Before the Dawn

Chapter Nine

With a sigh of content, I snuggle deeper into my warrior's embrace. Cradled in his loving warmth, a soft smile forms on my tired lips. I could spend eternity right here in his arms and I'd be content. Closing my eyes, I pray that nothing will ever come between us.

Weeks pass and life in the Underworld goes on as usual. When Declan tells me about what he learned in the mortal world, he doesn't tell me the entire truth, just as I'd suspected he would do. He says that my friends are all right and he thinks that Theo is lying low. Not once does he mention that humans know about the gods. He's trying to protect me, I know. My safety is what matters the most to him and I can't be mad at him for that.

I read my journals every chance I get, learning more and more about my early days with Arawn. Our life together was so easy, so right. Nyx and Erebus approved of Arawn immensely and even came to stay with us in the Underworld. Hades and I became like brother and sister, always teasing but caring for each other nonetheless. Not once, however, did Bel try to get into contact with me. That had hurt. He was my best friend and now he wants nothing to do with me. What happened?

Amora's letters keep coming. In every letter she expresses her worry over the safety of our friends. She believes that Theo is taunting them. Random fires will suddenly ignite around them and burn threatening messages into the ground. Funny, that doesn't sound like Theo's 'lying low' like Declan said. Fear for my friends' safety burns through my veins every day. 

Now, sitting up in my tower, I drop my head into my hands. Everything has gone to hell. I thought that if I stayed in the Underworld and let Declan protect me, I'd have time to regain my memories before I'd have to do something about Theo. I was wrong, so wrong. My problems aren't going to wait for me to be ready for them. I should have known better.

I glance over at the unread letter I'd received from Amora via Andrea and Logan. With a sigh, I reach over and pick it up. I unfold it slowly, dreading the bad news that may be inside.

'Laila, we need you. Things have calmed down but we would all feel safer if you were here. You're the Greek goddess of death, Laila, having you here on our side would be kick ass.

Talk to Declan. It would help a lot to have you both here.

The gang and I made a list of our allies, just in case things do get really bad. We tried to list as much info on them as possible to give you a good idea of where we stand:

Amora Jackson: demigod of Aphrodite, Greek goddess of love and beauty.

Egan Winters; demigod of Bacchus, Roman god of wine and partying.

Seraphina Jones; demigod of Pele, Polynesian volcano goddess.

Wade Micheals; demigod of Neptune, Roman god of the sea.

Adam Greene; demigod of Tiki, Norse god of stone.

Aubrey Winters; demigod of Sekhmet, Egyptian goddess of war, destruction, plagues and healing.

Andrea Carter; demigod of Persephone, Greek goddess of spring and the Underworld.

Logan Reed; demigod of Hades, Greek god of the Underworld.

Declan Keaton; Arawn, Celtic god of the Underworld, terror, revenge and war.

Laila Rose; Thanatos, Greek goddess of death, gifted with the powers of night and darkness.

Lena Sparks; demigod of Artemis, Greek goddess of hunting and wilderness. (She's a friend of Aubrey's. Kinda scary, but okay overall.)

It's not much, but it'll have to do.

Just in case Declan won't let you leave, Logan and Andrea drew up a map with instructions on how to escape the Underworld. I included them in the envelope, just in case.

Please think about it. We need you, Laila.

 -Amora'

Quietly, I set the letter down on the seat beside me. My gaze rests on the floor as my mind buzzes with thought, despite my sluggish movements. Maybe Amora's right. Maybe I should talk to Declan about returning to the mortal realm. Of course, that would mean that I'll have to admit to him that I've secretly been writing to Amora behind his back, which is a conversation that I am definitely not looking forward to having.

I sigh and slump back in my seat. I should tell him, I decide. He deserves to know, even if he isn't being truthful with me. The faint sound of the bedroom door opening and closing softly has me looking up.

He's back.

I stand up quickly, a pep talk running through my mind. I can do this, I think to myself confidently. I stuff Amora's letter underneath the couch cushion and rush down the tower's stairs to the bedroom, needing the comfort of my warrior's embrace.

At the sound of my approach, Declan whirls around. His expression is that of anger and accusation, so much so that I freeze on the bottom step. His green eyes are hard and angry as they pin me down. My breath halts in my throat as I look at him, trapped in his glare.

In his furious grip, he holds my first journal, the one about my life with Theo and, by the look in his eyes, he did not enjoy what he found there. He holds the journal up and asks darkly, "what is this?"