Part 29 (1/2)

But she's alive. I can only reach souls of the dead.

All you need is to touch her. Your power will take her down instantly.

How do I get to her without alerting the others that Alex and I are here? The only thing I could think of was charging at her like a linebacker. Did linebackers charge?

The element of surprise is never a bad thing. Try commanding some souls first. Get them to attack Victoria and bring her down. Then you can charge her like you just pictured. Of course she could read my mind. Hers was a mystery to me, but being Medusa and having her blood in my veins gave her access to all my thoughts.

Got it. I focused on reaching out to the other tortured souls in Tartarus. I commanded them to listen to me alone, to disconnect from the pain they were feeling and come to me. One by one, they stood and walked toward me. Bristol was the first to notice them-and me. She met my eyes, and a small glimmer of hope flashed across her face. She pretended everything was as it should be, and I realized she wasn't torturing Amber or anyone else. She was faking the entire thing. Tony was on the ground like the others, but he wasn't in pain.

We will save her, too, Medusa said. She's worth saving.

Yes, she was, and I hoped that, once I started attacking Victoria and her followers, Bristol and Tony would do what they could to help.

The souls were getting closer and drawing everyone's attention. Abby turned first, doing a double take. Then Hades narrowed his eyes. He didn't turn toward the souls, though. He was searching-for me. He knew I was here.

”Come here, Jodi Marshall.” A smile crossed his lips. ”Let me see you. I'm sure we can find a place for you among your friends.”

I stayed in the shadows until the souls reached Victoria, who had stopped torturing Arianna and was backing away. She tried commanding them, but they wouldn't listen. They were obeying me alone.

Hades flung his arm out to the side, sending the souls flying into the black abyss behind them. So much for taking out Victoria. I was on my own.

Chapter 32.

Now what? I may have had the power of three Ophi inside me, but I was up against Hades and a bunch of p.i.s.sed-off Ophi who would love to see me dead.

Hades laughed. ”Is that the best you can do?”

Alex stared at me, waiting for my next move.

Now what, Medusa?

I have to make my presence known.

You want to talk to Hades? He didn't seem like he was in a talking mood. More like a ”rip-the-head-off-the-Ophi” mood.

No, I want to show him what we can do. Go for Victoria.

Football-player tactics-that was what we were left with. I felt my body temperature lower and my blood calm, like it was preparing for the biggest battle of all. ”Stay here,” I told Alex. ”This is going to be crazy, and I need you playing backup, okay?”

”You mean you want me staying out of harm's way.”

Exactly, but his male ego wouldn't be able to handle that. ”If I fail, our hope rests on you. That's hardly staying out of harm's way.”

He grabbed the back of my head and pressed his lips to mine. ”Just don't die, okay?” It was his attempt to lighten the mood.

”What do you think, mac and cheese for dinner?”

”Nah, I'm swearing off the stuff.” His eyes fell on Victoria. ”I don't need any reminders of her.”

I placed my hand on his chest. ”Wish me luck.” Without waiting, I turned and sprinted toward Victoria. She saw me and tried to move out of the way, but I had youth on my side. Not that she was that old. I bet she wished she was my mom's age right then, though. I pressed my left hand to her throat and sent a jolt of poison her way. She fell backward onto the ground, and I went down with her, not wanting to break the connection. After about five seconds, she was unconscious. I stood up and looked around. Everyone was watching me. Hades could've stopped me, but he stared, and I couldn't help wondering if he wanted to see just what I was capable of. For once, I didn't want to disappoint him.

I lunged at Troy next. ”This is for killing your own son, you b.a.s.t.a.r.d.” I went for his neck too, but he slapped my arm away. He fought me, swinging his arms and landing a punch to my stomach. I felt Medusa's soul recoil, but not in fear. She was angry. My blood boiled, bubbling under my skin. Now, it was her anger making me burning hot. I smiled at Troy for a second. He gritted his teeth and swung at me again. This time, I grabbed his wrist. He cried out in pain as my touch burned his skin. Smoke sizzled under my hand.

”You think that's bad?” I asked him. ”Try this.” I sent poison to him in such a concentrated dose that he went down immediately. I turned to see Tony trying to gather everyone, probably preparing to escape.

Hades smirked and raised an eyebrow. ”Interesting. I have to say those two were becoming my favorites. They really threw themselves into their work here.”

”Yeah, well, that's because they're s.a.d.i.s.tic-” I stopped, realizing Alex could hear every word I said. Sure he hated them, but they were his parents. He didn't need me announcing my true thoughts about them right now.

”Go on.” Hades laced his fingers in front of him.

”Gladly.” I walked over to Abby, ready to take her down next, but Arianna looked up at me.

”Jodi, she's my daughter.” It was the first time Arianna had spoken that way about Abby. Every time the subject had come up before, Arianna just seemed disappointed and even ashamed of the Ophi Abby had become. But she still loved her daughter-still wished Abby would change.

Abby's eyes widened, and she swallowed hard, not because she was afraid of what I'd do to her but because she was touched that Arianna wanted to protect her.

”See that human weakness?” Hades said. ”That's why you never should've returned your human soul to your body. You'd be better off without it.”

I turned to him, stepping closer and challenging him to stop me. I was definitely more confident with Medusa's soul inside me. ”You know, there was a time when I thought you were right. But both of us couldn't have been more wrong. Emotions fuel our power. My human emotions are purer than my Ophi ones. They give my power something extra. I need my human soul.”

Hades laughed. ”You think I didn't know that?” He crossed his arms. ”You forget, knowing souls is my business. Why do you think I wanted your human soul so badly? If it was in Tartarus or even the Fields of Asphodel, you wouldn't have been able to access those emotions. You would've been weaker.”

d.a.m.n it! When was I going to stop underestimating this guy? ”Then I guess you know what else I've done.” I looked around for Persephone, realizing for the first time that she wasn't here. She'd said she was going to help buy me some time while I brought Medusa's soul into my body. Had she set me up? Had she warned Hades I was coming and left?

”Looking for someone?” Hades smiled, but it quickly faded. ”I sent her away.”

”You sent your wife away? Why?”

”I think you know the answer to that.”

Because she'd helped me. Because Hades realized that Persephone was more than willing to stab him in the back.

”I'll have to remember to thank her when I see her again.”

”You won't ever see her again. I'll see to that. Your soul will stay in Tartarus forever.”

”No, it won't.” I stepped closer to him and stared into his eyes. ”I saw the way you watched what I did to Victoria and Troy. That was actually a trick Chase taught me, and believe it or not, he helped me with it this time, too.”

”Chase.” Hades balled his fists. ”I'm going to-” He lifted his head in the air. ”He's dead? How?” Hades' eyes lowered to me again, but he still wasn't really seeing me. Anger clouded his vision.

”He's with the judges. They're going to see to it that he receives the afterlife he deserves.” Whatever that may be, I still wasn't sure, and I didn't think I really wanted to know.

”You killed him?” Hades c.o.c.ked his head to the side. ”You hated him that much?”

”No, he asked me to take his powers. He didn't want to be your puppet anymore.”