Page 37 of Left Hand of the Divine
“What is it?” Apollo asked. “Why does this matter to you?”
“I don’t know how it all fits, but it matters,” I said before turning and heading back to the guys.
“Roux, wait!” Raevyn shouted, perplexed. “What do you mean?”
“When it makes sense, I’ll call you!” I shouted back, adrenaline already running through my system. I skidded to a halt by their little huddle, narrowly avoiding slamming into Atticus.
“Whoa there, kitten,” he said, a small smirk curling his mouth. “Slow down.”
“Witches are missing,” I blurted, cutting him off.
“What?” Hades said, stepping forward.
I nodded as I caught my breath. “Raevyn says a few have gone missing in Witch Country across a couple of covens.”
“This is bad, right?” Rafe said, glancing around our little circle.
“It’s not exactly good,” Hades quipped, his dark eyes sparking fire.
“Do you need Witches to create a God Killer?” I asked.
“Hush,” Erebus snapped. “Not here.”
“He’s right,” Hades grimaced. “We need somewhere safe to discuss this further.”
I grinned. “I know just the place.”
The Mansion of Night was just as we’d left it. The large black castle was tucked away in the forest by the river Styx, hidden behind several wards and far away from any prying eyes. A perfect little hiding spot just for us.
“So, what are we going to do about the God Killer problem?” I said as we all took a seat around the ridiculously large dining table. It was a dark wood, like it had been charred, with black wooden chairs with backs styled like cathedral windows. It was a beautiful set of furniture and looked like it could comfortably fit twenty people.
“That’s if it’s even possible,” Thane said, running his hand through his golden curls and sending them in different directions. If I didn’t know better, I’d guess the guy was fracturing. He was always so stiff and put together that seeing him like this was worrying me.
“Hades, you mentioned the legend of the God Killer. For those of us who aren’t as old as dirt, would you care to share the story?” Magnus asked. He sat opposite me between the twins, and Rafe poked him in the side. “What was that for?”
“Don’t be rude,” Rafe chided softly, but his eyes held Magnus’ with a fierceness that had a shiver running up my spine.
“Sorry,” Magnus replied, dropping his gaze to the floor.
Hades’ eyebrow quirked in amusement as he sat in the chair next to mine. “Legend says the last time anyone tried to create a God Killer was as a rebellion against Zeus.”
“Why am I not surprised?” I said with an eye roll.
Hades sent me the flattest look he could muster before continuing. “It was Hera who led the revolt. She was fed up with her husband’s shenanigans, so she decided to teach him a lesson. There was talk that she reached out to a mortal High Priestess, and they combined the life essence of various deities and supernatural creatures to create something that could wipe out even a God.”
“What was it?” Atticus asked as he lounged back in his chair. “A person or object?”
“I don’t know,” Hades said with a shrug. “I don’t know if it was ever made, and Hera didn’t win.”
“That she did not,” Erebus said darkly. He sat at the top of the table staring at the empty chair opposite him, but it didn’t look like he was really seeing it.
I leant forwards across the table and wrapped my hand around his forearm. “What happened to her?”
He flinched as I touched him, and I instantly pulled my hand away. Cool fingers curled around mine, halting my retreat. “Zeus chained her to the sky until she vowed never to rebel against him again.”
Erebus stared deep into my eyes, like he was searching for something. Maybe for some trace of her, of the woman he loved. Something dark churned in my chest. It was cold, and it grewcolder the longer he stared at me. The corner of his mouth tipped up into a smile. Could he feel it too? The chill? The darkness?
“Asteri, I feel you…”
