Page 241 of Bonds of Hercules
Torchlight burned low, shadows dancing across the blood-streaked empty bed. “Augustus … Kharon?” I called out, searching the darkness.
No one answered.
Fluffy Jr. whined as he stumbled to his feet. He was alone on the floor. Poco and the hellhounds were also missing.
They wouldn’t abandon me … not now. Not right before my labors. Not on the most important day of my life.
“Let’s go!” a guard yelled outside.
Something is very wrong.
Heart racing, I stumbled on strangely sore legs into the bathroom and threw icy water onto my face. Monochrome eyes stared back at me, full of panic.
“HURRY UP!”
I hastily braided my hair down my back. Curls escaped around my face, and I patted them down with desperation.
A guard screamed, “One minute—and we’re coming in!”
I shoved my feet into my boots, fingers slipping as I tied the laces.
The door creaked as it started to open.
I stood up, ready to go—
My eyes widened and I turned frantically. I grabbed my lucky calculator off the bed and tucked it into my toga pocket as I yelled, “Nyx!”
A sleepy hiss sounded from the pillows. Diving across the bed, I slapped until I felt warm scales.
“No—sleeeep,” Nyx complained, as I yanked her up and wound her around my neck, heart in my throat at the realization that I’d almost forgotten her.
BANG.
The door slammed open and light streamed in.
A dozen guards waited. Titus and Alessander stood toward the back of the group. They made eye contact and opened their mouths like they were going to say something—whatever they saw on my face made them stop.
“MOVE.” An older guard stepped in and pointed a sparking baton out into the hall.
I didn’t need to be told twice.
Fluffy Jr. barked as he ran out of the room.
“No, stay back. It’s not—” My jaw dropped. “Jesus Christ.”
The guards staggered out of his way.
Fluffy Jr. had seemingly undergone another growth spurt. His head was now at my chest, his body monstrously proportioned.
His back was still grossly distended, and he was innoshape to fight.
“Move!” A guard shoved me and Fluffy Jr. growled.
Boots pounded against stone, the guards stomping in synchrony in front and behind as they led us through the labyrinth.
Nyx slithered slowly around my shoulders.
We turned right down an unfamiliar cavern—it opened into a room with copper torches hanging from walls that were covered in silver.
