The lion’s scarlet claws raked across Seth’s back, and his mouth twisted in a grimace. Whirling around, he raised his blade to meet its next assault.
Gods, why was I so useless? I was standing around while they fought and bled.
The lion’s maw locked around Seth’s blade, trapping him against a tree while a Hades Knight rushed his side, halberd ready to strike.
“No!” I shouted, reaching toward Seth.
A deathly silence permeated the air around me. Still. Lifeless. All sound in the woods ceased, the clash of steel silenced, and the screams and yells stopped. I felt my breath catch and fade away, as though all the air had been stolen from my lungs.
Everything snapped back at once with a thrum that shook the earth. A deep gouge raked through the dirt, destroying everything in its path. The lion vanished into red dust, and Seth staggered backward, watching as the line of destruction cleaved toward the commander, where he clashed with Seraphim.
The path of destruction ceased a breath from Seraphim’s feet.
Everyone stopped. The battle halted, and all eyes fell on me. The knight who’d been about to kill Seth gaped at the Empty’s destruction, perhaps realizing how close he’d come to simply disappearing.
The commander raised his head, muttering a curse I didn’t understand. Snapping his head down, he yelled an order. “Kill everyone but the girl!”
Lifting his halberd, the knight resumed his advance on Seth, who flew forward to meet him. Eleos staggered to his feet, rushing to intercept a second knight leaping over the chasm I’d created.
Across the woods, Seraphim slammed into the commander, trying to force him back as crimson dripped from his palm, preparing a new spell. Bloody vines wrapped around his wrist, yanking him away from Seraphim, but Phaedrus lost concentration on his spell as another of the Hades Knights swiped at his side.
“Stop!” A commanding woman’s voice roared across the woods.
The knights froze. Seth took advantage of their hesitation, slashing the knight he fought across the back before kicking him into the dirt.
“I told you to stop,” the woman repeated, voice dripping with authority as she rode into view.
If someone had told me she was a goddess incarnate, I would have believed them. White hair shimmered beneath the sun, the shadows of leaves dancing on her white gown. A deep blue cape draped her shoulders, with a matching circlet set upon her brow.
Dull gray eyes drank in the scene. She was tainted.
Several armored knights escorted her, clad in golden armor and silver cloaks. Holding their spears in a defensive position, they fanned out, surrounding us. One shoved Percy from his hiding place behind me, forcing him toward the center, where he flashed me a weak grin.
Several dozen golden men filled the woods, easily outnumbering the Hades Knights and us.
“Oracle.” The commander bowed extravagantly. “There was no need for you to put yourself in danger, my men—”
“Blood is not to be spilled needlessly,” the Oracle hissed. “Let me handle this.”
Annoyed, the commander shifted. “Your ladyship, I—”
“Stand down, Aeacus,” she said firmly, glancing over ourgroup. Her gaze landed on Seraphim, who stood gripping her scythe tightly. “You appear to be the leader. For what reason have you clashed with the good commander?”
Seraphim raised an eyebrow. “He attacked one of mine, first.”
“Lies,” Commander Aeacus retorted, pointing his blade at Seth. “This rogue drew first blood.”
The Oracle gazed harshly at Seth. “You did not answer my question.”
My mind spun, trying to come up with a con. Seth had attacked the commander unprovoked. If I lied, the knights would turn against me, but to speak truthfully would betray my team.
Phaedrus harbored no such reservations. “The commander speaks true,” he said, using his fake ‘frightened peasant’ voice. “These people appeared and started a fight.”
“Rather bold,” the Oracle said. “For bandits to target knights far above their skill.”
“Bandits?” Percy retorted. “Youknowwho we are, we—”
“You shall be punished accordingly.” The Oracle’s voice boomed, and her gray eyes flicked to me. “But so will they, for they drew holy blood.”
