CHAPTER 182

CHAPTER 182
I woke to Rowan's fingers trailing through my hair and sunlight streaming through the windows.

I stayed in that moment for a bit, allowing his touches to remind me of what I was doing all of this for.

"How long was I out?" I finally asked, my voice rough from sleep.

"Three hours. I would've let you sleep longer but Ixion's downstairs waiting." He kissed my forehead. "How do you feel?"

I did a mental check of my powers. The ocean settled alongside the sun and earth magic in me, no longer fighting for control. They hummed together in perfect harmony.

"You know… I've not felt this good in a long while."

"I feel relieved," He smiled and helped me sit up. "I've been feeling like shit for not helping you in the only way I can."

"It's not for lack of trying," I giggled, our heads colliding gently and we stayed that way.

"Be careful out there, okay? And Ixion better bring you back to me in one piece."

"He will." I kissed him softly. "I'll be back before you know it."

I got dressed quickly and headed downstairs. Ixion was in the living room with Josh, who smiled when he saw me.

"Celeste!" He rushed and engulfed me in a hug. "I've missed you so much. Ixion tells me about all your adventures!"

"I'm sorry you're living through us and not out here enjoying everything."

"Oh pftt! My man is my whole world," he winked at me, ever playful even in dire situations like this.

"I know right? But are you okay though?"

"As okay as I can be knowing my boyfriend's about to teleport into dangerous territory." He squeezed Ixion's hand. "But if this works, if you actually pull this off and weaken Hades, maybe we can finally stop hiding. Maybe Ix and I can actually live openly without the fear of that fucker hanging over our heads."

The weight of that settled on me. Their freedom depended on this too.

"We're going to make it happen," I promised.

"Alright then," Ixion separated from his husband and came to me. "It's time. We'll be back in no time, okay?"

"Okay," Josh whispered, his voice laced with fear.

Ixion took my hand and the world shifted, dark one second and red the next.

We landed at hell's edge and the familiarity of it hit me immediately. The heat, the scorched ground, the red glow in the distance.

Memories of my journey in and out of here several times hit me. I had some of my worst experiences down here and I couldn't wait to be done with it.

The second I got my bearings, I began seeking my Tamzyns.

My mind immediately reached out and connected with them, as if they were searching for me too.

The bond snapped into place and electricity shot through me.

"Celeste!" Jock's voice exclaimed in excitement through the bond. "Finally."

"We felt you cross over," Kelin added, excited as well.

"We've been waiting for you, I can't wait to meet you. I've missed you so much!” Nala gushed, and there was warmth in her tone but also strength.

"I've missed you guys so much. I'm so sorry I had to send you away," I said, unable to stop my smile. "Where are you guys? Come up so we can be on our way. I'm not comfortable here.”

Below us, I heard excited screeching and roaring. Demons had sensed the Tamzyns moving and were getting riled up.

Then three massive forms shot up from the depths, wings spreading wide as they cleared the edge. Below them, more demons tried to follow but slammed into an invisible barrier. Only the Tamzyns could cross.

I felt Zebub's presence somewhere in the chaos below, dark and heavy like a stain on the air, but I pushed it aside and focused on what mattered.

My Tamzyns.

They landed in front of me and my breath caught.

They were MASSIVE, their wings as big as their bodies.

They were four times the size of Inferno. Maybe more. Jock's dark blue scales gleamed like sapphires, Kelin's midnight black absorbed the light, and Nala's deep purple shimmered like twilight.

"We finally grew," Nala explained, and there was pride in her voice as she lowered her enormous head to bump against my chest. “And thank goodness because I'm tired of being bullied by these two for being too small.”

“Don't worry, they'll not do that again,” I smiled at her, running her scales.

“Yess!”

"You're magnificent," I whispered, and then the realization hit me hard. "Inferno was just a baby."

"He was young," Jock agreed, his grief flowing through the bond. "We all were. But we've grown now."

"Trained," Kelin added. "Father told us you'd need us. That when the time came, you'd call."

"We've gotten stronger too! Wanna see?” Jock began prancing, making me laugh at his sudden goofiness

"We're ready," Kelin added, shaking his head at his brother.. "Have been for weeks."

I looked at each of them, really looked, and saw it. They weren't the young Tamzyns I'd sent away. They were warriors now. Confident. Capable.

"My friend Claire was taken by Hades," I finally explained. "We're going to the Underground to get her back and I need you to fight with me."

"Oh shit!”

“And the god is also threatening to break through the earth and come kidnap me.”

“He's never getting his hands on you again!”

“Yes, but I don't want you guys risking your lives. Stay behind me and follow my lead, okay?”

We'll follow your lead," Jock promised. "But don't ask us to hold back."

"We're not fragile," Kelin added, and his tone was firm. "We can handle ourselves."

"I know you can." I swallowed hard. "But I can't lose you too. Inferno…”

"Inferno's death wasn't your fault," Nala cut me off gently. "And we're not him. We're stronger now. Smarter."

I looked at them and felt the bond thrumming with their determination, their fierce loyalty.

"Okay," I breathed finally. "Tomorrow we plan and the day after that is when we attack."

"Good plan.” Jock rumbled.

"Alright fellas,” Ixion finally spoke up, “time to go home.”

“I like the sound of that,” I muttered, looking down as the demons kept thrashing against Mother's barrier.

Ixion moved closer and placed a hand on my shoulder, the other on Jock's massive leg.

"This is going to take more power than usual," he warned. "They're bigger than I expected.”

"Can you do it?”

"Yes. Just hold on."

The world twisted again and we landed in my garden with a heavy thud that shook the ground.

Reya and everyone else came running out of the house and stopped dead when she saw the Tamzyns.

"Holy shit," she breathed. "They're enormous!"

Rowan joined in and his eyes went straight to me first, relief flooding his features. Then they moved to the Tamzyns.

“Who is that?” Nala wondered.

"Rowan," I replied, “don't worry. I'll explain later.”

Then Mother materialized beside Rowan with Pelagius at her side.

"You're back," Mother said, looking at the Tamzyns with approval. "They're magnificent."

"And stronger too,” I added, feeling a little bit more confident.

“We're ready to use everything in us to fight.”

“Jock…” I warned.

“Don't worry, Cel, we'll make Hades regret everything," Nala muttered in my head.

I looked at each of them: Reya, Rowan, Mother, Pelagius, Ixion, and my three Tamzyns. The weight of what was coming settled on my shoulders.

In two days, we'd either save Claire and come home together, or some of us wouldn't come home at all.

Especially me.