The Underworld Crown (Series)

Chapter 11

I didn't sleep that night; but it wasn't from lack of trying. I just didn't want to sleep. Period. I paced around my prison in the dark, navigating my way between the furniture so as to distract myself from rising signs of fatigue. I grew clumsier as the night progressed, knocking into the corners of furniture and yawning constantly.

But despite this, my mind was more awake than it had ever been. My flight instinct was in overdrive, and it wouldn't rest until I'd fulfilled my escape. I'd grown to know enough about the castle security to understand the movements of its guards. At every hour, they passed by my door, distinct by the sound of their bundle of keys chiming against the sheaths of their swords.

I bit my lip and wrung my hands together nervously. I may have been imagining it, but it felt like the last time a guard walked by had been much longer than one hour ago. My breath came out in nervous waves. If I messed up this count, I'd ruin my chances of escape.

Just as I was about to break out into full-on panic, the familiar chime of metal on metal rang through the air. I pressed myself up against the door and waited with bated breath as the guard moved closer. Their muted footsteps slowed as they reached my door and my entire body froze. This wasn't normal. They shouldn't be stopping outside of my door. I pushed myself away from the door as though it had burned me, but didn't dare move for fear of making noise.

What if I'd left my escape too long? What if this was Hades' Guard on the other side of the door, preparing to take me to their ruler?

For what felt like the longest time, but may have only been seconds, I stood in a silent standoff with the person on the other side of the door. Then, they cleared their throat and their footsteps started to retreat. All of my breath rushed from me in relief.

Guard number eight. If my count was correct, that would place the time at about five a.m, meaning Raven would be due to arrive in my room at any minute. I made my legs work and waded my way back to my bed in the dark, sliding between the sheets and pulling the covers up to just below my eyes. Warmth flooded through me and I stifled another yawn. Then, I waited.

~~~~

The hot air clung to my skin, causing perspiration to break out along my forehead. A deep red sunset sky greeted me. I was in the Underworld. I saw an eerily familiar woman, standing a few metres from me. Her long red hair was tied back in a braid. She looked relieved I was here. But why?

Then it hit me: I'd been in this exact spot before. I'd had this exact dream before. I also remembered what had happened after I'd had this dream; and how two seconds ago I'd been waiting for Raven to enter my room. I'd fallen asleep! Out of all the times I needed to be awake, it was now!

"Hello, Serena," the woman greeted softly, taking in my panic. "What's troubling you?"

"I need to get out of here," I mumbled to myself, ignoring her. This was only a bad dream; I didn't care what she might think about me. I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to bring my myself back to reality. It didn't make sense that I'd fallen asleep, when my mind had been so awake.

This wasn't real. Raven was real. Aergia was real. Hell was real–

"No, Serena, I need to talk to you!" the woman called out. I could hear her moving towards me in a hurry –

I pulled myself from my dream just as the barely audible click of the door unlocking sounded and soft light flooded the room. For the amount of surprise the click gave me, someone may as well have thrown a bucket of water on me. I'd fallen asleep for what was likely minutes, but the shock of having almost missed my only chance of escape lit up every nerve.