Page 65 of Gambling with Time

“We’ll find something, Alastor.”

Placing a kiss on the top of her head, I nodded. We had to; our world hung in the balance, and I didn’t mean the Underworld or Earth. Our tiny family depended on the outcome of stopping Osiris. It was possibly why frustration had flowers blooming in the potted plants around the apartment.

“I think I found something,” Lex said. He looked up, focusing on us before glancing at Bellamy and Rai. “Here it says, ‘Enter the shadows as the sun sets. The waters will be calm as you sail into the darkness. Find the spot the water meets.’ It talks about how Ra the Sun God travels into the Underworld as the sun sets on a magic lake that changes colors.”

“You mean ‘Magic Lake’?” Samantha pulled away from me, excitement lighting up her face.

“It says, a magic lake,” Lex said, running his finger over the words.

“In Egypt, there is a lake that is actually called Magic Lake. It changes colors, and that is how they named it. We went there when I was a kid.”

“Do you have pictures?” Bellamy asked. He closed the book he was reading and tilted his head to watch her.

She shrugged. “Somewhere I’m sure. Maybe the internet would have some good ones?”

“Any with mirrors in the background? We could even use the water. But that might put us in a bad situation if we aim for the wrong part, and water is always moving, so maybe not.” His tail slapped the base of the couch as he waited for her answer.

A laugh popped from her lips. “I’m sure I was not focused on any mirrors while we were there. If we can’t find any online or in our old photos, we can call Brook. She has said she has portal rooms all over the world. Maybe there is one that goes to Egypt in the area we need. Fae travel is as fast as your mirror travel if not a little disorientating at first.”

“You guys are missing a key fact,” Rai said. “We don’t have a boat even if we make it there.”

“I’m sure a demon, God, Demi-god, and dragon can figure that issue out, don’t you think?” Bellamy asked.

He pressed his lips together in a thin line. Obviously stealing a boat wasn’t at the top of the dragon’s list of things he wanted to do. Which was honestly interesting since I’ve seen his pile of treasure.

“We can rent a boat,” I suggested.

“If it is shiny enough, our dragon will just steal it,” Bellamy quipped.

“That isn’t how that works,” Rai replied. He leaned back into the sofa, his arms crossed as he shot an annoyed look at Bell. “And to think, I defended you earlier.”

Bellamy laughed loudly, his head thrown back, and a smile tugged at Raiden’s lips.

“I think renting a boat is the best solution,” Samantha said. “I’ll contact the pixie that can get a message to Brook.”

When she pulled away from me and disappeared into the bedroom to change I assumed, I went back into the living room and sank into the armchair. Time went from slow motion, we will never find a solution, to super fast, we will be in the Egyptian Underworld before the next sunset.

“It says something else here,” Lex said. His mouth moved silently before he looked up at us. He swallowed hard before he continued. “It says that we have to time it right, or we will be stuck in the in-between where the lost souls are.”

“So we will be gambling with time, again.” I sighed. The pressure tightened my chest with anxiety.

CHAPTER 37

Samatha

The night air was cool on my skin; fall was in full effect, and winter was on its way. The satisfying crunch of the leaves beneath our feet was the only sound that joined us. Rai had insisted on coming with me.

We entered the forest on the normal trail, but I quickly followed the Fae signs to the old Oak tree that grew off the path. Green clovers lined the ground, making their own route to the tree. A few moss circles indicated fairy traps along the way. Created to stop humans that shouldn’t be approaching the old tree.

There was a perfectly round hole in the side of the tree, about chest high. My fingers curled around the ribbon I had stopped to buy from the store before we headed this way. Pixies were notorious for not helping unless they were bribed.

I knocked next to the hole and waited. Rai shifted on his feet and glanced around the area, alert for any danger that might be nearby.

I could hear the fluttering of the pixie's wings before she came out of the tree. The tiny creature scowled at me, an equally tiny dagger held in her fist.

“What do you want?”

“I brought a gift,” I said, tugging the roll of ribbon from my pocket. “But I need a message taken to the Queen.”

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