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"I can't see any reason against it."

Her palms filled with a soft golden glow, under the light of which she looked ethereal.

We all walked in silence, looking around. This place felt strange, like a still, watching presence followed us. Though that could just be my nerves.

Within a half hour, every single one of us came to a stop when we all felt the shift, right before a hard bend. We couldn't see beyond the corner. I took one tentative step, and held my hand up to ensure Kleos wouldn't go any further.

Right here, there was a pit. As wide as a bus, the hole in the ground faded into the blackest of abyss, a seemingly unending darkness.

I kicked a stone down, and it reverberated against the wall once, but no matter how long we waited, there was no noise to indicate an end to his.

"What now?" Silver asked, somewhat demanding.

I decided I was glad she came. She was suitably annoying, which distracted me from any morose thoughts.

"We could always try to toss you in it, see if anything comes out," I returned with an eyeroll, unhooking the bag at my belt. "Or we could prepare our offerings and pray."

45

KLEOS

"Praying? That's your whole plan?" Silver made a derisive snort.

I shot her a look. She was irritable--understandably, after her experience at Pan's--but taking it out on Lucian wasn't helping anyone. Especially since he seemed just as pissed as her.

No, not just pissed. Lucian felt cold today. Like the remote, untouchable prince I always assumed he was.

"We're asking a god for a favor. Call it whatever you want to call it." I watch Lucian toss a single rune into the pit, before taking a step back and getting to the ground.

He sat crossed legged and closed his eyes.

He'd asked each of us to bring five things we'd dearly miss, for the five attempts we could make today. The first item I chose the first jewel I ever made, an awkwardly braided leather bracelet woven with a worthless stone that I'd kept on my nightstand for years. I tossed it after him, and moved to copy his stance.

To say that trying to pray felt weird was understatement. Witches didn't believe in the one sentient God of modern religions, capital G. And while we knew of the existence of theancient gods, most of us didn't bother with them. They didn't care about us. They weren't supposed to.

But here in this quiet still watchful place, I could make myself believe there was a chance someone, something was listening.

Erm-- you don't know me. I'm not much of a worshipper. I now know the gods are around, sometimes, and it still fucks with my mind. I'm sorry? Do you mind people saying fuck? Apologies if you do. Apollo. You're the gods of prophecy. See, I have a problem. Someone has been trying to hurt me. They've killed people to get to me. If there's a chance you can help, a chance you know what to do...

I heard a low snort, andI chanced a quick look, spotting Silver, who shook her head, before throwing an item I recognized. One of the pendants I'd charmed for her.

All of a sudden, I wanted nothing more than to get to my feet and hug her tight. I must have charmed dozens of stones over the year. The fact that was what she thought about when asked to bring something she'd miss reminded me why, for all her fault, she was my best friend.

And she was here. She didn't believe in the gods. She thought we were wasting our time. She sure as fuck didn't trust Lucian. And still, she came for me.

I was about to get to my feet to grab her tight and thank her.

But then, Silver knelt.

It happened the moment one of her knees touched the cave's floor. A deep, rumbling growl from the depth, that had every single one of us up and on our feet.

Ohhell.

"What the fuck is going on?" Silver screamed at Lucian.

"Do I look like I know?" he yelled back, both hands filled with red mists.

Both of them assumed the same protective stance without another word, Silver to my right, Lucian to my left. Ronan jumped into action, taking Lucian's back. Gideon, Idiot En Chef, opted to step in front of all of us, as we waited, my heart racing. The ground was shaking, something approaching from the depth.