He’s silent.
“I think that my death would incapacitate him in the way you need, if you time it right. I think that may be the only thing that can slow him down, and I want you to do it.” I drag in a breath. “I want you to kill me, because I think it’ll hurt him. Maybe badly.”
“Izzy would never forgive me.”
“We both know she will, eventually. She’ll get that you were asked to do something no one else could, and you will tell her when the time is right that I told you to do it. She knows me well enough to believe it.”
14
Xolotl
Once Whitney’s as shielded as she can be from this interaction, I walk back toward my brothers. “You came faster than I thought you could.”
“Why’d you summon us?” Osiris asks. “We aren’t your little errand boys, you know.”
“If you weren’t awake yet, my summons would have woken you,” I say. “I was doing you a favor, plus it’s been too long since we saw one another.”
“You called us here for a reunion?” Pluto looks pretty skeptical.
“Well, that, and I thought you might like to hear about how the world has changed, in case you haven’t picked a champion or met with any local leaders yet.”
“I picked one,” Pluto says. “A really great one, actually. The North Koreans are crazy and have almost nothing to lose. He’s already started a war with South Korea.”
“I did, too,” Osiris says. “I can’t believe you thought we needed your help with acclimating after waking.” He shakes his head. “Even you’re not usually that patronizing.”
“Yeah.” Pluto’s frowning. “He’s right. Tell us why we can’t kill anyone here? And why would you pick that little girl for your champion?”
“She immediately tried to kill me when I emerged from the mountainside. She’s a fierce warrior.”
“In a swirling red dress?” Osiris rolls his eyes. “Try again.”
“Okay, it might have been a mistake to choose her at first,” I admit. “But I’ve gotten to know her better, and she’s improving. So I don’t need your hel?—”
Osiris explodes. “You called us to help you?” He slaps Pluto on the back. “The great Xolotl needed help?”
Pluto’s grinning, too.
“I don’t anymore,” I say. “I formally apologize to you for the now-unnecessary summons. I have a meeting with the local military leaders soon, so I don’t have much time to spend with you.”
“I hate that you even can summon us.” Osiris is glaring again. “Why are you the only one who can do that?”
Pluto shoves Osiris. “Every group needs a leader. Drop it.”
Osiris ignores Pluto and moves closer. “No, I don’t think I will. I’ve never been stupid enough to choose a human champion who would be a liability, so why should you lead us if you’re that dumb?” He attacks then, slamming into me with a hard cross to my jaw.
Before he can do anything worse, I open up the ground beneath Osiris and bury him under two tons of rock. Then I turn toward my other brother. “You care to take issue with me as your leader, Pluto?”
He’s shaking his head when Osiris explodes out of the ground ten feet back, flinging debris all over. I use air to keep it from hitting me, but Pluto isn’t as fast.
“Hey, leave me out of this.” He’s glaring at Osiris.
“His human’s a liability. He’s not killing because of her. Spread your senses out, moron. They’re everywhere, live humans, just. . .living.”
Pluto’s eyes widen. “Why are there so many humans all around you? If you’re meeting with the military tomorrow, don’t you need to be at full strength?”
“It’s for her.” Osiris tosses his head at the hotel room where I tucked Whitney. “He called us to kill her, but somehow, she’s ensorcelled him, and he’s changed his mind.” He’s scowling now. “He’s been tricked. We have to help him, do what he knew he needed when he called us.”
Pluto looks confused now.
