From Origins (Descendant Prophecies Book 3) (3 page)

Standing with my
back toward Sky, I heard a voice.
Give me your worst fear
. I didn’t know if Hades was the one speaking in my mind. Regardless, I didn’t like the sound of his low, menacing tone. I didn’t hesitate.
My worst fear…something bad happening to Sky and me not being able to save her.

You love her
?

With all my heart.

Would you give your life for her
?

Yes.

When the door opened, I looked over my shoulder to see Sky and gave her a wink. I saw her lips curl up, then the door slammed shut before I could see the rest of her beautiful smile. As I looked into the darkness, my fingers twitched with my light, ready for whatever was in front of me, but all was quiet. The glow from my body provided light so that I could see the enclosed area. There was nothing to see, only the darkness that engulfed me.

Feeling a soft cool breeze, I stood still. My gut told me something else was there with me. Was it a spirit? Hades? I didn’t know.

“Show yourself,” I demanded. I heard the whoosh sound of the air, then shortly after, a white mist floated in front of me.

There was no shape or form to it and it had no smell, so it was difficult to tell if was friendly. It looked like steam rising from a hot mug. Being that there was nowhere to go, all I could do was wait as the steam gravitated to my chest. Waiting to see what it would do was torture, and my light had no effect on it as it melted into my body.

I heaved a long, loud gasp, and for a second, I couldn’t breathe as my body levitated. Thinking it was going to suffocate me, I panicked, but it wasn’t long before it dropped me. I knew what it had done when I saw the mist escape from my mouth. Just as Zara had said, it had taken a piece of me. I didn’t care what it did, as long as I got to see Sky. Giving a piece of me was better than giving all of me.

“You got what you wanted. Open the door.” My tone was harsh, but at that point, I’d had enough. It seemed like I’d been alone in the dark for an eternity.

Just as I asked, a light appeared and I could see my friends.

“Mason.” Everett grabbed me, and the rest gathered around me as if I was some kind of novelty. Finally, they dispersed after seeing that I was fine. “We’re all here and accounted for,” Everett informed.

“Is Sky here?” I asked anxiously, glancing around. All I could see was more of the tall, rocky tunnel and huge boulders. Below my feet was the same, rocks and dirt, but somehow, there was light. I could clearly see everyone and what was around me.

“No,” Nick answered.

“Who went in first?” Zara asked.

“I did.”

“All we can do is wait.” Tara looked worried as well. She turned her back to me, observing cautiously.

I didn’t know how much time had passed, but it seemed too long. Trying to calculate how long it took me to get there was impossible. It seemed as though we had no sense of time. Some of our friends sat on the floor, while a few of them conversed in small groups.

“She should have been here by now,” I hissed through my teeth. I didn’t realize I was pacing until Nick stopped me.

“I bet she’s manipulating whatever that thing is to her advantage. It knows how powerful she is. She’ll come. We just have to be patient.” Nick was always positive. It was one of the reasons I went to him for advice. He was good at making the worse situation seem like it was no big deal.

I guessed I used to be like him until I met Sky. Not that it was a bad thing. Meeting Sky changed my world for the better. But now I had one more person to worry about, and she wasn’t just any person. She was becoming my everything, and if I lost her, it would be as if I’d lost myself.

I knew Nick was right; at least I tried to tell myself that. Sky would be there soon, but I couldn’t shake off the anxiety…the apprehension. “I’m going to look around. Maybe she’s trapped somewhere. I won’t go far.” I had to do something, even if it was running in circles. Sitting there waiting would drive me insane. It already was.

“I think I can guess what your fear was,” Nick said, out of the blue.

He guessed it, but I didn’t deny it. Losing Sky was my fear. “What was yours?” I asked. Knowing him, I knew his answer before he told me.

“You, Amanda, and Everett are all I have left. Don’t do anything stupid.” His answer was clear.

“You know that you’re like a brother to me, don’t you? And I would do anything for you.” I needed him to know how much he meant to me. I’d never told him before. I guessed now was a good time as any.

“You better. Now go. As long as you’re in my range of vision, I’ll be able to breathe.”

“Will do.”

“Don’t tell me he’s going to look for Sky.” I heard Amanda before I took off like lightning.

A part of me knew Amanda was jealous of Sky. I knew she’d had a crush on me, but that was in the past. But I also knew a part of her was worried for me, just like I would worry about her safety. We were family, after all.

Standing there patiently
, I waited for the question that I was supposed to hear in my mind, and thought of ways I could trick him… be clever with my answer. I knew that if I gave him a piece of me, there would be a chance my powers could lessen, and I didn’t want to risk it…but nothing happened. As desperation got the best of me, I started to panic.

I tried to break the door open with my light, but it was no use. I was only hurting myself as it ricocheted off the rocks. Banging on the door didn’t help either, as I yelled for Mason. I was alone with nowhere to go, and with no portal to escape through.

Since I wasn’t going anywhere, I decided to sit down and think things through. Maybe it was toying with me. Taking deep breaths, I slid down and pulled my knees into my chest, trying to think of a way in. Maybe if I kept quiet, it would finally give in. And sure enough, it did.

“Do you feel helpless?” The voice alerted my attention, snapping me up to stand. His tone was low and intimidating, but I didn’t fear it. I didn’t know what Hades’ voice sounded like, so I wondered if it was him.

“Yes,” I answered.

“Do you like being stuck here all alone?”

“No.”

“Would you like to be with your friends?”

“Yes.”

“Give me your worst fear,” he demanded. This time, his tone was assertive.

“I have too many. I can’t give you just one.”

“You must give me one or I will not open.”

The hell you won’t.
“You already know it.”

“You do not fear me?”

“No,” I said with conviction.

“How brave you are.”

“I am no braver than my friends.”

“Tell me what you fear.”

“If I tell you, you will take a piece of me. I wish not to tell it.”

“You are a smart one.”

“You showed me my fear; therefore, I’ve already told you. You know it. Now open up.”

I had no idea if the voice would do as I had said, but I had to be stern. I had to show that I was in charge, even though I knew that wasn’t the case. Whether it was Hades or a dark force that worked for Hades trying to play with me, it already knew my fear. He made me feel the separation anxiety by keeping me from my friends. He had purposely kept the door closed as long as he could, just to prove that he was in charge. 

“Let’s play, Skylar.” This time around, the tone was mischievous, evil, sending chills of coldness through my body.

“How do you know my name?”

Instead of replying, he opened the door. Stepping inside as fast as I could, I didn’t see the same blackness as when I saw the others stepping in. As horrifying thoughts flashed through me, I could see openings to ten caves.

“Crap,” I murmured under my breath. Where did they go?

“Sky!” I heard Mason’s voice.

As relief washed over me, I ran to where I thought I’d heard Mason’s voice. Just as I was about to enter the cave, I heard Mason call me again, but it was not from where I was standing.

“Mason, where are you?” I shouted.

“Sky, over here.”

I ran two caves over. “Mason, I’m here.” There was nothing but darkness, and no Mason.

“Sky, I’m here.”

Flustered, I ran to the next one.

“Mason!” I called out desperately.

“Sky, are you here?” I heard from another space.

I ran to every single one of the entrances, hoping to find Mason. Then I realized… Mason had never called me. This evil being had tricked me, giving me hope, a sense of security, only to take it back from me. When I stopped moving, Mason’s voice calling my name crashed through my mind like a hurricane. It was loud, strong, and I felt blown away. It was too much, and I had to cover my ears and scrunch down to the floor. Tucking in my knees, I curled up like a ball.

“Stop it!” I yelled continuously, as the walls spun around me. Feeling dizzy, I kept my eyes closed. I jumped up to defend myself when I felt someone touch my arm. Feelings of warmth jolted through my body, and my fingers lit up, ready to attack.

“Sky. Thank God, I found you. What’s wrong? Are you okay?”

“Stay back,” I warned, taking a few steps back.

“Sky. It’s me, Mason. I was so worried about you. What happened?”

“Mason?” My heart found a steadier beat as I made out the shape of his body. When my eyes confirmed it was Mason, I threw my arms around him. “Mason. You won’t believe what happened to me.”

Mason cupped my face and looked into my eyes. “I believe you. Same thing happened to me, too. It asked me what I feared the most. Did it ask you?”

“Yes, but I wouldn’t say it.”

“What is your worst fear, Sky? You can trust me.”

“Can I tell you later?” I snuggled into the space between his neck and shoulder, then backed away. “Where is everyone?” Beyond Mason was nothing but darkness. The air was still thick, but there was something different about where I stood. I couldn’t see anything but Mason.

“I don’t know. But I think if you tell it, then everyone else will appear. They might be stuck somewhere.”

“Mason, how did you find me?”

“I don’t know. You found me.”

“What kind of shock do you send me on my text? What do you say?”

“Why are you asking me this, Sky? We need to hurry and find the others. What is your worst fear? Hurry. Say it.” His tone was urgent and demanding.

I knew Mason better than anyone, and this was not my Mason. At that point, I should have been scared out of my mind, but I wasn’t. As anger blistered inside me, I jumped on the evil being and gave him all the dosage of my volt.

“You fool!” Its body convulsed as lightning struck through it.

“No, you’re the fool, asshole. Now, send me back to my friends before I kill you.”

His body flashed in and out, like a light bulb using up its last source of energy. Next thing I knew, my arms crossed and I almost fell over. When I found my footing, in front of me were my friends, staring at me with their eyes wide. Dragging my hands through my hair, I felt flustered and relieved.

“Where the hell have you been?” Amanda scolded. “Mason was going crazy looking for you.”

“Don’t get mad at her.” Nick poked her shoulder. “It’s not like she was having fun.”

“Where’s Mason?”

“Sky, are you okay?” Ian asked, but I ignored him. I couldn’t even look at him. He took a few steps toward me, and then backed away. Though he’d had his reasons for what he did, I was still mad at him. It would take time for us to be friends again, if I ever decided that we could even get there.

“You didn’t tell it, did you?” Zara asked, examining me without an answer to my question. “Are you all right?”

“No, I didn’t tell it. I’m fine,” I answered quickly. “Where’s Mason?”

Just as I asked that question, a wind whooshed past me. There was only one person that could make that kind of air seep through me like a warm blanket.

“Right here.” Mason embraced me like he hadn’t seen me in days, then let go, checking me out as he always did. He had appeared out of nowhere. I figured he was searching for me. “Are you hurt? What happened?”

“What kind of shock do you send me on my text? What do you say?”

“Why are you asking me this right now?” Mason looked flustered, then cleared his throat. “Can I whisper it to you? Everyone is staring.”

“Yes.” I smiled. I needed to know. This was the only way.

Mason held me tighter and licked the tip of my ear. “Sending you a love shock, baby,” he whispered. “Maybe more next time. Satisfied?” His tone was smooth and hot, sending waves of tingles through me. I could already feel them. I had to take a moment to settle myself and remember where I was.

“Yes,” I murmured, feeling dazed. This was my Mason, for sure.

“Now that you two had time to make up, I think we should get going,” Zara said. “Sky, you can fill us in as we move forward.”

As we followed behind Zara and Tara, Mason held my hand. It was good to be back with my friends.