We won’t have long to get away from here. I’m clutching the chest Hades gave me, my heart racing slightly.
“Yeah, well, we’ll have Sienna with us when we get back, right? So hopefully everyone will be happy rather than pissed,” Carter says grimly.
Tatum nods. “Just do your best, alright?” he murmurs. He’ll hear a lot from everyone, but he’s not bothered. He meets me for a hug quickly before patting Allie’s back, and then motions for us to leave. I’ve put the guards to sleep, but it won’t last long.
I cast one more glance towards Tatum before I slip out through the gates when Ahren appears out of nowhere. He gives Tatum a nod and looks at his watch. “We need to move. Once we cross over, the packs will feel our links break.”
I nod as we all hold on to one another, ready for Ahren to teleport us. I give Tatum one last small smile before we are pulled away with a small puff and reappear in the dark forest afew miles from the Academy.
The location I had chosen.
Ahren is right; we need to move fast. I take a deep breath before I begin locating the weakest spot in the barrier. The rest stand around, everyone silent. It is here. I know that, I’ve been here before…
“We have two minutes before the Academy will realise we’re not there,” Jayce says.
“And about four before our entire families are notified by Tatum,” Ahren adds with a smirk.
“Let her work. Pressure won’t make her go any faster,” Allie cuts in.
“I told Tatum to record the video call so we can see their reactions when we get back,” Ahren adds with a sly grin, trying to lighten the mood.
“Real mature,” Ares says. The tension is thick, and everyone is on edge.
We’ve left our Schattensichts with Tatum, so Leo doesn’t try to track us.
Put these on,I write, opening the chest. I take the large amulets out and pass them around, one for each of us. Sienna’s is safely tucked into my pouch. I close my eyes and chant the words that Hades had given me. Allie watches me closely. She’s the only one who can hear my inner voice.
“Maybe they’ll understand,” Renji says with a small smile, but I can tell he’s worried. “As long as Tatum gets to tell themwe’re not dead. I mean, Dad’s going to feel five pack-links break. If he doesn’t answer the call straight away, he’ll think we’re dead…”
“Too late to think over that, but I do want Dad to think I’m dead,” Allie says flatly. “That would be fun. Shame I wouldn’t be able to watch him panic.”
I keep chanting, zoning them out as I focus on the veil. Slowly, I can see the slight ripple growing and begin to see the crack materialise, and then sense the same energy I felt when Hades made himself known. It fills the air around us.
This power is Hades’. He’s opening this portal for us.
The price I paid was worth it.
“Hold on,” Theo says, and I feel his hand on my shoulder. I sense everyone move closer, and then there’s immense pressure, and we’re sucked through, surrounded by pure darkness.
I feel myself spinning violently, the amulet burning against my skin, then something tugs inside of me, and I gasp. The air around me changes, and then we’re falling. So fast I can’t even change positions, as if my body is disconnected from my mind.
I can sense the others around me, but even when I try to open my eyes, I can’t see anything.
And then I’m landing on something firm, but soft. I gasp upon impact, the fall still knocking the breath out of me. I try to gather my senses as I open my eyes.
It’s neither dark nor light. I can’t see a sun or a moon.We’re on some kind of green field. I look down, and my eyes widen in horror.
No… no!
I panic, touching my waist. My herbs! My weapons! I look at my hands. My nails are black and slightly longer than my own, dark green, almost black, runes and patterns wrap around my arms and legs like tattoos.
I search the ground, my heart filling with relief when I spot Sienna’s amulet. My hands shake as I snatch it up and try to calm my emotions. For a moment there, I thought it was lost.
We aren’t wearing what we were wearing on Earth.
A heavy cloak falls around my shoulders. It feels luxuriously soft, like velvet, leather, and water all at once. It’s a beautiful shade of ivory, and the clasp is made of a gorgeous gold with a thunder symbol upon it. I look up to see Jayce, with a grim frown on his face, his eyes averted as he moves away.
My eyes widen as I look him over. He looks like Jayce… but at the same time, he looks different. He looks like… a god.
