Free The Underworld (The Atlas Series Book 3) by Becca C. Smith

mind.”
    Zeus turned to Kala. “You may be our only hope after all. Hades is leading you directly to where you need to be to save my family.”
    “The briar patch,” Kala mumbled.
    Zeus was confused. “I don’t understand that reference.”
    Kala shrugged. “It means what you just said. But how in the hell am I supposed to get out of the Underworld if no one can get in to help me escape?”
    Talan’s eyes met hers. “I’ll get in.” Then he elaborated, “Once we figure out how to break the protective barriers surrounding Hades, the walls to the Underworld shouldn’t be too dissimilar.”
    Zeus’s stance grew more and more angered as the situation sunk in. “We’ll tear down that spell and bring an army to get you out. I won’t let my brother and sisters spend another day in Hades’s domain.”
    Kala didn’t want to argue with the god, since he seemed so determined, but she wasn’t sure that what he wanted was possible. She had to think strategically, which meant she’d have to devise a plan that didn’t include a rescue party. There was no way she could plan now though since Kala didn’t have any clue as to what she’d find in the Underworld other than what she’d read in books. And how accurate could those really be? She’d have to figure out the lay of the land once she was inside.
    Speaking of which, “We should get going. It looks like Hades might know what he’s doing when he sends me to the Underworld.”
    Zeus was the only one who didn’t seem convinced of that statement.
    From her Atlas memories Kala knew Zeus didn’t have much trust in his brothers, especially Hades. She guessed brotherly rivalry ran in gods families as well as human ones. It didn’t matter anyway. She wasn’t going to shirk on her Atlas duties, so the vision would come to pass if she had anything to say about it. It would be the first time she ever considered finishing the mission before her four-day mark. But Kala knew escaping from the Underworld would be a daunting and difficult task. She needed the full four days to find out her new mission, break out of the Underworld and accomplish the new task. Thinking about it too much would drive her mad though, so she focused on the present situation.
    Breaking up the meeting, Kala headed toward the exit with Derek to prepare for their journey. As Kala opened the door, she felt a hand on her arm. It was Penny.
    “Can I speak with you for a moment?” Penny asked, almost timidly.
    Penny’s tone startled Kala enough to motion for Derek to go on ahead without her.
    “What is it?” Kala said.
    Taking a deep breath Penny spoke with a slight catch in her voice. “You’ll be going to the Underworld.”
    “Yes,” Kala prodded, confused at Penny’s obvious statement and the girl’s apparent emotional state.
    Penny paused as if unsure of how to proceed. Then she continued, “Jack will be there.”
    Kala froze.
    Her brain, her body… everything: frozen.
    Seeing Kala’s paralyses, Penny plowed forward. “Don’t worry, his body is just a shell housing a soul, his mind won’t be there. It’s the way the Underworld works. He’ll be in the Fields of Elysium. It’s reserved for heroes.” Penny paused, trying to regain her composure. “I just thought you should know, in case… you see him.”
    Too many feelings warred within Kala’s heart and brain, but finally she found her voice. “How do you know he’ll be there?”
    “Because he was to be the next Atlas, and he was willing to sacrifice himself for you to complete your mission. It’s the way your world works. Your body and soul go to the mythos you believe in while living.” Penny paused, holding back tears. “Anyway… I didn’t want you to be blind-sided.”
    Kala saw in that moment that Penny had been in love with Jack, too. Kala had never acknowledged it before, but it had been obvious from the very start. Penny had desperately wanted Jack to be the Fated One and not Kala. The way Penny looked at