Page 92 of To Dwell in Shadows
In her fragile mental state, she reflected that the divide between human and demon had never felt more stark. Now that she had truly seen this part of Sam, she understood why he had always tried to hide it from her. Although she was well acquainted with his tender side, his full demonic nature was formidable. It hadn’t bothered her when she had seen him brutally slay vampires, but hearing how he killed those far less lethal was harder to reconcile.
When all the dogs were awake, Selene said wearily, “All right, pups. Let’s get out of here.” She looked down a corridor that split into a fork, contemplating the best way to navigate out of the maze. The thought of stumbling her way through, hitting multiple dead ends, and possibly retracing her steps made her already aching body throb.
As she considered which path to take, Smoky lifted his head to sniff the air. Then he did a little twirl and began trotting with determination down a corridor. The other hounds watched him for a moment before following—some barking with excitement, others jogging along dutifully. Selene glanced down at Zetta, who met her gaze with a soft chuff, and together they took off behind the trail of hellhounds.
Either Smoky had the makings of a brilliant search-and-rescue dog, or he was exceptionally lucky, because the pack took only a few wrong turns before Selene could hear the caw of the death-ravens that lived in the surrounding forest. The scent of roasted meat filled the air, spurring the dogs to quicken their pace.
Selene watched them all burst through the maze’s exit just ahead. Then she heard someone screech. Rushing out of the maze with Zetta, Selene spotted Vanthee scrambling up a nearby tree. Below her, a small fire flickered weakly, practically stamped out by the hellhounds in their frantic attempts to get to the steaks she had been roasting.
“Vanthee, what are you doing here?” Selene asked hoarsely.
Vanthee gestured to the now extinguished fire. “Helping you get out. I saw that all the hounds were gone and I figured they were with you. I thought roasting meat would give Zetta a scent trail to follow.”
Selene slumped down on a fallen log. “That was a brilliant idea.”
“Are you all right?”
“Exhausted and slightly traumatized, but otherwise fine.” She gestured to the notebook. “I’ve got a lot of letters to write when we get back to Aurelia.”
“Did you really need this much backup?” Vanthee asked, watching the dogs scrabble over a hunk of fat.
Selene began to roll her stiff neck. “I don’t know, they just… came.”
“Did you call all of them?”
“No, not consciously. But they were a big help in there. What’s going on with Sam?”
“He’s all right. Blight met us at the gates on a horse and took him in. To his chamber, I assume.”
Vanthee passed her a full waterskin, and Selene drank it down gratefully.
“What happened in there?” Vanthee asked.
Selene described how the spirits had crowded her, then how the hounds came, and how she had listened to the stories each spirit had to tell. She shared snippets of a few memorable ones, and Vanthee listened attentively. But some of the questions, and the confusion behind them, reminded Selene that Vanthee had never left the Underworld. She couldn’t fully grasp the joys and sorrows of mortal life the way Selene could.
They both sat in silence for a few moments, watching the dogs. Then Vanthee asked, “Now that the trials are over, what do you think will happen next?”
“Sam has to convince his parents that you should be the Dark Sovereign.” Selene poured some water into her hand to splash her face.
“But what if they don’t believe him?” There was a hint of vulnerability in her tone.
“They don’t have a choice,” Selene said, stifling a yawn.
Vanthee blinked. “Of course they do. Why would you say that?”
Selene gave her a long look. “It’s your destiny. Come to the library tomorrow, and I’ll show you why.”
Chapter 45
Sam wanted nothing more than to rest his pounding head on the table of his father’s state room and sleep, but the arguing voices surrounding him wouldn’t allow it. He closed his eyes, fighting against the pull of exhaustion.
Queen Lamia’s voice sounded on his left. “Let’s do it tonight. Why delay such a joyful occasion?”
“The coronation should be held on a date of significance,” countered Blight, general of the Legion of Punishment. Sam could hear the buttons on the sleeve of his military uniform clang against the table. “The anniversary of Asmodeus’s coronation would be poetic. What day would that be, great king?”
“You know I can’t remember details like that,” King Asmodeus growled. “Why do you taunt me? I am still king of this realm and?—”
“Apologies, apologies. I only wanted to honor you,” Blight said.
