UnTamed [Book 3]

We Trust a Titan

Okay, here's the next chapter y'all. I'll try and stop waiting a long time to post until a major cliffhanger happens because y'all know I'm going to pull a Riordan if I can :)

Chapter Quote:
"Trusting is hard. Knowing who to trust, even harder."
~Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder
  ________________________________  

Chapter 32: We Trust a Titan

Luke

Panic floored through Luke when he lost sight of Bryn. Fury tore through him when he saw her lying on the ground, seemingly immobilized and surrounded by arai about to go in for the kill. He nocked an arrow and sent it flying at one of the monsters which vaporized instantly. The two remaining arai hovering over Bryn turned their attention on him. Luke led the arai away from Silena who was screaming for help, and Derek, who had fallen to the ground in a heap, writhing in pain and clutching his shoulder.

"You want a fight?! Come and get me!" Luke shouted in rage. He slashed his sword at the hags but they jumped out of reach. They started dive-bombing him but leaping away from his sword at the last second. He quickly figured out they were purposefully trying to tire him out, to make it easier for them to go for the kill.

And it was working. He felt his blows becoming slower and weaker. It frustrated him because no matter how hard he tried, his body refused to use all of its strength. Finally, one of the arai bit him on the leg. Luke stabbed it in the neck before falling to the ground. He heard their mocking laughter, their insults and their words. They wanted to tear him down physically and mentally before they killed him. They fed off his pain. He hated this feeling. He hated feeling like he was going to die a coward. He hated knowing he was going to die on his knees, not even fighting. This wasn't how he wanted to go. This wasn't how he was going to go. Luke was going to make sure of it. A red haze descended over his vision.

If only he had a river nearby, one that wouldn't kill him. The River Phlegethon, while it was a river, it was made of fire. It wasn't liquid. Luke wouldn't be able to control it. What else was liquid around him then? His mind worked a mile a minute until he saw the blood seeping through his clothes. Blood was a liquid right? Luke remembered reading somewhere that the human body was mostly water. Was it possible? He knew Poseidon wasn't god of all liquids, just water, but most liquids were mostly water right? It was worth a shot and if it meant saving his friends, then it was worth everything.

Luke imagined the blood running through the arai's veins, giving them life, allowing them to continue torturing Luke and his friends.

"Wha-what is he doing?!" an arai shrieked, clawing at her chest. "I can't- breathe!"

"No! Son of Poseidon! No!" another one cried.

"You're as cruel as the gods!" one choked out.

"Well at least I know where I get it from," Luke spat, only focusing harder on his task. He felt something inside him break, as if glass shattered within him. But then, the arai, whose faces had been pale and white were now beet red. None of them could breathe. One by one, they exploded. One by one, their curses fell onto Luke. He didn't care though. He staggered up, helping Derek and Silena up before running over to Bryn. Silent tears fell from her eyes. She was crying but no sound was coming out. She looked up at Luke in terror.

"Are you okay? Where did they hurt you?" Luke asked. Bryn only mouthed a few words.

"What's wrong with Bryn?" Silena queried, coming up next to her brother, clinging onto Derek who had led them over.