save her, the rest of us would be dead in no time. I didn't know how long Bristol could hold off the punishment that was killing my friends.

I looked to Alex, who shook his head. ”I'm not making this decision for you. This is your call. I'll support whatever decision you make.”

He didn't have to tell me what he wanted me to do. I knew already. He wanted me to take Chase's power. Alex didn't care about Chase. No, that wasn't entirely true. He had very strong feelings for Chase. They just weren't good feelings.

”Come on, Jodi.” Chase tapped my elbow, which got him a stern look from Alex. ”What's there to think about?”

”A lot. You're asking me to kill you.”

Chase shrugged. ”No big loss, right? You hate me.”

”I don't-” I stopped myself. Alex would never understand my crazy screwed-up feelings for Chase. Yes, I hated him, but I felt sorry for him, too. It was so screwed up I didn't even understand it. ”I don't want to kill anyone.”

”Hades isn't with Persephone,” Chase said. Either he had a really good poker face, or he was giving me the reason I needed to go through with this plan.

”Are you sure, or is this just a tactic to get me to end your life for you?”

”You can go check first if you want, but Hades was on his way to Tartarus last I saw him. He wanted to see your friends die.”

d.a.m.n it! Bristol would never be able to stall if Hades was overseeing things. I couldn't go check Persephone's room. I had to take Chase's word for it.

Alex ran his hand down my arm. ”This is our last chance.”

I nodded and walked over to Chase. ”This is what you want? Really? Because there's no coming back from this.”

”Trust me, you'll be saving me along with everyone else-if you succeed, that is.” He smirked. Even moments from death, he was taking a little dig at me. Yes, I could still fail, even with Chase's power. Unless...

”The prophecy.”

Chase and Alex both c.o.c.ked their heads at me. ”What about it?” they both asked, giving each other horrified looks for thinking the same thing.

”Chase, the prophecy about us, we thought it meant we were supposed to destroy the Ophi line, but we were wrong. Medusa told me that prophecies didn't always mean what we thought they did. They're tricky. I think this is the true meaning. We're supposed to join powers to save everyone.”

Chase smiled. ”Are you trying to make me go out a hero?”

Alex scoffed. ”Not likely.”

No one could call Chase a hero after all he'd done, but he was definitely helping us. ”Let's just say you're doing a good thing, going out on a high note.”

”Good enough for me.” He reached for my hands, but Alex stepped between us.

”What are you doing?” I widened my eyes at him. ”I thought you wanted me to do this.”

”I do, but how do you know he won't dose you with poison? This could be a trick.”

Chase put his hands behind his back. ”Fine. I won't touch her. She can place her hands on my chest and take my power all on her own.”

That was barbaric. ”Alex, please. He's helping us. I'm not going to end his life without his consent.”

”He already gave his consent. This was his idea.”

I sighed and reached for Chase's hands. Alex shook his head and stepped aside, but not before saying, ”Try anything, and I'll kill you myself.”

”You would sacrifice everyone else's freedom just to get back at me,” Chase said.

”Enough! Let's do this.” Time was ticking. I took Chase's hands, and he started to transfer his power to me. I let it fill me. Before it took over, I looked Chase in the eyes and said, ”Thank you.”

He didn't answer. He just smiled. I watched the life drain out of him as his power left his body and filled mine.

Chapter 31.

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