“Salem don’t believe its lies.”
“Walker?” I hear him, is he alive? Why can’t I see him?
“Salem, don’t believe it. It just wants to use you.” Walker’s voice says.
I don’t know what’s the truth and what’s a lie. I want more than anything to have Walker back. The life I see is one where we’re all together. Happy, and back at Kildale. The sun shining as we walk together hand in hand. Javelynn is there, and Jackson. “This could be yours. I see your heart’s desire and I can make it so.”
“Remember The Fates, Salem.” Skye’s voice breaks through. “It ends in spite of fire and lies.”
I open my eyes. I know what I have to do.
I grasp at my power and shove everything back into the box. Our combined magic sends it screaming. We melt the crack with the fire, welding it shut. The moment the hole is sealed up, we both collapse. Pierce catches me, and Lukas is able to grab Skye. The battle has stopped, and Hades has both Chaos and Persephone clasped in irons. They fight against his hold, but it’s of no use.
It’s over. We won. I fall on my knees, and Pierce crouches beside me. “I need to see him.” I croak out.
He nods and helps me over to him.
Walker’s body looks peaceful laying on top of a heap of bodies. I run my fingers over his face as tears spill freely down my face. I caress his scar. “Come back to me.” I plead, leaving a kiss on his still lips. “Is there anything I can do?” I ask no one in particular.
“If you hurry, you may catch his soul before he crosses the river.” Hecate says. I look at my father, and he sighs.
“There’s been enough death today.” He waves his hand and I watch as Walker’s eyes flutter open as he gasps in a breath.
“Oh my god.” I throw myself down onto him. “You’re alive?”
He groans, sputtering out a cough. “I guess so. Fuck, it hurts.”
“That just means you’re real.” I say taking his face in my hands. “Don’t leave me again.”
“I’ll try my best.” He promises, and I kiss him again, this time with him able to kiss me back. My magic thrums in my chest, swirling around our bond.
“Thank you.” I tell Hades, and he looks uncomfortable with the attention, giving me a nod, before having Persephone and Chaos hauled away.
CHAPTER63
Chapter Sixty-Three
WALKER
SONG: ALL THE KINGS HORSES BY KARMINA
The battlefield’s being cleared, and we’re headed back to the palace. Bodies lay in piles, and a shiver runs through my spine knowing that I was one of them. A lingering pain sits in my chest, but I’ll take it over not being alive. I don’t remember the moments after I died, I just knew that there was a nothingness. An absence of pain and then I was being pulled back into my body, the rush of sensations overwhelming me. The Sins have been captured, and Medusa’s been turned to stone while the other traitors attempt to flee. “So, are we free to leave?” Salem asks Hades.
“Good luck with that! I saw you eat those pomegranates.” Persephone gloats as she’s being pulled by her chains. Her smile is deranged, her hair matted down with blood as she spits on the ground near Salem’s feet.
“Wait. Is that true?” Hades asks whirling on Persephone and grabbing her by her grubby chin digging his nails into her skin as he sneers down at her with a snarl
“I gave them a little taste of my famous drink.” I’d completely forgotten about the pomegranates that Salem ingested when we first arrived. Worry crawls along my skin at what that could mean for her.
“Enjoy your time rotting in Tartarus, my dear. I hope it was worth it.” His eyes flick over her face devoid of any emotion before he lets her go with enough force that it throws her back. Waving his hand, he gestures for the guards to continue taking her away. I don’t miss how he wipes his hands on his armor, as if trying to erase the feel of her skin from his.
“What does that mean?” Salem asks. “What was she saying about the pomegranates?”
Hades pauses before answering. “It means you’re bound to the Underworld. You’ll be required to live down here. How many of you ate the fruit?”
Garrison comes forward, “Just Salem and me.”
My mind snags on the fruity pink drink we’d been presented with when we first arrived. I didn’t touch the stuff. “How long will they have to stay down here?” I ask, trying to decide if this place is going to be my new home.
