Page 17 of Dead End

“Lolly, I’m going to board you now. I hope that’s okay.”

The pegasus sniffed me, in search of another treat. She likely smelled the carrot in my pocket.

“That one is for when we land safely,” I said.

The ground trembled. No time for a saddle. I climbed on Lolly’s back and clung to her broad neck.

“Go!”

Hooves cracked against wood as the pegasus raced outside, nearly blowing the stable door off its hinges in the process. I immediately spotted the reason for the thunder. One of the gods was surrounded by soldiers from Apep’s army.

Lolly reared up as a ten-foot serpent slithered between her hooves. As I urged her forward, a pair of onyx eyes met mine and flickered in recognition. The god seemed torn between stopping me and defending himself against his attackers. A serpent tied itself around the god’s leg and squeezed, forcing the god’s attention back to his own predicament.

“Go!” Lolly’s pace increased to a gallop. How did I launchher into the air? A pulsing red button would come in handy right now.

Another god appeared on the trail ahead. This one was not surrounded by Apep’s soldiers. Even from this distance, his three horns atop a bullish head were a dead giveaway.

Bossu.

His fierce glare told me the god wasn’t here to assist his colleague.

He was here for me.

I tapped my heels against Lolly’s sides. “There’s no place like home,” I said, knowing this time the utterance wouldn’t result in Paradise imprisonment.

Bossu charged.

The pegasus beat her wings. We soared over the god’s head. He reached for us but to no avail. He bellowed in anger and the echo chased us across the sky.

“To the west entrance,” I told Lolly. I spared a glance at the battle below. Paradise was in chaos, Posy’s dream come true. An anvil lodged in my chest; the weight of regret felt substantial enough to drive the pegasus back to earth. This place could’ve been incredible. The deities were capable of so much good in the world—in all worlds—and yet they chose to remain the same shallow, narrow-minded beings they’d been since the creation of time. A willingness to evolve would’ve changed everything for the better instead of trying to bend the current reality to their collective ancient will. What a waste.

As we flew closer, I saw that the west entrance was blocked by rows of Apep’s soldiers. I could try to persuade them that I’d been a prisoner, but without my collar, they were unlikely to believe me.

Pops didn’t raise a quitter. There had to be another way.

I circled the area. There were too many bodies below to count. Apep was proving to be a formidable foe. Hope liftedme even higher when I spotted another exit. I steered Lolly toward a cluster of palm trees where we could descend without notice. The bright golden outline of a door began to form. I had to hurry.

I guided the pegasus to the ground and dismounted.

“Zhi Peng, wait!”

The god jerked toward me, alarmed. “Who … Melinoe, yes?”

“Yes. Take me with you.”

His gaze went straight to my neck. “Your collar.”

“Is gone. I can leave with you.”

“This door will not take you where you want to go.”

“Then make another one.”

He raised his hands and returned his focus to the door. “No time.”

I grabbed his sleeve. “Listen. I’d been hoping to tell you this sooner, but I didn’t get the chance. I met one of your brothers recently.”

His dark eyebrows curled in anger. “Lies. My brothers have been lost for centuries.”

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