The Spirits of the Universe (PJO)

Chapter 81--Niyomina Talks Too Much

This time, Riptide slipped back into my pocket almost immediately—but that didn't matter with a blade pressed against my throat.

"I knew you were planning something," Niyomina said, her voice full of smug satisfaction. "Good thing I went ahead to scout, right?"

"You killed your own soldiers with that cannon," I spat. "You're a monster."

My hand slowly snaked towards my pocket. No one was going to coming to save me—I had to do it myself.

"I follow orders. Everything's disposable. Even me."

"You destroyed what you stole."

"There were only a few trinkets in the carriage—jewelry, and a few weapons my soldiers took a fancy to. What matters is in the last one."

My blood ran cold. "The book."

Her smile sharpened. "So you do know."

"Of course I know," I shot back coldly. "You destroyed my life because of it."

She pressed the blade harder against my neck, and my hand stilled. "Watch your tone. Is that how you speak to the person deciding whether you live or die?"

I really wanted to say, If you think this is bad, you should've seen me with Kronons. But I gritted my teeth. Just keep her talking, Percy. A few more seconds. "Why the armed escort? Why the caravan? If you only cared about the book, you could've teleported away with it."

"Chaos isn't stupid. The book has layers of security—anti-teleportation included. I hate slow, dusty carriages, but the disguise works. And my mistress does not tolerate failure, especially with something this important."

"It's a book. I stopped reading those in middle school. How important could this one be?"

Niyomina laughed. "Even if it has the names of Chaos' spies in it?"

Everything snapped into place. Why I'd been accused. Why I didn't get a chance to defend myself. Why Chaos had been desperate.

Because this was a matter of life and death.

I forced my voice to stay steady. "Should you even be telling me this? Eternity probably isn't paying you to be this . . . chatty."

"This is information you should've figured out long ago. Maybe then you'd have given up the ridiculous idea that you could stop us with only three people. Not that you've thought that far ahead."

"You'd be surprised to know that I have," I said, feeling insulted. "And I've also figured out what you're going to do with the book."

Niyomina looked at me with surprise, then caught herself. "I know what you're trying to do. Pretend you know everything so I'll brag about the plan. But I'm not stupid."

"You are stupid," I told her. "I really did figure it out. And it's all thanks to you."

"Then why don't you tell me what I'm planning? You can't, can you—"

"You're going to use the book as leverage. Eternity probably can't read all those names immediately, not with the security built in. But give her time, and she'll crack it. So you're using the delay to force Chaos into a deal—pull her forces back, maybe let your mistress set up shop on this planet." I paused. "And judging from how your jaw just dropped, I nailed it."

She clamped her mouth shut, but the surprise lingered in her eyes. "How did you even—?"

"It wasn't even hard. I just needed to understand how important the book really is. You immortals all think the same—you always need more land, more power, more everything. I'm sure Eternity already has more money and servants than she knows what to do with back on her planet. Ever thought about just being . . . satisfied?"

End snorted, That's an impossible task.

You're one of those immortals he's talking about, Order reminded her.

I know.

Niyomina bristled at my words. "Fine. You guessed the plan. But it doesn't matter." Her blade pressed against my neck. "I can end you at any moment." 

"Do it," I said. "But so that you know, I didn't keep this information to myself."

"You think I'm going to leave your squad mates alive?"

"Think a bit more . . . broader. Why don't you eliminate the whole Chaos Army while you're at it?"

She stiffened. "You're lying."

"Who says I am?"

She pressed her boot down on my chest until I struggled to breathe. "You think I'm an idiot? Chaos is the one who wants you behind bars. You wouldn't help her."

"You said it yourself. How are three people supposed to thwart your plan? Unless . . . the creator of the universe was on their side."

Yeah, that was entirely a bluff. Funnily enough, though, the truth sounded even more ridiculous. The chances of us being on the run for this long from the entire Chaos Army were ridiculous. Even I had a hard time believing our luck. Made more sense that we were all on the same side. 

And it seemed like Niyomina did too. She looked around anxiously, as if waiting for a trap to be sprung.

The pressure against my neck subsided. My fingers brushed against the inside of my pocket.

Now! I kicked her blade away from my body as I uncapped Riptide. I didn't even try anything fancy—just a strong, quick stab at her midsection.

When I blinked, I was hanging upside down from the wall. My wrist stung from where I'd been disarmed. 

"Word of advice," Niyomina hissed from above me, "don't tempt me to kill you. Because I will."

She released my ankle, and I began falling to my death.

Everything seemed to slow down. I know I probably should've been focused on myself, but my eyes couldn't help but drift toward where I'd last seen Liam.

I sighed in relief as I made out Aridne kneeling beside his body. She was feeding him ambrosia, meaning he was definitely alive. I'm glad he's okay. But . . .

The wind ruffled through my clothes as I looked below me—just as the caravan passed through the open portcullis. 

We had failed. A month on the run—all useless.

Maybe Niyomina had done me a favor. The consequences of that book falling into the wrong hands were enormous. Perhaps it was better to die before I saw any of that. 

Can you really die without hearing Aridne's side of the story? a tiny part of my brain asked.

My fists tightened. My gut squeezed tightly—

Suddenly, a hand wrapped around my ankle. Apparently, I'd only fallen for a few seconds, because when I gazed above me, I found that my savior was Niyomina. The sun glinted off the three blades at her neck. How the tables have turned.

The next voice, female, made my mouth dry up. "Why don't you pull him up before I have to fill out an incident report for slashing your throat?"

The Chaos Army had arrived.