Page 135 of Hekate: The Witch (Goddesses of the Underworld #1)

Entry

Hermes held his hand out and I stared at it.

His skin was beautiful, smooth like the oaken chair my mother loved so well when we once had a palace.

Seeing my hesitation, he gestured open-handed at the soft leather satchel I was carrying, which contained my map and nectar.

‘You cannot carry this inside with you.’ My fingers clutched my bag.

‘I am going nowhere without this.’ Seeing the mischief in his eyes, I made sure that Hermes heard the edge of fire in my voice.

He did not push me further; instead, raised his palm out towards the door.

It opened easily for him, the amber giving way to gleaming sunshine.

The only place in all of the Underworld that was allowed to be touched by the sun were these blessed islands.

It occurred to me that paradise existed both here, deep within the earth’s rock, but also in the world above, reflecting upon the salty waters of the mortals’ deathless sea, for what is paradise without the sun?

I wondered what divine ancient granted this for just Elysium, what law of celestial spaces allowed it to exist in two places at once?

But as Hermes stepped through the doors, his silhouette illuminated in sunlight I had not seen since I was a child, all thoughts escaped me.

Taking a deep breath, I stepped into the golden rays of the sun.