Touch of Death(47)

"You can't give us over to him," Leticia shrieked.

"She's right," Victoria said. "You'd be betraying Ophi everywhere. Hades has been picking us off one by one. He's the reason we had to create so many zombies. We needed protection from him. It was the only way to save ourselves-our race."

Hades glared at Victoria. "You know I only seek vengeance on those who wrong me. I'm not evil. I claim souls that are mine to claim. When you raise a soul and steal it from my underworld, you are obligated to replace it. If I choose to replace it with your soul, that is my right as a god."

I could see his point. "I promise I'll give you back all the souls that have been taken from you here. We won't have servants anymore either. We'll operate under your rules. If we take a soul from the underworld, we will return it or replace it."

Hades nodded. "Very well. I can agree to your terms, Jodi Marshall." He leaned closer to me. "I was quite fond of Medusa, and I can see much of her in you. She got a bad name over the years. People seemed to like to make up horror stories about her."

I smiled. There was a time when I had believed those stories. Now, I knew the real Medusa, and I was proud to be her family.

"Very well. I shall take these Ophi back to the underworld with me."

"Wait," I said. "Will it kill them? I mean, going to the underworld? Will they have to die in order to go there?"

"Jodi, I'm the king of the underworld. I get to make my own rules."

"Keep them alive," Alex said. He quickly added, "Please. It will torture them more to be alive and sentenced to eternity in the underworld."

It seemed fitting. They'd been so content to order the zombies around, and while they'd still be doing that in a way-ordering the dead around-they'd be taking orders from Hades. There was a certain amount of justice in it.

"Jodi," Leticia said, tears streaking her face. "Please, don't make me go. I've never summoned a soul. I only came here a few days before you did. I'm not like them. Please, believe me. I want to learn from you. Be the kind of Ophi you are."

"I'd like to, too," Randy said.

I looked at Alex. "What do you think? Can we trust them?"

He sighed. "They were only doing what Victoria and Troy told them to do. Most of them were. Even Tony and, dare I say, Abby."

"No way," Abby said. "I don't do anything because I'm told to."

Wow, she'd rather spend eternity in the underworld than be around me.

Hades raised an eyebrow. "You're not thinking of going back on our deal, are you, Jodi Marshall?"

I took a step toward him. "Just Leticia, Randy, and Mr. Quim-I mean Tony. That's all. They really didn't do anything wrong." I wanted to say the other kids hadn't done anything wrong either, but they were mini versions of Victoria and Troy.

Hades growled, and I stepped back, thinking I'd ruined everything. "I'm taking my souls now, before you try to weasel any more away from me."                       
       
           



       

"Thank you," I said.

"But I will be watching you, Jodi Marshall. If you do not keep up your end of the deal, I will come for you. I don't believe in second chances."

"I understand."

With a wave of his hand a swirl of black smoke rose from the crack in the earth. It twirled in a mini tornado and scooped up the Ophi. All but Tony, Leticia, and Randy. The tornado disappeared into the crack. Screams echoed through the air. Hades gave me one last look, a look so terrifying I shivered. He would be watching me. Closely.

He disappeared in a mist of smoke down into the earth. The ground shook as the crack closed. I turned to the living dead still standing, waiting for directions. "Return to where you were before Victoria summoned you. I release your souls."

Each body slumped to the ground, and this time, I could not only feel their souls releasing, I could see them as wisps of silver light floating through the air. I watched them go, realizing I was the only one who saw them.

I sat on the cold ground, picking up Medusa's locket and putting it in my pocket. Alex joined me. "Don't feel bad. You did the right thing."

"I sentenced them to eternity in the underworld. They were your family, Alex."

He sighed. "I lost my family a long time ago, when my parents decided that power was more important than anything else."

"And my dad. Seeing him was-"

"I'm so sorry Victoria did that to you. She never should've brought him back. That was the lowest thing she's ever done."

"I want to get his name put on his grave. It shouldn't be unmarked."

"I can do that."

"And I'm going to have to call my mom. Tell her that I'm okay and that I can't come home. I'm not human at all anymore. Seeing her is too dangerous."

Alex didn't say anything. He knew there was nothing to say. We'd both lost our parents today, in some way or another. I could at least call my mom, hear her voice, but I'd never be able to tell her the truth. At least not all of the truth. I'd tell her I found Dad, that he was gone now. I'd tell her I was going to school and that I was going to teach and help others. That would be about all the truth she'd be able to handle. I had no idea what reason I'd give for not being able to see her ever again, but I'd deal with that another day.

Leticia, Randy, and Tony were keeping to themselves, almost like they were afraid of me. I smiled at them, trying to ease the tension. Leticia smiled back. "Thank you for saving us, Jodi. I'll never forget that."

"None of us will," Randy said.

"You were worth saving." I meant it. Leticia and Randy were innocent. They'd been in my classes and were only just starting to learn about their abilities. Neither one had raised the dead yet, and that meant I could teach them to do it the right way.

"I always knew you were a smart girl," Tony said. "Even if I wasn't really a teacher."

"Sure you were, and you still are." Tony knew all about Ophi history. We needed him. "You have a lot of knowledge to pass on to us. That spells teacher to me."

"What happens now?" Leticia asked.

I stood up and brushed off my pants. "We start our own school. We'll call the Ophi at the Serpentarius nightclub. Tell them about Hades and the others. Maybe we can convince them to join us."

"I'll call them," Tony said. "I know the guy that runs the place."

I smiled and nodded. "Thank you."

Everyone started for the mansion, but Alex grabbed my arm when we came to the mausoleum. "I don't know why, but I always liked this mausoleum."

I thought about our first kiss. "You know, I can see why." I reached up on my toes, wrapping my arms around his neck, and kissed him like I'd never kissed anyone before, Ophi or human. My blood bubbled inside my veins, rushing to every part of my body. I could get used to being a full-blown Ophi. Just like I could get used to being in Alex's arms.

I wasn't sure how any of this would work out, the school or Alex. All I knew was I had to figure things out fast. By making a deal with Hades, I'd made myself responsible for all Ophi. I was in charge now. And that meant I was the one who would have to answer to Hades.





ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS



There are so many people I want to thank that it's hard to know where to begin. Since this book was largely inspired by my amazing agent, Lauren Hammond, I'll start there. Lauren, I can't thank you enough for the way you motivate me and push me to be a better writer. This story flowed out of me, and I have you to thank for that. Your excitement was the best motivation I could've asked for, and your mythology expertise was much appreciated as we got this ready to go out on submission. Thank you a million times over.

Next I have to thank Kate Kaynak and the incredible team at Spencer Hill Press for taking a chance on this book and me. You've made my dream a reality, and that's something I'll never forget. Kate, your cover design blew me away, as did all the other things you've done to promote this book. You do so much for your authors, and I'm truly grateful to work with you. To my editor, Trisha Wooldridge, thank you for finding ways to make Jodi's story really shine. Your edits and comments along the way were nothing short of phenomenal. I'm so glad you'll be with me to see this series through. Rich Storrs, Keshia Swaim, and Shira Lipkin, my copy editors, thank you for making sure this book was ready for the world. Kendra Saunders, you are a marketing genius, and I know I'm in more than capable hands with you. Thank you. The editors would love to thank Dr. Rachel Vuolo and Caroline Godin for their input on the medical scenes

I also have to thank my daughter, Ayla, who at such a young age understands why I have to stop playing and run to my computer to jot down ideas. Ayla, you are my inspiration. Thank you for celebrating with me along the way, even if you don't fully understand everything I get so excited over.

To my husband, Ryan, thank you for putting up with all the times I had to ignore you to write, revise, or talk to my agent. You've been so supportive of my writing career, and I can't thank you enough for that.

I can't forget my mom, Patricia Bradley. You've read everything I've written and given me honest feedback. You push me and aren't afraid to tell me when I can do better. Your critiques are priceless, as is your support. To my dad, Martin Bradley, thank you for all your support. You do so much to encourage me and promote me, and it means so much. Heather DeRobertis, my incredibly talented sister, who loves all things creepy, you rubbed off on me after all. Thank you for introducing me to the world of horror and paranormal. I feel at home here.