I nodded and swallowed past the anxious lump in my throat.
“I want you to leave. Pack a bag. Be quick. You’re going to Petra,” I commanded, “Ardens Estate is not safe.”
“I’m not just going to run away without you, Adamantia. And what about Percy and Selene?”
“Take the girl. Selene will understand,” I told her.
“Ada—" she began before a roar shook the room so violently we were thrown to the floor.
The windows smashed, shards of glass littering the ground, and dust raining down from the ceiling.
24. I Have Teeth.
Persephone Flores
I was vaguely aware of being carried by Adamantia, but I couldn’t feel my body. It was like I wasn’t really there. I could see my bloody hands, but they didn’t feel like mine. It felt like I was underwater—everything was dulled and blurred—and I wasn’t sure I was even breathing, or that I even needed to breathe.
Then suddenly, it was like a wave had crashed upon me, spewing me out of the water onto the shore. A shore covered in glass and pink dust, with my ears ringing. I pushed myself up to my knees and looked around.
Adamantia was crouched over Sasha protectively. Her lips were moving, but all I could hear was a high-pitched ringing.
I winced and jerked my elbow away from the carpeted floor—a piece of glass was protruding from my skin. Without thinking, I gripped the shard between my fingers and pulled it free, wincing more as I cut my thumb and pointer finger in the process.
Slowly, the ringing faded.
“…stay here,” I heard Adamantia command. I looked to see her walking towards the door, that dangled by one hinge in its frame.
Sasha was stumbling to her feet.
“Where are you going?” She questioned.
“To find out how bad it is. Stay here. Pack a bag,” Adamantia replied, and then she was gone—moving at her vampiric speed.
“Right. Right,” Sasha repeated to herself, turning around. “Percy?” she asked, walking towards me and helping me to my feet. “Are you hurt?” she asked.
“Not—" I began, then coughed. Dust coated my tongue and throat. Sasha patted my back roughly. “Not really,” I managed to answer, tears in my eyes, and my voice hoars.
“It’s good to hear your voice,” Sasha laughed—and it almost seemed manic. “I had no idea how I was going to get you out of here before,” she explained.
“Out of here?” I asked.
“We’re going to Petra,” she told me.
“What? Why?” I asked.
“What happened in the servant’s dining room?” she asked instead of answering.
I felt sick. My hands fisted at my sides, and my fingertips felt sticky blood on my palms. Remy’s face flashed behind my closed eyelids.
“Percy.” She gripped my shoulders. “Breathe,” she instructed.
I took a steadying breath. Remy’s face dispersing like smoke with my exhale.
“They were just there, and they… they were so much like before, and…” I pressed my fingers along the side of my jaw that felt tender at the slight touch. “They attacked me and I… and I…”
“You protected yourself,” Sasha told me, her hands still gripping my shoulders. “Whatever happened, you defended yourself,” she reiterated.
I nodded. I had defended myself.
