Chapter 33

ACHILLES. I’m about to kill a friend. I’m about to kill an unknown monster. The dilemma is confusing. I don’t know which is which. I don’t know who’s in front of me right now, and for that simple fact alone, I’m ready to slice. The sword flies in the air with a flash. I can almost see the blade sailing toward the creature’s neck. But at the last moment, when I see the edge about to hit its neck and sever its head completely, I stop and drop it. The creature that’s supposed to be Hyperion snarls at me, and Carlos moves in to the rescue. He delivers a strong punch against its jaw, and miraculously, it folds over like a sack of rocks, falling right into the couch and crushing it. The three of us stare at it. I don’t even know how to address the creature now. It? Him? Carlos puts a hand on my shoulder, making me turn around. “Are you okay?” I nod. ‘Please… call Kiernan here.’ “He’s on his way,” he says, and as though on cue, Kiernan shows up at the door. I can tell that he’s about