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He is the god of healing, medicine, and archery,

The leader of the Muses,

And the god of prophecy,

He's Apollo.

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My first thought was to make a portal and carry Pedro out of here. But something told me they'll attack if I so much as made a move.

Even if I did, I don't think I could get us out in time.

Baldhead's eyes were hooded as he looked down on me in boredom. "So you're the girl who killed my friend."

Is he blaming me for Blaze's death?

I narrowed my eyes at him. "Your 'friend' tried to kill me, I had no choice."

He shrugged, casually dismissing the topic. "I'm sure you're wondering how we found you in this..." He gestured around us. "...secluded cemetery."

He paused for a second, expecting my response, but I had nothing to say. They were here to hurt Pedro and I wouldn't allow that without a fight.

He acknowledged my silence and licked his teeth, showing off his golden tooth. It reflected the moonlight like common jewelry.

I remembered Blaze and his last words.

I'll be back little witch. And I'll hunt you, Zion, and Pedro down until you all beg for death.

Baldhead pointed a finger at me. "You're Penny, right? Just to be clear..." When he realized I wasn't going to answer that too, he continued. "Anyway, we just need to settle a score with Zion -- which doesn't involve you by the way."

A girl with a short pixie haircut timidly rose her hand. "Um...Wyatt. she killed Blaze, so technically--"

Baldhead or Wyatt released a frustrated breath. "Will you please shut up! gosh!" he turned to her and touched his chest. "I'm the leader now, remember?"

The girl nodded and stepped back. Knowing his message has been sent across, Wyatt fixed his gaze back on me.

"I'm not letting you hurt Pedro." I deadpanned. Having an ability had somehow boosted my confidence a bit.

Wyatt nodded in understanding and reached into his shirt. He pulled out a silver necklace wrapped delicately around his neck. A blue topaz stone dangled from it.

A pendant.

Its bright light illuminated Wyatt's puffy cheeks and double chin. He leisurely wrapped a hand around the stone. That instant, Pedro went still.

I looked down at him, eyes wide. His tremor had ceased and for a moment relief washed over me.

I touched his cheek. "Pedro?"

Sweat coated his burning skin and his eyes twitched under his closed eyelids. But he wasn't responding. I turned to Wyatt. "How are you doing this?"

He kissed the fist enclosing the pendant. "It's an innovation. Tell me something, have you ever wondered why the gods are awakening in human hosts?"

I watched him for a moment, Zeus' words came into mind.

Someone is playing games with the gods and bringing back beings that aren't supposed to exist.

"Uh, Wyatt? I don't think she knows--"

"Shut up!" He glared at the pixie girl. "It's a rhetorical question."

He rolled his eyes, muttering 'Amateurs' before reaching into his back pocket. He brought out a small case and flipped it open, cautiously placing it in the pendant before shutting it close.

His eyes met mine. "Guess what it does?"

I glared at him, knowing he was casually causing Pedro distress was pissing me off. "It's forcing Poseidon to Ascend."

Wyatt scratched his neck with his nails. "Not exactly. I can't force Poseidon to Ascend. But I can keep him in a half-state of consciousness. This brings a mental battle as he and Pedro fight for control. Almost feels like your mind is torn in two."

I looked down at Pedro. He was on his side, his breathing ragged and uneven.

Wyatt slipped the case back into his pocket. "I'm not Blaze, and I don't want to hurt you. So I'm asking you to back off."

I got to my feet, hands balled into a tight fist. He's crazy if he expects me to turn a blind eye and walk away. "As I said, I'm not letting you hurt Pedro."

He smiled. "So be it. Patricia, finish her off."

The girl with the pixie haircut took a step forward. I guess this is the perfect time to make a portal.

She closed in and I immediately stretched out my hands, willing a vortex between her and me.

Since it wasn't my first, it should be pretty easy. I expected a cloudy haze to form any second now, but it didn't. Confused for a moment, I tried again.

Nothing.

The portal wasn't forming. I never had this problem before. I shook my hands more violently, silently begging a portal to form, but it didn't.

Why isn't it working?

Wyatt smiled at my failed attempt. I didn't have time to respond when Patricia lunged at me.

That moment, instinct took over. I twirled to the side, easily avoiding her fists, and pulled out my pocket knife from my jeans.

Before she had time to recover, I swung my tiny weapon. She screamed and stumbled back, hands reaching for her face. They came out bloody.

A long cut ran diagonally across her face, cutting over her left eye.

With no remorse, I sidestepped, holding out my knife in a defense position. My gaze glanced between her and her comrades, expecting an attack from either side.

So far, they haven't shown any signs of transformation. Meaning they were human.

Patricia snarled. "You little she-devil."

Her eyes turned yellow and I watched as her fangs elongated. Hair sprouted around her neck like a mane. Her wound slowly patched up.

I take back what I said.

She was a freaking manticore.

A tail with a pointy end whipped to her side. And from my last experience with Blaze, I knew it could upgrade into a thicker scorpion tail.

She remained in her partial form, not completely turning into a four-limbed lion.

The others morphed in the same manner; nails protruding into lion claws and golden hairs that replaced their skin. Only Wyatt had remained in his human form.

I was going to fight against seven creatures -- which is a miracle since I barely defeated Blaze the last time.

How did they even become monsters?

Liam had said you could only transform if you get bitten.

Could it be the same monster that had changed Blaze?

Realizing there weren't making a move, Wyatt frowned and turned to his other teammates. "Aren't you attacking or what!?"

"We were waiting for your orders." A random guy called out.

Wyatt palmed his face. "Imbeciles." He gestured at me. "Just get her!"

The six simultaneously jumped on me and for a moment, I wondered if I'll survive.

A hand grabbed my jacket and I easily slipped out and kicked a guy square in his chest. He stumbled and fell on his butt.

Another caught my arm and I elbowed him in the face, his nose scrunched from the blow. I stepped on someone's toes and kneed another in the crotch. But it wasn't enough.

In time, I was overwhelmed.

Hands seized my arms and forced them behind me. Their partial form had increased their strengths by two. I lashed out when Wyatt moved closer, nearly kicking him in the chest but he jumped back.

A foot slammed against my shins, forcing my kneecaps to the gavelled ground.

Wyatt stepped closer. "No wonder Blaze died." With two fingers, he tipped my face towards his. "He underestimated you."

He had also partially shifted. I winced as his claws dug into my chin. "Ever wondered what happened to Blaze's parents after he died?"

"I don't care."

Wyatt smiled. "They came to me, knowing I was his friend. I told them he had run away, but they never believed me. You see, I had no choice but to wipe out their memories. Call it a special form of phantom ability."

"Blaze's parents could disappear for all I care!"

"Then how about your abilities?"

I froze.

Seeing he had my attention, he continued. "You're wondering why they didn't work." He sat on his heel before me. Yellowish eyes bore into mine. "You're human, which means you aren't supposed to carry an ability."

He tilted his head and concluded. "You draw it from someone. I want you to think back. Each time you used your power, someone had to be close by."

I furrowed my eyebrows but conceded. I remembered the first time I used my portal, teleporting the Carcinus crab to a beach.

The next memory was when Zeus attacked me in my home. The third was during my training session with Hypnos. Then the portal we took to get here.

All this time, someone was close enough for me to draw and activate my abilities.

I sucked in a breath.

Liam?

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