Ash came running through the door, took one look at them and cursed. "What happened?"
"The Celt absorbed her injuries." Zarek's voice was scarcely more than a whisper and filled with disbelief.
Something struck the door. Hard.
"Don't worry," Ash said. "I have a shield on the room. The gods can't pop in here until they breach it."
"Yeah, but at the rate they're going, they'll have the door knocked down any second," Zarek said. He pushed Ash toward Talon. "Go, get him out of here. I've got your backs."
"You sure?" Ash asked.
Zarek nodded.
"So help me, Slave," Dionysus snarled from the other side of the door. "I'll see you obliterated for this."
Zarek laughed coldly. "Come get some."
Ash opened the door on the opposite side of the room.
Sunshine was terrified. She didn't know what was happening. She still couldn't believe Zarek had turned around and helped them. Nor could she think past the sight of Talon covered in blood.
Everything was happening so fast that she wanted to run away and hide. But she couldn't.
Talon needed her to be strong for him and she refused to fail him.
As she started away from Zarek, he called out to her. "Hey, Sunshine?"
She looked back at him.
"Thanks for the bowl." Then he turned around to wait for the gods to break through Ash's barrier and the door.
Amazed by his actions, Sunshine ran to help Ash carry Talon down the hallway and into the last room on the left.
Ash laid him carefully on the floor, then used his powers to seal the room.
Sunshine's hand shook as she knelt beside Talon. He was pale and trembling. His entire body was coated with sweat and blood. "Hold on, baby," she whispered, not sure if he could even hear her now.
"He's immortal, right?" she asked Ash. "He'll be fine."
Ash shook his head. "His heart is pierced. When it stops beating, he'll die. Again."
His face grim, Ash looked up at the ceiling. "Artemis!" he shouted. "Get your ass here, right now."
A flash of light almost blinded Sunshine as the goddess appeared beside her.
Artemis gave Acheron a furious glare. "What is your problem?"
"I need Talon's soul. Now."
She laughed incredulously at him. "Excuse me, Acheron, but you haven't paid the price for it"
"Dammit, Artie, he's dying. I don't have time to negotiate."
She shrugged. "Then heal him."
"I can't and you know it. It's a mortal god-bolt wound. I'm not allowed to interfere with that."
Sunshine felt an electric ripple flow through the room.