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“I can’t go to Hell on an empty stomach.”

“Of course you can’t.”

Other than food, I can’t think of anything I need. I have no clue what Hell is like so I can’t really prepare. In which case, I guess travelling light is as good a plan as any. He heads out of the room and leads the way to the kitchen. It’s still early and the place is quiet. Maybe everyone is tired after the big battle yesterday. The kitchen is empty, and I think we’re going to get away without seeing anyone. I find some bread and cheese and we eat quickly, then I put some in a bag along with some small green apples just in case I need a snack, and we’re ready to go.

I’m really trying not to think too hard—or at all—about what’s coming next. Just taking it one step at a time. I mean I’ve always known that I was supposed to go to Hell and face my father, but no one ever filled me in on any of the details as to what is actually supposed to happen. How I defeat him. Is it one of those ‘this that will become clear at the time’ things? I freaking hope so. Otherwise, I’m fucked. And so is the rest of the world!

But I have the backing of the gods. They must believe that I can do his. Or rather,wecan do this. Though I could really do with Khaos showing some evidence of Vortexian powers. But I think he would have mentioned it.

“You ready?” he asks pulling me out of my thoughts.

“One last thing.” Just in case it all goes to crap, and I fail, I need to make sure the mirror doesn’t get into Lucifer’s hands. I head to the drawer where I know Hecate keeps a pencil and paper and I write her a quick note. The whereabouts of the mirror. How to destroy it. Easy stuff like that. I stare at it for amoment, then set it on the table. And add a spell so only Hecate can see it.

“That’s it,” I say. “Let’s go.”

But as we turn to leave, Hecate appears in the doorway. She glances between the two of us and her eyes narrow. “You look…better,” she says to me. “We should have a training session.”

I shake my head. “I’m leaving.”

Her eyes widen. “You’re going to face your father?”

I nod.

“It’s too soon. You need more time.”

“There is no more time. He’ll send more armies, more monsters. Next time, we’ll lose. I’m going.”

I see the acceptance settle on her face. “Then give me half an hour, and I’ll be ready.”

“You can’t come with me.”

“But that was always the plan. You take me with you to Hell. You need me. Together we face your father.”

“No.”

“You can’t go alone.”

“I’m not. Khaos is coming with me.”

Anger hardens her features. “You would take him instead of me?”

I’m not going to get into this conversation. “Tell Zayne and Josh goodbye from me. Tell them I’ll see them soon.” Which we all know is likely a big fat lie. I turn to Khaos. “Let’s go.”

Hecate stops me with a hand on my arm. “You must take me with you. I’ve waited so long for this.”

I frown at the hand; it tightens, her nails digging into my skin. She sounds almost panicked, and for a second I hesitate. I know she’s always presumed she would come with me, but I never agreed to it. And I don’t have time for this.

“Unbind, recoil, let me go—your grip is dust, now break and go.”

She releases me, staggering back until she crashes into the wall, and I hurry out of the room with Khaos close behind me. I only realize as we walk down the corridor that I left my bag of food behind. But I’m not going back.

I know where I am going. I found an unused room that I thought might come in useful. I walk quickly, not wanting any other interruptions. The meeting with Hecate has unsettled me. But I suppose I get it. She’s been working up to this for a long time. Now she has a reprieve, and it will obviously take time for the idea to settle in.

I stop in front of the door—I’d spelled it locked, and now I whisper the unlocking spell and push it open. The room is unfurnished with bare stone walls. I stand in the middle, uncertain how to begin. I’ve never done this before, and if it doesn’t work, we’re well and truly stuck. We’ll have to find another way back to Earth, and all the other routes will take us through the chamber of Mirrors on Astralis and that’s not somewhere I want to go.

I take a deep breath and pull the words of the mirror spell from my brain.

“Glass and shadow, light and space,A path once walked, a time, a place.By silver thread and memory’s call,Create a mirror to bridge them all.”