Page 69 of Guided by the Stars
I pull more shadows around us while we head toward the shelf when I hear the slightest sound. A faint, rhythmicclacking. Jax hears it too and we stand motionless, listening as it gets louder.
The smell hits me first, wafting in from the door on our right a few seconds before the massive hellhound steps through. Its blood-red eyes pass over us both, and a thick line of slobber dangles from its jaws. Hellhounds are vicious creatures, able to travel through shadows and jump from one place to the next without being seen.
I raise my hands, controlling the shadows, pulling them away from Jax first and then myself as I force them to the corner of the room. Searing pain shoots through my right thigh, and I realize I wasn’t quick enough. The dagger-like claw tears through my pants and flesh with ease, warm blood is already soaking my clothes as I press the last of the shadows into the corner.
This only bought us a bit of time. These bastards are hard to control and even harder to kill. It took months of training to get Cerberus under control, and this one would be equally as trained to protect Persephone, I just have to hope my practice will pay off now. I concentrate and speak the word, “Ypnos.”Sleep.
A deep growl leaves the hound, almost as if he knows what I was trying to do, and he rushes toward me. I barely manage to dodge and keep a tight hold of the shadows. Jax is beside me, taking a knife from my holster and attacking the beast.
He ducks left and right to avoid being hit with its massive paws, only inches from having his wrist caught in its jaws. I watch as he lands a solid hit to the hound; the force throwing it through the air and slamming into the wall.
I reach down to grab a knife of my own, prepared to slay the creature if it won’t back down, but the sight in front of me halts my progress. I must be hallucinating, because in front ofme stands two versions of Jax. One beside me, and the other is stalking toward the fallen hound. The one closest to me grabs my arm and shakes his head.
The animal stirs, a black puddle of blood growing beneath it. Quicker than expected, the hound is up and targeting the second Jax who’s waving a knife around. My best chance of asserting control is when the hound is preoccupied. It snarls, a fierce sound that shakes the glass doors of the cabinet, and prepares to pounce.
I loosen my grip on the shadows and take a deep breath in, closing my eyes to focus. Its claws scratch the floor as it’s hind legs propel it through the air toward us. “Ypnos!” I shout, the deep timber of my voice booming through the small space, followed by a thud.
I open my eyes as the second Jax disappears into thin air, like smoke drifting out an open window. The real Jax is at my side, wiping the bloody knife on his black jeans before putting it away. Unfazed by the second version of himself that just disappeared, he leans down to check my wound and seems content that the bleeding has stopped.
“It appears we have a few things to discuss,” I say, my voice steady despite the torrent of questions flowing through me.
He smiles, his usual tactic for tense situations, and heads toward the cabinet. “Let’s take this ugly-ass thing before we have any more visitors,” he says, opening the glass doors. “By the gods, we’re lucky it worked. That was one of the strongest I’ve encountered, what the fuck is Persephone using to train them?”
There’s a heaviness in me, weighing me down. I can’t focus on what Persephone might have done to have such powerful creatures at her side. My soul is more burdened than ever before, and now I find out he’s kept secrets from me. Theblack pit of despair beckons me in, tempting me into its warm, comforting embrace.
Without conscious thought, I reach past him and grab the helmet off the shelf. “I’m more concerned with how you made a replica of yourself. That’s fucking new.”
“Well, the short version is that I can kind of…project an image of myself. It takes an insane amount of energy and I can’t hold it for too long, but it works in a pinch,” he says with a smile, winking at me before taking the helmet and putting it on. It’s forced though, the smile not quite reaching his eyes. He knows I need more than that flimsy explanation, but now’s not the time.
With the helmet in place on his head, I can no longer see him or detect his power signature, as if he’s vanished, just like the second version of himself.
“I’m gonna need you to explain why you kept this from me, but that can wait,” I say, my pulse racing with hope at the thought that Adriane might be waiting for us. “Let’s go find my girl.”
Nora
When Destiny Demands Claiming
“I swear, Baby Girl, if you don’t plant your sexy ass down, I’m going to spank it and tie you down to me.” Stopped in my tracks, my cheeks flame red. His words no longer fluster me, but the images creeping into my mind do.
“By the looks of it, I got your attention now,” he taunts, giving me a shit-eating grin while patting the cushion beside him.
“Asshole,” I playfully mutter and slump down, huffing out a deep sigh. I’ve been pacing back and forward for so long I left tread marks on their carpet. I can’t help it. My brain has been on overdrive, strangled by the lack of Alexius’ presence. He sent a message to Daemyn saying I was safe and that no one sensed me, but he never returned. He left on his mission with the sexy Goddess of Love and we have no idea when he will be back. At this point, I welcome any trick Daemyn has to calm me down.
Daemyn explained that finding the islands was tricky. Something about the sea water mixing with the soil from the Mortal World, protecting their lands from intruders. They are like the King and Queens of their own island that only the nymphs and ruling gods can control who enters, making it visible only when they want it to be.
It’s left Alexius gone for days. The gnawing in my gut is growing each hour. If only he would have said goodbye or something, instead of just storming off pissed. He vanished, leaving poor Daemyn to break the news that Adriane is to meet frickin’ Hades, and there is nothing we can do to help. I’m useless, afraid, and craving the feelings of safety that Alexius provides.
Daemyn’s hands land on my shoulder, pushing me to the side and drawing me closer at the same time. “Come on, babe, lean back.” He’ll get no arguments from me. I let his firm hands take control, offering to untangle the tension this mess has caused.
“I told you already, Jax won’t let Adriane get tricked by Hades. Have faith in him. He won’t let her get tied to the Underworld,” Daemyn reassures me for the hundredth time as his hands massage my shoulders.
I’m attempting to hold on to hope, believing in his words, but I can’t shut my mind off. My imagination has spiraled through countless horrific images of demons and tortured souls hurting my best friend. It’s the Underworld, where darkness can smother the strongest of souls. How much more can Adriane handle before she’s left as an unrecognizable, distant version of herself, broken from the inside out?
“You’re doing it again. Stop blocking me. Your worry is overpowering both of us.” The smell of fresh mint blows past my nose, and the warmth of his breath trails goosebumps overmy skin. He’s leaning closer, probably too close with his bare chest to my overheated back, and his hands kneading down my spine. “Just try to relax,” his voice dips low into a smokey whisper and I release a small moan as his hands push into my tense muscles and his power coats over me.
Daemyn and I jump stupidly, crashing closer together when the house rattles from the force of the front door slamming shut. Turning our heads in shock, we welcome home the Beast.
Daemyn’s hands on my body, the spilt tea in front of me, the brush of cold lingering in the air, it all fades. Everything around me evaporates the moment my eyes meet the stone-cold glare from Alexius, his presence commanding my absolute attention.
