Page 52 of Deadly Games
“Hades,” she called, her voice breaking with confusion. He turned to face her and the guilt that softened his gaze filled me with more doubt than anything. “He’s lying. Whatever he promises you, it’s not real.”
“You don’t know what he’s capable of,” Hades murmured. His listless tone made it clear he wasn’t all here with us. Not anymore. “Or what I am.”
Kore’s expression fell, but I could tell there was still part of her that didn’t want to believe him.
“There is only so much power in the souls of the dead,” Cronus continued. “You’ve spent your whole life wishing to overthrow me, but what you truly want will always be out of reach on your own. At my side, our combined power would know no limits. Nothing in the cosmos would be denied to us.”
“You son of a bitch,” Loki seethed. It was difficult to tell if he was addressing Hades, Cronus or both. “You’re not going to stop until there’s nothing left, are you?”
Cronus turned to face him with a bored expression, as if a cockroach had just spoken to him. “For that bit of insolence, your world shall be the first I claim.”
Hatred burned within Loki’s gaze, but for the moment, I was focused on Kore. She hadn’t spoken at all after what Hades had said, and I couldn’t tell what she was thinking, even if I could feel her pain through our bond. I wanted nothing more than to reach out to touch her, to comfort her, but the stone was slowly eating its way up my shoulders.
“It’s time to make a decision,” Cronus said impatiently, turning back to Hades. “Your mother, or this insolent whore.”
Something in me snapped at his words. “Shut your fucking mouth,” I seethed, glaring at Hades in turn. “And you. You don’t deserve her. If your mother is half the woman you seem to think she is, she should be ashamed of you.”
Rage flashed in Hades’ eyes, but he ignored me to focus on his father. “How do I know you won’t go back on your word?”
“You don’t,” Cronus answered. “But I have no reason to lie when I could kill you right now.”
“Why don’t you?” Hades challenged. “Then there’d be no threat to your rule. The prophecy would fail, and you’d have no one to answer to.”
Cronus didn’t respond immediately. He seemed to be considering his answer, which was more unnerving than anything else. “You are my flesh and blood,” he finally said. “Perhaps I underestimated you until this point, but I have found you worthy of your inheritance. The choice is yours as to what it will be. Eternal life with your mother, and all the realms at your feet, or death for the sake of the fools fate has so cruelly paired you with.”
I felt the bitter sting of his words, not for myself, but for Kore. Even worse was the fact that Hades was considering them.
“No!” Kore cried out desperately, tears streaming down her face. Even though he was openly contemplating the idea of betraying her, there was nothing but sadness in the way she looked at him. “This isn’t you, Hades. You’re better than this. You know she’d want better for you.”
Before he could respond, Cronus raised his staff and the stone rapidly consumed Kore’s entire body, leaving her nothing more than a statuesque representation of grief.
“Kore!” Loki cried, straining against his prison. I did the same, to no avail.
My heart felt like it had already been torn out of my chest and my body just hadn’t gotten the memo yet. She was gone, and the only person who could bring her back was selling us out to the devil.
Was it really over? Had everything we’d been through and fought for really come to this? I didn’t want to believe it. Not when I’d just found her. All of them. Not when I’d finally found the place I belonged.
Hades’ eyes filled with concern for a split second, but he soon masked it and turned away from her, as if he found the reminder of his treachery distasteful. “I’ve made my decision,” he said in a solemn tone. “I’m ready.”
Cronus raised his head, his pale lips set in the faintest, filthiest smile I had ever seen. My stomach churned with disgust and grief. I wanted nothing more than to kill him.
“I knew you’d choose wisely,” he said, holding the staff out to his son. “Only one of my bloodline could be strong enough to deny fate. Together, we will make our own, but first, you must finish it.”
Hades took the staff in his hand and gazed down at it, as if he was considering its weight. He turned back toward us before setting his attention on Kore. “She is my fate,” he murmured.
“That’s right,” said Cronus. “Which is why you must destroy her. Do you see now?”
“Yes,” Hades answered, raising the staff as his gaze darkened. “I see perfectly.”
“No,” I screamed as the head of the cane glowed a sick, eerie white. Rather than directing the beam at Kore, he turned and aimed it straight for Cronus’ heart. The ancient god barely had time to react in shock and horror before the blast threw him back. Seconds later, his visage turned to ash and became nothing more than dust on the stone floors.
Chapter 23
Hades
The stone around Dionysus and Loki crumbled as I rushed to Kore. The stone surrounding her had already begun to crack, but the enchantment was so thorough I feared for the worst. When I took her into my arms, her body shed the broken stone like a shell, revealing her creamy skin beneath. She was limp, but soft to the touch, and she had a pulse. Mine seemed to resume only with that realization.
“Kore,” I growled, shaking her gently. “Wake up. Please.”
