Chapter 4
RHI
Warm, gentle fingers brushing across my forehead stir me awake. I open my eyes and blink slowly, several times, before I lurch upright in panic.
I place my palm against my chest, breathing a sigh of relief when I feel the steady thump…thump of my beating heart. The reprieve is short lived, however, when I catch sight of the strange woman beside me, and a startled gasp escapes my lips.
Hair the color of deep crimson falls in soft waves to her waist, her bright, expressive, forest green eyes peering at me like I’m some sort of unearthly creature.
“How do you feel?” Her voice is whimsical and smooth, like windchimes in a gentle breeze.
“Fine,” I answer warily. “Who are you?”
The woman chuckles, the sound cheerful yet masking something dangerous. Ripples of unease flutter through my bloodstream. “My name is Hecate. I am to escort you to Pandemonium, where The Devil awaits.”
A shiver wracks my spine at the mention of ‘The Devil.’ I can only hope she means Nick, and I’m not forced to meet some other dark being of sin and destruction.
Still wary of Hecate, I interrogate her further.
“And who are you loyal to, Hecate?” It would be worth it to know if this woman was sent by The Devil, as she previously stated.
Her beautiful but deadly smile widens. “Myself, Titaness.”
My mouth parts at her knowledge. “How do you—”
“Titan blood flows through my veins, as pure and strong as your father’s.” Hecate stares pointedly.
A pureblood Titan. Do not fuck with her. Message received.
“Anyway,” she continues, shifting on her knees, laying her palms on her green dress, a shade lighter than her eyes.
“You will not leave these woods alive without my guidance, nor would you have even made here without my protection. Should you wish to return safely, you will once again be at my mercy, Scylla.”
I bristle at the Titaness acknowledging my monster.
She is obviously omniscient like my father, which is rather frustrating.
For the first time, I glance at my surroundings, prompted by Hecate’s mention of the woods.
Gnarled, black trunk roots protrude from the ground, thick and impenetrable.
The leaves are a vicious green, so dark, they appear almost black, with sharp, pointed tips that gleam ominously in the filtering rays of…
Holy shit. That’s the sun.
So much for fire and brimstone.
“You seem surprised,” Hecate notes.
“It’s just…” I glance around once more, “not what I expected.”
Her emerald eyes observe the surrounding forest. “It is jarring, I suppose.”
“I don’t mean the forest, though it is a bit…macabre. I’m referring to the sun.”
“Suns,” she corrects.
“Pardon?”
“Suns, plural. There are two of them.”
A deep, ferocious howl sweep through the chilling forest, raising the hairs on the back of my neck. Another one immediately follows, and Hecate’s gaze sharpens.
“Come, Rhiannon. Let’s get you to your destination before his Highness’s Hell Beasts catch a whiff of that delectable scent of yours.”
Another howl, this one sounding far too close for comfort. I quickly scramble to my feet while Hecate lazily rises to hers.
An evil grin graces her mouth. “Too late.”
My body stills at the putrid breath singeing my neck.
The Scylla is going bat-shit crazy, hissing and snapping its jaws like it’s itching for a fight.
Bloodlust roars in my veins, my jaw elongating as saliva drips from my parted mouth.
My teeth shift, giving way to rows of flesh-tearing fangs, and my black tongue lolls from my mouth, dipping far past my chin.
The Titaness cocks her head to the side, jeweled eyes flashing with intrigue.
“What a horrifyingly stunning beast you are.”
Ignoring what may or may not have been a compliment, I face the danger at my back, my sharp black claws ready to strike.
Two Hell Beasts stand side by side, jaws wide and flashing their own serrated fangs.
Shaggy black fur covers their entire bodies, which are roughly the size of Ford Explorers.
Ravenous, blood-red eyes withhold my own serpentine stare, two pairs of nostrils flaring as they inhale my monstrous scent.
A low, dangerous growl emanates from the throat of one, his companion quickly following suit.
Not to be outdone, I release my own menacing growl, widening my mouth and cracking my jaw.
The Beasts go rigid. Their pointed ears twitch momentarily before they flatten. A soft whimper escapes one, though the one to my right appears bold. Its eyes narrow, its nostrils continuing to widen and shrink before it huffs in annoyance, and it does something that shocks me to my core.
It bows.
Inasmuch as a giant wolf-like creature can bow, I suppose. The second Beast mimics the first, lowering its head between its two massive front paws.
“Interesting,” Hecate says from behind me.
I turn and eye the Titaness. “Care to elaborate?”
“Not really.”
Rolling my eyes, I face the two Hell Beasts still bowing at my feet. “Ok. Um. Shoo.” I wave my hand dismissively.
Both monster dogs stand to their full height, their gazes glued to me.
“Right.” I face Hecate, confusion washing my features and evident in my tone, but the odd woman naturally doesn’t offer any explanation. Instead, she gestures for me to follow her. I let her guide me for all of three steps when I hear the padding of paws on the ground behind me.
I throw a furtive glance over my shoulder before addressing Hecate. “Are they following you or me?”
Only her side profile is visible when she slightly cranes her neck, the right side of her mouth tipped up deviously. “We’ll see.”
What an elusive pain in the ass.
As we continue to walk, the trees become less dense, and gilded rays paint the darkened forest in a golden wash.
The two Hell Beasts stay right at my back, like perfect guard dogs, though I still can’t fathom why they would be guarding me when this ethereal and somewhat annoying being is present.
I glance down at the dress Persephone gifted me, pleased no dirt or stain of any kind mars the beautiful fabric, considering I woke up lying on the forest floor.
An uncomfortable silence lingers, so I cut through it with the first question that comes to my mind. “Do you live here?”
I swear, the two monster dogs behind me snort.
“I don’t live anywhere,” she replies with a light chuckle. “I am the walker of realms, keeper of the crossroads.” Hecate pauses and turns to look at me. “I move between realms the way water moves through stone. There is no place I am unable to tread.”
Without waiting for my reply, she continues trekking through the woods while I linger on her heels. Finally, we breach the thick wall of onyx tree trunks and step into a vast, open landscape. I suck in a breath.
Acres of a lush meadow sweep the terrain in stunning emerald hues. Splotches of color dot the emerald canvas—flowers, I realize. My eyes follow the stretch of gem-colored land into the far distance, where an imposing castle looms against a sparkling azure sky.
From a distance, I can make out several dome-shaped caps of limestone buildings, onyx spires jutting from the domes. One spire sits perfectly between two—
And then, I see them.
Two blazing, golden suns, their color slightly burnt rather than scintillating. But the sight is a bit unsettling, and unease creeps up my spine the closer we get to the castle.
“Pandemonium is where His Majesty resides, home to the Umbra Court.” Hecate’s voice breaks through my trepidation.
I don’t follow up with questions. Persephone’s lessons left me well-versed in all the politics of Hell, the Umbra Court being the most important and nefarious piece of information she parted with.
Quietude settles upon us once more, the castle growing larger and even more arresting as we trek closer.
A familiar sound caresses my ears, gentle at first, but becoming more abrasive as we approach Pandemonium.
Even before the strong scent of brine hits my nostrils, I can’t deny the shock that ripples through me in recognizing the sound of crashing waves.
At long last, we arrive at what I first think is the entrance, but then I realize the castle itself somehow protrudes from the side of the cliff, with a straight drop to the rocky shore below.
A normal person would be terrified and concerned as to how such a large structure manages to stay upright without crumbling to the watery depths, but then I remember I’m in literal Hell.
Though, I have to admit, Hell is the farthest thing from what I thought it would be.
Hecate slows upon approaching a man blocking our path. He stands between two pillars of limestone connected to what appears to be a curved bridge leading from the edge of the cliff.
A sigh escapes the Titaness as she eyes the man somewhat appreciatively.
“And this is where I must leave you.” Her statement is directed at me, but she never takes her gaze from the man.
His broad shoulders block out the suns’ rays, the gilded light illuminating thick, dark brown tendrils and midnight eyes.
Warm brown skin wraps over a sculpted, muscled chest, veiny forearms resting comfortably at his sides while his hands sit deep in the pockets of his dark pants.
Truthfully, the oddest thing about him isn’t his lack of a shirt or, I now note, his lack of shoes, but his appraising stare. His dark gaze darts back to Hecate, softening ever so slightly when it falls upon her lips.
“Leaving so soon?” His voice is rich and seductively sinister, drizzling over me like warm chocolate.
“I have no reason to stay,” Hecate answers smoothly.
He quirks a brow at that, something akin to hurt flashing in his eyes. They swivel back to me. “Is this the woman Hades and Persephone sent?”
Hecate nods.