Page 58 of Hades

“Olympus,” she whispered, shock rolling through her that had her releasing him. “You came to the mortal world via Olympus?”

He nodded.

“And no one stopped you?” She couldn’t believe it. Guards watched the gates in Olympus day and night, monitoring the foot traffic that came and went between that great city and the Underworld, the mortal realm, and Poseidon’s islands. “I will be having words with Zeus when we reach Olympus.”

Had Zeus turned a blind eye to guards of the Underworld leaving their posts and travelling to the mortal world? Rage burned up her blood at the thought he might have.

“The daemon with purple hair.” It was all Erastus needed to say for her to realise what had happened. “She did something that changed how we appeared.”

The illusionist had effectively cloaked Mnemosyne’s soldiers, fooling the guards. A trick one of her breed had used before to get Mnemosyne’s forces into the Underworld.

Persephone cursed. “Zeus should have closed the gates as we asked of him.”

Which meant she would still be having harsh words with the god-king of Olympus.

But first, they had to reach the white city.

She looked at the open door, her heart beating a little quicker at the thought she was finally going to step through it after all her failed attempts to breach it. Escape was within her grasp now. They only had to make it out of the tower.

Erastus stepped forwards, heading for it, and she gripped his arm again.

“Wait. Let us take another route from the cape. There were two mortals below. I called to them and they secured their boat by the rocks beneath the tower. We can use that boat to escape.” She met his gaze when he looked over his shoulder at her. “It will be safer.”

The guards wouldn’t be able to pursue them as easily. She hadn’t seen any other vessels anchored nearby and she had a clear view of the coast in all directions from her tower. As soon as they were beyond the wards, she could use her power to propel the boat using the waves. If they were lucky, Poseidon might grow aware of them too and come to help her.

Erastus nodded. “A sound plan, my god-queen.”

Persephone drew down a steadying breath and looked at the open door.

She flexed her fingers around the grip of her sword.

Calmed her galloping heart and sharpened her mind, pushing away fear and doubt, and focused on what had to be done.

She briefly met Erastus’s gaze again and strode forwards, her voice strong and commanding, and holding none of the nerves she felt.

“Then let us put it into action.”

Chapter 17

Black mountains gave way to a vast plain riddled with glowing orange rivers. Cerberus didn’t slow. The great beast’s pace only seemed to increase, forcing Hades to urge the horses onwards. The air grew hot as their hooves beat out like war drums, a rhythm his heart followed. The road he followed down the gentle slope to the plain was faint, as if it hadn’t been used in many centuries, and the bridges that arched over the broad rivers of lava looked ancient and liable to break under the weight of his chariot.

Hades whistled to Cerberus, attempting to draw him back so they could inspect the bridges before they crossed them, but the beast refused to slow. Cerberus thundered over the first bridge, causing small plumes of dark dust to rise into the thick air as he disturbed the stones. Hades didn’t risk hitting the bridge at a similar pace. He slowed the horses, pulling back on the reins until they were only trotting. As they approached the bridge, they grew tense, their snorts and huffs the only sound other than the bubbling lava.

The front pair stopped the moment their hooves touched the cut stones and Hades jerked forwards, his hips striking the curved edge of the front of the chariot as it came to an abrupt halt.

Cerberus finally stopped, skidding on the loose black ground and turning to face him. All three heads canted to his left and Hades scowled at him, reading the silent question in his glowing blue eyes. He was master of the horses and they would move under his command.

But slowly.

Hades gently urged them on. “The bridge is sound. Cerberus crossed it ahead of us.”

The front left horse dug at the stone with his hoof and he focused on that beast, aware that the others would follow if he could convince the stallion to move.

“It is ancient, granted, but it still stands. Come. Walk on. Lead the way.” He snapped the reins and the horse obeyed, slowly moving forwards. As expected, the others followed his lead. “There. Easy now.”

Hades kept a close eye on the bridge and a firm grip on the reins, ready to urge the horses into a run if needed. The wheels of the chariot rumbled over the stones, his own breaths loud in his ears as he listened hard, straining to hear as well as see any sign that the bridge might give. When they reached the other side of it, he let out a long sigh, and the tension that had been building inside him leached from him.

He finally lifted his gaze from the ground and frowned.

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