Page 75 of Hades' Shadow
The boat rocks roughly and I grip Jayden’s arm. This is not fucking cool.
Charon slaps the water with his walking stick and I flinch.
What the hell is he doing?
A hand shoots out of the water and tries to grasp the side of the boat. I shriek with alarm, practically jumping in Jayden’s lap.
“That was a fucking hand, Jayden.” I shake my head. “You said you never had a problem. I knew it was going to jinx us.”
Charon smacks the hand off the side of the boat with his staff again, but it does nothing to get rid of this creeped-out feeling.
“Did you think this was going to be easy? We are in the underworld,” Jayden says with a scoff.
“No, but disembodied hands were a shock,” I growl.
“I’m sure they are attached to something.” Raven rolls her eyes.
I jump again at another smack to the side of the boat.
“I don’t think they are learning from their actions.” I idly play with the charm around my neck.
I want to be ready in case any of those things get past Charon.
“We will be at the gates soon. I’m sure it will be fine,” Jayden says and I cover his mouth.
“No more tempting the fates, Jayden,” I yell in his face.
Jayden nods and I take my hand off his mouth.
I fling my arms out as the boat pitches to the side dangerously. I grab Jayden’s shoulder, holding on as best I can. Jayden stands, wrapping an arm around my waist and pulling my back into his chest.
“What the fuck was that?” I ask, scanning the water.
“It’s the souls getting restless.” Jayden frowns at the water. “I’ve never seen them do anything like this.”
“Is it because we are still alive?” I stare at the water, dread pooling in my belly.
This is not fucking good. They have the advantage here if their idea is to body snatch us or some shit.
“Charon will keep them back,” Jayden says soothingly into my ear.
“He only has one stick,” I scoff as he slams the stick into the side of the boat again, making it rock even more.
I twirl the charm on my necklace, waiting for something to happen. Something is going to happen, I can feel it.
Something wet and slimy latches onto my leg and I scream and kick my foot out wildly. “Does this look fine, Jayden?”
He holds out a hand and hellfire forms a ball in it. The black flames dance merrily above his palm before he tosses it at the shrieking being trying to latch onto my leg.
“Calm down, Beth. We have magic,” Jayden says, pulling me closer and away from the damn edge.
“Calm down? You saw that thing. It tried to body snatch me.” I throw my hands up just as another loud whack sounds.
Charon and Jayden are way too blasé about the fact creatures are trying to drown us in water that is rumored to be poisoned.
Just another day. Nothing to see here, right.
“Help me out here, Raven. This is bad, right?” I turn to Raven, but she isn’t looking at me.
