Page 103 of Lucifer's Redemption

Candles lit the beautiful interior as Luci sat down and shut the door. “Are you ready?” I nodded excitedly, sitting close to the window so I could peer out.

No coachman steered the horses. They took off on their own accord, trotting ahead only to be gently lifted off the ground. Loki had a book in his hand but quickly shut it to look out the window with me. “I wish we could take the carriage more often,” he mused. “They only just opened all the portals within the last twenty-five years. This used to be the only way to travel.”

“Why did they change it?” I watched the palace fall further and further away. The red clouds now covered it in a beautiful, velvet blanket. “Because when Mom came along, she still wanted to see her parents and pack regularly. Hecate, Hades, and some witches helped make the portals. It took a lot of power, but it was a quicker way to travel. Poseidon never wanted a portal though, I don’t think he likes surprises.” Loki sat back on the opposite side of the carriage, laying down to open his book.

Stronger gods could will themselves between Earth and Bergarian quite easily but when it came to traveling between god-like worlds such as the Underworld, Celestial Kingdom, and Poseidon’s Kingdom, special traveling with magic was required.

“Why would he not like surprises?” Luci rubbed his chin, looking at the now blackened sky. No one could tell if we were going up or down. We were floating in nothingness. The air chilled, but we could not feel the wind as the horses flew faster into the abyss.

“He stays to himself,” Luci shrugged his shoulders. “Most of the stories that humans make up are false. He just doesn’t correct them. He lets them think what they want, hell even the gods make up stories. It’s a rare occasion for him to even surface from the ocean, unless he is called by Zeus, and that never happens.” Luci’s arm wrapped around me as the chill hit my arms.

The horses’ pants, which were once barely noticeable. heightened as blue-green light surrounded the carriage. The darkness faded and the colors now became much more vibrant. Still, there was nothing to see until I leaned my head slightly out the window. Luci had his arm securely around my waist, mumbling about something or other, but the itch to investigate was too strong.

My hands gripped the side, my once loosely-braided hair now losing all the pins and bands that kept it together. Luci wrapped his hand around my hair, gently pulling me back. “Bunny, it isn’t safe.” He pulled me in, but my eyes never left the bright lights.

Bubbles swirled around the carriage, similar to Luci’s tornado of smoke and fire, but this was much more cheerful. I laughed as bubbles flew around us and into the carriage, poking them to hear a glorious ‘pop’. Loki shook his head, laughing at my silliness.

The world around us ceased the bubble tornado and spat us out at the top of a gigantic globe. The carriage jarred until our horses neighed, following the sphere’s edge that held this magical underwater palace.

My eyes gazed at the beautiful structure made of coral, rock, stone, and shells. It didn’t compare to anything I had ever seen with beautiful, enormous pearls that sat atop each tower. Large, opened windows with no glass held servants leaning across the edge, watching as we descended.

Wildlife outside the sphere watched as our carriage finally landed at the large roundabout with a colossal stone statue of a buff, muscular man holding a trident. He was posed throwing it at an imaginary beast. His beard was long and curled, and the lower half of his body was that of a fish.

“Holy moly,” I whispered. Hades huffed as I stared at the big statue. “That’s enormous.”

Luci leaned over, brushing my ear with his lips. “I can tell you what else is enormous,” he chuckled darkly.

Squeezing my legs together, I thought, ‘it wasa terrible idea to wear a skirt.’

Two footmen trotted to the carriage. Their bodies were littered with scales, with gills under their ears that continued to flutter back and forth like they were breathing. Their yellow eyes peered into the carriage, assessing who had arrived. Their eyes weren’t round like mine but cut into slits. Their hair stood on end like they were underwater, waving with the motion of the flowing current.

“Mother said that the creatures he created need water. Poseidon has created an atmosphere where those with both lungs and gills can live together.

Muttering, “wow,” I took Luci’s hand to exit the carriage, my mind running a mile a minute.

I couldn’t wait to figure out how he could do that.

Stepping out, I noticed the footman had fins on his forearms, his calves, and one on his back. His nostrils flared at me and the smile he gave exposed row after row of sharpened fangs. Gripping Luci’s arm, he chuckled, pulling me close.

“Your Highnesses,” a half-man, half-octopus approached us. From the waist down, his tentacles slithered along the smooth stoned path. Each time he moved, small suction cups grabbed and released at the same time. His top half was bare, wearing only a necklace made of seashells. I gulped, grabbing the necklace that Luci had given to me, now using it to distract me from my uneasiness.

“Poseidon is expecting you. My name is Silas, I am the head butler. If there is anything you need, I will be happy to assist you.” Silas bowed, but I didn’t release Luci’s arm.

“Thank you, we wish to see him now,” Luci’s voice came out demandingly. Fresh eyes laid on me as I scooted further and further behind Luci’s back. Other servants neared, their yellow eyes filled with curiosity.

Loki yelled unintelligible words while his eyes turned red, and his back straightened. When he yelled, he sounded like a bird cawing. Luci and I stared at him, confused by what was happening. “Excuse me, I don’t know what came over me.” Loki’s suave attitude flushed with embarrassment quickly as I held out my hand to hold his.

“It’s okay,” I whispered.

Loki, taking my hand, breathed a sigh of relief.

What was that?

“I’m sorry, we don’t get many visitors. This would be the first time in thousands of years. We aren’t used to seeing such different-looking creatures.”

I snorted.They were the weird-looking ones.

Chapter 43

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