Cerberus shook his head. “I don’t know. Now’s as good a time as any, to see if Lexi’s loophole works.”
Fucking barter contracts.
He and Cerberus returned to the main room of the house. They stayed at the edge of the living room, with Lexi and Icarus on the far side.
Icarus held up the bracelet. “The plan is painfully simple, but that doesn’t mean it’s going to be easy. The two of you beat on Hades until he’s weak. Preferably at least as worn down as he was on the street. Then Lexi puts this on.” He handed her the jewelry.
“And then he’s imprisoned.” Lexi dropped the titanium circle into her pants pocket.
This was such a bad idea. Every point in the plan held an infinite number of opportunities for failure. “No one else can do this?” Actaeon knew the answer, but he needed to hear it one more time.
“Don’t make us have this conversation again.” Icarus sounded exhausted.
If Actaeon was the only one going into things well rested, that was bad.
“How do we get to the underworld?” Cerberus asked. “Call Apollo? Someone else?”
“Lexi will take us.” Icarus nodded in her direction.
She would?
Her jaw dropped. “I will?”
Icarus turned to her and took her hands. “I give you my word that I’ll explain when this is over. I’ll answer every question you have. For now”—he tugged her with him as he crossed the room, and placed her and Actaeon between him and Cerberus—“join hands, boys and girl, and let’s take a field trip.”
“How?” Lexi asked.
Icarus screwed his face up. “You don’t have any ruby slippers, but I say you Dorothy it.”
“I don’t get that reference.”
Cerberus gave a strained laugh. “Assuming he’s not talking about flying monkeys taking us, click your heels together three times and say, there’s no place like home.”
“But”—Icarus’ shout was jarring—“picture the underworld when you do it.”
Lexi looked at everyone. When her gaze fell on Actaeon, he shrugged. “I’m just the muscle.”
She smiled. “And I’m grateful for that.” She closed her eyes, clicked her heels together, and moved her lips.
Actaeon’s body fell away, and he tumbled into nothingness as the world vanished.
And then they were in front of Persephone’s house. Though it had only been a few weeks, the yard was overgrown, and the paint was peeling from the wood.
It was a sad thing to see. Lexi’s gasp said she felt the same.
“You are good, my child.” Hades’ voice came from behind.
They whirled, to find him standing next to Cassandra.
“You brought the inventor. Lorelei.” Hades roared, and it shook the world. “Your favor remains unfulfilled.”
“She didn’t account for every scenario.” Defiance replaced the exhaustion that had been in Lexi’s voice moments earlier. “If you want my opinion—and I figure you must, since you keep trying to talk to me—she’s an arrogant bitch and not a great business partner.”
Actaeon liked the venom in her words. Pissing off Hades, and probably Lorelei, didn’t seem like the wisest decision, but it held a great deal of satisfaction.
“You’re really bringing this fight to my doorstep?” Hades asked.
Actaeon had his bow drawn, and Cerberus was in hellhound form.
“Where I’m strongest?” Everything rattled with Hades’ question.
Actaeon let an arrow fly. It disintegrated before it reached Hades.
Well, fuck.
“I’m not worried about it,” Icarus said.
Actaeon was.
Hades grinned. “As those wacky kids used to say, come at me.”
That was so two-thousand-late. Actaeon fired a volley of shots, but none reached their target. He glared at Icarus. “This is a shitty plan.”
Icarus tilted his head next to Lexi’s and whispered something.
She gave him a puzzled look.
“Do you trust me?” Icarus asked.
“Yes.”
Would Actaeon get the same immediate, certain response, if he asked her that question? Did he deserve it? It didn’t matter right now.
“Do it,” Icarus said.
Lexi’s lips moved again, but whatever she muttered didn’t reach Actaeon’s ears.
He kept firing at Hades, and one shot connected with the god’s shoulder. That was more like it. Actaeon smiled, and Cerberus charged in.
Actaeon and Cerberus continued the assault, but Hades didn’t budge. The longer Actaeon fought, the more it drained him. Cerberus was slowing as well.
Hades wore a scowl, but he wasn’t staggering or fumbling the way he had on earth.
This was a bad idea. Why did they bring this fight to him, again?
Actaeon reached inside and summoned a massive ball of energy. The arrow knocked Hades off balance, and Cerberus lunged, pushing the advantage. Actaeon swapped bow for dagger and buried the blade under Hades’ ribs.
Hades elbowed Actaeon in the jaw. Even without a fireball, the pain seared through Actaeon’s skull and sent him flying.
They weren’t doing enough damage. Actaeon only had so many tricks up his sleeve, and they all involved attack harder.
Hades appeared in front of him, gripped his throat, and raised him off the ground.
Actaeon kicked, but something kept his feet from swinging. He clawed and gasped for air.
Cerberus sank the teeth of one jaw into Hades’ arm, his second head went for his side, and the third clamped onto the god’s thigh.
Hades dropped Actaeon but drew a fingernail across his skin in the process, leaving a wide gash in his neck.
Actaeon pressed against the wound, and blood poured over his hand, thick and slick. It had been a long time since someone did this kind of damage to him.
Hades flung Cerberus aside like a ragdoll, then kicked Actaeon in the gut.
Actaeon struggled to climb to his feet but dropped back to his knees. Pain rose inside, and darkness clawed at the edges of his vision.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
Lexi felt every blow Actaeon and Cerberus took. She was doing what Icarus told her—hoping, wishing, and every positive -ing there was—that Actaeon and Cerberus would win.
“This is bullshit,” she said to Icarus. “Thoughts and prayers never saved anyone.”
“Because no one else is you. If you don’t have faith in yourself, Zee, no one else will.”
She liked the nickname coming from Icarus. His words didn’t make a lot of practical sense, though. She couldn’t just turn off her self-doubt.
He stepped behind her. It was an oddly intimate gesture, given the circumstances. “You said you trusted me.” Desperation ran through his voice.
“I do.”
“I know you can do this. If your confidence isn’t enough, borrow mine.”
“Do what?” She couldn’t figure out what he wanted from her. But if he thought she could do whatever it was, she’d try. She shoved as much doubt as she could to the back of her mind and let the desire to help Actaeon and Cerberus flow through her.
Music drifted to her ears. It was beautiful and terrifying. Lorelei.
The illusion in front of her fell away. Actaeon and Cerberus weren’t as injured as they believed. There were no cuts or bruises. Hades didn’t stand so straight, and he favored his right shoulder.
Lexi was seeing through the siren’s illusion. That shouldn’t be possible, but she was doing it.
Where the fuck was the Lorelei? Lexi searched the area, trying to see past shadows. The atmosphere in this place crushed in around her. Hades’ power churned in her gut and tried to fill her with panic.
She fought the sensations. If she squinted, she could see an outline a few feet back from Hades. It was Lorelei. The siren’s eyes were closed, and her neck strained with her song.
Actaeon landed at Lexi’s feet and didn’t move for several seconds. He pushed to his knees, arms wob
bling. Blood ran down his neck, but it was a siren illusion.
Lexi crouched next to him and touched his cheek. “It’s not real.” She kept her voice low, not wanting Hades to hear about her discovery.
“It hurts like fuck.” Actaeon sounded exhausted. He found his footing and charged back into the fray.
Lexi needed to do something else. She’d injured Lorelei in the prison. Could she do the same here?
Icarus took her wrist. “It’s worth a shot.” He handed her the siren dagger Cerberus had brandished. .
How did he know what she was thinking?
Lexi made the dagger invisible. She didn’t dare do the same to herself. Hades might not be paying much attention to her, but he’d notice if she blinked out of sight.
“Draw his attention away from me.” She sent the mental request to Cerberus.
He wove around Hades’ legs and darted away from Lexi. Actaeon followed his lead.
Lexi hoped Lorelei stayed distracted. She crept toward the siren, stepped behind her, and raised the dagger.
Memories spilled into her thoughts. The prison. Slicing Lorelei with an imaginary weapon. The blood that coated her hands.
Bile rose in Lexi’s throat, and she hesitated. She hadn’t killed the siren then. What made her think she could do it now?
I have to.
Could she take a life? Death wasn’t Lexi’s to deal.
“I shouldn’t have asked that of you. Let it be my burden.” Icarus stood next to her.
She hadn’t said the words aloud, but she wasn’t surprised he answered her. He took the knife and sliced Lorelei’s throat in a single swipe.
The air shattered, shards of energy and illusion crashing down around them. It was similar to when Persephone died, and Hades was released.
Lorelei collapsed, and her illusion of injuries vanished.
Hades roared. “Irritating child.”
Before he could turn, Actaeon and Cerberus were attacking again. They’d shaken off the non-existent pain.
The only person who remained unaffected was Cassandra. She stood in the same spot. Watching. Unmoving and unspeaking.
Actaeon stabbed Hades, and the god faltered.
Cassandra screamed, as though she was being dragged across hot coals.
Lexi felt compelled to help her. Was it guilt? Fuck, Lexi didn’t need this. Cassandra-Hades’ words from Icarus’ shop echoed in her head. Could Lexi actually paint a demon trap on the ground, using a tangible illusion?
“It’s worth a shot,” Icarus said.
Lexi should be freaked out he was picking up on her thoughts. Instead, she was grateful. It felt as though half her inspiration came from him. “I don’t know anything about a binding circle.” She’d seen them, when Cerberus was trapped in one and then when Hades created one around Lexi. But observing and recreating were two different things.
“I think it’s more about the intent than characters or language.”
I think didn’t reassure Lexi. The bracelet suddenly felt heavy in her pocket. She traced its outline while she pictured a circle.
Cassandra screamed a string of gibberish.
Actaeon and Cerberus fought Hades. He was taking damage now, but it wasn’t enough.
Lexi couldn’t focus enough to create an illusion, let alone a tangible one.
“Yes, you can. You don’t have a choice.” Icarus’ voice was firm.
She clung to his faith in her and pictured a six-pointed start on the ground.
Hades glanced at his feet and laughed. “You’re yanking my chain with this. You must be.”
Make it real. The command shouted from Lexi’s head at the same time Icarus spoke the words aloud.
Hades’ glow vanished. “What?” His yell pushed the edges of Lexi’s focus.
She poured more into the illusion. If he kept fighting her, she wouldn’t be able to hold him. She reached for the bracelet.
Icarus covered her hand. “He’s not weak enough yet.”
Actaeon stabbed Hades again, and the god fell to his knees.
Lexi fingered the jewelry.
“Not yet.” Icarus was insistent.
Cerberus tore a chunk from Hades’ throat.
“Wait for it,” Icarus said.
Lexi wanted to shout at him to shut the fuck up. She fumbled, and the bracelet fell to the ground. “Shit. Fuck. Damn it.” She lunged to retrieve it and lost her focus.
Her circle vanished. Hades stood, his wounds healing almost as quickly as they’d been delivered.
Cassandra darted past Lexi and grabbed the jewelry, as Lexi reestablished the circle.
Icarus reached for Cassandra, but she snapped the bracelet on before he could get to her.
No. Nonononono.
Actaeon plunged his dagger into Hades’ chest as Cerberus went for his throat again.
Cassandra screamed as though she was being torn to shreds, and vanished.
Hades exploded in a cloud of energy. The atmosphere wobbled against Lexi’s skin, and a nauseating wave passed through her.
“Shit.” Icarus grabbed her hand and yanked her toward the others.
Lexi needed answers. “What’s going on?”
Everything around them exploded, the way it had in Lorelei’s prison. Lexi and Icarus weren’t in the underworld anymore. They stood on a sidewalk, in front of the house Lexi grew up in. Not the labyrinth version, but the real thing.
People milled about in other yards, and a little girl was watching Lexi. “Are you all right? Where did you come from?”
Lexi wanted to answer, but the voices were back, screaming in her head.
Where were Actaeon and Cerberus?
Aphrodite appeared on the sidewalk next to the girl. “Oh you sweet child.” She looked at Lexi. “What have you done?”
And then Zeus arrived. His face was twisted with ugly anger.
“Honey, leave the gods alone.” A woman’s voice came from inside the house. She sounded terrified.
“You two, with me. Now.” Zeus spoke through clenched teeth.
Aphrodite stepped between him and Lexi. “No.”
Zeus growled. Lighting and thunder crackled through the sky. “This isn’t up for debate.”
“Then I’m coming with them.” Aphrodite seemed unfazed.
“I don’t care. Fine. Whatever. Now.”
Lexi’s world changed again. She hadn’t adjusted to the last one yet. Her limbs were heavy, and her brain couldn’t keep up. The voices in her head screamed so loudly, it was difficult to hear the gods. So many voices. What did they want with her?
She fell to her knees and vomited.
Her world went black.
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
Icarus lifted Lexi from where she’d collapsed, and set her on Zeus’ couch. If he wasn’t so concerned, he’d be amused she threw up on Zeus’ rug. But it had been a long time since he’d seen Zeus so furious, and the anger probably had little to do with a vomit-covered rug he could clean with the flick of his wrist.
Aphrodite handed Icarus a cool, damp washcloth she’d produced from thin air. He dabbed Lexi’s forehead and wiped her face clean. He could go into her head and see if she was all right, but it felt like a violation. He felt bad about what he’d picked up on in the underworld without her permission. They’d need to figure out the link, but now wasn’t the time. Especially with Zeus watching.
Did Zeus know about Lexi? Icarus had a feeling he didn’t. Aphrodite did, though. She was the one who told Lexi’s dad that Lexi wasn’t a hero. Lexi was a goddess.
It was going to be a lot of fun explaining this to her. The only reason he didn’t do it before the fight with Hades was because the information would be distracting.
Icarus wasn’t looking forward to telling her he didn’t know where Actaeon and Cerberus were.
Lexi groaned, and her eyelids fluttered. She wobbled as she sat, then turned a scowl on Zeus. “What?”
“That’s my question. What the fuck did you do?” Zeus’ voice shook the room.
It was nothing, compared to Hades’ making the entirety of the underworld tremble with a single word.
Icarus rolled his eyes at the theatrics. Now that he thought about it, the whole shout and make glass rattle stopped being terrifying about two-thousand years ago.
Lexi didn’t flinch. “You tell me. As in, actually tell me, instead of spinning a bullshit story about how Hades can’t die. What did we do?”
“You idiotic child. You destroyed him.”
It was true, then. They’d done it. The combination of Lexi cutting off his power just as he was bound, and Actaeon striking at the same moment. Icarus never would have imagined this as an outcome. Cassandra was probably gone too. Actaeon and Cerberus were all right though, weren’t they?
“What happened to Hades can’t be killed?” Icarus asked flippantly.
“Where are Actaeon and Cerberus?” Lexi stood. She wavered on her feet, and Icarus wrapped an arm around her waist.
Zeus’ face was red. “Don’t ignore me when I’m speaking to you.”
“Shut up, old man,” Aphrodite said.
Icarus swallowed a snort of laughter.
Zeus turned his fury on Aphrodite. “Hades wasn’t just the god of death, he was the underworld. Locking him away meant the underworld stayed intact. Killing him destroyed it all. Tartarus, the Elysium Fields—it’s all gone. The dead no longer have a home.”
Creation. That was bad. “Why didn’t you mention that sooner?” Icarus demanded.
Zeus glared at him. “I don’t owe you anything. Or the girl. It was a simple request—build a new prison and trap Hades inside—and you fucked it up.”
“Where are Cerberus and Actaeon?” Lexi stalked forward until her nose almost touched Zeus’.
Zeus looked like his fury might crack his face. The rage morphed into a sneer. “I don’t know. They weren’t with you, and I can’t feel them. You tell me.”
“I don’t know either.” Lexi frowned and stepped back. She looked at her hand, and then at Aphrodite. “Can I follow these?”
Aphrodite shook her head. “You can try, but I can’t see where the threads lead. I don’t feel Cerberus or Actaeon either.”
“Do you care what you’ve done?” Zeus asked.
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