SPECIAL ### NINE: NEAL GALDINA

I was fading fast. The pain ripped through my body with every strained breath. Dimitri and Camille's voices rang out, desperate for me to hang on, to stay awake. But the darkness closed in, blurring their panicked faces.

Was this it? Was I about to find out what the big mystery was all about? I'd always figured myself for hell after what my ancestors did - that whole thing with killing off the Mad God's lover. Tough break, but what could you do?

My eyelids grew ...