Total pages in book: 126
Estimated words: 123065 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 615(@200wpm)___ 492(@250wpm)___ 410(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 123065 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 615(@200wpm)___ 492(@250wpm)___ 410(@300wpm)
“So basically my only choices are Tyrell and Daggon? I don’t even want to choose.” I groan. “What the hell is wrong with you people, and I thought you were the nice one. Maybe I just want to die peacefully.”
Apep grins. “To answer your third question---so many perverse things are wrong with this situation. With the trials. The immortals, the gods. ” Why does it feel like he’s proud of it? “And I am the nice one, never forget that; no matter what we will save Jake, if he truly is where Cyrus says he is, then at least there’s hope that your sacrifice will mean something. I’ll try my hardest, Cleo. I won’t let you down. I just need you to trust me.”
“I do.” I nod. “You’re probably the only one I fully do trust.”
He smiles wide. “Good. Just know, everything I do for you and for the greater good, there is no higher calling.”
I nod, a tear escapes. “This is hard.”
He moves over to the bed and sits on it, then pulls me into his arms and lets me cry. “I’ll be there until the end, Cleo. Know that I’ll always be there. No matter what it takes.”
I look down. He has a gold ring on his right finger that glints as he continues to hug me. It somehow matches his cane. He stops hugging me and pulls away. “Pick one of them, you’ll be satisfied, happy even. Allow yourself to experience what it’s like to be in ecstasy with an immortal for once in your life, besides any of their power and energy will give you peace like you’ll never know.”
I’m afraid to ask but I do anyway. “And who are you supposed to be? If I’m to believe all of this? Chaos itself?”
It’s an educated guess.
“Chaos, such an ass,” he jokes. “You think you have us all figured out, hmm?” He pulls back and winks. “I am Apep, yes, but just because my ancient name is Chaos doesn’t mean shit in this situation.” He swings his cane around and around and laughs harder. “You know, I knew it would be interesting this time, but not this interesting.”
“What?”
“Winning,” he says on an exhale. “See you at the eclipse. I believe you have one day left since Cyrus doesn’t need to keep preparing you for what’s to come. Learn about Tyrell today, and I’ll see you tomorrow.”
He leans down and kisses the top of my head before exiting the cave.
“What the hell was that?” I grab the parchment to keep myself focused and continue writing more names. Dag pops in and out with food for me, but since our encounter he’s been silent like he’s afraid to look at me or touch me. I even ask him if he wants to play cards or something.
He says he doesn’t know how and bolts out of the cave like I’m poison.
The sea is clearly having a tantrum too. It won’t stop hitting the cliffs like it wants to fight, and I swear I see a creature near the island, but maybe I’ve just been writing names too long and am losing it. My vision is blurry, and I’m exhausted.
By the time Cyrus shows up I just want to take a nap.
He’s in his usual jeans and a T-shirt. He holds out his hand. “Come.”
I walk toward him and take hold of his hand.
“Apep has always been out of the question. Sorry for not telling you sooner. I’ll teach you about Tyrell.” He sighs. “But I figured you could use a walk.”
“Can Bast come?” I ask looking back at the cat’s eager expression.
Cyrus heaves a sigh then shrugs. “Sure, just tell her not to kill anyone.”
“Bast, don’t kill anyone,” I say right away.
She seems to literally roll her eyes and then joins us as we leave the cave.
Kratos is guarding today again; he’s holding his daggers tightly in his grip.
“So…” I try to keep it casual as we walk along the beach. I’m barefoot, Bast is running ahead of us and jumping into the sky—for birds maybe? I can’t tell, but she’s excited. If she wasn’t so huge and panther-like, I’d think she was the cutest thing I’d ever seen.
She jumps one more time; her jaws get a seagull and she swallows. I stumble, but Cyrus grabs my arm and holds me up, all smiles. “She really hates birds.”
She’s chomping down on the last piece of bird, and when she runs back to us I swear I see a white feather poking out of her mouth.
“Wow.” I manage to choke one word out. “Maybe try a magpie next time?”
Bast tilts her head like she’s truly thinking about it, then bounds ahead of us again.
“She likes you.” Cyrus’s smile is so open and free that I’m almost convinced this is just a walk between a gorgeous man and the girl that was always supposed to be here having a blind date taking a stroll on the beach.