With a pained expression, Marcus crouched in front of us and grabbed Alexs chin. His hand shook as he lifted the glass of Elixir, and he squared his shoulders. Sorry, Alexandria. Itll be over in seconds.
Like a switch being thrown, the voice that came out of the trembling girl was one I recognized and feared. Please dont do this, she begged. Seconds later, my cheeks were wet from her tears. Please, Marcus, please dont do this to me.
Marcus hesitated. Alex?
Her body shuddered against mine. Ill behave. I promise. Ill do whatever you ask, but please dont give me the Elixir.
I drew in a shallow breath. What color are her eyes?
Gold, he grunted.
Moving both of her slender wrists to one hand, I knocked Marcus hand away and grasped her chin. Its not her, not really. Do it. Gods dammit, just do it!
Alex wailed, and a part of me turned coldforever. I forced her mouth open, bruising her jaw as her struggles renewed. Energy hummed through me, shocking me every couple of seconds. Marcus tipped the glass to her lips, and the sickeningly sweet aroma of the Elixir filled the cell.
Even after the contents of the glass were gone, Alex still fought. Screaming, rolling her hips, throwing her head back and forth until I felt
her breaths turning deeper, slower.
Marcus moved back, setting the glass aside. He wiped his hands along his pants as if he could somehow wipe away what hed just done to his niece, but it had left a mark on my soul.
Id never be able to wipe it away, no matter how hard I tried.
I watched Marcus and Apollo as her muscles loosened and her body relaxed against mine. Her head fell back against my shoulder and to the side as she drew in a deep, long breath that sounded like a sigh.
Gazing down at her, I saw the marks again. Intricate designs bled through her skin, swirling over her cheeks and down her neck. Inked in blue, they brightened until the whole room was awash in sapphire, and then they faded out. Alex stilled.
You have to finish this, Apollo said.
One of these days I was going to hit Apollo again. I probably wouldnt survive, but it was going to happen. Turning Alex in my arms, I cradled her against my chest and cupped her cheek. Alexandria, open your eyes.
Her lashes fluttered against her pale cheeks, and then finally, they lifted. I sucked in a sharp breath. Her eyes were shattereddull brown with gold shredded through them. The connection had been broken, but it wasnt Alex staring back at me blankly. It wasnt Seth either.
She was a strangera young, scared girl who didnt recognize me, an empty slate perfect for compulsion.
I clamped down on the anger rising in my throat and kept my eyes locked with hers. To óνομά σας είναι Alexandria.
Your name is Alexandria .
She blinked slowly.
Pain sliced through my chest. To óνομά μου εέναι Aiden I choked as the back of my throat burned. Wetness gathered in my eyes, clouding Alexs face. I cant do this. I have to do this . The words burst out of me. To óνομά μου είναι Aiden και είμαι ο Δάσκαλóς σας.
My name is Aiden, and I am your Master .
Θα υπακούσει μου κάθε επιθυμία, την επιθυμία,. και την εντολή σε θάνατο.
You will obey my every wish, desire, and command to death .
Or until the Elixir wore off.
She breathed in the words, relaxed a little more, and became them. And I watched the shattered eyes dull even more. I let go of her hands and they fell to her lap.
What is your name? I asked, voice hoarse.
Alexandria, she repeated in a soft voice Id never heard Alex use in real life.
And who am I?
Aiden. She smiled, and I flinched. You are my Master.
CHAPTER 6
THE FIRST THING WE DID WAS TO GET HER TO EAT, BUT it wasnt a simple process. I took Alex upstairs and sat her at the table. The entire time she kept her eyes glued to her hands, which were folded in her lap.
Alex didnt speak unless she was directly spoken to, and even then, she didnt raise her eyes. I set a plate of cold cuts and a bowl of fruit in front of her, along with a can of grape sodaher favorite.
She didnt move.
I glanced at Marcus, who remained by the door, making sure no one entered. Apollo had disappeared the instant Id brought her out of the cell. Bastard. You have to be hungry, Alex. You havent eaten a thing in days.
My name is Alexandria, came the soft whisper.
I blinked several times and then pushed the plate toward her. Arent you hungry, Alexandria?
Am I?
It clicked then. Like most indentured half-bloods, they had to be ordered ordered to do everything. Sitting back, I dragged my fingers through my hair. Please eat, Alexandria.
Her lashes lifted. Those strange eyes met mine for a brief second, and then went to the plate of food. She was slow to eat at first, but once she grew comfortableor confident in what she was doingshe finished the plate and most of the bowl. Two cans of soda later, she tugged at a limp lock of hair.
Marcus shook his head and turned, leaving us. Did he regret all those times that hed wished Alex was more amenable? Funny thing was, even when Id demanded that she not do something in the past, Id secretly loved that she rarely listened.