Page 107 of Half Dead

“Because I owed you a debt.” He bowed. “And now that debt has been paid. I will take no further action to assist you.”

I gave him a wry smile. “Yet you’re still here.”

“The island offers very little in the way of entertainment.”

My fingers jammed into a hard substance. “Found it!” I dug the tablet from its earthly bed. I cleared the dirt from the surface and ran my fingers over the markings. “Hey, I can read it.”

“It’s designed to be read in any language.”

I scanned the information. The tablet was a set of instructions on how to tame a list of mythological beasts. Even the nian was on here. The monster was frightened of fire, the color red, and loud noises, just as I’d been taught.

My gaze swung to Bruce. “Is there another tablet?”

“No. Why? Were you expecting something else?”

“The legend says that the one who possesses it will be all powerful.”

“One who possesses the ability to tame any beast is a force to be reckoned with. I would not wish to be the one who opposes him.”

Laughter bubbled up inside me. Lucifer clearly believed this tablet contained different kind of information. The demon had no interest in learning to soothe savage beasts. Regardless of his intention, a deal was a deal. This was the tablet he told me to recover and recover it I did.

I dusted off the remaining particles of dirt. “This may have been dangerous knowledge centuries ago, but now we have the internet.”

Bruce frowned. “Someone’s coming.”

Clutching the tablet, I turned to see a man dressed in a military uniform, complete with the kind of fancy hat that would get you killed or ridiculed in modern society.

He clipped his heels together. “Hu Ching-Te,” he said.

“I’m Melinoe, and this is my friend, Bruce.”

“Lady Wang sent me. I understand you seek passage off the island,” the god said.

“She really wants to preserve the status quo, doesn’t she?” I smiled at the god. “You can do that?”

“He’s the god of doors,” Bruce explained.

“Oh, I met a few of your counterparts at The Corporation.” I waved a hand. “Never mind. Long story. Yes, two tickets, please.”

Bruce cleared his throat. “No. Only one ticket.”

My head jerked toward him. “You still need to walk through the door even if you don’t want to come home with me. Otherwise, it’s a long way back to the other end of the island.”

“I’m not walking through that door, Lorelei. My journey has reached its end.”

An uneasy feeling crept over me. “You crossed the bridge with me.”

“And you’re only just noticing? And here I thought I was slow.”

“I don’t understand. I thought we were free to leave. Are you stuck here now?”

He gave me a reassuring smile. “There’s no need to look sad. It’s time. You were right earlier. I should be well on my way to reincarnation by now. I should thank you for giving me the courage to proceed.”

My throat thickened with emotion. “You knew you’d have to stay.”

“Of course I did. First rule of the underworld. No takebacks, unless you’re Orpheus.”

“Or a goddess of ghosts,” I whispered. I couldn’t believe Bruce had followed me here, knowing the outcome. “But you didn’t drink the broth of oblivion.”

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