But it won’t matter to him unless Ophelia can fix it
Fuck. I hope Juliet can shake something loose in her. I hope she can tap into some underutilized part of Ophelia’s messed up brain and help her figure out how to unravel what she twisted. I’d offer up my own mind if it meant saving his.
I flinch as the door to Ophelia’s vault opens again.
“…how many times did you do it?” Juliet’s voice is casual, even.
“I told him once,” Ophelia replies, annoyed sounding. “It’s not like I kept repeating it.”
Juliet hums, unimpressed. “One time’s enough when you’re a loaded weapon.”
“You don’t get it, you’re fucking one of them. You’re all dangerous. I wasn’t just going to do nothing.”
There’s a pause, then Juliet’s voice, low and sharp. “And what exactly do you think you are?”
Silence.
There it is. Juliet has given it a name, what Ophelia has become. Her ability to influence is dangerous.
Ophelia never looks my way. I don’t know that we can ever look each other in the eyes again. She keeps her gaze firmly on the floor.
“I really didn’t mean for it to go that far,” Ophelia mutters. “I guess I just didn’t picture it so literally, or I thought he’d kill a few, maybe enough to scare others into leaving.”
“You thought you could play god.” Juliet’s tone is flat now, no sarcasm, no humor. “You don’t undo this with a heartfelt apology. People aredead, and there are consequences to shit decisions. Messing with someone’s mind…” Juliet shakes her head, her disgust obvious.
More silence. Then Ophelia, quieter. “I don’t know if I can undo it.”
I want to choke. I want to throw up. I want to scream. I really fucking want to punch Ophelia.
Juliet clicks her tongue. “Well, sweetheart, it’s time to get experimental.”
Ophelia turns in my direction, though, really, it’s more just toward the door. Her eyes flick up to me, but never actually meet my gaze. I place my hand on the scanner, and the door to the vault unlocks.
Maybe I should worry about letting her in that prison cell with Ares. His blood is still smeared over the walls, and there’s still damage throughout the space from when he was last awake. But this is her mess. I’ll let her lay in it.
Juliet pushes the door closed behind Ophelia. Which is the safer option. She is a Born, after all. If Ares does wake up and Ophelia doesn’t fix him, she will be right in his line of sight.
“She’s not happy,” she tells me, sauntering up beside the monitor. “But she’s going to try again. I gave her some tips. Who the hell knows if they’ll work. But it’s worth a shot.”
“Thank you,” I say, keeping my eyes fixed on the monitor. Ophelia is looking at Ares like a puzzle that both terrifies and disgusts her.
“Lana,” Juliet says, softer now, serious. “If he wakes up and she can’t undo it… what’s your plan?”
I glance at her and feel like all of my internal organs disappear with her words. “There is no plan,” I admit, my words hoarse. “There is no other option. We have to fix him.”
Juliet looks away, folding her arms and sighing. “Then let’s hope your twisted little friend has a redemption arc in her.”
I press a hand to the monitor again. “Come back to me, Ares,” I whisper, barely audible. “Please… come back.”
The front door makes a grinding sound as it’s opened. The sound of footsteps echoes throughout the warehouse as they make their way through the maze. A few moments later, Harry steps through first, followed by Sysco and Roman. But behind them is James St. Claire. Ares’ right-hand man and assistant.
He’s about the last person I would have expected to accompany the group.
His sharp gray eyes scan the room until they land on me. I don’t expect them to narrow at me like they do.
“Lana, what the fuck is going on?” he asks. His tone is sharp. I’ve never heard him be anything but in control and at the ready. “Where is Ares? What’s wrong with him?”
“James, I?—”
