Page 80 of Hades' Shadow
“You’re such a cute beastie. Do you want to go for a run?” I coo and all three tongues loll.
Bright-red eyes train on me with excitement.
I flick my whip playfully at the dog and he yips.
Three sets of eyes stare me down as I turn on my heel and run back toward the River Styx.
I pump my legs as howls follow in my wake. The ground shakes, nearly making me stumble as Cerberus races after me. Every footfall is like an explosion.
Cerberus’ barks grow more excited the closer he gets.
Fuck, maybe this was a terrible idea. Why did I make myself the damn distraction again?
I dive behind the stalagmite just as Cerberus looms over me. One of the heads slams into the stalagmite and obsidian rains down on me when it shatters.
I put my arms over my head to block the chunks of rock from knocking me out.
I peek out between my arms and see the middle head shaking violently. He hurt himself with the damn rock but didn’t knock himself out.
Shit, this dog has a hard-assed head. Or three hard heads.
The nose of the head on my left nuzzles my stomach.
All the air whooshes out of me as I bat away the face that’s bigger than my torso.
“Are you guys over there?” I call out to Raven and Adrian.
“Yes, you don’t have to play dead anymore,” Raven shouts with a chuckle.
“I’m not playing. He knocked this damn rock on me.” I shake my head and pat the snout that’s nudging me. “Good dog.”
I groan and stand. Cerberus nudges me as I dust the rock and gravel from my body.
“You could have killed me, Cerberus.” I shake out the dirt from my hair.
“You okay, Beth?” Jayden asks and I turn to him.
“Yeah, did they get in?” I ask with a raised brow.
Cerberus growls at my question and turns to where Raven and Adrian are standing by the gate.
“No, Cerberus, puppy, puppy, play with me,” I say to Cerberus.
The left head watches me but the other two have their sights set on Raven and Adrian.
Jayden curses as I take off running again.
“C’mon, Spot,” I yell and wave my arms to get his attention.
“He doesn’t like that name,” Jayden says with a shake of his head.
Cerberus whines but finally makes the decision and chases after me. I nearly stumble again but whoop in excitement when he begins to move toward me.
I turn to see him gaining on me and flick my whip at the middle snout. It snarls and lunges for me.
Shit, he’s not playing anymore. He really wanted to eat me right then.
The head on the left nudges the other and it strikes me that each of these dog heads have their own personality and the left one likes me.
