Young Writers Society

Chapter 29: Over My Dead Body

“I’m going to kill them,” Jase said, grabbing numerous blades from the weaponry shed on the side of his new estate—gifted to him by Zeus himself.

Josephine watched with teary eyes as thunder cracked outside of the shed, causing her to jump lightly and wrap her cold-wet arms around herself, “Jase, we can’t act on it yet—”

“I don’t give a shit,” The son of Poseidon growled, his voice merely a whisper. He tucked a blade with a wooden handle into his holster and wrapped his knuckles with brass tape, “They wont even see me coming.”

“Please don’t jeopardize your position of Commander to harm those who have wronged us,” Josephine responded, inching closer to him from behind. She could smell his scent, the aroma of coal and teakwood. She allowed herself to inhale it, and hesitantly wrapped her arms around his abs as she approached. Jase paused and glanced behind him, moving his spare hand to hers.

“I’ve been alive for two-hundred and one years. I wouldn’t mind dying today,” His voice faltered, and Josephine reacted by tightening her arms. She allowed his fingers to feel along the veins in her hand.

“But there’s so much to live for, so much to experience…” Josephine felt along his muscled body and rested her damp cheek on his armored back.

Jase dropped his hand from hers and leaned his body on the workman’s table in front of them, his belt shifting the blades that laid sprawled out on the wood counter. Rain continued to fall above them, symbolic of Jase’s anger.

He shifted to face her and cupped her face in his palms gently, “I won’t let them hurt you.”

Josephine studied him and looked into his thundercloud eyes.

I could get lost in those eyes.

She brought her hands to his and smiled faintly, “I know.”

Josephine didn’t want to leave this moment. She stayed there; face cradled in Jase’s strong, veiny hands for quite a while before another crack of lightning struck beside them. Snapping out of it, Josephine pulled away and looked towards the door, “You aren’t going to listen to me, are you? You’re going to go either way, huh?”

Jase smirked and kissed her forehead, adjusting his armor that was placed awkwardly on his shoulders, “Yes, Josephine. Either way, I’m going.”

There were many things Josephine knew she could do now since she found her gift. She could go with him, defend him in any way possible, burn the whole place to the ground without a second thought. But, Jase was more experienced than her, combat wise, and she knew that he’d sacrifice himself before she wasted her power on him. In order to take town two major deities, she’d have to use all of her reserved energy to be successful. But, this was Jase, and he was fighting for her. He was going to fight for Persephone, despite their differences. The least Josephine could do was offer her assistance.

“Let me come with you,” She murmured, stepping beside him, and ran her hand along the thin sheathed blade to her right, “I could be of more help than you think.”

“Oh, I know,” Jase chuckled and watched her, “But, would I still be a man if I put the woman I love in danger?”

Josephine froze.

Love. The word jingled in her head over and over; love, love, love, love.

Nobody openly said they love her before, let alone to her face. She paused, her hand still rested on the weapon, “You don’t love me, Jase.”

He moved towards the door, “I’ve loved you from the moment I laid eyes on you,” he said casually, “Since that day at Siren’s Cove I knew you were going to be mine.”

"I didn't know you loved me then. Why didn't you say anything?" Josephine asked, shocked.

"It didn't seem like the best time, between the Trials and Zeus and all."

Josephine blushed and grabbed the weapon she was eyeing, “I’m coming with you.”

“No,” Jase plead, hand on the wooden door handle, “Please. I wouldn't forgive myself if you got hurt. Wait for me, Josephine."

“Over my dead body,” Josephine countered, moving beside him once again.

Jase rolled his eyes and studied her, his face showing signs of dismay and inner-conflict. Josephine held his gaze, challenging him with her eyes. She may have been delusional for trying to go with him, but he walked himself into it. How could he tell her that he loves her, and then just disappear to go on a possibly suicidal mission?

“Fine, then,” Jase grumbled, taking the weapon from her hand, and sheathing it in her pants. Josephine watched; a sly smile pinned across her face. Jase continued, “But, you listen to me, and you stand back.”

“Whatever you say, Commander,” Josephine winked seductively.

Jase rolled his eyes yet again, “Let’s go, Princess.”

~

Josephine and Jase arrived back in Delphi just as the rain started to settle. The cobblestone streets were empty compared to when they last visited—there were no longer vendors lined on the side streets. The only sounds came from the water that was trickling down from the roofs. Apollo’s Temple was exactly where Josephine remembered, right in the middle of the City Centre.

Jase paused at the door, “They will be expecting us. Stay behind me, and keep your mouth shut.”

Josephine regretted even coming at this point, her hands were shaking, and her skin tingled in anxiousness. Maybe she should’ve stayed back, waited for him. But no, she decided to be hardheaded instead. She nodded at his words carefully, but didn’t speak.

The doors opened, and Jase and Josephine walked through as if they’d owned the place. The Priestesses lined at the altars just watched with amusement. And, of course, there was Apollo and her Ares, standing in the back of the room. A figure stood beside them, sheathed by the shadows. All eyes were on them.

“Welcome back,” Apollo’s voice was radiant and echoed through the Temple.

Jase growled, stalking towards the God of Light as if he was the Lion and Apollo was the prey. Josephine followed not far behind, but held her distance.

“Cut the shit,” Jase said as they finally approached the gods. Josephine’s face paled when she laid eyes on the third figure.

He hadn’t changed a bit.

Hermes grinned at her, “Hello, Josephine.”

Jase glanced between the two of them, confused, “You two know each other?”

“Oh, yes,” Hermes’ words were soft yet sinister, and they crawled along Josephine’s spine like spiders, “very well, actually.”

Josephine remembered what Jase said, not to speak. But she couldn’t hold it in, couldn’t help herself from explaining herself, “We met back in Troy. He and Persephone got in a disagreement. I’m surprised you’re part of this, Hermes. I won’t hesitate to burn you to a crisp this time. I should’ve ended you when I had the chance.”

Jase raised his eyebrows and glared at the Hermes, who was still smugly standing beside his bodyguards, “You’re a part of this?”

“Don’t insult me,” Hermes chuckled and stepped up from the shadows, between Ares and Apollo, “I created this. This wonderful idea started with me. When I saw your power, I grew envious, yes. We haven’t seen the gift of flame for… centuries. I—along with your father and Lord Apollo, of course— knew we could recreate it.”

Josephine refused to make eye contact with her father, but out of the corner of her eye she realized he was balling his fists, ready for combat if need be. She stepped closer to Jase in defense.

“You would kill your own daughter for… power?” Jase looked at Ares.

The God of War cleared his throat, voice merely a whisper, “She’s not my daughter.”

Jase bared his teeth, and Apollo chimed in, “We all know that Josephine has not mastered her gift, that she’s not in control of it. And you, Son of Poseidon… are weak, vulnerable with her here. Why don’t we make this easy? You give me the girl, and we allow you to walk away unharmed.”

“Over my dead body,” Jase repeated Josephine’s words back in the shed, causing her to smile lightly. It quickly disappeared when Apollo took a step towards her lover.

The God of Light clicked his tongue, “So young, so naïve. You would think after two-hundred years, you’d make better decisions, Jase.”

“Go fuck yourself,” Jase exploded into a dimensionless fog, shadows emerging from his body as if he’d been holding them in all this time. The humanoid shapes rushed towards the three Gods. Ares jumped to the right, swatting away the shadowy figures with his large, bulky hands. Apollo and Hermes dissipated and ended up behind them, avoiding the attack.

Josephine spun around and looked at Jase with urgency, who nodded at her in approval, “Get them, girl.”

Josephine closed her eyes and allowed her veins and arteries to boil beneath her skin. She summoned every single ounce of power that stayed hidden deep in her core, and when she opened her eyes… a fireball was headed straight for Apollo’s face.

He dodged it effortlessly. Josephine’s eyes opened, and now instead of the seafoam crystal balls Jase was used to, they were now a fiery orange: courtesy of her magnificent gift. He watched with awe as flames danced around her fingers, ready for action. Ares was still swatting away the shadows, grunting in disapproval.

Apollo allowed a long beam of light to strike right next to Jase’s body, causing him to stumble into Josephine and burn himself. Apollo laughed, “Lets get this party started.”

Jase ran for him, and the God side-stepped. The world slowed as Josephine watched more shadows emerge from Jase’s body, engulfing the fight whole. Hermes’ glare landed on Josephine, who was looking back at the god as if to challenge him. Hermes grinned, “Round two?”

“You’re disgusting,” Josephine spit at his feet.

“That’s not what your sister said.”

Josephine screamed, and flames erupted from her fingertips, burning the floor beneath Hermes feet. She ran for him, having given herself plenty of time to strike, and tackled him to the ground, Hermes’ skin burning with every inch of contact to hers. He threw her back into the wall and levitated off the ground, “We just need your heart, my dear. Think of it like… a sacrifice. If you give yourself to me now, I’ll let your lover walk free.”

Josephine glanced at the shadows. Apollo had Jase in a headlock, suffocating her lover with every ounce of pressure that he applied. Jase’s shadows faltered, slowing down, and fading around him. Jase’s eyes were locked on hers, a look that said: Don’t you fucking dare.

A warm, wet liquid flowed down her temple as she spoke, “T-Take me.”

Jase wildly struggled against Apollo in reaction to her words, who was now assisted by Ares in holding him down. There was not a chance that they could defeat the Gods, just them two. They needed reinforcements. Hermes stayed in the air, “Good choice.”

Before Josephine could stand, flora and roots emerged from the ground. They wrapped around each God abruptly, suspending them in the air. Hermes, Ares, and Apollo whacked at the thick vines, only to find that they were thorned, and getting stabbed with each movement of their bodies.

A tall, feminine figure appeared in the doorway.

“Leave my friends alone,” Persephone said angrily, IV still jabbed into her arm.