the far side of the sea, and I commanded the weeds to create another ladder to the top. We scrambled up. Poseidon motioned, and the water collapsed, rushing to fill the space we’d crossed. Within the depths, the monsters thrashed with annoyance.
I spun and raced away from the lake, pulled by my connection to Hades. The air had grown impossibly hot and thick, like I was breathing soup. Wind blasted the tunnel, making my eyes burn.
The tunnel ended, spitting us into a cavern of flames and rock. Outcroppings of boulders were scattered throughout the large chamber, flames licking at them.
With mingled horror and relief, I recognized the room from my vision. It was worse than I’d imagined, but we were close. Frantic, I searched for Hades and spotted him across the cavern. He’d been bound by thick chains to a rock. Flames kissed his skin, and a scream of despair fought its way up my throat. I clamped my lips shut and raced for him, dodging the blasts of flame that shot out from the piles of rock.
I was halfway across the chamber when something caught me in a hot, invisible grasp. I stopped, immobilized, my muscles and bones turning to stone. Next to me, Poseidon and Zeus were frozen as well.
Draining weakness and misery held me in an unrelenting grip. Every inch of me was agony. Panic seared my soul. We must have tripped some kind of spell. I was so close to Hades. So close…
I reached out for him but could not move.
“What is this magic?” Poseidon ground out.
“Death.” Zeus’ voice was barely a whisper.
Death.
Tartarus was full of incredible, unimaginable horrors.
But I could fight death. I’d saved Cordelia. I could heal. And I was stronger now that my magic wasn’t bound. I could do this.
I closed my eyes, fighting the pain, and focused. Magic seeped into my soul like a dark mist. I fought it, driving it back with the light inside me.
“You’re glowing,” Poseidon said. “Don’t stop.”
I forced the darkness back and felt my frozen limbs thaw. Beside me, Poseidon went to his knees, my magic releasing him from the curse as well. Zeus followed, finally freed.
Gasping, I turned and lunged toward Hades, alert for more invisible threats. I reached him, and my heart clenched. His skin was blistered and burned where the chains didn’t cut into him. His head lolled back on his neck, and his eyes were closed. Unconscious.
Thank fates for small mercies.
18
Hades
Consciousness came and went as the flames burned my skin. At one point, I thought I smelled Seraphia. Her floral scent was a welcome reminder, and I drew it deeply into my lungs, trying to bring her face to mind.
The pain had stolen most of my rational thought, and it was harder than it should have been to picture her. Despair welled within me.
Soft hands stroked my face, and I leaned into them. It was a hallucination, but I didn’t care. Anything to feel like Seraphia was here with me.
Then the molten chains were torn away, and I jerked, my eyes opening as I fell. Strong arms caught me.
A man’s arms.
The feeling was so foreign that it shocked me into consciousness.
Zeus’s face swam into focus as he lowered me to the ground.
“Zeus?” My voice was gravelly and rough with exhaustion and pain.
“The one and only. Poseidon is here, too.” His words washed over me, but I stopped caring. I’d caught sight of Seraphia. She leaned over me, running her hands gently over my chest.
She was so beautiful. She looked like the sun, a brilliant beacon of hope. She was here.
Fear lanced me. “Leave. You must leave.”
“Not without you.” Her brow creased, and I felt her magic flare.
“No, you cannot be caught here.”
“We’re rescuing you, and that’s that.” Her palms pressed to my chest, and I felt the pain drift way.
She was healing me.
This was far too good to be true, but she was in danger.
“Go,” I croaked.
“Nope.” She pressed her lips to mine as she fed her healing magic into me. The feeling made my head spin. Joy exploded within me.
In moments, the worst of the pain was gone. My strength returned. She lifted her head to stare down at me. “Can you get up?”
“Yes,” I said, surging to my feet.
Zeus and Poseidon stood nearby, clad in armor.
“Thank you for coming.” My gaze moved to Seraphia, and fear filled me once more. I had to get her out of here. “We must leave. Now.”
She nodded. “You’re mostly naked, though.”
She was right. My clothes