Blood of Immortals | Chapter 21

Chapter 21

"It's Cerberus," said Amari. "Hades' pet. It attacks anyone who tries to enter the gate."

"He does have a unique taste when it comes to pets," I remarked casually, trying to lighten the mood.

The three heads of the beast snapped towards us, eyes burning with malevolent gold. A low growl rumbled from its chest, sending vibrations through the ground. Saliva dripped from its fangs, glistening ominously in the dim light.

"So, what's the plan?" Veltra asked, her voice sharp with impatience.

Before we could even discuss anything, Cerberus unleashed a torrent of fire, the flames licking at the air around us. We scrambled for cover, diving behind a massive stone pillar. The beast circled the pillar, its growls echoing through the cavern, making the air thick with anticipation.

"What now?" Veltra demanded, her irritation evident. "Come on! Any plan?" Her gaze, sharp as a dagger, landed on me.

"I-" I started, searching for a solution.

"Or do you plan to get us killed here?" Veltra lashed out, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

"Let me think, okay?" I countered, feeling a surge of annoyance. A plan began to form in my mind. "I will distract them," I said. "You two go inside when it isn't looking."

"But-" Amari began to protest.

"It's a great plan," Veltra interjected, surprising me. "Finally, she would have a use in this mission."

Her tone was laced with a chilling indifference that made me shiver. When had she become so mean?

"But we have to protect her!" Amari argued, his voice filled with concern.

"Our mission is to retrieve the mirror, not protect her, idiot!" Veltra snapped, her eyes flashing with anger.

"Stop it!" I finally said, my voice firm. "We have no other choice, Amari. I have to do it."

Amari hesitated, his gaze shifting between Veltra and me. Finally, he conceded. "Alright," he said, his voice low. "But don't be reckless, okay?"

"Got it!" I replied, a knot of apprehension tightening in my stomach.

I stepped out from behind the pillar, meeting Cerberus' gaze. "Hey, Cerberus!" I called out, trying to sound confident. "Need a playmate?"

The beast snarled, its three heads swiveling in unison, fixing me with a predatory stare. A low growl rumbled from its chest, and it lunged towards me, its jaws snapping shut inches from my face.

I darted to the side, narrowly avoiding its attack. The chase began. I weaved through the cavern, my heart pounding in my chest, adrenaline coursing through my veins. I could feel the heat of Cerberus' fiery breath on my back, hear the relentless pounding of its paws on the stone floor.

Veltra and Amari made their move, slipping towards the gate. However, Cerberus, with its uncanny senses, detected their movement. It pivoted on a dime, its eyes narrowing, and raced back towards them. Veltra and Amari were forced to retreat, seeking cover behind another pillar.

I joined them, panting heavily. "What happened?" I asked.

"The dog was too fast," Amari explained, his face pale.

"Just do it again," Veltra demanded, her voice impatient. "We'll get inside this time."

"Okay," I said, my voice strained. "Just get it done."

Once again, I stepped out, taunting the beast. 

"What? Tired already?" I yelled, trying to sound more confident than I felt.

Cerberus lunged, a blur of teeth and claws. I dodged, my foot catching on a loose stone. I stumbled, my bag tumbling to the ground, its contents scattering across the cavern floor.

Panic seized me. 

Would I die here, in this cold, dark cavern, without ever knowing the truth about my parents? I closed my eyes, bracing for the inevitable.

The expected pain never came. Instead, I heard the sound of licking, followed by a contented sigh.

I opened my eyes to see Cerberus, its three heads buried in the remnants of my bag, devouring the honey cake the old elf had given us.

Relief washed over me, so intense it almost brought me to my knees.

We seized the opportunity. While Cerberus was blissfully unaware, lost in a honey-induced stupor, we slipped through the gate, entering the realm of Hades. 

However, our relief was short-lived. As soon as we stepped inside, we were confronted by a figure that chilled us to the bone: Hades himself.

"Spit it out!" Hades demanded, his voice a low growl. "What is your purpose for coming here?"

"We came to see Persephone, your wife," I answered, trying to keep my voice steady.

"And why do you need to see my wife?" Hades probed, his gaze fixed on us, his eyes burning with suspicion. Despite his fearsome reputation, he was undeniably handsome, with a rugged charm that belied his cruelty.

"We were on a mission to find the mirror of no lies," Veltra said, stepping forward. "Currently, it's in your wife's possession. So, we came to borrow it..."

"No! You will not see my wife!" Hades roared, his voice echoing through the cavern. "Guards!" He thundered. "Bring them to the dungeons!"

Guards materialized from the shadows, their hands reaching for us.

"Stop it!"

The voice was like music, a melodious counterpoint to Hades' booming rage. 

All eyes turned towards the source of the sound.

Standing in the doorway, bathed in a soft, ethereal light, was a vision of ethereal beauty. Long, raven hair cascaded down her shoulders, framing a face that could launch a thousand ships. Her eyes, the color of twilight, held a gentle wisdom that belied her divine status.

Persephone.

"My queen, let me-" Hades began, his voice softening considerably.

"No need!" she said, her voice firm. "I heard everything. It is me they wanted to see, why did you have to restrain them?"

"I-" Hades stammered, clearly intimidated by his wife's displeasure.

"Are you going to put them in the dungeons without me knowing anything?" she asked, her tone laced with a hint of icy anger.

"No... Of course not!" Hades vehemently denied it, his eyes darting nervously towards his wife.

"Then, let me talk to her," she said, gesturing towards me.

Persephone led me to a large chamber, a stark contrast to the gloomy halls of Hades' palace. The room was filled with sunlight that streamed through a hidden source, illuminating a breathtaking array of vibrant flowers.

At the far end of the room, a magnificent mirror hung on the wall, its golden frame adorned with sparkling gems. We walked towards it, Persephone's gaze lingering on me.

"Are you Selena's daughter?" she asked, her voice soft as a whisper.

"That is what I intend to find out," I answered, my voice trembling slightly.

"You must be," she said, a wistful smile gracing her lips. "You look just like her."

Persephone gently removed the mirror from the wall and held it up to the light. "Here," she said, offering it to me. "You want to borrow this, that's why you are here."

"Yeah..." I whispered, still in a state of shock.

"Then, bring it to the palace of wolves and find out who you really are," she said, her eyes filled with a knowing sadness.

I couldn't speak. The queen of the underworld, feared throughout the three realms, was unlike anything I had imagined. She was both beautiful and terrifying, kind and mysterious.

"Thank you," I managed to whisper, my voice thick with emotion.

I left Persephone's chamber, my mind reeling. I found Veltra and Amari near the gate, looking anxious.

"What happened?" Amari asked, his eyes wide with concern.

"I got it!" I exclaimed, holding up the mirror.

"Are we leaving now?" Veltra asked, her voice surprisingly subdued.

"Yeah, we have already completed our mission."

We hurried back towards the gate, eager to escape the oppressive atmosphere of the Underworld.

Veltra insisted on taking possession of the mirror. "I should be the one keeping it," she declared. "You were reckless. Leaving the mirror in your possession might result in it being lost or broken."

I reluctantly agreed, still shaken by the events of the past few hours.

On our journey back, Veltra insisted on staying in inns or taverns instead of camping under the open sky. 

"My health has deteriorated," she explained. "I need a more comfortable place to sleep."

I understood her concern. My own back ached from sleeping on the hard ground.

Staying in inns significantly increased our travel time, as we were forced to deviate from the shortest route through the forest.

One day, Veltra suggested that I accompany her to a nearby town to buy supplies for her weapons.

"Are you sure we need to go all the way to the south end of this town just for that oil?" I asked her, my patience wearing thin. 

"Wouldn't it be better if we just continue traveling? I'm sure we can also find that oil in the palace."

"My weapons are about to go rusty," she replied, her voice laced with a hint of irritation. "I couldn't wait that long. Just help me this time, okay?"

"How about I go with you instead?" Amari suggested, his voice cautious.

Veltra's eyes narrowed. "No!" she exclaimed, her voice sharper than I expected. Both Amari and I were taken aback by her sudden outburst.

She quickly recovered, her expression softening. "I mean, it will be better if you guard our room since all our valuables are here.

O-kay... it does make sense? Kind of...

Among the three of us, Amari was indeed the strongest.

"Alright," I answered, though I couldn't shake the feeling that something was amiss.

Reluctantly, I left the inn with Veltra that afternoon, completely unaware of the danger that awaited me.

The road leading to the store was long and winding, the town gradually fading behind us. We walked for what seemed like hours, the silence broken only by the occasional chirping of birds.

"Where is the store?" I asked, growing increasingly impatient. "I am not seeing anything here except trees."

"It's there," she replied, pointing vaguely ahead. "Just walk further ahead."

I pushed on, my eyes scanning the surrounding area. The town had completely disappeared, replaced by a dense thicket of trees.

"I am not seeing anything here except trees," I repeated, my voice laced with frustration.

I decided to turn back, but before I could take a step, I heard a sharp crack behind me. A searing pain exploded in my head, blinding me with a sudden, agonizing flash. The world tilted violently, and then darkness consumed me.

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