Pinehurst: A Magical Olympian Adventure-Young Adult Romantic Adventure/Fantasy Novel (21 page)

“Sweet dreams!” Havoc called out.

Sweet dreams? Was she kidding? I spent most of the night jumping at every noise I heard. My heart raced with anticipation, and it wasn’t because I was snuggled up to the hottest guy on the planet.

“Go to sleep.” Antonio sighed for the hundredth time.

“I can’t.”

“Why?”

“Where do I start? I’m stuck up a tree. Giant rodents are waiting to eat my flesh off. And my butt will have a permanent indentation from this branch in the morning.”

Antonio’s body shook with laughter.

“You really suck, you know that?”

“I’m sorry.” He rubbed his hands up and down my arms like he’d done all night, trying to warm me. “I’m just trying to picture that.”

“Would you like a visual?” I snapped, as I moved to get up.

“No!” Antonio wrapped his arms around my body, holding it to his. “It could be worse you know, we could be down there,” he motioned with a quick jerk of the head.

Damn! Why did he have to say that? And
why
did I look down? Borgons had been gnawing at the base of our tree for hours now. Attempting too saw it down with their razor-sharp teeth. I only hoped daylight would come before they made any real damage to the trunk.

“I bet you two wish you could crawl into this hole with me?” Havoc’s voice broke through the night. She hadn’t spoke in hours. I’d almost forgotten about her—almost.

“You okay over there?” Part of me felt bad that she was alone in that tree, until a twig bounced off my forehead.

“What the—”

I’m fine,” Havoc giggled. “Just a little bored.”

That little brat was going to pay for that. “That could have hit me in the eye you know!”

“So, Antonio,” Havoc began, not paying me any attention. “Tell me, when was the last time you’ve been to Hell?” I could hear the malice in her voice. What was she up to now?

Antonio cleared his throat. “It’s been almost three years,” he admitted reluctantly.

“Hmm. I wonder if the big guy will remember you?” she half-laughed.

“What does she mean by that?” I asked looking behind me at Antonio. I could just make out his features in the moonlight. They looked troubled.

“Havoc’s just trying to make a situation,” Antonio said, brushing her off.

“Well, we’re not going there for a trip down memory lane,” I snapped in her direction. “We’re going there to rescue my father. Speaking of which, Havoc? How do you know my father’s in Hell again?” Yes, I knew it was a little late to be asking her this question.

Antonio stiffened. “Please tell me you’re joking?”

I glanced behind me, cringing slightly. “She mentioned something in class and I just took her word for it. Then Miles told me my dad was missing . . .
You
even said he was here. By the way, how
did
you know he’d been taken?”

“I cannot explain it. I simply knew.”

Would the abundance of unanswered questions never end? He simply knew? Did he think I was going to accept that?

“Oh he’s in Hell alright,” Havoc assured. “Chaos told me.”

“Who is Chaos?” Antonio asked. Apparently he hadn’t been listening when Havoc was tormenting me with the details of her love life.

“He’s my boyfriend; although he doesn’t really know it yet. But he is definitely my boyfriend—or will be! As soon as he sees how amazingly hot I look in this outfit,” she sighed contentedly, “he won’t stand to be away from me!”

I wanted to strangle her. “Havoc! Can you focus here?”

“Quiet. I’m having a moment.”

“So help me Havoc, if you don’t—”

“Fine! Do you have anything to trade?”

“She’s dead!” I jumped up, preparing to run the length of my branch and leap into her tree, when the base of
our
tree shook.

“Ahahh!” I fell, grabbing hold of the limb as I went. I landed hard on my ribs, the wind knocked out of me. Antonio had me by the arm and pulled my dangling lower half up.

The Borgons were hard at work, screeching and gnawing at the wood below.

“I might have let you sit in my tree, if you hadn’t been so nasty just now. You two can just squirm over there.”

“I’m going to kill her,” I choked.

“Havoc, I believe Evie asked you a question.” Antonio was trying a more direct approach. “You will receive payment as soon as we are able to reach you.”

I’ll reach her. I’ll reach my hands around her little neck and—

Evie!

I huffed:
Fine, try it your way.

“I think I’d like something sparkly. You know; something to go with my many outfits. Chaos isn’t going to be able to keep his eyes off me,” she boasted.

“Perhaps if you’d wash your hair,” I growled.

“Eeek! Don’t say that.” She sounded aghast.

“Am I missing something?” I asked, to no one in particular.

The tree shook again. At this rate, we’d be catapulting into Havoc’s tree within the hour.

“Pixie’s do not wash their hair,” she explained. “
Yuck
!”

Okay . . . she was totally disgusted with the idea of clean hair. I recalled the first time I’d seen her. She was nasty looking. Her hair was as dirty and gross as it is now. Her clothing was ragged. Hell, they were rags. They were torn and filthy, covered in soot and ash. Now she sported a tight pink mini skirt, and a white cashmere top of all things—courtesy of Iris’ Barbie doll. Not to mention the crystal barrette she conned out of me.

“Wait! Are you saying
my
hair is gross?” I asked in disbelief.

“No. I’m sure it’s nice for you.” She cleared her throat. “All clean and
smelly
.”

“Smelly!” I hadn’t realized until now that I was shouting. The noise from below was getting louder and louder. They must be getting closer than I thought.

Antonio gripped my arm, pulling me back down onto his lap. The tree was sturdy and I was glad for it. Antonio's lap was even sturdier. I leaned into him, gathering strength to
not
kill Havoc.

“Pixies never wash their hair,” he explained quietly. “It wouldn’t be practical. They live deep down in the depths of Hell. The dirtier one is, the more likely they can blend in. Drawing attention to one self is not a good thing.”

I thought about that. Havoc’s racy outfit would certainly draw attention to her. Maybe I should toss her in the mud a few times. You know, just to grunge her up a little. A grin replaced the scowl on my face. Maybe if I stepped on her
while
she was in the mud—

Do not forget the wrath of a pixie
! Antonio warned.

I shrugged, remembering Christina’s pixie attacking her in class. Still, it might be worth it.

“I said, I think I’d like something shiny!” Havoc shouted from her hole.

I rolled my eyes at miss one-track-mind. “Fine. ‘Something shiny!’”

“And you have to smile when you give it to me. I don’t want to trade with someone who pouts.”

I’m going to kill her . . . slowly. No! I’m going to wash her hair. Twice! With conditioner!

Antonio laughed.

“What’s so funny?” Havoc called out suspiciously.

“Nothing!” I took a granola bar out of my bag and took a bite.

“You said you knew where my dad was?” I tried to get us back on track.

“Yes. Chaos said your dad is being guarded by the Daimonas. And that guy Roland, your boyfriend, he’s there too.”

I choked on my snack. “Roland? He’s dead! Antonio killed him!”

I looked behind me. Antonio looked as confused as I was.

“Oh, he’s not dead. The pixie’s are playing with him,” she spoke excitedly. “He’s not much fun though. Chaos says he cries a lot.”

“No. I
saw
Roland turn into a gargoyle! Antonio stabbed him in the head!” The memory made my stomach churn all over again.

“He killed a
gargoyle
, but not Roland,” Havoc reminded me.

“The Daimonas do not keep survivors,” Antonio insisted. “The
real
Roland has to be dead.”

Havoc shrugged her shoulders. “They took Roland in the hopes that the Child of Light would come looking for him. They thought he might be dear to her . . . that was, until they captured her father. Now Roland's of no use to them so the pixies—”

“Wait a
freaking
minute!” I had to catch my breath. The
real
Roland is in Hell, waiting for
me
to rescue him?”

“You really are slow, Child of Light. Haven’t I been telling you that? Now, enough free information; anymore will cost you.”

I gnashed my teeth at her. If Roland had been captured by the Daimonas and switched with a gargoyle . . . “then who kissed me in The Kitchen?”

“I don’t think that is relevant right now,” Antonio warned, clearly uncomfortable with the topic at hand.

“The hell it isn’t!” That was my first kiss, and I had to know if it had been with a human or a beast from Hell! “Havoc?”

She huffed. “How would I know who kissed you? Perhaps you should be pickier with whom you choose to lock lips with. Really Child of Light . . . gargoyles, Mageians, Guardians! Is there anyone you won’t kiss?”

I gasped. “That’s it!” My patience snapped. I jumped up and ran the length of the branch. Antonio was on my heel. The branch protested as we neared its tip, cracking under our weight—and so did the base of the tree.

Our tree toppled, crashing into Havoc’s. We literally jumped from our tree into hers, dangling our feet in the air, inches from sharp, snapping Borgon teeth.

“Well, that’s just great! Now the little beasts will start gnawing on my tree!”

“A little help here, Havoc?” I grunted, trying to swing my foot onto the branch.

“Oh, you want some help do you? Just a moment ago you wanted to kill me. And don’t try to deny it!” She folded her arms and turned her back to me, sulking.

“Fine, I won’t kill you! But you’d better help us or I’ll toss this gold bracelet to the Borgons!”

“Gold?
Real
gold?” She licked her lips.

“Of course it’s
real
gold.” Now I was offended. “Do you think I’d own—?”

“Havoc!” Antonio grunted. He was struggling himself, burdened with our packs as well. How smart of him to grab them. He shot me an exasperated look.

“Oh, all right. I suppose I could help,” Havoc admitted as a sly grin crossed her face. “It’s going to cost you though.”

“Havoc, please!” My arms wouldn’t hold me much longer.

“How about that ring too? I think it would look lovely around my wrist.”

“Fine!” I shouted.

“It’s a trade then.” She clapped her hands excitedly. “I should have done it sooner, but it was so much fun watching the two of you struggle.” She clapped her hands again in delight. “I don’t want to be accused of coddling you.”

Two things crossed my mind: First, Kill Havoc. Second, Kill Havoc slowly.

“I vote for slowly,” Antonio groaned, hooking his foot on the limb at last.

“Hold on now!” Havoc pointed her hands toward the ground. “It’s going to get a little bumpy.” She parted them to her sides.

The earth shook below us. A large crack broke through the soil a moment later, opening wider and wider. The Borgons were being swallowed up one by one, screeching in agony as they fell into the fiery chasm of . . . Hell? Oh crap!

“Evie!” Antonio had my wrist and was pulling me up to safety.

We held each other, looking down at the flames that licked the tree trunk, parts of it now catching on fire.

“There,” Havoc announced. “I just shaved a day off your journey. No need to thank me, but I will take my trades now.”

My eyes were wide. I’d heard stories of Hell. I’d even pictured the fires that must engulf it constantly. I just hadn’t dreamed that I’d been right. Pools of lava flowed below us. Tall flames jumped into the air, scorching anything that was unfortunate enough to be in its path. I cringed into Antonio, hiding my face from the heat. He gripped me tighter, as if his strength would shield me from what was to come.

“How are we supposed to get through that?” I rasped. The smoke from the fire was burning my throat.

“Silly me, I forgot the steps!” Havoc summoned the path, hissing words I couldn't understand. Large boulders staggered their way down into the flames, providing a “safe” entrance into Hell. She held her hand out to me—I dropped the promised trades into her palm.

“Home sweet home,” she sighed. A fond expression hung heavy on her face. “Shall we?” She jumped out of the tree and onto a boulder below us. She continued on, going from one boulder to another, skipping as she went. I half expected her to be incinerated on the spot, but hindsight, it wasn’t getting into hell I figured we’d have a problem with; it was getting out.

“I’ll go first.” Antonio held my face for a moment, his eyes, speaking words of caution, and worry, and . . . love? Maybe I was imagining that last part, but there was definitely something in his eyes—my luck it was probably smoke.

He released me and dropped from the tree, also landing on the boulder Havoc had first occupied. His arms extended back up to me. “Jump! I’ll catch you.”

This was it. There was no going back now.

I called out to Havoc. “Havoc! My dad?”

“He’s still alive, Child of Light. I’m not sure for how long. He’s growing weaker by the day.” Somehow I could feel that she was right. Havoc wasn’t joking now or being greedy. She asked for nothing in trade for that information. She was offering the truth, and I could hear the ring in her voice. I believed her.

I jumped into Antonio’s waiting arms.

* * *

Down, down, down. We descended slowly into the fiery depths. The sky had long since left us. We were now deep into the underground, surrounded by charred rock and ash.

Oh dear God. I just stepped on something crunchy. Eww, eww, eww! Don’t look, don’t . . . oh my God! Bones . . .

Antonio gripped my hand tighter.

“I hate to be the bearer of bad news,” Havoc giggled. “Okay, yes I do, but we’re about to enter the Ragno’s den.”

I froze. “Ragnos? As in, more than one?” Please say no,
please
say no.

Antonio pulled me into his side. “We need a plan.”

“A plan, yes!” Havoc was jumping up and down. “Let’s see. Oh, I know! We’ll send the Child of Light in first and while they’re feasting on her, we can sneak around—”

I was squeezing Havoc’s scrawny neck in the next instant. “You witch! You’d like that wouldn’t you. I’ll bet my dad isn’t even here. This was all a sick trick to bring me here so I can open your stupid door and let all you monsters out!”

Havoc choked and sputtered. Her little face began to turn blue but I held tight.

“Evie! Let her go!” Antonio pried my fingers off her neck, yanking me away from her. He wrapped his arms around me like a vise. I thrashed to get free.

Havoc brought her hands to her neck, gasping and coughing with each breath of air that passed through her. I watched angrily as she rubbed the circulation back in her throat.

“Oh you will pay for that, Child of Light. Find your own way!”
Poof!

“Where’d she go?” I broke free from Antonio’s hold, and spun around frantically. She’d disappeared! “I didn’t know she could do that!” I exclaimed, still searching the tunnel for any trace of her.

“Once in Hell, her powers are much stronger,” Antonio explained.

Who needed the annoying little pest around anyway, insulting me at every turn? Good riddance!

“Come.” Antonio pulled me along. He was clearly in a bad mood now. Why? What did
he
care if she was gone? It's not like they were “BFFs” or anything. “She could have helped us,” he explained.

“Antonio.” I reached for his arm, halting him. “What if she’s wrong? What if you were wrong? What if my dad’s not even here?” What if I brought us here to die? A tear escaped my eye.

“Don’t think like that.” He turned toward me; his hands softly rubbed my arms. “It will be okay. We’ll find your father, Evie, and you will return home.”

I stared into his chocolate brown eyes, guilt consuming me.
I
would return home . . . but not Antonio. My heart melted into a pool of despair . . . and then it stopped.

“Evie, what is it?” Antonio gripped my shoulders firmly, shaking me to attention. “Evelyn!”

“We’re in . . . Hell.” The last word stuck in my throat.

“Yes.”

“You said you couldn’t leave unless you offered a soul,” I prompted: “A soul other than your own.”

His hands dropped. “That is correct.”

“Please tell me that you offered mine.” I waited for his response. Nothing! “Antonio! Tell me that you offered
my
soul!”

His hand reached up and caressed my cheek.
I‘ll die before I let them have you.
“How could I condemn you here?”
There
was
love in his eyes!

“Yes. There is love in my eyes and in my heart. I traded my soul for yours, Evie.” His devotion was unwavering.

I was speechless—a common response for the day’s “shockers.” I stepped back, my eyes truly taking him in for the first time. He was tall and strong. His body muscled and disciplined. His eyes and heart, determined to see this through.

Foolish man! Back at the school, he spent his time distancing himself from me. Pretending he didn’t have feelings for me. Saying I was too young for him . . . for what? Some obligation he felt to my father? My age? But here, here he’d kissed me. Here he’d admitted his feelings for me. The look in his eyes now confirmed that it was more than mere attraction he felt for me. The look in his eyes said he’d protect me ferociously. The look in his eyes said he was in love with me. Forget the look. He’d admitted it!
He loved me
.

My eyes narrowed. There was no way he was going to get away with this. I shook my head. “Undo it. I won’t let you trade your soul for mine. No way.”

It’s too late. It is done.” In other words, the subject was closed for discussion. The hell it was! I’d find some way to break this vow, even if I had to beg Satan himself.

“The Ragnos!” Antonio jumped in front of me. His staff extended.

The spiders were invading our den—hundreds of them. I looked at my staff. There was no freaking way I was going to fight off a fraction of them. Antonio was already battling. He was a true Slayer; a warrior in every sense of the word; killing any and all Ragno that got within a yard of us. He was so cute!