Total pages in book: 101
Estimated words: 95187 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 476(@200wpm)___ 381(@250wpm)___ 317(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 95187 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 476(@200wpm)___ 381(@250wpm)___ 317(@300wpm)
“Cut the head off of the snake and all that,” Hades murmurs.
For a moment, it seems like Zeus might argue, but he gives a short nod. “We can’t afford to wait long.”
Hades considers us. Finally, he says, “I’ll lend my people, but there are several conditions. The barrier between the upper and lower city stays up, and I’ll only ask for volunteers. I won’t order my people to cross the river and help an upper city that thinks we’re shit on the bottom of its shoe.”
“We’re one city, Hades.”
“Maybe once upon a time. No longer.”
“We could be again.”
Hades shakes his head. “No, we can’t.” He extends his hand. “But I’m willing to commit to your coup for the space of a single attack. After that, if you don’t step down, Athena won’t be the only one you have to worry about.”
Zeus smiles tightly and shakes his hand. “Noted.”
They both turn to me. I don’t like this. It feels wrong to break the rules, no matter how archaic some of our laws are. I’m honestly surprised there’s not some cleverly hidden bylaw for a situation such as this. The fact that there isn’t seems to suggest that the founders of the city were just as worried as their descendants are about the legacy titles abusing their power.
They should be worried.
“One night, one battle.” I reluctantly shake first Zeus’s hand and then Hades’s, sealing our fates.
“We need to act fast.” Hades turns away. “Three days, no more. Figure out the details by then.”
If Zeus is remotely alarmed at the idea of putting this plan together and into action within seventy-two hours, he doesn’t show it. We have to gather the people, arrange the groups, decide on the best time to approach… The sheer magnitude threatens to overwhelm me.
Zeus speaks, bringing my circling thoughts to a shocked standstill. “Three days is too long. We move tonight.”
Tonight? Tonight? I’m already shaking my head. “What you’re asking is impossible. There’s no way we can manage it by tonight. You’re going to get people killed.”
“It has to be tonight.” He doesn’t say it like he’s lording the decision over me, more like he’s resigned to a truth the rest of us haven’t discovered yet. “The Thirteen don’t trust me, and half a dozen of them have spies watching me closely. No matter how close we play this to the chest, word will get out and Artemis and the others might move to stop us. We have to finish this tonight.”
Hades hesitates but finally nods. “As loathe as I am to admit it, he’s right.”
I want to keep arguing, but Zeus has brought Hades around to this impossible plan. If he’s right and this is our chance, then I’m honor bound to uphold my third of it. I clench my fists at my side in a rhythm that does nothing to soothe me. “So be it.”
We stand in silence as Charon pushes the boat back into the water and Hades steps gracefully aboard. Within seconds, they’re gone, disappearing into the mist. The only indication of their passing is a slight ripple in the lights of the barrier.
“We have a lot of work to do and not much time to accomplish it.” Zeus speaks without looking at me. “I’ll convey our plans to Athena. You have until we launch to confirm those ships are leaving—or their lives are forfeit.”
So cold as he orders the deaths of others. I clear my throat. “You agreed not to kill the crew.”
“If they surrender, you can play the hero and ferry them to safety.” He shrugs. “If they don’t? Then the order stands.” He finally turns and starts for the parked cars, but he pauses when he comes even with Icarus. “I’ll kill you myself before I allow you to betray us.” He keeps moving, taking the steps up to the parking lot easily. Within a few seconds, his car starts and he’s gone, leaving us alone.
“You know, I never understood why people found this Zeus scary.” Icarus shivers. “I get it now.”
“Come on.” I don’t exactly intend to put my arm around his shoulders and tuck him against my side. It just sort of happens, and then it feels so good that I don’t want to put any distance between us.
We walk to the SUV and I hold the door open for him. It’s only when I’m in the driver’s seat that I’m not sure what to do. I need to get my people ready, but ultimately that’s a small ask. We are ready. Every one of my people is a sailor to some degree. We have anti-scanning gear, though we don’t make a habit of using it since I became Poseidon, and enough small craft that we should be able to get Athena’s and Hades’s people to the ships without being caught. We have the easy part of the plan…as long as it goes well.