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But now it was back and it was one I welcomed, no longer scared of what I knew was coming. It was a sound of hope, making me look back at the gates to see them shaking, before suddenly…

They burst through, leaving me to glance back toward Garmr and tell him,

“He is here…”

“My HellBeast has come for me.”

10

THE HAND OF TRUST

The second my HellBeast King appeared, it was like the whole world stopped and not just for me… All the HellHounds snapped their heads towards the gates, now lowering their bodies as if they sensed the danger. The presence of something greater, more powerful than what they could ever dream to fight against.

“Cerberus,”Garmr seethed as the dust from the broken stone gates started to settle, giving us all the first sight of the mighty and true Guardian of the Underworld. The three huge heads were what my eyes were drawn to first, their jaws big enough to swallow a person whole. The spiked fur was just like Jared’s HellBeast I had seen in the mortal realm, it looked like clumps of harden stone, creating protective scales.

The deadly snarl echoed around the square, even making the pool of water ripple in the fountain. But then the second Garmr ordered,

“The girl, get her!” Those growls morphed into something truly terrifying. A roar so loud, that I had no choice but to protect myself. My hands covered my ears as the bellowing thundered around us, and the true form of Jared Cerberus fully emerged. Three heads all focused first on me, and then on the one he wanted to see dead. Drool dripping down from snarling lips, showcasing rows of deadly teeth that could have taken a chunk out of a building.

His paws crushed the stone slabs underneath, creating destruction with every step he took. But the second I felt myself being grabbed, I turned back to the threat, only to be left screaming as HellHounds were there, once again in humanoid form. Suddenly I saw a shadow overhead, like the clouds had swiftly overtaken the sun, veiling me in darkness. Then it started to fall, and I screamed as the one who had hold of me suddenly was dragged backward. I fell to the floor and into the shadows that seemed to be all around me until I realized what was happening.

The great beast, Cerberus, was now standing over me, keeping me protected. And the one that had tried to take me was now in pieces on the ground.

Another one tried to get closer, only to end up being knocked back again before being pinned against the fountain. Its body crushed against the stone sculpture from being locked in the jaws of Cerberus’s far right head. That was until it twisted its neck, violently crushing both HellHound and stone as its jaws came together.

Garmr must have realized he had lost this battle, and he shouted his finally command.

“Retreat! Fall back!”

Of course, most of them had already started to do this anyway, they could see they were no match for the powerhouse of a beast that could crush them under his paws. But then as Cerberus’ middle head opened its jaws, I felt heat begin to rise above me. I looked up to see the fire in his belly rise beneath the lighter fur. Like lava running through the cracks of its scales, and when it became too much, I cowered down into a ball and covered my head. From my position, I still managed to watch the stream of flames that shot from his open mouth, like he had swallowed a volcano, and this was the fiery eruption.

This took out a line of about forty HellHounds, causing the ones out of range to run even faster to escape. They leapt into the portal, desperate to survive the attack. Meanwhile, Garmr sneered at the sight, before rising his cloak and promising,

“Next time, not evenyoucan fight the army I have planned, for next time, I BRING THE END… FOR RAGNAROK IS COMING, HELLBEAST, AND YOU CAN’T STOP IT!” Garmr’s vow of vengeance was heard even after he stepped inside the portal, the echo of his hatred filling the square until Cerberus’s roar drowned it out.

“Ella!” The sound of my name being shouted made me look to see my sister, causing me to shout out,

“Lerna!”

Oh, thank God that she was safe, even if she was being held back by someone I couldn’t quite make out. Whoever it was had their back to me. But there were others, and I suddenly shouted,

“Orthrus, Marcus!”

However, my shout was ignored because with the last of the threats gone and the portal now closed, Cerberus had something else to focus on.

All three heads swung around to growl at those behind him. I watched as he started to move, having no choice but to move with him so I didn’t get crushed. But then I realized he was fully aware of me, as his movements kind of herded me through his front paws.

“Easy, brother, it’s only me,” Orthrus said, holding up his hands in surrender, but it was no use. Jared was too far gone. I knew that when a demonic voice spoke.

“THE GIRL ISMINE!”

I heard Lerna’s gasp match that of my own as he refused to let anyone get near me. His heads snapped out at anyone who even tried. But then Tyr rolled his axe around in his hand and said,

“Enough of this!” Which meant I knew this would only end badly if I didn’t do something.

“NO!” I shouted, with my hand snapping up to tell Tyr not to try and get to me because either outcome would only result in bloodshed… or maybe worse for the God. His axe was powerful, yes, but even I didn’t see it being any good against Cerberus. Which meant if I had any chance at bringing my Jared back to me, I knew what I must do.

I had to tame the beast.