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“A cell fit for a demon,” Bella sighed. “Or a demon’s weapon.”

She rose from the floor of her bare cell. There wasn’t a single piece of furniture in there. Faris must have been worried she’d try to use it to break out.

“Faris is a double-crossing fiend,” I growled. “He promised me I had a week to figure this out. And then he just locked you up.”

“I surrendered myself,” she said. “Didn’t you get my note?”

“Yes, I got your note. That’s why I’m here. I’m going to talk some sense into you.”

“I’ve already thought this through, Leda. This is the only way.”

“No, it’s not!” I shouted. “We had a plan. We were going to figure out a way to cure this curse.”

“And in the meantime, I might hurt more people,” she said. “Maybe even people I love. Like Zane. Or Calli. Or Harker.” She choked up on Harker’s name.

“There is a cure to your curse,” I said. “There has to be. And I’m going to find it. But this would all go a lot faster if you were helping. You’re the smart one.”

She shook her head sadly. “You’re smart too.”

“Not like you, Bella. You always have all the answers. So tell me what to do.” I flattened my palms to the glass wall that stood between us. “How do I save you?”

“Maybe you can’t.” Her eyes glistened. “Maybe there’s no cure at all. Maybe I’ll remain cursed forever.”

“I don’t accept that. I won’t accept that.”

“That’s because you’re stubborn,” she said with a small smile.

“Yeah, I am. Which is why I’m going to fix this. I’m going to save you.” Tears burned in my eyes.

“If anyone can do it, you can, Leda.”

She looked so calm, like she’d resigned herself to her fate. It hurt to watch her give up like that.

“Tell me about the attack,” I asked her. “Have you remembered anything about it?”

“At first, I couldn’t,” she said quietly. “But it’s all starting to come back to me now, piece by piece.” She shuddered.

“Do you remember your objective?”

“Yes. To attack the gods’ hall and…” She swallowed. “Zarion was my target. The other dead gods were just a bonus.” She winced at her own words.

“Do you know why Ava sent you to kill Zarion?” I asked her.

“I’m sorry, Leda.” Bella shook her head. Tears pooled in her eyes. “I just don’t know.”

“If only we knew why Ava cursed you,” I said. “And what she has planned.”

“You mean, besides killing Zarion.” She winced again.

“There’s more to this than just that,” I told her. “Ava always thinks big. She is planning something more. Something bigger.”

“Bigger than killing an immortal god?” Bella’s eyes were wide with fear.

“Yes. Ava doesn’t want to kill just one god. She wants to kill them all, to cripple them.” I tapped my fingers against the glass. “So the demons can take over.”

That gave me an idea. A horrible, disturbing idea.

“I think Ava wanted you to get caught,” I said to Bella. “She sent you into a room full of gods and soldiers. She must have known they’d take you prisoner.”