Captured (Shadow Guild Hades & Persephone #3) - Linsey Hall Page 0,50

of torture in Tartarus for my sake. Does that seem like the kind of guy who still wants the crown?”

He might still want the crown, but I didn’t know that. It didn’t matter, in any event. I’d do whatever it took to make sure he chose the light. We were so close.

“All right. Be it on your head if he turns out to be a bastard still.”

“Fine. That’s fine. Just help me.”

Poseidon pressed his fingertips to a design on the silver gauntlet he wore on his wrist. A moment later, the air shimmered and Zeus appeared. His magical signature was immense, thunder rolling over me in a crushing wave. I stiffened, managing to keep my footing, and looked at him. As usual, he was dressed in an impeccable three-piece suit, his short hair immaculate, and his eyes cold.

Zeus had clearly adapted to modern life. He probably worked on Wall Street or in the Financial District, controlling fortunes. How boring.

Zeus’s eyes moved immediately to Poseidon. “What is it? I’ve had my hands full protecting my assets.”

Yep. Boring.

“We need to rescue Hades from Tartarus.”

Zeus’s eyebrows climbed halfway up his forehead. “You have got to be kidding me.”

“Nope.” Poseidon grinned and explained the situation to Zeus.

“He really did that?” Zeus asked. “Went to Tartarus for her?”

Poseidon nodded.

Zeus looked at me. “I wondered about you. It seems I was correct.”

“What does that mean?”

He ignored the question. “If we rescue Hades, together you can stop Chronos and turn this around? Unfreeze the world and save everyone who’s been frozen?”

“With none of them the wiser, according to the Oracle at Kamarina. The ice will have frozen their memories. When the humans awake once more, they won’t remember what happened. Life will go back to normal.”

“Does Hades still want the crown for himself?”

I don’t know. Lachesis had said it was possible.

I shook my head, willing to lie through my teeth to get their help. “No. He doesn’t.”

“You’d better be right,” Zeus said.

“I am. Do either of you know how to get to Tartarus?” I turned to Lucifer, who had waited silently at the side. “Did you see him go in?”

“He went through the chamber at the base of his castle. The pit goes there.”

“But it likely leads to a part of Tartarus that is well guarded,” Zeus said. “We need to be more subtle. We need a side way in. A way that won’t alert anyone to our presence.”

Poseidon looked at me. “You’re the one who helped Chronos escape. Clearly, you have a way in. Can you repeat that?”

Shit. Was I supposed to open another crack in the earth?

Since I couldn't think of another way, I nodded. “Okay. If we go to Cyprus, I can try to open a passage to Tartarus.” I frowned. “Is that even possible? It was a mistake the first time. I didn’t mean to do it.”

Zeus nodded. “If you can go deep enough, you’ll trigger a portal to Tartarus.”

Just like in the pit at Hades’ castle. “So any deep hole in the earth can trigger a portal to Tartarus?”

“Only if it’s created by magic. And with intention,” Zeus said.

Lucifer stepped forward. “How can I help?”

“Only a god or a Titan will survive a journey to Tartarus,” Poseidon said.

I turned to Lucifer. “Keep control of the Underworld while we’re gone.”

He nodded, then mounted his horse. “I can do that. Good luck, Seraphia. Bring him home.”

“I will.”

Lucifer nodded and galloped off, Sally following in his wake. I turned back to Poseidon and Zeus. “Can you get us to the northwestern end of Cyprus?”

“I can.” Zeus waved a hand, and a portal appeared.

“Let me go first, in case it’s frozen,” I said. “My magic can protect me from the ice.” Temporarily, at least.

They nodded, and I stepped through the portal, letting the ether suck me in and carry me to my destination. My head was whirling when it spat me out in the middle of the island I’d once called home.

Impossibly, it was even colder here.

Chronos.

His ice had already spread this far. I could feel it freezing my insides. Frantic, I called upon my power. It had helped me save Cordelia. It would help me here.

My magic was life, and his was death. I could fight that.

Slowly, my bones warmed.

I knelt down and touched the ice at my feet, feeding my magic into it. The cold retreated, and the ice withdrew to the horizon. I stopped, panting.

It had been easier than when I’d healed Cordelia. Unbinding my magic had been well worth it. A few