Captured (Shadow Guild Hades & Persephone #3) - Linsey Hall Page 0,49
his sacrifice broke that curse.”
“But he’s still there.”
“Of course. He is trapped. That was the sacrifice he made.”
Hope fluttered in my chest. “But if I can get him out of there, then he won’t be dragged back ever again?”
“That is true. The curse that has plagued him these many millennia is broken, so if you can rescue him, then it will no longer haunt him.”
“I can do that.”
Her eyebrows shot upward. “Really?”
“Really.” I staggered upright, pressing my cut wrists against my stomach to try to staunch the bleeding. “I’ll stop at nothing.”
“I can see that.” She nodded. “Are you sure you want to free him? It is possible he will still want the crown. He may think it’s the only way to defeat Chronos.”
“I’ll face that possibility when it comes. We’re fated to do this together. I feel it. And I can’t leave him there.”
She nodded. “You are quite impressive, Persephone. But you will need help.”
I would. But I couldn't ask my friends. Even if they could go to Tartarus, I couldn't risk them being trapped there. “I have Poseidon’s coin.”
She nodded. “That will help. Describe your vision to him, and he will know how to reach Hades. Ask him to bring Zeus. You will need them both.”
“Thank you.”
She disappeared, and the tree limbs retreated. I staggered away. A few sprigs of grass struggled through the snow. I went to my knees and pressed my hand to the green blades, drawing strength from the plants to regenerate my lost blood. My mind cleared as my body healed, and I looked up at Lucifer. “I know what we need to do.”
17
Seraphia
Lucifer stared at me as I reached into my pocket. My hands were stiff and numb with cold, but I managed to pull the coin out.
“That’s no normal coin,” he said. “What is it?”
“Poseidon gave it to me. Apparently, it will call him to me if I need him.”
Lucifer’s eyebrows rose. “Last I checked, he and Hades didn’t get along.”
“That was the old Hades. And I’m fresh out of options.” I drew a bracing breath, then chucked the coin to the ground. “Poseidon? Are you there?”
A poof of golden mist exploded from the coin, followed by a fizz of magic in the air. A few moments later, Poseidon appeared in front of me, dressed in the same silver armor I’d seen him in before. His fair hair was swept back from his forehead in an austere style, and his blue eyes drilled into me.
But it was his magic that struck me. The feel of cold water chilled me even further, and the deafening sound of crashing waves nearly knocked me on my arse.
“Persephone.” His voice rumbled low.
“My name is Seraphia.”
He inclined his head. “Seraphia. Why have you called me?”
“Hades has been taken to Tartarus. I need your help getting him back.”
He frowned. “Why would I do that? It is the natural order of things.”
“But it’s not!” I cried. “It’s not fair that Hades always gets the shit end of the stick when it comes to getting dragged to Tartarus. You never do!”
His frown deepened. “I don’t know what you mean.”
“Yes, you do. You just don’t like it. And it isn’t part of the normal course of things that he’s in Tartarus. This time, he went in my place.”
Poseidon’s eyebrows rose. “Really?”
“Really. He was trying to save me, and now he’s cursed to eternity down there.”
“Then he really has changed.”
“He has. And you have to help me.”
“This is problematic.” He looked around. “Who is ruling the Underworld in his absence?”
Me.
But I didn’t say it. Better for Poseidon to think we needed Hades to keep control of the Underworld. And we did. I might be the highest-ranked person here, but that was temporary, and I wasn’t about to volunteer to run things on a part-time basis.
“We need him back,” I said. “Not just to rule the Underworld, but to help defeat Chronos. We are fated to do it together.”
“Yes, that is a problem. It’s taken all I have to keep Chronos from freezing the sea, and it’s become irritating.”
“Then help me get Hades back so that we can send Chronos packing.” I wanted to shake the stubborn god. “I know you call him your brother. It’s what a good brother would do.”
A bitter laugh escaped Poseidon. “A good brother?”
“Yeah. Try it on for size.”
He frowned. “All right. But we’ll need Zeus.”
“Fine. Can you call him?”
“I can.” He hesitated. “Does Hades still want to wear the Crown of Destiny?”
“He’s consigned himself to an eternity