48

48

Dionysus’ Labor

“Welcome to your third Labor,” Dionysus announces in a jovial tone an hour later, his deep voice bouncing off large cavern walls at least a quarter mile away in every direction. Dressed to impress, the god is basically the epitome of hedonistic playboy with too much time and Daddy’s money.

I look away from him to check our surroundings.

Based on the vegetation, we must be in a rainforest except it’s in a massive cave. One with humidity, and the drip, drip, drip of trickling water. There’s a small, circular opening high above us that allows sunlight to spill inside.

I had just enough time to take a quick shower and change into my uniform before I started to fade again, but the humidity has my uniform sticking to me in very unfortunate ways. I glance around, pinching the fabric away from my legs to ease the discomfort.

Next to me, Meike claps her hands at the sight of her patron god. She looks to be around thirty, but her eyes shine bright like a child’s right now as she stares adoringly at Dionysus.

“Do you know what’s coming?” I whisper to Meike.

She shakes her head, bangs flying with the movement, a smile tilting the corners of her mouth. “He insists we play by the rules, and he wasn’t allowed to tell me,” she whispers back in her thick German accent.

The god of wine and festivity just went up a few notches in my book.

The other champions are here, too, dressed like me in their tracksuits by virtue color. I didn’t have much time to get a look at everyone’s uniforms during Poseidon’s Labor before. Strength are in deep green with oak leaves embroidered on their chests in glittering bronze thread. Courage wear purple, of course, with gold thread depicting dogwood flowers. Turquoise for Mind with copper redwood trees. And Heart in wine-burgundy with silver embroidery in the shape of cherry blossoms.

Then there’s me in black with rose-gold butterflies. No wonder Hades was irritated that day in the kitchen. He knew they’d shafted me with that half-assed gray ensemble with prison lettering.

Never let it be said that the gods aren’t petty.

“This splendid place”—Dionysus holds his hands out, looking around him—“is the Lost Cave.”

I’ve never understood the gift of natural charm, but Dionysus has it in spades. He gives us all a smile filled with such warmth, his blue eyes sparkling as if we truly are about to have a little fun, that I find myself relaxing just a skosh. Maybe we really are.

“Mortals have yet to discover this cave system,” he says, “but the gods here have been kind enough to lend it to us for our revelry.”

The other champions visibly perk up.

Revelry sounds promising.

“As you can see.” He points to the hole in the cavern roof. “This is a doline, made by the collapse of the ground above into the cavern below. It has allowed a unique rainforest ecosystem to thrive here. It even has its own weather system.

“This Labor will test your Heart.” He spreads his arms magnanimously, and cases appear before us in a shimmer, as if they are materializing from mist.

With a frown, I peer closer. We all do.

“Vodka?” Samuel asks, tone dubious.

Not just any vodka, either—the high-end, super-expensive stuff.

Dionysus grins. “Your task is to get from this doline to the far waterfall in the second doline. The champion carrying the most fluid ounces of vodka wins the Labor.”

I think every single one of us blows out a breath of disappointment. If that’s his idea of revelry, he can keep it.

“How far is it?” Meike asks her patron.

“About a kilometer.” He points in the direction of a dark tunnel entrance and purses his lips. “But don’t expect it to be easy. In fact, you may want to work together with a team on this. At least in the beginning.”

He looks around us with a bright expression, as if he’s expecting us to be equally thrilled with the “fun” he’s concocted.

I mean…at least there aren’t any monsters or immediate plummets to death.

“The prize for the winner is the Unending Cup of Plenty. You have until break of day, but beware the night.” Dionysus spreads his arms again, this time like he wants to hug us all. “Best of luck, champions.”

The god of wine and parties disappears in a silent blink.

I’m not the only one who turns in place, looking the cave over. A kilometer isn’t far, but it’s rough terrain. Carrying only two bottles won’t win us anything, either. That little, almost casual slip in about nighttime makes me think faster is better, but if I’m going to lose this damned curse, I need to win soon. And this one seems easy enough to try.

“First things first,” Dex interrupts my debating.

I tense, able to guess what’s coming. Sure enough, he stares directly at me, and the rest of the champions either stare with him or glance between us in question. Only Zai scoots over to stand beside me.

“We can all agree that Hades can’t be king, yeah?” Dex asks the group, never looking away from me.

Some nod. Some don’t.

I tilt my head. “He can hear and see you. You know that, right?”

Based on the way Dex’s dark eyes narrow, as well as a few others’—Amir, Dae, Samuel, and Neve—I already know that threat was the wrong way to go.

“What do you want?” I ask Dex directly. “I can promise to not win.” Never mind about losing the curse. I’m used to it anyway, and I can’t do much without it if I’m dead.

“We don’t believe that,” Dae says, running a hand through his glossy black hair. “Rima said—”

Rima cuts him off, pink tingeing the naturally warm, brown skin on her cheeks. “That you’re dangerous,” she says.

I peer at her more closely. The way she did that felt…suspicious. Like she didn’t want him to say something in particular.

She does offer me a small wince, which might be an apology. “Hades has already shown he’ll break rules to help you. That axe isn’t mortal. It—”

“Was the relic that came to me over ten years ago when I hit a certain level as a thief,” I tell them. “All thieves get one eventually.” Of course, I never made it to actual thief, but they don’t need to know that.

They glance between one another, doubt etched into their features.

“And the vest, before you ask, is also mine from before.” Granted, Boone brought it to me after I was named Hades’ champion, and it’s for any pledges, not me in particular, but that’s just quibbling. “I’m not the only one who brought mortal tools into this.”

Other than the backpack I think Dae lost, I’m actually not sure that’s true. But they could have, and that’s the point.

“Lies,” Neve hisses, shoving her red hair over one shoulder. “They are cheating, and we all know it. For sure.”

Fuck. This went sideways fast.

“Side with us,” Dex announces to the others. “We take Lyra out of the equation tonight, and that eliminates Hades from the Labors. It’s the only way.”

I take a jerking step back, already looking for which way to run.

Samuel clears his throat. “I don’t condone killing—”

“I didn’t say we have to kill her,” Dex says.

“Well, that’s a relief,” I mutter.

“Not helping,” Zai whispers at me.

Dex ignores us both. “As long as she’s too injured to compete, she’s out. She can’t get healing unless she wins the Labor.”

They stare at me, and I hold my breath.

They’re really thinking about it. All of them.

Should I be running right about now?

Desperation surges, raw and sharp, as my eyes dart from one champion to the next, and I wonder who will attack first.