Page 82 of Until Death
Stepping from the shadows that are now slowly creeping closer all around us, is Hades.
I stop in my tracks, my stomach dropping at the sight of him. A slow smile pulls at the corners of the king’s mouth as he stares at me for a long moment before glancing toward Death.
It’s only now that I realize Death seems to be lost in a daze, unaware of my presence.
Hades raises a hand and I follow his gesture as I look up at the audience that fills the stands high above us. Their eyes all seem to be fixed on me, despite Hades and Death standing not far off.
“For her trial, she must simply make a choice,” Hades announces.
He motions to the far side of the arena, and I turn to watch Cerberus enter the arena. Next to him is a man, his head bowed as he’s half-held and half-dragged to stand next to Hades.
It’s only as they step into the center of the slowly dimming light that I realize the man with Cerberus is familiar.
More than familiar.
The man standing before me, his head bowed as Hades gestures to Cerberus to lift it for us all to see his face, is my father.
Tears sting my eyes as I glance back at Hades, and he grins widely at me.
“My trial, what is it?” I ask.
Hades nods slowly.
“Yours is a simple one. All you must do is choose, mortal.”
“Choose.”
“Yes,” he says, a wicked grin spreading across his face. “You must choose between saving your father or saving Death.”
I blink as I consider this, my eyes slowly slipping to Death for a moment. He stands strangely still, a blank look on his face as he gazes out at the crowd. As though he’s unaware that I’m here.
“If you choose Death,” Hades continues. “Then your father’s soul will move on to the afterlife.”
I consider this for a moment before asking, “And if I choose my father?”
“Death will cease to exist as you know him.”
Blinking, I realize what a strangely vague answer that is. It certainly doesn’t give me much to go on.
Though perhaps that’s the reason it’s worded so.
“Please,” I say. “Don’t make me choose between them. Instead, take my life and allow them both to keep theirs.”
“No. That is not the choice you have been given, mortal.”
“Please.”
“You must choose between your father or Death. There is no third option here.”
Biting my lip, I try in vain to keep the tears in my eyes from spilling over. I fail as I glance between my father and Death.
It’s an impossible choice, either way, guilt is sure to wreak havoc on me for the rest of my life. How am I meant to choose between two souls I care so deeply for?
“Make your choice, mortal,” Hades says. “Your time runs short.”
My heart shatters in my chest as my eyes move between the two men before me.
I try to reason with myself as I sort through the choice I have to make. I came here to save my father.
