Kelly Hashway: Face of Death

At least Matt would be happy now, and he wouldn’t be alone. I’d rest easier knowing that. But I’d still lost my dad. I knew better than to ask for him back. Zeus would never allow it. But maybe there was something I could still do for him. “Zeus.”

He cocked his head. “You are about to ask me for yet another favor?” His tone implied he thought that would be unwise but, well, I didn’t give a damn what was wise. I wanted to do what was right.

“My father, Derek Colgan. I can’t believe he was meant to be in Tartarus.”

“He was not,” the middle judge said. “We reviewed his life and determined he should be placed in the Fields of Asphodel.”

The Fields were better than Tartarus, but my dad would lose all sense of himself there. “Then I want to appeal to you all. My father was manipulated by Victoria and Troy. He wasn’t a bad person. He left my mother and me to keep us safe.”

Zeus raised his hand. “I can tell that you will not allow your father’s soul to remain in the underworld. You’ll raise him every chance you get.”

I started to lower my head but stopped myself. “He’s my father, Zeus. Wouldn’t you want Persephone to do the same for you if she were in my position?”

Zeus sighed. “Your father will serve my brother here in the underworld during the time that Medusa is at the school with you.” He turned to Hades. “Serve, not be tortured in Tartarus.” I was about to thank Zeus when he added, “And when Medusa is here, your father’s soul will return to the school to help you train the others. I suspect he’ll be a willing soul to work with.”

Tears streamed down my cheeks. I knew that was the best offer I could’ve hoped for. And while I also knew Zeus was only doing this to ensure Hades and the Ophi didn’t go to war again, I was more than grateful. “I can’t thank you enough.”

“You will thank me by ensuring this never happens again.” His eyes bored into mine so intensely that I knew pissing him off would be ten times worse than feuding with Hades. “Now, I need to get going, but first, Hades, you need to return them to the mortal plane.”

I didn’t even look at Hades. Instead, my eyes found Medusa.

“I’ll see you in a few months, my child.” She smiled at me the way a mother smiles at her daughter.

I nodded. “I’m looking forward to it.”

Hades waved his hand, and a swirl of black smoke wrapped around us, lifting us in the air. Just like when he’d brought us here, we couldn’t see a thing through the smoke. But soon enough, we were brought down to rest in the cemetery of the school. We were home.

There were hugs all around. Even Abby hugged her mom and sister. Things were going to be okay. We’d find a way to use our powers to help people. To save innocents who weren’t meant to die. We’d still have to raise souls from the underworld to train, but we’d return them. And best of all, we were going to have Medusa with us for part of the year. Not as a statue that only I could talk to, but as a soul we all could see and communicate with. The Ophi were going to be okay. Better than okay.

Tony approached me with open arms. “I’ve always regretted that I never had a daughter of my own, but I’d like to make up for it by being the best second father to you—when your father is serving Hades in the underworld, that is. Of course, it’s completely up to you. I understand if—”

I hugged him tightly, because he was the closest to a father I’d ever had, and I knew Tony would do his best to fill the hole in my heart each time my dad had to return to the underworld to serve Hades. Over Tony’s shoulder, my dad’s soul nodded to me. I smiled back at him, knowing he was glad Tony would look after me when he couldn’t.

Carol was already on her cell calling Mason. Her smile and the happy tears streaking her face said it all. Our lives were getting back to normal. She walked over to me and placed a hand on my shoulder. “Mason said he wants to work with you to show you how you can be around your mom without putting her in danger. It will take a while before you get to that point, but in time you can do it. It’s his way of saying thank you for all you’ve done.”

It was my turn to cry. Being able to see my mom again meant the world to me. I threw my arms around her and cried on her shoulder. When I finally pulled away, Alex was waiting for me.

He wrapped one arm around my waist. “You did it.”

I wiped my tears away. “I didn’t think I was going to pull it off.”

“I knew you would. You’re incredible, Jodi. The Chosen One.” He smiled. “You’ve earned yourself anything you want to do. What’s it going to be?”

I reached up, draping my arms around his neck. “Anything?” Before he could answer, I pressed my lips to his. Being with him was Heaven to me, and I could stay this way forever.

I’m not sure how to even begin expressing my gratitude to Kate Kaynak and Spencer Hill Press. I’ll never forget the night I got the call saying Spencer Hill Press had offered on my series. The tears of joy, relief, and disbelief I cried that night are forever burned in my memory. Every step along the way has been an absolute dream come true. I’m truly blessed to work with such a close group of people who make me feel like family every time I talk to them or see them in person. Trisha Wooldridge, I feel like you are just as much a part of Jodi’s story as I am. You made the editorial process fun, which is saying a lot. And all the Tony fans out there have you to thank for his role in this series. Thank you for being someone that I absolutely love to work with, and for understanding the way my brain works. Thank you to my team of copy editors, Rich Storrs, Keshia Swaim, N. Apythia Morges, and Shira Lipkin for polishing my books and making them ready for readers. To Kendra Saunders, Jennifer Allis Provost, and Kayleigh-Marie Gore, thank you for all your hard work in getting this book into the hands of book bloggers and readers everywhere. Marie Romero, you are a master at making the inside of a book just as gorgeous as the outside. Many thanks to you.

Lauren Hammond, my agent of awesome, I don’t really know how to thank you for always being in my corner, for taking my panicked phone calls, for texting back and forth on weekends, and for the countless other things you do. I hope Hammond and Hashway are together forever. And to my agency sisters, writer friends, YA Bound sisters, and critique partners, your support keeps me sane. I’m so glad I have you all to share this journey with me.

To my daughter, Ayla, who has come to hate my computer and the amount of time I have to spend on it, I love you for thinking you have a famous mom. As long as I’m famous in your eyes, I’m happy. To my husband, Ryan, thank you for always offering to help me work, even though we both know you aren’t a reader or a writer. Your support means so much to me. To my mom, Patricia Bradley, thank you for reading every word I write and then not being afraid to tell me when I can do better. You do more than support me. You push me to be better. To my father, Martin Bradley, who tells everyone he meets that his daughter is a writer, thank you for always letting me know you’re proud of me. My sister, Heather DeRobertis, you keep me sane when I’m feeling overwhelmed, so thank you for that. Thanks to my friends and family for always asking how my writing is going and understanding when I hibernate in my writing cave.

Thank you to Donna Rosenblum for not only reviewing my books in the School Library Journal but also coming to see me at BEA. As always, many thanks and cyber-hugs to the book bloggers who have supported this series. Keren Hughes, Kayleigh-Marie Gore, Brooke Delvecchio, Meg and Kassiah at Swoony Boys Podcast, Ida Keranen, and Beth Consugar, you all have been so incredible from the very start of this series. And to everyone who reads my books, thank you for taking the time to step into my world.