Page 47 of A Match Made in Hell
I bristle. She makes it sound like a flaw, rather than a choice. But admitting why I’ve been avoiding people would be a can of worms I’d rather not open, so I settle for saying, ‘That’d be nice.’ It’s not a lie, but it’s not the truth either. Nice would be getting out of here. This is merely a way for me to keep my sanity before I do.
I shuck off my sandals before sitting on the edge of the springs and dipping my feet into the water. The temperature here is much hotter than the showers; the steam mists over my face, a little too warm to be comfortable.
‘So, let’s start with the obvious,’ Harper says. ‘How did you die?’
I freeze.
‘Harper.’ Amelia nudges her in the side. ‘You can’t keep asking people that.’
She pouts. ‘Why not? It’s an icebreaker.’
‘You need to find better icebreakers.’ Henry rolls his eyes and hoists himself out of the water. ‘Don’t tell her anything you don’t want to, Willow. She’s a frightful gossip.’
‘I don’tgossip, I listen. There’s a difference.’ Harper loops her arm through mine as though it’s the most natural thing in the world. ‘But fine. I’ll tell you about me instead. When I was alive, I’d attend all these balls and high-society parties, and I loved them, don’t get me wrong, but after a while all the people were so . . . similar. Every person Mama introduced me to wanted to talk about the weather. And now I’m here, meeting new people every day and collecting all these stories I never would have heard before. I wouldn’t call that gossiping, would you?’ She shoots Henry a glare that’s got as much force as a feather. ‘It’s . . . good fun.’
I glance at Henry and Amelia in turn, waiting for them to tell her she’s clearly lost her mind. Instead, they stare at her with an unfathomable fondness.
‘You realise there are demons here, right? Nothing about this is fun.’
‘You learn how to avoid them eventually. Besides, they’re a small price to pay for everything else. I couldn’t look likethiswhen I was alive.’ She gestures at her hair.
This, at least, earns me some solidarity from Henry, who exchanges an incredulous glance with me before saying, ‘I’m not sure magic hair dye is going to win her over, Harp.’
‘Well, it’s notjustthe magic. Or the people. Have you found the art gallery yet? The library? Or what about Asphodel’s garden? It’s so beautiful. I can take you if you like.’
I’m hit with a familiar sense of longing, of desire for new things. I chew my lip. There’s no harm in a tour, I suppose. I can’t get out any sooner – the tasks will happen when they happen. I’m not wasting time, I’m merely filling it.
‘Okay,’ I say. ‘I’d like that.’
Harper beams, her smile warmer than the sun, but then she catches sight of something over my shoulder and her smile falls. Henry angles his body as though he can shield Amelia. A crawling sensation creeps up my back, the feeling of eyes on me, eyes that burn with loathing. I swallow before turning to face . . . Aric. Of course.
He lopes into the room, fully recovered after our confrontation, settling on a bench embedded into the rock that people usually use to store towels. He doesn’t speak, merely watches, red eyes fixated on me.
‘We should go,’ I murmur.
Harper nods, not moving. I don’t blame her. I’m rooted to the spot in the same way, not knowing what Aric will do when we climb out of the pool. Despite the heat of the cave, I’m cold all over.What if Sath failed to protect me, and Aric’s here for revenge?
Sath. I think his name over and over, as though he’s a magiclift.
‘You reek of him,’ Aric finally speaks. He cocks his head to one side. ‘One day, I will reek of you both.’ He eyes the other three. ‘Of all of you. Your blood will bathe my tongue, delicious and sweet.’
Nausea coils in my gut. ‘You’re a real charmer, you know that?’
Harper gasps. I wince, regretting the words the second they leave my lips. Aric’s here because of me, and if I don’t keep my mouth shut they could well be the ones to suffer the consequences. I fold my hands together in what I hope demonstrates contrition. I need to get everyone out of here before I do something inherently stupid.
The room trembles before I get the chance.
Dust shakes free from the ceiling. Henry lurches from the far wall right as a jet of lava punches a hole through it, spewing thick orange liquid into the springs. I pull my legs from the water, scrambling back as the lava bubbles and spits heat at my face. Stone grinds all around us. Rocks drop from above and are immediately swallowed whole, melting beneath the surface.
It stops almost as soon as it started, the room rumbling to a halt, like the world was spinning on its axis too quickly before righting itself. Mouth ajar, I pant for breath, but it’s only me acting surprised by this turn of events. Harper and the others merely look perturbed, whereas a quick glance at Aric tells me that, whatever just happened, he’s delighted about it.
Asphodel is changing.
This is the kind of thing Sath warned me about, a sign Asphodel is cracking at the seams.
Aric’s upper lip curls, revealing a glimmer of white fangs. ‘Not long now,’ he whispers. Directly to me, he adds, ‘When I tear them apart, I will let you watch.’
My fists clench. Sath must have the patience of a saint. Fiveminutes in Aric’s presence and I want to do more than set him on fire. My anger radiates off me hotter than the steam from the surface of the springs, and I’m on my feet before I can stop myself.
