Queen Of Hell & Paradise (Immortal gods: Book 1)

Chapter 42- Poseidon's Abode

Only three more chapters left guys! THREE! I'm so excited! Sorry I haven't been updating very often, school has drained me and so have a few other things (including writing other books). But hopefully, everything will settle down soon.

-Love, this grateful writer <3

Vradyteri- greek for slow down

Eutychia- goddess of luck

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Samantha

The raven haired sorceress is helping me mount Aethon.

She tugs on the reins and saddle, making sure they're well adjusted before letting go and turning to me.

"Samantha, if Aethon is galloping too fast, whisper vradyteri. It will let him know to slow down," she suggests coolly, inspecting the horse's equipment one more time before looking back up to me. I nod, lightly running a hand over its sleek mane. I don't know what she just said, and I doubt I'll pronounce it correctly, but I'll try to remember it. It'll be useful, especially since I'll be riding the fastest steed.

"Understood."

With a brisk, firm nod, Hecate moves to leave. But just as she's turning around, I remember I have something to give her, and I reach out a hand to stop her. I feel for the two notes in my pocket, letters I wrote my dad and Jackie in case I don't make it back alive. For the past several days (weeks? months?), I haven't been up to the surface to see how things have been going. If I make it back safely (which is unlikely), I might be able to return to Earth in the exact same moment I'd left.

But if I don't make it back, I want the people closest to me to have some closure. I don't want them wondering why I disappeared, it'll consume their days like acid eats away at matter. In his own shitty way, I'm sure my dad loved me. I'd hate to leave things unresolved between us.

The dark witch eyes me warily as I fish out the notes from my pocket.

"Here," I say quietly, "If I die, I want my loved ones to have something they can remember by."

She lifts up her brows, stilling for a split second. With a nod, she extends a hand to receive the two envelopes, knitting her brows with confusion. She tilts her head to the side, inspecting the creamy surfaces of my letters.

"When did you write these?" she asks cautiously, aware that what I've given her is essentially my will. I shrug, trying to come up with a way to make the moment less solemn. I knew what I was signing up for when I asked Thanatos to bring me along, and I don't regret it. Hades didn't hesitate to place himself in danger's way for my sake, it's only fair that I do the same.

"I may have broken into Hades' office last night to find something to write with," I quip nonchalantly, gathering my hair into a ponytail. She looks down to her hands briefly, bringing her stare back up to me with a veil of apprehension.

"You don't have to come with us, you know."

I bite my lip, feeling the sting of oncoming tears burn its way through my eyes. I'm not very good with talking about my emotions, so these past few days I haven't been very open about my feelings on risking my life. I haven't spoken to Hecate or Thanatos about it, and I've barely managed to come to terms with it myself.

"I do have to. I can't stay here knowing I'm protected by a literal fortress, while Hades is out there possibly being tortured."

I gulp, swallowing back a lump of sadness trying to escape past my lips. Simply thinking about him makes my voice come out shaky. I won't cry, I refuse to. I'm strong. I know what I'm doing, and I know Hades would have done the same thing. In fact, he did, and I'm not about to let his efforts go to waste. He's counting on us to retrieve him, I'd hate to not be there when they find him.