The Last God
ation should
fficers looked nervous, glancing at the windows every few seconds. They felt it
ant said, fingers hove
cus
here you were reported missing six months ago. The fami
ured in a basement by people who work for a
said. "Get him some water. We will
mall, just a bench and barred walls. Two other men
The mark had pushed him beyond human limits, and now the pr
ld not sle
One thirty AM. Ninety minutes unti
hts fli
hen they went
hing in red. The other prisoners stirred, co
od, heart
was
rs, across the walls, across the floor in crystalli
hallway beyond the cel
r stepped
thing older. Shadows writhed around her like living thing
r voice echoed from everywhere and nowhere. "
er woke, saw her, a
lace like a statue. The other prisoner tried to run. S
ed. "They have nothi
the prisoner. He crumpled to the floor, gasping. "You brou
and bent, twisting open like paper. The Vesp
now," she said.
, screaming danger, but exhaustion weighed him
r reached
ll exp
crashed through. The Vesper spun, shadows rising in d
ar that crackled with electricity. Her eyes glowed
re and ov
rrying the weight of mountains. "You d
"Athena. This doe
the mark respond to her presence, recognizing
atly," Athena said, stepping into the cell. "E
red. "That makes him a weapon, not mortal. W
. That choice m
he air between them. The walls shook. The floor cracked.
did somethin
to Marcus
. Serve me, and I will protect you from all who
ers you slavery with prettier words. Accept
es. Two cages. Both claiming to save hi
t. Of Odin's test. Of six mont
Marcus
esses sta
oming from somewhere deep and furious. "I am not a
exploded
s back. The cell walls shattered. The entire station shook. Marcus felt A
ar. It became thunder. Became something
breathing hard. His body glowed faintly with golden fire. The mark
s wide with something that mi
"Impossible. The mark should not h
d at Marcus with s
rked," she whispered
hat?" Marcu
ed, her voice
e sky began
was c
onger the same person wh
t had only