Immortal Fire - Book One

We had gone over the plan in greater detail for the past ten minutes and could not risk staying in that room any longer than need be. It was a miracle no one had come barging in for so long and we did not want to risk our luck.

Creeping slowly and silently out of the door that I had destroyed, we looked in each direction and could not see anything. Assuming there was no immediate danger; we kept to the shadows and went down the hall.

The sounds of cries, screams and horrific growls filled the air as we got closer to the prison cells. Hayden was right behind me, his hand never leaving my lower back as we went. Cassie was almost herself again and could now move on her own. We were making great progress.

Hunter led in the front and stopped when we reached a part of the corridor that split at a crossroads.

“Aria, come up here,” Hunter whispered. I was about to go when Hayden pulled me back silently.

“Be careful,” he said before kissing me.

I would have stood there all day kissing him if it were not for Hunter clearing his throat. I pulled away with my heart beating out of my chest. I gave Hayden the most reassuring smile I could before I crept silently to the front of our group.

Damien looked at me and then away when I went past him. I felt horrible. He saw Hayden kissing me, the pain was evident on his face, and I knew I had to work things out when we got out of here. It was not fair to anyone. I was not being fair.

Reaching Hunter, he peered down the passage that led to the left. “How far can you throw that fire of yours?” he whispered.

“About fifty feet, I guess…” I replied also peering down the passage.

It was dimly lit, and a large statue of Hades was at the end of it. Hades was vain now that I thought about it. He had statues of himself everywhere…

“Could you hit that statue?” he asked, now looking at me. A smile crept over my face.

“With pleasure,” I spoke.

Summoning the angel fire, the rest of the group hung back against the wall in the shadows. Focusing on the statue, I held my hands as I would a ball and let the fire form. At last, when I knew I would not miss, I let it free and ducked back into the shadows, immediately letting the flames on my arms go out. The statue shattered with a large explosion and dust, along with marble debris filled the halls.

We all had to stop ourselves from coughing as guards came rushing out of the passage directly ahead of us. As predicted, they all ran down the hall to the statue. When it was clear no more would be coming out of the prison cells, we all ran.

The prison cells were something from a nightmare and their occupants watched us as we went.

Some were silent; others shouted crude and horrific things. The shouts forced us to run faster and finally, we exited the cell block. The passage was the same as the one before and we hung in the shadows.

“There’s the gate!” Hunter shouted.

Relief washed over me but was short-lived when demons jumped out of the shadows at us.

Hunter dodged one and was immediately taking them down. Flames shot up and disappeared as they were killed, lighting up the area in waves of hot light.

Damien was taking on three who were trying to grab a hold of Cassie. She stayed behind him and trusted him to keep her alive. She could move but she did not have the energy or life force for anything else now.

Hayden grabbed my hand and spun me around as an arrow shot past where I had been standing. It narrowly missed me and cut my ear as it grazed past.

Hayden and I were fighting together like we had when we had trained in Lunzos. We knew each other’s moves and flowed like dancers. I threw one of my daggers to him and he caught it, spinning, and slicing through a demon.

A demon ran at me, and I pushed my back against Hayden’s, lifting my legs into the air and kicking it back. Once I had my feet on the ground again, I ran for the disorientated demon and slid between its legs, knocking one leg out from under it. Once it fell, I sprung and drove the dagger through its chest.

The demon went up in flames and Hayden helped me up.

Damien had disposed of the three attacking him and was now helping Hunter get rid of the last one. Finally, the two of them stabbed the creature from both sides and it died. We were all out of breath and looked at one another. Damien looked at Hunter with new respect, but we did not have time to do anything besides catch our breath.

The sounds of feet hitting the ground as more demons ran towards us could be heard coming from the cells. It was the sound of hell marching toward us.

“Hunter, get us the fuck out of here,” Hayden said breathlessly.

Hunter nodded and turned toward the gate. He touched a sequence of symbols above the gate and the rock door broke apart to reveal an empty street with grass and trees on either side. There was a lamp post and I noticed it from the night Damien, and I had met with Hunter in Central Park. The gate took us to Gothic Bridge.

“Cassie should go first,” Damien said and helped her to the gate.

She peered over her shoulder at me and smiled. I smiled back but I was anxious and wanted her to get out of here so that I had one less person to worry about. Cassie stepped through the gate and walked over to the grass beside the road. She lowered herself down and covered her face. I think she was crying but I did not judge her for it. I think that I would do the same…

“Who’s next?” Hunter asked, looking to each of us for an answer.

I was about to say that Hayden should go but was interrupted when the sound of a vicious growl behind me froze me on the spot.

Cerberus… Turning slowly as if not to make any sudden movements; I found that I was correct.