Page 70 of Hades' Shadow
“We don’t have a fucking minute.” I rake a hand through my hair. “Every minute we waste, more humans are being attacked.”
“Take a breath, daughter of Zeus.” Orpheus raises his hands in defense.
“My name is Beth,” I say through gritted teeth.
“Can we all just calm down?” Jayden whispers. “We are on official underworld business.”
Orpheus raises a brow. “Explain.”
Jayden nods to me. “Go ahead.”
“Not here.” Orpheus cuts in and nods for us to follow him.
He leads us to a door and waves us inside a small office with a black leather couch.
“Have a seat, Beth,” he says my name with emphasis.
I roll my eyes but sit back on the couch and rest my arm against my chest. I don’t dare admit that it actually helps.
Jayden takes the seat next to me and rests a hand on my knee.
What is that all about? I know they won’t let me die. Did that scare him?
“Now, please tell me what this is all about,” Orpheus says, leaning back against his desk with his arms crossed over his chest.
I take a cleansing breath and stare into his ancient eyes. “The gods are weakening.”
“What do you mean, they are weakening?” he asks, standing up straight and running a hand through his hair.
“Someone is working against them. They have hidden their items of power,” I say with a huff.
“Oh my gods. That’s why…” He glances over his shoulder at the room we just left that literally houses the gates of hell.
“Yes, Hades was unable to contact us without help. He pulled me into a dream world and told me that he needs our help to find his helm.” I sit forward on the couch, resting my head in my hands.
“It’s so much worse than I thought,” Orpheus says.
Jayden stands, squaring his shoulders with a frown. “What do you mean it’s worse? How can it get much worse than this?”
“I’m sure you of all people have figured out what this means for the underworld and humanity,” Orpheus says, staring at Jayden with wide eyes.
“Yes, that’s why I said we don’t have time for this.” I glare at Orpheus and stand. “We have to meet Hades in the underworld immediately.”
“No.” Orpheus shakes his head stubbornly. “I cannot grant passage to the underworld to Zeus’ only living demigod kid.”
“Hades asked me,” I growl.
“Have you ever been struck down by your dad, little girl? I have and I can’t fucking die. He will do it again if I let you walk through that gate.” Orpheus looks down on me, crowding me.
I grip my whip, letting my magic free, and the whip glows with white-hot electricity.
“Have you ever been struck down by me? I won’t hesitate either. The oracle said the four of us had to do this and not you nor any fucking demon is going to stop me from going,” I say, glaring back at him.
“Beth…” Jayden trails off as I snap my eyes to him.
He will not tell me I’m staying behind.
Adrian steps in front of me, pushing Orpheus back. “No, the vision shows the four of us. Hades asked Beth for help and not Jayden. We all have to go or we are doomed to fail.”
