Once Upon a Broken Heart, #2
The Ballad of Never After
by Stephanie Garber
Contents
Chapter 12
Overview
Jacks drags Evangeline from Apollo and reveals that Apollo is afflicted with a resurrected Archer’s curse compelling him to kill her. Doubting Jacks, Evangeline flees, prompting a chase to a seaside cliff. As Apollo looses an arrow, Jacks orders her to jump and dives with her, forcing a perilous escape.
Summary
Jacks yanks Evangeline away from Apollo in the forest cemetery, restraining her despite her struggles and fears. Seeing Apollo’s red, cursed eyes, Evangeline stops fighting. Jacks admits he once injured Apollo to prevent her murder, knowing the mirror-binding would hurt her too, but insists the present curse is not his doing.
Jacks identifies the threat: someone has revived the Archer’s curse and placed it on Apollo, compelling him to hunt and kill Evangeline. Recognizing Apollo’s archer-like bearing, Evangeline wants to reject trusting Jacks and tries to escape on foot, barefoot and injured.
A crunch betrays her position, and Apollo charges. He calls her name but nocks an arrow, confirming the curse’s lethal intent. Evangeline sprints toward a cliff above crashing waves; an arrow grazes her cheek as she runs out of ground.
Jacks appears beside Evangeline, urges her to jump, and, learning she cannot swim, wraps an arm around her. Together, they leap from the cliff into the sea, choosing a dangerous plunge over certain death by Apollo’s arrow.
Who Appears
- Evangeline FoxProtagonist; torn between fleeing Jacks and Apollo; realizes Apollo bears the Archer’s curse; chased to a cliff and leaps.
- JacksFate who seizes Evangeline, explains the resurrected Archer’s curse on Apollo, admits a prior injurious intervention, and dives with her to escape.
- Prince ApolloCursed hunter with glowing red eyes; compelled to kill Evangeline; pursues on horseback and looses an arrow that grazes her.