I didn’t have time to linger, but I wanted to.
I’ll come back.
There. That was a compromise.
I forced myself to bathe efficiently, limiting myself to only two laps of the gorgeous pool.
Clean, I rose up, shivering as the chill air replaced the warmth. As quickly as I could, I dried myself off and changed into clean clothes. The room echoed hollowly as I moved, feeling distinctly empty without Hades’ commanding presence.
Echo fluttered through the window and sat on top of the fruit basket, watching me with keen eyes. Though the room didn’t feel quite as empty now, he was no substitute for Hades.
Fully dressed, I looked at Echo, my mind spinning. “Well, what now?”
He said nothing. In the forest, I thought he’d called my name. Maybe he didn’t talk.
That didn’t mean I couldn’t talk to him.
“Hades has gone somewhere unknown,” I said. “So I think this is my best shot at getting a pomegranate to Eve in Guild City.”
Echo nodded, but skepticism glinted in his eyes.
“You’re worried about Hades going back on the bargain, aren’t you?” He’d said I could go back, but… “I agree. He’s not trustworthy. Can you get me the pomegranate seeds I gave you, then sneak me through the city? Take the back roads to the library?”
Echo nodded, then launched himself off the fruit bowl and swooped out of the room. As I waited for him to return with the seeds, I paced Hades’ room, inspecting the bookshelves. The topics ranged from strategy to war to history. Not a single novel in sight.
He didn’t enjoy anything, did he?
Didn’t know how.
I shook the thought away. I shouldn’t care.
Echo returned and dropped the small pouch in my hand. I closed my fist around the juice-stained fabric. “Thanks.”
He fluttered around and left the room, squeaking to call me along.
I followed him through the castle, careful to stick to the shadows. I wasn’t going to let anyone stop me, but I’d rather not deal with the confrontation.
We were lucky. Or maybe it was Echo. I got the impression he had a second sense for avoiding people, and we made it into the back garden without incident.
The sight of the place shocked me anew, the vines growing wild and free. And dark. The magic that radiated from them was distinctly evil.
And they’re part of me.
The horror of it made me want to vomit.
Instead, I tried to stiffen my spine. I was fighting the darkness—that drive toward power and greed and selfishness. There was just something about power that made one want to use it for thier own gain.
Not me. I’d keep fighting it until my dying breath.
And I’d be victorious.
“You look like you’re giving a graduation speech,” a droll voice sounded from behind me. “So purposeful and determined.”
I gasped, turning to find Lucifer leaning against the castle wall. The golden fallen angel was dressed all in black, his clothes looking like they’d cost a thousand quid, but the shadows under his eyes made him look like hell.
“What are you doing?” I demanded.
He raised a brow. “Knitting?”
I scowled. “At least make up something believable.”
He shrugged, looking me up and down. “Where are you going?”
“None of your business.”
“In fact, it is.”
“Are you still on guard dog duty, or something?”
“Or something.” He pushed himself off the wall to join me. “Well, where is it we’re headed?”
“Guild City.” I firmed my jaw. “And you can’t stop me. Hades agreed.”
He nodded, hands shoved in his pockets. He looked relaxed and dissolute, like a playboy after a long night out. But where did one go out in a place like hell?
“Were you watching the apothecary’s cottage all night?” I demanded.
“No.” His eyes flashed.
“Uh-huh. Sure.”
“Whatever. Take me to your city of guilds.”
“Guild City.” I started toward the town. “Come on.”
He followed, his long stride unhurried. I couldn’t believe he was allowing me to do this, but then, it seemed Hades was capable of keeping his word. As long as he had his guard dog at my side.
Echo continued to follow my directions, leading us on a quiet route through the back of town. Lucifer looked like he was about to complain, then shut his mouth, obviously thinking better of it.
We moved down lonely cobblestone streets and passed the darkened windows of houses that might or might not be abandoned. When we reached the library, I spotted the night wolves sitting at the base of the stairs. There were nearly a dozen of them, each powerfully built with gleaming gray and black fur. Their eyes glinted with intelligence as they stared at us.
“Children of Cerberus.” Wariness echoed in Lucifer’s voice.
“You don’t like dogs?” I frowned at him.
“’Course I like dogs. Do I look like a monster to you?”
“A pretty one, yes.”
He shrugged. “Fair enough.” He pointed to the dogs. “But they are not dogs. They are creatures of mayhem and chaos.”
He wasn’t wrong about that. The sight of the huge animals sent a shiver through me. But I’d need to get past them to reach the library, so I walked slowly toward them and held my hand out flat so they could sniff me. They watched me warily.
“Hey, puppies,” I said.
“Puppies?” Lucifer muttered. “Off your rocker, you are.”
I shot him a glare, then looked back at the night wolves and continued to talk to them in a baby voice.
“You sound ridiculous, you know,” Lucifer said.
“Yeah, yeah.” Skin chilled, I knelt in front of the leader, reaching my hand out farther. I tried to use my magic the way I had before, when I’d first escaped the underworld and compelled the dogs not to attack me. I’d appealed to the light in their souls, my magic somehow connecting with theirs, and it had worked.
The massive wolf growled low, then leaned forward and sniffed my palm. He stopped growling and sat back, watching me warily. It wasn’t as good as a lolling tongue and a doggier smile, but I’d take it.
“Thanks, pal.” I straightened, then gestured to the stairs. “May I?”
The beast didn’t move, and I took it as a yes. Quickly, I strode up the stairs. Lucifer followed, and we stopped in front of the door.
“You have a key?” Lucifer asked.
“Yep. Never let it out of my sight. Did he change the lock?”
“Not that I know of.”
“Good.” I dug into my pocket and removed it, then slipped it into the lock and turned it. As the lock snicked, I couldn’t help but wonder where Hades was. I expected him to swoop out of the sky and stop me.
He didn’t, though, and soon we were inside.
Thank fates for that.
The dark library welcomed us in, our footsteps echoing off the soaring ceiling. It sounded almost as if the library were greeting us, and the brilliant emerald and amethyst spiders all paused in their weaving to look at us.
“Hey, guys,” I said.
They said nothing, of course, but returned to tending their diamond webs.
“Are you friends with all the creatures?” Lucifer asked.