The Promise of Hades (The Hades Trials #3) - Eliza Raine Page 0,29

I twisted through the air, all other thought gone. It hit something hard and I willed it to coil around whatever it was. I jerked, and then I was swinging towards a tall pillar, my vine wrapped tight around the top, and bony fingers were closing around my ankle. I kicked at the skeleton as I looked down, my insides lurching again as a squelchy, rotten fist gripped my boot. I smashed into the pillar hard, the momentum of my fall enough to jolt the undead’s grip loose, and then I willed the vine to shorten, shooting me up to the top of the pillar and out of reach. I was panting hard when I got to the top, and I scrabbled up onto the rock, adrenaline making my muscles stronger.

Minthe screamed again, and the undead moaned louder in response. I needed to end this. But how, if Eurynomos was going to sever my vines? They were all I had. Maybe I could distract him.

'Where are you, Eurynomos? Why don't you show yourself?' I yelled. He chuckled in my mind.

'That is forbidden.'

'Are you too ugly to be seen then?' I eyed the next pillar and instead of sending my vines up to the ropes, I launched them from both hands at the top of it. It took more physical effort to climb the pillars like this than swinging from the ceiling, but at least the fingers couldn't get me. I pulled myself to the next pillar using the vines, and bashed my chin on it hard as I collided with the rock, my feet scrabbling for purchase. I dragged myself onto the top, scanning fast for the next one.

'You might call me ugly I suppose,' the demon said thoughtfully. I launched my vines at the next pillar. I reckoned I had another three or four to go, before I could reach the ceiling. I glanced up at Minthe, and saw that her eyes were squeezed shut. Now I was closer I could see the gaping wounds the fingers were leaving, burning through layers of skin. Bile burned in my chest. I had to get us both out. I jumped, trying to pull on the vines earlier so that I didn't hit the pillar so hard. It didn't work, and my shoulder took a pounding as I slammed into the next pillar.

'What do you think?' said Eurynomos' voice as I pulled myself up. I scowled through my panting.

'What do I think of what?'

'Am I ugly?'

Just as I straightened on top of the spindly pillar, he appeared, right in front of me.

My brain froze as I stumbled backwards in primal fright, and the only part of me to react to my feet slipping off the rock were my vines. They whipped towards the only thing to grab; Eurynomos.

His face twisted in delight as my vines made contact with his skin, and although my fall was halted, images so revolting I almost passed out flooded my mind. I could see him, on all fours, surrounded by corpses. His body was black and hairless, long and sinewy, and covered in sores that oozed dark red liquid that streaked his skin. Massive black eyes bulged in his elongated skull and his mouth was far too big, filled with razor-sharp, crooked teeth. The real demon, cackling before me, merged with the one in my vision, who was ripping flesh from bodies with his teeth like a rabid animal.

'You smell delicious,' he hissed, and I convulsed as I forced my vines to let go, to disintegrate. With another roar of laughter he vanished. 'Such a shame I'm not allowed to touch you until you fail to save the other one,' he said, his voice mockingly sad. I was taking deep breaths, trying desperately not to throw up or pass out, my knees weak beneath me on the pillar.

'Get the fuck on with it, flower girl!' yelled Minthe. Anger surged through me at her words.

'I'm nearly killing myself to save you, you ungrateful asshole!' I yelled back. Weirdly the words brought strength though, and I realized my anger was pushing through the disgust and fear. My shaking lessened and I looked up.

I had to try something else.

I pulled Faesforos from my thigh and launched a vine at the ropes above me, near to Minthe's head. It curled around the rope and with a thought, the vine began to shorten, pulling me towards the ceiling fast. I knew I only had seconds before the fingers severed my vine, but