Chapter 7
When the world stopped spinning, I wondered if maybe my brain was broken, because everything was still dark. Like … not a sliver of light to be seen. I could feel Cronus close by—our bond was not broken yet—but I could also feel another powerful presence.
HowI was feelingthese things, I had no idea, but I was learning pretty fast that to survive—mentally—in this world, I needed to just go with the flow and question very little.
“Now is hardly the time for your dramatic pauses, Thanatos,” Cronus’ deep voice rumbled from nearby. “Reveal yourself.”
Thanatos chuckled, before he clapped his hands twice and suddenly light scorched my eyeballs and I threw both hands up to block the glow. What the hell? Where were we? Did he live on the sun?
Thanatos laughed and I apparently said that out loud, because he replied. “If we were on the sun, you’d be dead, human.”
Right. So right.#TheSunIsHot
“So, where are we?” I asked, managing to squint one eye open, and then the other, my body adjusting. We had definitely left the island. This must be that flashing travel thing Cronus was telling me about.
“The hell realm,” Cronus said, and I gasped.
“Say what now?” I stumbled toward him, my eyebrows lifting up as I eyeballed the fuck out of him. “Did you just sayhellrealm?”
I did not become a vegetarian and donate five hours a week to plastic beach clean-up to end up in fucking hell. I mean, I had done those things for more than just the afterlife, but it was still always in the back of my mind.#UnFuckingFair
Thanatos chuckled again. “Hell, Hades, the Underworld. You’re not up on the old family tree, are you?”
I shook my head fiercely. “Honestly, I know the basics. Aphrodite, Zeus, Poseidon…”
Thanatos and Cronus both snorted.
“All the fuckers hogging the limelight,” Thanatos growled.
I paused. “Aren’t they the most powerful?”
Thanatos howled with laughter, and Cronus almost looked like he was going to crack a smile.
#NotASmiler
It took Thanatos a good few minutes to calm himself.
“I really need to get on Zeus’ PR team,” Cronus said, shaking his head. “If the Fates weren’t trying to kill me every time I went near them, I’d definitely go on the waitlist.”
These guys were insane. This was insane.
Hell realm. Thanatos. #WTF
I took a look around, surprised by the lack of fire and brimstone and torture. It was a long meadow, filled with white wildflowers, and the sun was warm and bright. I was pretty sure there was a trickling brook off in the distance.
“Is this an illusion?” I asked, waving my hands in front of me. “Are you a god of illusion, luring the dead into this false world?”
Now he looked highly affronted; dude wore his emotions on his gorgeous face. “I’m the god of death, sweetheart, and this is the eternity that’s allowed for a few blessed souls.”
The. God. Of. Death.
#Run #FuckingRun
As if Cronus sensed my panic, he reached out and clamped an arm around my shoulders, pinning me to his side. “So what is this favor?” He got right down to business.
Thanatos gave him a smile. “Remember the Elixir of Life?”
Cronus wore a half smirk, but my legs still went a little weak. He was actually hotter when he wasn’t scowling, something I didn’t think was possible.
