Betrayed by Kristin Cast, P.C. Cast Page B

Aphrodite. You’re having a vision. I need to get you to Neferet.”
    â€œNo!” she gasped. “No! Don’t take me to her. She won’t listen to me. She—she doesn’t believe me anymore.”
    I remembered what Neferet had said earlier about Nyx withdrawing her gifts from Aphrodite. Why should I even mess with her at all? Who knew what was going on with Aphrodite? She was probably making some pathetic play for attention, and I didn’t have time for this crap.
    â€œFine. Let’s say I don’t believe you either,” I told her. “Stay here and have your vision or whatever. I have other things to worry about.” I turned to head into the stable, and her hand snaked out, grabbing my wrist.
    â€œYou have to stay!” she said through chattering teeth. Obviously, she was having difficulty talking. “You have to hear the vision!”
    â€œNo, I do not.” I pried her viselike fingers from my wrist. “Whatever’s going on, it’s about you—not me. You deal with it.” This time when I turned I walked away more quickly.
    But not quick enough. Her next words felt like she’d sliced them through me.
    â€œYou have to listen to me. If you don’t your grandma will die.”

CHAPTER NINE
    â€œWhat in the hell are you talking about!” I rounded on her.
    She was gasping in weird little panting breaths, and her eyes were starting to flutter. Even in the darkness I could see the whites in them beginning to show. I grabbed her shoulders and shook her.
    â€œTell me what you see!”
    Clearly trying to control herself she nodded with a jerky little movement. “I will,” she panted. “Just stay with me.”
    I sat beside her on the bench and let her grab my hand, not caring that she was squeezing so hard it felt like she was going to break something—not caring that she was my enemy and someone I’d never trust—not caring about anything except the fact that Grandma might be in trouble.
    â€œI’m not going anywhere,” I said grimly. Then I remembered how Neferet had prompted her. “Tell me what you see, Aphrodite.”
    â€œWater! It’s awful . . . so brown and so cold. It’s all confusion . . . can’t—can’t get the door of the Saturn open . . .”
    I felt a horrible jolt. Grandma has a Saturn! She bought it because it was one of those ultra-safe cars that were supposed to be able to survive anything.
    â€œBut where’s the car, Aphrodite? What water is it in?”
    â€œArkansas River,” she panted. “The bridge—it collapsed.” Aphrodite sobbed, sounding terrified. “I saw the car in front of me fall and hit the barge. It’s on fire! Those little boys . . . the ones who were trying to get truck drivers to honk as they passed . . . they’re in the car.”
    I swallowed hard. “Okay, what bridge? When?”
    Aphrodite’s whole body suddenly tensed. “I can’t get out! I can’t get out! The water, it’s . . .” She made a horrible noise that I swear sounded like she was being choked, and then she slumped back against the bench, her hand going limp in mine.
    â€œAphrodite!” I shook her. “You have to wake up. You have to tell me more about what you saw!”
    Slowly, her eyelids moved. This time I didn’t see the whites of her rolled back eyeballs, and when she opened them they looked like normal eyes. Aphrodite abruptly let go of my hand and shakily pushed her hair out of her face. I noticed it was damp, and that she was covered with sweat. She blinked a couple more times before meeting my eyes. Her gaze was steady, but I couldn’t read anything except exhaustion in her expression or her voice.
    â€œGood, you stayed,” she said.
    â€œTell me what you saw. What happened to my grandma?”
    â€œThe bridge her car’s on collapses and she crashes into the river and drowns,”