Monster Whisperer - J.B. Trepagnier Page 0,49
stepped through the door and into the volcano.
Chapter 36
River
T
he stone swung shut behind me, and I was left in a dimly lit corridor with Cerberus. It smelled like cookies in here. Why did it smell like cookies in the middle of a volcano inhabited by someone who pretended to be a God? I had questions.
“Remember, River. He’s sensitive about his looks. They’ve been putting him down for years.”
“Duly noted.”
I heard a silky voice, but I couldn’t see anyone.
“Who dares enter my domain?”
I’ll say this for Hephaestus. His voice was sexy as fuck.
“My name is River. I’m here with Cerberus. I have a favor to ask.”
“Your kind usually do, though I’m curious why Hades let his beloved pet come with you and how you got through Demeter’s little guards.”
“Can we have this conversation face to face?”
“Are you prepared to meet such a monstrosity, little human? Legends have been written about the horrors of my face.”
“I’m okay with it. I really do need your help.”
Hephaestus finally stepped into the light, and I totally wasn’t prepared for what I saw.
“Okay, you are fucking gorgeous. You look like a supermodel.”
I had one job. Not to talk about what Hephaestus looked like, but he was so pretty. How did anyone in their right mind find him ugly? He was dressed only in leather trousers and soot. His black hair was loose and fell to his shoulders. His eyes were a startling shade of green, and both his face and body were perfectly sculpted.
Cerberus let out this little whine. Hephaestus tossed his hair over his shoulder.
“I’ve killed people for saying less, but I see the look in your eyes, little human. You look at me with pure lust.”
“Because you’re fucking pretty.”
Oh, god, I was doing it again. Thankfully, he laughed.
“I like you. What can I do for you? How did you manage to get Cerberus as an escort? He’s supposed to be guarding the gates of the Underworld.”
“Not since that bitch Demeter replaced me.”
“Demeter kind of took over.”
Hephaestus cocked a perfectly sculpted eyebrow at me. Did I mention this ugly God was the most gorgeous man I’d ever seen before?
“How did she manage that?”
“With the collars you made her.”
Hephaestus let out a little growl and pounced on me. He gripped my shoulders.
“Why are you really here? She told me she was rescuing Persephone and needed them. She wouldn’t allow you here if you were turning against her.”
I was so out of sorts. I had how I would play this in my head, but I got distracted by a hot guy. I hope that would not end up on my tombstone. Got killed by a Goddess because a hot God distracted her. I might as well be honest. I just got this feeling he would appreciate it.
“Before I say anything, how do you feel about monsters?”
“They have their purposes unless they act up. Since my people have mostly gone home and stopped creating them, they don’t need to be sent to the Underworld anymore.”
“How do you feel about monsters being forced to fight to the death in an arena while some people in the Underworld bet against them?”
“Why would any self-respecting monster do that? Most of them just want to be left alone.”
How to phrase this the best way possible that he didn’t kill me? I just blurted it out. There was something about him that made me want to speak the truth.
“Because of the collars you made. They keep them trapped in their monster form. Demeter has spread all these legends about how their magic is turned off, and she can explode their heads and shit.”
His green eyes raged. He ran his fingers through his hair.
“That’s ridiculous. I would never do that. She told me Persephone was being held against her will and told Demeter she wanted to go home. Demeter would break her out, but she needed something to fight against Hades’ monster army. I made the collars like she asked, but I knew it would be impossible to get them on. How did she do it?”
“By holding a knife to Persephone’s throat. She doesn’t actually want to go home. Persephone is quite happy in the Underworld. Demeter is holding her hostage.”
“Do you have any proof?”
“Can I trust you?”
“Sure. Can I trust you?”
“Ask me something only Cerberus would know?”
“Aren’t you just a curious little human? What did Cerberus do when I laid my little trap for Ares and Aphrodite, and Hades brought him along?”
I listened and fell out laughing.
“Cerberus bit Ares in the ass. I’ll