by Cheree Alsop
“Welcome back, Orion.”
Two individuals stood near the curved windows. The first gave me a cold smile as I found my feet. His face was different from the man I had seen on the Gathering ship, but there was no mistaking his dark green eyes.
“Hades,” I said.
The smile deepened. “You mean, King Tolier,” he corrected.
I shook my head. “I thought Altair was an oracle. Why play both parts?”
The woman at Hades’ side gave a light laugh. “That was my idea. The people were distraught when their prophecy failed. It was time to give them a new one.”
“Filled with torment and despair?” I guessed.
Humor showed in Hades’ gaze when he replied, “You know me well, brother.”
I bristled and took a step forward. The guards to either side of me grabbed my arms to halt my progress. The soldier to my left pressed the blade of his spear against my side. I stopped struggling. “You’re no brother to me,” I spat.
Hades smiled. “Persephone vowed to keep me in the Underworld.” His smile twisted. “In order to survive down there in her immortal state and fulfill your father’s demands, she had to become my queen.”
My stomach turned over and I fought back a wave of nausea. “You lie,” I said. But even as the words left my mouth, I knew it was true. The grim acceptance in my sister’s eyes had said as much.
“Do you want to save your sister?” Hades asked tauntingly. His face changed to that of Altair. “Do you want to undo the mistakes of the past?”
I glared at him and growled out, “I want to stop you from making the same mistakes now.”
Hades took a step forward and his taunting expression changed. Seriousness filled his gaze. “Join me, Orion, and I’ll free your sister from the bonds of the Underworld.”
Whatever I wanted to say to him fled at his invitation. It was the last thing I had expected him to say. The thought of my sister in his clutches warred with the threat he presented to the world. Could I free her and stop him at the same time? Was I strong enough to save them all?
“You’ll have everything you could ever want,” he said. “I’ll even bring Despoine if you’d like. I’m sure she’s pining away somewhere. You could have both sisters back and do whatever you’d like. Pretend to be a family or whatever makes you happy.”
The word twisted from his mouth as though it tasted foul and something glimmered in the Lord of the Underworld’s eyes. The sight made me swallow whatever my answer was going to be.
I straightened and forced my thoughts to slow. Hades was a trickster and would never change. He ruled in chaos. Happiness was so foreign he couldn’t even say it without shuddering. If I allowed myself to get caught in his web, I would never be free of it, just like Persephone. She had made her choice when she fired the arrow at who she thought to be her sister. She now did what she could to amend that error. I would do whatever I could to help her.
“I’m here to stop you, not join you,” I told him.
The light refused to leave his gaze and it scared me. “You say that now, but I’ve a far newer bargaining chip you might be interested in.”
He lifted a finger and the door behind us opened. The sight of Zyla bound and gagged with a trickle of blood running from a cut on her head made me struggle against my captors. The point of the guard’s spear cut into my side. I ignored it even though I could feel blood begin to ooze from the wound.
Zyla met my gaze and her eyes held mine. Though she couldn’t speak, a thousand emotions ran through those beautiful blue eyes. I wanted to destroy anyone who had so much as touched her pale hair. The fact that she was bleeding and a prisoner made the fury rage inside me.
“True love,” Hades said with a dramatic sigh. “How hopelessly unnecessary. You love, she dies, you pine away, you die. It’s a never-ending cycle without a point.”
I tore my gaze from Zyla’s to glare at him. “Let her go. You’re making a deadly mistake.”
Hades lifted an eyebrow. “Am I? I need you by my side, Orion. I need the power of those eyes.” He crossed his arms. “Either you’re with me or you will be a captive of the Underworld to never break free no matter what Persephone says about it.”
The way he said my sister’s name brought the truth to light. I said the words as the certainty solidified in my mind. “You’re afraid of her.”
Hades clenched his hand into a fist and the floor cracked beneath him at the power. “I’m afraid of no one.”
“She’s held you in check for this long,” I said.
The reality of my words showed in his expression before he could quell it. “I am the master of chaos and the ruler of the Underworld. No one holds me in check.”
I allowed a small smile to touch my lips. “Yet it’s taken you this long to break free.” The fact struck me. “Why am I here, Hades? Did fate bring me back, or did Persephone to stop you when you managed to sneak free of your realm?”
Hades sputtered. It would have been hilarious if not for the hatred that darkened his gaze. He opened his hand toward Zyla. Before the guards or I could move, she was dragged across the floor by an unseen force until her throat was in his hands. A squeak of fear escaped her and she looked sideways at me with terror showing on her face.
“I’m losing my patience,” Hades snarled. “Say the words, Orion. Join me or she dies.”
My breath caught. I knew I could fight, but there were too many soldiers on his side and he already had his long-fingered hand around Zyla’s neck.
“Why do you need me?” I forced out past my tight throat.
Hades hesitated as if he didn’t want to admit it, but we both knew he was past the point of lying to me. “Because you’re the key to me staying here. Your power and mine combined would create such a beautiful chaos Persephone could never bind me again. Think about it; the power of the stars combined with the strength of the fallen. The dead will walk the world and terror will reign.” His gaze turned to me knowingly. “But you’ll be able to keep your little section of it safe. You can protect those you care about and run your life. Join me and you will have everything you ever wanted.”
It was at that moment that the truth struck me hard.
I hadn’t come to this battle to win it. I had come to lose.
My legs went weak with the realization. Persephone’s words rang in my mind. ‘It’s time to make your prophecy come true.’
Orion had to fall in order for freedom to rise. I was never supposed to come out of this fight alive. My heart ached at the realization of the position I had unknowingly put Zyla in. If I did what I knew I had to do, neither of us would survive the next few minutes.
“This is your last chance,” Hades said. The deadly certainty of his words felt like a dagger to my heart. “Join me or she just drew her last breath.”
With my hands cuffed behind my back, I was barely able to reach the shark tooth that lay wrapped in my shirt and tucked behind the hem of my pants. I worked it free, grabbed it hard in my right hand, and squeezed. The guard on my right saw what I did and lessened his hold in surprise.
“I can’t join you, Hades,” I said. I used the edge of the tooth to cut through the metal manacles in one swipe. Gratitude filled me that Persephone had made it so sharp. Free of my bindings, I then lifted my hand to show the blood dripping down my palm. “I’m already dead.”
“No!” Hades yelled.
He squeezed his hand tight. A nearly inaudible pop sounded and I heard Zyla’s last breath leave her in a rush. She collapsed to the ground as soon as he released his hold. The woman I had forgotten at Hades’ side screamed as his face changed from its passive guise into the twisted, vile features of the Lord of the Underworld. His red eyes glared at me from his writhing red and black face.
“You’ve made a fatal mistake, Orion. You can never take it back,” he said.
I brought the shirt the tooth was wrapped in forward like a sling. The poisoned shark tooth shot out of it faster than the human eye could follow. It embedd
ed deep into the
Dark Lord’s throat.
“I don’t want to take it back,” I replied. “I want to take you with me.”
As much as I wanted to see the expression on his face as the poison took hold, I only had eyes for Zyla. The light in her gaze faded and went out as I watched. It was more than I could bear.
I tore the spear from the stunned guard’s hand and drove it into the glass floor at my feet. The cracks spiderwebbed and flowed across the clear surface to where Hades writhed in pain.
“Give my regards to my sister,” I said.
The glass shattered and we plummeted to the ocean. The air rushed by with a feeling of familiarity. My fear of heights was gone. The voice in the back of my mind reasoned that when one no longer has a reason to fear death, everything else becomes obsolete.
When I crashed beneath the waves, I didn’t fight to reach the surface. Instead, I swam for Zyla’s still form. Her hands lolled in the water and her hair moved around her face in a golden wave. It reminded me of when I had made the decision to save her life, the decision that had ultimately brought us to this heartbreaking end.
I removed her gag and brought her close to my chest. Holding her gently, I refused to suck in the mouthful of water my body would turn into lifesaving air. I didn’t want it. I didn’t need it. All that I needed was my Zyla. I closed my eyes and let the darkness take over.
***
The sweet scent of dew touched my nose. Something lay against my shoulder. I opened my eyes to see the moon peeking between intersecting mountain slopes. A gentle breeze rustled the leaves of the aspens that glowed in the moonlight. Long grass waved around me with a rustling that calmed my senses.
The pressure against my arm lessened. I looked down to see blonde hair brush against my skin.
“Zyla?” I said. I barely dared to breathe her name for fear that it would turn out to be a dream.
She pushed up to a sitting position and stared down at me; her hair fell in a beautiful pale cascade around her shoulders and glowed in the moonlight.
“Orion? But how?” she asked.
I shook my head as a smile toyed at my lips. “I don’t know how, but we’re here together.”
An answering smile spread across her face. “Yes, we are.”
The sound of gunfire and cries of battle touched my ears.
“What is that?” Zyla asked.
“I don’t know,” I replied.
We rose and walked toward the edge of the meadow. It ended in a cliff that towered above a meandering valley. Beneath us, soldiers fought in huge machines and on horseback. The screams of animals dying combined with the sound of bullets and metal clashing.
“Look,” Zyla said.
I followed her gaze to the sky. Above us, the constellation of Orion glowed brighter until the other stars and then even the moon faded away. The sounds of battle slowed as the valley was lit with the brilliance. Then, when the light was so bright we could barely stand to look at it, the constellation vanished entirely, leaving a patch of darkness where the stars should have been.
The sound of chaos reached us from below as the warring armies reacted to the disappearance of the constellation.
“Your eyes,” Zyla told me. “They’re glowing.” Understanding touched her gaze. “Hades is back?” she asked.
I nodded and held out my hand. “Time to make a difference.”
She slipped her fingers into mine and we began our trek down the side of the mountain.
I might have been destined to fight Hades for the rest of eternity, but thanks to my sister, I would never do so alone.
I gave Zyla’s fingers a small squeeze. She squeezed back with a warm smile that made the words flee from my mind. She was mine forever and I was hers.
Together, we would make eternity safe for all who walk the world. It is our vow and our destiny. Look up and you will never be alone.
About the Author
Cheree Alsop is an award-winning, best-selling author who has published over 45 books. She is the mother of a beautiful, talented daughter and amazing twin sons who fill every day with joy and laughter. She is married to her best friend, Michael, the light of her life and her soulmate who shares her dreams and inspires her with his imagination, his humor, and his love. Cheree works as a fulltime author and mother, which is more play than work! She enjoys reading, traveling to tropical beaches, riding motorcycles, spending time with her wonderful children, and going on family adventures while planning her next book.
Cheree and Michael live in Utah where they rock out, enjoy the outdoors, go on great quests, and never stop dreaming.
ALSO BY CHEREE ALSOP
The Haunted High Series-
The Wolf Within Me
The Ghost Files
City of Demons
Cage the Beast
Ashes of Night
The Silver Series-
Silver
Black
Crimson
Violet
Azure
Hunter
Silver Moon
The Werewolf Academy Series-
Book One: Strays
Book Two: Hunted
Book Three: Instinct
Book Four: Taken
Book Five: Lost
Book Six: Vengeance
Book Seven: Chosen
Heart of the Wolf Part One
Heart of the Wolf Part Two
The Galdoni Series-
Galdoni
Galdoni 2: Into the Storm
Galdoni 3: Out of Darkness
The Small Town Superheroes Series-
Small Town Superhero
Small Town Superhero II
Small Town Superhero III
Keeper of the Wolves
Stolen
The Million Dollar Gift
Thief Prince
When Death Loved an Angel
The Shadows Series
Shadows- Book One in the World of Shadows
Mist- Book Two in the World of Shadows
The Monster Asylum Series
Book One- The Fangs of Bloodhaven
Girl from the Stars
Book 1- Daybreak
Book 2- Daylight
Book 3- Day’s End
Book 4- Day’s Journey
Book 5- Day’s Hunt
The Pirate from the Stars
The Dr. Wolf Series
Book 1- Shockwave
Book 2- Demon Spiral
Book 3- The Four Horsemen
Book 4- Dragon’s Bayne
The Prince of Ash and Blood
Game Breaker
Orion’s Fall
Find more books by Cheree Alsop here: Cheree Alsop’s Website