Page 50 of Total Lunar Eclipse

And the last thing Lina needs is a boost in rebellion.

B

SATURN

Luckily, Neptune swayed all the humans’ minds, but when we feel Mercury dissolve into essence, I knew shit hit the fan. It takes all my energy to calm Mars and Pluto, who are nearly mindless with grief, feeling their bond with Venus severed. In front of six humans, they unconsciously shift into god form, ready to do battle.

Neptune is going to need to do more clean-up.

I think this just as Mars walks over to a screaming guard and starts beating him to death.

Literally.

Pluto’s eyes are completely black and he makes the Grim Reaper look childish.

It doesn’t help he’s still dressed as the character, thanks to Zahra.

The human men scream in fear.

I have no idea what has come over my brothers.

I go to separate them from the security guys, but fucking Mars snaps and lashes out at me. I barely miss getting a fist to the side of the head. I reach out mentally to calm him down, and this is how I learn the truth: Mars and Pluto have lost themselves to Lina’s curse. Without Zahra’s light anchoring them, they have given themselves over to the darkness.

Knowing human lives are at stake, and Zahra would never want that, I do the unthinkable.

I suck out Mars’ power quickly.

Thankfully, Pluto is too intent on drawing the humans’ souls from their bodies to notice, which makes it easy for me to steal his energy, too. Now, both Mars and Pluto are just essence. I mentally yell for Neptune again, and realize another problem is brewing when I get no response.

Then I feel Uranus’ horror.

Fuck the humans.

I manifest out of the room and leave the security guards to deal with later.

I enter my office in time to see Lina sucking in the last of Uranus’ energy.

With a triumphant snarl, she blows me a kiss and winks out of existence.

Shit, she’s taken Zahra’s Luminary powers!

I turn to our Goddess of Love and see she’s barely alive.

Lina didn’t get all of her Luminary powers, and what little is left is sustaining my beloved woman. I gather my silly, wayward goddess into my arms and rock back and forth. For the first time in my existence, tears stream down my face.

We’ve lost.

All my brothers, save me, are gone.

And now, the one woman I’ve grown to love is also fading.

I’m the only one left and when Lina aligns with the total lunar eclipse, she will make it so I fall for her, according to Zahra.

I cannot bear the thought of being made into Lina’s love puppet.

Her bitch.

Fuck. That.