Equal Parts by Emma Winters

right-hand man, I suppose you might say.”
    That struck me as a little odd. Achilles didn’t seem the type to require a right-hand man; he killed his own people at the drop of a hat, after all. What about this man inspired such trust? , I wondered.
    “Well, on to business. Business, business.” He rubbed his hands together and gave me another winning smile. “Achilles wants your secrets, and what Achilles wants, I do, too. Personally, I think our efforts could be redirected into more practical past-times – ridding this city of Finn Cole and his band of misfits, for example. But something about you has Achilles on the pursuit of happiness, so to speak. Between you and me, I think he sees some of himself in you.”
    I wanted to snort in disbelief, but I was too busy trying to keep my breathing level. Molten’s hands crept towards me over the tabletop , and my insides slowly turned to lead.
    “Broken,” he said in a quiet voice. “Alone. Nothing to lose. Sound familiar?”
    Quick as a blink, his hand shot to his pocket and produced a switchblade . A moment later, he’d cut the ties around my wrists. The first thing I did was untie my gag and the ropes around my ankles, despite the rage coursing through my veins, demanding I slam Molten’s head into the desktop.
    “I know that look,” he chuckled when I glanced back at him. “It’s the look most people give me right before they attack. And I’m used to being attacked, Felicity. I think it’s time you learned you aren’t the only one around here with a powerful ability.”
    Without a second’s warning, he slapped his hand down on mine, and said, “ Attack yourself the way you wanted to attack me .”
    Before I knew what I was doing, I’d grabbed the back of my own head and smashed it into the desk, just as I envisaged doing to Molten.
    There was only so much my head could take, and it was on the brink of shutting down altogether by the time I straightened in my seat. A palm smacked at my cheek, much harder than when Achilles had roused me from unconsciousness.
    I blinked, and Molten’s face came into sharp clarity, even through the cracks in my glasses. His smile was now pure evil. “I don’t want you passing out on me just yet, Felicity. My instructions don’t work if you aren’t awake. Now, maybe we should aim for smaller targets and work our way up, yes?”
    “Go to hell,” I slurred, clutching my forehead. God, my head hurt. I could hardly hear his words through the blood rushing in my ears, the stinging pain radiating through my nose.
    “Wonderful. Now,” He clutched my hand harder, “ Take off your jacket and pants.”
    No! screamed my mind. I actually managed to hesitate for a full ten seconds before my shaking fingers reached up to my zipper. This was all so wrong. I’d never heard of this superpower before – it was unlike any other I’d come across.
    My body moved of its own accord, with my brain left to watch it perform like a puppet on strings. The jacket slid onto the floor, and I kicked the pants off, leaving me in only my underwear. Every part of me flushed with anger and shame.
    “Good girl,” purred Molten. His eyes were completely cold, like he was assessing me for some kind of sick medical exam. I could do nothing but stand there and wait for his next instruction. I felt as though I’d fallen under a spell, and my happiness was –
    My happiness!
    I didn’t have much left, thanks to days of mistreatment and solitude, but the trickle remaining would have to be enough. Maybe fighting fire with fire was the only way to avoid whatever it was this madman had in store for me.
    “My power has its limitations, of course,” he said conversationally, circling me as a lion would stalk its prey. “I can’t touch your mind – decisions, opinions, feelings, speech. But sometimes, actions speak much louder than words, don’t you think?”
    I didn’t respond – I concentrated on gathering all the sunshine I could muster from my