Page 105 of Half Dead

“Yes.” His gaze flicked to Bruce. “You may proceed all the way to the tenth hell.”

I shot a panicked look at my companion. “That sounds bad. Is that the worst one?”

“No, let’s go.” Bruce steered me down the steps of the platform.

Ch’u-Chiang returned to the bench and sat. “Kane Sullivan will drag you to the depths of hell if you aren’t careful, Melinoe. Only you can decide whether he’s worth the trip.”

Fury ignited inside me. “Elinor marries Edward, and Marianne marries Colonel Brandon,” I yelled over my shoulder.

Bruce gripped my arm and dragged me away. “Why would you do that?” he hissed, once we were out of the god’s reach.

“He was rude.”

“He was honest.”

“Kane is a changed demon.”

“Sometimes all the change in the world cannot atone for the actions we’ve already taken.”

I gave him a pointed look. “Do I need to spoil a book for you, too?”

We walked down a dirt road past a series of dilapidated buildings with bowed rooftops and broken windows. I would’ve thought they were abandoned, except the noises within suggested otherwise. Not the prettiest section of the city.

“Any idea how far ten hells is?” I asked. “My feet hurt.”

“I think we’ll find the tree before we reach it.”

“That isn’t what Ch’u-Chiang said.”

Bruce stopped walking and turned to face me. “I knowthe tablet you seek. If this information fell into the wrong hands, it would be very dangerous. The destiny of the world is at stake.”

“The destiny ofmyworld is at stake if I don’t find it and deliver it to Lucifer.” And I would either find a way to use the tablet to defeat Lucifer or relieve him of the tablet as soon as I officially handed it over. There was nothing in the bargain that said I had to let him keep the tablet once I’d delivered it to him. The demon was fond of loopholes; you’d think he would’ve considered that one.

“Is one demon worth the risk? Especially one with Kane’s track record?”

“Don’t you start now. Is this because of what Ch’u-Chiang said? You and I were forced to be judged, but Kane didn’t consent, nor is he here to defend himself.”

Bruce glanced warily at the path ahead. “You believe in him that much?”

“Yes. Wholly and completely.”

My companion wore a pained expression.

“What?” I prompted.

“I would’ve liked to have known love like that when I was alive.”

“Why do you think I’m fighting so hard to keep it?” Kane was worth the trip ten times over, no matter how difficult or dangerous.

Bruce seemed to make up his mind about something. “Then let’s finish this.”

The dilapidated buildings grew fewer and farther between until we reached a fork in the path.

Bruce gestured to the right. “It’s this way.”

“Are you sure? I see buildings on the horizon to the left.”

“Which is how I know we need to go right. Do you see any trees in that direction?”

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