Lorelei’s head twisted toward Mother, giving me the distraction I needed. I lifted my heeled boot and kicked her square in the chest with all my strength. She tossed me from her claws, and my body hit the obsidian wall.

I groaned as I landed with a thump on the shoreline. Every muscle contracted around my bones. A sharp sting awoke behind my ribs. My breath labored.

The water simmered around my sister, bubbling like a kettle. Her quartz eyes narrowed on Mother. “Well then, we can’t have that, now can we?” Lorelei threw her head back and laughed. “I guess I’ll just have to kill you first.” She darted to the edge and launched herself out like a leaping dolphin. Faster than I’d thought possible, she transformed into her human form and tackled my mother.

I dove back into the water, furiously fighting the ripples to get to the bottom and retrieve Lou’s dagger. On the sandy floor, my hand wrapped around the hilt, and it glowed. The bronze blade lit up like an oil lamp. Echoes of the past flooded through me. For thousands of years, the gods had used this blade. It had been forged as a weapon for Zeus to use against his children and their descendants, but the blessing held special powers. The wielders couldn’t die from the blade. Images of those gifted its might passed through my mind until I saw my own likeness, and the weapon recognized me. The power of the gods and my own united. I shot upward with the speed of a cannon. When I reappeared, Calliope slouched against the black rock, beneath her summoning symbol. Blood trickled from her mouth. Hair clung to her moist neck and chest. Her lips formed a perfect oval as she took in short bursts of air.

I breathed past the prickling thorns in my eyes.

My gaze left her for a moment and found my father. Spears crucified him to the obsidian wall, punctured at the feet and palms, prohibiting him from using his divine weapons of destruction. Dead sirens lay at his feet, but the two remaining secured their barbs.

I swallowed.

“Any last words for our mother?” Lorelei lifted her hand and extended her claws to their full length. Poison dripped off the tips. Her elbow cocked back to deliver the final blow.

My teeth ground. Ethereal energy thrummed through my veins, racing for my weapon. My wounds healed as I charged, and the speed of Hermes reignited in my boots. Like Zeus’ lightning, I streaked toward my sister, the dagger poised in front of me. My blade drove deep into her heart, and she embedded her nails into mine. We crumbled together, limbs and blood mingled.

My parents’ screams were all I heard as I choked on my own fluids.

Chapter thirty-four

Lou