Page 114 of The Unseen Hour

CHAPTER 46

Charon’s abode, it turned out, was quite a bit farther from the Meadow than we had anticipated. It took two weeks of walking before the scenery started to change to something Orion recognized as Charon’s.

“I’m glad that this time I overpacked the supplies,” Orion grumbled on the tenth day. We’d also continued to make use of anything familiar and edible that we found along the route.

It was tiring, but I hoped that our trek had given Death plenty of time to implement whatever plan she had to keep Charon away from his home.

Orion and I moved as swiftly as we were able. At night we rested, but also used it as a chance to repeat our actions from the cottage. I already felt connected to Orion because of who he was, and I was surprised at the additional layer of intimacy I felt from sex.

I’d wanted it, but my observations of scandals in Emrys indicated it led only to trouble. I should have known they were as wrong about that as they were about many other things.

The ground slowly gave way from all the grass and flowers that filled the Meadow to large stones and boulders and a mossier ground covering.

“We’re getting close. I recognize this scenery,” Orion said when we made it to an area covered entirely in black stone.

When we came to a towering wrought-iron fence, my mouth dropped open.

“I don’t know what I expected, but this—” I swept an arm out, gesturing at the scene beyond the fence.

Charon’s home was built onto the black rock, directly on the edge of a drop similar to the canyon we’d traversed before. I could hear the rush of water tumbling over the side. The house had whole walls made of glass, with metal holding it in place. There was a large porch that wrapped around the outside of the property, and two dark doors at the entrance.

I’d never seen anything like it.

Homes in Emrys were typically brick or stone. Nothing like this.

“How should we go about this?” I asked Orion, who was staring up at the gates.

“When I’m summoned, the fog leaves me here. I’m just able to push open the gates. Simple. Hold my hand, and I’ll see if it will give way.”

When he grabbed onto my hand, his was too warm, uncomfortably so. I normally relished the sensation, with the Ether’s chill. I wondered if he had a fever. Charon had harmed him, and he’d refused the entire journey to use any of the healing water until I made it onto the property.

His bruises were mostly faded, but it still worried me.

As long as we both made it through the gate all right, I’d insist that he use some after we got whatever was in Charon’s home.

“Well, here we go,” Orion said, pressing the hand not holding mine against the gates. “I’ll enter first.”

The left gate swung open without so much as a creak. Orion stepped across and onto the grounds, and with my hand firmly in his I followed just behind him.

I held my breath, tensing and awaiting pain, but nothing happened. Orion’s grip tightened around my hand, and he kept moving forward. We stepped slowly across the rock, making our way to the door of Charon’s home.

“If we can get in here and nothing happens, then I’ll let go,” he said.

Death had promised I could get on the grounds after she’d joined Orion and me, and that had been true. She’d promised to distract the deity, and he hadn’t shown up when we retrieved the baton. There was no sign of him on his grounds.

The smallest tendril of hope grew in my chest.

I could feel the mist created by the waterfall as we stood in front of the door, but the house itself looked dry.

“Death did say he liked water, and she wasn’t wrong,” I observed.

Orion’s shoulders stiffened as he pushed against the doors of Charon’s home. There was no knocker. Just flat, smooth black.

I could only imagine Orion’s mixed feelings. Charon had kept him alive but essentially a prisoner. This home was where he’d had some of the only real conversations during that time, but the god had harmed him.

“Will you be okay, going in here?” I asked.

Orion turned, and the door cracked open behind him.