Part 30 (1/2)

She nodded, but her lip trembled. I helped her to her feet, and Alex stood on the other side of her. We were s.h.i.+elding her with our bodies. I turned around, keeping my back to Leticia, and Alex did the same.

”Eyes open, everyone. Yell the second you see anything.” I was leading again, and this time, it felt right.

”We're not going to see him until he's right on top of us,” Jared said. ”The best we can hope for is to scream, but most likely, it will just be the agonizing cry of the life leaving our bodies.”

I shook my head. As much as that was probably true, I had to hope Medusa and I could stop Hades before he killed anyone. Hope was all I had right then.

It was silent for a moment, and then I heard Hades laugh. He appeared right behind Jared and waved at me. I lunged for them, but Hades touched his finger to Jared's shoulder. Jared's eyes rolled back, and he slumped to the ground.

He was dead.

Chapter 33.

I froze, staring at Jared's lifeless body. Instead of his face, I saw Matt's. Jared was like family to Matt, and now he'd be in the afterlife with him. I'd killed Matt and so many people he loved.

Jodi, you need to get a hold of yourself. Jared is gone, and the others will be too if you don't do something. Medusa was the voice of reason as usual. I had to get past Matt, and now Jared, too. We need to join our powers to show him he can't do this. If we don't do something big soon, he'll keep killing everyone.

I could only think of one thing that would get his attention and keep him from killing anyone else. Let's raise every soul in Tartarus.

We can't raise every soul. The t.i.tans are in the pit of Tartarus. Believe me, you don't want them here.

No, and neither did Hades. We'll keep them in our back pockets. Threaten to raise them if need be. h.e.l.l, I'd raise anyone or anything to end this once and for all.

I willed my blood to mix, and I felt Medusa channeling her power as well.

Focus on mixing our powers together. We have to blend them so you'll have total control over them.

You're giving me total control over your powers? I thought we were in this together.

I'm right here, but only one of us can use the power. It's your body. I won't take it over on you. She didn't say it, but there was an implied ”unless I need to” attached to that sentence.

I was so focused on Medusa and joining our powers that I'd lost sight of Hades again. I turned from Jared and searched for Hades' smug smile. He had vanished again. He was going to sneak-attack someone else, the coward.

”Alex, stay with Leticia. Everyone be ready to run. The second you see swirling smoke, get out of here.”

”Why don't we just run for it now?” McKenzie asked.

”It's too risky. We wouldn't get far before Hades attacked one of us.”

”Jodi, what are you doing?” Alex sounded out of breath. He must have been freaking out. ”What's the plan?”

”You'll see.” I wasn't about to verbalize it, not without knowing where Hades was or if he was listening in.

Let's do this, I said to Medusa. I reached out to the souls that were in Tartarus with us, the ones in this section at least. I'd leave the pit as a last resort. For the first time, the raising was easy and painless. The souls knew I was trying to free them. Most of them had seen me here with them. They willing latched on to Medusa's and my power, hitching a ride out of h.e.l.l.

”No!” Hades appeared in front of me this time.

”Jodi, look out!” Alex rushed to me.

Hades reached for me, but my skin was literally on fire now. As he was able to produce flame himself, I doubted it would burn him, but he pulled away. I'd at least succeeded in shocking the h.e.l.l out of him. Hades changed tactics as I raised more souls. They swirled around us and out of Tartarus. Hades looked up at them before glaring at me.

”You think I can't stop you?” He grabbed Alex, wrapping one arm around his neck.

”Keep going, Jodi,” Alex choked out. ”Let him kill me. As long you beat him, I don't care what he does to me.”

Hades laughed. ”How brave and incredibly stupid of you. She can't beat me. I'm a G.o.d.”

My focus wavered.

Jodi, concentrate. I don't want Alex getting hurt either, but if you stop now, Hades will win.

Oh, G.o.d. She wanted me to forget that Alex was being strangled to death. Forget that his life was in Hades' hands.

You are the Ophi leader. You must do what's right for the group. Alex would want you to.

I can't lose him. I was still pulling souls from Tartarus, but my pace slowed. Please, Medusa. I can't.

”That's right, Jodi,” Hades said. ”Back off or your precious boyfriend is mine.”

I turned to face Hades.

Jodi, no!

I wasn't giving up, but I wasn't letting Alex die, either. I continued to pull souls, but this time, I sent them after Hades. Slowly. I held them back while I locked eyes with Hades.

”Let him go, and I'll call them off.” I gestured to the souls walking his way.

”This trick again? I stopped them earlier. Why would you try to send them after me now? Desperate, perhaps?”

”Let go of Alex or they will attack.”

Hades smiled. Apparently, he found me quite amusing. He sure laughed at me enough. ”Oh, Jodi Marshall. I kind of hoped you'd go out on a better note. This is...well, pathetic.”

”Then let go of Alex and take me on yourself.” My voice was strong, and there was a faint echo to it. No, not an echo. It was Medusa's voice mixed in with mine. How was that possible?

Medusa, are you doing that?

We are one.

But you didn't want me to stop raising the souls.

I trust you know what you're doing. I'll follow your lead.

Hades squinted, and the full weight of his anger bore down on me. He pushed Alex to the side. ”Have it your way. We'll fight to the end. Your end.”

”For once, you're right. I intend to fight to the end, but it's going to be the ending I want.” The one that freed the Ophi for good. My blood reached out to the souls, giving them the command to attack. They seemed happy to get the chance for revenge because I didn't need to tell them twice. They lunged for Hades. At first, Hades fought them off with no problem, but I continued to call more souls. And this time, I wasn't stopping with Tartarus. I pulled from the Fields of Asphodel, too. I wasn't touching the Elysian Fields. The souls in there deserved the peace they'd found. I wouldn't deny any of them that.