Page 82 of Hades' Shadow
“So, we need to find a stick, but how do we get him to stop the chase?” I ask.
“Maybe we don’t. Can you still play your chase with him while we look for something to throw to him?” Raven crosses her arms over her chest.
“No,” Jayden yells at the same time I nod my head.
“What do you mean, Jayden? It’s a good plan. My shoulder is hurt, not my legs.” I stand up and stretch my legs in a lunge.
“You’re already injured, Beth. They will get the scent of blood and the thrill of the chase, and I don’t even think a stick can stop them from fucking hunting you.” Jayden shakes his head and plants his fists on his hips.
“This is the best plan we’ve got,” I say.
What is his deal? I don’t think Cerberus will hurt me. I don’t think that he meant to hurt me in the first place.
“Cerberus didn’t mean to do that. I think he’s just clunky and it’s probably hard to stop when he’s excited.” I shrug and pain lances through my shoulder.
I wince and Jayden raises an eyebrow. “Yeah, that looks like you’re totally fine.”
“Shut up. I am not that bad,” I growl and stand, brushing myself off carefully. I nod to Raven, and she grins. “Let’s do this.”
“I’ll find something we can use to distract him.” She takes off at a jog.
Two of Cerberus’ heads follow her movement but I wave my good arm to get their attention.
“C’mon, you want to chase me again, guys?” I ask and take off in the opposite direction.
Loud whines fill the space as each head turns in a different direction.
“Spot, here puppy,” I call over my shoulder and the left head yips and tugs the body in my direction. “Yes, that’s a good boy.”
“Beth, he’s a millennia-old dog. Don’t patronize him.” Jayden shakes his head, but he keeps pace with me.
“I’m not patronizing him,” I scoff. “I’m praising him for being a good boy.”
I pump my legs harder, and the excited yips fill the air. I steer clear of any of the stalagmites this time. I don’t want to get impaled again.
“I think I found something,” Raven yells.
I change direction and skid to a stop next to her. She holds up a long sticklike object and I grimace.
That is not a stick. Raven is going to gross out if I tell her what it actually is. What the hell is a human bone doing in the underworld?
“Uh, Raven, that’s…” I trail off as Cerberus barks.
It was a stupid move to take my attention off Cerberus when the damn dog was chasing me.
“Beth,” Jayden shouts and shoves me to the side.
I land in a heap, my shoulder screaming in pain as Cerberus stumbles to a stop where I was just standing.
He spins in a circle, his tail wagging, nearly knocking Jayden off his feet too.
“Cerberus, stop,” Jayden commands.
With a whine, the dog sits on his haunches, his heads all bowed low and they whimper.
Adrian crouches in front of me and holds a hand out. “You okay?”
“Yeah, my shoulder just hurts. I’ll be fine.” I take his hand and let him help me stand.
