You may yet have a child with Odin, but it's not meant to be now, Alaric said gently.
“Alaric said that this child isn't meant to be born now,” I said as fear lanced through me. “Maybe we shouldn't listen to him.”
Vervain; there is more at stake here than that baby, Alaric said. But the very fact that it was conceived in this time tells me that it's meant to be born. A soul would not have been released from the Void otherwise. Take comfort in that.
I took a deep breath and let it out slowly.
“What else did he say?” Odin asked.
“He thinks that our child will be born, since it was conceived here,” I said. “It's all very confusing, though.”
“We have to trust that our original path was the right one,” Odin said gently. “You know that I want our child more than anything, but something inside me is telling me that Alaric is right. Staying here may ensure that our child is born, but what if it stops the birth of others?”
Another jolt of fear shot through me.
“But can we trust him?” I asked.
You're about to hear the truth confirmed, Alaric interrupted. In three, two, one...
A knock came at the door, and I flinched.
“Okay, that's freaky; Alaric just said that we're about to hear confirmation of what he's told me,” I said.
Odin scowled as he headed to the door and then threw it open. Thor was there; looking as grim-faced as his father.
“Hades is downstairs,” Thor said. “You need to hear what he has to say.”
“Don't tell me”—I grimaced—“it's about Persephone.”
“A little kindness would not be out of order, Vervain,” Thor snapped. “He lost the love of his life.”
“No; I didn't mean it like that,” I stuttered as Alaric laughed in my head.
“We've had some interesting information brought to us,” Odin said as he glanced at me. “By Munin.”
“Munin?” Thor asked in surprise. “And it's about Persephone?”
“Her killer,” I said with a nod.
“Did Munin say who it was?” Thor asked.
“Nyx,” I said.
“I told you that it was Nyx!” Hades declared as he pushed past Thor. “Vervain, I need your help. I'm going into Tartarus to confront Nyx and her husband, Erebus. Will you join me?”
“Of course, I will, Hades,” I said immediately. “You know how much I loved Sephy. If you say that Nyx killed her, that's good enough for me.”
“It seems that I'm not the only one saying it.” Hades looked at Odin. “Your raven knew?”
“He's only just reported it to me,” Odin said. “If I'd known sooner, I would have told you.”
“I believe you, Allfather,” Hades said. “And I'm sorry to bring this to your home, especially with your wife in her current condition, but I need your help. I've assembled an army of Greek gods, including Demeter. She's bringing her own allies with her, and we're meeting at the entrance to Tartarus. Thor will bring his rebels, and the twin Navajo Gods and the angel downstairs said they'd come as well. But your presence would be appreciated. Will you help me avenge my wife?”
Odin held out his hand and Gungnir appeared in it. “It would be my honor.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
As we were leaving the dining hall, I snatched an hourglass off a shelf. I frowned at it as Odin lifted a brow at me.
“I think we'll need this,” I said with a touch of confusion.
“Good; go with your instincts.” Odin nodded. “I think you're being guided.”
Of course, she's being guided, Alaric huffed. If you break that thing open and toss the sand on Aion, it will paralyze him for an hour.
Whoa.
Yes; whoa.
“Alaric says that if we toss the sand on Aion, it will paralyze him for an hour,” I whispered to Odin.
“That makes sense,” Odin murmured.
Hades gave the Navajo twins and Azrael the chant to get into his palace and then to us he said, “I'll see you all in Hades.”
Hades disappeared into the Aether.
Big on the dramatics; that one.
Greeks, I said by way of explanation.
“Anyone else find it weird when Hades uses his name to describe his territory?” Toby asked.
“That's its name,” Nayenezgani said.
“But it's strange when he says it,” Toby insisted.
“I'm with you on that,” I said. “Totally strange.”
“Thank you,” Toby said with an annoyed look at his brother.
“I'm wondering if we should warn Hades about Aion,” Odin mused.
“I think we should just let him focus on Nyx, and then we can take on Aion,” I said.
“Aion?” Thor asked. “Who's that?”
“He's a Greek god of time,” Odin explained. “We believe he's conspiring with Nyx.”
“I don't know what's happening here”—Thor looked from Odin to me—“but it's giving me an odd feeling.”
“You and me both,” Azrael said.
I looked at the angel and then realized where we were taking him. “Are you going to be okay with going to Hell?”
Azrael laughed.
“What's so funny?” Thor asked.
“I'm the Angel of Death,” Azrael said. “I was born in Hell; my father is Lucifer Morningstar.”
“In that case, we should follow you.” Odin waved his hand toward the tracing chamber. “Lead the way, Son of Satan.”
Azrael strode forward with a smile and traced away; no further theatrics needed. I took Odin's hand, and we traced together; heading to Hades' palace in the Greek Underworld. We stepped out of the tracing room and waited for the others to arrive. Hades was already gone; no doubt on his way to rally his army. But Azrael was waiting for us.
“This may be a good time to try out your new wings,” Azrael said to me.
“You think I should use my angel wings to fly through Hell?” I countered.
“Hell again.” Az shook his head. “It must be the human in you. Gods know that
