First Lie || Deception Book I ||

Shadow and Time Pt. 2

Had it come from me? I heard the faint clicking of skeletons and Hades saying something as darkness approached me. At least it's done, and they are safe. I sighed contentedly and closed my eyes, blackness enveloping me like a warm, dark blanket.

***

"It is done. Is she awake?"

"No, my lord."

"Good. I can feel Percy approaching the gates right now. I must leave. Remember, you are not to speak a word to anyone. Or I will banish you to the fires of Tartarus and leave you to the mercy of the Midnight Phoenix. Understood?"

"But-"

"Do you understand, Avalanche? It will consume her from the inside out."

Avalanche snarled in frustration but dipped her muzzle in acceptance. "Very well, my lord. You will hear naught but silence from me."

Hades nodded and swept out of the room, the door closing behind him and sighed.

"Thanatos, what have you done?"

***

I jolted awake, my hands gripping the silk sheets.

Silk?

I glanced around, my eyes drinking in the details of my surroundings. Empty black walls adorned with bronze torches that flickered hypnotically, the only other furniture in the room other than the bed and bedside table a black bookshelf with a couple dozen books.

I sighed and leaned back against the black pillows. I was in my room, in Hades palace.

Safe.

A wet nose pushed up against my left hand and I looked down to see Avalanche nosing me in concern. I laughed slightly. "I'm okay, I'm okay."

"Humph. You almost died," Avalanche snarled softly. "Thank the gods that Hades managed to heal you."

"What happened?" I asked. "I don't remember anything after using my shadows to pull the shoes off his feet. They're all safe, right?"

Avalanche nodded. "For now. You stopped Grover's momentum, so Percy and Annabeth were able to escape the tunnel unscathed with him. You almost burned yourself out, Clari, and the only reason you're alive is because I went in and brought you back."

"Thank you, Ava." I sat up in alarm as a thought struck me. "Where's Lord Hades now?"

"In the throne room terrorizing Grover."

I braced a hand against the wooden post of the bed and stood up. "Huh. Surprisingly, I feel fine."

I swore that I could have seen apprehension cross Avalanche's lupine eyes but it was gone in a blink of an eye. I shook myself mentally. Stop imagining things.

I took a step and stumbled. "Okay, maybe not. Ava, when did Hades leave?"

My wolf blinked. "Maybe five minutes ago? You healed fast, thanks to his powers. Percy, Annabeth, and Grover only just arrived."

"Oh. I was only out for ten minutes?"

Avalanche bobbed her furry head. "But it was bad. I could feel you slipping away. Please don't ever do something like that again."

"I'm fine now, and that's all that matters." I patted her head. "Come on, let's go before Hades kills them."

I checked to make sure that all my weapons were still on me and pulled my mask on. For some reason, I couldn't shake the feeling that I was missing something, something vitally important, but I couldn't think of anything. I had all my weapons and I hadn't brought anything else with me on this trip. Everything that had come with me to the Underworld was still here. I shook my head in frustration. The empty well inside me, where my power used to be, was making me on edge. At least it would refill by tomorrow.

I creaked open the door, nodded to the skeleton outside in dismissal, and headed towards the throne room with Avalanche following at my heels.

I had just turned the corner when a tremor ran through the palace, shaking the walls and causing debris to fall from the ceiling. I heard the passages opening throughout the palace, skeleton warriors racing towards Hades

When will I ever get a break? I wailed in my head as I sprinted towards the throne room. After all this dies down, I'm moving to China. Or maybe Korea. New Zealand would also be a fantastic choice.

A few seconds later, I skidded to a stop in front of the doors.

I suddenly felt a flash of confusion coming from Annabeth and Percy, so strong that the world tipped sideways. My mind was suddenly opened to the millions of thoughts racing throughout the room and I froze in shock.

Since when could I read minds? Not yesterday, for sure. Was it because I'd reached a certain level of mastery? But mind reading didn't come from my particular skill set. So what - and how - had this ability manifested?

Just then, Percy's train of thought reached me.

Well, fuck, I thought. I had been right. The culprit was Ares. 

***
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