33. Chapter Thirty-Three

Chapter Thirty-Three

Lexia

Things aren't much better between everyone in the morning, but at least we all agree that we need to leave. Everything is packed when I finish eating breakfast.

I'm in the bedroom changing when there is a soft knock on the door. It opens, and in walks Lumen.

"Hey," he says softly.

"Hi."

"I have something for you."

I shove my shirt on and face him. "Is it a one-way ticket to a universe that doesn't need me?"

He huffs out a laugh. "No, it's not."

Lumen steps closer, holding out his hand. In his palm, is a cheap cell phone.

"What's this?"

"You'd mentioned feeling bad for not letting that Bradyn guy know you were okay. I thought you'd want to call him before we leave today. You know, since we don't know what'll happen after."

My eyes fall closed as a wave of emotion rolls over me.

"Thank you, Lumen." I take the phone.

He gives me a sad smile, then leaves the room. I stare at the phone in my hand for a long time, knowing I should call Bradyn but not sure I can. I sit on the bed, and after going back and forth with what to do, I decide a text is all he can get.

There is no way I'm in the right headspace to talk to him right now. He'll ask too many questions, and it'll frazzle me. I can't be frazzled before going to the Underworld. I just can't.

The phone is already on, so I open up a new text thread and type in Bradyn's number, grateful I remembered it. After typing and deleting the message so many times, I finally hit send.

Hey, it's Lexia. I'm sorry it took so long to reach out. Things have been crazy. I wanted to let you know that I'm doing great. Promise to call soon.

I make sure the text sends, then power the phone off and shove it into the nightstand drawer. There is no time to go back and forth with him now, and knowing him, he'll call. I'll check the phone when I get back. Because I do plan on coming back. I will make it out of this.

Between Slate and Lumen, neither Ves nor I have to wait to pop into Vegas. Lumen takes Vesperon while I go with Slate. Vesperon didn't seem happy about it, likely thinking Slate would kidnap me, but I was firm on this. Vesperon needs to learn that Slate can be trusted.

We walk up the trail the same way we did last time and find the wall we need to get inside. The only difference is this time our journey is done more confidently as we've been here before and know what to expect.

The walk through the tunnel takes forever, just like it did last time. No one says a word through most of it, until the silence starts driving me insane, and I ask Slate about my father.

"I can't say what they did with him, Lexia. I am so sorry," Slate explains.

"Do you have any way of finding out?"

"When this is through, I can go back to my realm and check on him. But even if he died, you know he will come back, right?"

"Yeah, but when? How long will I have to wait?"

He gives a small shrug of his shoulder. "I'm sorry, I don't know."

That conversation only made me feel worse than the silence, so I don't ask anything else.

We make our way through the tunnel without an issue. The cavern looks exactly the same as it did last time, and when we push through the door, I expect to see a cathedral—like the last time—only it's much different. Now it's one long and dark hallway. Squinting, I swear I can see a door at the very end, but I can't be sure that's what it is.

"Judging by the look on your face, this wasn't here last time?" Slate says.

"No," I answer.

"Hades likes to mess with people's heads," he adds.

"So I've noticed," I mutter.

We step into the hall and keep walking. I glance over my shoulder, expecting to see the atrium like last time, only it's still the door to the cavern that we came in from. So we keep moving forward.

"Is it just me, or does it seem to get further away the closer we get?" Lumen asks, scratching his head.

"Seems that way," Slate answers. "We'll be allowed to get to him when he wants us to."

"You mean he knows we're here?" I ask.

"Of course he knows we're here," Slate says. "You think he doesn't know every little thing that goes on in this place?"

"Guess I hadn't thought about it." If he knows we're here, especially now that he knows why, why wouldn't he let us in so we can get this done with?

We walk and walk until my legs get tired. It feels as if we've been walking for days, and even though it seems we're on a flat service, my legs burn like I'm going uphill. I glance over my shoulder every now and then, but there's still no atrium. A short time ago, it was replaced with a wall that seems to follow us, staying about ten feet away at all times. Lumen touched it. Pushed it. Banged on it. It does nothing. Meaning the only option we have is to move forward and hope at some point that door ahead of us will allow us to reach it.

Eventually, it does. I breathe a sigh of relief when it's so close I can touch it. Only to grow extremely frustrated when it doesn't budge. Each of us tries to open it, but nothing works. The handle is stuck. There are no windows. We push it, pull it, kick it, and bang on it. I even scream and shout. Nothing.

Once I'm at my wit's end with this place, I slam my fist on the wall one last time before whirling around, only to be met by Hades himself.

"Guys," I say quietly. They're still fussing over the door. Hades jerks his head for me to follow him as he turns to walk away—into the atrium that has suddenly appeared. With another glance at the guys, I realize they're in the same type of trance they were in last time. So I let them be and follow Hades.

"How do you do that?" I ask when I reach his side.

"Magic."

It's a simple answer, and I should have expected it. When I was here last, Ves and Lumen were enthralled by a flower. This time, the three of them are transfixed by the door.

"Why doesn't it work on me?"

"Because I do not wish it to."

"Why?"

He smirks. "You ask a lot of questions."

"I like to know what I'm getting myself into."

"It's a little late for that, don't you think?"

He stops a short distance from the water and gestures toward a black iron table and two chairs. The iron is twisted into shapes of vines, leaves, and what look like roses. It's beautiful.

On the table is a ceramic pot that is steaming, two cups on saucers, a sugar dish, and another with milk.

"Do you not like tea?" Hades asks.

"I love tea," I say, taking a seat at the table. The chair's design is the same as the table, the part you sit on shaped like one big leaf.

Hades pours us each a cup of tea. I add two sugars to mine but no milk. He takes his with nothing.

"Are you aware of why you're here?" he asks.

"Not exactly."

He nods, looking out at the waterfall with a lost look in his eye. I feel weird staring at him, so I blow on my tea and take a sip. I'm not sure what kind this is. I've never seen tea this shade of red before, but it tastes good. Some kind of fruit flavor, maybe?

"I have walked the corridors of shadow and silence for countless ages. I have seen the souls of the departed, felt the echoes of their regrets. In all this time, I have learned one singular truth: love is the most powerful force in existence."

That is so far from what I thought would come out of his mouth. I thought he'd tell me why I'm here, not go on about love… Still, I listen intently to what he has to say. He doesn't seem like the kind of man to speak useless words. What he's telling me must have some kind of meaning.

"Persephone has shown me the light amidst the darkness. Her presence has filled the void in my heart, her laughter has brought life back into me, and her love has breathed warmth into my cold, immortal soul. Without her, I am but a shadow, a hollow echo of what I could be. She is my heartbeat, my very essence, and without her, I feel a pain far deeper than any mortal could fathom. What you seek, I have guarded with the gravest of oaths, because it is also the key to my deepest need. The prophecy speaks of four who must complete a destiny greater than us all, and you are one among them. This secret I hold on to has been a burden, but now suddenly feels like a breath of fresh air. I will give you what you need on one condition."

"What is that condition?" I ask carefully. Regardless of what it is, we have to do it. Seems he won't help us otherwise.

"I am not a well-liked god for many reasons. Not many trust me. I was tasked with this duty as a punishment of the worst kind. The condition in which I will give you what you need is that you must give me what I need first."

"I'm not sure I understand." I put my teacup down and fold my hands on my lap.

"Persephone was taken from me when this secret was bestowed upon me, and it was promised that the only way I would get her back is when you and your mates come to my home."

I think back to what he said when I was here last. Him mentioning her . And how it wouldn't work. Now I know who that her is.

"So, you need us to get her and bring her back?"

He nods once. "Yes." Bringing his attention to me, he continues. "Know that in giving you this information, I am laying bare my soul, trusting you with my deepest vulnerability. Persephone's return to me is more than a personal longing—it is putting me back together. Making me whole again. In giving you her location, I am also giving you her life. Do you understand what I am saying?"

I nod. "Telling us where she is puts her in danger because we could harm her. But I assure you, we will do no such thing."

"But others may. Many who want to hurt me. Who want to get revenge on me."

"I understand, but I swear, Hades, we want this as badly as you do. These are my mates. I love them. If we don't succeed, everything for all of us will end."

He smiles sadly, picking up his teacup and taking a small sip before returning it to the saucer.

"I trust that what you have to lose is as great as what I have to lose, and that is why I will tell you."

He doesn't tell me then. We spend the next ten or so minutes in silence as we drink our tea and watch the waterfall. It truly is beautiful in here, but I'm sure these plants could kill me.

When we are finished, he gives me a small smile and speaks only one word, telling me where I can find Persephone. I hold his gaze for a moment, needing more time to process what he said… because how can that be right?

Then I laugh to myself because how many times have I asked myself that very question? How many times have I been so shocked by all of this? Where we must go is only one more crazy thing to add to our to-do list.

Hades walks me back to the spot the atrium ends and the hallway begins. My three mates are still there, trying to figure out how to get through the door without an inkling that I'm not there. It's almost funny.

"We will bring her back to you. I promise," I say to Hades, offering him my hand.

He takes it, his swallowing mine whole.

"May the love that drives me, guide you to complete your quest, for in love, we find our truest strength and our greatest hope."

He waves his hand just like last time, sending me soaring through space and landing on my ass in the hot Vegas desert… beside my three mates.