A hollow click filled the air. I’m still alive!
"You’re one lucky woman," Athena praised, flicking the cylinder open. "Just one bullet."
I released a breath I didn’t know I was holding and glared at her.
"Now my question..." She then set the cylinder back in place, pointing. "How much do you know?"
"W-What kind of question is that?"
"A question...? Now answer."
"I don’t know what you mean!"
"Huh..." she murmured. "Which means he didn’t tell you, did he?"
"Tell me what?" I demanded.
"Why would Ares marry someone he can’t tell his secrets to...? Unless..." She fixed me with a pointed stare. "You’re not really married to him, are you?"
My heart momentarily stopped when she pulled the trigger.
The hollow click drowned the air once again, and I placed my hand on my chest, quivering tremendously.
"Another luck!" She spun the cylinder. "Now, last question. What’s really going on between you and my brother?"
"Why don’t you ask him yourself, you insane bitch!" I screeched at the top of my lungs, and she exploded in a cackle.
I came at her, and before she could act, I punched her right in the face, and the gun fell out of her grip.
I quickly grabbed it, stupidly pointing it the other way before I corrected myself.
Athena straightened her spine and used the back of her hand to wipe her bloodied lips. "You shouldn’t have done that."
"Don’t move!"
But she did, fearlessly, and threw a kick right at my abdomen, and I collapsed to the ground, swallowing the heavy pain that consumed me.
"You’re really... something," she rasped. "I have a feeling we’re gonna be besties."
Clutching my stomach, I forced myself to stand and gritted my teeth. "You should be in the nut house."
"Been there, until I was deemed mentally sane."
"Then the doctors should get their license revoked!"
She laughed. "Oh, don’t blame them, I was just a very good actor."
Athena grabbed the gun, and I tensed, moving backwards, but she did the unthinkable, pointing it right at her hand and pulled the trigger.
I yelped, covering my mouth, awaiting the gruesome sight of blood but it never came.
"Ow!" She hissed before showing me the red spot. "Rubber bullets."
I scoffed at the reveal.
"You didn’t think I was gonna kill you, did you?" she asked with a hurtful expression. "We were just playing a game, silly!"
I staggered, unable to contain my fright and rage at the same time. This was all too much for me, and I did my best not to puke as my stomach churned uncontrollably.
"So you’re not really married to my brother, that explains a lot and kills the mystery. But I’m truly looking forward to it." Her smile broadened. "How will Catherine King fare?"
"Fuck you!" I seethed.
Athena giggled, deriving whatever amusement from this. Footsteps came through, and Clara and Lara walked to us.
"It’s over, ladies."
Clare smirked, tapping the axe right at her palm, showing it was fake. Lara clutched her bat tightly, revealing that it was made of soft material.
"We had fun, didn’t we?" Athena glanced my way. "I like her very much."
"It’s late, we should get going," said Lara. "Zoey won’t be able to stall the bodyguard for long."
"Off you go... the money will be sent to your respective account."
They struck a nod and left.
"What?" Athena asked when I threw her a questionable look. "Oh, they are not really my friends; I just hired them. A big fat payment and it’s hush-hush."
"Makes sense, who would wanna be friends with you?"
"Ouch...! It’s not my fault they don’t have good taste!"
"How refreshing..."
"I’m sorry for threatening your grandparents. I needed to make it seem real, respectfully, of course. Am I forgiven?"
"Not a chance in hell!"
She chuckled, playing it off. "One last thing, Cat, let’s keep our game under hush-hush. Ares told me to behave... and if he finds out I didn’t, well, let’s say it’s gonna get ugly."
"What makes you think I’m not going to? It’d give me great pleasure to rat you out."
Her smile dropped. "You speak, I know, and when you do, we can’t be friends anymore." She closed the distance between us and whispered in my ear. "I did fake the threat, but I’m up for making it a real one."
Chills kissed my spine.
"Pinky promise?" She held up her finger.
Ignoring her, I turned on my heels and walked away.
"Come on, Cat. Don’t be like that!"
~☆~
The drive back was a quiet one. I was shaken by what happened, my nerves soaring, stomach clenching in pain, and throat dry.
I sat so still it felt like I’d jump out of the car at any given minute, or Athena would stop the car and finish what she started.
Athena King, Midnight City’s Goddess, was clearly insane. The last thing I wanted was to cross paths with her again, but that is highly unlikely given my situation.
I couldn’t stop thinking about what Athena meant when she said Ares had secrets. She went through so much trouble to interrogate me for it. Whatever it was, it can’t be good.
What exactly have I gotten myself into?
"Mrs. King."
I veered my gaze from the window to Reed’s eyes watching me from the rearview mirror.
"Are you okay?"
"No," I replied. "Getting lost while riding was not on my to-do list."
I felt bad for lying, but it’s not like I had a choice. I need to call Granny and Gramps and make sure they are okay.
"Understood, but are you okay?" he asked more profoundly this time, and I almost spilled.
However, I fixed my fake smile and said. "Never better."
He lingered before he looked back at the road, and the silence was needed.
I clenched my phone to call when I realized something. My breathing hitched when I checked my fingers.
My ring is missing!