by Haley Weir
Diana nodded, but she barely heard a word after Balor told her that Seth was alive. She remained seated where she had been for hours and rested her head on her knees. Footsteps approached, but she hadn’t the energy to even glance up. Madeu sat beside her where Olivia had been not too long ago. It was strange that Diana hadn’t noticed her friend’s absence. Unlike the others, however, Madeu didn’t try to comfort her. He sat beside her without uttering a single word.
She took his silence for what it was: a truce. Diana felt her guard dropping and did nothing to stop it. Her legs stretched out in front of her and she leaned her head against the wall. “I know I’ll have to move eventually,” she muttered. “But I can't seem to force myself to leave without a purpose."
"How about justification?"
"What?"
Madeu stared straight ahead at the opposite wall and crossed his arms. "Why not put all of these emotions you're feeling to use? You have something worth fighting for, so fight."
"You found her?"
"Damien knows of Atë's location, as Balor said. He tracked them in Limbo."
Diana smiled at Madeu and scrambled to her feet. "You'll come with me?" she asked. "Without Styx and Seth, I'll need help." She offered her hand to her future brother-in-law. He accepted, and she helped him off the floor. Diana showered and changed into clothes that weren't stained by her mate's blood. She met with Madeu outside of her bedchamber shortly after.
Damien leaned against the door with a disapproving expression on his face. "You two get left alone for a few hours and you're already plotting," the wolf shifter complained.
"How do we get to Limbo?"
"Getting into Limbo isn't the hard part; it's getting out of Limbo that might kill you." Damien's eyes darted over to Madeu for a second, and Diana nodded with a smile.
"I'll take care of him, don't worry," she whispered as she strolled by him. Damien's face turned red, and he stomped down the corridor. Madeu looked as confused as ever. He pushed into the room and sat on the corner of the bed. Diana used her ring to open a portal to the Underworld. The unnatural chill of her father's realm made Diana shiver as it spread until it engulfed them both. She recognized the obsidian floors the moment her head stopped spinning.
Madeu's lip curled into a snarl. "This place feels…"
"Like death?" Diana chuckled. "That's sort of the whole point. Eventually, you get used to the vibes of this place. The spirits aren’t bad, either. Demons are manageable, depending on how pissed off they are. It's the cold that sticks with you." She walked over to a door that led out of the throne room and into the confusing hall of doors. "I just have to remember which one leads to Limbo."
“You’ve been to Limbo?”
“My father said that’s where all spirits go when they’re trapped between life and death. If we die in a violent way, then we relive our death on a loop. Spirits that died peacefully experience something different, like sitting at a bus stop or a train station. They often get two choices. Either they can get on the bus or train that arrives, or they can wait until they realize that they’re dead.”
“So, Hades doesn’t just toss souls into a pit and forget about them?”
Diana could have lied about her father’s past, but she decided Madeu of all people could understand that not all change was bad. “He used to. Many of the gods thought he was devious and lazy, only out to serve himself. They were right. But when my mother gave birth to me, it opened his eyes to just how precious life could be. He realized that the souls he reaped were someone’s daughter or son, that they had loved and been loved and that they deserved better.”
“I wonder if my child will change me.”
“They will,” she stated. “Look how far you’ve come already. You have a mate, and your brothers are finally in your life. They trust you at their back, and that means something.”
“What about you? Do you trust me?”
“If I didn’t, you wouldn’t be here.” Diana inched her way towards a door that was much different than the others. She crouched down and felt around the handle. “There’s no keyhole.”
“Is that significant?”
“All of the others have a keyhole, which means this door doesn’t need to be locked.”
“Where does it lead?”
She snorted and shook her head. “Rina was right. You and your brothers speak mostly in the form of questions. I suppose you’re all just inquisitive by nature. But, to answer your question, I don’t think it leads anywhere. I think it leads everywhere.”
“Limbo.”
“Let’s hope we can find our way back.”
~*~
Castle Black
Destiny Falls, Alaska
Seth stirred from his sleep and blinked to clear the film that covered his eyes. He sat up and peered around the room in search of his mate, but Diana was not by his side. The door opened as if his brother had sensed that he was conscious. Balor looked somewhat guilty as he stood at the foot of the bed, unable to meet Seth’s gaze for more than a few seconds. “You know, I’m a sheriff. That means I’m pretty good at telling when someone is about to lie to me,” he rasped. “Where’s Diana?”
“In Limbo.”
He closed his eyes and fell back against the pillows. “Let me guess, she’s going after Atë?”
“Damien gave her a map of where Atë and the Titan are, but Limbo is nearly impossible to navigate. I’m hoping her connection to Hades gives her the upper hand in this situation.” Balor waved his hand, and the curtains opened. Sunlight bathed the room in a yellow glow that chased the shadows away. “Madeu is with her.”
“If he loses control…”
“He won’t. Madeu has been training with Damien when he isn’t strategizing with Giddeon. He’s a skilled fighter, and he won’t let anything happen to Diana. She earned his respect the day she slapped him across the face,” his brother claimed. “I think having a bit of faith in him will prove valuable in the long run. What you have to decide is what you’re going to do.”
“About what?”
“Whether or not you’re going to be like Giddeon and Caleb,” Balor snorted. “Are you the sort of male to let his mate fight his battles for him? Or are you willing to put her first and battle the darkness to keep her in the light?”
Seth threw his legs over the side of the bed and hobbled over to his brother. His face was pale. Pain still lingered in his muscles though the wound had been healed. “You know something, Balor. Tell me or leave it to fate. I have no time for your riddles.”
“Casey is strong, but she is human. Rina is a prophet. Diana is a goddess. What about the other one? Olivia hides behind her pop-culture knowledge and sarcasm, but I think there’s something darker hiding beneath her carefully crafted façade.”
“Is Olivia a threat to Diana?”
“I’m not entirely certain,” his brother admitted. “I know she’s important. I’ve dreamt of her standing in Olympus like a warrior of unforeseen strength. She’s human. Nemesis herself has tested Olivia and found nothing...perhaps I’m paranoid.”
“So, Olivia is connected to the darkness inside of Diana; you just haven’t figured out how? I’ll keep an eye on her as best as I can, but if fate has something in store for Olivia...we can only hope that she will be on our side when it matters most. Every time we’ve tried to predict what’s to come, we’ve been wrong. Have patience, brother. The path ahead will reveal itself in time.”
“When did you become so wise?”
“I’ve always been wise,” Seth replied. “The others are just louder.”
“Then prepare for the consequences of your mate’s actions.” Balor left him to get changed. Seth pulled on some clean clothes and drove into town. Deputy Harris leaned over her desk with her head in her hands. She looked as if she hadn’t slept in days. Seth set a box of donuts and a cup of coffee onto her desk before he sat in the chair beside her.
“Any new cases?”
“Nope. It’s strange. Things have been quiet fo
r a while now.” Harris looked up at Seth and squinted. “I know that look. Where’s Diana?”
“In Limbo, apparently.”
“Like...purgatory?”
He shook his head and crossed his legs at the ankle. There was still another hour before the other officers clocked in, so Seth wasn’t too worried about relaxing his sore muscles. “Purgatory is a place. Limbo is more complicated than that. It’s more like a mindset. You don’t really know where you are until you break free from the illusions.”
“What’s she doing in Limbo?”
“She’s hunting Atë.”
Harris gaped at Seth and leaned closer as she lowered her voice to a whisper. “You’re taking this surprisingly well for someone whose fiancée is in serious trouble. What if Diana gets hurt?”
“Madeu is with her.”
“It’s still possible.”
“If anything happens to Diana, Nemesis has Atë's key. The goddess is desperate to save her own ass. She’ll do whatever it takes to get the key back.” Seth shrugged his shoulders. “I’m worried about Diana, but it’s not like I can go after her. I’ll be in the throne room when she returns and we’ll face the consequences together. In the meantime, let's talk about the baby.”
“There isn’t one.”
“Not yet.”
“Probably not ever,” Harris snapped. “I’m sorry. I guess I’m just wondering if they’ll change their mind. It’s not like they really know me.”
“They won’t change their minds. Damien and Madeu are just at an impasse at the moment. They’ll get over it and you’ll be pregnant in no time. You’re already like a sister to me, Eliza. This baby won’t change anything between us.” She looked relieved, and Seth was glad he had spared her more stress. He worked diligently throughout the day, checking in with his brothers whenever he got the time. Seth even stopped by Diana’s apartment to make sure her potted plants hadn’t died and that the garbage had been taken out.
Once he was off the clock, Seth returned to the castle and asked an old friend to look in on Styx and Adonis. Both males had been taken trying to protect his mate. Seth felt as if he owed them more than a checkup, but that was all he could do for them until they were rescued.
Chapter Twenty-One
Limbo
A bolt of fire shot towards her head. Diana dove into the chasm below. She fell into darkness until she splashed into deep, slimy water. Madeu swam towards her, but something large with tentacles grabbed his ankles. The alpha belted in frustration, and the sound was lost in a storm of bubbles. He dove towards the creature, shifting with the power of his ancestors. Diana tried to make her way to the surface as he battled in the shadows. Green oozed out of the creature’s wounds, clouding the water until she couldn’t see anything. Finally, Diana reached the surface.
Madeu gripped her waist and lifted her onto a stone ledge. He climbed up beside her. She pushed his long black hair out of his face, checking his eyes to see if he was on the verge of losing control. For many years, Madeu hadn’t had the ability to shift into a beast like his brothers, but since he bonded with Giddeon and the others, his powers had become even stronger. “You okay?”
“I should be asking you that,” Madeu coughed. “What happened back there?”
“I don’t know. I must have blacked out when we passed through the door.”
“We should be more careful, then.” He stood up and helped Diana to her feet. They felt along the walls until her hand brushed a crack in the stone. Neither of them could fit through without seriously rearranging their insides. “There was a cave down there. It may lead to a way out.”
“Is that thing dead?”
“That thing is called the Kraken, and it’s a Titan. It can’t be killed, only slowed down. If we swim fast enough, we may be able to slip past it.”
“I don’t like our odds.”
Madeu chuckled deeply. “We could stay here, but I doubt Seth would like that.”
She sighed and snagged an elastic band from her wrist to tie her hair back. Madeu simply braided his long tresses and knotted it at the base of his skull. He dove into the water first. Diana followed him down, using her power to probe the water for his movements more than relying on her vision. The Kraken peered out of the darkness. Slanted, double lidded eyes flashed as she caught up with Madeu. Her lungs burned as she swam behind him.
The cave got darker and darker until a spark of light glimmered up ahead. Madeu shoved her towards the light and guarded her back as she broke the surface. Diana sucked in a mouthful of air only to cough and sputter. Damp, musty air filled the cavern. Madeu barely evaded a large tentacle as it swiped out to grab his legs. He leaned against the wall, chest heaving as he fought to catch his breath. “Something tells me we’re going in circles.”
“Why do you say that?”
“Because we’re back where we started,” Madeu grumbled. He pointed to a crystal embedded in the stone. “That’s where the door was. There’s no way out.”
“There has to be.”
Diana pushed to her feet and searched for an opening. She prodded along the floor and between each stone, feeling for air or something to lead her. But it was useless. They weren’t in a physical world, only a vessel of illusion meant to test their resolve. Diana lifted her hands with her palms facing outward. Magic spread like vines along the walls of the cave, filling the cracks. She pushed harder, forcing the stone to submit to her power until it crumbled beneath the onslaught of energy. Madeu tackled her to the ground. Instead of stone or water, Diana landed in soft grass.
She opened her eyes to see rolling hills of green.
Madeu pulled her down and pointed in the distance. Smoke. “It’s a campfire.”
“Then, where are we?”
“It must be Atë's Limbo. We have to tread carefully.” He led her further south and approached the camp with caution.
Diana stared through a patch of trees at the Titan. Prometheus. The ancient being looked like a man, but Diana had seen his true form of fire and shadow. His eyes were like molten lava. Dark skin stretched taut over slender muscle. He kissed Atë softly. Diana lowered herself closer to the ground as Madeu circled around to the other side. They had only one chance to get things right. She reached inside the bag of Hermes and pulled out a net fashioned from chains that had been forged by Hephaestus. It was light and soundless, perfect for ensnaring prey.
Madeu gave the signal. A guttural roar broke through the trees, and Prometheus dashed towards the sound. Atë stood at the center of a small clearing with her head cocked as if she were listening. Diana used her power to slow time and watched as shock registered on the goddess’s face. She sprang from the trees, tossing the net over Atë before fire consumed the forest. Madeu ran from the inferno. “We need to go, now! Open the portal!”
“I can’t! I don’t have that ability.”
“Then call your father!”
Diana secured the net and tried to wrestle Atë into submission, but the goddess bucked like a wild animal. She reared her arm back before knocking out her prisoner. Madeu tossed the net over his shoulder and grabbed her hand. They ran away from the fire. Diana hurled spell after spell behind them, hoping to slow Prometheus down like Madeu had the Kraken. Hellfire scorched the grass. She slowed when they neared a cliff. Madeu took one look behind them and jumped with Diana still in his grasp.
A scream crawled up her throat, but it never surfaced.
They hit a large dune and rolled down scorching sands until their momentum was stopped by the bottom of the valley. Diana brushed sand from her face. Madeu hefted the net off of the ground and searched for any signs of life. “We need to keep moving. Prometheus will hunt us down. What does the map say?”
Diana rustled around in the bag and pulled out the map. She unfolded it with deft fingers as Madeu looked over her shoulder. “There should be a gateway back to my father’s realm if we follow the sun east,” she panted.
“Which sun?”
She shielded her eyes from b
right light and gazed up at the three suns that beat down on the desert with unforgiving waves of heat. “Let’s hope they all move in the same direction.”
~*~
Underworld
“Diana has been gone for six days,” Seth shouted. “I’m going after her. Unless you intend to stop me, then I suggest you get out of my way.” He pushed past Hades’ guards with Balor and Damien beside him. While Diana’s father was off chasing after Nemesis, Seth decided Diana had been given enough time to handle Atë and the Titan on her own. Now, he intended to go after her. Damien growled at the guard. Balor forced open the door to the main corridor.
“The opening to Limbo should be behind a green door with white runes around the frame,” the wolf shifter announced. But no one stepped more than an inch inside of Hades’ castle before a great force shook the entire realm. A tear in the very fabric of the universe appeared. Diana crawled out of the opening, clutching her arm as soot and ash stained her hair and face.
A chain-link net was tossed through the opening after her.
“Help Madeu!” Diana ordered. The guards reached inside of the rift and yanked him brother free from Limbo. Prometheus followed. Diana tossed Damien Hermes’ bag and attacked the Titan with her father’s weapon. She moved in a way that was both graceful and lethal, like an angel of war laying waste to her enemies. Prometheus grabbed Diana. The scent of burning skin reached Seth’s nose, and he rushed the primordial being with the fury of a thousand Spartans. Seth shifted into his bear, tearing at Prometheus with his teeth and claws.
Madeu tried to force the rift closed, but demons clawed their way through the opening.
Diana rolled on her back and severed a demon’s head with her bident. Madeu lifted Diana and launched her at another group before he too morphed into a monstrous bear. Damien and Balor remained in their human forms, fighting beside Hades’ guards. Prometheus sent a shockwave of fire that nearly scorched Seth to the bone. He grabbed Diana and pulled her behind a wide column outside of the castle. “How do we close the rift?”
