“What is that?” Raven asks, stopping to listen to something.
“What? I don’t hear anything.”
“It sounds like soft music coming from down there.” Raven points farther down the hall.
“I hear it too. I thought it was just one of the thousands of trinkets in this place.” Greyson shrugs.
Jayden cocks his head to the side. “Yeah, I think it’s a music box or something.”
“Who set it off? The others went in opposite directions.” I tense, scanning the area.
“Only one way to find out.” Raven steps toward the noise.
“What if it’s the queen? Everyone on your guard.” I tighten my grip on my weapons.
Should I have the shield out instead? What could we be facing with this strange music everyone can hear but me?
A door looms at the end of the hall. The soft melody finally reaches my ears from the other side. I straighten my spine androll my shoulders back, ready for whatever comes at us from the other side.
“It’s louder inside there. I think we have to check it out or we could get ambushed later.” Raven glances at me over her shoulder.
“Do it. I want to hurry up and end this.” I nod to the door. “Be ready.”
Raven pushes the door open, and the music grows in volume, the melody haunting and almost sad. “What in Hades?”
The room is empty except for a single golden throne and a small table with an open music box sitting on it. I spin around but there is nothing else in the room.
“It’s the throne. But why is this room cleared of everything else?” Raven scratches her head with the tip of her blade.
“Is it a trap? The warning still stands. We can’t touch anything but the throne.” I smack Jayden’s hand away from the music box. “It could be a trap.”
“Very clever girl. Too clever for my liking,” an imperious voice whispers through the room.
I spin in a circle but don’t see the queen anywhere. “Did you guys hear that?”
“Yeah, B. The queen is here.”
“It was a trap all along.” I shake my head. “Show yourself, Hera.”
“Such disrespect from a dead girl.” Hera appears behind the throne.
Her pants suit is immaculate white on white and her jet-black hair is tied back in a severe bun on top of her head.
“I’m not about to die at your hand.” I adjust my grip on my sword.
“You think you’re more powerful than me? I set this whole thing up to trap you, little brat.” Hera sneers.
Jayden steps in front of me slightly but I step to the side. I won’t let him be my shield; I have one of my own.
“I’ve got this, Jayden.” I square my shoulders and bring magic to pool in my hands.
“You really think you can make me sit in that infernal chair?” Hera scoffs. “You’re delusional.”
“The only delusional one here is you. You think destroying the whole world is a good idea?”
“Am I, though?” She steps out from behind the throne. “You think we don’t need a reset? Look at the humans and the way they treat this world. Eradicating them would be a mercy to this realm.”
“And yet most of the gods who have power over this realm and the resources it holds stand against you. This isn’t about the humans’ destruction of the realm. This is about your petty jealousy. As long as there are human women, your husband will stray, creating new demigods.” I step around Jayden as she moves, trying to circle behind me.
