A growl came from my right. I clenched my teeth to muffle the scream still crawling up my throat.
Two hellhounds stood a yard away, watching me.
Heads low. Eyes fixed.
Silent.
I swiped the sweat from my brow and tried to smile through the pain.
“You two look like good boys. I bet you know where the food is.”
I took one cautious step toward them.
They yipped in unison and shrank back.
I blinked.
“Okay. Rude.” I rubbed my temples. “Animals usually love me.”
Why were they trembling?
“I won’t eat you,” I promised, half-joking. “Wait—did your master say I would?”
The hellhounds exchanged a look. Then returned their focus to me.
My heart thudded hard. A little too hard. The pain made it feel like my own pulse was trying to strangle me from the inside.
“I need food,” I rasped, more to myself now. “I need it badly.”
I’d never gone this long without eating. Never pushed my curse to the brink. Was it possible…was I turning into something else?
No. No, no, no. Not now.
But my voice cracked when I added, “Do you understand me? I’m not trying to hurt anyone. I just need to eat.”
The hellhounds growled again, low and uneasy.
I tsked. “Does the Devil truly think I’d devour you two?”
Then a sudden thought hit me, and my eyes widened.
“Oh, Hades. Will I?”
Was that the true cost of gluttony unfulfilled? To turn monstrous?
The hounds gave a final glance at one another—then bolted.
“Wait!” I shouted, and stumbled after them.
They didn’t run far.
In mere seconds, the bleakness parted just enough to reveal a wooden door. It stood like a secret in the shadows. The beasts skidded to a stop in front of it, lowering into a crouch—shoulders hunched, ears pinned.
I hobbled forward, every step on fire, and stopped beside them.
“Thank you,” I whispered. “I’ve been running in circles…”
One hellhound cocked its head as if studying me. The other growled and stepped back.
