by Leia Shaw
Her face fell and she stared at the ground. “People think I’m a bitch because I’m quiet.”
He’d heard the term before and knew it to be a derogatory word for a female. “A bitch? No. You’re a darling.”
She laughed and it echoed across the cavern. “That’s a bit of a stretch.”
“Well, what are you then?”
Her carefree smile faded. The spot between her eyebrows crinkled. She stared into the fire. “Just a girl. Doing the best she can.”
So vulnerable, this mortal. She wore her heart on her sleeve. She laughed often, trusted easily, even kissed him in spontaneous joy. Other than information, she hid nothing. It was different from what he was used to. In the god realm, everyone had an agenda. Manipulation, deception, treachery – it was all he knew. Samantha was like a breath of fresh air.
“And do you care what everyone else thinks?” he asked her.
She snorted. “Nah.” Then her eyes went distant again.
“But?”
She snapped her gaze to his. With a sigh, she answered, “But sometimes I worry I’ll become it. Self-fulfilling prophecy or something.”
“Become what? A bitch?”
“Maybe.” She shrugged. “Or a screw-up who will never amount to anything.”
“Do you truly believe that?”
Her answering smile seemed forced. “Not as long as I stick to my five-year plan.”
So she didn’t lack ambition, just the circumstances for success. “Samantha.” He waited until she made eye contact before continuing. “Many significant people in history were underdogs.”
She gave him a half-smile and nodded, but he got the impression she didn’t believe him.
He sighed. “Let’s get some rest.”
As they laid together on the quilt, he watched her sleep. Her long lashes fanned out over her freckled skin. Pale lips formed a perfect heart shape. He didn’t think he’d ever forget kissing those sweet lips. Her deep breaths were peaceful, almost hypnotic.
When he was sure she was sound asleep, he wrapped his arms around her small body, imagining, for one night, that he could keep her. What would it be like to fall asleep every night with a woman like Samantha in his arms?
Chapter 7
Something was licking Samantha’s ear. She batted at it sleepily. “Geo, stop it.”
The thing huffed, blowing her hair across her neck. It smelled like dog. Her eyes shot open and she came face-to-nose with a big, black muzzle. Above that, two red eyes glowed in the darkness. She sucked in a breath.
“Erebus,” Geo said from beside her, his voice thick with sleep. “Quit it. You’re scaring the poor girl.”
The shadow hound grunted then disappeared, but she could hear his paws clinking against the rocky ground.
“A little late to save the day, aren’t you Erebus?” she called into the dark. The footsteps stopped as if he were listening. Then he snorted and continued his trot around the cavern.
She couldn’t see much further than a few feet from the glowing embers of the fire. The constant dark was weighing on her. Shifting to sit, she saw flashes of Erebus’ body moving through the dark. She had to admit, she felt a little safer with him there.
Geo sat up next to her. “How’d you sleep?”
She yawned and stretched her aching muscles. And all she had to look forward to was another day of walking. “Surprisingly well. Though every muscle in my body aches, including ones I didn’t even know I had.” She turned to look at him. “I don’t suppose you packed any Icy Hot?”
“Any what?”
“Didn’t think so.”
She spotted her clothing across the fire. Careful not to flash the demon her goods, she rose and pulled on her underwear and jeans. Thankfully, they were dry. She couldn’t say the same for her sneakers which made a gross squishing noise when she stepped into them.
Geo followed her, grabbing his dry T-shirt. “I’ve got some breakfast in –”
He stopped when she turned around and pulled off the shirt he’d lent her.
She sighed. “Really? It’s just my back. Damn, you really are going through a dry spell.”
He grabbed her elbow and spun her around.
“Hey!” She covered her breasts with her arms. “What are you doing?”
His forehead creased as he studied her stomach. “What in Zeus’ name is this?” His eyes narrowed as he ran his fingers over the purple and blue bruises spanning her ribs.
She flushed and tried to pull away but he held firm.
“From falling in the tunnel?” He moved closer. “No. These are old.” His forefinger grazed the deepest one. “The shape of a boot.” His expression darkened when he looked at her. “Who did this?” he demanded through gritted teeth.
With a sharp tug, she pulled from his grasp and slipped her shirt on, covering the bruises. “None of your business.” She was vaguely aware of Erebus standing beside them, watching Geo carefully with those glowing eyes.
He squared his shoulders. “You will tell me.”
Her mouth opened of its own power. She jammed it shut. Bastard was trying to coerce her. “My br –” No! She slapped a hand over her mouth.
He blinked when she’d shaken off his persuasion.
With her best evil glare she placed a hand on her hip. “Now you listen to me! I’m done with the mind fucks. You can’t use your power on me anytime you choose. It’s not fair and I refuse to lose my free will around you. If that’s the way you’re going to be, I’ll find my own way to the Games.”
“Samantha –”
“I mean it.” It was time to lay down some rules. As if encouraging her, Erebus licked her fingers.
“All right,” he said more evenly, the anger fading from his eyes. “I won’t use it except in dire emergency. But that’s as far as I’ll bend on this, dove. Deal?”
She made a show of looking him over before she answered, “Deal.”
He raised his brows. “Now, will you tell me what happened?”
“No.”
“Stubborn.”
“Nosy.”
He laughed and she bit back a smile.
After a quick breakfast of some plain-tasting nuts and water, they made their way through the tunnel once more. She lost track of time. Everything looked the same – dark and oppressing. Erebus travelled with them for a spell. He seemed pleased to bring her various “gifts” he’d either found or, she suspected, killed. A dead rat, an old bone, the head of a lizard-like creature.
She’d held back her gag reflex each time and managed a small thank you. Geo had chuckled quietly.
“He likes you,” he’d said.
The demon dog of the Underworld had a crush. Goody for her.
Around midday, Geo pulled out strips of dried meat somewhat resembling beef jerky. It reminded her of home, and not in a good way. Her brothers fighting over the last bit of food flashed in her mind. No one had ever cared if she went hungry.
Geo also gave her a sweet, juicy fruit she savored. If beef jerky was dysfunctional family dinners, fresh fruit was warm summers on her grandmother’s orchard. Her parents had shipped her there in the summer when she was young. She still remembered the scent of baked apples. She’d spent hours picking blackberries off the bushes, eating more than she collected. Her lips curled in a smile. Her grandma on her mother’s side might have been human, but to a five-year-old the plentiful hugs against her plump body and the goodies constantly baking in the kitchen were all the magic she could ever want.
Geo watched her finish the fruit then lick the juice off each finger. He looked down at his piece then handed it to her. “Here. You can have it.” When she tried to refuse he said, “It’s not my favorite anyway. I prefer the meat.”
She had a feeling he was lying. Even though it was just a silly piece of fruit, her heart melted.
They travelled mostly in silence – stopping here or there for a drink. Sometimes they chatted about the scenery, but there was only so much to say about the endless da
rkness broken up by the occasional rotting corpse.
Growing up in a double-wide trailer with two parents, three older brothers, and a younger sister, silence was a luxury Samantha didn’t often have. But she revered it. She’d learned most humans – especially women – were uncomfortable with silence. They felt obligated to fill it with useless chatter. Like Geo, Samantha didn’t feel it necessary to speak unless there was something worth saying.
A small smile formed on her lips. Last night Geo had called her a darling. Under no circumstances was darling an appropriate term to describe her but it warmed her to her toes that he would say so, even if he was just trying to be nice. When was the last time anyone had said something nice about her? She couldn’t remember. Her brothers called her a fuck-up. Other girls whispered “bitch” behind her back. She figured she was just misunderstood, but no one seemed to care.
But being with Geo was so easy. She was used to her father’s rages when he was drunk or when he’d lost a bet. Yesterday they’d been eaten by a giant worm because of her and he hadn’t even raised his voice. What would it be like to have the unconditional love of a man like that?
She shook her head and scolded herself. Focus! Her sister had been dragged away to some hideous supernatural version of Fight Club and she was daydreaming about the love of a demon. Someone ought to smack her.
“Ow!” She rubbed her forehead where she’d just bumped it on a low hanging tree root. “Stupid karma.”
Wait. Tree root?
“Aha!” Geo said, stopping to stare ahead of them. “Smell that?”
She inhaled a deep breath then sneezed. “Dust and death?”
“No.” He turned around with a wide smile. “Fresh air. We’re almost out.”
Oh, thank the gods! She rushed ahead, grabbed the torch from his hand and pushed by him. “I am so done with this place.”
He laughed and followed closely behind. Another fifteen minutes and she smelled it too. Stale, muggy Underworld air. But fuck it all to hell, she’d take it over that damn tunnel any day.
Light poured through a gap between some boulders up ahead. Ah, blessed light!
She handed the torch to Geo, who stomped it out on the ground. The tunnel opened to a wide cavern like the one they’d spent the night in, only the ceiling was at least fifty feet high. A tall pile of boulders and smaller rocks made a steep incline that led straight to the gap and outside.
She moved toward it but Geo snagged her arm and spun her around to face him.
“You didn’t scan,” he scolded softly then pointed to the ceiling.
She followed his gaze and squinted at the high cavern roof. It was darker in color than the rest of the tunnel but –
Wait. It was moving. Slow, subtle ripples spread across the surface.
“What –”
“Vampire bats.”
Oh yes. Now she saw them – little black rodents packed tightly and hanging upside down on the ceiling. She shuddered. Fucking hate this place.
“If we’re quiet we –”
“Shouldn’t bother them?” She rolled her eyes. “Right. Cause that worked out so well last time.”
He arched a brow. “And whose fault was that?” When she didn’t answer, he continued. “Anyway, let’s just get the hell out of here as quickly and quietly as we can.”
“Agreed.”
Samantha went first, making her way up the incline, using her hands at the steepest parts. Geo followed behind, giving her a push here and there. A few small rocks were kicked loose and fell down the hill, pinging and clinking as they went. Geo and Sam froze, waiting to see if it disturbed the bats. Other than a few twitches, they slept soundly.
They’d made it just twenty or so feet from the top without incident.
Then Geo grunted and Sam turned around just in time to see a large boulder shift under his foot. He jumped to the next one before falling, but the boulder rolled…and rolled…and rolled. Geo cringed as it fell down, rumbling and banging as it went.
“Good one, clumsy,” she hissed when it finally landed at the bottom.
They waited. Two seconds later the flapping began. High-pitched screeches so loud she clapped her hands over her ears, filled the cave. The ceiling seemed to drop as thousands of bats took flight and whirled around the cavern.
“Go!” Geo yelled and shoved her forward.
She scrambled up the last of the rocks as fast as she could. A breeze whooshed by her head and she bit back a scream realizing it was the bat’s wings. She stumbled and fell a few times but kept going despite the pain.
Just a little further.
Geo jumped ahead, grabbed her hand and dragged her to the opening. When they reached it, he shoved her through then followed just behind. They ran through the wooded terrain, dodging tree trunks as big as houses, until the tunnel was out of sight.
When they stopped, Sam bent over to catch her breath. Geo walked a circle around them, scanning the trees. She didn’t care where they were, or if they were in more danger than before, she was just happy to be out of the tunnel of doom. If she died right here, right now, she’d go with a smile on her face.
Geo stalked toward her, his face crinkled with worry. “Are you all right? Did you get bitten?” He took her wrist and studied one arm then the other. Then he picked up her hair and looked over her neck and face.
“No. They didn’t get me.”
Ignoring her, he lifted the front of her shirt. “Hey!” She jumped away. “I said they didn’t bite me.”
He pursed his lips. “Please check. This is important.”
She didn’t want to know why so she didn’t ask. Instead she obliged him, lifting her shirt and looking over her body. “Clear. No bites. You?”
He shrugged. “Doesn’t matter. Won’t affect me.”
She turned a circle. Tall, straight tree trunks surrounded them. Branches with leaves as big as her head grew up high like a canopy. It reminded her of photos she’d seen of Sequoia National Park. Only…bigger. The Underworld could give Texas a run for its money. Everything was bigger in Texas? Try everything was bigger – and more badass – in the Underworld.
“Now what?” she asked Geo.
“We move. I don’t want to stay in this forest long. I smell vampires.”
“Are you sure it’s not the bats?”
He shook his head then pointed behind her through some thinner trees to a group of small, but daunting, mountains.
Her shoulders slumped.
“We’ll travel through there.”
“I was afraid you’d say that.”
A soft smile graced his face as he looked into her eyes. “You amaze me.”
She blinked. “What?”
“For a human, you’re pretty tough.”
She’d ignore the “for a human part” and take it as a compliment. “Thanks. And you’re not so bad for a demon guide.”
He arched a brow. “Not a demon.”
Riiiight.
With a nod of his head, he gestured toward the mountains. “Let’s get moving. I don’t want to be anywhere near Rheol Heaern when the sun sets.”
“Rheol Heaern? Where the Dark King lives?” She’d heard about him. A sorcerer turned vampire banished from Caerwyn – the sorcerer’s homeland in Wales. In an act of spite, he took hold of the Underworld and had been waging war on the sorcerers for the last five centuries. Most say he’d gone mad with lust for power.
“Not anymore. He was murdered by his own daughter. A queen now rules the Underworld. Queen Eirian.”
Why did that sound familiar?
“She’s half-witch, I think,” he added.
The vision of a brunette, hair cut in a bob and the greenest eyes she’d ever seen popped into her mind. “Sage!”
Geo’s brow furrowed. “You know her?”
She grunted. “Yes. Let’s just say there’s no love lost between us.” Samantha hadn’t treated the confused witch very well when she’d literally fallen into Sam’s mentor’s house only a few months ago. Sag
e hadn’t taken too kindly to a sword pointed at her throat. Some people were so touchy. Selene, the witch guide, was Sage’s dead mother’s best friend. After a tearful reunion, the house had been attacked by werewolves and Sage fled – to become ruler of the Underworld apparently. How odd. But she doubted Sage would embrace her with open arms any time soon.
She sighed. “To the mountains it is.”
“Just an hour or two more then we’ll rest. Let me carry your bag and sword.”
“No.” Two things she’d never give up to anybody – not even the demon who’d saved her life.
“Come on. It’ll be at least ten pounds off your back.”
“Absolutely not.”
His eyes narrowed and his voice dropped to a low whisper. “I could make you.”
She arched a brow. “Is that a threat?”
“Maybe.”
“You won’t. You promised.”
“So sure of yourself, little witch.” His expression was fierce yet she got the impression he was teasing her again.
“Maybe I’m sure of you. For some insane reason, I trust you. Don’t make me regret it.”
That made him smile. “Let’s go, stubborn girl. Try to keep up.”
Chapter 8
Geo stayed on hyper-alert as they made their way through the forest. It wasn’t as densely packed as where he lived so it was easier to sense threats here. And thank the gods they were out of that depressing tunnel. He had felt death nipping at his heels, waiting for him to give up or make a mistake.
Samantha had descended into silence since starting for the mountains – not unusual for her, he was learning. Even in silence, he liked her company. He looked back and she lifted her head to give him a small smile. Poor thing must’ve been exhausted yet she didn’t complain. Wouldn’t give up that sword either, damn obstinate woman. Though if it were him, he wouldn’t have either.
Almost an hour later, they left the forest and crossed a grassy valley at the base of the mountain. They would travel through the range instead of going straight up. It would save their energy but still keep them a safe distance from Rheol Heaern and its guard. At the thought of the vicious army of werewolves, worry formed a knot in his chest. Samantha proved to be remarkably strong-willed, resourceful, and quick-witted, but she was still just a girl, barely in her second decade of life.