DEMIS (A Clash With Lightning)

40

"What are we going to do now?" Keith asked.

Jasmine stared at the spot where Hecate and Alexander had just stood, her ego more than just a little deflated. She knew Alexander would be powerful, but she hadn't realized that they would truly stand no chance, even at their full potential. How was she supposed to respond to that question? The true answer was that they should just give up. They were in over their heads.

She clenched her fists before punching the pillar next to her. The pillar was blasted to pieces onto the floor. Twenty minutes ago, her strength would have impressed her, but now she knew that it wasn't enough.

"I don't know," she finally answered the question. "He's just too strong."

"We have to go after him," Ban said, beginning to walk toward the door they had come in through. "We have to hurry before they begin the ritual."

Deep down, he knew it would be futile. He cringed when he thought about how Alexander had somehow just stopped his flesh-decaying power from spreading. He had thought he would take him out in one shot. He had never imagined anyone could counter that power. However, giving up wasn't an option—not when everyone was counting on them. He had to protect his mother, Rose, and his friends. He couldn't let Alexander take that away from him without a fight.

"What's the point?" Jasmine spat venomously.

"Are you serious?" Ban turned around. "You wanna just hand over the world after getting knocked around a little bit?"

None of them had even sustained any serious injuries. Keith hadn't even had to heal anyone at all. That meant Alexander hadn't even been fighting them at his full power. He had been holding back. Jasmine knew he would be able to do serious damage if they got in his way again.

"Do you have a death wish?" Jasmine countered.

"No! But if we don't stop him, we and the rest of the world are going to die," Ban gritted his teeth.

"Jasmine," Rose spoke up. "I think I might actually have an idea."

Jasmine turned to Rose with tight lips, waiting for her to continue.

"Well, I think it's obvious to all of us that Alexander is more than just a little attracted to you," she began. "That's something we can use to our advantage."

Jasmine felt her heart skip a beat. "What are you suggesting?"

"You could pretend to join him—say you betrayed us and want to stay by his side," she explained. "I think he will fall for it."

"That's brilliant," Josh nodded. "Then you can ambush him when his guard is down. You don't have to defeat him; you just have to destroy the Dark Eclipse."

"Once it's destroyed, Alexander won't be able to release the Titans," Rose concluded.

"And he won't be able to absorb the gods' or Titans' powers," Keith added. "That's perfect!"

Jasmine frowned. It was a good plan—until Alexander snapped her neck for betraying him and foiling his plans forever. The more she thought about it, though, the more she realized this was her only option. Either way, she was dead. At least if she took down Alexander, the rest of the world would get to live.

"Okay," she finally said. "I'll do it."

"That's more like it," Ban sighed in relief.

"So, how are we going to get to Tartarus in time?" Josh brought up their next problem.

"I actually have a really good idea for that," Keith grinned with excitement. "Ban, you're going to hate it."

"What is it?" Ban asked him suspiciously.