Page 43 of Hades' Shadow
“Quit being an ass,” I growl. “We need to focus. Where can we enter the underworld?”
Jayden turns in the chair. “I know a place not too far from here that’s a guarded entrance to the underworld, but we will probably receive pushback from the guardian.”
“Who’s the guardian?” I ask with a frown. Who or what could Hades have guarding the underworld?
“Orpheus is the guardian. He’s good people but slightly unhinged.” Jayden grimaces.
“Wait a second, you mean the actual Orpheus?” I ask, glancing between the three of them. “He’s still alive?”
Orpheus is famed for sneaking into the underworld. Hades made a deal with him, and he almost made it out with his wife, but was banned from ever returning to the underworld.
“He’s banned from returning to the underworld. Of course, he’s still alive.” Jayden stares at me with an expression that says duh, and I shake my head.
“I know the story. I just didn’t think that would mean he’s still alive.”
“If you can’t go to the underworld, you literally can’t die. My father basically made the man immortal.” Jayden turns back to the map.
Raven sighs. “Where is this entrance?”
“Downtown LA.” Jayden grimaces.
I gasp. “You’re telling me the entrance is in a highly populated area and demons are escaping the underworld?”
“Yes, there is going to be chaos there if they are getting through the gate and I’m not even sure that Orpheus can handle it.” Jayden leans over the desk, his head in his hands.
This is all so much worse than we thought.
10
“What about the food in the underworld?” I ask, sitting forward with wide eyes.
Jayden spins in the chair to face me. “You can’t eat anything given to you in the underworld. It will most likely keep you there.”
“Like it did to the goddess Persephone.” I nod, remembering the story. Hades tricked her into it and then married her but lets her leave six months of the year.
“Yeah, she’s allowed to leave but only half the year or she becomes weakened,” Jayden agrees.
Raven shifts to her stomach on the bed, facing the room. “We don’t have any idea how long we are going to be there, do we?”
“It better not take more than a week because the longer this goes, the weaker the underworld gets.” Jayden sighs.
“We are going to need supplies, then. It’s not like the last time where we can just stop at a fast-food place and get food.” Raven sits up.
Her eyes glitter with something and I’m not sure I like where she is going with this.
I open my mouth to tell her we can go gather supplies, but she jumps up from the bed and grabs Adrian. “You two figure out your shit. Adrian and I are going to the kitchen to see what supplies we can grab for the trip.”
She’s out the door before I can stop her.
“Raven,” I yell through the closed door.
“What’s the matter, Beth? You don’t want to be left alone with me? I didn’t get that feeling when your tongue was in my mouth an hour ago.” Jayden sneers, crossing his arms over his chest.
“You kissed me,” I remind him.
Though was he even in his right mind at the time? Does he remember who started the steamy kiss?
“I wasn’t in control,” he shouts.
