Page 55 of Artemis' Bow
“We’ll get you back out as soon as we can.” Jayden pats his heads before pressing on the rune again.
With a mournful howl, he disappears. I turn back to Adrian. Everyone’s face is pale as a ghost.
“What’s going on?” I ask. “Is it coming from the underworld?”
“Yes, I don’t know how they got past Hades’ army, but they are trying to breach it and get back into the human world. We have to leave right now.”
“I’m ready, let’s go. Orpheus, will you be able to guard the portal on your own?” I ask.
“I’m going to shut it down until the coast is clear. Hades will collect the escaped prisoners soon enough. Go.” Orpheus claps me on the shoulder.
I turn on my heel and race down the winding halls of the strip club. Don’t let anything get through. Please don’t let anything get through. We need to get out of here before that happens. If only I could transport other people rather than just Jayden. We could be back at the car already.
“Stupid magic and its limitations,” I mutter as I round the corner to the mirror room.
“Thank the gods,” Raven says next to me.
“We’re not out of here yet. Just keep moving.” I shove the door open.
The SUV is only a hundred yards away when a crash sounds inside the building. Wincing, I turn to glance back, but Jayden shakes his head at me.
“We can’t help him. It’s his job to police the portal. He won’t fail. We have to go.”
“I know but I hate leaving people behind to clean up the monsters, even if an hour ago I was fantasizing about stabbing him in the eye. I don’t like leaving people in danger.” I run a hand down my face.
Sweat burns my eyes when we finally reach the SUV. Jayden throws himself into the driver’s seat and starts the ignition. “How far out do we need to be before we’re safe? Will they follow us?”
“No, I didn’t see them following us, but I would get at least a couple blocks away before they know we were here and come looking for us,” Adrian says.
“Let’s get on the road. We’re already behind anyway, but Spot needed that playtime and if I’m honest, I did too.” I shut the door once I’m seated next to Jayden.
Jayden throws the vehicle into drive and tears out of the parking lot as fast as he can. I grab the ‘oh shit’ handle above my head as he rounds a corner faster than he should, but none of us complain.
There are only a few beings powerful enough to escape Hades’ prison and I never want to see those assholes again. The only way Hecate would be able to get out is if she enlisted the Titans. They may hate Zeus more than Hera does, so I don’t want to be anywhere near that mess.
“Okay,” Adrian pants. “I think you may be safe to slow down. I don’t think they can find us from here.”
“If they even get out, right?” I ask. “It’s not guaranteed that they will succeed.”
“No, this time I saw more than one future. It was weird. I’ve never been able to see that much before and I can’t tell you anything else.”
“Why is your gift changing now? You didn’t get dosed with the ichor like we did,” I point out.
“I don’t know. You would think that because I’m working against my father, who is the god of prophecy, my gift would lessen.”
“Unless…” Raven tilts her head to the side in thought.
“What are you thinking?” I ask.
“The crazy old lady we always see at the gas station. I think Adrian is the only male she hasn’t beaten over the head with her walking stick. Maybe the fates are strengthening his gift.”
Thad says, “I can honestly say that I have never been hit over the head by a crazy lady at a gas station.”
“Give it time, man. She’s gotten us all and some of us more than others.” Jayden shudders.
“She went to town on Draven, and it still didn’t work.” Adrian chuckles.
“It was great to have someone else on the other end of that stick for a change.” Jayden shakes his head.
