Page 123 of Hell On Earth
“Twelve,” Megan called, focused on the water at the end of the dock.
Thanatos reappeared in his spot and glanced from Megan to Adira to Eliana.
“Release her, succubus, or suffer,” he said.
Zotera placed her hand briefly over mine and got out of the car.
“Hello, Thanatos,” she said, closing her door. “Father asked me to give you a message.”
She shot a bolt of power at Thanatos that hit his chest with a crack. He flew back and landed on the iced-over shallows. The ice broke on impact and he fell into the water. When he stood again, he shook with his rage.
“You dare strike me?” he demanded.
“I dare,” Zotera said, throwing another bolt.
He disappeared and reappeared behind her. She pivoted and sent another bolt at him. He vanished, reappearing behind her again but farther away.
Megan chose that moment to do the same. Thanatos’ eyes went wide the second her arms wrapped around him from behind.
“Let’s play,” she said a second before she portaled, disappearing from the snow-covered beach.
Everything was happening too fast. I fought to keep calm in my fear and worry for my friends.
“Kneel,” Eliana commanded Adira.
Shaking with resistance, Adira turned her head toward the lake.
“Fight for your freedom,” she called.
Eliana let out a sultry laugh as a mermaid jumped out of the water, shifting from fins to feet. Then another and another. They ran toward Eliana.
“What happened to love?” Eliana purred as Zotera moved closer to protect her. It wasn’t necessary, though.
The mermaids turned on one another and started making out.
“Delicious,” Eliana said. “You should join them, Adira.”
Thanatos reappeared out of nowhere and grabbed Eliana from behind, placing his hand over her eyes. Zotera grabbed him and ripped him away from Eliana as light bloomed from his palm.
“You seek to blind me?” Eliana said.
She moved in a way that made it hard to breathe as she beckoned to him. “I will take everything you are and remake you into mine.”
I scanned the area for Megan as Adira, free from Eliana’s focus, created a portal.
Adira didn’t leave yet. She watched Thanatos turn on Zotera and Eliana with a snarl. Energy crackled from him, spidering out along the ground.
“You have no idea what you’re doing,” he said. “You cannot undo what’s been done.”
Zotera created a bubble around Eliana a second before a bolt of energy flew at her.
The energy rebounded at the same time Adira stepped into the portal. It flew back at Thanatos and almost hit Megan, who suddenly appeared behind him. She dove to the side.
Adira appeared in the car beside me.
“I won’t apologize for doing what I must,” she said, turning toward me.
My eyes went wide as she grabbed my hair and forced my head back. I cried out and grabbed for her hands. She tipped a vial into my open mouth. I choked on the bitter liquid as it burned and struggled not to cry. I didn’t want to die by poison. That shit hurt.
