Page 12 of Love and Death
“Who is it?” I ask in little more than a hushed whisper.
He holds up a hushing hand in response, his brow furrowing further as he strains to listen closer. His sustained silence does little to allay my fears as I wait anxiously for him to say something, quietly praying that it isn’t Hades.
“I cannot tell,” he finally sighs, his voice low, “but it is clear from their movements that, not only do they know how to navigate the tower stairs far too well for my liking, but they do not wish to be found out either.”
“What do you mean?”
“Their steps are too slow, too calculated. If I had to make a guess, I would say someone has been sent to spy.”
“On whom?”
Cerberus gives me a curious look, as if he hadn’t thought it possible that he might be the one being watched. “I do not know.”
My stomach knots at this.
Does the king suspect Cerberus of disloyalty, or has he simply sent someone to check on me?
My eyes suddenly widen in fear.
Did this spy, whoever it is, overhear me asking Cerberus for help?
I don’t even know whether or not he actually intends to help me, but I cannot have them reporting suspected betrayal to the king before I have a chance to find out.
“I need you to threaten me,” I whisper, a wild idea forming in my mind.
“What?”
“We must give them a good report before they can form any conclusions of their own.”
“I have no reason to fear—”
“Cerberus, threaten me, now,” I hiss as the nearing footsteps grow loud enough to be no more than a spiral length away. “Threaten me like you would rather kill me than betray your king.”
The hellhound instantly pushes away from the door, straightening to his full height as he steps toward me.
“You would do well to hold your tongue,” he snarls. “The king’s will burns through my veins as if it were my own. Challenge me again, and you will bear witness to what happens when that fire turns on mortal skin.”
“I will do as I wish.”
“You will do as I say,” Cerberus says, taking another step toward me. “Do nottemptme to use force. Do I make myself clear?”
“You wouldn’t dare. Hades would never allow—”
“Thekingleft me in charge of you. Now, answer me!”
Cerberus’ face is a mask of fury as he towers menacingly before me, his eyes burning with rage that’s suddenly all too real.
Did I push him too far? His performance is far too intense, far too believable to be but a game.
“Cerberus,” I start as the footsteps come to a stop just outside the door, “I did not—”
“Answer me!”
I flinch at the steel in his voice, now completely unsure of how best to proceed.
“No,” I say, the word barely escaping me.
“No?” Cerberus scoffs loudly before dropping his voice to a growl so low and intimidating that it sends a shiver racing down my spine. “Then you have forgotten your place, mortal. Here, you are nothing more than a plaything for Hades’ amusement. You exist to serve and obey the king, and until he returns, that means you answer to me.”
