ONCE THE CREATURE had the first couple sections of the cage twisted out of place, the rest of them didn’t take as long. Pieces of the metal bent and gave way and hit the floor.

“I’m coming for you, deliccciousss Graccce.”

Piper struggled not to concentrate on him, but on Cain. If she could heal Cain, he could fight the beast and buy her some time to come up with a plan. Keona is so much better at the plans than I am.

“My eyes, Princess. I need my eyes.” He sounded a hundred times better already. Piper sharpened her focus on Cain to a surgeon’s precision. She blocked out everything, including the white noise of her aura hitting Keona with full force and bouncing back to her.

Piper closed her eyes and saw her aura so clearly it was as if she were traveling inside Cain’s body. The healing energy traveled up his spine, mending the attached ribs, and into his head, clearing out a concussion like dust with a broom. Her aura and powers reached his eyes. They were sewn shut.

Piper lifted a hand, putting more power out. “This might hurt at first, but trust me.”

“I do, Princess.”

She infiltrated his skin cells, the ones most affected by the string holding his eyes closed. For only a split second, she caused the cells to separate, ejecting the string and coming back together whole and healed.

Cain sucked in a hard breath and blew it out with each eye she freed. One especially deep stitch had him cussing. As promised, she healed his eyes as fast as she could until he sighed in relief. Once that was done, she headed south.

Another pipe fell from the cage.

“Hurry, little Graccce. The evil demon isss coming.”

“You won’t touch her, beast.” Cain broke the chains binding his wrists to the wall. Piper nearly cried when he held out his hand and his eyes glowed with the white light of the gods. The ankle restraints disappeared for the blink of an eye and when they reappeared, they were just to the left of his foot.

“You’re telekinetic!” All this time, Piper had never known Cain’s Olympian gift.

He smiled a perfect, healthy smile as he knelt down in front of her and did the same to her ankle chains. “Yes, my Princess. They sewed my eyes closed because I can’t use my gift without them. I only move what I see.”

Cain reached up to undo her wrist chains when Piper caught movement out of the corner of her eye.

“Cain!” she screamed.

Cain held up his hands in time to block the beast’s claws coming down into his arm. One of the pipes from the cage flew into Cain’s grip and the talons were lodged into the metal, not his flesh.

He kicked the demon backwards as it tried to shake off the pipe. Instead, the pipe became a weapon and the Prophet swung it at Cain, over and over, often missing and hitting the sides of the crate. Upon one downswing, Cain caught the pipe and swung around, flinging the pipe and the beast attached to it back against the remaining cell bars.

Cain stood and held out his hands to the chains on the floor. They zipped into his palms like they were magnetized. He squeezed the clamps together into a ball and swung it around like a mace, beating back the beast.

The Prophet screeched and hissed with every blow, backing away, his claw still embedded into the metal.

Once Cain had made him retreat into his cage, he used his powers to send the chains flying towards the enemy. They wrapped around his neck and pinned him to the metal bars.

While the Prophet tried to pry them off, Cain rushed to her side and freed her. “Now would be a good time to contact your sister, Piper.” He crouched in front of her, readying himself in case the beast attacked again.

She nodded and sent out a telepathic beacon to Keona. There was a new depth of her strength and once she connected with her twin, she pushed further and tried to reach Hayden, but only Keona answered.

Where are you? What ship? Are you okay? What about the demon?

I don’t know where we are or what ship we’re on. I just know Ashton mentioned London. I think we’re headed there. Piper cried with relief. Gods, it was good to hear her sister’s voice! Hope surged through her and she laughed out loud. I miss you so much.

I’m coming. I need you to keep putting off your aura as strong as you can. Give it everything you’ve got. Heal the damn whales if you have to, just shine as bright as you can. I’m coming.

You got it. Piper stood on wobbly legs and braced herself against the back side of the crate near the doors. She allowed her aura to retract inside of her again, so that she could heal her own body. Her blood flowed and wounds healed.

As soon as she was whole again, Piper held out her hands, pointed her face to the gods, and let her aura erupt from within.

My gods, Zeus and your children, fill me now like never before. Give me power and strength promised to a Divine Grace, a child chosen by your hands to do your will. Shine your grace and might through me that none shall be able to deny your authority on this earth. Blessed be your name and blessed be your power.

Cain stared in awe as Piper began to glow with the light of the gods. Air around her swirled until her hair lifted and her feet left the floor. Her face lit up like a billboard and an angelic smile spread over her face.

She was serenity.

She was the power of the gods personified.

Her eyes opened and looked down upon him. All her body glowed white, except for her black eyes. They were like jewels, shining with darkness.

Cain bowed at her feet, his mouth hanging open like a fool. He couldn’t help it. She was beautiful and frightening to behold. “My Lady.”

“Stand aside, Cain. I know what I must do.” Her voice echoed off the walls. She walked forward, hovering like a spirit. Those black eyes landed on the Prophet, who fought in earnest to get away from her. “You have taken something that does not belong to you and Hades wants it back.”

“No, get away. No.” The creature bucked and lashed out.

Cain didn’t move a muscle. If she was channeling the gods, he dared not interfere.

“You cannot hurt a vessel of the gods. Your greed led you to this place, a place where the will of the gods is defied and mocked. You will be an example for those who think they can defy their maker.”

Cain reached out but hesitated when Piper held up a hand and light burst forth, hitting the demon.

He cried out, yelling profanities and struggling to be free of his chains. The red scales that covered his body began to smoke and burn away in places, leaving behind pink skin. The howls and cries of the beast slowly turned into those of a man. The talons shrank away, the snout retracted. His body withered.

Left hanging from the chains was a mutated man with grey eyes and black hair and splotches of red scales. He wasn’t completely Olympian again, but he was much less demon.

“What have you done? Look at me! You’ve ruined me, you’ve taken away everything.” He didn’t bother covering himself as he cursed and spit, fighting against his chains. Cain flicked his hand up and a pipe knocked the man over the back of the head and knocked him out.

The light in the shipping container dimmed and Piper was left standing on the floor. She faltered and reached out to brace herself.

“Piper.” Cain rushed to her and scooped her up in his arms.

She tried to smile, though her eyelids were lowering. “I hope that was bright enough for Keona.”

Emotion hit him hard and knocked the air out of his lungs. If Keona was with Ryse Castille and had access to his tracker, what Piper just did might have saved them both.

He smiled through his tears. “You’ve done well, Piper. Rest now. I’ll take care of you.”

He cradled her for a moment as her eyes drifted shut. He laid her down gently, resting her head on his shirt.

Now he had to figure out how to get the hell out of this box.