An uppercut caught me in the gut, and I gagged. Ears ringing, eyes rolling, I struggled to stay conscious.
Theros twisted and slammed me back against the sand, gray eyes wide and manic as he straddled me.
His hands slipped against my neck as he choked me.
I slammed fists up into his face, and broken pieces of bone scourged his skin. “Coward!” I shrieked.
Blood rained down.
He squeezed my neck harder.
Choking, I forced my lips into a smile. “Now—all... know—” I gasped. “What a monster—you... are.” I laughed with a mocking rasp.
His nose flared, and he bellowed, rearing his fist back.
Pain exploded in my chest—but Theros was frozen. His fist was reared back like he was getting ready to punch, but he wasn’t moving.
Sharp pain stabbed my chest from an unknown source.
White-hot agony.
With labored breaths, I clutched at my chest.
Am I having a heart attack?
Above me, Theros started screaming.
His eyes rolled back. Foam dripped from his lips as he convulsed.
Agony in my sternum streaked brighter.
Theros shrieked louder, and the sound was horrific.
In slow motion, he fell back off me. His shield crumbled, and the outside world came back into sharp focus.
Everyone on the sands had moved to surround us. Dozens of Spartans stared down at me.
Olympians stepped forward, but two figures yanked them back.
“Stay away from her!” someone shouted. Then there was a blur of grunts as the Spartans turned to defend themselves against attackers.
Theros bellowed louder on the ground.
“Alexis!” Patro knelt before me, blocking my view of the commotion. “Stop it—let him go!” he yelled at me.
Achilles was beside him with a furious expression.
What is he talking about?
Theros let out a skull-breaking scream.
“Focus on breathing slowly,” Patro said, reading the confusion on my face. “Imagine the pain in your chest dissipating—just focus on each breath.” He inhaled deeply to demonstrate.
I followed his motions.
Slowly, the stabbing pain in my sternum lessened.
The awful pressure released.
