Page 97 of Hades

That cold feeling that had settled inside her all those weeks ago gnawed at her mind, spreading doubt through it. Something was wrong. She swore she could feel it as she trudged forwards, her sword meeting one belonging to a large dark-haired male.

He bared fangs at her, his violet eyes glowing brightly in the dim light of the storm.

Wind lashed at her, driving her towards him and she ducked beneath the blow he aimed at her neck, pushing to her feet again with effort and swung at him. He easily blocked her and it took all of her energy to call on her connection to nature this time, using it to raise five large spikes of earth from the ground. One of them hit its mark, impaling him from below, and she pushed onwards as he bellowed in agony and gripped the spear of earth protruding from his side, his actions growing weaker as she passed him.

Cerberus whined and whimpered, the sound pulling her towards him. She had to save him.

Her right knee buckled and she went down, breathing hard. She would rest a moment and then she would save him. She pressed her free hand to the dirt and drew down a shuddering breath that made every inch of her ache.

Persephone reached through the earth when that cold feeling inside her grew, creeping outwards, devouring her hope. She looked at the battle raging around her and awareness was like a blade in her heart, propelling her into action. She closed her eyes and felt her way through the roots of the world, using more of her precious energy to send a message to her children in Tokyo, one that would surely have them disobeying Hades’s orders and coming to aid her this time.

Because without them, they couldn’t win this.

A roar rolled over the land and her head snapped up, her gaze instantly locking on the source of it. Close to forty males and females were coming down the sloping path towards the battle. More reinforcements for Mnemosyne’s side.

Everything went dark.

The sound of battle cut off.

And then Marek growled, “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”

It took her a moment to realise he had formed a dome of baked earth over them, shielding her, Caterina and himself. Or perhaps more particularly her, judging by the thunderous look he gave her as her eyes adjusted to the low light and how unimpressed he sounded.

“We need reinforcements,” she bit out, hating that she was snapping at him, but she couldn’t help herself. The thought that they might fail was pressing down on her, choking the hope from her. They couldn’t fail. If they did, this world and everyone in it would be subjected to Mnemosyne’s rule and the rule of her allies. So many would suffer.

And her family would be killed.

The tight lines of Marek’s face eased and he blew out his breath. “I’ll go. We can all go.”

He held his hand out to her, his earthy eyes imploring her to take it and accept the chance to catch her breath.

She vehemently shook her head and her eyebrows furrowed as her heart ached.

He curled his fingers into a fist, disappointment and maybe a hint of regret shining in his eyes. She knew he wanted her safe and away from the battle, but she couldn’t do it, even when she didn’t want to disappoint him.

The thought of leaving Cerberus at the mercy of Mnemosyne and the witch, and running from the fight even for a moment, had her needing to stay. She couldn’t abandon him, and she wouldn’t prove Mnemosyne right about her either.

Caterina moved into view, holding her arm. Blood streamed down it, covering every inch of her skin from her biceps down to her fingertips.

Marek looked across at Caterina and she scowled at him before he had even uttered a word, revealing she knew exactly what he was going to say.

“I’m getting you out of here. You’ll be safe in Tokyo,” he growled.

Caterina shook her head too. “You need me here.”

Persephone could see she didn’t want to go, but she could also see that Marek needed her to and he was right, so she stood and looked the daemon-hybrid in the eye. “You are going. You are a liability as you are now. I am sorry.”

Hurt flashed across Caterina’s face that made Persephone want to take back her order, but she held firm, deeply aware that if Caterina remained, she would be a distraction for Marek.

She looked at her son. “Hurry.”

Marek nodded and took hold of Caterina’s arm and the two of them disappeared, leaving swirling black ribbons of smoke behind.

Persephone drew down a fortifying breath and gathered her strength, giving herself a few more seconds to recover before she hurled herself back into the fray.

Outside the dome of earth protecting her, wind howled and men bellowed, and through it all she heard Cerberus whimper.

“I am coming,” she whispered and tightened her grip on her sword.

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