Tera Childs - Sweet Legacy

Question answered.

Finally, I nod. “Yeah, I know.”

He flashes me a cocky grin, like he knew I’d believe him. I see the relief below the surface, though. He’s worried that I’m still not convinced he’s on our side. To be honest, I’m worried too, a little—worried that maybe I’m putting my feelings first. In any case, I’ve decided to trust him, and my gut agrees. Decision made.

Without another word, we turn and start back for the cave where we left the rest of our group. We haven’t gone five steps when I hear something. I raise a hand, wordlessly telling Nick to stop. He freezes behind me, and I tune my ears to listen. Vast silence, punctuated by moans and groans from the depths of the abyss, nothing more. Maybe I only imagined—

Then I hear it—a soft shuffle. Quiet footsteps on the cave floor. More than one set—at least five that I can count. The swish of something dragging across the ground.

Whatever it is, it’s coming toward us from the other side of the rock formation just ahead.

I place my hand around Nick’s wrist and—without waiting for him to respond—pull him after me. Seeking a better strategic position, I move up, over onto the nearest boulder. He follows right behind, and I release my grip so I can move stealthily.

Belly-crawling across the smooth surface, I inch toward the edge of the rock, toward the sound that could be a million things. A million dark and nasties.

Whatever it is, I have to draw it away from my sisters.

As I lean forward out over the edge to get a better view, I hold my breath. Surprise is a crucial advantage. Whatever is coming doesn’t know we’re here yet, and I don’t want to give away our position until I’m ready.

I peer down, but I can’t see anything in the inky space below. The shufflings stop—all but one. Then I hear a loud “Oof!” followed by a vehement “Shh!”

“Sorry,” a small voice says. “Not know we stopping.”

“Shhhh!” Louder, and more irritated.

“If you no want Sillus—”

A loud smack, followed by an angry “Shut. Up .”

Then a muffled “Sorry” that sounds more like “Rawry.”

I smile. Leaning out as far over the edge as possible, I can barely make out several shapes below in the faint glow. One gleams in the green light, golden, metallic.

The golden maiden.

I hadn’t realized how tense I was at the prospect of another battle this soon after the first until now, when the relief washes over me. The creatures below are no threat. For now, the fighting can wait.

I turn to grin at Nick, throwing a playful punch at his shoulder. Pushing to my feet, I scramble back down the way we came, leaving him to catch up.

Back on ground level, I have to smother a laugh when I see one of the onyx guards struggling to hold a palm over Sillus’s little furry mouth—or, I should say, his big furry mouth. The group of seven creatures is trying so hard to be quiet—and they’re failing miserably. As I step out in front of them, I say, “You guys suck at stealth.”

“Aaaack!”

“Shhhhh! For the love of Zeus, Sillus,” the golden maiden blurts. “Do you want the entire Nychtian Army to hear you?”

The little monkey monster peers out from under one of the pegasus’s silver-gray wings. “Sorry. Sillus say sorry. How many times?”

The golden maiden rolls her shiny metal eyes at him. Huffing out a tight breath, she turns to face me as Nick steps to my side. “Gretchen, we—” She blinks. “Wait— are you Gretchen?”

“The one and only.”

She smiles. “And this must be your friend.” She looks at Nick, cool and appraising. “The one you came here to rescue last time.”

“Hi,” he says, stepping forward and offering her his hand. “I’m Nick.”

She takes his hand between hers and gives him a squeeze. Then, turning to me, she says, “But you are not alone. We had heard—”

“Three huntress come through,” Sillus interrupts. “All three, in Abyssos!”

This time everyone in the party—including me and Nick—shushes him. His eyes widen. We all glare at him. Then he seems to finally get the message and draws his fingers across his mouth like a zipper.

“We were hoping to find you,” the golden maiden says. “We heard you and your sisters had come through a portal. There is news you need to know.”

That sounds ominous.

“Fine,” I say. “But it’s not safe out here. You’re not the only ones who know we’re here. Let’s get my sisters to your cave. Then we can talk.”

“I’m afraid that is impossible.” She shakes her golden head. “The cave is no longer safe.”

“Army find,” Sillus says, his voice quiet for once. “Break everything.”

One look at the golden maiden and I don’t have to ask why. The sad look in her eyes says it all. The monster bosses down here must have found out she and her friends helped me rescue Nick. They got punished. Anger rolls through me. If I ever see that dog-headed freak they call the boss again, he’ll wish I’d never been born.

I don’t like it when people get hurt for helping me.

“I’m sorry,” I say. “I should never have—”

“You are not at fault,” she insists. “You did not wield the ax.”

The cave had been an oasis of light in the dark abyss, a home for creatures who never hurt anyone, for the beasts who taught me that not all monsters are bad and that the abyss is worth saving. The image of the Nychtian Army taking an ax to the makeshift shelters and furniture makes my blood boil. I’ll make them pay, for that and so many other things.

“We have another place,” the golden maiden says. “It is not so . . . commodious. But it will serve.”

“Sounds fine.” I give her a grateful smile. “Let’s get my sisters safely there. Then you can tell us your news. “

“Yes,” the golden maiden says, “and you can tell us of yours.”

I study her. She always seems to know everything—or at least more than me. Maybe she already knows about our plans to travel to Olympus to rescue the gorgons. Maybe she knows, but maybe she wants me to tell her just the same.

She’s a cryptic one.

“So, Sillus,” I say as we start walking, draping an arm over the little guy’s shoulder, “how did you get back here? Last I knew, you were running wild in San Francisco.”

He shakes his furry head. “Is long story, huntress. Long story.”

I laugh but then quickly bite my lips as the golden maiden turns to scowl at my outburst.

“I’m sure it is,” I whisper to the little monkey. “You’ll have to tell me when we have time to talk freely.”

My smile fades. As we head back to the cave where Grace, Greer, and Thane are hiding, I wonder what this news is. I hope it’s either good or useful, because we could use some of that.

The golden maiden hadn’t exaggerated about their new location. Smaller, colder, and with only a small magical fire in the corner to chase away the shadows, the new cave smells like mildew and dirty gym socks. There must have been a phoenix living here before they moved in.

But my sisters are here, and it’s safe, and right now that’s my top priority.

Greer looks much better than when I left her—she’d been pale and passed out in Thane’s arms—and Grace seems very relieved that our sister is recovering. I’m sure we’re both wondering just how Thane knew to use hellebore to cure the scratch of a Keres demon. Right now he’s standing sentry over Greer, and I want her rest undisturbed, so I’ll save my questions for later.

I cross the cave to a bench—really just a long, flat rock—where the golden maiden sits, staring into the fire. They’re pretty much without amenities here, and what passes for furniture is whatever pieces of stone suit the job. And it’s all my fault.