Page 54 of The Demigod

I felt an unexpected tug, some part of me actually really wanting to go, to see the woman who had so enchanted my father, who had loved me enough to bring me to safety, even though it must have been difficult for her.

If the human world wasn’t literally hanging in the balance, maybe I would have considered it.

As it was, there was no time for sentimental reunions.

“Some other time,” I said, starting to walk again.

Daemon squeezed my hand, seeming to sense my inner battle but also understanding my determination to get what we needed and get back out.

“We need to cross here,” Daemon said when we realized we were surrounded on all sides by rivers, but none of them offering what we needed. “Want a ride?” he asked, bending down again.

I wanted to say I could walk. But my bones were starting to ache again, that familiar feeling of ‘unwell’ settling upon me once more.

So I climbed on as he waded into the waist-high water, only putting me down on the other side when he was sure there were no threats.

“Wow,” I said, figuring we were in the Asphodel Meadows, the place where most of the dead spirits resided. “Hey, are those… poppies?” I asked, pointing toward some red I saw dancing in a breeze in the distance.

“Think they might be,” Daemon said as we started to walk again. “We could just take those. Save us the rest of the trip.”

He was still antsy to get out of the Underworld, even though this was more of a paradise than the hell he’d escaped from.

“You’re worried about Hades, aren’t you?”

“Well, he’s not exactly known as a kind and forgiving god,” Daemon said. “And we’re about to steal from him. I figure… the closer to an exit we are, the better.”

“How do we get back up?” I asked. “Since there was a drop,” I added.

“There was a tree right beside the hole. I figure I can climb it then… hope for the best,” he said, grimacing.

“Well, it’s good to know we have such a rock-solid plan,” I said, smiling. “Let’s take the poppies then,” I agreed, and we both turned in their direction.

“It’s beautiful,” I said when we were standing at the edge of the poppy field.

“Yeah,” he agreed, but his gaze was on me, making my belly flip-flop.

“Focus,” I demanded, even if my heart wanted nothing more than for him to keep saying sweet things.

“Fiiiine,” he grumbled, making a little laugh escape me. “Now, they might be pretty, but maybe we shouldn’t be touching them with our bare hands. Don’t need to be tripping balls as unwelcome guests in the Underworld.”

I was reasonably sure, given that I had a power with sleep myself, that the poppies wouldn’t affect me the same as they would someone else. But I wasn’t taking any chances with Tartarus hanging overhead as a possible punishment. A place that made Daemon, a demon from Hell, look a little pale.

“Here,” Daemon said, finding a sharp rock. “I’ll use this to cut them. You take off one of your shirts to tie them all up in, so we don’t accidentally touch them.”

That was just what we did, working tirelessly until the entire sweatshirt was full of pretty red flowers.

Then I watched as Daemon carefully wrapped them up.

It wasn’t until we were done that it happened.

The ground below our feet started to crack, to fall inward. A sinkhole of sorts.

Only I had a feeling this wasn’t some natural phenomenon. But, rather, it was punishment for theft.

“We run. Now,” Daemon said, grabbing my hand and taking off at a sprint.

I tried to keep up, forcing my aching legs to keep going, even as the ground grew even more uneven, cracking and caving beneath our feet, leaving me stumbling and tripping over stones.

Sensing I was losing the battle with my stupid, useless body, Daemon twisted and swept me into his arms, barely losing a step.

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