Lord of Rain (The Dragon Demigods #5) - Charlene Hartnady Page 0,107
choice. I need to see her. I need to know for sure.”
“Know what?” He looks at me like I’ve gone mad.
“How I feel when I look at her. I need to know if I’m still in love with her. If I’m confusing my feelings, because dammit, Night, I don’t think I am,” I growl. There is a tiny fissure of fear inside me, but I have to do this. I love Ash! I know I do! “I have to prove it, and I’ll die if I have to, to do it.”
“You’re crazy!”
“I’m crazy in love. With Ash! Fuck!”
“Shhhhh.” He puts a finger to his lips, and his eyes have gone wide.
“Sorry,” I mutter, “The way I see it, there are only two options. Save the city from certain flooding or let me go to the Underworld. I’ll find a way back. Mortals have managed it, if some of the stories are to be believed.”
“You are a mortal, asshole!” Night growls. “A hard-to-kill mortal, a mortal with a long lifespan, but still a mortal.”
“I’m doing this, with or without your help. I’ll find some other way.”
“Not a fuck!” Night shakes his head. “It’s too dangerous.”
“Help me!”
“Fine,” he pushes out. Then he disappears, leaving the scent of ozone in his wake.
After five minutes, I get up and start pacing. A few minutes after that, they both return. “I don’t like it,” Death says.
I’m shocked all over again at how alike the two of them are. One is as dark as the other is light. They both have the same solemn expression.
“I need to do this. I’m in love with Ashley,” I say it like it is.
“Go and tell her that,” Death says, deadpan.
“I can’t. I need to prove it.”
“What is it with you guys and women?” He puts up his hand. “Remind me never to fall in love. It turns your brains into Swiss cheese.”
“It wouldn’t just be for Ashley. I’m doing this for myself as well.” I need to know, one way or the other. “I have to do this. I’m determined.”
“Try to get in and out quickly,” Night says to Death, who makes a grunting noise. “It might be better if you try not to let Hades find out about this.”
Death doesn’t say anything right away. Then he turns to me. “I can’t guarantee you’ll make it out. You could be stuck there, and it isn’t a fun place to be stuck in for eternity. Oh, and eternity is a damn long time.”
“I’ll make it out.” I’m determined.
“Let’s go, then.” He grabs my arm. Immediately, I’m sucked in, and it’s like a wild roller-coaster with flashing lights and swirling colors. My stomach rolls. It clenches and churns. When we’re spat out on the other side – because that’s how it feels – I’m reeling. I fall into a heap on the ground. My head is spinning. My stomach is churning. It feels like I’m moving, even though everything is still now. Like my limbs are made from lead.
It takes a minute or two before I start to come to my senses. I realize that Death is waiting for me. He’s tapping his foot. “Night was right. We need to try to get in and out without my father seeing you. Also, the longer we’re here, the harder it’s going to be to get you back out. Then lastly, I’m going to be called soon to collect a soul. I can feel it.”
“Wow! This is nice,” I say. There’s a sprawling mansion in front of us, and rolling green fields as far as the eye can see. A herd of horses is grazing in front of a shimmering lake. “I thought the Underworld was a disgusting place.”
“It is,” Death says. “This is where Hades lives. Let’s walk and talk,” he says, going down the long driveway. There are several sports cars outside the entrance, where large double doors are standing open.
“Um…why are we going towards Hades’s house?”
“Your harpy is my dad’s new wife. He doesn’t let her out of his sight for very long.” We stop walking long before we get to the house.
“What?” I choke out.
“Stay here,” he whispers, shoving me behind a rocky outcrop. “I’m going to see if Daddy Dearest is home. Hopefully, he’s busy and won’t know we’re here. Don’t move!”
I nod once. I watch as he stalks off. Then he disappears. I don’t have to wait very long. A minute or two. He sighs. “My dad is home, and he’s with her. We need to wait.