Page 41 of London Has Fallen
“I overheard some of your conversation when I left today until I was called away.”
She takes a deep breath and lifts her shirt, alarm riddles me until she stops at the top of her ribs showcasing a tattoo, no, not just any tattoo but the exact same one London has.
H ελευθερ?α ε?ναι δικ? μου.
“I believe given the horizontal dance you performed with her that this ink work may look familiar to you?” I ignore her snark and nod.
“Why does she have the same tattoo as you?”
“Because London Murdoch is my niece.” My eyes widen. “My name is Amelia Murdoch and I was sent to keep an eye on her and help her however I can through these trials.”
Before I could stop it, the question burst out of me. “Why did she get that tattoo and why in Greek?”
“Because freedom is ours for the taking, believe it or not. London didn’t want this life and nor do I but we are prisoners of our own blood. Why Greek? No idea, but now I feel like given the nature of your relationship with my niece it was cosmic if you will.”
I nod. “She’ll be back with my brother soon. I need to get the triplets ready. I’ll come for you when the time is right.” I turn to leave but she stops me with her question.
“Wait, what is the first trial?” I peer at her over my shoulder.
“Escape. She will be hunted through the woods and will need to escape her hunter before he kills her. My father wouldn’t allow the first time she escaped the woods to be a trial.”
“Who is the hunter, Artemis?” The edge to her voice tells me she already knows but I answer anyway.
“Me. She needs to escape me and make sure I don’t find her or I’ll have to kill her.”
London
The moment we arrived back at the school grounds, I ditched Nos and raced back to my room to change and prepare for tonight. I have no idea how this all works but I know I need to be prepped and ready to go at a moment's notice. I sheath my blade inside my boot just as a knock sounds at the door. I tie my hair into a ponytail then answer it. Rolling my eyes I step aside and let Artemis in, he’s changed as well. He’s wearing jeans, combat boots and a black hoodie.
“What an unpleasant surprise. Come to reprimand me about stabbing your bitch?” I deadpan.
The bastard just smirks and wags his brows. “Jealousy looks good on you, my little demon.”
I scoff. “I’m not your little anything, asshole.”
“Oh but you are and it’s about time you learned to deal with that shit because I’m not letting you run off with my brother and get that fucking close to him again!”
“You son of a bitch!”
“Hey, don’t call my mom a bitch, she was a lovely woman,” I growl.
“You listen to me?—”
“No. You fucking listen to me, I’ve let you have your fun and tried to be nice but now, you will fucking submit to me, London.” I lurch forward, ready to nail this motherfucker and break his nose but just as I get within striking distance, he darts to the side and I feel a sharp prick in the side of my neck. Reaching up I place my hand against the spot and spot the needle in his grasp.
“You drugged me,” I say groggily.
Regret churns in his gaze. “I’m sorry, Omorfia, there is no other way but I swear, London, I will try to save you.” Call me fucking deluded but I kind of believe him. When my knees give out, he darts forward and catches me, swinging my legs up to carry me bridal style. “Don’t die on me, little demon,” I hear him whisper before I pass out in his hold. I am getting so fucking over these twins and drugging me!
Artemis
She has no idea that these trials are designed to tear a person apart and separate the weak from the strong, those who are of sound mind from those clouded by self-doubt. These fucking trials are designed to break even the strongest of people, no one comes out of these unscathed. She may not break on the first or second trial but I guarantee that she will break by the end of it. Everyone gets told a cliff notes version but never the whole story of what actually transpires during the trials—nothing is off limits. If you kill another competitor you are not punished, in fact you are rewarded with a head start in the next trial.
Costa has given strict instructions on what I am to do—under no circumstances is London Murdoch to finish the trial. He knows the triplets don’t have it in them to take her out. Cronos is a wildcard and listens to nothing Costa says, so that leaves me to kill her. Amelia is here with the other leaders and Costa. My father was pissed I brought someone else but I just played him off and said we needed to make sure that it looked like we did everything to save her so her family couldn’t use that against us when a war started. Once I am situated in my vantage point, in one of the trees, I pull my phone from my pocket and dial Costa.
He answers on the third ring. “Is the bitch in position?”
I keep my anger in check as I answer. “She has her compass, canister of water and knife.” Those are the only three things each person is allowed. The triplets will have the same as London, each of them will have a hunter on their asses. Unlike London, I put measures in place to protect them. Cronos may not listen to Costa but will listen to me. He is watching over the triplets.