Face falling slack of emotion, he blinked in her direction. “Oh, but you should. Legend states that she’s the only one who can defeat the Jabberwock.”
“What, in Olympus’ name, is a Jabberwock?” she erupted, crossing the line into foot-stomping annoyance.
“I don’t know. What’s a Jabberwock?” he lobbed back.
Persephone’s mouth swung open, words momentarily locked on her tongue. “What? I don’t know. You said it!”
“No, I didn’t,” he argued and returned to his task. “And, that was a most terrible riddle. Really, you’re capable of much better.”
“I didn’t— Ugh!” Throwing her hands in the air, the Queen of the Underworld paced a circle around the meticulously clipped yard. “Can you at least tell me where we are?”
Unclipping a few items from the line, Sterling tossed the wardrobe change at her. “We will discover that soon enough. If I could offer a suggestion, though? All the worlds I have traveled in, for some reason layers translate to wisdom. I don’t understand the logic, but the more I bundle the more respect and kindness I’m shown.”
Pinching the corner of his change purse, Sterling peered down at the shard of glass tucked safely within and offered it a knowing wink.
“Mirror, mirror, on the wall. I order you, now, to answer my call.”
Turning away from my link to Sterling’s reality, I drifted on a surge of knowledge to face out of the looking glass. My essence—all that remained of me—resided within that endless void. As the oracle, it fell to me to protect the mirror from being wielded for unthinkable evil and destruction. Now, I controlled what information would be revealed, and to whom. Sacrificing myself had been a noble necessity. Yet, I couldn’t have fathomed the toll it would take. On Marooner’s Rock, Phin asked me to send him any lost boys. When one is lost, there is hope. Hope of finding family, a home, or even one’s self. Where I was stretched beyond the reaches of all hope or optimism. I was … gone.
Gazing out at the catacomb caves of the Underworld, I met Hades’ intense glower with disinterested obedience. “You called, my liege?”
Hand curled around the edge of the frame, Hades chewed on the inside of his cheek. The screams of tortured souls wailed in the distance, echoing through the cavernous hollow. “Someone is protecting Amphrite from me. And you know who it is. Perhaps uncovering that knowledge is how you found yourself … entombed in glass.” His attention roamed over the sea of emptiness surrounding me. “Regardless, you swore allegiance to me. I, alone, can offer you freedom from your prison in the sweet release of death. But that is a tender morsel you earn only by helping me destroy those that dare stand against me. What say you, slave?”
Glaring up at him from under my brow, I spat the words with murderous hatred, “How may I serve you … my master?”
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Within the glass, I saw a war.
A clashing of gods scratched at the door.
Left unchecked, they would’ve choked life from the world.
Their cloak of annihilation violently unfurled.
Mortals were used as their unwilling pawns,
Oblivious to the darkness that would snuff out the dawn.
Along the way, I became a pupil.
Manipulating influence by targeting their scruples.
Careful positioning is required for their inevitable battle,
To save the realm from becoming scorched and charred chattel.
Entombed in glass, I find myself cursed,
To prevent the enraged gods from doing their worst.
I count the seconds ’til this mirror shatters in a magnificent spray,
Allowing me to hold Vanessa one glorious day.
Knowing exactly when, and the stipulations of how,
Grants me the wisdom to make this solemn vow;
Lord and Lady of the Underworld, soon it will be your turn.
When I’m free from this tomb … I’ll watch you both burn.
The Unfortunate Soul Chronicles continue with Pursuing Madness
Coming Soon!
About the Author
Connect with her at:
www.staceyrourke.com
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Amazon Author Page:
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or on Twitter or instagram @rourkewrites
If you enjoyed The Unfortunate Soul Chronicles, pick up these other titles by Stacey Rourke:
The Gryphon Series
The Conduit
Embrace
Sacrifice
Ascension
Descent
Inferno
Coming Soon: Revelation
The Legends Saga
Crane
Raven
Steam
Reel Romance
Adapted for Film
Turn Tables
TS901 Chronicles
Co-written with Tish Thawer
TS901: Anomaly
Coming Soon: TS901: Dominion
Veiled Series
Veiled
Coming Soon: Vlad