RUNES
MONA
Throughout their planning,Mona maintained an air of confidence and calmness. She trusted in her knowledge of runes and in her ability to cast spells. She knew the runes would work.
The sisters had discovered a cracked lantern in the closet, which they had broken apart to use the base as a cup to hold Prue’s blood. Mona had found a loose floorboard and managed to wriggle free a nail to carve into Prue’s arm. They made sure to draw the blood near her shoulder, in a place that wouldn’t easily be visible to the Titans.
It wasn’t easy, collecting the amount of blood they needed. Mona had to dig the nail deep into Prue’s flesh, carving a wider gash to allow the blood to flow. And after it was finished, Mona insisted on waiting to properly bandage it with a strip of cloth torn from her tunic before they continued with their plan.
Through it all, Mona was determined. She felt capable and steady. She knew this would work.
But uncertainty clouded her mind as soon as Prue rose from the cot, smoothed her palms over her skirt, and announced, “All right. I’m ready.”
Panic and terror welled up in Mona’s chest at the thought of her sister offering herself as bait to the Titans.
Oh Goddess,Mona thought.I can’t do this. It’s not going to work. It isn’t going to be enough, and the Titans are going tokillPrue.
She jumped to her feet. “You can’t.”
Prue’s brows knitted together and she faced Mona. “I have to. Their magic is strong here, Mona. They’ll know what we’re doing… unless they have something to distract them.”
Mona gripped Prue’s arm tightly. In a whisper, she said, “They don’t needbothof us as leverage. If you anger them, Prue… I’m afraid they’ll kill you.”
Prue’s eyes softened and she gathered Mona in her arms, crushing her in a tight embrace. “They need me,” she murmured, “because I’m Cyrus’s wife. I’ll be fine. I promise.”
Prue’s grip loosened, but Mona clung to her even more tightly, trying to prolong their embrace. She didn’t want to let go.
But she had to.
At long last, she released Prue and offered a sure nod. Before Prue left the room, Mona grabbed her hand. “Be careful, Prue. Don’t do anything stupid.”
Prue snorted. “When have I ever?”
Mona could only roll her eyes at that.
Prue eased the door open and crept down the stairs. Mona moved to the door, intending to close it, but she couldn’t help but linger at the doorway, listening. Prue’s voice drifted up from below.
“I need to speak with Hyperion.”
Mona winced, knowing the Titans would not like what came next.
Prue intended to confront Hyperion—to tell him off for what he did to her in the Underworld and during Cyrus’s challenge.
She intended to pick a fight with him.
And if the other Titans wouldn’t let her see him, she would fighttheminstead.
Either way, it would not be pretty.
So Mona had to hurry.
Her palms began to sweat as shut the door and carefully set the bowl of Prue’s blood on the small table by the window. With the nail from the floorboard, she pried one of the window panes loose. She and Prue had practiced this earlier to ensure they would have a way to shoot fire into the sky.
Mona’s hands shook as she gently eased the window pane onto the cot, careful not to drop it. That was just what she needed—for a loud shattering sound to alert the Titans. A cool breeze wafted into the room, but it was full of rot and decay and lacked the familiar earthy scent Mona had grown to love. She wrinkled her nose, then focused on the cup of blood.
She had to get this exactly right.
But Goddess, so much was on the line. When Monastudied spells and runes for her own pursuits, it was easy to memorize and absorb information. But here and now, with Prue’s life at stake…
