“Ouch!” I moaned, and gently cradling the arm that I’d landed on. Slowly, I bent and straightened it to ensure it was still usable.
“Pea!”
My head snapped up at the sound of my parents’ voices. I scanned the area, which resembled a dried-up lava flow rather than the inside of a building, despite there being a door. No one was present.
She wouldn’t fight you here,Tabitha said in my head.She’s too full of herself. Look for grandeur and that’s where Ishtar will be.
For the first time, she sounded a little off—funny.
You okay?
I think so, but that fall rocked me. I feel unsettled.
I gulped, and my stomach tightened as understanding washed over me.We’ve traveled through two realms since you’ve been in my head. The last ghost who was bound to me timewalked twice, and then traveled through one realm portal. Maybe our connection is fraying?
Universe help me, I hoped not. Without Tabitha to protect me from possession, I didn’t stand a chance against Ishtar.
Tabitha was quiet for a moment too long, so I prodded.
Hey? Are you still there?
Yeah.She coughed, clearly uncomfortable.I guess I didn’t think of Hell as a different realm, but you’re right.
I looked around at the strange surroundings.Definitely a different realm.
I jumped as a spray of acrid green smoke shot up from the ground a mere two feet from where I stood. I wrinkled my nose at the rotten scent that infiltrated my nostrils.Scraped my tongue with my teeth because a gross acid seemed to have coated it. Hell was disgusting.
Do I need to do something to bind us more tightly? I really need you, Tabitha. If I’m going to get my parents out of here and kill Ishtar, you’re the key.
I didn’t bother to thinkIwould be leaving. Ishtar wanted me more than them. If I had to, I’d bargain myself. Then I’d fight her, and hopefully bring her down with me.
I’m with you no matter what,Tabitha replied.I’ll hang on. Let’s find them.
I crept forward, closer to the door, on alert for any movement that might come from within. Random sprays of green gas from below made me jump, but no bodily adversaries appeared.
When I reached the door, I edged around and peeked beyond the other side, my hands extended and ready to fight.
No one was there.
I exhaled and walked through the door to find myself in an opulent room with gothic undertones—possibly the palace. I thought back to the visual that our Demonology professor had shown us the year before. The thrones had been in the dead center of Hell. I’d taken that image literally when I’d landed in the throne room the first time, having had no reason to question it.
But what if the thrones actually just represented the palace? If so, why bring me here? Weren’t there way more deadly sectors? Places where she could bury me headfirst in the sand and light my feet on fire, or where a vulture could constantly pick at my flesh? Unless Tabitha was right and this was all about putting on a show.
As if in response, a laugh rang through the empty, black-and-gold-drenched room.
My spine straightened and, forgetting all caution, I sprinted into the connecting hallway. Choosing a direction, I didn’t stop running.
The laughter continued and grew louder, becoming more maniacal by the second. Strangely—or perhaps not, considering the army of demons in my world—I passed no demons as I ran.
The palace of Hell, for I was sure that was where I was now, was deserted. Save for me, my parents, and the queen of darkness.
My lungs began to burn from the patches of thick, black smoke that I ran through as I followed the sound of Ishtar’s cackle, growing ever louder. I was close, so close. And when a glimmer of bright red fire and gleaming gold metal came into sight up ahead, I sucked in a breath.
The air reeked of sulfur even more than before. I was nearly there.
The throne room.
It was like returning to a bad dream—or, more accurately, the day Alex had been kidnapped. When I’d allowed the Realm Slicer to be stolen by the Furies and, subsequently, the Hellgate to be ripped open.
