DEMIS (A Clash With Lightning)

21

"Where are they?" Ban was starting to get frustrated. He had been searching for his friends for over twenty minutes. The club was big, but it wasn't that big. It was as if they had disappeared. He was beginning to get nervous—he needed to meet up with Rose soon to make sure she didn't eat any fruit.

He scanned the area, searching for her. His eyes widened when he noticed a security guard snatch her arm and attempt to drag her into an employees-only area. He was about to sprint toward her, but his mouth fell open as she started growing. She now stood with her head just below the ceiling. She kicked the security guard out of the way before shouting for Ban.

"Over he—" A hand covered his mouth before he could call out to her.

"Shhh." A voice whispered in his ear. "Don't you want to find the rest of your little team?"

He turned around to see Diana, still wearing that same stunning smile that was starting to creep him out.

"I've broken out of the trance. Tell me where my friends and the armor are," he demanded.

"If you want that, then you'll need to follow me to the employees' lounge." She pointed to the door the security guard had tried to drag Rose through. Rose continued shouting for Ban frantically as more security guards surrounded her.

"I could kill you right now. I don't even have to touch you." He was half-bluffing. He knew he had been able to kill the fish fairly easily, but he didn't know if he could do the same with someone her size. Not to mention, she was clearly some kind of monster, but he had no idea what kind.

"I'm sure you could, son of Hades." She spat his father's name as if it disgusted her. "But if you kill me, you'll never find the others."

"Why are you doing this?" Ban questioned. "We have to stop Alexander. Do you seriously think the Titans won't destroy your island?"

"They won't be able to. I have insider information and have been promised that my island will be left unscathed. You won't be leaving with that armor, but if you cooperate, you might leave with your friends."

"I swear on the gods, if you've hurt any of them, I'll make you suffer," he threatened.

"You're wasting my time just standing here talking." She sighed and snapped her fingers.

All of a sudden, a bag was thrown over Ban's head.

"Hey!" he shouted, squirming in protest. Before he could react, he felt a sharp pain against his skull—and then everything went black.

"Let him go!" Rose shouted before slinging three security guards away from her. The people in the club began screaming and running in different directions, panicked—likely caused by the giant that had appeared out of nowhere. Rose didn't have time to feel bad for scaring everyone. She had to get to Ban.

She ran toward Diana, carefully dodging the people beneath her, and snatched her up, holding her tightly in one hand while grabbing Ban in the other so the guards couldn't take him anywhere. As more guards rushed toward her, she grumbled, "Just how many of you are there?" before kicking them away like rodents.

"Infinite," Diana answered.

Rose brought her up to her face. "What did you just say?"

"There is an infinite number of guards." Diana smiled. "Can I just say—your power is simply exquisite."

"Shut up." Rose was losing her patience. "Tell me where my friends are, or I'll squeeze you so hard your brain pops out of your skull."

"If you kill me, then you'll never find them. Just cooperate, and I might let you leave with them," Diana mimicked what she had told Ban earlier.