ation should

fficers looked nervous, glancing at the windows every few seconds. They felt it

ant said, fingers hove

cus

here you were reported missing six months ago. The fami

ured in a basement by people who work for a

said. "Get him some water. We will

mall, just a bench and barred walls. Two other men

The mark had pushed him beyond human limits, and now the pr

ld not sle

One thirty AM. Ninety minutes unti

hts fli

hen they went

hing in red. The other prisoners stirred, co

od, heart

was

rs, across the walls, across the floor in crystalli

hallway beyond the cel

r stepped

thing older. Shadows writhed around her like living thing

r voice echoed from everywhere and nowhere. "

er woke, saw her, a

lace like a statue. The other prisoner tried to run. S

ed. "They have nothi

the prisoner. He crumpled to the floor, gasping. "You brou

and bent, twisting open like paper. The Vesp

now," she said.

, screaming danger, but exhaustion weighed him

r reached

ll exp

crashed through. The Vesper spun, shadows rising in d

ar that crackled with electricity. Her eyes glowed

re and ov

rrying the weight of mountains. "You d

"Athena. This doe

the mark respond to her presence, recognizing

atly," Athena said, stepping into the cell. "E

red. "That makes him a weapon, not mortal. W

. That choice m

he air between them. The walls shook. The floor cracked.

did somethin

to Marcus

. Serve me, and I will protect you from all who

ers you slavery with prettier words. Accept

es. Two cages. Both claiming to save hi

t. Of Odin's test. Of six mont

Marcus

esses sta

oming from somewhere deep and furious. "I am not a

exploded

s back. The cell walls shattered. The entire station shook. Marcus felt A

ar. It became thunder. Became something

breathing hard. His body glowed faintly with golden fire. The mark

s wide with something that mi

"Impossible. The mark should not h

d at Marcus with s

rked," she whispered

hat?" Marcu

ed, her voice

e sky began

was c

onger the same person wh

t had only