Page 226 of The Games Gods Play
“You made me…not love you…on purpose—” I cough. Too many words, and my body isn’t going to let me say them.
“Yes,” he replies in a tortured voice. “How did you know?”
I want to reach up, to cup his face, but I can’t. “The sirens,” I say. I need to explain more, but it would take too much effort. We don’t have much time left.
“Do you get to…keep the throne…even if…I die?”
“No.”
That sucks. “You’ll find…another…way.”
“Lyra—” Hades’ deep rasp of a voice breaks over my name.
I catch his shuddering breath more through the one hand still on my face than the sound. “Not like this,” he says. “Not—”
His face blinks in and out, the angle changing as I can’t hold up my head. “Visit me…in…Elysium.”
“Fuck.” He’s shaking so hard, I can feel it.
Rima’s vision comes back to me. “Don’t—” I can barely get words out now. They’re so slurred, I hope he can understand me. “Don’t…burn…down…the…world…”
The grave drags me into oblivion.
The Underworld waits for me.
110
And Then…
Light pierces my consciousness, waking me from nothingness.
I feel myself frown at it. They say this is common at the end, no matter what gods you follow.
The light is only a pinpoint in the distance at first, and then nearer. Not like a tunnel I need to go down, though. This light is coming to me. It grows and grows until I am awash in it, everything around me radiant. It parts the darkness like it’s digging me out of it, and then…it touches me.
Warmth.
Glorious, perfect, soothing warmth. It’s everywhere inside me, all parts of me, and yet not of me.
The warmth turns to…heat. Not searing heat. Not unbearable.
Just everywhere.
I still can’t see anything but the light.
Then…a pulse of power.
It hits me so hard it’s like a jolt of electricity.
Did Zeus just strike me with lightning again? What a dick. Doesn’t he know I’m already dead?
Another jolt. And in the distance somewhere, a voice is calling. Faint.
What are they saying?
Another jolt. This time, an extra sizzle fills me with fear. The emotion is so strong it makes me want to run and hide.
My fear? What am I afraid of?
