The Irin Chronicles Box Set

by T. G. Ayer

  Julian tilted his head and grinned. "I'd also get Persephone back too." Evie had to smile back at him. At least he had a sense of humor. But she couldn't find anything amusing about the prospect of exiling Julian again.

  "But you lost so much when Hades took you."

  "I gained so much too," he replied. "Tell me, where will you be in a thousand years?"

  Evie didn't answer.

  "If I were mortal I would have been dead for more than nine hundred of those years, Evangeline. If I were immortal I'd still be here." It was a sobering thought. All Evie had been thinking about was the unfairness of the young Julian being taken from the only family he had ever known. He'd missed his chance to take back a throne that had belonged to him, missed the chance of a reunion with his mother Julia.

  Evie had been so absorbed in the hurt of his past, she had not thought about his future. A future for him as a newly changed mortal meant he would have to die a slow death in a world so alien from his own. And she would have willingly given him that choice. But she wasn't ready to admit she was being convinced.

  Julian closed the book and returned it to the glassed-in shelf. Then he came to stand in front of her, holding out both his hands he waited for her to take them. "Let's go for a walk. I have something I think you would like to see." When she placed her hands in his he lifted her to her feet and ushered her toward the door.

  Chapter 5

  Julian walked through the warren of tunnels with Evie at his side. Their silence was companionable. Evie, meanwhile, had her thoughts fairly divided between Gavriel's agonies in body and Julian's agonies in mind.

  They'd traveled through the dark passageways until the stone ground gave way to softly packed sand that made Evie think of the seaside. Up ahead the tunnel grew gradually brighter and Evie recognized sunlight, bright beams alternating wide and thin, streaming its warmth into the rocky passage. The tunnel led upwards to surface in the middle of a valley.

  When she glanced around, Evie did a double take. The valley was nature’s most beauteous bounty, beautiful and filled with life.

  Julian led the way, taking hold of Evie's hand. He curled his fingers between hers and walked at a slow pace, allowing her to enjoy the sights she passed in such awe.

  Trees bearing fruit she'd never seen before, their leaves unusually shaped, their trunks covered in barks of a hundreds of different earthy shades. Evie saw plants and flowers few humans would have touched or smelled. She felt so blessed that hot tears singed her eyes. This sight was so far from the dead and barren valley she'd seen on entering the Underworld. It was like a totally different world altogether.

  "What is this place?" she whispered.

  "The Garden of Ep. The place of the pure souls. After judgment, every soul seen to be of pure goodness comes to this field. This is where they spend the rest of their lives.

  "My kind of Hell, I think," she said with a smile. A warmth bathed her cheeks and she looked up, expecting sunlight but there was of course none. The area above them glowed with a twisting swirling light from what looked like a far off galaxy. Orange and red and purple smoky brightness bathed the Orchard.

  She glanced over at Julian who gave her an indulgent smile. "There are many of these havens all over the world. They are like small countries actually. And they exist for the same reason - to house the souls of the good."

  "Thank you for showing me this." As entranced as Evie was she was also grateful for Julian's thoughtfulness. He'd showed her that banishment to Hades was not as bad as it looked. That for the good souls there was still the opportunity to enter a heavenly space to live out eternity.

  "I wanted you to see that being the Ruler of the Underworld is not so bad a card to be dealt. If you want to keep the mantle I will understand but I owe it to you and to myself to show you the real Hades. Most people only know vaguely about the beauty we have here."

  Evie nodded. "Thank you for showing me this place."

  "I had hoped that it would help."

  "It did." She smiled.

  Chapter 6

  The next few hours were a tense amalgamation of minutes and seconds of fear and worry.

  Julian had the whole place on high alert since Ling and Ash had brought the news of Daniel's intention to retrieve the Seals himself. Julian saw it as a threat to Evie's life, especially since she was the one who was bound by the Seals. But Evie considered Daniel a threat to Julian's life because of his lack of immortality and the role he'd played in the past two millennia. He may not be the current holder of the title, but it didn't make his power any less.

  The problem was they had no idea when Daniel would decide to pitch up and stake his claim on the Seals. Julian was still insistent on his proposal to take the title again but Evie was yet to agree.

  Evie walked into Julian's study to find a sullen Persephone, arms folded and face flaming, sitting opposite a darkly silent Julian. Her blond hair fell in ringlets around her face, hiding her expression although Evie knew it would not be pretty.

  "Well, Evangeline, your timing is just impeccable isn't it?" The goddess lifted her eyes and glared icily at Evie.

  "What did I do now?" Evie responded dryly. She was so tired of Sef's patronizing, cold manner. But there was no changing the iciness of the Bringer of Springtime. That was a bit of a joke in itself. It didn't seem logical that the goddess who was responsible for the season that brings life to the world was the same bitter, shrewish woman who'd been making Evie's life a perfect hell these past weeks.

  "It is not what you are doing that is the problem. It is what you are not doing." Persephone clipped the words out, each one dropping like a sharp ice crystal.

  "Which is?" Evie raised an eyebrow in question, the action and her question drawing twin spots of pink anger to Sef's cheekbones. Had it not been for the livid expression in her eyes she would have looked quite attractive.

  "Leaving." Persephone rose to her full height, which though a good head shorter than Evie, was still impressive. Or would have been had the person she was confronting was one of her simpering slaves. Evie was not.

  "As you well know, I can't leave, not until the Bonding has completed."

  Julian shifted in his seat opposite the goddess. "Sef, I've already told you that this is not an easy decision to make. And it is not one you have any involvement in." Julian stared Persephone down, and although he used her affectionate name, his face held nothing to indicate he had a soft spot for her at all.

  She watched his face for a moment and Evie wondered if she was hoping to see some expression on his face that would tell her that he cared about her opinion. Then her face hardened, her jaw clenching tightly. "Well, if you don't do anything about it, I certainly will." She lifted her chin defiantly.

  "What do you propose to do then?" Julian asked, the vein at his temple throbbing. He too masked his fury and impatience with the goddess very well. Evie had to laugh at the civilized fury of the conversation.

  "Escort the creature back to the gates," snapped Persephone before she turned her head abruptly to look away from him and directly at Evie.

  "And what do you suppose that would get you?" Julian asked, his tone even, not once belying how laughable the goddesses plan was. Evie was getting annoyed with his patience.

  "Rid us of her?" She threw Evie a dirty glance.

  "Let me explain this to you, Persephone. The Binding is a spell that Hades cast over the seals." Julian spoke with the patience of a father to an especially unruly child. The mere mention of Hades name cast a grey pall over Persephone's face. If Evie didn't know the woman was a heartless viper, she would have thought the expression looked like longing. "The Binding holds the newly inducted ruler within the boundaries of Hades, in which time they are expected to learn what they can and decide if they wish to stay. I may not have received that luxury but Evangeline has. She will have to decide what she wishes to do. Remain as ruler, or leave."

  "If she wasn't so selfish she would leave. Then you can take back the throne and your imm
ortality too." The goddess cast Evie a glance that would have frozen Evie's blood in her veins had she been a frightened docile female. Good thing she was no such thing.

  "It is not for you to decide," snapped Julian, at last giving in to the pent up frustration of the conversation. He took a deep breath before he continued. "And Evie has to wait out the full twenty-eight days of the Binding time."

  Evie decided that silence would win her more points in this argument. Besides, there seemed to be something else that was bothering Persephone, something more than just vying for Julian's attention.

  The Goddess of Spring knew when she had lost the battle. At Julian's words she got to her feet, turned and stalked out of the room in subdued fury. She had the air of an animal departing the fight, but not slinking away. She moved with purpose as if already planning her return. Evie didn't like it one bit and planned not to be around when Persephone regrouped for round two.

  "How do you put up with her?" Evie asked as she stared at the empty doorway.

  "You will be the one putting up with her soon enough." Evie's head turned sharply and she stared at Julian in realization that those words weighted the decision she needed to make.

  "That means I'd be throwing you to that she-wolf again for another few thousand years," she said raising an eyebrow.

  "Why does that worry you at all? Besides she is another man's wife. Older woman hold little interest for me." Julian smiled and closed the distance, drawing Evie to the sofa. "Evangeline, should you decide to exchange places with me I promise to try and find a way to make you immortal. That is what you have been worried about, is it not?"

  His words made Evie aware that she had managed to keep her angelic identity a secret for so long. She wasn't sure how much longer she could get away with it, though. Not with Daniel's arrival looming. Evie also suspected that there were many people would be unhappy to see a child of Heaven running the black halls of Hell.

  Slowly she realized she had made her decision. The spasm in the pit of her stomach had ended her doubt. The mere thought of seeing Julian die over the next few decades terrified her. At least if he regained his throne he would rule here. Perhaps she could return to visit.

  "So, tell me, if I relinquish this right, could I still return to Hades?" She watched his face half afraid he would say she'd never be allowed to set foot in Hades again.

  Julian smiled and Evie felt her tension ease. "Yes, absolutely. These markings on your arm-" Julian pushed back her sleeve and ran fingers of fire over her engraved skin. "They are the keys to the kingdom. You will no longer require the coins for Charon, nor will Cerberus need to be consoled to allow you to pass."

  "And I can come back whenever I like?" Evie asked.

  "Yes." Julian nodded and smiled, as if reassuring a child.

  Evie looked down and studied the markings etched into the soft flesh of her arm, her own fingers tracing them, so close to Julian's, larger, sturdier digits. She'd been so concerned about the life he'd once lost so very long ago, had been so against throwing him back into servitude to Hades, that she'd completely forgotten that Julian may have his own opinion on the matter. It was clear from his argument that he had no qualms about taking the role on again. He'd sounded like he enjoyed the responsibility as well.

  "Okay." She spoke softly, head still bent, staring at their hands just a breath apart.

  "Mmh?" Julian bent his head closer. Evie nodded.

  "Okay. I'll do it. But only if you want to. Only if you are sure." She searched his face, ready to withdraw her offer at the slightest hint of doubt.

  "Good. I'm glad." He patted her hand again, this time holding on a tad bit longer than was entirely necessary. Which to Evie was entirely too nice for words. Heat rose in her cheeks and she hoped he didn't notice. "It's for the best. It will take me a while to find a way to make you immortal too."

  Evie shook her head, almost spoke but no sound came from her throat.

  Julian had no knowledge that she didn't need his immortality spells, and she didn't want him wasting his time finding one. The difficult thing was to avoid the topic of immortality. At least until she'd transferred the power back to him. Then she would be free to tell him exactly what she was.

  "What?" Julian's face fell, disappointment clouding his eyes. "Don't you want me to find a way to make you immortal?"

  "It's not that. There is something we need to talk ab-" Evie was saved by the sound of his hooves clip-clopping randomly first on hard stone and then, dully on the soft carpet as Pollo darted into the room.

  "Intruder alert," Evie said softly.

  They both faced Pollo who stood bent over, tufts of white hair quivering at his ears, in stark contrast to his rosy red cheeks.

  "Where is he?" asked Julian as he bounded out of his seat. Evie's stomach did a somersault of fear.

  Daniel.

  "Cerberus." The faun wheezed out the word and pointed at the door. As if on command, an angry roar echoed through the tunnels. Goosebumps pebbled Evie's skin at the sound.

  "Make sure that dog is unharmed. The last thing we need is for Cerberus to be hurt in the middle of all this mess."

  Evie nodded in total agreement, feeling the same guarded affection for the three-headed pooch as Julian.

  "Ready?" asked Julian.

  "As I will ever be."

  Chapter 7

  Evie kept pace with Julian as they raced to the cavern, the sound of their pounding feet echoing louder as they approached the open space. Her sword clinked against her hip, an assuring reminder that whatever happened she would be able to defend herself and Julian. Evie suspected that Daniel was much more cunning than they'd given him credit for. He would very likely have found a way to get past Cerberus by now. And he'd be well on his way to reaching the Cavern.

  Where they would soon meet him.

  All the tunnels led to the centrally located Cavern which sat like a fat little spider with twelve skinny legs leading off it, spreading into the depths of the rock palace of Hades. It wasn't what she had imagined at all. Evie wasn't sure what she'd expected, though it was certainly not as grand as a Palace should be.

  The Cavern was the Hall of Judgment, and it made sense that it was central to the structure of Hade's home.

  Greek Mythology was Evie's worst subject and she was grateful to Patrick that she knew enough to get by. He'd always had a way of making things come alive. Evie recalled snippets of a conversation about the Underworld and Judgment.

  She found herself delving far too deeply into faraway memories and pulled herself short.

  For now her concentration should lie with the enemy. It was best to meet an enemy head on. And if there was ever a place so well suited to a fight it was the Cavern. Its high ceiling was at least fifteen feet off the ground, its sloped walls smooth and shiny. The bones of the original natural cavern had only been enhanced by the inhabitants of this world. The stone walls were carved in relief, scenes from Persephone's first arrival, and of Hade's meeting with Hercules. The frescoes brought with them the reality that Evie was very much out of her depth.

  The entrances to each of the twelve tunnels were lit by a pair of burning torches. Errant waves of air rushed through the cavern and caused the torch-flames to flicker. Ghastly shadows danced beside the carved figures on the stone walls. Those breezes always un-nerved Evie as she was never very sure which tunnel provided the air and what mythical creature would follow the breeze. Cerberus and the Chimera were enough for anyone to deal with in the space of two weeks.

  As they rushed into the Cavern, the flickering light fooled Evie's eyes into thinking the carvings were real. Her heart raced from both the headlong run to the Cavern and the eerie images which now surrounded them. Julian appeared unperturbed. Pollo's hooves clacked against the stone floor as he rushed in behind them. The faun's face gleamed bright red. That and his rapid breathing and it wasn't hard to guess he was frightened out of his wits. Evie had to assume threatening intruders were a rare occurrence in Hades. More often than not t
he threat of Hades itself would be a million times scarier than anything that would enter the underworld.

  A rush of footsteps echoed from one of the tunnels snaking toward the Cavern; the one leading straight to Cerberus's lair. Daniel would be unaware Evie had been fore-warned and his apparent lack of care to soften his footsteps confirmed his overconfident arrival.

  Dark shadows spewed forth Daniel's gangly shape.

  Daniel.

  Daniel Feinstein, assistant to the Master of the Irin for almost a decade. He'd blended into the background, remained below the radar. Intentionally. Nobody had ever really known this man who had lived among them for a whole decade.

  Now, the once mild-mannered, scholarly man stood before her, a passionate, feral gleam in his eyes.

  Despite his rapid pace through the tunnels his breathing remained even and unaffected as if he'd merely taken a calm stroll along the beach. Evidently he was much stronger that his skinny frame implied. He stopped just inside the entrance and looked at Evie, giving Julian a transitory glance.

  "Evangeline." He said her name, shaking his head as if she were an errant child caught in the middle of mischief. She remained silent, not at all sure what she was supposed to respond with.

  "Daniel." She inclined her head determined to remain on a sure footing with him.

  "I have come for the Seals, Evangeline." He spoke patiently, again as if convincing a wayward child. But his expression was unnerving, and Evie's heart tripped. A frightening darkness swam in his eyes, and Evie tasted fear in her throat. He muscles tightened, and power emanated from his body. Evie frowned and stared at Daniel. Something wasn't right. Fear rippled through her followed quickly by unease. Something inside her screamed at her but she couldn't understand what it was saying. Frustrated she clenched her fists then opened them, keeping her hand ready to reach for her sword. She was ready to fight him. He clenched his teeth then said, "I have waited far too long for this, you will not stand in my way any longer."