Page 31 of Until Death
“Will the gates be opened now that you are back?”
I can sense his suspicion before he even opens his mouth.
“Why?”
“To let all those souls in before they overwhelm this place with all their babbling,” I say, waving a hand vaguely in the direction of the gates.
He laughs.
“Not that you actually care about what happens to them … but no, they will not.”
“Why not?”
“Why the sudden interest?” he retorts.
I let out a sigh before answering, “Perhaps I am simply taking an interest in things outside my own pleasure for once. Humor me, Cerberus, so I can be gone from here quickly.”
“Because winter is coming,” he answers. “The gates will not open again until Hades departs, and only for a day. They will not open again until his return in the spring. I should think you would know this by now, it is rather common knowledge among the court since … At least, it has been for a while now.”
“Right, of course. It must have slipped my mind.”
Cerberus clearly does not believe me, but he says nothing to encourage the conversation to continue.
Giving him a nod, I turn and once again move away from the gates. As I walk, I cannot help but wonder why Persephone did not mention this little fact.
Perhaps it is common knowledge, but I do not recall hearing of this change. Moreover, it seems like something Persephone should have made sure Death and Hazel were aware of.
If nothing else, we might have been able to plan things out a little differently ...
Though, the more I think about it, the less I am sure it would have made any difference.
“Eros,” Cerberus calls out.
Groaning, I turn back to face the insufferable man.
“What is it now, Cerberus?”
“You are going the wrong way.”
“And how do you know that?”
“I am adog, after all, Eros. Surely you do not need to ask such useless questions.”
My annoyance flares as I picture every single way tiny misfortune may befall this irksome creature. The very smugness of his attitude does little to make me want to listen to what he says. Yet, I force myself to wait.
Without a word, he turns and begins to stride off in another direction, his footsteps pausing after a moment as he calls out over his shoulder, “Well, are you coming or not?”
I frown, unsure of whether or not to follow him.
“Why do you want to help me find Death?”
“I have unfinished business with him. So, either you can follow me. Or—and I admit Iamhoping you choose this option—you can let me drag you back to the palace and let Hades question you first. The choice is yours.”
I let out a frustrated sigh.
“Fine, just hurry up and lead the way.”
Cerberus turns so his back is to me as he continues, his hellhound senses picking up on something I cannot seem to find.
