Chapter 35 – Elliot
ELLIOT
The center of our town is packed. Orion and his phoenix brother continue to prowl the ground, demanding to speak with the librarian. But since then, Medusa’s and Keto’s mates have joined the crowd. They can’t find their mates, and their anger barely conceals their fear.
They think something terrible has happened to their mates.
And all along, Norbert tries to order the town to go home. He says it will be dark soon and that we’re all worrying over nothing. Yet no one leaves.
Even my brothers and I remain. At first it was to make certain Orion didn’t get hurt, but now it’s because our shade has vanished too. I keep telling myself that she’s a powerful monster, but no matter how many times I repeat the words in my head, they ring false.
Our shade is powerful, but she’s also innocent. It would be too easy for someone to hurt her. I hate that we took our eyes off her for a minute. Especially since Norbert keeps telling us he hasn’t seen her since she teleported away at the end of their meeting.
I don’t believe him. Not for a second.
And then Medusa, Keto, and Shade appear in the center of the town.
I swear, everyone goes silent. The chaos stops. Even Orion and his phoenix stop.
“Shade!” Before I can think, I race over to her and take her into my arms, squeezing her tightly.
I hadn’t realized just how scared I was until I saw her.
Pulling back, I realize she’s injured. Hell, they’re all injured!
“What the hell happened?” one of Medusa’s mates roars.
Medusa’s voice comes out steely. “We will talk. Alone. With my mates and Keto’s mates. But not here or now.”
“Keto?” One of Keto’s mates has picked his wife up and cradles her to his chest.
“I need to see the kids. Please.”
He gives a sharp nod and whirls away, all her mates following behind. A minute later, Medusa and her men head in the same direction.
When I look back at Norbert, I freeze. He looks…terrified.
Our shade draws back from me, and her gaze goes to the Elite. “You told me Keto and Medusa were dangerous monsters. You told me I had to take them to the Underworld to protect the gargoyles here. You lied.”
A murmuring rises from the crowd.
Norbert’s mouth opens and closes several times.
“You shouldn’t have done that,” our shade says.
Suddenly the giant gargoyle Orion speaks, his voice calmer than I’ve ever heard it before. “Did you say you went to the Underworld?”
She nods. “I have been many times before. I’m a shade.”
Orion pushes through the crowd, his phoenix trailing him.
Suddenly Jordon, Cody, and Damon are at our sides, a shield to stand before the angry giant.
But to our surprise, Shade pushes to step out in front of us.
“Tell me how to go there,” the gargoyle begs.
“You do not want to go to the Underworld,” she tells him very slowly. “It’s a dark place, a very bad place.”
“I have to go. I have to find my brother.”
Her expression gentles. “Is he being tortured for a terrible crime?”
Orion stiffens. “No.”
“Then you shouldn’t take him away. The afterlife is a reprieve for the dead.”
Orion shakes his head. “Andros didn’t die. He was taken from me. And—“
“Did you say Andros?” Her voice rises as she says Orion’s twin brother’s name.
He nods, watching her closely.
“Then perhaps you should go to the Underworld, because Andro’s soul has not yet crossed over. Hades instead uses him as a guard. It’s a miserable life, but it means that his soul will be easier to take back to this world. If you can reunite his soul with his body, he will yet live.”
Hope shines in the giant’s eyes. “How do we reach him?”
She seems to think. “His lover Hecate is even now trying to lead him to the surface, but I’m not sure she’ll be successful. The armies of hell pursue them.”
“How do I reach him?” he repeats, as if the idea of all of hell pursing his brother means nothing.
“I can show you the caves that access the Underworld, and the one that I think will help you reach him first. But should you meet Hecate in the tunnels, turn away. If you see your brother, he will instantly be transported back.”
“Find a map,” Orion says, his voice shaking.
I stand, watching my shade help the man who has been tortured by the loss of his brother every day. And each moment that I watch her, I’m more certain that she belongs with us. Our shade is not a monster. She’s a woman who helps those in need.
Now we need only to convince her that she belongs with us.