The Underworld (The Atlas Series Book 3) (30 page)
Read The Underworld (The Atlas Series Book 3) Online
Authors: Becca C. Smith
When they ended their embrace, Jack saluted Kala. “You and Derek have to come visit us sometime.”
Us
.
Jack and Penny.
“I’m sure Derek would love the Underworld,” Kala laughed.
Jack laughed, too.
Genuinely
laughed.
And with everything that had happened, the sound made Kala sincerely happy.
It was time to leave.
Walking over to Gaia, Kala waved one last time to Jack and he waved back with his all-American-boy smile.
Though painful, Kala was grateful that her last memories of Jack had been replaced by happier ones. Even if he didn’t remember his love for her, Kala
would
remember and be content that Jack was happy now.
Upon her mother’s touch, the scenery disappeared. Transporting again.
When they reappeared, the two of them were in Kala’s apartment. It was smaller than she remembered, but it was home.
“I thought you’d want to go somewhere familiar,” Gaia explained.
“This is good, thanks.” Kala looked at her mother. “So you’re probably leaving now?”
Gaia nodded. “I have to see to my other children and grandchildren. They must know I’m back and what I sanctioned.”
“You think anyone will try and break Cronus and Hades out of there?” Kala couldn’t imagine the Titans and Olympians taking this lightly.
Gaia’s confidence was unshakable. “They will do as I ask, but I’ve made sure the room Cronus and Hades are in is protected.”
Protection spells could be broken. That was a lesson Kala had learned several times on her last two missions. But she decided she didn’t want to think about it anymore. If Gaia said they were locked up for good, then Kala wanted to believe that.
“When I was in the coma, I met the girl who is going to break the curse of balance. Did you make that happen?” Kala hadn’t had time to really think about the enormity of talking to someone three hundred years in the future. Now that she did, Kala wondered if Gaia was somehow responsible.
But her mother shook her head. “Your mind is more powerful than even you know. And the girl must be very strong as well if she were able to receive you. You two are bound.”
Kala nodded and glanced at her old beat-up green armchair calling her name. Then she glanced at the turned-off TV and sighed. “I’ll never be able to watch TV again, will I?”
Gaia shrugged apologetically. “Maybe in three hundred years?”
“I’ll have to do some serious binge watching,” Kala joked.
And that was when Kala noticed it. Her burden was lessened slightly. She actually felt normal for once in a really long time. Yes, Kala was still Atlas and she had another three hundred years of having to do the unthinkable, but now she had a better understanding of how the universe worked. And with having the chance to truly say good-bye to Jack, Kala felt like she was ready for anything.
Gaia hugged her daughter. “Good-bye, Kala. We’ll see each other again.”
“I hope so.” Kala meant it.
And, with that, Gaia was gone.
It took a few minutes for Kala to move again: when she did, she plopped down in her plushy chair. She should really talk to Talan and Owen and give them a heads up on everything that she knew, but it could wait.
Glancing at the clock, her countdown was already three hours in.
Turning on the TV, Kala watched her new Atlas mission unfold in front of her eyes.
Shaking her head in amused disgust, Kala muttered aloud. “Well, this one’s going to be fun.”
Other Books by Becca C. Smith
The Riser Saga:
The Atlas Series:
The Underworld
Alexis Tappendorf Series
Alexis Tappendorf and the Search for Beale’s Treasure
Alexis Tappendorf and the Search for Atlantis
The Black Moon Saga (with F.M. Sherrill)
Bio
Becca fell in love with storytelling at an early age. The first book she read was The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe and she’s been looking for the door to Narnia ever since! Becca is a passionate reader, consuming anything sci-fi or fantasy. Mix it in with YA and she is a fan for life. So it’s no surprise that she writes in these genres as well. When Becca isn’t writing, she loves to sew. From Mortal Instruments rune pillows, to elaborate Firefly/Serenity bags, Becca loves to create!
Table of Contents