“No,” Hera said. She pushed her hair back. Her eyes were bright, hard. “Not unless we want to declare war on the Underworld and engage in what may be years of battle.
“If this is to be a rescue mission, we would only draw attention. Our power would draw attention. Even Hades would be known by the king. So, no. Unless we want to battle all of hell’s forces head on?” She waited to see if any of us were down for that plan. “Then no. No god should try to sneak into the Underworld.”
“I repeat,” Crow said, “I’m going.”
Hera tipped her head, like she was listening to far-off thunder build. “Even Raven will be seen,” she said. “This was averyspecific attack. This was averyspecific kidnapping. The demon king wants you, Delaney. Because he thinks you will give him Ordinary.”
“Only because Ordinary will stand between him and taking over the rest of the world.”
“Yes,” she agreed.
“How much time do we have before we leave?” Jean asked, pocketing her phone.
“Time is…fluid between the Underworld and here,” Bathin said. “We have until midnight tomorrow night, our time.”
That was good information to know, but I wouldn’t need it. I wasn’t going to wait that long.
He snapped his fingers. A map appeared in the air, glowing with lines in red, yellow, and purple. Other features beneath those lines were blurry from my angle.
“This is the Underworld,” he said, “or one representation of it. There are as many entrances and exits as could be imagined, but the king’s court is here.” He pointed to the upper right corner of the map.
“Higher ground, more closely oriented to the power of the place. Secured by far fewer entrances.”
“Is it a fortress?” Myra asked.
“Usually. It doesn’t follow the rules of reality that are followed on Earth. The king and other forces can change the buildings, terrain, air, and power sources. Everything.”
“Like a god realm,” Crow said. “It shifts to the desire of the ruler. To their power.”
“I suppose,” Bathin said. “I’ve never been in a god’s realm.”
“What are the weaknesses?” Myra asked.
“There aren’t any. Which is why we’ll need intel from Mother’s spies. And why we’ll need someone on the inside guiding us.”
“You’ll guide,” I told Bathin.
He nodded. “It won’t be easy, but I think I can keep us hidden long enough. It will depend on where Ryder is being kept and by whom.”
“You aren’t leaving me behind,” Myra insisted. “Or Jean.”
“You’ll need more firepower,” Odin said. “If not a god then another powerful being should go with you.”
“Or,” Than said, “perhaps certain gods should leave Ordinary long enough to carry their power and use it for the most effect. If I were to leave Ordinary, I would once again wield the power of death to my desire.”
“To kill the king,” I said.
“Yes.”
“No,” Bathin said. “Only a first-spawned—first-born—can kill the king. That’s me. It doesn’t take a god of death to make that prophecy come true.”
“But it takes the demon axe,” I said. “Bunny Kisses.”
“It does,” he agreed.
“Is that still locked in the library?” I asked Myra.
“Yes. With the demon sword.”
