Hook slashed the sword down at her as she struggled to crab crawl backward and away from him, pushing her shoes against the floor as hard and as fast as possible.
The sword hit the top edge of her tennis shoe and sliced off the rubber tip, scarcely missing her toes. Stella barely got to her feet before the blade whizzed past her head as she ducked to the side. Shegripped the edge of the nearest shelf, panting and feeling as though her heart would crack through her rib cage any second.
Hook grinned. He was playing with her, toying with Stella like a cat batting around a helpless mouse, already knowing the battle was won. Anger and fear collided inside her, creating a desperate, uncontrollable burst of self-preservation. Fight or flight. She couldn’t outrun or outfight Hook, but maybe she could outsmart him, catch him off guard.
She ran full speed at him while he raised the sword at his side. At the last second, she bent over to ram him with her shoulder and barely registered the look of surprise in his eyes before he tripped over his boots and careened out of control. He slammed into a study table and sprawled out on top of it.
The sword slipped from his grasp, its jeweled hilt glinting as it bounced against the floor.
Stella clambered for the sword as Hook pushed himself to standing with incredible speed. In a mad rush, Stella gripped the hilt with both hands, groaning as she lifted the cumbersome blade.
She faced Hook just as he dove toward her.
The silver blade shoved itself into Hook’s chest, piercing him all the way through, exiting out his back. Stella stood stunned, unable to move. Then, realizing what she’d done, she released the hilt.
Hook’s eyes widened as he stared down at the sword protruding from his chest. Stella’s heart pounded so hard that bile rose in her throat.
Hook stumbled into the second-floor railing, and his tall body pitched backward over the balcony toward the foyer below. A few seconds later, she heard a grotesquethumpand someone screamed. It wasn’t Stella.
She slapped her hands over her mouth and gagged. Then she staggered toward the staircase saying, “Oh my God,” on repeat asshe ran. She almost tumbled down the steps as she took them as quickly as possible.
Hook lay on his back, one leg bent oddly and his arms splayed out beside him. His glassy eyes stared toward the ceiling. Blood pooled beneath him, oozing out from underneath his back. Deep red wetness stained his shirt in a widening circle as he blinked. The sword had propelled itself out of his body and lay off to the side.
Ariel stood near the circulation desk clutching Percy’s arm. Both stared at Stella, stricken with horror. Stella gulped air and dropped to her knees beside Hook.
Her whole body trembled. She leaned over Hook and touched his shoulder. Warm blood continued to drip down her own slashed arm. “Hook, can you hear me?”
He blinked again and turned a slow gaze toward her. His blue eyes seemed unfocused. The pool of blood enlarged beneath him, staining her knees red.
“I am so sorry,” Stella blubbered. She grabbed his hand, careful not to jostle him too much. “I didn’t mean to.”
Hook closed his eyes, and his right cheek dimpled. “Bravo, love. You’re stronger than I thought. I didn’t think you had it in you.”
“Idon’t,” Stella argued. “I’m not a killer. Don’t die, okay? I can find help.”
Hook surprised her by squeezing her fingers. His exhaled breath gurgled in his lungs. “Not a killer,” he said, his words garbled. “You saved yourself. Well played, love.” His body convulsed and he groaned.
“Hang in there, Hook,” she said. “I’ll get you back on your feet in no time.”
He grimaced, and his body tightened as his spine stiffened before it relaxed again. His dilated pupils turned his eyes almost black. “Let go.”
He inhaled one final time.
Then he exploded into ashes. When Stella opened her mouth to scream, soot coated her tongue and covered her entire body. She coughed and hacked, spitting black ash onto the tiles.
Footsteps hammered against the floor, and Stella lifted her palms to her eyes and wiped away the grime. As she blinked, Jack came into view. He dropped down beside her.
“What happened? What’s this all over the floor?” he asked in quick succession. “It looks like—”
Stella burst into tears, crying hard into her dirty hands. Jack pulled her against him and held her until she could breathe normally.
“What in the hell just happened?” Percy demanded.
Ariel knelt beside Stella. “Is that man dead? Why did he explode?”
Stella cried harder. Jack lifted her into a sitting position. “Stella,” he said, pushing her hair back from her face, “talk to me.”
“Somebody better tell me what’s going on,” Percy said.
