Page 75 of Chaos Unleashed
“Hopefully, he’s already getting a head start on the research that we need to do,” Mayhem muses.
Rival chuckles, “Don’t ever change, brother.”
Mayhem just looks at his twin with a confused frown before shrugging, and I can’t help but chuckle. He’s so cute when he’s in information gathering mode.
“How much longer until we get to the portal?” Reaper asks, “Now that Farren mentioned it, I desperately want to sleep in an actual bed.”
“Ohh, now you're talking,” Loki smirks; when I snort, he winks at me.
Hades shakes his head, looking amused as he says, “We don’t have to go too much further; just around this corner is one of the communal parks, it's one of the trees by the river.”
Almost as one, we all increase our pace, wanting to get there as quickly as we can before we get stopped by something. Fortunately, Hades was right, and it’s only a few moments before we are walking through the park and heading toward the river.
“There are a lot more people here than I thought there would be, and they all look so normal,” Kill says.
“You wouldn't realise that they’re souls unless you knew where we were,” Zev says and then adds with a smile, “Never mind, you’d never see humans peacefully coexisting with dragons, sprites and all the different creatures here if they weren’t dead.”
“Unfortunately you’re right, this is the only place where all creatures and species from all walks of life coexist peacefully,” Khaos replies.
“It’s a shame that it can only be achieved in death,” Zev adds.
Everyone is silent for a moment as we just enjoy watching the scene around us as we finally get to the river. It surprises me when the tree that we’re using as the portal isn’t in the middle of nowhere and out of sight of everyone but is in clear view of the park, I can still see a lot of people from where we're standing.
“No one else is able to use it, they won’t even realise that we’ve gone, it will just be a case of one moment we’re here and the next we’re not, they won’t even question it,” Hades explains before anyone can ask.
“What now?” I ask, somewhat impatiently. I want to get out of here; I want to rest, even if it's just for a moment before we head to the Dragon realm.
I also need to check in with Reaper and make sure that he’s prepared to go back there, because even though I suggested it, he’s already said that he won’t want us to go to the realm without him, so I know he's not going to stay behind.
“I just need to use the spell to open it,” Hades replies.
We all watch curiously as he slices his hand and starts to draw a rune on the trunk of the tree. I have no idea what the rune says, but based on the complicated lines, I’d have to assume that it’s a complex spell. Blood is only used in the most powerful spells.
It takes him quite a while to draw, but when he’s done, he steps back and says a trigger word that makes the bloody rune glow. I can feel the magic build as the portal begins to open.
“Something is wrong, this isn’t the right colour,” Hades says urgently. “Everyone needs to take a step backward, don’t go in.”
We all begin to do as he says, the panic in his voice letting us know just how serious it is.
“What is it?” Khaos asks.
“I have no idea,” Hades replies, “I’ve done that spell literally millions of times before, and there’s never been an issue.”
While they’re talking, the glow from the tree is getting bigger, and I grab Loki’s hand to pull him further away, hoping that the others all copy and do the same; Loki’s hand grips mine tightly.
“It’s okay, Love, I’ve got you, I’m not letting go.”
His words are more comforting than I realised that they would be, and I find myself getting ridiculously emotional about them.
“Why isn’t it fading since no one is stepping through it?” Mayhem asks.
“I don’t know, it’s not behaving like a typical portal!” Hades replies.
Before anyone can say anything, a string of magic whips out from the portal and wraps itself around Killian, Storm grabs his other arm as the rest of us yell in panic and rush forward, but it’s no good as the magic is too strong and they both get pulled in.
The rest of us don’t hesitate as one after the other, we all follow Storm and Kill through the portal; we’re not being separated again, especially when we have no idea what is going on or where the portal is leading to.
I glance back over my shoulder as Loki and I head for the portal, following the others through it, and Loki’s hand still wrapped tightly in mine.
What I see almost has me stopping in my tracks, but Loki’s forward motion continues to pull me toward the portal. As the portal encloses around me, I watch as what I’m sure is Monty and my Uncle standing in the park and having a heated conversation.
What is my Uncle doing in the soul side of the Underworld? Oh, oh no. I can’t think about what it implies; I refuse to. I need to know where we’ve been pulled to.
I can’t see a damn thing. The light is still blinding me; panic starts to build. The only thing keeping me mildly calm is Loki’s hand in mine.
Finally, I hear Hades, although the alarm in his voice is not reassuring in the slightest, and his words make no sense.
“Shit, we’re in the god realm, nobody move.” He commands.
Fuck, this can’t be good.