Chapter 114. Giving Up Wasn't an Option

Tristan

"I'm sorry," I said quickly. "I'm not trying to undermine you guys bond. I'm just... scared. I'm terrified that we're going to lose her to this thing."

"We won't lose her," Orion said. But his voice didn't sound convinced.

Sarah stood up and walked over to me. She put her hands on my shoulders and made me look at her. "Athena is the strongest person I know," she said. "If anyone can beat this, it's her."

I wanted to believe her. But strength hadn't been enough in that cave.

Athena's own strength had almost killed her.

"What did your great-grandmother do?" I asked Orion. "When the power tried to take over?"

"Mom never said it tried to take over," Orion said. "She said our great-grandmother learned to live with it. To coexist with it."

"Athena can't coexist with something that wants to kill people," I said.

"Maybe it doesn't have to be about killing," Sarah said. "Maybe there's another way to use it."