Meike hurries over to us. “I felt the other two walls. Nothing.”
“I guess I’ll check the floor.” They both nod. “Zai, is there anything in your book?”
He shakes his head. “I already tried.”
Meike leans closer and lowers her voice. “I have the Mirror of Ariadne, my other gift from Dionysus. It’s supposed to reveal the way to go. Maybe it can show me the way out.” She pauses, forehead wrinkling. “I should have used it on my first try. Sorry. I was just thinking about covering what Zai hadn’t.”
I’m tempted to pat her hand just for sharing that with us. She didn’t have to. “The harp has to be in there for a reason.” I glance around. “Something to do with music, maybe?”
“I’ll try playing the harp on the next round,” Zai says.
And then we wait. You wouldn’t think two minutes each would feel so long, but it does.
When Dex comes out from his shot at it, face pinched with irritation, I can’t help myself. “Looks like that forewarning gift isn’t as helpful as you’d think.”
Dex startles.
Behind him, Neve’s lips pinch. “You didn’t tell your allies, but you told her?” She flings an accusing finger in my direction.
Dex’s face drops into a deep glower. “How the fuck did you know about that?” he asks me.
I don’t bother to hide my grin. “I didn’t. Not for sure. But now I do.”
He starts toward me, hands fisting.
“Touch her and reckon with me,” Samuel says. He doesn’t move, doesn’t raise his voice, but Dex stops dead in his tracks. I was right. They lost him as an ally in the last Labor. I don’t know what swung it, but I’m glad to not have him as an enemy.
I give Samuel a nod. He may have been with Dex and the others at the beginning of the last challenge, but we’re square now.
After a moment of visibly wrestling with his anger, Dex stomps away to his allies. We resume the rotation of champions through the Labor. I, of course, am dead last. Apollo could at least have slotted me in the middle to mix it up a bit.
The first thing I do when I get in the room is roll up my sleeve and awaken Hades’ tattoos. I send the fox sniffing around the room and the tarantula climbing the walls, looking for any possible way out, while I feel the floors.
My two minutes are up fast, and, tattoos back in place, I come out with nothing. Zai is up next with the harp. Not more than ten seconds in, there’s a loud yelp, and all of us jerk our gazes to the door.
Disappointment rolls through me when he comes back out. The others, though, all smile quietly to themselves.
We huddle back up. “That damn harp bit me,” he whispers. Hunching over so the others can’t see, he shows us his hand, which has teeth marks across the back and palm. Human teeth marks.
“Bit you with what?” I ask.
“That thing is…” He makes a face. “It’s made up of human parts—a breastbone, and I think the strings are hair. When I plucked one, the crown grew teeth and lunged for me. I think it was going for my throat.”
He was right earlier. Grotesque.
It’s Meike’s turn again, but her mirror shows her nothing. As each of the others goes with no success, and then all of us go a third round, the waiting room grows more and more quietly desperate.
They wouldn’t kill all of us if none find the answer. Right?
Even Zai isn’t coming up with any more ideas to try—his book of answers, either. At least we’re not the only ones getting frustrated. I think Dex might pop a vein any second.
“Lyra Keres,” the satyr calls.
Round number four for me. I step into the room, and this time, rather than looking, I close my eyes and try to make my heart stop hopping around so I can concentrate.
At first, I don’t even notice I’m doing it, but about the time I realize I’m humming, there’s a small snick of sound, and then I feel bands wrapping around my head, chest, and arm.
My eyes blink open to find a thick marble door swung wide, exposing the entrance to what appears to be a cave. Another cave. Much smaller than in the dolines. I’m now wearing bands that secure my four flags to my body.
My jaw drops.
Music. The harp doesn’t want to be played—it wants to hear music.
“I did it.” The words fall in a whisper from my lips. Elation slams into me like I just stole the best score ever, and I have to swallow back a crow of delight.
I won!
I mean, not on purpose or anything. This was just a happy accident. But I don’t usually have happy accidents.
Oh my gods, I won.
I fucking won a Labor.
Hades is going to be over the damned moon—or his version of it, at least. Four Labors in, and I’m not dead, and I’m tied for victory with Diego, Zai, and Jackie. For the first time since Hades named me his champion, I feel a rush of confidence that I can survive this. Maybe even lose my curse.
And be loved.
Happiness blazes through my veins and has me bouncing on my toes with the energy of it fizzing warmly through me. It’s probably a good thing Hades is not here, because I’m pretty sure I’d throw myself into his arms.
