Free Emblazed by Nikki Narvaez

looked like? I hoped that she wasn’t one of Hades cruel illusions.
    Kiera raced to my side. “Mom?” she choked.
    I laced my fingers through hers and squeezed tightly, seeking her comfort while giving
     her my own.
    “You found each other. Look how grown up and beautiful you both are! I never thought
     I would see you two again,” she cried.
    “How is this possible?” I said as a tear rolled down my cheek. “Shouldn’t your memory
     be erased?”
    “It was, but the Oracle returned my memories. She said that one day, you would need
     my help. She wouldn’t tell me why or how, though.”
    “Sounds like her,” I snorted. Could this be happening? Is my mother really standing in front of me? I couldn’t just leave her for all of eternity, wandering around with all these zombie-like
     shades. “Come on, Mom. You’re coming with us.”
    “I can’t leave. I have to stay here, sweetheart,” my mom replied sadly.
    “She’s right, Brie. What is she supposed to do back home? Haunt people?”
    I glared unhappily at Kimber, not wanting to accept the truth. The truth was that
     I knew my mother didn’t belong back in our realm, but I wanted to take her back with
     me. I craved the opportunity to make up for all of the time that had been stolen from
     us, to experience what it was like to have a mother for once. An idea suddenly popped
     in my head.
    “She’s supposed to help us. How can she help us if she’s stuck down here?”
    “How do we know this isn’t one of Hades tricks? That this isn’t some twisted illusion
     meant to fuck with our heads,” Kimber replied.
    “Kimber, this is my mother! I’m not leaving her!” I screamed through tears.
    Jace pulled me to him, wrapping me in the security of his arms. I burrowed my face
     in his chest as he softly spoke, “Shh, mi amante . Don’t get upset. You know Kimber is only concerned about you. She just doesn’t want
     you to get hurt.”
    I sighed before nodding my head and mumbling. “Sorry, Kimber.”
    “Me, too. This is just so surreal,” she replied.
    “Tell me about it,” I quipped.
    “Guys, we really need to get going,” Zane reminded, bringing us back to reality.
    I turned to my mom before pleading, “Mom, please. Come with us.”
    Kiera added, “We’ve missed you so much. At least try—for us.”
    My mom’s face melted in defeat, the battle in her mind decided. “Okay. For my girls,”
     she said.
    We regrouped and continued to the other end of the meadows. Two rivers bordered the
     land, running parallel to each other. Another shimmering gate came into view, along
     with more rivers in the distance, including one made of fire.
    Once we reached the gate, which was bent in some places, we stopped to catch our breath.
     “Mrs. De Luca, can you open the gate?” Jace asked.
    She shook her head as she replied, “Once we enter, we can’t leave. We’re in our designated
     destination forever.”
    “No problem. I’ve got this,” I affirmed.
    I zapped the gate just as I had the other one, and it flew open. We walked towards
     the River Styx, and followed along the bank towards the center of the Underworld.
    “Shouldn’t we be going away from the center of the Underworld? We are trying to escape,
     right?” Kimber questioned.
    “Kimber’s right. We should be heading away from the active area of the Underworld,
     not towards it. Cerberus is in that direction,” Jace pointed out.
    “Well, how do you suggest we get to the Acheron? Swim across the Styx?” Zane countered.
    He had a valid point. The Styx was poisonous, acting like a corrosive acid to anything
     except a horse’s hoof, according to myth. Gods that broke an oath made on the Styx
     were forced to drink its inky waters, and would go mute for at least a month as a
     result. I didn’t know the validity of the myths, but I definitely didn’t want to test
     them out.
    “I have an idea! Zane, why don’t we shift the ground to create a bridge? Then, we
     can cross over where