Hades (46 page)

that hadn’t properly healed. I didn’t need to ask what they

were the remnants of.

“What happened to them?” I asked in a hoarse whisper,

the true meaning of what he was showing me suddenly

jel ing in my mind.

“They wasted away over time and eventual y fel off,” he

said bluntly.

“From lack of use?” I asked in disbelief.

“Yes, but more as a result of retribution,” he said. “The

point is that I had them too once and, believe me, they were

spectacular.”

Had I caught a note of regret in his voice?

“Why are you tel ing me this?”

“Because I want to avoid the same thing happening to

you.”

“But how can I stop it?” I asked my eyes fil ing with tears.

“I’m always locked up. Unless … are you saying you’re

going to let me fly?”

“Not exactly,” Jake said, before I could start to imagine

what seemed like an incomprehensible thought. “It would

be more like supervised activity.”

“What does that mean?”

“I
am
going to let you fly but on two conditions. I have to

make sure you’re safe … and that you’re not seen.”

Suddenly I knew why we were there. The gorge was

concealed yet perfectly designed for flight.

“You don’t trust me?” I asked.

“It isn’t a question of trust. You couldn’t go far even if you

did try to escape. It’s more a matter of what you might run

into out there on your own.”

“So how are you going to ensure my safety?” I asked. “It’s

not like you can fly with me.”

“That’s where my idea comes in,” Jake said. “It might

seem odd to you at first but try to be open-minded. It real y

is the only way for you to survive as an angel.”

“What’s your idea?” I asked curiously. My wings seemed

to know we were talking about them and strained to burst

open. It took al of my self-control to restrain them. I didn’t

know if I could do it for much longer.

“It’s no big deal,” said Jake lightly. “It simply involves you

wearing a restraint.”

“You want to put me on a leash!” I was outraged now that

his meaning had become clear.

“For your own safety,” he qualified.

“You’ve got to be kidding me! I’m not going to let you fly

me like some kind of weird pet! That’s just sick. Thanks but

no thanks.”

I sounded so resolute in knocking back his offer, but at

the same time, I was al too aware of my wings, which were

itching for freedom and pushing up against my back. The

dul ache behind my shoulder blades was beginning to

intensify.

“So you’d rather let them wither? You know you don’t

have much time before they start to crumble and fal away

like old plaster. Are you sure that’s what you want?” Jake

asked.

“Why are you so keen to help me?”

“Let’s just say I’m protecting my investment. Think about

it, Beth. You don’t have to decide now although we are in an

ideal position.”

“If I agree I don’t want an audience,” I said suddenly

selfconscious.

“There’s only the two of us here. That’s not an audience. I

don’t want to see you lose your wings and you don’t want to

lose them. It’s a win-win situation, don’t you think?”

“If I do it,” I warned, “it’s only so that I can fulfil my

Godgiven
purpose.”

“Always the optimist,” he smiled.

“It’s cal ed faith,” I said.

“Whatever it’s cal ed I think we should do everything we

can to keep your angelic essence intact, don’t you?”

Jake’s offer was both insulting and tempting. If he was

right and I was at risk of losing an essential part of who I

was, did I real y have a choice? My wings were one of the

things that distinguished me from him and his kind. My

wings were a precious gift bestowed by my Father. If I

made it out of Hades, what would I do without them? And

how would Xavier feel if I came back with such a vital part

of myself missing?

I brushed away the tears that were already snaking down

my cheeks and took a deep breath.

“Okay,” I said. “I accept.”

Jake lifted my chin with his thumb, his strange but

beautiful eyes scanning my face. “Good decision,” he said

before steering us to a nearby rock ledge. “Put your right

foot up here,” he instructed before upending the contents of

a smal , carved box he withdrew from under the bike. A

shimmering chain made of fine silver links, attached to a

manacle pooled onto the rock. It looked like a magical

object from a mythological world. I wanted to ask about its

origins but held back. Jake wrapped one end of the chain

around his wrist and fettered the manacle around my ankle.

Being made of mesh meant it was remarkably flexible,

melding around my flesh as if it were a part of me.

I looked around at the ravine in which I was permitted to

take flight. The rock face rose steeply on both sides and

ended in a pervasive darkness. The black waterfal flowed

silently. It was like a rocky void, a strange, ghostly abyss

il uminated only by the headlights of Jake’s motorcycle,

which cast a pool of opaque light around us.

“Knock yourself out,” Jake said.

Although I’d been reluctant about revealing my wings to

Jake, they now seemed to have a wil of their own. They

were so desperate for release they didn’t even wait for a

trigger or a signal from my brain. I didn’t try to restrain them

and a moment later my linen nightgown hung in ragged

shreds from my back. The thought of flight had energized

me and my wings seemed to creak from lack of use as they

rose up behind me. They emitted a pale silver light of their

own and I felt them humming with power. My other muscles

were also coming back to life now that my circulation had

returned.

Jake watched me in silent fascination. I wondered how

long it had been since he’d seen an angel’s wings up close.

Did he stil remember the intoxicating feeling? I didn’t have

time to stop and consider it. My wings arched like a

feathered canopy over us both. Jake studied them with a

wistful longing and I felt suddenly proud of them. My wings

were the one physical feature that separated us despite our

common origins. They were a tangible reminder of who I

was and where I’d come from. I would always be different

from Jake. My flight through the darkness would be a

reminder of al that he and his kind had relinquished for the

sake of pride and power lust.

I rol ed my ankle from side to side, testing the strength of

the shackle. Then I dropped my head to my chest, sprinted

forward a few paces, and let my wings lift me into the air.

The moment my feet were swept off the ground, I felt an

instant relief, as if something dry and withered inside of me

had sprung to life again. I threw myself against the

enveloping darkness without grace or rhythm. I dived

through it, fanning it with my beating wings and it seemed to

part a little to let me through. When a firm tug at my ankle

told me I’d gone too high, I didn’t dwel on my captor below

but simply swooped down again, making sure to stay lower.

I let my thoughts switch off and my body take over. I didn’t

feel the same exhilaration I did when I flew with my family at

Venus Cove, but the deep physical release was worth it.

Jake stood on the ledge below, face upturned and the

chain leash wound around his wrist.

From where I was he looked very smal and irrelevant. In

that moment I was al that existed—not my worries or fears

or even my love for Xavier. I was stripped back to my very

core, nothing but energy, darting and looping through the

airless ravine.

I flew until my wings were begging for rest and even then I

didn’t stop. When I final y descended Jake was looking at

me with undisguised awe. Wordlessly he tossed me a

helmet and swung himself onto the bike.

“Come on,” he said. “You can spend the night at the

Ambrosia—our secret.”

“You can’t keep secrets from Lucifer,” I said. “You must

know there’l be repercussions.”

“True.” Jake shrugged. “But right now, I don’t real y care.”

29

Sweet Revenge

I woke the next day feeling more like myself than I had in a

long time. I stretched and arched my back, pleased to find

the muscles feeling light and relaxed rather than as heavy

as concrete. It was a relief to be back in the luxurious

surroundings of Hotel Ambrosia even though I knew it could

only be temporary.

I’d just thrown off the covers and slipped out of bed when

I heard the sound of a key card in the door of the suite. I

tensed up for a second expecting trouble, but it was only

Hanna and Tuck poking their faces through the door. I

assumed they were the only ones al owed to know about

my return. Jake had ordered a lavish cooked breakfast and

Hanna almost dropped the overladen tray in her

enthusiasm to rush to my side.

“I’m so glad to see you,” she said, embracing me tightly.

“I can’t believe you’re alive.” I breathed in her now-familiar

smel of freshly baked bread.

Tuck, who was more guarded with his emotions, crossed

the room to give my shoulder a fraternal shove.

“You had us worried for a while,” he said. “What

happened back there in the arena?”

“I’m not actual y sure,” I replied, accepting the glass of

orange juice that Hanna thrust into my hand. “I didn’t do any

of it on purpose, the fire just parted around me.”

“How did you manage to get out of the chambers?”

“Jake came last night and let me out. I’m guessing

there’s going to be trouble.”

“He defied his father’s orders?” Hanna’s eyes bulged.

“That’s a first.”

“I know,” I said. “I hope he knows what he’s doing.”

“Everyone’s been talkin’ bout you and your powers,” Tuck

said. “They reckon Big Daddy was gonna let you out

himself, see if he could cut a deal with you.”

“Maybe when Hel freezes over,” I said under my breath,

but I couldn’t keep myself from feeling just a little bit hopeful.

If Lucifer came up with terms I could agree to, then maybe

there was a slim chance I wouldn’t have to return to my

prison in the earth. On the other hand if Jake setting me

free made Lucifer angry, I could end up in worse trouble. “I

need to find something to wear,” I said, glancing at the dirty

undergarments on the floor. I was stil in the oyster silk

pyjamas I’d found folded on the bed when I arrived.

I started riffling through the wardrobe, eager to change

into clean clothes. Jake had added jeans and a sweater

among the showy dresses and silk shirts. Perhaps he final y

understood the importance of flying under the radar. I’d just

slipped on the sweater and was tying my hair back in a

ponytail when the door buzzed again and Jake waltzed in,

forgetting to knock.

“Didn’t your mother teach you any manners?” I snapped. I

expected him to be anxious after last night’s escapade, but

he looked so unconcerned that I wondered what bargain

he’d managed to negotiate overnight.

“Never had a mother,” Jake replied breezily, before

waving a dismissive hand at Hanna and Tuck. “Get out.”

“I want them to stay,” I protested.

Jake gave an exaggerated sigh. “Come back in half an

hour,” he instructed them in more pleasant tones before

turning his attention back to me. “So, how are you feeling?”

“Much better,” I said truthful y.

“So I was right,” Jake crowed. “The solution was staring

us in the face.”

“I guess,” I muttered. “What’s going to happen now?

Should I be worried?”