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2
MADDOX
“I’m going to go get her,” I said when I stepped into Addie’s bedroom.
Her friends burst into chatter at my declaration. Ness argued that there was nothing that I could do but wait. We didn’t know how time worked when gods were involved. However, Vi always chose to spit in the face of the divine and stepped up alongside me.
Vi spread her hands as she beseeched Ness. “What else are we going to do? Sit around and hope that Hel decides to give Addie back? At this point, it’s looking like Hel has no intention of doing so.”
Ness’s lips formed a grim line. Her gaze flicked over to Addie, sleeping like a fairytale princess locked in a magical stasis.
Cerri stepped up alongside Ness and put a hand on her shoulder. “What are gods but beings with too much power in their hands? We’ve dealt with worse. And…I’m sure we’re going to continue to deal with the same from others.”
I recalled how the alien-looking fairy queen had looked down at Cerri with disgust. From what I understood, the fairy queen was akin to a god. She was ancient and powerful, able to shape reality to her will. And she had her sights set on Cerri.
“What is with the four of you?” I asked. “Are any of you capable of staying out of trouble?”
Ness pinched the bridge of her nose. “Apparently not. I thought I was out of the frying pan after we got rid of Alvin. It seems I’ve been thrown into the fire. Sure, let’s invade a goddess’s domain to get our friend back.”
That was how I found myself sitting face to face with the witch once more. This time, her braids were tipped with a deep, dark purple. Neon purple makeup lined her eyes as she sized me up. Her attention flicked to Ryder and Ness, who were footing this bill.
I assumed that the community came together to help one another, but it seemed that some of them liked to make a buck for their abilities. I made a mental note to see if I could get the police station to raise Addie’s pay, but that wouldn’t happen as we’d hadn’t brought Vince in to be charged for his crimes.
Bianca locked eyes with me. She raised a brow, and I knew that what she had to say would push my limits once again.
“The only way to enter Hel’s domain is to die. Are you ready to do that?”
My lip curled at the thought, but my beast accepted our fate. If that was what had to happen in order to find Addie, then so be it. I would do anything.
Addie
“Wake up, sleeping beauty.”
It wasn’t the tug of Maddox’s tether that woke me, like I’d expected. Instead, a hauntingly familiar voice dragged me out of the depths of my sleep. At first, I thought of my mother. I reached for the surface, driven by a craving for the familial love that I hadn’t felt in years.
Then, I came to and saw the face of the person above me. It was the same Reaper who had visited me moments before I’d faced off against Vince. Her short, brown hair hung away from her face as she leaned over me and flashed a bright smile. She thrust her hand into the opened coffin to help me out.
I took it without thinking. Only after she helped me stagger out of the coffin did I look up and question her presence.
She stepped back and put her hands on her hips. Looking side to side into the vast darkness of Hel’s underworld, the Reaper stayed silent like she thought Hel might suddenly appear right on top of us.
When the Reaper looked back to me, there was an excited gleam in her eyes. “Someone is on his way here for you. We should get going, so you can meet up with him before Hel finds out what I’ve done.”
I dug in my heels. “Who are you? Why are you helping me?”
I wasn’t going to trust anyone down here. This could have been a dream, or it could have been a trap. I had no way of knowing until I asked a few questions. Something wasn’t right here. I was really worried that this was all a figment of my imagination.
The Reaper smiled again. She had a secret behind those lips, and she wasn’t about to give it up. That was fine. I crossed my arms over my chest and held my ground. I wasn’t going anywhere with her until she explained what was going on.
“Has he mentioned me?” the Reaper asked.
My lips parted in confusion. I didn’t know who she was talking about at first, then it hit me.
“Maddox? Has Maddox mentioned you?” I blurted the words out like the force of my realization had driven them out.
For a moment, her expression softened with disappointment. She half-turned away like she wanted to hide it.
“You must be Paige!”
