Page 122 of Hell On Earth
CHAPTEREIGHTEEN
The tire tracksfrom our last visit to the lake were undisturbed. The shoreline was a different story. Scuff marks and large swathes of gravel showed the struggle that had happened there. The temperature inside the car went up a few degrees.
“Don’t make me start stealing already,” Eliana said softly.
“Stay in the car,” Megan said. “I don’t think this will take long.”
Megan got out and went to the end of the dock. I could hear her through the closed windows.
“You have fifteen minutes to return our mates before I turn this lake into a fish boil. Starting now.”
A mermaid flicked a wave of water at Megan. Steam rose from her.
“I promise you, there will be nothing left for the Oracle to eat if anything happens to our mates.”
The air between Megan and us started to shimmer.
“Not today, frost beast,” Eliana murmured, opening her door. “Come to me, Adira. It’s time to heed your master.”
The hand that had started to appear from the portal immediately disappeared. Eliana laughed outside the car and closed the door on us as Megan continued to watch the water in front of her.
Why had Adira tried portalling here? Had she already figured out that I wasn’t home? The new front door should have held.
I glanced at Zotera, who was calmly watching both Megan and Eliana.
“Fourteen,” Megan called. “I’ve always wondered if you come out as babies or tadpoles. Guess we’ll find out soon.”
I could hear the mermaids screeching their anger from the car.
A man appeared on the shore between Eliana and Megan. He’d lost his salt and pepper goatee, which made him look a little younger. He still looked sickly, though.
“Thanatos,” Eliana said, looking at him.
Megan turned too. He immediately disappeared.
Why was he here?They were supposed to be at the house, trying to get to me.
“Thirteen,” Megan called.
“That wasn’t a minute,” a mermaid yelled back.
“Time flies when you want to have fun,” Megan said. “And I’m ready for some fun.”
Adira appeared on the other side of the dock from where Thanatos had appeared. This time, she didn’t retreat when Eliana called her name.
My mind raced, trying to understand what Thanatos and Adira intended by targeting Megan and Eliana here instead of being at the house.
“I am more proud of you than you know, Eliana,” Adira said, standing her ground. “You have turned into a powerful creature capable of leading our kind in the future. But you still don’t understand the sacrifices leaders need to make.”
The words had me wondering if they were truly trying to remove my friends.
“Then teach me,” Eliana purred. “Sacrifice yourself to my hunger.”
I could feel a tug on my middle and lightly touched the back of Zotera’s hand. The contact grounded me.
Adira tripped forward a step then stilled, visibly fighting Eliana’s pull.
“Give yourself to me,” Eliana beckoned.
