“There is more of me than ever.”
“No. It’s more ofhim, but you can’t tell the difference.”
“Are we ready?”
Elijah tenses at the sound of Hector’s voice, his heart beating faster. I can smell the sweat breaking out over his skin.
“Your pet is ready,” he says frostily.
Hector stands next to him while I remain seated on the bench. “He’s not my pet, Elijah; he’s my soon-to-be champion.”
“Once the people see what you did to him—”
“Oh, please. They’ve been cheering like idiots for an albino giant. Do you think they won’t cheer for Denver’s Defender because of some scales?”
“They’ll accuse you of being a mutant.”
“They already do, yet here I am.”
Elijah sighs. “You’re dragging us into madness.”
“You told me the same thing years ago, and look at Denver now.”
“Then why would you want to risk it all?”
“Because none of this matters.”
“You’re insane. Our enemies have armies of their own. Even the Semi-Humans are rumored to be on their side!”
“Our army is not less capable.”
“In the sewers?”
Hector narrows his eyes. “Oh my. Your little birds have been busy. Or should I call them little rats?” He glances at me. “Thank you for helping him adjust, but he’s no longer fighting for your house.”
“You have him fully under your control, is that it?”
“On the contrary. I no longer have control over him.”
It takes me a moment to digest his words. Since yesterday, when I received his final gift, I’ve stopped feeling him in my head. For weeks, he was always there, sometimes a buzzing fly and sometimes an angry crow. Whatever power he granted me yesterday, it must be strong enough to keep him out. Although, if I concentrate hard enough, I can still feel a faint echo of him, like fading smoke.
“Leave us,” Hector tells Elijah, who gives me a final pitying look before exiting the locker room.
“Stand up. Let me look at you.”
I rise to my feet. Hector’s eyes travel up and down, lingering on where the scales have replaced my skin. “I’ve spent decades planning this moment. For a while there, I thought I hit gold with Isaac, but it never felt right.” He strokes my arms. “You feel just right, my masterpiece.”
I’m humbled by his words. “Thank you, sir.”
“The people out there might not like what they see at first, but once you put on a show for them, they’ll come around. Finn will, too. Give him some time.”
I’m momentarily horrified. I haven’t thought of him all day. Even with the upcoming fight, how could he have slipped my mind like that? “I don’t… I don’t feel well.”
Hector helps me sit and holds my face. “Clear your head and focus only on this fight. Getting distracted will be the end of you.”
I don’t want to die, so I follow his instructions and clear my head, letting go of my dread and doubt. “I’m okay.”
“Good. Just remember that putting on a show should not come at the cost of losing. Pace yourself. Think before you act, and more importantly,do notkill Isaac. After losing High Hope’s support because of their useless king, I’m going to need the giant to stick around.”
