Page 118 of Spellbound
Edmund’s jaw clenched. “Elle is nothing like you. She doesn’t want this.”
Naomi tapped her foot against the ground. “Has anyone even asked her what she wants?” She turned toward me. “Elle?”
I swallowed thickly. “I can’t stay like this. If there’s a way out, it means Leda can come back.” I looked at Edmund. “If you can find a way, I’ll do it.”
Ferocity burned in his bright eyes. “You can count on us. We will always have your back, Elle.”
I smiled. “I know.” I scratched the back of my neck. “Uh, so do I like carry you back, or... Well, could one of you go on my shoulders and...”
He shook his head, and Maddox rubbed the back of his neck. “Girl, I don’t think any of us want that awkwardness today. You go. We’re only an hour from home, and Alexander isn’t coming after us, so we’re good.”
My eyes widened. “Wait here.” I sped back to Freya’s body, pulled the dagger out of the ground where bugs had covered it during the night, and wiped it on my dress. If Alexander saw this, as unlikely as it was, he’d kill Mona instantly.
I grabbed Freya’s body, flung her over my shoulder, and dug an effortless hole next to a tree. After dumping her in there, I refilled the dirt and pressed my lips together.
Realization washed over me like a splash of cold water. I was a murderer. Even if it was the right thing to do, I’d still taken a life. My mind swarmed, and I pushed it back. I couldn’t think about that right now.
Holding onto the dagger, I sped back to them and hugged them each in turn.
“Be safe. We love you,” Naomi said.
Tears welled in my eyes. “I love you all too.”
Naomi and Edmund softened, and even Maddox smiled.
I didn’t know where to start. “How do I even get to the underworld?”
Edmund and Maddox tried to answer at once. Maddox fell silent and let Edmund explain. Of course they would know. They’d read everything in our library and more. “There’s a gateway, a portal of sorts. It’s in the mountains. I can get you a map.”
“What does it look like?”
He licked his lips. “It’s a cave, hidden well, and around it, there are symbols engraved in the walls. You must offer blood to pass. Immortal blood. You can cut yourself.”
I couldn’t waste any time. “I’ll find it.”
“It’s to the east, about fifteen miles southeast, then—”
“I won’t follow any of that,” I admitted, and Maddox chuckled.
“This is Elle we’re talking about. Just point.”
I shot him a glare. “I’ll find it. East, right?”
Maddox pointed in the direction, an amused smile playing on his lips. “That way.”
“Thanks so much,” I replied, my tone thick with sarcasm. I squeezed Edmund’s hand and smiled at Naomi before running in the direction Maddox had pointed. I’d assumed east was in the opposite direction, so the pointing helped, but I wasn’t going to tell him that.
“Try not to die,” Maddox called as I raced between trees, spanning miles in a minute without needing to catch my breath.
Amid an opening in the forest, a large lake sparkled, glittering icy blue as the mountain’s peaks came into view. I let out a misty breath and kneeled by the waterside. With cold droplets in my palms, I tipped water over my arms, washing the blood into the lake and turning the dried brown-red to liquid once more. I washed my face and got as much of it out of my hair as possible before deciding it was the best I was going to get. My clothes were still covered, but I didn’t have time to stop and find more clothes.
The closer I got to the mountains, the more anxious I got. I had no idea how Raiden was going to react. The idea sent shivers along my skin. If I had a moment to stop and think, I’d probably break down under the realization of my new reality. Overthinking was my specialty, and a flood of thoughts waited behind the dam of fear in my brain, ready to drown me. If I let them in, I wouldn’t be able to do what I needed to. Every so often I felt myself disassociate and almost ran into something, but my sharp reflexes wouldn’t let me.
After thirty minutes of searching, which had me scaling most of the mountains in the east, I found the crevice between two tall jagged rocks. A bottomless black cave led downward. I wiped the snow covering the arched entrance with my hand and trailed my fingers along the ancient symbols of Lor.
Heed warning to thy who come, for essence is all to pass.
I assumed they meant blood or the soul was the only thing that would pass, unless I was an immortal. Either way, I decided to follow Edmund’s instructions. I grabbed a nearby rock and snapped a piece off, then ran it against my hand and stared at the cut for a few seconds. I hardly felt it. I went to press my hand against it, but the cut had already healed.
