Page 126 of Hades' Shadow
Smoke billows up all around us and I grip my whip tighter, not trusting that they are really gone. As the smoke dissipates, the meadow comes into view. The creepy souls continue to ignore us as they float by, unbothered.
We trudge through the meadow for hours before my stomach starts growling and pain stabs at my stomach. I need to stop using so much magic. The more power I use, the hungrier I get.
“How much food do we have left?” I ask Jayden.
My head spins and I lean against him.
“We don’t have much, maybe just enough for one more ration, but we need to keep going,” Jayden says.
“I get it but I’m starving and the magic display against the furies is draining me,” I groan.
“We have dried meat and bread. Let’s just walk while we eat.” Jayden wraps an arm around me and squeezes.
“Hey, Adrian, can you grab me a piece of jerky from your pack, please?” I ask.
Adrian removes his pack and digs out two pieces of jerky with a frown.
“That’s all we have left,” he says with wide eyes.
“Shit, we’re out of food,” I say with a scowl. “How long do we still have to walk?”
“We haven’t even made it to the river yet. We still have a day at least.” Jayden shakes his head.
“I’m good, I’m fine.” I wave Adrian away. “We need to save it for a while.”
“You are starving. We will all be okay,” Adrian says and shoves a piece of jerky at me.
“It’s best if you all eat now because we are about to hit the farmland and orchards of Asphodel and once we get there, the temptation will be horrible.” Jayden takes the piece out of Adrian’s hand and rips it in half, handing me a piece.
I take the piece with a sigh. We need to hurry up and get to the river of fire.
How long can we last here without any food? This is looking pretty fucking bleak.
The forest looms in the distance, darkening the horizon. The closer we get, the easier it is to spot the gleaming red fruit hanging from the trees in the orchard.
Raven loops her arm through mine. “They look so good. I’m so hungry.”
“We… can’t,” I mumble.
Why can’t we? They are just hanging from the trees for anyone to take. I bet they are so juicy and sweet.
“But why?” Raven whines and leans her head on my shoulder.
“I don’t remember.” I shake my head to clear it.
It doesn’t help. Jayden squeezes my hip and I turn my gaze to his.
“You can’t eat the food here because you will be stuck here,” he says slowly as if he is speaking to a child.
“It can’t be that bad, right?” I ask, leaning against him.
“You have to save the world, Beth.” He squeezes my hip again.
We stop outside the orchard and Adrian reaches out to touch the fruit, but Jayden slaps his hand away.
“I know you are all starving, but you have to resist the pomegranates. These come from the same seed that grew the one Persephone ate in the story. They are made with magic that makes you want to eat it,” Jayden says with a sigh.
“Can it really be that bad?” I ask. “I am starving and they would help so much.”
