Page 84 of Going to Hell
His cheek twitched, and he jerked his hand back like I’d burned him.
“Remind her of the freedom that awaits her,” he said with a glance at Zotera. “Take her to the pool.”
He turned on his heel and left us again.
“He shouldn’t have touched you like that,” Zotera said from beside me. “It is within your rights to demand payment.”
I could only imagine what form of payment Hades would be willing to give. It would either involve a bed or blood. Maybe both. And that was something I didn’t want to dwell on.
“What pool was he talking about?” I asked to distract myself.
Zotera gave me an odd look again.
“The seeing pool. Do you wish me to take you there?”
“What happens if you don’t take me there?”
“Father will punish me,” she said with a shrug.
“Then let’s go check it out.” I glanced at the griffon. “Do you know how to make a mermaid?”
She touched the wood, transforming the griffon into a stunning mermaid. Her back arched like she was emerging from the water, and her hair streamed behind her, leaving her heaving chest prominently exposed. I wasn’t sure showing Hades a set of boobs was a good idea, but it would hopefully be less enraging than the griffon.
“Also very beautiful,” I said, determined to praise all of her non-gruesome efforts.
“Thank you, Mother.” Smiling, she led the way from the room.
“If you can change things, why not change your clothes?” I asked.
Shame crept into her features, and she plucked at the fur covering her.
“If I behave like an animal, I should look like one,” she said quietly.
“Let me guess. Something your mother said?”
“And you were right, Mother.”
I wrinkled my nose. “If you could pick anything else to wear, what would it be?”
Her fur disappeared, replaced by a simple wrap skirt and nothing else. I wasn’t shocked by the sight of her bare upper half. Most creatures found clothes restrictive.
“I like it,” I said, noting her earnest expression. “It looks Egyptian.”
“I don’t know what that is, but I like this.” She smoothed her hand over her hip as she gave me a relieved smile.
“Then you should wear it.”
We turned a corner, and I registered the undercurrent of noise too late.
Pulling my gaze from Zotera, I looked at the opening ahead as the sound slowly died.
My steps faltered.
Frozen, I stared at the monsters lining the tables of the dining hall. Snake-like creatures. Things with the head of a boar and the upper body of a lion and the legs of something feathered. Some creatures I couldn’t even identify.
Slowly, they stood.
Instinctively, I took a step back, heart hammering.
