Gods of Chaos (Red Magic) (24 page)

“You already said that. Back in Edinburgh.” I used my athame to cut the bonds around his ankles. “In fact, you said it more convincingly the first time.”

Marcus flexed his muscles and grunted. “We better move.”

“Can you even stand up?”

He wobbled a bit, but he stood in one try. “We have to leave. Now.”

I nodded and turned toward the tunnel, but I froze. Passageways led off in every direction like the spokes of a wheel, and they all looked exactly the same. Marcus saw my expression and turned pale.

“You don’t know the way out, do you?”

“Don’t get arrogant with me! I rescued you, didn’t I?”

He snorted. “Some rescue. Did you have a plan at all, or are you just winging it?”

I studied the tunnels, trying to spot something that would guide us. “Stop complaining. We have to get out of here. Then you can go back to hating me.”

Finally, he shrugged. “Then let’s get out of here.”

“Do you have any suggestions?”

He stared at the tunnels. “This is the Otherworld, right?”

I nodded.

He closed his eyes and creased his brow in concentration. “I think I remember learning something about the different worlds. How they’re layered.”

“What, like a cake?”

He chuckled. “Sort of. They all exist simultaneously, and it should be possible to travel from one directly to another.”

I didn’t want to tell him I’d already done that. I balked at the idea of going back to Annwn. “How is going to another Underworld going to help us?”

He lifted his eyebrow. “You did an awful lot of bragging about the Greek Underworld.”

Realization dawned on me. “You think Hades would help us?”

“He’s helped you before, right?”

I nodded slowly, thinking about it. “So we have to get from here to the Greek Underworld.” How in the world am I supposed to do that?

Marcus shrugged. “Unless you have another suggestion.”

I shook my head and looked around for another gate. Idiot. Of course it wouldn’t be that easy. With a sigh, I took out the crystal sphere that Hades had given me. Marcus looked at it and took a step backward. He licked his lips nervously.

“What?” I looked from him to the sphere. “It’s just a rock.”

“It’s powerful. Can’t you feel it?”

I shook my head, confused. “What do I do now?” I asked, hating the helpless tone in my voice.

“I don’t know. Maybe if we both focus on Hades?” He glanced at me curiously. “What’s it like there?”

“It’s underground, like this, but not warm. There are gems in the walls, raw, uncut gemstones, and precious metal like graffiti on every surface. And there’s a river.” I spoke slowly, my voice dropping into the low tones of trance. I was barely aware when Marcus reached out his hand and covered the crystal with it. The cavern spun, and we were plunged into blackness.

***

I blinked, confused. We were in a dark cave with a sluggish river, but I knew right away this wasn’t the Greek Underworld.

Marcus looked around expectantly. “Shouldn’t that three-headed dog be around here somewhere?”

A voice laughed. “Not here, boy.”

We turned to face a beautiful woman leaning beside a wooden door.

Marcus looked at me. “That’s Persephone?” he whispered.

I shook my head, and fear began to spread over his face.

“Where are we?”

The woman snorted, not looking at us. “You could ask that of me, boy. The girl does not know. It would be wise to be gracious toward your host.”

His Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed. “I’m sorry; I didn’t mean to be rude. Where are we?”

“You are in my realm. It and I share a name. Can you guess that name?”

I stared at the woman. Was this another fairy playing a trick on us?

She snarled, reading my mind. “Do not compare me to those flimsy folk. My people are much stronger, much more powerful, than a fairy could ever hope to be.”

Okay, not a fairy. Probably a goddess, then; Aphrodite had been able to read my mind, and it seemed like Hecate could, too. I stared at the woman intently. There was something familiar about her, but I couldn’t put my finger on it.

“Who are your people, Lady?” Marcus asked respectfully.

The woman cackled. “Ask the girl. She knows.”

Marcus glanced at me, his eyes clouded. “What is she talking about?”

“I have no idea! I thought we were going to Hades, but this isn’t right.”

“This isn’t right,” she mocked. “How right you are, girl! It isn’t right that I am disrespected at my own gate. You dare to travel in my realm, and yet you refuse to answer my question?” She swelled in size, towering over us, and for the first time she looked straight at me. I shuddered. Half of her face was the beautiful face we’d seen, but the other half was carved with age like a ragged crone. Her fiery eyes blazed at me, and I felt my memory stir.

“Have I met your family?” I asked cautiously.

“My father offered you a bargain. A bargain which you refused. I do not like it when my family is insulted.” Her eyes burned into mine, and I took a step back, feeling cold.

“He didn’t mention your name.”

She laughed wildly, still looming before us. “Why should he? All men know my name. I am Hel.”

“Hell indeed,” Marcus muttered to me, pulling me back another step. “Who’s her father?”

I looked at him, frightened, and whispered, “Loki.”

Hel laughed and both sides of her face contorted. “That’s right, boy; my father is the master of chaos. And this girl dared to spurn his offer of friendship.”

My stomach twitched in fear, but I couldn’t help myself. “He didn’t offer me friendship. He offered a bargain, like you said.”

The goddess stepped closer to me. I couldn’t take my eyes off her wrinkled skin.

“Give me one reason why I should not destroy you this moment?” she hissed.

Marcus jerked my arm, pulling me back. “We don’t mean you any harm!”

At the same moment, I said, “Because I want to take your father up on his offer.”

Marcus stared at me and Hel laughed, but her eyes looked uncertain. “A fine lie, girl, but not good enough.”

“Do you know the bargain we discussed?” I asked cautiously.

She bared her teeth. Half were perfect pearls, and half were rotting in her mouth. I swallowed back bile and forced myself to look at her.

“I know that he was most disappointed,” she hissed, “when you turned him down.”

“He didn’t say I had a time limit. I’ve been thinking about it.”

She stared at me. “And what of the boy?” She jerked a finger toward Marcus.

I took a deep breath. “He’s my friend. I need his help to do what your father asked.”

Thankfully, Marcus didn’t speak. He turned away, crossing his arms, and studied the wooden door. His shoulders were tense, and I knew he was going to question me later, but at least he was going along with it for now.

The goddess glared at me. “If you are tricking me, Witch girl, you will not see the light of day again.”

“I’m not. I need to speak with your father.”

Hel gestured away from the door, into the darkness of the cavern. “You will find him there. The bowl is about to be emptied. You might want to hurry, unless you want to be caught in a cave-in.”

With those words, she vanished, leaving a swirl of black smoke in the air.

I started to walk in the direction the goddess indicated without looking at Marcus. “Are you coming?”

Marcus’s words were clipped. “What bargain?”

I turned, meeting Marcus’s eye. “What do you mean?”

His fist smashed into the stone and I jumped, startled. He hit the wall again. “Don’t screw with me, Darlena. What bargain are you going to make with Loki, and why am I involved?”

I looked down at my hands and whispered, “He said he can help me bind Hecate.” Thinking quickly, I added, “Maybe he would even help us find Izzy.”

“And in exchange?”

“Nothing major.” I started walking again, and Marcus followed after a second.

“If you lie to me, I won’t help you.”

“What if you don’t like the truth?”

“I’ll decide for myself once I hear it.” He crossed his arms and glared at me.

I tipped my chin up and faced him. “He wants me to free him.” We had come into the cavern I remembered from my dreams. The god was still bound, and the same woman stood over his face holding the bowl. I thought about what Hel had said about the bowl being emptied, and hurried forward. I didn’t want to be underground when Loki started thrashing around.

“I knew you’d come.” Loki’s smile was twisted, but I forced myself to smile back.

“Will you still help me?” I tried to keep the eagerness out of my voice, but Loki’s eyes glinted as if he’d won.

“You remember the price?” he rasped.

I glanced at Marcus, who shook his head slightly. “Yes, I do.”

“And you are willing?” He tried to sit up, but his chains prevented it. They rattled mournfully as he moved, and I looked at his bonds for a minute before I answered. They were strong enough to hold Loki; I had to believe they’d trap the Queen, too.

I took a gulp of air. “Yes. To stop Hecate, yes.”

He cackled. “Very good. When I am free, I will help you.” He swiveled his head around and looked at Marcus. “And with your help added to the pot, boy, I’ll even free your sister.”

I stared at him in surprise. I had planned to ask for his help, but I hadn’t got around to it yet. Loki chuckled sharply. I glanced at Marcus, but his face was expressionless.

“Husband,” the woman at his side spoke urgently, “I must empty the bowl.”

Loki’s eyes locked with mine. “See that you don’t fail.” His wife moved the bowl, and a drop of venom plunged into his eyes.

I turned away just as he started to scream. The rock walls shivered and the ground rolled under my feet. Running, I grabbed Marcus, ignoring the electricity that shot through my hand.

“What’s happening?” Marcus yelled, following me.

The tunnel grew unbearably hot, and I ran faster. “We have to get out of here!”

Jets of steam pressed through the rock around me, and with sick certainty, I suddenly knew where we were. I skidded to a halt and Marcus crashed into me.

“What the hell is going on?”

I looked at him, petrified. “I think we’re inside a volcano.”

Steam shot past me, punctuating my words.

“What?” Marcus stared at me in disbelief.

“‘When Loki shakes, the earth quakes!’” I quoted something I’d read on the Internet. “We’re so screwed.”

The tunnel filled with a roaring sound. “We have to do something!” Marcus was yelling, but I could barely hear him over the sounds of the mountain.

“What?”

“Magic!” He extended his hand to me.

I shook my head, frustrated. “It won’t work!”

“Different Underworld, different rules. We have to try.”