Page 153 of Death is My Ride or Die

“Time to find me those spells.” His hand wrapped around mine, and I grew taut with fear.

Ahrimad dragged me to the front of the room. One of the high-level demons now guarded Ace. He looked over at me and gave me a small nod as we passed, which I didn’t quite understand. Ahrimad led me up a few steps onto a small stage. Death watched me like a hawk, his mismatched green eyes dark and cold.

“You promised,” he said so softly I had to read his lips. I knew he was talking about putting me before him.

“I lied,” I whispered.

Ahrimad stopped at the top of the stairs, and I realized that was as close as he could stand to what lay on the podium. My heart beat like a battle drum and my scalp prickled as I saw the full-sizeBook of the Deadon the marble stand.

“H-how will I know what to look for?”

“TheBook of the Deadknows what we seek,” Ahrimad said.

The rippling portal beside the stage seemed to ring louder, and I shut my eyes the moment my fingers touched the leathery cover. Then something I’d never expected happened. Nothing. My stomach churned at the immediate thought that this wasn’t theBook of the Dead. With trembling fingers, I brushed the sides of the thick manuscript, a unique fold in the page catching my attention. I held the fold and opened to that page slowly.

Noise stilled as I read the handwritten note inside. The only words on the entire page.

Let there be light.

A frown creased my eyebrows.

“What did you see?”Ahrimad roared, startling me. He moved to stand behind me like one of Death’s shadows, and my whole body locked up. I slid my palm carefully over the page and collected the note. “Do not waste my precious time!”

“I-I saw a glimpse of what you desire most,” I said, cowering away from him. “But there’s—there’s some sort of block.”

“A block?” Ahrimad’s eyes narrowed. “I see. Perhaps you need some motivation, then? Malphas, I’m bored. Torture your son.”

It happened so fast. Blackness webbed out from the raven demigod’s entire face, his pale features devoid of emotion. Death’s whole body locked up again. Obsidian curls sprawled over his forehead as he tilted his head up, jaw clenched, glaring defiantly back at Malphas.“Don’t do it, Faith!”Death bellowed. “Don’t let him win!”

“Better hurry,” Ahrimad taunted. “Death’s looking a little feral, isn’t he?”

“You said you wouldn’t kill him!” I cried.

“Technically, he’s already dead.” Ahrimad flashed his fangs. “Semantics are a funny thing, Ms. Williams. Better hurry.”

There had to be a way out of this. But I couldn’tfocus.

“I said,continue, Malphas!” Ahrimad barked.

“His mind barriers are wide open,” Malphas said. “If I continue, he will be unconscious in seconds.”

“It appears your son has given up. Quite the strong warrior you bred.”

Malphas’s face tightened. “Hades banished you to that mirror because you were an obligation.”

Ahrimad stared at Malphas with a frighteningly calm rage. He descended from the stage. “What did you say to me?”

“I said, you’re anuisanceto Hades. He said it to me himself when I met him in the Underworld. P.S., that’s dad code for he wishes he wore a condom.”

My vision strobed in and out as Ahrimad disappeared and reappeared before Malphas. He clutched Malphas by the throat, and Death lurched forward in his chains. “Soulless fucking bird! I’m going to crush your heart in my bare hand!”

“Wait!”I exclaimed. “I need more time!”

Ahrimad’s head snapped over his shoulder, darkness consuming his amber irises. “Dear girl, the last thing we all have tonight is time.”

Ahrimad grabbed Malphas by the throat. Panic overworked my lungs as I breathed in and out faster and faster, my whole body shaking uncontrollably. I glanced over at the rippling portal, and it hit me.

“Hey,Nuisance!”

---