Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 75457 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 377(@200wpm)___ 302(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75457 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 377(@200wpm)___ 302(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
Next week will be fine.
CHAPTER 7
Maddox
The screams of a woman falling into the Crimson River are chilling, and even this immortal demigod gets a shiver up his spine at the terror within it. Falling into the Crimson River means your soul is eternally tortured.
It’s where all bad people go unless Amell decides to give them a shot at reincarnation.
Lucien wasn’t bad people and didn’t deserve the Crimson River, and yet that’s where he landed. It didn’t happen from this bridge in the Underworld where Amell is currently judging the souls brought before him. Rather, it happened in a barren dimension through which the river flowed. There Lucien and Carrick battled a terrible and powerful Dark Fae named Micah who tossed my demigod brother into the river.
I’m not even sure if it killed him. Souls go into the river of molten lava, not immortal demigods. While the river would crisp a fragile mortal, it stands to reason Lucien would have survived it, except he’s not been seen or heard from since.
Being a demigod doesn’t mean we can’t be killed. Drop a nuclear warhead on top of me and I’ll be incinerated. Shoot a hundred rounds from a heavy machine gun and I’ll be torn to minuscule shreds. Catch me while I’m sleeping and swing a sharp sword at my head with enough force, decapitation will do the trick.
But those things just don’t happen, and even if they did, the gods could bring us back. That power is simple for them.
They won’t, however, and per Zora’s request, I’m back here in the Underworld to appeal to Amell for help.
I most definitely wasn’t pushed out of her bed like she normally does but spent a luxurious four days at her chalet with her. We acted like mortal humans—read books, cooked meals, talked, laughed, and fucked. With every day that passed, Zora seemed to come more out of her shell. But even with the advances she made, that look in her eyes—hinting she could bolt at any moment—never disappeared.
It was enough for me, for now. I’m bolstered by the progress, and after she was summoned to meet with the other gods, I pulled up my big-boy demigod pants and came to the Underworld.
Amell sits on a throne made of rough-cut obsidian, Nyssa at his side. His raven-black wings hang over the back of his chair as he slouches in it, his chin resting in his palm, as if this task is as boring as it seems.
I appear on the end of the bridge nearest the castle doors, behind Amell and Nyssa. I watch as fae guards bring forth another recently departed soul, who appears in the human form they had when they died.
I’m too far away to hear what’s being said, but the wretched mortal seems to be pleading with Amell. Clearly, he’s not made a compelling argument as Amell flicks his hand and the human flies over the edge of the bridge, shrieking on the way to the river to be brutally punished for eternity.
On the banks of the river from the city side, Otaxis residents watch the judging with a party-like atmosphere. Every soul that drowns in torment earns raucous applause and cheers from those watching.
Eventually, the last soul goes overboard, and Amell stands from his throne. He and Nyssa wave down at their subjects and turn my way, their hands clasped.
Amell’s eyebrows shoot up when he sees me. He leans down toward Nyssa, says something clearly not meant for me to hear, and she gives him a chastising look and an elbow to his ribs.
“What brings you here, Maddox?” Amell asks when they reach me.
I ignore the question, my gaze moving to Nyssa as I give her a tiny bow. “Your Majesty… looking as beautiful as ever.”
Nyssa grins and pats her husband’s arm when he growls low in his chest. “It’s good to see you, and welcome. I’m going to the kitchens, and I’ll have refreshments sent to our apartment. It appears you two might need to talk in private.”
“There’s no need—” Amell starts.
I cut him off. “That would be wonderful. Thank you.”
Nyssa goes to her tiptoes, curls her hand around Amell’s neck, and pulls him down to accept her kiss on his cheek. “Be nice,” she admonishes.
After she walks away, I echo her last words. “Yeah… be nice. I come in peace.”
Amell merely cocks his eyebrow but then sighs, heading into the castle. “Come on.”
We don’t talk as I follow him back to his living quarters, although I see the fae ravager I tangled with the last time I was here. He gives me a wide berth as we pass each other.
Once inside their apartment, Amell leads me onto the balcony that overlooks Otaxis and moves to the edge where he leans his elbows on the railing. His gaze on the city, he asks, “What does Zora want us to do together now?”