I peek through the door, not wanting the watching world of the gods to see what I’m feeling in this moment.
After a deep breath, I step into the dark and creepy cave.
57
Sorry, Not Sorry
After only one step into the cave, I falter.
Zai and Meike are still out there. So are the others.
I have to make a decision. The thing is, if any of them don’t figure it out, they die. If that wasn’t on the table, I’d tell Zai and Meike and leave the others to figure it out for themselves.
My arms flop to my sides as I close my eyes and release a frustrated groan. But I can’t not. Opening my eyes, I look upward, knowing that, however they do it, all of Olympus is watching me go through this.
“I’m sorry, Hades,” I say, loud and clear.
There will be many hells to pay whenever he gets out of god jail or wherever they’re holding him, if he’s talking to me at all.
I’m actually looking forward to arguing with him about anything again.
Focus, Lyra.
I step back from the marble door leading into the cavern and close it, and maybe thirty seconds later, the satyr opens the door to the waiting room. The moment the others clock that I’m wearing my flags, they all jump to their feet in a jumble of exclamations and more than a few curses.
I raise a hand to shut them up. “Each and every one of you has to swear, on your lives, that if I give you the answer, you will not harm or hinder any other champion in completing either of today’s Labors.” Trading information for safety worked for the last Labor, right? Then I hesitate. Consequences have a different meaning to me now.
I glance at Zeles. “Is that against the rules?”
“No.”
“Good.” I face the champions.
A litany of expressions stare back at me—shock, dubiousness, anger. But the proof that I know the answer is on my body in the form of four flags. “Promise me, or I’ll only tell my allies and the rest of you can risk ending up in the Underworld.”
“What are you doing?” Zai mouths.
“I’m sorry,” I mouth back at him and Meike. Meike at least shoots me a thumbs-up. See. She gets it.
Neve stares at me like I’m a bug she’d like to squish under her shoe. “Why the hells would you tell us the answer, hoser?” she says, her Canadian accent even thicker than usual. “You could’ve just told your allies and let the rest of us fail.” Which leaves us all in no doubt that that’s what she would’ve done.
“Let’s just say I’m not a fan of death as a punishment.” I hope the gods and goddesses are all listening. Take note, I’m telling them silently. I’ll ruin your fun by doing this every damned time.
Then I look at one person and one person only.
Dex.
Staring back at me with his dark-brown eyes narrowed, he works his jaw for several seconds before, lips tight, he gives a jerking nod. “I swear it.”
After a surprised pause, the others follow suit—each and every one of them.
There. At least I got something out of it that should help me and my team. Dex and his allies won’t be coming after us today.
“Music,” I tell them. “Make music—hum or sing. Don’t try to play the harp, though. She bites. Do it until the door opens.” I look at Zai and Meike. “I’ll wait for you at the start of the next Labor.” I won’t have to wait long. Zai is right after me in the order we go, and Meike shortly after him.
I turn to go back through, but the satyr steps in front of me. “I’m sorry, Lyra Keres, but the rules are clear. If you come back out, you have to wait your turn.”
“Ha!” Neve crows. “Serves you right.”
“Shut the fuck up, Neve,” Dae snaps. “She just saved your damned life.”
A blush mottles up the sides of her face, and Neve opens and closes her mouth a couple of times.
“She’s not really like this.” Dae looks at the rest of us. “At least I don’t think so. Ares’ gift was a competitive spirit, and it seems to have made her…” He waves a hand at her. “This.”
Dex smacks him on the back of the head. “Don’t tell them shit.”
Dae’s jaw sets at a stubborn angle. “It’s not going to help them, but at least they won’t hate her for it.”
“Zai Aridam,” the satyr calls.
Zai stops in front of me before going in. “Meike and I will wait for you.”
I shake my head. “I’m last. All of the champions are between us. With your winged sandals, you’ve got a shot of getting through the obstacles. You should try to win.”
Someone—Dex, maybe—gives a derisive snort.
