Acropolis Read Online Free Page B

myself
staring at huge bat-like wings. It is obvious they belong to the
man holding me hostage. I scream again before thrashing against his
hold. Better to die now. I am definitely hallucinating. Conor's
arms tighten again, strong enough to squeeze the breath out of my
lungs.
    "Sweetheart, at this rate, we are both going
to be sore as hell tomorrow."
    I think, if I hadn't been pretty sure I was
having coma-induced night terrors, I would have been amused by
Conor. He is quite the figment of my imagination.
    I see the serpentine Roach from the corner of
my eye, floating on air currents nearby while more "whooshing"
behind marks the vigilant presence of Will Reinhardt.
    Roach growls, his reptilian voice hoarse and
rumbling.
    "Just so you know, that was a very messy
Extraction."
     
     
     

Chapter 5
     
    Conor
     
    The girl is a mess. She has calmed down some,
the fight draining out of her. Her hair is long and dark, hanging
down her back in tangles. There is dried blood everywhere. Her
face, if clean, would have been smooth. Her skin seems flawless.
But it is her eyes that first catch my attention. They are amber.
They are terrified. They are tinged red.
    "Try breathing in and out slowly. I hear that
helps," I suggest as Emma struggles weakly.
    Her eyes roll up, watching me with enough
bottled up anger and distrust to take out a small country. The
color of her irises keeps dancing between amber and scarlet. It is
disconcerting mainly because I know only one kind of creature whose
eyes change depending on their level of emotion. And, until
recently, I had been intent on killing them all.
    Emma thrashes weakly, her lips moving against
my hand.
    "Calm down, and I'll uncover your mouth."
    I am being as patient as I can, but I am
getting tired and irritable. The quick, lightning speed flight from
France a little after five to a time zone six hours behind, and an
unexpected hand-to-hand brawl with three grotesque hellions has
taken its toll. Between Will and me, it hadn't taken much to
discharge the trio, but I had taken a nice hit to my arm. The
electric energy I'd been attacked with had damaged a nerve, and I
am feeling sharp, shooting pains down my shoulder and into my back.
The girl's thrashing isn't helping.
    "Ipoooommmmiii."
    She speaks against my hand, her head nodding
almost frantically. I am pretty sure she's saying, "I promise," but
even if she isn't I'm willing to take the risk. Having two arms to
support her is ideal right now. I pull my hand away.
    "My mother?"
    She whispers it, but I hear it anyway. The
question throws me. It isn't the standard first inquiry by people
we Extract. Most people make instant "where are you taking me"
demands. I respect her concern for her mother. I am extremely close
to my own family.
    "Sweetheart, your mom is fine. She's
safe."
    Emma shakes her head, her eyes wide and
terrified. Her pupils are dilated. I don't understand her fear,
can't comprehend why life in general seems to scare her so
much.
    "She's not safe. You don't understand. You're
killing her!"
    She starts to thrash again, and I grit my
teeth against the resulting pain. It is getting easier to manage,
my body healing it slowly, but it still hurts like hell. My arm
loosens as a particularly violent kick causes the muscles in my arm
to spasm. I swear as I rush to use my other arm to brace Emma.
    "She is safe. S-A-F-E! But you're going to get yourself killed if you
don't work with me here!"
    Emma quits thrashing, her shoulders suddenly
trembling with tears.
    "I'm all she has now. My father is
gone. She has lived for me after his death. For me! You. Are. Killing. Her."
    I don't know how to respond to this. I have
seen Emma's records. I know her father died of Lung cancer. I
didn't count on her having a close relationship with her
mother.
    My own father passed away when I was an
infant, but while my mother and I are close, she has also given
part of herself to her work. It helps her live, gives her a reason
to get past the pain of