Page 58 of London Has Fallen
“No one can find Amelia.”
“How the fuck can they not find her, Sin?”
“I don’t know, Royal. She was with us when we went to get London and that was the last time we saw her.”
“Fuck, send men out to find her now. I’ve put off calling my dad but he needs to know what I did.”
“No, this isn’t on you. Chaos and I knew what we were doing when we agreed to come with you, this is on all of us.” I peek my eyes open to see my dad standing there with his arm around my mom’s shoulders, Aunty Nell and Uncle Kacey both stand with them but my gaze zeros in on Uncle Chaos, who stands there staring directly back at me.
He takes a step toward me and I shrink back. He pauses and crouches down keeping plenty of space between us. I scan his face and feel a pang of longing, I drop my gaze to my arm. “Can I see it?” His tone is calming and a stark contrast to the dark aura that clings to him like a second skin. I dart my tongue out to moisten my lips and slowly extend my arm, exposing the tattoo I got. His breath hitches at the sight, I expect him to get mad at me for daring to get his brother’s face tattooed on my arm but he shocks me when he smiles. “If we weren’t identical twins, I would say that tattoo is hideous but given that we are, I must say that is the most handsome face I have ever seen in my life.” I snort as my parents creep in closer to get a better look. I expect my dad to be furious at the sight but all I see is pride in his gaze.
“He would be honored,” Mom says with emotion thick in her tone. I say nothing as I wrap my arm back around his neck and hold him tight. Dad frowns but says nothing, Mom looks concerned but Uncle Chaos just looks like he understands.
“London?” I turn to Uncle Chaos and hold his gaze as he speaks. “You need to really look at him and see he isn’t the one you want him to be.”
“What the fuck?—”
“Shut up, Royal. I know what I’m doing and she needs to deal with this so she can process what the fuck happened.” I cock my head to the side confused. “London, look at him,” he urges, the arms around me slowly slacken allowing me the chance to lean back but I don’t move.
“No,” I bite out. Uncle Chaos opens his mouth but he speaks, cutting him off.
“Darlin’, look at me.” I slam my eyes closed and shake my head trying to force my mind back into the place where everything was okay and he’s here with me. Hands cup my cheeks and force me back. “Open your eyes, darlin’.” I fight it, I don’t want to because I know the moment I open my eyes I will see the difference and I don’t want it not to be him beneath me. “I’m not him.”
I snap my eyes open and the sight of Nos looking up at me with anguish in his eyes makes it all real. He isn’t Artemis, identical twins or not they look nothing alike to me. My face contorts in pain, Nos strokes my cheeks with his thumbs and smiles brokenly. Cronos doesn’t push me, he just sits there giving me time to process and work through the thoughts plaguing my mind.
“Artemis,” I whisper, at the sound of his brother's name he sucks in a shuddering breath. I hear the others around me gasp and murmur but my focus is on Nos.
“You gave him an ending fit for a man of his ranking,” he says that to comfort me but I can tell it’s hurting him.
“I didn’t have a choice, he was baiting me to do it, that’s why he threw Havoc in my face,” I say in a rush.
“You told him about my brother?” I dart my gaze back to Uncle Chaos.
“I…I… He saw the tattoo and?—”
“He knew it would push you and force you to react. He made sure you would be the one to do it because he knew me and the triplets couldn’t. You were stronger than us, darlin’.” I shake my head denying his words.
“No. I was weak and I killed him—” Cronos cuts me off by getting right in my face, I hear my family close in around us but the angry look in my besties eyes keeps me captivated.
“You did what he asked of you, what you went through…” Disgust rolls through him but he forces himself to carry on. “Your kill was warranted,” he mutters.
“What the fuck happened, London?” Dad snaps.
“Royal, now isn’t the time,” Mom begs but he ignores her.
“The four of these Greek fucks live because your uncle thinks they mean something to you.” At the mention of my dad harming Nos and the triplets I snap my head up to glare at him.
“I killed him to save them, don’t you fucking touch them,” I scream.
“Why the fuck do you care about your headmaster? He was pitted against you?—”
“Royal, that's enough!” Aunt Sin shouts. Dad turns to the side and looks from her to me a couple times before his eyes widen.
“Chanel, I forgave you for lying to me about Kacey but I will not forgive you for lying to me about my own daughter.” Aunt Sin’s face is a mask of indifference.
“Ask me.”
“Was my daughter fucking her headmaster?” he forces out through clenched teeth. Aunt Sin darts her gaze to me and I see it, she is about to lie for me and I can’t let her do that, so I answer.