Chapter 18

Poor Typhon.He'd been so brave coming to my rescue. For a second, I thought he'd even convinced Ariadne to not go through with her nutty plan. But the twat was strong in her, and so she had her bullies gang up on Typhon, taking him away, sending him who knew where, but at least he lived.

The prognosis on my fate? Not so good.

A mortal won't return.

The oracle had predicted my death—the original oracle, at any rate. My own sister never said anything. On the contrary, she'd made it sound like me coming here was our best and only shot.

Had Frieda seen me die? It seemed odd she'd not warned me.

"Well, now that we've handled that interruption, shall we?" Ariadne stated.

"In a second. Where did you send him?" I couldn't stem my curiosity.

"A place he knows very well. A place with no escape, at least not until the next eclipse."

It took me a single, horrified blink to decipher her claim. "You put him back in his prison?"

"Turns out there was an available exit the entire time. Who knew Atlantis had a permanent doorway? Guess he never found it. And by the time the next positioning rolls around again on Earth, you'll be long gone, and I will be a goddess." She cackled.

"What is wrong with you?" I yelled. "Haven't you punished him enough? And for what? The fact you were miserable in your marriage? Did it never occur to you to get a divorce?"

"You know nothing," hissed Ariadne. "In my day, women had no power. We were simply chattel relying on men for a home, clothing, and food. Marriage wasn't a choice."

"Being unhappy isn't an excuse for torturing someone," I countered.

"I'd hardly call exile torture," she replied coyly.

"How did you get the extra collars?" I asked.

"After your mother gave me the first set, I went looking and found a few more in a bazaar in a dimension with no magic at all. I returned a few times looking for more, but alas, deusvenati artifacts aren't exactly prized."

I glanced at the golden tin cans standing sentinel. "I can't believe they can listen to you and not realize you're a fraud."

"Hardly a fraud. They've been waiting for me. Apparently, before they killed their last seer, a prophecy was uttered. It said that a woman from the forbidden planet, wielding the might of the monster god, would be their salvation and bring about the return of magic and glory."

It was obvious Ariadne thought it referred to her, so I smirked and tossed a match into her oily logic. "Who says it's talking about you? After all, I am from Earth, the forbidden world. I also have the true blessing of the monster god and not the stolen magic. Who's to say I'm not the salvation they've been waiting for?"

A ripple of movement went through the golden soldiers, and their unrest pursed Ariadne's lips. "Don't even try to turn them. They are loyal to me. They know I am meant to be their goddess."

"That was when they thought they had no other choice." I offered a fierce grin. "Now they have two of us to choose from. I wonder who they'd prefer? Psycho lady who thinks stealing is okay? Or me, sister to the oracle and a mighty warrior? Someone who isn't hated by everyone."

"Shut your mouth!" Ariadne clenched her fists. "You're just a witch. And an annoying one at that."

"Just?" I arched a brow. "Is that a challenge? Because if so, I accept. Take off this collar and let's see just who's the stronger of us." I smiled. "Let's show your precious army who's the best one for the job."

"Throw her in!" Ariadne screeched.

The soldiers flanking me hesitated.

Ariadne lost her shit. "I gave you an order. Obey!"

"You need to remove her collar first," one of them reminded.

Ariadne glared at the bracelet on her left wrist. The one connected to me, I assumed. "Leave it on. She's too tricky."

The soldier glanced at the well before saying, "If we do that, we'll lose it. There aren't many left."

"It doesn't matter. Soon we won't need them," Ariadne insisted.

One of the women shyly lifted her hand and murmured, "My goddess. If I might."

"What?" snapped Ariadne.

"You must at least remove the bracelet lest the drain of magic by the well not be restricted to just the prisoner," the woman stated, wringing her hands.

"Why didn't you say that before?" grumbled Ariadne, removing the bracelet. She tossed it in the well to a few gasps.

Nothing happened, but I could see the woman who'd spoken huddled by the wall looking afraid. I had to wonder what else she knew that Ariadne had been ignoring.

The mad wannabe goddess turned her frosty gaze on me. "I think we've dallied long enough. I'd ask you for your last words, but I don't really care. So goodbye and thank you for your donation to my ascension. Throw her in."

Once the order registered with the soldiers flanking me, there wasn't much I could do. A firm grip on each arm ensured I got tossed into the pit. I plummeted, feeling my skin sizzle as the magic flooding the well tickled all of my nerve endings. Typhon had likened it to a ticking bomb, and yet passing through the dense magic, I didn't feel any pain. Not at first.

I did, however, lose my clothes. Fabric disintegrated, leaving me naked. Top, pants, shoes, undies, all gone, but even better…

The collar disappeared too!

My magic filled me with a rush, and the euphoria that was short-lived. I'd no sooner gained it than it got yanked from me. The well drank my power, already bloated and yet still thirsty for more.

It took everything and, unlike the collar, left me with an aching emptiness inside. It was gone. My magic. My ability. Leaving me less than ordinary as I plunged to my death.

The loser talk acted like a slap. I was Deino Grae. A sister. A witch. A bitch. And a vengeful one at that.

Was I going to let Ariadne win?

Would I leave Typhon to languish?

Would I really die ignobly smashed into pink sludge?

Like fuck.

Of course, not wanting to die didn't stop the fact the bottom of the pit was fast approaching. I spread my arms and legs starfish style to try and better control my dive, but it turned out I worried for nothing.

As I neared the end of my descent, the magic thickened, solidified in a way that slowed my fall. It got so sluggish that I flipped into a standing position and landed with barely a bend of my knees, although I did slide as my feet hit the pile of bones littering the bottom.

I grimaced as I realized I stood atop the stripped leftovers of those who'd been tossed in the well. Their remains were bereft of clothing, hair, and flesh, leaving only the skeleton. The many sized and shaped skulls indicated Ariadne hadn't been picky about who she had tossed in.

The molasses thickness of the magic made it hard to move. Each attempt at motion was a strain on my body. I took in the fact I appeared to be in a room.

Yes, I said room.

The well widened at the base, and I saw shelves carved into the walls. Even a large, flat pallet-like area that reminded me of a bed. There was art on the walls that showed a man with a fishtail swimming with sharks and jellyfish. He carried a trident. Given this was Atlantis, it could only be Poseidon. Which made me wonder who the second god he'd fought with was.

An almost full pivot brought me in sight of a niche, fancier than the other shelves. Round with the edges intricately carved. Within the recess, an oddity sat. A lump of something dark, shriveled, definitely dead, and yet it emitted a tiny pulse. Just a flicker.

I should have ignored it and sought a way out, yet why bother? The bones indicated there was no escape. I would die, and given how my skin reddened, I got the impression it wouldn't be long as the thick magic appeared to want to disintegrate me cell by cell.

With no magic, no Spider-Man hands and feet, or any kind of climbing tools, I had no way to escape.

No hope.

The biggest skull left behind became a seat for my ass. I'd never seen a head this big. Had Ariadne tossed a titan down here? I wouldn't put it past her.

I lifted my hand and stared as a layer of skin vanished, leaving behind a pink layer. How many more until we got to the real meat of me? It didn't hurt, but would that remain true once the skin was gone? How could I watch?

Don't give up. I heard Frieda's voice and looked around.

Still alone.

You have a destiny.

"Tell that to the crazy bitch who tossed me down here," I muttered.

You need to swallow.

Swallow what? My pride? Cum?

Idiot. Eat the heart.

"What heart…oh." My gaze returned to the niche and the nasty chunk within. I eyed it with distaste. "I am not putting that in my mouth."

It's the only way.

The only way to what? Escape this well? Foil Ariadne? Hunh. Either of those were reason enough. I wrinkled my nose and grabbed the hunk of dried meat. The leathery texture of it did little to make me forget I held a desiccated organ.

And Frieda wanted me to eat it? I'd rather—

Eat it if you want to live! I could hear the impatience and sighed.

"I swear, this better not turn me into a vegan," I muttered and popped the nasty hunk into my mouth.