Page 94 of Hades' Shadow
“It wouldn’t be saving the world if it were easy, Beth.” Jayden chuckles.
He reaches for my hand and helps me to my feet. Raven assists Adrian.
“Okay then, which way do we go?” I ask, waving a hand to Adrian to lead the way.
“It’s not as bad as we originally thought. She’s not actually on the Isles of the Blessed. She’s at the edge of Elysium.” Adrian strides forward on the path.
“Thank the gods for that,” Jayden says.
“Why?” I ask with a frown.
Are the Isles a lot farther than the edge of Elysium? How difficult is it to get there?
“The waters that surround the Isles of the Blessed feed into the River Lethe,” he says with wide eyes. “There are no ferries across to the Isles.”
“So, it’s like some kind of fucked-up test to get to the Isles?” I ask sharply.
“They have to prove they are worthy of the honor of being the blessed.” Jayden shrugs.
“What do they have to do to prove it?” Raven asks.
“Do you remember what River Lethe is?” I ask her with a raised brow.
How is that even proof that they are worthy of being blessed? It makes no sense.
“Fuck, that’s hard-core and fucking brutal,” Raven says, shaking her head.
“Yeah, the water from the river of forgetfulness.” I run a hand down my face.
“Many heroes try, and most don’t even make it halfway before they forget who they are and why they are there.” Jayden strides next to me and shakes his head.
“That is fucking savage. Elysium is enough, I would think,” I say.
“It was more common in ancient times. The heroes were way more egotistical then. They wanted to prove they were the best. Now, it’s not as common but still happens.” Jayden wraps his hand around mine.
Raven raises a brow. “Fuck no, I’m good. Thank the gods we don’t have to go there.”
“Agreed.” I shiver.
What kind of fucked-up things happen to people in that river when they forget everything about their lives?
“If they make it out of the river, their memories are returned,” Jayden says ominously.
“If they make it out,” I groan. “So, not everyone has made it out of the river. Good to know.”
“It wouldn’t be a test if it wasn’t dangerous, Beth.” Jayden sighs. “Just be glad we don’t ever have to find out.”
We continue down the path. People peek out their windows occasionally, but when I turn to them, the curtains close.
“Why are they watching us?” I whisper like they will be able to hear me from the other side of the wall.
“I don’t know.” Jayden frowns and picks up his pace.
Are they wary of him because of who his father is or is there a different reason they look so mistrustful?
Maybe that’s the reason that Hades couldn’t get the information himself.
If it hadn’t been for my mother derailing everything before we wouldn’t have gotten the information we need. It didn’t seem like they were willing to give us the information we were looking for.
